Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Arnold]

It goes without saying... the A series is a Golf/Focus competitor. So it is the same "size" as them. The next "size" down is the Polo/Yaris class. Whether the interior space is equivalent is another matter. 1 Series is constricted by RWD and engine layout.

I was referring to your comment that:

Interior space is dependent on the priorities of the manufacturer.

not whether the two cars are the same "size". They might be in the same size class, I suppose.

[Jimi]

Sorry to go on about the performance pack, but I just came across this South African GTI review:

Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI

In it there is the suggestion that SA won't get the PP straight away because "Volkswagen AG has apparently not yet released this upgrade for “hot” regions, including South Africa". That may explain the delay here too (in other words it's not just VWA being evil) but I do wonder how they can tune the same EA888 engine to 206kw in the 'hot climate' Golf R yet still have work to do on the relatively minor tweaks that relate to the GTI PP over the regular GTI. Anyway, here's hoping we get either a yes/no or a hint of the timeframe sooner rather than later. At the moment it's hard to know whether to hang on for a few months or look elsewhere.

[DoggieHowser]

Sorry to go on about the performance pack, but I just came across this South African GTI review:

Volkswagen Golf 7 GTI

In it there is the suggestion that SA won't get the PP straight away because "Volkswagen AG has apparently not yet released this upgrade for “hot” regions, including South Africa". That may explain the delay here too (in other words it's not just VWA being evil) but I do wonder how they can tune the same EA888 engine to 206kw in the 'hot climate' Golf R yet still have work to do on the relatively minor tweaks that relate to the GTI PP over the regular GTI. Anyway, here's hoping we get either a yes/no or a hint of the timeframe sooner rather than later. At the moment it's hard to know whether to hang on for a few months or look elsewhere.

Or it could be the reliability of the mechanical LSD in our warmer climates.

[Ryan_R]

While the R/S3 is now using the EA888 from the GTI it still is "completely rebuilt from the ground up" and not just remapped, according to a bunch of reviews I've seen.

[Longy]

While the R/S3 is now using the EA888 from the GTI it still is "completely rebuilt from the ground up" and not just remapped, according to a bunch of reviews I've seen.

Here is a link to details on the Audi S3 EA-888, which is the same engine used in the upcoming Golf R.

Tech Analysis: Next Generation 2.0 TFSI for New Audi S3 - Fourtitude.com

[DV52]

Hi. I was hoping to hear from those of you that havepurchased the new Golf Mk7 regarding problems with the VW infortainment system.
In my vehicle (which is a 103 TSI Highline that Ipurchased midyear) the infortainment system has a number of"peculiarities". These include: the Sat Nav cannot pronounce streetnames correctly, the Sat Nav does not display street lights (despite the factthat I have invoked this functionality in the set-up menu) and reception on theFM radio is appalling.
Also, the "Voice command" function does notwork. When I press the "Voice" button on the bottom LH side of theinfortainment console, it operates the mute-function that I understand isinstalled in the comfortline version of the Golf.
I've returned thecar to the dealer, but they simply say that VW Australia doesn't have a fix forthese problems. I've also contacted VW Australia. They did nothing for a monthuntil I started to press-the-issue. Their response now is that they will needto talk to VW Germany. VW Australia seems to be guarded when I asked if myproblems are systemic to the model of car (or just peculiar to my vehicle).
The other problem that I had with the car was getting atow bar. After waiting for three months, I was told by the dealer that VWAustralia had no delivery date for the Mk7 tow bar. In sheer frustration, thedealer installed a mk 6 tow bar (Hayman Reece version) which works fine.
This is my first VW purchase, but I must say that I'mdisappointed in the after sales service quality. Is my experience typical, orare others having the same problems. Interested in your responses.

[pologti18t]

Hi. I was hoping to hear from those of you that havepurchased the new Golf Mk7 regarding problems with the VW infortainment system.

You did try search OR looked at the other topics that cover the issues you have?

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...mk7-87900.html for instance

[irossiter]

You cannot expect a computer to pronounce all street names correctly. I think it's quite amusing listening to a sat nav trying to pronounce some things! Are you joking about asking it to identify street lights??? Do you mean traffic lights or fixed speed cameras? I'm not aware that VW have introduced voice recognition. In my Mk 6 the voice or phone button mutes the stereo as I did not have Bluetooth installed. Is that what you mean? I haven't had a detailed look at the Mk 7 other than test driving a 103 earlier this year but I don't remember being told it had voice recognition. I could be proved incorrect on the above problems though.

[couchmotorist]

New VWA Facebook post is up! Unsurprisingly nav is standard. No mention of whether nav pro is an option in the comments section...

[irossiter]

I would have been pretty surprised if sat nav was not standard in GTI when standard in 103 TSI. Definitely not a Discover Pro in the facebook picture. There is no way that standard stuff on the 103 TSI wouldn't make it to the GTI.
I think DV52 above must think he has a Discover Pro system in his car.
I've always refused to pay for inbuilt sat nav. $2-4000 you are joking! I've stuck with my Garmin with FREE lifetime updates for the last 3 years. Think it cost me $299, now they are even cheaper. This is a technology that is generally included now because the cost has come down dramatically and the manufacturers realise they cant rip people off anymore. THEN charge $100-200 to an update.
I'd hope that the VW system has reasonably up to date mapping software otherwise I'll keep using my Garmin.
The A class Merc Command system is very nice with voice recognition and a 7 inch screen at eye level.

[DV52]

Irossiter:Thank
s for the feedback. I hope that I'm not too pedanticwhen it comes to how the Sat Nav pronounces street names, but the problem isthat most of the time the pronunciation is unintelligible. It's so bad that I can'trely on this part of the Sat Nav for navigation. I'm not sure what a"Discover Pro" is, but the bog-standard Garmin that I have in my other vehicle hasno problems with saying street names. PerhapsI'm less accommodating than you when it comes to these matters, but when Ispend this much money, I expect the function to be at least understandable.
I wasn't intending to be funny about the street lights,but yes it's my error. I did mean traffic lights (my apology).
Yes, VW does have voice recognition on the highline model.At least this is what the VW brochure says. As I said before, the car has aspecific button for this function marked with the word "Voice". As I understand, in the comfortline model,this button is marked "Mute". VW dealer and VW Australia do notdispute that the Highline has this functionality.

[DV52]

pologoti18t: I 'm new to this place, but many thanks for your suggestion.

[Jimi]

This is probably the wrong thread. Anyone interested in a GTI doesn't own a Mk 7 yet

[Ryan_R]

VW disabled voice control for Australia with the Mk7, and possibly with the last MY update for the Mk6. I've enabled it for my Mk6 Golf via VCDS, and there's a good chance that someone will work out how to do it with the Mk7 later on. Traffic/Speed cameras were able to be added to the Mk6 sat nav later on as well. These things just take time.

Portable sat nav makers like Garmin have to work a lot harder to provide perceived value/features otherwise they wouldn't have much of a market left given most people now have a smart phone with Google Maps and a half-decent data plan if their post-paid contract is <4 years old. Some people also prefer the convenience of having maps one button push away, without having to remember to bring the Garmin/TomTom, stick it to the window, run the power cable across the dash, wait for it to boot up, etc. Unless you're a taxi driver or courier you don't really need proper navigation as you know the area, but just having the map displayed with no programmed destination is handy for spotting alternative routes if traffic is bad, etc.

[tonymy01]

but just having the map displayed with no programmed destination is handy for spotting alternative routes if traffic is bad, etc.

I do this all the time, very handy for spotting side streets to duck into!