Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Golf7]

I doubt they'd build cars in RHD in Mexico for a market as small as ours. Doesn't save much on transport either

Agree. Why on earth would they increase their costs so much just in order to produce a handful of cars for our market which are RHD... Let's get real, petition anyone??? I've already contacted Head Office here to complain...

[Jimi]

I'll sign.

[pologti18t]

I doubt they'd build cars in RHD in Mexico for a market as small as ours. Doesn't save much on transport either

The US spec Golf GTI will have a normal handbrake (cheaper?)

Where do our VW Jettas come from?

"Country of origin

MEXICO"

How much you think they pay a Mexican to assemble a car compared to someone in Germany.....

[Guest001]

HAve you all seen this

First pics! The 370kW twin-turbo VW Golf

[Dutch77]

HAve you all seen this

First pics! The 370kW twin-turbo VW Golf

I'd only seen the sketches posted, not the actual car.

I'm worried when I hear possible future design cues and see a doubling up of those damn strakes now on the rear as well!

[WhiteJames]

The Jetta is made in Mexico ... and with the new MQB chassis ... any factory equipped to make the MQB type of vehicle could make any variant of the MQB ... whether it be a Golf, Passat, Jetta or Polo ... or for that matter ... one week build Audi A3 ... next week build Golf GTI in the very same factory. The specs that Golf7 is proposing are indeed USA specs for the Golf 7 GTI ... which has me a bit suspicious that the std non-PP Golf GTI could come from USA/Mexico. The way things are going, it may not be long before China is spitting out MQB made Golf GTI's. The actual pay rate between Mexico and China has been bridged over the past half a decade: Mexico - $2.20/hr and China - $1.70/hr. Why would you bring a std Golf non-PP from Europe ... esp. if you want to offer it for under 40K?
Cheers.
WJ

[Ryan_R]

Who here is going to buy a German semi-prestige car made in China though? Especially after VW singled out certain DSG issues resulting in a recall as only a local Chinese factory problem (best not to get into that too much in this thread though).

[Dutch77]

I like that I have a Wolfsburg car.. I'm happy to pay a (slight) premium for that.

[spikeyboy22]

I don't think we have seen this but I have uploaded to my google drive the GTI press book and background information from the press day in Austria.

Press still it is in English, 60 pages with specs an information and pics, I have printed up as a book...

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5b-6rXCdAD4bWtJNWtLSVUtVDg/preview

Enjoy

[DoggieHowser]

Australian VW Golf GTI Specification Speculation

I am pretty sure the current Jetta is NOT MQB based.

[VW Convert]

For those who are not aware, RHD/LHD is not an issue for a car assembly line.

Some years ago I took a tour of the Mercedes factory in Stuttgart and witnessed on one assembly line a procession of cars, RHD sedan followed by LHD wagon followed by LHD sedan followed by RHD wagon and so on. Cars are built with a bill of materials, each component or assembly being delivered to the appropriate section of the assembly line just in time.

My 06 Jetta was built in Mexico, assembly and finish was second to none. Human input into car assembly is of such a limited nature due to technology, organisation and logistics that the days of assembly line workers having a negative impact on car quality are pretty well gone. And for those who believe that German assembled vehicles and or components are superior because the German assembly lines are manned by Teutonic types, rest assured, most factory jobs in Germany are carried out by people of Eastern European origin, believe me, I've been to scores of major automotive component factories in Germany and seen it.

Cheers

George

[Golf7]

For those who are not aware, RHD/LHD is not an issue for a car assembly line.

This couldn't be further from the truth... Yes the cars do eventually roll down the same production line but special tooling and manufacturing processes need to be set up and developed specifically for the RHD models. I could elaborate much further...

[Paul_R]

If the GTI PP doesn't come it might be because it is too close to the price of the R.
For the record I will be buying a 5 door manual R (again). I'm happy with an electric handbrake too.

If I was going to winge about anything up front it would be to have 18" rims as standard (or no cost option) on the R. 19's are too big if you are needing 35 section tyres to make them fit.

[alebonau]

This couldn't be further from the truth... Yes the cars do eventually roll down the same production line but special tooling and manufacturing processes need to be set up and developed specifically for the RHD models. I could elaborate much further...

not really. I've worked for a car maker in australia making both LHD and RHD on the same production line and it is literally no bigee at all. I saw this from conception to pre build to actual manufacture. literally you can build rhd and lhd on the same line you can even build different models in the family on the same line. as long as they share the same platform and build that in the production processes. easy peasy been going on for decades. multi market is the go for car makers. you cant restrict your self to just one market anymore.

[WhiteJames]

^ Where's the other half of that forum review re: Golf GTI -v- Merc A250 AMG Sport with the driving impressions?
Here's a bit more on the MK7 Golf GTI ... looks like the PP Golf GTI will come a bit later to AUS:

First drive: VW Golf GTI review | carsguide.com.au

Carguide.com.au should have the second part of this review re: PP Golf GTI in the near future.

Cheers.
WJ