Mk7 Golf TSI & TDI - Observations and Questions

[WhiteJames]

Quality may not be up to par with early examples of an entirely new model range (MQB). Hearing you on the quality and perceived quality. It appears that VW are using more choice materials, but somehow not managing to improve perceived quality ... more of a sideways step from the Mark 6.

I relished that the Golf MK6 felt small and compact, like you're part of the vehicle re: smaller sized cabin. The Golf 7, esp. in the front, feels like a much bigger vehicle re: interior. You could trade down to a Polo GTI, but this vehicle is a bit too small and has a dog of a motor re: reliability & oil usage (gearbox could be an issue too).

The absence of metal in the interior is a concern and it's not good to hear that the rattles & squeaky plastics are her to stay with the Golf 7 - squeaks were the bain of my complaints both my MK5 and MK6 Golf GTI's.

The grey interior on the Mark 6 Golf GTI was a step backwards imo ... such a sombre colour esp. if you work in an officer environment where grey tends to dominate. The cloth interior on the MK5 Golf GTI was really good quality & colour ... the jacky cloth in grey is more of an cheaper denim cost cutting measure imo, if better wearing re: stains.

Dynamically ... early reviews are saying that the Golf 7 GTI that the rear dampers have been beefed up with improved anti-lift properties making for a secure handling GTI.

Top Gear Magazine U.K. edition gave the new Power-Pack Golf 7 GTI 7/10 stars for the same reason ... the step up from the MK6 Golf GTI is not that great. The LSD equiped PP GTI offers great grip & little or no understeer, but is a fairly clinical drive that is not the last word for visercal driving experiences. EVO say that their initial 6 -v- 7 Golf GTI drives suggest that the Golf 7 GTI is not anymore fun than the Golf MK6 GTI and that the Golf 7 GTI EA888 feels more diesel like in its power delivery with max power coming in much earlier around 4500rpm. Overall the Golf 7 would be an improvement over the previous model, can't argue with that.

Cheers.
WJ

[Golf7]

Quality may not be up to par with early examples of an entirely new model range (MQB). Hearing you on the quality and perceived quality. It appears that VW are using more choice materials, but somehow not managing to improve perceived quality ... more of a sideways step from the Mark 6.

I relished that the Golf MK6 felt small and compact, like you're part of the vehicle re: smaller sized cabin. The Golf 7, esp. in the front, feels like a much bigger vehicle re: interior. You could trade down to a Polo GTI, but this vehicle is a bit too small and has a dog of a motor re: reliability & oil usage (gearbox could be an issue too).

The absence of metal in the interior is a concern and it's not good to hear that the rattles & squeaky plastics are her to stay with the Golf 7 - squeaks were the bain of my complaints both my MK5 and MK6 Golf GTI's.

The grey interior on the Mark 6 Golf GTI was a step backwards imo ... such a sombre colour esp. if you work in an officer environment where grey tends to dominate. The cloth interior on the MK5 Golf GTI was really good quality & colour ... the jacky cloth in grey is more of an cheaper denim cost cutting measure imo, if better wearing re: stains.

Dynamically ... early reviews are saying that the Golf 7 GTI that the rear dampers have been beefed up with improved anti-lift properties making for a secure handling GTI.

Top Gear Magazine U.K. edition gave the new Power-Pack Golf 7 GTI 7/10 stars for the same reason ... the step up from the MK6 Golf GTI is not that great. The LSD equiped PP GTI offers great grip & little or no understeer, but is a fairly clinical drive that is not the last word for visercal driving experiences. EVO say that their initial 6 -v- 7 Golf GTI drives suggest that the Golf 7 GTI is not anymore fun than the Golf MK6 GTI and that the Golf 7 GTI EA888 feels more diesel like in its power delivery with max power coming in much earlier around 4500rpm. Overall the Golf 7 would be an improvement over the previous model, can't argue with that.

