2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review
October 30, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
I’m somewhere in the Victorian Alps with about forty-kilometres of clean, windy road ahead and I’m driving the new GTI at eight-tenths with former F1 driver Hans Stuck on my tail. Make that nine-tenths.
I’m carrying an awful lot of speed into these curves, and yet even in the tighter sections, the GTI is seemingly unflappable.
I mean I’m pulling a ninety-degree lock on the steering wheel through this hairpin, with more speed than I wanted with the right pedal still buried, and the GTI is refusing to understeer.
It shouldn’t be this easy, but the laws of physics as I know it, are being ripped apart by some new technology in this car.
Meet the latest and greatest Golf GTI, the sixth generation of what has surely become an automotive icon, ever since the Mk I GTI kicked off the hot hatch segment, when it first appeared in front of tens of thousands of fans as a pace car at Nurburgring in 1975, prior to its official public debut in 1976.
This was the first time that an average people throughout the world could afford a proper performance car, and one which made the right statement on the road.
Hans Stuck said, “ Whenever a person had a chance to drive a 911, it was a real experience. And then of a sudden this experience was possible in the GTI too. Clearly on a different level, but affordable for everyone”
Golf I GTI could hit 182km/h and trump 0-100km/h in 9.0 seconds flat. Not bad going for a car, which developed only 81kW and 140Nm, driving through a four-speed manual gearbox.
From 1976 to 2009, 1.7 million GTIs left the showroom floor, making it the most successful compact performance car of all time.
There wasn’t a lot wrong with the Golf V GTI, maybe not quite as sharp as those track day enthusiasts had hoped for, but at $39,990, it was for many, the best and only choice as the perfect daily drive.
Rest assured, if you had any reservations about the Mk V (you could count them on one hand), a quick test drive in the latest edition should silence the harshest of critics.
But if you’re worried about the softer lines on the new GTI, don’t be it’ll grow on you.
No one’s going to deny that this GTI doesn’t have quite the same aggressive look as its deep grille predecessor, but its closer to the styling heritage of the original Mark I than any of the modern iterations.
Mostly it’s about the red horizontal lines inside the low profile black grille and the tartan fabric seats, both of which were distinctive on the original GTI.
Walter de Silva Head of Group Design for Volkswagen said of the new GTI, “ We wanted a consistently clear GTI design, a car that has power, but style as well.
“Also cast in stone was the goal of evoking the character of the first GTI a bit more…and that is why it was decided that – with the exception of the aerodynamically important rear spoiler – the new GTI would not have a single exterior add-on.”
Volkswagen Australia brought the full range of the GTI VIs to this launch, and despite the fact that I would normally lean towards either of the three-door models with DSG or the six-speed manual, I’ve ended up in the more practical five-door hatch variants on both drive stints.
If you want a definition of ergonomic, just plant yourself in the stock standard GTI sports seats, for one of the most comfortable pews in the business.
With a welcome overdose of side bolster, ripping through this kind of twisty alpine terrain is a joy, as your frame may as well be velcro’d to the “Jacky” pattern seats.
The fully-moulded, slightly flat-bottomed leather steering wheel is a treat and a half, with red cross-stitching and superb grip and feel. It’s also decidedly similar to that in the Audi RS4.
I’ve grabbed a DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) fitted GTI and within minutes we’re quick-shifting via the steering wheel mounted, paddle shifters. I say quick, that’s 80 milliseconds from one gear to another, which is multiple times faster than any human being could ever hope to achieve using a manual transmission.
The first thing you notice is the quietness and overall refinement of this slightly more powerful engine. With the air-conditioning running on a mid-range fan speed and the needle nudging 110km/h, I can barely make out the shift changes.
It’s not just an uprated version of the same 2.0-litre turbo engine from the GTI V either. For example, the cylinder heads have been designed specifically for direct injection and as result, power is up by eight-kilowatts to 155kW.
