Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[captainkarisma]

Oct 15th, read somewhere that this is the day that deals are supposed to flow through on the GTI. Hopefully thats the case

[Ryan_R]

What's the story with the elec hand brake when the battery fails .

I dunno, disconnect your battery and let us know what happens. Otherwise call your mates and lift the rear end of the car up

[Eaglehawk]

What's the story with the elec hand brake when the battery fails .

Because the Australian website has an incomplete glossary...

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) < Technical Glossary < Help < Volkswagen Canada

The mechanical components are designed to hold the parked Passat securely, even if the onboard electric power supply fails.

Not sure what happens if you're moving if the battery fails though...but you've got hydraulic brakes for that scenario right?

[Mountainman]

wasnt the handbrake a "mechanical" way of stopping the car or considered an emergency brake? seems like the switch is gimmicky, and that any moving part that is used will wear quicker. its just a fact of life. no matter how good the materials are, it will need to be maintained or replaced.

Have you ever tried bringing your car to a complete stop from a 100km/h just using the handbrake? You'll be amazed at just how inefficient it is. You just seem to keep rolling forever. And maintainence? At least there are no more stretched/broken handbrake cables to worry about.

[Scratchyratface]

Have the first batch of these arrived in Oz yet? I swear I saw a Red MK7 GTI over the back of Mt Cotton on Friday morning.

[captainkarisma]

Have the first batch of these arrived in Oz yet? I swear I saw a Red MK7 GTI over the back of Mt Cotton on Friday morning.

The dealers i spoke to on Sat had the new deliveries but mentioned they could only be collected on the 15th - today

[readerr0r]

Well its finally in redbook now

Manual
New Car Research - New Car Prices - Compare New Cars - RedBook.com.au

DSG
New Car Research - New Car Prices - Compare New Cars - RedBook.com.au

[Finance_Analyst]

I have spoken to 3 dealers in QLD (Bryan Byrt, Gold Coast VW and Sunshine Coast VW) and they have all said there are no corporate deals at the moment for GTIs as they are so new.

Even more reason for me NOT to upgrade now.....

[Diesel_vert]

I see a lot of RenaultSports and a fair few Focus RS's around, and back in the 90's Integra Type R's were considered a proper enthusiasts car. The original Mk1 GTI is probably the definition of a "purist" car.

There's no reason why a modern Golf GTI couldn't be as well.

Well, yes - in terms of pure driving, Volkswagen could easily decide to build the Golf GTI as a real competitor to the current RS Megane... but they don't, which is probably a deliberate decision.

I agree with WJ, motor journalists and other enthusiasts in that the Golf GTI is an 8/10ths car (that's hard to dispute) but that's not to say it isn't a good car - far from it. I think the Golf plays to its own strengths well very, in regards to what today's average Golf GTI owner expects from their car, so like the Mk5 and Mk6 GTI, I think it continues to be a better car for it.

By not chasing ultimate performance or purist ideals, the car ends up being attractive and accessible to a broader audience. In fact, it's a car I can see myself recommending to my own folks (should they suddenly feel the need for speed), and you can't easily claim the same thing with a hot Focus or Megane - though depending on one's viewpoint, that may not necessarily be a good thing, haha.

[Mutley251]

Have the first batch of these arrived in Oz yet? I swear I saw a Red MK7 GTI over the back of Mt Cotton on Friday morning.

Yes they are definitely here. I have one in the driveway.

On a side note I notice the speedo reading is closer to actual than the previous model. Previous one was 6 / 7 ks out, meaning 100 real would show 106 / 107. My new 7 is only 2 / 3 ks out.

And another side note ... Could it be my imagine, however I noticed during the first couple of days of driving I could barely hear the note between gear changes. A few days in and it's coming through loud and clear. Does this make any sense or is it my imagination. Still only have 300ks on the clock.

Oh and speaking of the clock, the speedo has a pretty neat feature. The trip meter 'ticks' over rather than just changing. It almost takes me back to my Sigma days before the digital trip meter displays.

[Mi16 Man]

Spotted these babies at Gerald Slaven in Canberra....

[Jimi]

Is it just me?

The Mk6 looks pretty good with halogens. They gave the car a bit of the look of a rally car of yesteryear.

On the Mk7 the headlights look a bit lost from most angles other than front-on, as if they're smaller than before or the housing has gotten larger. It's sort of like when someone who wears glasses all the time takes them off; it just looks a bit funny (I wear glasses so I can say this!).

I've specced the bixenons because I think ill use them, but even though I'm not sold on the red line through the cluster, their general appearance keeps growing on me too

[Tobes_WIR35]

Well, yes - in terms of pure driving, Volkswagen could easily decide to build the Golf GTI as a real competitor to the current RS Megane... but they don't, which is probably a deliberate decision.

I agree with WJ, motor journalists and other enthusiasts in that the Golf GTI is an 8/10ths car (that's hard to dispute) but that's not to say it isn't a good car - far from it. I think the Golf plays to its own strengths well very, in regards to what today's average Golf GTI owner expects from their car, so like the Mk5 and Mk6 GTI, I think it continues to be a better car for it.

By not chasing ultimate performance or purist ideals, the car ends up being attractive and accessible to a broader audience. In fact, it's a car I can see myself recommending to my own folks (should they suddenly feel the need for speed), and you can't easily claim the same thing with a hot Focus or Megane - though depending on one's viewpoint, that may not necessarily be a good thing, haha.

There's no complaints from me about the current package of the Golf GTI. It's all-rounder strengths are why I bought the car. However, surely it wouldn't be too difficult for them to offer something of a more "driving enthusiast" version. They went halfway there with the ED35 and again this time with the Performance Pack, but it'd be nice to go the extra step with a version that has completely switchable traction control and ESP, perhaps a full manual DSG program (no interfering overrides) and maybe some other weight reduction and performance/handling enhancing features, or at least options.

[Tobes_WIR35]

I've specced the bixenons because I think ill use them, but even though I'm not sold on the red line through the cluster, their general appearance keeps growing on me too

It's not just you mate. I think you've made the right decision. Don't get me wrong, I like understated elegance, but I think the halogens just look too bland. Even the cheap Kias and Hyundais have HIDs with LED DRLs these days. The red strip may or may not be too much, but the actual headlights themselves look schmick.
I should say that part of my job as an electrical engineer is lighting design, so it's something I notice. A lot of people couldn't care less.

[raygti]

Have you ever tried bringing your car to a complete stop from a 100km/h just using the handbrake? You'll be amazed at just how inefficient it is. You just seem to keep rolling forever. And maintainence? At least there are no more stretched/broken handbrake cables to worry about.

I havnt used it for that purpose. however over the past 30 years of my parents owning a car. and having falcons that have done 500 000kms+ they have not once snapped the parking brake cables. that 500 000kms has 5 different drivers also so everyone is different.

i would be worried about when the electronic brake fails and what cost implications will be rather than a snapped cable which would be a straight swap/adjustment. not saying it will fail but just something i think is absolutely stupid for cars. now using your park brake. how long before the switch wears out. that type of switch will be used everyday also so one would hope its durable.

just like this keyless design . in an event that you have to switch your car off it takes 5 seconds for the system to recognise to shut the engine off . whereas a key takes less than a second?

its a move that car makers are doing. along with keyless start etc. great feature if hands are full. however gimmicky in my opinion. half the thrill of driving is turning that key over