Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Spook]

These performance orientated technical components are combined with a list of visual enhancements. Externally these features include 19” Santiago alloy wheels, dark tinted window glass, Bi-Xenon headlights and LED tail lights. Internally the GTI Performance can be identified by a unique interpretation of the classic tartan upholstery featuring alcantara.

Per UK specs, 19" alloys are not able to be specified with the sunroof. Don't know if there is a technical issue with that, but potentially that could mean the sunroof may not be able to be specc'ed with PP.

Needed to visualise the Alcantara seats. A search turned up this:

[irossiter]

I agree, pologti18t. I get a bit steamed up sometimes on this forum but it sounds like you work for VW and I'm sure your bosses wouldn't be happy with your sarcasm towards other members here. I've been sarcastic sometimes and regret it when I look back and feel very embarrassed. Yes it sounds like a great car but we are allowed to express our opinions.
So, about the PP GTI I'm bloody furious VW are charging so much for it. Unless I'm wrong it is only £1500 more in the UK. Yes I know that we get Bixenons and DSG and that bixenons are standard on the non PP GTI over there. How dare VW Aust charge $6000 more for a PP. I'm also very upset that it will be DSG only. It is a performance version after all and some of us still LOVE manual cars and actually know how to coordinate our left leg and left arm whilst turning a steering wheel! That's what I love about riding motorcycles, the pure mechanical feel of a well timed gear change. Anyone can press the throttle to the floor and leave it there with one hand on the wheel. Dad has a DSG Golf R and yes the gearbox is VERY good but I hate the gap between throttle press and moving off gently from standstill and it's still not perfect going into or out of corners. The sports mode is just horrendous, ugly and useless. Unless I drove to work each day along the Great Ocean Rd I suppose.
I think a better "sports mode" is called a manual gearbox! I like double clutching or heel and toeing myself, NOT having a computer do it for me.
I've had manual cars since I was 18 and probably owned 20 cars now and none have been autos. I think a GTI is bought by "driving enthusiasts" so we should be offered a CHOICE.
Now about pricing.
My Mk 6 GTI cost $55,000 on the road, including all GST, with the options listed in my signature below and before corporate discount of $4000 odd. Not everyone will get a corporate discount so let's say 55 on road with nearly all options.
On road costs were $700 for Euro plates, $1315 stamp duty, $355 for ctp, $1500 for dealer delivery so $3870 total. The
Price of the car was 40,490 including GST Without options.
Therefore a PP GTI will be WELL OVER $50,000 on the road with sunroof, leather, driver assistance pack. Probably $55,000 WITHOUT on road costs so likely almost $60,000. A Merc A250 (unfortunately only available with a DSG equivalent gearbox) is just over $60,000 with everything the GTI has, except the clever diff and a tiny bit more power. The Merc doesn't have adjustable suspension which is a significant issue as the ride is very firm. The Merc also has free servicing included for 3 years. It is also free (so far) of the reliability issues that are tainting VW at the moment. My car has been in for warranty issues 3 or 4 times (only minor problems though).
All of the standard stuff like sat nav and reversing camera doesn't impress me. It's standard on a $35,000 Golf and I'll have to pay for updates at $1000 each time. Give me my Garmin with lifetime updates. I don't need a reversing camera either. Breeds bad driving or parking abilities. You won't see that young child running from the side of your car if you're not looking behind and around as we are taught in driving school.
The value for money in buying a GTI has gone I think. Don't get greedy.
VW, you've almost lost me and I never thought I'd say that.

[irossiter]

By the way, I HATE those 19 inch wheels on the PP GTI and would insist on 18's as they have in all other markets. Not only ugly but would worsen the ride quality even further let alone ruin the now signature look of the GTI.

[Arnold]

Per UK specs, 19" alloys are not able to be specified with the sunroof. Don't know if there is a technical issue with that, but potentially that could mean the sunroof may not be able to be specc'ed with PP.

Needed to visualise the Alcantara seats. A search turned up this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5625[/ATTACH]

Based on that photo Alcantara is a faux-suede trim in place of cloth on the "Jacky"-style seats or whatever they now call that check.

That means it is probably (more speculation) not an option on the standard GTI and so my figures would be out by $3150 if one attributes no value to that trim or by, say, $2,000 if one attributes around $1200 to that trim (which I think is what it added to a Polo GTI, no?).