Cheers.
WJ

Mate, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with the quality. I do think that in many aspects the Mk.7 is a sideways step. It's the perfect phrase to describe the aura and character. There is something missing here I believe, some of the Mk.6's special feeling inside. I agree with the fact that it IS better in almost every single way BUT something, something that you can't put your finger on is wrong.

[AdamD]

Mate, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with the quality. I do think that in many aspects the Mk.7 is a sideways step. It's the perfect phrase to describe the aura and character. There is something missing here I believe, some of the Mk.6's special feeling inside. I agree with the fact that it IS better in almost every single way BUT something, something that you can't put your finger on is wrong.

My feeling is that, based on your experiences with the Mk6 coupled with the anticipation and specs of the new model, your expectations were perhaps a little unrealistic? It's certainly an easy thing to do; just think of the post-Christmas blues.

There's no question that the Mk6 is a pretty special car, and a hard act to follow, but it's by no means perfect. It too suffers from the odd squeak and rattle (many owners experience - and hate - the b-pillar creak), there are cheaper hard plastics in places, some of the electronics are limited in their functionality and frustrating in their execution, the Vienna leather is as much vinyl as anything else, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mk6 and think that it's a fantastic compromise for the money, but when you go in expecting perfection, you're always going to be disappointed. VW can't spend high-end Mercedes money building these cars, and there are only so many problems you can overcome with clever engineering and execution.

Some issues you notice will no doubt be addressed over time as the line matures, and with running changes. Either way, I'm sure the Mk7 will be a more-than-adequate successor to the VI.

[Golf7]

My feeling is that, based on your experiences with the Mk6 coupled with the anticipation and specs of the new model, your expectations were perhaps a little unrealistic? It's certainly an easy thing to do; just think of the post-Christmas blues.

There's no question that the Mk6 is a pretty special car, and a hard act to follow, but it's by no means perfect. It too suffers from the odd squeak and rattle (many owners experience - and hate - the b-pillar creak), there are cheaper hard plastics in places, some of the electronics are limited in their functionality and frustrating in their execution, the Vienna leather is as much vinyl as anything else, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mk6 and think that it's a fantastic compromise for the money, but when you go in expecting perfection, you're always going to be disappointed. VW can't spend high-end Mercedes money building these cars, and there are only so many problems you can overcome with clever engineering and execution.

Some issues you notice will no doubt be addressed over time as the line matures, and with running changes. Either way, I'm sure the Mk7 will be a more-than-adequate successor to the VI.

Great words Adam, I feel pretty much exactly as you described. I wouldn't say I'm the dictionary definition of disappointed about the Mk.7 but I'm sort of lost, not sure where to go. No doubt it is a superb car and as you said I probably went in with expectations that it was going to be faster than a Veyron, burn a litre of fuel per 100kms etc. But is an amazing car, with a couple of niggles and sadly perfection it ain't. Having never spend longer than a day in the Mk.6 that car came closer to perfection for me, it just had, well less niggles that were visible to me. The Mk.7 is definitely more talented on the road, a bit bigger, more economical and to my eye looks a bit sharper but as I said with my suit example, a couple of small niggles leave me a bit lost... This coupled with my expectations and... We have my situation. It will without any doubt be my next car but philosophically I've got some questions. Perhaps it's the fact that we have seen this all before or something. I don't know... Oh and about the Mk.6, it always appeared to me (3 years ago when I first drove it) that it was something of a baby Benz, but even that would be doing it a disservice. I'll have the full review up later today hopefully. It will be much more precise and factual than my lousy words here.

[soogs]

Sat in a Highline on Friday and like many of you, I was underwhelmed. I felt the dashboard too blingly esp the piano black and the chrome highlights on the binnacle. In fact I happened to just step out of a 6 year old Astra and felt the dashboard looked better in the understated European way. Emperor's clothes?

