Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[GTInewgirl]

Thanks all for the tips - good to know I wasn't alone in thinking it bizarre to be asked to outlay serious cash without being allowed to test the car properly! I questioned it on the day & was referred to "a manager", who gave the insurance spiel. Left a sour taste so I won't be going back there, despite it being close by. Will try your suggestions!

[Mikey1]

Ring around even country NSW dealers.

How does that work? How do you establish a proper relationship with a dealer that you normally have no access to due to distance? A neighbour of mine purchased a demo 3-series BMW from Mildura BMW, where all the negotiation and contracts were done by phone and email. The car was shipped to his residence, a distance of 555 km by road. When received, the vehicle was not in the condition he expected, though I don't know if the damage was before or after it boarded the truck. I have read in this forum of members flying interstate or intrastate to collect their new purchase. This seems a bit drastic, and not something I would readily do. What would happen if there was a pre-delivery issue that required resolution by the selling dealer, but you're already halfway home several hours later?

[irossiter]

Mikey,
I never meant buy a car unseen. That's simply stupid. Particularly buying a demo or second hand car. What I meant was checking with dealers if they have a car to drive or in stock. I'm sorry you misinterpreted what I was saying.


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[Dutch77]

Mikey,
I never meant buy a car unseen. That's simply stupid. Particularly buying a demo or second hand car. What I meant was checking with dealers if they have a car to drive or in stock. I'm sorry you misinterpreted what I was saying.

First time I drove a Mk7 GTI was out of the showroom on delivery date.

[irossiter]

Yeah, if you know how good the car is from reports and it's new then it's always a winner. I didn't drive my first GTI in 2006. I'd read all of the European reports and was sold. Just ordered and knew I had to wait. I wouldn't buy a second hand car sight unseen. I was prepared to order a Mk 7 GTI PP without driving it when it was announced. Then they didn't release the bloody manual in Australia! Bought only my first auto in 25 yrs in the end and still a nice car.


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[Mikey1]

I was prepared to order a Mk 7 GTI PP without driving it when it was announced. Then they didn't release the bloody manual in Australia! Bought only my first auto in 25 yrs in the end and still a nice car.

Who do you blame for there being no manual GTI-PP, VW Australia or its customers, who buy just one manual standard model for every nine DSG's sold (quoted by Adam)? I think the good price for the PP is due to it being a single specification, albeit still able to be optioned with leather and DA package.

[Mikey1]

100% agree KWS.

And Mikey1: ..I wonder whether my reputation for changing cars over way too often and assisting friends and clients with vehicle purchases means my reputation precedes me. It certainly does at least at VW..

There is no doubt that having an existing relationship with either a sales rep or dealership will help you , aspecially if you regularly turn over your fleet and/or refer new business their way. I think I kept my MkV GTI too long, as Barloworld Glen Waverley showed little interest in going the extra yard when I advised I was a repeat customer from 9 years ago! I wasn't a great customer for their service department either!

[Splashalot]

Who do you blame for there being no manual GTI-PP, VW Australia or its customers, who buy just one manual standard model for every nine DSG's sold (quoted by Adam)? I think the good price for the PP is due to it being a single specification, albeit still able to be optioned with leather and DA package.

I don't understand what skin off VW Aus' nose it is to have a manual option available for pre-order from the factory. It's not like they have to import cars they can't sell and have them sitting in stock yards for ages. Looks like I'll be forced to go with a Focus ST or Megane just to get the manual/xenons combination. I don't understand VW Aus stubborness on this issue - when there are good competitors out there to the GTI offering manual/xenons.

[Mikey1]

I don't understand what skin off VW Aus' nose it is to have a manual option available for pre-order from the factory. It's not like they have to import cars they can't sell and have them sitting in stock yards for ages. Looks like I'll be forced to go with a Focus ST or Megane just to get the manual/xenons combination. I don't understand VW Aus stubborness on this issue - when there are good competitors out there to the GTI offering manual/xenons.

If your budget allows, buy a manual R. This is a much better package than the models you suggested. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, I'd also consider a fully optioned used manual Mk6 R.

[Jimi]

Mikey's signature (above) makes for interesting reading. He currently has a MY05 MKV GTI with manual and bixenons.

Fast forward 10 years and VW don't offer it. We have actually gone backwards in a decade!!

[Mikey1]

Mikey's signature (above) makes for interesting reading. He currently has a MY05 MKV GTI with manual and bixenons.

Fast forward 10 years and VW don't offer it. We have actually gone backwards in a decade!!

