Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[couchmotorist]

Also a factor could be the fact that they can't offer anything much different to rrp until the 15th (according to someone a few pages back)

Does anyone know the corporate pricing yet. It was hinted to me that it's $1,800 less which isn't much, I thought it was meant to be of the order of 10%

I signed up for a white manual today and the dealer showed me the pricing sheet for corporate buyers. Corporate saves about $700 and Corporate Plus (or Government) saves only $1800. In his words, it was "only F*** all".
He also said that originally no one was able to purchase a car before he 12th but it was brought forward. For this reason the dealers hadn't been sent these discounts yet and were hesitant to make any offers. It only popped up in an email late this week so that's why every has been dragging their heels on the issue.

[spikeyboy22]

I signed up for a white manual today and the dealer showed me the pricing sheet for corporate buyers. Corporate saves about $700 and Corporate Plus (or Government) saves only $1800. In his words, it was "only F*** all".
He also said that originally no one was able to purchase a car before he 12th but it was brought forward. For this reason the dealers hadn't been sent these discounts yet and were hesitant to make any offers. It only popped up in an email late this week so that's why every has been dragging their heels on the issue.

Cool thanks for that info...

With that I will wait, for the drive away deals on these things when they don't sell.

What that I hear you say, we won't get drive away deals... vw said that too for the new golf...

And now we have drive away deals ...

[irossiter]

I think the Golf is definitely trying too hard to be Audi. I LOVED the graphics and red and blue lighting on the instruments in my Mk 5 GTI and then they simply copied the Audi set up on the Mk 6. Easier to read yes but lost the individiality.

[Finance_Analyst]

As I reiterate, the Mk7 having the same engine and gearbox as a mk6 cannot be vastly better as I have discovered myself after a long drive in the new car. When the basic architecture is the same, basic physics says it really can't be much different - this new MQB I am still trying to work out what it does other than bring better fuel economy and less weight (all good things). Cars which offer that extra over a base GTI are like a BMW m135i or Merc A45 as they adopt different engine,drivetrain etc so it must be better...

I akin the similarities to comparing the Mk7 to Mk6 GTI as a 45 year old getting plastic surgery to look younger- sure they will look better and the untrained eye may be tricked, but when lined up next to a 25 year old, well, you cannot reverse the natural ageing process can you??

[WhiteJames]

Upgrades will only be incremental from old to new model. A different way of looking at the issue is that if you skip one model iteration, you're looking at approx 30K from old to un-optioned new model (i.e. MK5 to MK7). Purchasing every new updated model (i.e. MK5 to MK6 to MK7) may involve a 15K outlay from old to new, provided that you sell privately. It's a matter if you want to spend less more often or spend more less often.

Corp. Discount for Gov't on MK6 was $3,500 ... add another $500-$2000 discount depending on how highly your MK6 GTI was optioned ... which resulted in about 8-10% discount. Wait to see if Europe and the UK economies tank (again), which may well result in excess stock of GTI's on the floor, as was the case with the MK5 R32 and MK6 GTI final year production.
WJ

[AdamD]

Engine is sweet but as it is the same EA113 with ko3 (I believe) then it can't be vastly different to the mk6 as I discovered.

Both Mk6 and Mk7 use the EA888 (which was itself a derivative of the EA113 in the Mk5 GTI and Mk6 R). However, in the Mk7 the EA888 is now both direct and indirect injected, has variable valve timing on inlet and exhaust (and variable lift on the exhaust valves), and the head has had a substantial redesign (particularly with respect to cooling channels). The turbo housing is also different, and the wastegate is electronically controlled. The engine is 8kg lighter too.

I wouldn't sell these updates too short - they're substantial. A lot of this was required in order for the engine to produce the bigger numbers required of the R and S3 (both of which run the K04 to the GTI's K03, and also use a larger intercooler).

