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

[Tux]

The Good:

1. It's 'presence'. I open the garage door and enjoy just looking at it. It's a good start to a drive!
2. The interior is quality.
3. The steering wheel is cool.
4. The MFD and how it integrates with everything.
5. The cruise control can be adjusted to a set number, ie. 59
6. The DSG is so much fun I can't believe it. So many ways to change gears and it's genuinely good fun...especially the 'blip'.
7. The brakes are more than adequate.
8. The auto dimming mirror.
9. The RVC is great at night especially.
10. The left mirror dipping is great.
11. The Optical parking sensors are great for inner city parking.
12. Park assist for 'novelty' value... Actually can be quick when used correctly
13. The big display of the RNS510
14. The Skoda bluetooth is great how it integrates..shame it isn't standard.
15. The VW emblem used for the RVC and boot release is so cool.

The Not So Good:

1. Big mirrors for small rear view
2. MDI can be hit and miss.
3. No door scuff protectors standard.
4. A $200 TomTom is a much better sat nav than the RNS510...(I know, I know, the RNS is much more than 'just' a sat nav)


The weird:
1. The rain sensing wipers are mental.
2. Park assist can put your wheels against the gutter. (I think that has to do with how close the vehicle you park behind is to the gutter)

[AdamD]

I'm reordering my responses, to take advantage of the Recency principle!

The Bad

• Poorly designed sunroof switch (physically large, not illuminated, doesn't always reflect the physical position of the roof, need to count the number of notches to close)
• Difficult to locate some switchgear, especially at night (overhead lighting for instance)
• Cruise control cancel button (when not using the brake) - too easy to turn the cruise off altogether
• Confusing options and behaviour of the MFD (many options are not clearly named, and their selection can cause unexpected side effects)
• Owner's manual can be hard going, but worse, many features are either undocumented or are documented incorrectly (yep, the MFD again), and it helps to be an engineer to fully understand them!

The Weird (and not so good)

• The design of the rear of the Golf predisposes it to becoming filthy very quickly in rain
• The MDI's propensity to skip the first second or two of some tracks
• RNS-510 touchscreen sensitivity a bit hit-and-miss, hard to use while driving
• 17" rims do the looks no favours (I'll have to fix that one...)

The Good (and great)

• Incredibly versatile and competent all-rounder - a fast performance car, convincing luxury car, useful gear-lugger. This is the best car I've owned without question, and one of the very best to drive too
• Sleeper factor - looks subtle, surprises many!
• Outstanding DSG transmission is so good it reads my mind when deciding on shifts, makes the car sound fantastic, downchanges like an absolute pro, and is even quicker than a manual. It took something this good to coax me out of a manual, and I don't regret that choice one little bit
• Beautifully-finished interior looks and feels far better than it has any right to in this market - it feels special
• So many surprise features that have been masterfully thought out and well executed, that make the ownership experience that much better (clever return on wipers, MFD data and integration with head unit, cruise control speed display, shopping hooks in boot, the bottle opener, the list goes on and on)

[Lima]

[*]The footrest to the right of the accelerator pedal -- handy, but often my foot gets caught on it. Has made for some interesting hill starts.

My Mk4 GTI had this, the Mk5 too and the S3 as well.

When I got my Mk4 it used to bug me like it does you. But after a while I learned to like it. So much so that any car without this now feels wrong.

[Ryan_R]

I've only got the 118 TSI - but share many of the good/bad points that you've posted above. I also couldn't find the left mirror drop function in the MDF Settings - surely it isn't just on the GTI?

[Lima]

I've only got the 118 TSI - but share many of the good/bad points that you've posted above. I also couldn't find the left mirror drop function in the MDF Settings - surely it isn't just on the GTI?

IIRC it's only available if you have rear parking sensors???

[Ryan_R]

That's weird. I can understand not having the Phone menu if I don't have BT, but you don't need rear sensors to automatically adjust the left mirror when reverse is selected.

[flappa]

The Good : Everything

The Bad: Nothing

Actually not quite. 6 weeks , 7000kms.

My grievences are really just petty little things.

Tyre Noise - maybe just the Brand Bridgestome Potenza - may have to play with the pressures a little. They are a little too noisy , just turn up the stereo more.

Back of the car is filthy when the rest of the car stays very clean. Worse in the rain. Easy enough to clean on part of the car though.

