Golf GTI: the good, the bad, the weird...and appreciation thread

[Maverick]

Here's a weird one I've noticed: it seems to take a bit for the steering wheel mounted audio controls to start working after starting the car. Took at least 20 seconds before the arrow keys to change track started to work...same for the volume.

What's weird is that there are occasions where it starts working right away....there are other times when it takes some time.

If you re-enter the car after it's been stopped for under 20 minutes they will work straight away.

If you open the door and take your time getting in they will work generally a few seconds after starting.

And if you open the door and start the car straight away (after it's been sitting for >20 minutes) it will take a while for the headunit to startup and the steering wheel controls to operate. The controls on the front of the headunit work all the time.

[Ryan_R]

Have never experienced noticeable delay with the steering wheel controls - I only wish that they would still work after I stop the engine after a trip.

[rs73]

The Good:
- left mounted indicator stalk (yes, that's right!) - this way I get to keep my right hand at the wheels at all time since the wiper, headlights are all automatic. Car is DSG so there is no need to shift back and forth between indicator stalk and gearshift.
- DSG is quiet and smooth in traffic, while still allowing some decent performance when I give it the boot
- deep low exhaust growl, pop and crackle when revmatch downshift is fun.

The Not so Good:
- no bixenon standard - I think they should for a car of this 'calibre'
- no rearview camera standard - if you have kids you'll know why it's quite important to have one
- 4 door's window control felt was mounted a bit too high, I constantly reached rear window control when trying to lower front window

The Weird
- had a corolla hatchback wanted to race, wtf?
- could still spin the wheel quite considerably even with ESP on... I thought it would prevent that?

[bwen]

The Weird
- could still spin the wheel quite considerably even with ESP on... I thought it would prevent that?

ESP might be semi-off but traction control is still on

[rs73]

another weird thing... accelerator is floor mounted but brake is top mounted? why didn't they go all the way eg all floor mounted?

[Transporter]

It's quite normal to me.

[Idle]

another weird thing... accelerator is floor mounted but brake is top mounted? why didn't they go all the way eg all floor mounted?

With the almost universal adoption of hydraulic controls, floor mounted brake (and clutch) pedals were fading away over half a century ago.

Floor mounted accelerator pedals remained because they work better and don't tire the driver's right foot.

Having driven many examples of both setups from about 1918 on (and even a few earlier than that), I can vouch that the change made sense.

[rs73]

With the almost universal adoption of hydraulic controls, floor mounted brake (and clutch) pedals were fading away over half a century ago.

Floor mounted accelerator pedals remained because they work better and don't tire the driver's right foot.

Having driven many examples of both setups from about 1918 on (and even a few earlier than that), I can vouch that the change made sense.

Interesting... so most other modern car makers with either brake and accel (auto) or clutch (on manuals) all have top mounted pedals might be just a case of cost savings getting them all in 1 pedal box. Usually these are found in japanese car makers, while euro cars tend to have floor mounted accelerator...

but that said, my wife doesn't like floor mounted accelerator that much as she felt she need more leverage to push it down due to the location of the hinge at the heel. while top mounted accelerator pedal have more leverage due to the distance between the top hinge and the pedal's foot pad allows her to use less effort to depress it...

I'm still not 100% used to floor mounted accelerator yet (being a previous owner of 1 Suzuki, 2 Toyotas, 2 Mitsubishis and 2 Nissans), as sometimes I felt like I am not depressing the accelerator, maybe the way I place my heel away from the bottom of the accel pedal, or should it work better if I place my heel right at the bottom edge of the accelerator (the hinge)?

[Tux]

With the almost universal adoption of hydraulic controls, floor mounted brake (and clutch) pedals were fading away over half a century ago.

Floor mounted accelerator pedals remained because they work better and don't tire the driver's right foot.

Having driven many examples of both setups from about 1918 on (and even a few earlier than that), I can vouch that the change made sense.