Anyway, I seem to have generated a storm in a tea cup by ascribing $3,150 as the value of Alcantara when it is really just a no-cost part of the PP, worth perhaps $1200 as an option if it were available.

Not that that excuses the conduct of those who seem to try and hose down opinions that differ from their own such as that the PP should not have a manual option when it would hurt no one except those waiting for an auto if it did.

Anyway, if a separate cost is not attributed to the Alcantara the price difference between the PP and a similarly equipped standard GTI with DSG would be $1,850, for which you get:

7kw more Power (really worth, say, $500)
Electronic LSD ($500)
Alcantara trimmed seats ($500)
19" wheels ($500)

a total of $2,000, say, for an extra $1,850.

I don't mind being called up on false premises or even admitting my own mistakes but the way heavy posters on this forum, moderators amongst them*, have a go at people for holding a personal opinion is stultifying.

*Moderators whose lack of logic is confirmed by their inability to understand the Monty Hall Problem (which was originally put up to address CoreyR's assertion way back that logic could be dependent upon one's "opinion").

[Arnold]

By the way, I HATE those 19 inch wheels on the PP GTI and would insist on 18's as they have in all other markets. Not only ugly but would worsen the ride quality even further let alone ruin the now signature look of the GTI.

+1.

The ride issue might explain the deletion of the sunroof from the PP options list, if that is indeed the case.

I was wary about 18" rims when I was looking at a Mark VI (which I did not buy, I hasten to add) and would almost certainly rule out 19", even more so, but agree they look tacky compared with the 18" wheels.

[dsta]

Thank you for that resfreshing departure from logic, team_v.

You either did not read or did not understand my post, or did not grasp the point above relative value of two similarly equipped GTIs and that a base GTI with DSG, leather and Xenons would cost $1300 more than a PP.

Even as a manual driver, I would wait for and buy an auto PP before I paid $1200 less for a manual with less power and features.

With all due respect, VWA would be aware of this and for whatever reason have decided on this pricing model.

Have you considered that this could be a strategy to 'encourage' people to purchase the PP effectively raising the number of sales starting at $46k + ORC rather than $41k + OTR?

[Jimi]

So, about the PP GTI I'm bloody furious VW are charging so much for it. Unless I'm wrong it is only £1500 more in the UK.

It's £980 in the UK, so about A$1,500.

What this pricing structure does in my view is rule out the logic to anyone adding any options to a non-PP GTI. That probably makes VWA very happy; they will only be getting orders for completely standard manual GTIs or GTI-PPs.

The maths has already been done countless times, but my view is:

Stock manual GTI: $41.5k
GTI-PP DSG: $48k
GTI DSG: $44k. If you were to hypothetically bring this close to the performance pack you would add alcantara if it were an option (about $1,500 based on Euro markets) + 19" ($1,500 based on UK equivalent) + Bi-Xenons ($2,150) + rear LEDs (no comparison as they're not an option anywhere, but they go for 600 euros online, let's conservatively say A$500). Total: $49,650 and that's still without the diff, brakes and extra power that cost another $1,500 or so in other markets.

Therefore I can't see anyone playing with options unless it's an add-on to the PP. The PP is a good value package but two features in particular, those crashy 19" wheels and the transmission, are already polarising us.

I would go for 18" wheels if they end up being a no cost option on the PP. Hopefully they find it in their hearts to offer a manual too, even if it's not much less than $47k. Then again, how much more is the R going to be? It's all getting too hard!

[sheckster]

Just to throw it out there. Went to Merc yesterday to order A250 but was told expected delivery is April/March so I didn't go ahead. It's now very interesting 'coz GTI PP should be available around the same time (along with the R?)

[irossiter]

Only £980 for PP. Even more insulting to Aust buyers then! Also if we can't get a sunroof with the 19's (presuming they won't let you put on standard 18's) then they've lost a sale. Dealers make their profits with optioning up cars. I think it's very difficult to assign a dollar value on various front diffs, brakes etc etc on the PP. Alcantara side bolsters would be nice with the tartan fabric but I'm sure they will still slug you $3000 for full leather with seat heaters. Completely agree that adding multiple options to a standard GTI will get you close to the PP. That is exactly how VW will suggest you stretch to a more expensive model. Car makers don't make money on base models. I still think VW will be making massive profit on the PP GTI and that continues to turn me away from buying one, even on principle!