[Finance_Analyst]

Both Mk6 and Mk7 use the EA888 (which was itself a derivative of the EA113 in the Mk5 GTI and Mk6 R). However, in the Mk7 the EA888 is now both direct and indirect injected, has variable valve timing on inlet and exhaust (and variable lift on the exhaust valves), and the head has had a substantial redesign (particularly with respect to cooling channels). The turbo housing is also different, and the wastegate is electronically controlled. The engine is 8kg lighter too.

I wouldn't sell these updates too short - they're substantial. A lot of this was required in order for the engine to produce the bigger numbers required of the R and S3 (both of which run the K04 to the GTI's K03, and also use a larger intercooler).

My bad - always get confused with ea888 and 113 as I read articles which confuse them too

Agree that there are obviously updates - in this case to show incremental gains to justify upgrades/advancements but when the basic architecture of the engine is the same, driveability cannot be that different as I discovered.... (unless I completely missed something big on my 45 min test drive). Now a 2.5 turbo with 5 cylinders under the golf? That would be a different drive....

[nat225]

VWA should bring in manual 3dr with PP or at least a LSD option.

Plus ability to turn off esp completely.

Then i am sure a lot of purists will buy it.

[Finance_Analyst]

VWA should bring in manual 3dr with PP or at least a LSD option.

Plus ability to turn off esp completely.

Then i am sure a lot of purists will buy it.

And also remove that annoying electric handbrake - can't beat the traditional handbrake

[Ryan_R]

Everyone I've talked to who's lived with the electric parking brake for a few weeks now reckon they prefer it.

[Diesel_vert]

VWA should bring in manual 3dr with PP or at least a LSD option.

Plus ability to turn off esp completely.

It's a nice thought.

However, would a purist (as in, those yearning for the ultimate expression/experience of driving) really consider a Golf in the first place?

In any case, VW were never chasing that market anyway - you'll always find more sales to be had by enticing the average consumer (bigger market share) rather than driving purists. A prudent business decision if I ever saw one.

Given that past sales in Australia were heavily skewed towards five doors and a self-shifting gearbox, I'm not at all surprised VGA have packaged the new GTI in the manner that they have, and at the end of the day, I think they'll find all the consumers (as well as sales figures) they ever wanted.

[Tobes_WIR35]

How do you explain the explosion of 86 sales? I'd say that's as close to a purist car as you're likely to get these days (at least that a regular Joe can afford). The market is there, it may not be huge, but it's significant enough

[Finance_Analyst]

How do you explain the explosion of 86 sales? I'd say that's as close to a purist car as you're likely to get these days (at least that a regular Joe can afford). The market is there, it may not be huge, but it's significant enough

Probably because the 86 is a proper sports car with RWD while a 3dr golf well, looks like a pizza delivery car??

[Diesel_vert]

How do you explain the explosion of 86 sales? I'd say that's as close to a purist car as you're likely to get these days (at least that a regular Joe can afford). The market is there, it may not be huge, but it's significant enough

The type of configuration that purists would want (3-door, manual, minimum options/weight, no frippery, nothing that doesn't add performance) is pretty much undesirable to much of the typical Golf GTI consumer base - and given that it's a car aimed at such an audience, it appears that VGA thinks the purist market isn't really worth the energy to pursue - even if the business case stacks up (i.e. very slim profit margins or something).


If I were VGA, I'd let people choose less profitable or undesirable combinations under the guise of "special orders". This way, the dealer reduces the risk of ending up with automotive doorstops in their showrooms and retains the upper hand when negotiating the price, while the consumer is able to get precisely what they want and personalise their purchase to the nth degree. This way, it seems to me that you're able to cover all bases.

Unless of course, this "special order" regime costs way more to administer than to actually profit from (maybe it does, I don't know).

[GeckoZAO]

just had a look at the specs...
86 has 147kw power and 205nm torque, its known for its light weight, but only 8.2s 0-100km acceleration?...
comparing to 103kw golf @ 8.6s and 6.5s for 162kw GTI.
also, for all japanese cars, including lexus, infiniti and acura, their interiors are just so cheap...