Torque remains the same at 280Nm, but peaks slightly earlier at 1,700 rpm, but it’s the overall refinement of this powertrain that is most impressive.
And forget about turbo lag, there isn’t any, nor is there any hint of vibration under extreme load, just a silk smooth delivery of power and torque right through the rev range in each and every gear ratio.
Off the line starts are quick enough at a claimed 6.9 seconds to 100km/h, but it’s the GTI’s in-gear acceleration that will put the widest smile on your face.
It’s a crying shame we have such low speed limits on these secluded and well-maintained roads, as the GTI is barely ticking over at 110km/h, given its 240km/h top speed.
Now we’re into the seriously twisty section of the Victorian Alps, and the GTI is itching to attack the road ahead.
Time to hit the ‘Sport’ button as a function of the optional Adaptive Chassis Control, and a must if you like early morning weekend drives in the country.
The steering feels a lot more precise than the GTI V, and reaction time to steering inputs is much quicker.
Into the first series of bends, and you can feel the stiffer damper settings through the harder ride and zero body roll, while the power steering has has firmed up too.
These are some fast curves up in these parts, and we are rapidly reining in the tarmac, with the rev needle repeatedly bouncing off 6,000 rpm in third. Here’s the thing, there’s so much mid range torque available, that I rarely need to downshift out of third gear, and that’s over a distance of twenty kilometres.
A quick dab of the brakes before turn in, then I’m back on the throttle during mid-corner. Yes, that’s full throttle in mid corner without fear of understeering into a rock wall. It sounds too good to be true, I know.
But it’s not magic; its part Hans Stuck who tested and advised in the development of the new GTI, and part electronic wizardry called XDL or extended Electronic Differential Lock.
Normally, if you’re pushing too hard into a corner with a front-wheel drive car, the front wheel on the inside corner has a tendency to push on, and not want to turn in to the corner.
The GTI (all GTI variants are fitted with XDL) with XDL when confronted with that same situation, pressure is be applied to the inside wheel, so that traction is not lost and the wheel turns in as it should.
Does it work? Yes, infallibly. There is so much grip up front on turn in, that if you push hard enough, the car will react like an all-wheel drive car, with a gentle power slide. This is almost foolproof and remarkable for a performance car shod with not so wide 225/45 rubber.
XLD seems like a massive step forward in safety for front-wheel drive cars, particularly those skewed towards performance.
When you do need to jump on the brakes, apply with caution, as I found them to be a little sensitive at first, but fine once I got used to the relatively light pedal pressure.
More like Audi brakes than anything I’ve driven from Volkswagen previously, nothing wrong with that either.
While the entire drivetrain has had a total refinement makeover, it’s no different inside the cabin, and far more impressive than I would have expected.
The standard features inventory is extensive and includes a 61/2-inch touch screen display with MP3/WMA and auxiliary input, but sadly, a direct iPod input is a feature of the optional Media Device Interface.
That said, there is a high quality soft touch material and brushed chrome highlights throughout the car, as well as black high-gloss accents with chrome frames on the fascia and door trim.
Also included in the $38,990 entry level GTI VI is an 8-speaker 6-disc in-dash changer, automatic headlight function, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain sensing wipers and a host of other creature comforts.
Its not just nice, the whole look and feel inside the new GTI crosses over into the luxury category.
Golf has always been deceptive when it comes to room inside the cabin. I once took four passengers with luggage to the airport in a Golf V and that included a surfboard albeit a small one.
Not only is there plenty of head and legroom front and rear, but also the boot area is deep and generous with a multitude of storage possibilities if the rear seats are folded.
Active safety systems on-board the GTI are numerous and include: ABS, EBD, EDL, ESP, XDL and Hill Start Assist (HSA) (with DSG).
Airbags number seven, with driver and passenger front and side, driver’s knee and curtain airbags, front and rear.
And don’t be too worried about fuel consumption if you intend looking at the latest generation GTI, as this engine has been designed to run on 95 RON as opposed to 98 RON with the GTI V.