[ctan]

Mate, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with the quality. I do think that in many aspects the Mk.7 is a sideways step. It's the perfect phrase to describe the aura and character. There is something missing here I believe, some of the Mk.6's special feeling inside. I agree with the fact that it IS better in almost every single way BUT something, something that you can't put your finger on is wrong.

That's exactly how I felt when I got into one the other day. Something is not quite right but I can't put a finger on it. The MK6 Comfortline was perfect to me in every way the first time I took it for a test drive. There was no second thoughts about buying it. Maybe I'll get used to the new Golf, the interior is just not as refined (imo) as the reviewers have made it out to be.

[Cuthbert]

See below.

[Cuthbert]

Sat in a Highline on Friday and like many of you, I was underwhelmed. I felt the dashboard too blingly esp the piano black and the chrome highlights on the binnacle. In fact I happened to just step out of a 6 year old Astra and felt the dashboard looked better in the understated European way. Emperor's clothes?

Soogs, I was so put off by the blingy piano black dash that I downgraded my order to a 90 TSI Comfortline which has a more understated - and in my opinion - classier dash.

I have had my new Comfortline for a week now and am VERY happy with it. A beautiful car in so many ways. Yet, I would have been happy to pay an extra $4,500 for the Highline, but I just couldn't live with all the black gloss, finger marks and reflections! I do hope VW Australia wakes up to this problem and offers an alternative dash in their Highline model for people who want a more subtle and understated look.

[Golf7]

That's exactly how I felt when I got into one the other day. Something is not quite right but I can't put a finger on it. The MK6 Comfortline was perfect to me in every way the first time I took it for a test drive. There was no second thoughts about buying it. Maybe I'll get used to the new Golf, the interior is just not as refined (imo) as the reviewers have made it out to be.

I think that they're just glossing over it a bit, comparing it to the rubbish offered in the Cruze, Corolla and Focus. Us VW connoisseurs expect something more. I know what you mean, there's just something missing... It all looks very nice and when push comes to shove it IS beautifully made but... I have no idea... Quite lost.

[Arnold]

Um, because I saw the car??? During their spec consultation???

Given the effusiveness with which you have written about your Golf experiences on these pages, it comes as quite a surprise to learn that you were being so coy about having seen a Mark VII GTI in the flesh so far ahead of its expected Australian launch, even if it was LHD, and particularly while you were commenting on the new GTI's specifications.

[Golf7]

Given the effusiveness with which you have written about your Golf experiences on these pages, it comes as quite a surprise to learn that you were being so coy about having seen a Mark VII GTI in the flesh so far ahead of its expected Australian launch, even if it was LHD, and particularly while you were commenting on the new GTI's specifications.

Well-observed! Now what was your point again???

[Arnold]

Well-observed! Now what was your point again???

Being the budding journalist that you are, I was surprised that you did not announce that you had seen the GTI in the flesh sooner and report when and where it occurred.

Instead, you only seemed to mention this titillating fact in passing by way of a rebuke to someone who wondered how you could possibly know the specifications of the GTI 6 months before its release.

But doesn't a "specification consultation" imply that VWA had not finalised the specifications of the car when they held the specification consultation (which I admit I had not heard of before, and certainly not using an imported left hand drive car and involving members of the media who traditionally leak like a sieve but which, apart from you, have kept schtum)?

[MkVIGTI]

I think your right with the DCC and the 19s...

Does that mean the GTI PP will come with DCC standard as well?

[Dutch77]

Does that mean the GTI PP will come with DCC standard as well?

Based on Golf7's nominated pricing on the GTI with the PP being $3k premium I'd say no - you'd get the PP treatment and the 19s only for that $3k, then another $1.5k odd for the DCC. More info in the GTI thread.

[Golf7]

Based on Golf7's nominated pricing on the GTI with the PP being $3k premium I'd say no - you'd get the PP treatment and the 19s only for that $3k, then another $1.5k odd for the DCC. More info in the GTI thread.

To settle this all, the whole point of the event was to ascertain what colours, interior fabrics and non-driving related options and equipment that we wanted...