[irossiter]

Just to throw it out there. Went to Merc yesterday to order A250 but was told expected delivery is April/March so I didn't go ahead. It's now very interesting 'coz GTI PP should be available around the same time (along with the R?)

Merc not available til April is if you are ordering now. If you order a GTI now won't be available til April either if you don't grab the limited stock coming over now in standard GTI. If you order a PP when they arrive in the first quarter next year it will be the same story, pushed back to August/Sept unless you can get one of the first deliveries with the options you want.
Again, they usually load up the first arrival of cars with heaps of options, knowing that you won't want to wait another 6 months. Thus making lots of profit.

[macdub]

price is up on VW website..48670 drive away for DSG..if I add sunroof and leather, it will be around 52-53 driveaway..I remember getting a quote for A250 few months earlier with command pack which came to 56k driveaway...this is very close..I expected a gap bit wider..Merc will get lot of GTI buyers I think!

[Marcotto]

No manual PP no 3 door makes marcus something something.

[Arnold]

With all due respect, VWA would be aware of this and for whatever reason have decided on this pricing model.

Have you considered that this could be a strategy to 'encourage' people to purchase the PP effectively raising the number of sales starting at $46k + ORC rather than $41k + OTR?

I am certain that VWA has considered all relevant issues and set their pricing in light of competitors and, overall, with a view to maximising profit, as would go without saying.

Contrary to my earlier posts, which I will correct by annotation, the like-for-like difference between a standard GTI and a GTI PP would appear to be +$1850 (rather than minus $1300 as previously posited) and so not jeopardise the value proposition of the standard GTI quite as I had apprehended (when I thought Alacantra was akin to $3,150 worth of leather trim).

[Brycem]

Hmmm, you did notice that the M135i and A250 (and A45) come standard with an autobox. The vast majority of Golf GTIs are DSG. Hence the restriction of the PP to the DSG model.[/QUOTE]

Only here where the laziness of the so called drivers of drivers' cars want autos. That prevailing attitude will be the death of driver involvement. Can half the users on here even drive a manual?

[Golf7]

Embargo: 1 Oct 2013 8:30 AEST

October 1 2013

2014 will see arrival of GTI Performance in Australia

Golf GTI Performance will launch with new front differential lock, upgraded brakes and additional standard features

Tasmania, October 2013. From the first half of 2014, the Golf GTI lineup in Australia will be complemented by a new performance companion. The added Golf GTI Performance will come standard with unique visual and technical equipment, which will help set it apart from the standard version.

Extended performance features. On its exterior, the Golf GTI Performance differs from the standard GTI by its GTI logo on the front brake calipers. The brake package for the GTI Performance has been upgraded along with the increased engine output (169kW), the ventilated brakes discs are 28mm larger at 340mm, while the rear discs are now also ventilated and 10mm larger at 310mm in diameter.

Technical features of the Golf GTI Performance also include a newly developed front differential lock.

Front differential lock. A newly engineered electronic front differential lock is being used exclusively in the Golf GTI Performance. To date, Volkswagen is the only carmaker to utilise an electronically controlled differential lock in a front-wheel drive production model. Compared to purely mechanical locks, the front differential lock integrated in the Golf GTI Performance has a variable degree of locking and comprehensive interfaces to ESP, EDL and XDL+ functions. This makes it possible to entirely avoid negative effects on steering handling or steering precision that otherwise occurs with mechanical locks. As a result, the system realises the full potential and maximum performance of a differential lock with regard to vehicle dynamics, ensuring comfort is not impaired under any circumstances.

Additional standard features. Adding a higher level of specification above the standard Golf GTI, the GTI Performance is instantly recognizable with a range of luxury and convenience features as standard. Bi-Xenon headlights, dark tinted LED tail lights, tinted glass and 19-inch “Santiago” alloy wheels give the GTI Performance’s exterior a sporty look, while the GTI Performance’s interior receives sports seats featuring the newly designed “Clark” tartan, with the addition of race-style alcantara trim on the head rest and side bolsters, completing the nod to over 35 years of GTI history.

Golf GTI Performance RRP $47,990*
* Prices quoted are Manufacturer List Prices excluding dealer delivery charges, which may vary from dealer to dealer and statutory charges, which vary from state to state.