VW GTI review (pro pics)

[MachinesWithSouls]

Happy New Year to you all!

My latest review comes after that bad 228i GC - if that’s not the small car you want, what is?

The answer might be the VW GTI - a car that lets you enjoy it even at sub light speed.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2023/0...lf-gti-review/

[Red Bread]

I have one and it’s a great car. I can’t imagine choosing the 228i over one, but then I’m a manual only buyer, so most BMWs aren’t on my radar.

[RM7]

If only they gave us the wagon R that europe gets, I'd have one. Without...naw.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by RM7

If only they gave us the wagon R that europe gets, I'd have one. Without...naw.

Funny, it’s what attracted me to the Mk7 in the first place. I should be getting my Mk8 R next week (first one was on the Felicity Ace.). I just have one kid and a beagle so the wagon would be overkill for my needs.

[3798j]

Really liked and enjoyed reading your review...think your descriptions "nailed" the goodness and fun of the mk7 GTI.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Really liked and enjoyed reading your review...think your descriptions "nailed" the goodness and fun of the mk7 GTI.

Thank you!

[Bumpinjeep]

It's a great little car. My wife has the DCT transmission in hers so it's obviously not as engaging or fun as a 6 speed but regardless, I think it's great. I love the practicality as well as being built like a little Audi. I've sat in a few VWs, we had a Jetta and my family had a few Passats, the GTI is head and shoulders above every other VW product that I've driven. Right now, ours is on Blizzaks, so it definitely drives differently compared to the all weather tires it comes on, but even now, it feels like a solid car. For a car with "228" horsepower, it get's out of it's way pretty quickly. I think these are BMW horses and not SAE numbers honestly. The wife bought it because she thinks it's cute and of course it is. If that doesn't bother you, it is by far and away the best car in the segment.

[mecheng77]

I was about to buy a MK8, but there is a huge amount of owners who are having continuous problems with various electrical gremlins. The car was not properly tested before release, typical VW.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I was about to buy a MK8, but there is a huge amount of owners who are having continuous problems with various electrical gremlins. The car was not properly tested before release, typical VW.

I’ve heard about the terrible digital dash too. It’s a shame because this one seemed so well put together.

[pikkagtr]

The MK7.5 is the sweet spot
the 7 spd DSG is much better than the 6spd DSG in the MK7
One of the best daily drivers I ever owned

[chassis]

VW creates great brand connection - the golf ball shift knob, Fahrvergnügen, “little GTI” song, great stuff.

[XutvJet]

These are great looking multi-purpose affordable performance hatchbacks with few rivals. I could never own one based on friends experiences with VW reliability. They all learned that an out of warranty "cheap" VW is nearly as expensive to repair as a premium brand car. Plus these cars are damn hard to work on for a DIYer. I really don't understand Audi/VW engineers. They are the worst when it comes to parts accessibility for service/repair and this is coming from a guy that works on his M235 and Cayman

Also, why is it that every, and I mean EVERY, GTI and R owner wants to show me how fast their car is when I'm driving my M235? They're worse then Ford Focus ST owners.

[Torgus]

golf ball shifter...

[KevinC]

Not a GTI but close.. I've been driving GTI's & R's since the first GTI hit US showrooms in late '82. I had a Mk7 before this one, traded it on a late Mk7.5. Both dead-nuts reliable and fantastic cars.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by KevinC

Not a GTI but close.. I've been driving GTI's & R's since the first GTI hit US showrooms in late '82. I had a Mk7 before this one, traded it on a late Mk7.5. Both dead-nuts reliable and fantastic cars.

That’s cool! Do you have a preference between the 2?

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

That’s cool! Do you have a preference between the 2?

Mk7 vs mk7/.5 Golf R - I prefer the 7.5. Some nice refinements (LED headlights & tails, digital instrument cluster, perforated leather, a few cosmetic tweaks) but not all that different overall.

If you're talking R vs M2c - Love em both, very different cars. The R is the do-anything practical daily driver. AWD & all-season tires for the occasional winter weather I deal with here. Hauls 4 adults in comfort. Great fuel economy for what it is. The M2 Comp is my "fun" car, and when I bought it, I intended it to be mostly a weekend car and do about 1/4 of the total mileage between the 2 of them. But it's proven to be so practical for my purposes that I drive them both about the same number of miles annually.

[chassis]

Like any brand, YMMV. I ran a Touareg to 238k miles, needed some repairs, but overall a great car. Son has a 2019 Tiguan with all the bells and whistles and it has been problem free. BIL on the other hand has an Atlas that (his wife) can't stand because of problems.

I think US-built German cars are notably lower quality than non-US built German cars. Problem children: MB GLE (Alabama), VW Atlas (Tennessee). Good examples: Tiguan (Mexico), Q7/Cayenne (Slovakia), S-Class (Germany).

Exception: BMW X models from South Carolina seem to be good.

VAG maintenance/repair is different from other makes, but other makes are different from VAG. MB maintenance is stupidly complex for some jobs, more so than VAG. In the end they are all different, but not too different.

[Donatello.]

WHat about the R?

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

WHat about the R?

I’m replacing my GTI with one in a few weeks. I had one on the Felicity Ace, still waiting for the next one. It’s currently at sea, hopefully it goes better this time.

Early tunes are giving 460/460 power at the wheels. Poor stock clutch isn’t going to have a very long life.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by chassis

Like any brand, YMMV. I ran a Touareg to 238k miles, needed some repairs, but overall a great car. Son has a 2019 Tiguan with all the bells and whistles and it has been problem free. BIL on the other hand has an Atlas that (his wife) can't stand because of problems.

I think US-built German cars are notably lower quality than non-US built German cars. Problem children: MB GLE (Alabama), VW Atlas (Tennessee). Good examples: Tiguan (Mexico), Q7/Cayenne (Slovakia), S-Class (Germany).

Exception: BMW X models from South Carolina seem to be good.

VAG maintenance/repair is different from other makes, but other makes are different from VAG. MB maintenance is stupidly complex for some jobs, more so than VAG. In the end they are all different, but not too different.

I rented one of those Tigers a few weeks ago in AZ. While the mileage (assuming 2.0T) was impressive for a vehicle of that size, the ride was pretty bad, like way worse than that much wheel-travel should be providing. The ride quality in my Stinger is far better, which shouldn't be the case. The climate control (all touch, not buttons, but not even touch-screen) was terrible, real frustrating.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by Soul_Glo

Does this gti have an internal speaker fitted to pipe fake engine sounds into the cabin?

I believe it’s called a “soundaker” and it amplifies the engine sound from under the hood. You can disable it, so say the VW bros.

[Red Bread]

Yep, you can either unplug it or disable it with OBD11 or VCDS. It’s actually a little buzzer fitted to the bottom edge of the windshield.