Fuel economy has also improved with the new generation car with slightly less fuel consumed across both DSG and manual transmissions (7.4L/100km & 7.3L/100km).
While the previous model GTI was a huge hit worldwide, the GTI VI is a major leap forward in every way, and should be even more popular to a wider audience.
With the sixth generation Golf GTI, Volkswagen have probably gone beyond what customers were expecting in a performance hatch of this size and in this price range.
By doing so, the hot hatch benchmark has just been raised to a point above what I suspect most other manufacturers can hope to emulate at these prices.
If you want one, I suggest you get your name in the order book pronto, despite the fact that Volkswagen Australia already has 650 cars in the country and another 200 ‘on the water’.
And if you wish to spec your GTI with any of the host of options available such as, leather trim, sunroof, etc, then the wait will be three-months.
2010 Golf GTI Australian prices:
- Three-door, six-speed manual – $38,990
- Three-door, six-speed DSG – $41,490
- Five-door, six-speed manual – $40,490
- Five-door, six-speed DSG – $42,990
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ITS SO PRETTYYYYY
But wheres my body kit =(
I hope it’s optional….
I wonder if that thing can be tuned a little more like the S3’s engine with the right bits and pieces ;)
Yes, it won’t be long before the chip tune is available, and you’ll be able to bump it to 200kw or so with a stage 1 tune.
test driving one today looks good for the price, i pod connection should be std by now an I30 has it.
You’re welcome to buy an i30 instead :)
I would get the dealer to throw in the Ipod cable as part of the deal……
Car Advice,after driving them what would you take DSG or manual?
That’s a hard question to answer Jeff as both are perfect in different situations.
I don’t have to line up in peak hour traffic very often, so I’d probably aim for the 6-speed manual box.
If however, I had to run the peak hour gauntlet, then I would most definitely choose DSG.
Ok thanks for that.
Good question. Good answer. I thought it was a pretty good review with plenty of pics as well. This car is definitely on my radar. I’m waiting to see the R version first though.
I’ve heard many mags and reviews state that DSG’s are very jerky in traffic and take off. Is it the same with the GTI?
are you serious? The DSG is a brilliant transmission. Me thinks the only jerks are those mag writers
Very funny!
A mate has the 2009 Golf petrol variant – not sure which model though, and yes, I can attest that being a passenger, it jerked a bit. Not as smooth as most other automatics, you could almost feel the jerk in gear shifts every time.
Not sure if this can be said for the 2010 GTI though.
33 years later and they have only shaved 2.1 seconds off the 0-100. That’s despite direct injection EFI, turbo charging, DSG, premium fuel and traction control. I guess it’s the twisty stuff where they’ve made the biggest improvements.
The R20 will be the “Real” hot hatch, this is a nice looking car but a bit over rated.
For the same money the WRX does 0-100 in 5 and handles in another league.
So you buy a GTI, get a better quality interior and compromise a bit on performance.
Each to their own but I just couldn’t put my money there – the GTI is too common these days.
Perhaps an after market chip could turn this into something special.
The WRX is far more common and inferior. Why waste your money on a cop magnet.
The R20 will be better, I agree, but the GTI will maintain its crown as king of the hot hatch for general consumption. Add a chip for less than $1000 for 200kw
It sounds good in theory – granted. But 200KW going to the tarmac through the front wheels is hardly an efficient way to get moving.
Well, its available if you want it ;)
The GTI afficinados always fall back on “chipping “the Golf “if you want more power”.It’s simple to do.The question is why have there been engine modifications done to the upcoming R20 to cope with the extra power and torque?There is a reason…..RELIABILITY.A chipped GTI will be able to handle the extra power and torque however,longevity of the engine and drive train will be affected.
Spot on, mate. Buy the specification of car you want, then no-toucha!
Reckless, who do you suggest for the chip?