Times change. When I ordered my GTI in January 2005, I was very disappointed to learn no 3-door would be available (in 2005 at least), coming from a Honda Integra, that's all I ever needed or wanted. Bi-Xenons were never on my or the dealer's radar, until a few months later they contacted me and asked if I was interested in this new option at circa $2K. I advised my dealer I would get back to them. After much research, I agreed, and am glad I did. I would never buy another car without them or LED headlights. However, I paid $51K for my chariot back then, which today would be equivalent to $62K (assuming an average of 2.5% PA inflation over 9 years), so nobody would pay that amount today for the performance and technology then. VW seems to have taken the approach that if the majority of customers omit this option, then they will delete it. Dynaudio didn't even get to 1st base on the Mk7. I'm sure sunroofs will be next. The choice is very clear to the type of customer VAG wants - for value buy a Volkswagen, for luxury and a more extensive equipment/options list buy an Audi. There are plenty of examples of VW owners who have upgraded to Audi's to fit this mould, and they are still happy VAG customers in doing so!

[Dutch77]

Times change. When I ordered my GTI in January 2005, I was very disappointed to learn no 3-door would be available (in 2005 at least), coming from a Honda Integra, that's all I ever needed or wanted. Bi-Xenons were never on my or the dealer's radar, until a few months later they contacted me and asked if I was interested in this new option at circa $2K. I advised my dealer I would get back to them. After much research, I agreed, and am glad I did. I would never buy another car without them or LED headlights. However, I paid $51K for my chariot back then, which today would be equivalent to $62K (assuming an average of 2.5% PA inflation over 9 years), so nobody would pay that amount today for the performance and technology then. VW seems to have taken the approach that if the majority of customers omit this option, then they will delete it. Dynaudio didn't even get to 1st base on the Mk7. I'm sure sunroofs will be next. The choice is very clear to the type of customer VAG wants - for value buy a Volkswagen, for luxury and a more extensive equipment/options list buy an Audi. There are plenty of examples of VW owners who have upgraded to Audi's to fit this mould, and they are still happy VAG customers in doing so!

I think your calculation shows how car prices have actually continued to reduce in real terms over a fairly long time now. You'd expect a three door GTI with xenons to clock in at the low $40s on road if still offered these days. The classic case of course is the WRX which has floated in a $2k band pretty much since its initial offering in the 90s.

I've got xenons on our other car and they are vastly superior to the halogens on the Mk7, but I'll continue to argue my point that for me it is a moot point - I rarely drive on unlit roads at night which is the only time they are of any benefit. My $2k is better put towards things like.. OZ wheels. However if I was doing a lot of unlit night driving then yes, the xenons are a no-brainer.

I totally understand the concepts of inventory control and keeping costs and therefore options lists down, but if a customer is willing to pay a sufficient enough holding deposit to cover any loss VWA would incur on an oddly specced vehicle if things fell through then what is the harm in allowing someone to order a manual GTI with xenons, Dynaudio and purple metallic paint? VWA are in the envious position of selling a product that a lot of their customers accept they will have to wait for ex Germany.

Yes it does push people up the chain into Audi as budgets increase, and as someone who may look at an S3 equivalent next time around I fit the mould. But I wouldnt be doing my homework if I didnt then look at what BMW and Mercedes are offering then as well.

[Splashalot]

If your budget allows, buy a manual R. This is a much better package than the models you suggested. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, I'd also consider a fully optioned used manual Mk6 R.

Unfortunately the R is almost certainly out of my budget range. Manual R (no options) is $58,414 on the road down here in Tassie. Focus ST is ~$43k on road. With xenons std. Unfortunately I can't justify the extra $15k, although the R almost certainly is a superior drive (I've not driven either yet, but will soon). So in my case VW's restrictive options policy will likely force me to another marque.

I've considered the Mk6 R. Do the Mk6 GTI and R suffer the carbon coking issue on inlet valves (as per the Mk5)? This is a major driver for me - hence my interest in the Mk7 GTI with the dual injection system to combat coking.

Worst case scenario I'll just keep my Mk5 GTI and pay a grand or so to decoke the engine every few years. My wife's Honda Euro has xenons so I can use that at night instead.

[Mountainman]

So in my case VW's restrictive options policy will likely force me to another marque.

Just for the xenons? Does that one thing alone outweigh all the other reasons why you would choose a GTI over a Focus ST? Yeah we all know xenons are better than halogens but.......

[Splashalot]

Unfortunately, yes. Our roads down here are littered with animal carcasses and cars regularly collect wallabies etc. My GTI's halogen's don't pick up the road verge (regardless how they're adjusted) but the Euro's xenons do. Makes a surprisingly large difference.

If the Focus (or maybe WRX) is at all close to the GTI in driving experience I will likely go that route because I can get manual and xenons. If the competition doesn't catch my imagination I'll probably keep my Mk5 and hope the options policy changes in the future.