Appauling article on Mk 5 GT Sport TSi

[Stoney!]

Being a 118TSi owner, I came accross this article recently, and it really made me re-think Jeremy Clarkson's driving abilities and his industry biases toward pommie cars that go really fast. This would have to be one of the most disgusting articles I have ever read, I understand it's a Mk 5 but I've driven the GT sport also, and it was NOTHING like JC says it is in this article.

Anyway link below for your amusement.

Jeremy Clarkson Volkswagen Golf GT TSI review | Driving - Times Online

Stoney!

[ConR]

Sorry, but 90% of that article is Clarkson rambling on as he always does (and sucking air in through his mouth between every sentence as he always does...sorry, don't have an emoticon for that) about absolutely nothing related to the car. He complains about the sat nav having a compass and placing a dot on your destination? You reckon if he was going from London to Falmouth in a 499GTB he would have gotten there any faster within the LEGAL speed limit?

And where’s the power? If you’re going to stick GT badges on a car and claim it delivers 168bhp, then kindly give us some oomph to match.

Last time I checked, that's what the GTI and R were for....????? 0-100 in 7.9 sounds reasonable for a car with this power.

I like Top Gear, but sometimes, these guys are idiots.

[brad]

That's a really old article. You'll note that he was driving around with the Winter button engaged? IIRC that reduces torque, makes the ESP more aggressive & the gearbox lazy. Pure Clarkson stupidity.

[ConR]

I do have a feeling this thread is going to get moved though =)

[Corey_R]

lol... you guessed it

[Beaker]

Looks like a typical Clarkson article to me, it gave me a chuckle.

You read/watch Clarkson/Top Gear for entertainment, not for car advice!

[Maverick]

Clarkson holds the GTI in the highest regard and raves about it. How can he be wrong with his review of a hamster driven wannabe pretend GTI.

[triode12]

Clarkson holds the GTI in the highest regard and raves about it. How can he be wrong with his review of a hamster driven wannabe pretend GTI.

Mav,

Have you driven a GT before?
I own both a Pirelli and a GT and I can tell you that the GT ain't no slouch. It has beaten more powerful cars and has shamed cars with much larger engines.

[Maverick]

Mav,

Have you driven a GT before?
I own both a Pirelli and a GT and I can tell you that the GT ain't no slouch. It has beaten more powerful cars and has shamed cars with much larger engines.

I'm not saying it's bad but it's like a GTI with asthma at times and just doesn't feel the same as the GTI with the kick you get when the turbo starts coming on boost. People should take the Clarkson review with a grain of salt, he's always putting down the lower spec models with less power.

[Creniac]

Ahh but the 118tsi's with the APR tune loves to play with GTI's, in fact on paper it keeps up with GTI's! not bad for a 1.4!!!!!...................... all right boys, I can feel an argument coming on!!

[BarneyBoy]

As Brad said, the silly old tool had the Winter button engaged (he refuses to RTFM).
Hence he declared it one of the 5 worst engines in the world.
Flies in the face of all the awards it's won (you'd think that would have caused a penny to drop, wouldn't you?).
He's transcended being a motoring journalist - he's an entertainer these days...

[brad]

Ahh but my 118tsi with the APR tune loves to play with GTI's, in fact keeps up with GTI's! not bad for a 1.4!!!!!...................... all right boys, I can feel an argument coming on!!

So can my 118TSI (the proper 1.8L version) with Bluefin upgrade. But all the GTI boys need to do is get their car chipped & they're in front again. And retuning the ECU doesn't magically upgrade suspension, interior, brakes, the badge on the back or trade-in value. A pig with lipstick is still a pig.

[triode12]

So can my 118TSI (the proper 1.8L version) with Bluefin upgrade. But all the GTI boys need to do is get their car chipped & they're in front again. And retuning the ECU doesn't magically upgrade suspension, interior, brakes, the badge on the back or trade-in value. A pig with lipstick is still a pig.

A 1.8L 118TSI?? Is there such a beast?

Yes, the GTI is still the better car but the GT isn't as bad as Jeremy made it out to be in his article. For a car with a 1.4L engine (albiet twin charged) is it IMO better than alot of others in it's class and above.

[brad]

A 1.8L 118TSI?? Is there such a beast?

Skoda & Audi 118TSI. The original. Came out in the Octavia in late 2007. All you mkVI guys are just Johnny-Come-Latelies