MK6 -v- MK7 : Golf GTI

[Tom87]

I always found the steering wheel in the mk6 GTI, one of the best I have used and seen and the engine note a disappointment.

A thinner steering wheel and less racy exhaust note, seems like backward steps in my view, but I get the feeling I am must be on the fringes of GTI owners, as I also want a mechanical handbrake and ESP that can be fully switched off.

I agree with you on the handbrake and ESP, electronics should be able to be killed off completely for people who want to try and pretend they can drive (like me haha) in a controlled environment. How the hell do you do a ful sik handbrakie on gravel or grass with an electric handbrake? haha

but the steering wheel..not so sure, i was not a fan of the mk VI steering wheel. Too thick and the perforated leather was put in the wrong spots. The MkV steering wheel to my hands is much nicer than the VI, and from just sitting in the mkVII I would agree it looks a bit thin but the hands on feel is surprisingly good.

It is about time the Golf received a steering rack which actually suited the flat bottom steering wheel.... Having a flat bottom wheel with a normal road car steering rack isn't particularly exhilarating...particularly when you're busy doing other required city things like eating and drinking lattes.

[Tom87]

On that note, to the OP, Dear WhiteJames, can you please rate the cupholders in the Mk7? Are they a significant improvement over the Mk5/6 ? Specifically for holding a traditional 8 oz takeaway coffee cup?

I find in the older models the cup tends to spill too readily even on rough roads. I don't believe they cradle the cup properly.

[Diesel_vert]

Why assume the DSG can't shift down if the manual can? My money's on the R, especially if a downshift (from cruising gear to lowest possible gear) is involved. And once the R is beyond 2200rpm and is closer to peak power, it'll walk away. Otherwise, based solely on tractability in a high gear from near-idle, the GTI will have it over a short distance.

If the drivers of both cars instantly floored it, the DSG would simply downshift into the lowest available gear and win, unless WJ does likewise in his GTI.

The GTI produces the same amount of power as the R until 4500 RPM (which then flatlines until 6000 RPM), but the R continues to produce power until it reaches 6000 RPM. This, along with AWD, explains why the R should be faster from 0 - 100 km/h.

However, the R is 183 kg (tare weight) heavier than the GTI, and due to its power-to-weight ratio, it is the GTI that will most likely "secure that empty traffic spot", especially below 5000 RPM.

In theory.



Time for WJ (with his friend assisting) to conduct a experiment, perhaps? All in the name of science, of course...

[WhiteJames]

Lap-Timer

Originally, I was looking at purchasing a Golf 7 GTI Manual Transmission (MT) with (PP) Power-Pack (LSD) on better-riding 18 wheels without DCC. My intention was to install a set of genuine Volkswagen Driver Gear Sports lowering springs + Bilstein Sport dampers to sharpen up the handling of the Golf 7 GTI PP. Volkswagen have thwarted my plans by failing to bring a Manual Transmission GTI PP without DCC. Looks like all GTI’s, Golf R’s and Sicrocco’s will come with DCC standard.

After finding out that the GTI PP comes with DSG only, which adds further weight to the already 32kgs of the LSD including larger brakes, in addition to the GTI PP also coming with options I didn’t need, nor want such as Bi-Xenons, fancy rear ligthts and in particular rougher riding 19” wheels … my attention turned to the standard spec Manual Transmission Golf 7 GTI as it was the lightest and most agile GTI for everyday normal use, provided you stay under 9/10ths.

Being an owner of a new Golf 7 GTI, I’m not so sure that the Golf 7 GTI needs a set of VW Driver Gear (DG) Sport lowering springs with factory DCC dampers. The ride of the standard Golf 7 GTI is very good, the low speed compression damping rate patter & incessant bobbing up/down at higher speeds on the highway is not so much an issue in the Golf 7 GTI as it was in the previous MK6 Golf GTI, which was required to be stiffer due to greater weight and higher CoG.

I doubt that genuine Volkswagen DG Sport lowering springs would offer a great amount of increase in spring rate as the Golf 7 GTI, in particular the manual transmission standard Golf 7 GTI, is a lighter vehicle, therefore not requiring too much of an increase in spring rate for slightly lower ride height. The extra front negative camber of the Golf 7 GTI DG Sport springs would come in handy for cornering in the dry, but you’d lose a bit of public roadway lower chassis adjustability, which the Golf 7 GTI doesn’t have that much of as it’s so composed & taut compared to the previous MK6 Golf GTI.

Be mindful that the ultimate hot-hatches such as the Audi RS3/Merc A45 AMG do not often win comparison tests when tested on the public roadways as they are so focused, rigid, stiff and heavy, taking a bit away from driver involvement & engagement at lower public roadway speeds re: lowering & stiffening up the suspension on the new Golf 7 GTI. I prefer that light-on-your-feet fluid & agile handing of a vehicle with less weight.

I don’t miss the DSG stutter at car park speeds & on hills, although the DSG in the new Golf 7 GTI seems to have improved re: low speed stutter, feeling smoother at carpark speeds & reversing. In the wider context, all variants of the Golf, whether they be Golf 7 GTI standard, PP or Golf R … will all understeer from 9/10ths and above and especially in damp conditions.

