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Hi guys,
I took a new GTD for the testdrive the other day to see if it was worth upgrading from my current GT TDI. Thought I might share my opinion in case anyone is interested.
Interior is a huge improvement over the Mk5. Even with the sports leather option that mine has I prefer the GTD. The seats are really hugging and feel fantastic. I love the steering wheel, it just feels expensive. In fact all the materials in the GTD interior just seem more expensive and tactile making the Mk5 seem rather cheap and plastic. The touch screen stereo is also a lot nicer. I would however miss the cool red glow from the overhead light you get in the Mk5 and the red glow dials.
The GTD seems to be bit more quiet inside, road noise and outside noise seems to be less .I think they've added extra insulation. Not a huge improvement but a little there bit there.
The GTD engine is not as noisy- still sounds like a diesel but not as loud as the Mk5. Personally the diesel clunking has grown on me - I quite like it now - makes me feel like Im driving a big rig.
The exhaust note at higher revs actually sounds decent - much nicer note than the Mk5. This really surprised me. Almost doesn't sound like a diesel.
Ride quality is difficult to judge as mine is lowered now so its a bit stiff but from what I remember about mine when it was stock it feels about the same.
Handling is also a big tough as I didn't thrash the crap out it but a few hard corners didn't show that it was any better than the Mk5.
Power and Acceleration - this is where I was disappointment with the GTD. It may have the same torque and power output as the MK5 but it drives different. Where as the Mk5 was very aggressive in its power and torque delivery the GTD seems to have been mellowed. In the Mk5 you have this big surge of torque low down in the revs that just plants you in the seat and sends the car screaming down the road tyre spinning in the first two ( sometimes 3 ) gears the GTD just gently pulls you away with little effort. Its still quick because when you look at the speed dial you are over the speed limit very quickly but its just does it with little fuss, I suppose VW would say this is an improvement but for a car thats marketed as "GT" and sold to people who are expecting something a bit "sporty" its not really good. Most of my diesel hating non believer friends who take my Mk5 for a drive are genuinely surprised by its performance and most of this is attributed to the "wait for it....BANG" surge of power and torque that you get - they actually find it difficult to drive the car slowly and all come back and say " man that things got some balls! ". Sadly I don't think you'd get the same reaction with the GTD.
Finally, the look of the car - I guess its down to personal opinion and I prefer the Mk5. I just love the Audi like grille on the mk5 with the nice V shape in the front, the GTD just seems too standard looking with the front bar. The Classix wheels on the Mk5 also look a lot nicer than the GTDs which just look like cheap. I do like the fact that unlike the Mk5 they have added a rear wing and some small skirts to the GTD to distinguish it from the standard model ( I had to buy some side skirts and a front lip for my Mk5 which I think should have been standard on a GT ).
So overall, a few nice little improvements inside here and there but with the "taming" of the engine and less attractive body I think i'll stick to my GT TDI. Glad I bought it when I did ( gee they didn't sell for long did they ? ) and I'll be holding on to it until maybe the Mk7 comes along.
I took a new GTD for the testdrive the other day to see if it was worth upgrading from my current GT TDI. Thought I might share my opinion in case anyone is interested.
Interior is a huge improvement over the Mk5. Even with the sports leather option that mine has I prefer the GTD. The seats are really hugging and feel fantastic. I love the steering wheel, it just feels expensive. In fact all the materials in the GTD interior just seem more expensive and tactile making the Mk5 seem rather cheap and plastic. The touch screen stereo is also a lot nicer. I would however miss the cool red glow from the overhead light you get in the Mk5 and the red glow dials.
The GTD seems to be bit more quiet inside, road noise and outside noise seems to be less .I think they've added extra insulation. Not a huge improvement but a little there bit there.
The GTD engine is not as noisy- still sounds like a diesel but not as loud as the Mk5. Personally the diesel clunking has grown on me - I quite like it now - makes me feel like Im driving a big rig.
The exhaust note at higher revs actually sounds decent - much nicer note than the Mk5. This really surprised me. Almost doesn't sound like a diesel.
Ride quality is difficult to judge as mine is lowered now so its a bit stiff but from what I remember about mine when it was stock it feels about the same.
Handling is also a big tough as I didn't thrash the crap out it but a few hard corners didn't show that it was any better than the Mk5.
Power and Acceleration - this is where I was disappointment with the GTD. It may have the same torque and power output as the MK5 but it drives different. Where as the Mk5 was very aggressive in its power and torque delivery the GTD seems to have been mellowed. In the Mk5 you have this big surge of torque low down in the revs that just plants you in the seat and sends the car screaming down the road tyre spinning in the first two ( sometimes 3 ) gears the GTD just gently pulls you away with little effort. Its still quick because when you look at the speed dial you are over the speed limit very quickly but its just does it with little fuss, I suppose VW would say this is an improvement but for a car thats marketed as "GT" and sold to people who are expecting something a bit "sporty" its not really good. Most of my diesel hating non believer friends who take my Mk5 for a drive are genuinely surprised by its performance and most of this is attributed to the "wait for it....BANG" surge of power and torque that you get - they actually find it difficult to drive the car slowly and all come back and say " man that things got some balls! ". Sadly I don't think you'd get the same reaction with the GTD.
Finally, the look of the car - I guess its down to personal opinion and I prefer the Mk5. I just love the Audi like grille on the mk5 with the nice V shape in the front, the GTD just seems too standard looking with the front bar. The Classix wheels on the Mk5 also look a lot nicer than the GTDs which just look like cheap. I do like the fact that unlike the Mk5 they have added a rear wing and some small skirts to the GTD to distinguish it from the standard model ( I had to buy some side skirts and a front lip for my Mk5 which I think should have been standard on a GT ).
So overall, a few nice little improvements inside here and there but with the "taming" of the engine and less attractive body I think i'll stick to my GT TDI. Glad I bought it when I did ( gee they didn't sell for long did they ? ) and I'll be holding on to it until maybe the Mk7 comes along.
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