My thoughts after 3 days with the GTI

[MkVIGTI]

I had a Mitsubishi Pajero iO before this, and this is a MASSIVE step up for me. Originally was thinking of getting it chipped but once I got the car I believe the GTI had more than enough grunt for me (much better than the Pajero). There is also minimum amount of lag as max torque comes on at 1,700rpm. The quality of the car is simply superb (apart from a very slight misalignment of my bonnet). Dunno if I can move back to Japanese now that I've experienced the quality of the Germans =P

[Corey_R]

Dunno if I can move back to Japanese now that I've experienced the quality of the Germans =P

I know I couldn't mate. I've had to drive a few current and recent model Japanese cars since having my first German car, and they all just feel completely lifeless and boring

[Beaker]

It's apples and oranges. If he worried about the pick up when a Golf accelerates to my mind he should compare it to another hot hatch or the Cruze, or the Carolla..not a rear wheel drive, family car.

Hang on, I'm comparing the PERFORMANCE of a hot family car and the PERFORMANCE of a hot hatch - why is that not valid?

If I were saying I was concerened about interior space or the merits of RWD Vs FWD, then your comments would be completely justified, but both are sold as performance orientated vehicles - comparing how they go to my mind is completely natural.

[Zaul]

To MY mind they're not valid because they are, as you have stated, a family car and a hot hatch.

They're not compariable in the sense of being in the same class of vehicle. You may as well contrast the performance of a Ferrari and a Falcon. They'll be vastly different though because they are not the same style in terms of make.

Even comparing a Ferrari with say a BMW M5 would, to my mind, be a pointless exercise because one is a sedan the other a sportscar.

If you disagree, that's fine. The world is full of people with different views and it's what makes this forum what it is.

However, most importantly, YOU'RE the one buying the car so if you feel it's valid to compare your Falcon to a Golf that's ok because you're the one that has to be happy with what you're getting.

[Corey_R]

However, most importantly, YOU'RE the one buying the car so if you feel it's valid to compare your Falcon to a Golf that's ok because you're the one that has to be happy with what you're getting.

That's the gist of it really

[Syd118TSI]

Because they're incosiderate and dangerous @#$%s!!!!
There is nothing ruder than driving at 80kph in a 100kph zone whilst it's single lane each way with double white lines in the centre - then speeding up to 100 or even 110kph when it's an overtaking zone. But trust me, it happens ALL THE F'ING TIME!

When you're driving from Sydney to Brisbane (or the other way), if someone does this and you DONT speed to over take them, it can add HOURS to your travel time. This then means you're likely to die anyway from falling asleep

But in more seriousness, if you don't over take these @#$%s, you eventually get a situation where there are so many frustrated and angry cars queued up which can't get past either of you, and that is when the serious accidents happen

So true, and so damn annoying.

I recently drove from Sydney to the Gold Coast (in a 3.5l V6 Maxima - a great car for undertaking a trip like that) and it was a fantastic trip for the first many hours as a result of departing at 2AM and for the most part having the road to ourselves. Cruise Control was set and it was an effortless drive with little interruption. But once the regular drivers were out on the road it all changed. The amount of idiotic people who exhibit this exact behavious is astonishing. In the one lane sections they were happy to drive at 10-20km/h under the limit, but as soon as the overtaking lane appears they suddenly feel the need to crank their speed to 5-10km/h over the limit. Normally I'd have no qualms with kicking it up a little higher in order to pass, but during a holiday period with police all over the road and the looming threat of double demerits I foolishly gave that driver a second chance thinking that maybe during the next one lane section they would drive at the speed limit. The shame was most certainly on me when he didn't curb his habits, again dropping to 10-20km/h under the limit frustrating not only me, but also the additional train of cars that had collected behind. At the next overtaking lane the car immediately behind blasted off in a dangerous way at the precise point (or maybe even before) that the lane was available. I of course was also planning on overtaking but had to delay my acceleration to wait for them to go by before I could pass the self-centred moron who again predictably had now sped back up and was doing over the limit. I gave the Maxima a burst and passed along with a stream of cars behind. It seriously was so bad that I was thinking it may have been a plant from local police in order to get people speeding and to consequently book them. At the very least it lead to some dangerous driving.

I'm happy for anyone to pass me that is doing over the speed limit. Feels like a safetly blanket from the police If it's possible I'll set the cruise control (going off the GPS rather than the speedo) and stick to that speed nicely.

Apologies for continuing (or picking back up on) the derail, but I had to add my 2c worth of confirmation regarding other drivers stupidity.

[kennyc]

I just want to say, i LOVE my GTI

[REXman]

I had a 425hp Skyline, and that weighed in around 1380kg I believe. RWD. Awesome fun to drive.

Also there are cars out there that do 0-100 in 4.5 and 1/4 mile in 11 secs, and they cost about $12000 and look and feel like **** (eg Dato with SR/RB motor in it).

You cant compare that to what the Golf brings. And if you feel the need, the golf is not for you.

To me a GOLF GTI is like a baby M3 or something. Its extremely well made, not way over the top, and has an element of class to it. After all its a little hatch that can be made to cost over $60K!!

You can make it have electric everything, RVC, reverse parking assistance etc (optioned with some pretty cool stuff - from Germany)

How can you compare the Aussie blasters, which have a much higher tolerance to crap build.