On first inspection, the centre console cup holders look a bit cheap with the spring-loaded nodes that jut out from the lower grade plastic cup housing. The cup-holders with the sprung weight of the nodes does a better job of holding water bottles and the cup-holders also appear to be slightly deeper. I haven’t tried coffee cups yet, but various types of water bottles are adequately held, even when snaking around the tight-twisties, and work bette than the cup-holdes in the MKV and MK6 Golf’s.

The centre console compartment has much more room than the previous MK6 with factory MDI fitment. Best of all, there is a red stripe along the inside door trims and on the lower foot sills. The red lines illuminate in the night, defining the boundaries of the door & door sills. The red stripe looks really cool at night in the dark. I also like that you sit lower with a lower dash cowl.

The MK6 Golf R –v- Golf 7 GTI debate is an interesting one. Regardless of the size of wheel & tyre put on the MK6 Golf GTI/R, you will not have the rigidity of the chassis, nor the suspension integrity, nor the mechanical grip that the new Golf 7 offers. The MK6 feels like it’s a runner with good shoes, but weak ligaments failing to keep the chassis taut and not using or pushing the tyre as hard into the ground compared to the Golf 7 GTI.

I may have to take Ray up on his offer for a drive of his almost fully loaded MK6 Golf R DSG to test more than just the suspension noise and chassis B-pillar chassis-torqueing on big one wheel hits. Ray is interested in test driving the new generation Audi S3, which he should. Although Audi S3 vehicles do not offer great resale value for the money you pay, especially if you like your bells & whistles on your ride as Ray does. It’s important to note extras such as 19” wheels, sunroof, leather electric adjustable seats, all adds extra weight to a heavier MK6 Golf R.

Flicking through the owner’s manual, it’s interesting to note that my Golf 7 GTI has a built in lap-timer incorporated into the centre dash infotainment/SatNav/Radio/Car Controller screen, not that I’d plan on using it. Volkswagen may be able to download this info later on if an issue arises I’d imagine.

Here's a review between the Focus ST, Megane RS265 and Standard Golf GTI. The Golf GTI claws back some ground to the RenaultSport RS265 in terms focus and ability:

Hot hatch comparison: Volkswagen Golf GTI v Ford Focus ST v Renault Sport Megane 265 |Â*CarAdvice

WJ

[Cantgiveyouthat]

What did the service manager have to say about Ray's R issues? I imagine Ray is gutted he did not wait for a base model GTI!

[WhiteJames]

No. Ray wants to test drive the new Audi S3, which is basically a slightly lighter & more premium version of the forthcoming Golf 7 R. The local head mechanic has told Ray exactly the same thing I have re: B-pillar noise on big-hit one wheel bumps ... 'nothing you can do about it'. Our local dealer head mechanic also owns a MK6 Golf R with 19" wheels.
WJ

[magellan]

No. Ray wants to test drive the new Audi S3, which is basically a slightly lighter & more premium version of the forthcoming Golf 7 R. The local head mechanic has told Ray exactly the same thing I have re: B-pillar noise on big-hit one wheel bumps ... 'nothing you can do about it'. Our local dealer head mechanic also owns a MK6 Golf R with 19" wheels.
WJ

Are you sure it is the B-pillar? I had a similar noise which turned out to the rear passenger door lining. If you open the rear door and tap your fist down on the arm rest how tight does it sound? I ended up wedging a piece of rubber at the bottom between the lining and door.

[spellbound]

I always found the steering wheel in the mk6 GTI, one of the best I have used and seen and the engine note a disappointment.

A thinner steering wheel and less racy exhaust note, seems like backward steps in my view, but I get the feeling I am must be on the fringes of GTI owners, as I also want a mechanical handbrake and ESP that can be fully switched off.

I disconnected the soundaktor and rid myself of the fake sounds , much more pleasant drive , just drop the windows and roof to hear the real sound , commuting is far better , the 7 has a new variation .

[Cantgiveyouthat]

Ray is thinking of trading the four week old R for an S3? It took Ray five years to lose the R32. And still he can't find a better motor than the base model GTI. I doubt the S3 will change that. What are your thoughts WJ?

[Cantgiveyouthat]

Twenty minutes driving round Mascot should be enough to confirm the S3 as a base model GTI wannabe.

[Longy]

Twenty minutes driving round Mascot should be enough to confirm the S3 as a base model GTI wannabe.

Well, he would have to wait, as the S3 isn't released until the 9th of Dec.

So you're saying the S3 and upcoming Golf mk 7 R isn't as good as a GTI? But it has a price premium of $15k more?

From all reviews I've read, the S3 is superb car.

[sameatworld]

Well, he would have to wait, as the S3 isn't released until the 9th of Dec.

So you're saying the S3 and upcoming Golf mk 7 R isn't as good as a GTI? But it has a price premium of $15k more?

From all reviews I've read, the S3 is superb car.

I think he is predicting what someone would be writing once he drives the surely to be underwhelming s3. Anything to justify their latest purchase...

[Cantgiveyouthat]

^^^^^^^ This guy gets it

[Cantgiveyouthat]

I will be having a go in the S3 as well......when it arrives.

[Ideo]

Wow. Really detailed stuff.

Cheers for the write up.

Seems to me that despite the generational styling changes (i.e. minor) the whole package has been really improved on.