3 months eh? That’s better than the 6 months we had to wait for a specific order MKV 3 door with DSG and bi-xenons. Now we’re stuck between a MKVI GTI and an Octavia vRS, or maybe the new R (R32 replacement) decisions decisions…
Definitely a class act and well worth the money I think. My only gripe is that the old model looks better in my opinion – they have gone soft up front, and the soft up front look does not significantly distinguish itself from it’s lesser cousins.
Like others though – it is on the radar………….
nice… nice… best looking hatch out there if you ask me, and you can’t complain about the specs
I like the red stripes on the grill.
Join the club!
We were looking at buying a new car around October 2008, and first things first, I went to Volkswagen to check out what was available. I was told it would be 6 months for an outgoing Mk V GTi in the spec we wanted, or “at least 12-15 months” for the Mk VI in the spec we wanted. We were also told that a Tiguan TDi with the spec we wanted, was 13 month wait. Volkswagen really need to do something about their waiting times, they are atrocious.
The mrs didn’t want an Octavia RS or a Focus XR5, nor did she want a Mazda 3 MPS (as we were upgrading from an SP23 already), so we ended up buying a 2009 WRX instead. It would have been a VW if we didn’t have to wait so long!
+1 Joe. 3 months is acceptable (is the norm for Toyota, Mazda etc.) but longer wait times are a joke. If VW did the 6 month stint again like we had with the MKV, we’d look elsewhere too.
Popularity breeds long waiting times … I had to wait 15 months for a Mazda 323 in the late 70s, I have a friend who had to wait 10 months for a Subie WRX-STi and at work we ordered several base model Subaru Impreza sedans – and guess what? – 3 to 5 months waiting.
Overall, good review! The new Golf VI GTI is almost a perfect a hot hatch. However, one area I disagree with your review is the front sports seats. They are still the same ones carried from the previous generation. Although the driver’s seat is comfortable, it is too long and set too inclined. The seats have no rake setting, only height adjustable. This makes it really uncomfortable for people with short legs like myself. It is probably the only thing stopping me from buying the GTI (or any Golf for that matter).
A note to VW engineers on future Golfs – VW is a ‘people’s car’ and according should design cars to suit all ‘people’.
Ja built for big german guys , similar seats to octavia rs , if your tall they are very comfortable .
Totally agree. But if VW wants to take on the likes of Toyota and be a mass market car maker, it would have to make cars to suit the mass market, to suit people of all shapes and sizes. VW – the ‘people’s car’.
I do undersatand Mark, but you need to understand that the population is getting taller not shorter on average. All the hormones in out meat and poultry. So they are starting to cater for the majority. Being tall myself for years I suffered in Jap cars made for little people. I’m glad they are now catering for the taller folk. Sometimes you can’t have it both ways.
Jess, that’s just bull, and stop being patronising.I don’t doubt that people are getting bigger, but it’s VERY poor design to fail to cater for 98% plus of the population, not just the average. Are you trying to say that the thousands of VW engineers are unable to provide adequate seat adjustment for anybody under 1.6m? I doubt that that is the case, as nearly every other manufacturer seems to manage. The only other possible explanation is that they are just being arrogant Germans.
Mark,
I am only 175cm tall and I have always found the GTI seats to be exceptional as far as standard kit goes.
On the the launch I drove around 250kms and could have driven to Brisbane. But, not every seat suits every body shape, but these are certainly ergonomically designed.
I just hope you don’t regret buying the WRX. I would wait for the GTI. Or at least buy the Focus, much better than the Impreza.
G, We have 3 Subaru’s at our place, 2 of them WRXs.. the MY09 WRX was an excellent addition to our collection!
As for the others being better than the Impreza, thats a personal choice. The MY09 WRX is a head kicker compared to the XR5 and the VW GTi.. its super quick!
For outright power the MY09 WRX is great, will bring a smile every time :)
Personally, I find the Styling of the MY09 WRX err.. trying to think of a nice way to sugarcoat ugly but I cant :(. The STI Enhancements help with looks but that front and back dont flow. Rounded Front lights Vs Trapezoidal rear? The Sedan is even worse :(
Interior plastics not the best quality either.