Drivers side window just doesn't seem to seal properly (no leaks or anything) just extra road noise at highway speeds - Turn up stereo.

Seems to be getting slower, or , maybe its just me. Coming from a 3000 kg 4wd to a Golf GTI , the first week was plain scary. Now, not so much. No increase in anything, temps, fuel etc, so I'm guessing its just me.

Xenon lights . . . . strewth . . . how good are they. Absolute recommendation. Takes the expensive spotlights on my 4wd to get anywhere near close.

Personally love the DRL and Auto function. Nothing to change here. Want to turn on the static "turning" function shortly.

I tend to use the Manual option on the DSG quite a bit , or if in Auto , use the paddles to shift anyway.

My only REAL gripe is that if car is sitting in the rain, say in a carpark, and you need to put the windows down to exit, the water poors in and all over the drivers door (over the lecky window and mirror controls). That to me is not acceptable. As much as I dont want to , maybe a thinline Weather Strip might be the answer.

Hugely impressed with the Car and so is everyone who has seen it or ridden in it.

[pologti18t]

I've only got the 118 TSI - but share many of the good/bad points that you've posted above. I also couldn't find the left mirror drop function in the MDF Settings - surely it isn't just on the GTI?

Did you read the postings on that subject?

[elephino]

My Mk4 GTI had this, the Mk5 too and the S3 as well.

When I got my Mk4 it used to bug me like it does you. But after a while I learned to like it. So much so that any car without this now feels wrong.

I test drove a Mk4 GTI and that right-hand block annoyed me way too much to even consider the car. Not sure what exactly changed in that regard (size of the trim, angle of seat maybe) but I've had no problem in either the Mk5 or Mk6.

[Maverick]

I test drove a Mk4 GTI and that right-hand block annoyed me way too much to even consider the car.

For a few hundred dollars you could have had it remade into whatever shape you wanted, seems pretty extreme to remove a car from your list for such a minor issue when a fix is readily at hand.

[Ryan_R]

I've read the thread and the manual - it says that there is an option to turn the dipping on/off in the convenience menu. I haven't tried adjusting the left mirror while in reverse - can give that a go later on.

I've also noticed how the back gets dirty with the wet weather we've had. I was thinking of getting the optional mudflaps to see if that helps.

[Maverick]

I've also noticed how the back gets dirty with the wet weather we've had. I was thinking of getting the optional mudflaps to see if that helps.

How will mudflaps help? The wheels are not located where they can kick dirt up onto the rear hatch!

Look on youtube at the videos of the Golf Mk V or VI in windtunnels and like all hatchbacks they have an area at the back where the air is turbulant with air flowing over the top of the car and underneath the car as well as alongside the car.

[elephino]

For a few hundred dollars you could have had it remade into whatever shape you wanted, seems pretty extreme to remove a car from your list for such a minor issue when a fix is readily at hand.

So you're saying there was enough space under there to be able to give my foot more space to the right side of the accelerator pedal? Plus, I'm not one to change a car to be able to make it fit me. And the Mk5 fit perfectly

It wasn't the only car with pedal issues - the Pug 206 GTi, for instance, had almost no space between pedals (on the brake, I hit the accelerator as well almost every time). Not as bad if you use the pedals on your toes but that wasn't comfortable for me.

[pologti18t]

I've read the thread and the manual - it says that there is an option to turn the dipping on/off in the convenience menu. I haven't tried adjusting the left mirror while in reverse - can give that a go later on.

I've also noticed how the back gets dirty with the wet weather we've had. I was thinking of getting the optional mudflaps to see if that helps.

I could have sworn it has been mentioned a number of times that the dipping passenger side mirror isn't standard on the GTI.

All hatchabacks (and wagons)suffer from muck on the rear of the car. Aerodynamics at work and why they supply a rear wiper whereas it is rarely offered on a sedan

[hooba]

How will mudflaps help? The wheels are not located where they can kick dirt up onto the rear hatch!

Look on youtube at the videos of the Golf Mk V or VI in windtunnels and like all hatchbacks they have an area at the back where the air is turbulant with air flowing over the top of the car and underneath the car as well as alongside the car.

I agree with what you're saying, it bugs me too, however I've accepted that is due to the rear shape (i.e. near vertical rear) of the Golf. The Mark V has the exact same problem. My other previous hatch had more of sloping rear and didn't have this problem.