I actually bought a 2002 SS UTE brand new. Got rid of it after 4000km's. Was the most dissappointing experience of my life. Had the engines that burnt oil. the gearbox leaked fluid. And the brakes failed with only 500kms on the clock, sending me through traffic lights (red) and swerving a car, then clipping my new bumper on a pole).

I should have seen the signs, the day I picked it up.. When i went to pull the door lock up and it.. came off. True story and may I rot in hell If theres any stories here.

And yeah Im sure you have seen the car anyway. It was good. For a bit.

[kennyc]

Hey REXman speaking of M3's i had one next to me at the lights last night. I wasnt planning on dragging him but he started to floor it.
I didnt even try but i said "what the heck" and started speeding up as well. I went toe to toe with him and i didn't even put it in manual mode or floor it.

Love my car

[Karlosovic]

...if you feel it's valid to compare your Falcon to a Golf...

I think everyone has forgotten his original sentiment, which was something like "I'm buying it for the class/handling (or whatever) but I'm worried I'll be disappointed because it has less power than my current ride"
That's why he was comparing the two

Also there are cars out there that do 0-100 in 4.5 and 1/4 mile in 11 secs, and they cost about $12000 and look and feel like **** (eg Dato with SR/RB motor in it).

You cant compare that to what the Golf brings. And if you feel the need, the golf is not for you

I think this hits the nail right on the head. There are a lot of factors that go into a car purchase (especially buying new) and everyone balances those factors against each other in different ratios.
I think that the people who just care about speed will get something a bit more crude but powerful (often a hot japanese car, and often with a bunch of mods from the money they saved)

Someone who cares more about style, image and luxurey might go for an Audi or BMW (for similar prices, I mean the non-performance end of the scale)

The Golf GTI is the perfect balance for me between class, quality, performance and price

It's different for everyone, but I think a lot of people here will agree with me to a certain extent (why else are we here?)

Any other people out there that have come from another brand and willing to share their first impressions of the GTI?

My last car was a Toyota Paseo - which was stolen - and then my wife's corolla. My means have obviously improved substantially over the last few years and the GTI is my reward to myself.

Needless to say - I freaken love it

[A12DO]

Been driving my new GTI for a week now and it is an amazing car!! only got 1 thing that bothers me.
the left front speaker generates crackling noise .. a lil bit ruined my driving mood

[Beaker]

I didn't think this was worthy of its own thread, (so sorry if this constitues a hijack) but here are my thoughts after a week with the GTI.

I've clocked up about 1200km in a week, most of which was a run down the coast to run it in.

I'll start with the cons

* The brakes are overservo'd, it makes it anoying in stop start traffic, but its less of a problem as the speed increases. (I'll get used to it, but for now its anoying me, particularly when doubling down or left foot braking as I tend to try and throw myself through the windscreen).
* The traction control cuts in a bit early and the stability control gets upset by mid corner bumps (its easy enough to turn off though)
* The floor hinged throttle (or its angle - not quite sure) (I'm just not used to it - so for now its anoying me - but I'm sure thats only temporary)
* The big one - its not quick enough, its 'spirited' but not truly grunty (I knew this when I bought it though - and plans are in place to rectify the situation)

The pro's

* The build quality - its there you can see it and feel it.
* The handling - for a stock road car its simply brilliant.
* The engine - while not quite strong enough - its silky smooth and nice to drive.
* The gearbox - the shift is just sensual, swapping cogs is just a pleasure, its obvious was built by an engineer, not a boilermaker.
* The brakes - they are a bit touchy at low speed, but damn they pull it up well if you really dive on them
* The fit out - love all the germanesue touches, simply great after my boganville Falcon


Overall I love it - we'll give it a few more pony's to keep the bogan in me satisfied, a few more hours in the pilot seat will see me get to grips with the brake and throttle pedal and I'll start turning the TC off when I'm driving rather then commuting.

Can't wait to give it a lap or 10 of Wakefield.

[Corey_R]

Great write up!
In relation to the cons, the braking does take some getting used to! I admit that I never did left foot braking, but I tell you what, I miss those brakes now!
With the traction control, you get used to how much you can give it in what situation and start to learn how to feed in the power more. Out on the race track at Eastern Creek, it hardly came on at all!
I miss the floor-hinged throttle now I'm in the Polo GTI. It is a bit strange to start with, but I'm sure it'll become 2nd nature soon. You may also want to consider your seat base angle - maybe the rear of the seat is too low and front too high making the accelerator feel more awkward than it should.

For the big one.... I agree. It's spirited, but the chassis is much better than so many other cars and it just deserves more power! (although I wouldn't say it's not QUICK enough, because it actually is moving a lot quicker than it feels, and that catches out many people!). But more power is something that is easily fixed in less than 30 minutes..... just call Derek at European Autotech and he can flash your ECU.... I'm sure you'll be driving around then with a big smile on your face

[Beaker]

I originaly discounted your suggestion about the seat out of hand, afterall I've been adjusting my own seat for 20 years, but I gave it a go on the way home. Good tip! Raising the seat makes me sit significantly higher then I normaly do, but suddenly the angle of the throttle pedal makes sense! I only sit so low because I have always done it. And it makes sense in race cars for weight distribution. But in this case sitting higher makes all the difference to the driving ergonomics of this car.

So thanks!


BTW I missed a Pro - the exhaust note - it's sweet!

[Corey_R]

You're welcome! I initially had similar issue when I got my MKV Golf GTI. I tried that after my chiro suggested it and it worked a treat for me too