The revised suspension that’s firmer qpparently that made quite a difference to the body roll.
Interior plastics are fine.. you need to compare it to previous generations to see the difference.
Although there are no soft touch surfaces, the interior panel gaps are great and there are no rattles and squeaks. None of the plastics “flex” when you push on them either. What more could you ask for?
Styling is a personal thing, I personally like our pearl white hatch with the stock charcoal rims, and we’ve lowered it 50mm too.. looks tough!
The MY09 suspension is a world better than the MY08 setup.. I’ve driven both, and the MY09 not only understeers less (possibly assisted by the wider tyres fitted to the 09 as opposed to the 08), but sits much flatter too.
Great to hear :)
Enjoy you ride!
Not all of us wear reverse baseball caps
Who cares what head dress you do or don’t use?
You can sit around for 6 months waiting for delivery or get a fast car in a couple of weeks.
Personally I’m not keen on the WRX looks, but its hard to argue with it’s cred and speedy delivery.
Good review…
Awesome car…
Do I sell my Mkv Gti to buy a mk6 gti or do I wait for the upcoming R?
The Golf R will be an exceptional car, quicker than the GTI but I suspect, significantly more expensive.
The GTI VI is the best bang for your buck, and by some margin.
Why pay through the nose for an “inferior” car? The MKV is unadultered fun while the MkVI has been refined to a point where it has become a tad bland – still fun vs the competition (jap crap) but not as good as the MKV is. Sure the MkVI is a better car technically (more gadgets) but I wouldn’t trade my MkV for one. As a matter of fact, I just bought another mkV GT to complement my Pirelli.
Love it, a gem of a car , never liked those wheels , always do some nice after market jobbies , that would finish it of .
The wheels look nicest in plain silver, I reckon. Are they smaller?
Same as mk5 17in should be 18’s standard , these remind me too much of mid 80’s porsche telephone dial which they seemed to love
An XR5 will destroy it.
XR5 is getting a bit old in the tooth…RS on the other hand is obviously in another league – both in price and performance, so comparisons with RS are not valid…
I actually think the new Golf GTI’s outward appearance is even nicer than the former model. VW has definitely raised the bar on this car with respect to design inside and out and from what it sounds performance has been improved as well. I think this is the hatch of which all other hatches dream to be like one day… I just wished VW had finally for once and for all fixed those fold down seats to lay completely flat. Maybe one day.
At the same time I think the new Polo is really the true retro version of the original Golf now as it has grown to a size virtually identical in length and width and weight as the original Golf GTI. As I am sure a GTI version Polo will emerge and the Polo will be the real gold for VW and in these economic times will have a potentially larger market base over the relatively high priced Golf. In either case, VW it seems has winners all around.
GTI Polo? They’ll never do that.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/19.....ti-review/
The cheek of those tricky Germans!
No GTI Polo Simon? There is already one on the market and the next generation is on the market the new year.
Jansjetta you missed the sarcasm AND the link.
Have a l00k :)
I want one in white. This is a seriously hot car and ive never been much of a fan of golfs before. Would have to change the wheels though , always found that style an eye sore. This will probably be my next car sometime in the distant future.
Cheers Anthony; how does it compare in performance to the most recent Clio RS and Megane RS? I know people who swear by the Megane as the best front wheel drive performance car period (mind you, I also swear someone who swears by his Golf R32), and I was kind of toying with getting one when next I upgrade…
And yes, I know the Golf R32 isn’t front wheel drive (or the same price range). That bloke swears by it as the best hot hatch… but I’m more cross-shopping the GTI, Megane, 3 MPS etc.
Well you had better save your pennies in a hurry Raf. VW have dropped the R32 for the Golf R which is a 2 litre Turbo with a bit more grunt, so if you can find an R32 and want one, then buy it.