Idle, I thought I had seen lot's of changes in my 37 years of driving but I must say that I enjoy the info and point of view you bring. I was only sitting in my GIT the other day thinking about how things have changed since I started driving..no carpet, often no radio, lots of rattles and body roll, not much power or brakes for that matter! Yep, and there I was in this modern marvel were the wipers and lights turn on by themselves and I can listen to hours and hours of music in better quality than I had in my lounge room back then... Sorry to go off topic but I really appreciate how good my car really is..

[jwastrel]

The Bad

- Wastegate Rattle at around 2000 rpm. Sounds a bit cheap IMHO. Anyone know if there's a fix planned?
- Park assist not that accurate, although im getting used to it. Still quicker to park manually.


The Good

- Easily accessible grunt - don't need to to rev the hell out of it to get results.
- Beautiful manual gearbox. Slickest ive used.
- Handling - grippy and predictable.
- Versatile - I managed to fit 3 surfboards and 3 people (inc. driver) in the car, fairly comfortably too.
- Reverse camera - This would be an essential purchase in every car i get from now on. And the golf one is awesome - clear, works well in low light. I feel blind driving a car without one now.
- Economy - pretty good for a sporty hatch.

JW

[entice]

the reverse camera in the golf is the best I have seen.. Not affected by weather at all, and doesn't get muck and dust etc on it..

on the other hand, if it ever did, i am unsure how to clean it! (i suppose this is where I'd have to RTFM).

Also, it makes the golf's poor reverse light issue redundant....

[Corey_R]

- Wastegate Rattle at around 2000 rpm. Sounds a bit cheap IMHO. Anyone know if there's a fix planned?

Turns out to actually be the downpipe and not anything to do with the Wastegate...

[rs73]

does it need RNS510 satnav in order to be able to have the reverse camera, or is there anyone have it with RCD510?

[Dubya]

Reverse camera - This would be an essential purchase in every car i get from now on. And the golf one is awesome - clear, works well in low light. I feel blind driving a car without one now.

I don't have a Mark VI yet but when I do it will have the RVC.

I believe the argument for paying $500 extra to have the RVC in the GTI (in which the necessary RCD510 or RNS 510 is already present) is so compelling that VGA should specify the camera in just about every GTI imported even if this would make the RVC a mandatory extra-cost option. Perhaps it would cost even less if VGA included it in the standard GTI spec.

I would probably be in a Mark VI GTI now were it not for the fact that the closest car available had every factory option I wanted except for the RVC! I was close to signing but in the end I was not prepared to compromise on the camera. . . a no-brainer given the low cost courtesy the large LCD being standard kit in the GTI.

Now if only VGA would specify a tilt (manually) adjustable driver's seat while they were at it . . .

[Maltopia]

Love:

-Look and feel of the car, including amaqzing performance
-MDI functionality and how it picks up MP3 info and displays it on the screen
-Auto lights
-Comfortable steering wheel, D shape is fab
-Little mini indicator on the driver's side of the wing mirror
-Storage nook for the log book and manual
-Air vents for rear passengers

Dislike:

-Small leaves accumulate in the gap between the window glass and the window seal
-Back gets very dirty, especially after sitting in the rain as the water drips down and pools on the rear bumper bar
-MDI takes up too much space in the storage area behind the hand brake
-No lifetime memory on fuel economy (memory 2 resets at certain kms and hours)
-Lack of light around ignition area and the fact that it is hard to see behind the well appointed steering wheel means I always miss it at night time
-Rear headrests not being adjustable as it limits rear visibility
-Volume control on the RXX-510 being on the left
-No internal boot release
-Have to press unlock twice VERY quickly to unlock other doors

Overall, I love the car and am very glad I got it. The only regret is that there wasn't a car with RVC available as part of the EOFY sale. Like others, I think it should be standard and the cost added to the price of the car. Once you have had RVC, you don't want to go without (same with good BT, parking sensors, or a dishwasher or smart phone)