I just brought one pre order last week delivery should be feb 2010.. awesome looking car cannot wait!!!! Someone said a “chip” to bring it up to 200kw for $1000… from where and what company… I know about the APR re mapping but that’s $2000 and only 189kw……
I just want to sit in those seats- they look so comfy!
Where are these Alps they are referring too? (really where are they as i want to go)
Australian terrain is soo boring.
Raf, I\’m testing the Clio RS 197 in December, and I\’m a fan of the Megane, especially the new RS in Europe, which Australia is hoping to import too.
The GTI VI is a seriously good car and your money is safe with the Golf brand.
With out a doubt, my favourite car!
I actually had a look at a GTI on Saturday at the dealership.I think the darker colours improve the look of a quite ordinary and I mean ordinary looking “hot hatch” car.
I didn’t take for a test drive however I may at a later stage,but only to relieve my boredom :)
The seats are fine,quite comfortable although if you have wide shoulders there may be a slight problem.The steering wheel looks and feels cheap.The dials are easier to read than the MKV.The quality inside seems good but I feel they kept the dashboard simple to achieve that “quality” look/feel.
The car feels unusually small inside.The pillars and shape still feels to me like a 1970’s design?
This review can be likened to a very sweet drink.It tastes sweet in the first few gulps but as you continue drinking that sweetness intensifies to a sickly sweet taste!Overseas reviews have been good but this particular one is a little too “sweet”.
The GTI is a capable car but it’s too in the “middle of the road”for a so called hot hatch.Maybe people would be better off purchasing the 118TSI.
Stick to to your big fat dino aussie V8s mate , savour their last days , this is the future of the eco performance car .
So V8s will suddenly become obsolete?
Just like the V10s and V12s you STILL find in a range if cars? Not to mention the supercharged ones?
Hey I like “eco performance” as you put it, too, but don’t kid yourself about big engines. Perhaps its a “mine is bigger than yours” but while there is oil and people with money, the big cubes will roll on.
With the chirping supercharger I would stay right away from the 118tsi, unless of course VW come up with a fix, then of course, they say there is nothing wrong with a chirping supercharger…….so pigs will fly first, then maybe a fix. Many would disagree with VW, there is a big design flaw here in the 118tsi…..see the first steer on this site!
Small inside, I don’t think so. I am 185cm and can sit behind the drivers seat with ample knee and head room. If you want small, the 1 series BMW has similar external dimensions but a lot smaller than the Golf inside. The boot is also large for this class of car. VW deliberately don’t have the external add ons and ‘bling’ such as a WRX or MPS. As you haven’t driven one, perhaps you are not qualified to comment in the first place!
That’s an almost identical steering wheel to the Audi RS4 – and it looks cheap! I can only assume you work for a competitive car company to be publicly announcing a number of opinions without ever having driven around the block in the car.
Anyone who has driven the car, would be a brave person to dispute my findings, but please don’t bother unless you have at least driven the car, which is everything I have said it is, and more.
Who are you? Are you the Anthony Crawford who did the review?.If not,then where is your review in the comments section?
CA: Any comments on how the GTi behaves with and without the optional electronic dampers used in this test? The “Sport” mode of those is said to sharpen steering response, so do the regular car GTi (without electronic dampers option) never gets to have the sportier steering feel?
There are various comments about having too much power through the front wheels.
I dont know if its really an issue. The key thing is that the power is there if the driver really wants it on a racetrack or deserted windy road, but cars such as the GTi, MPS, XR5 are perfectly tractable and safe at normal suburban speeds. I see no reason why you would mash your foot to the floor on a suburban road.
These cars are only as good as the driver who drives them.
Well said davie , any one who owns a turbo fwd knows it limitations .
I see plenty of idiots in rwd loosing the back end , with spectacular results .
With all the talk of this being superior to the WRX i’d have to guess that it will get a full 5/5 stars when it is ‘properly’ reviewed and road tested- considering the 09 WRX was given 4.5/5 here http://www.caradvice.com.au/23.....road-test/.
I’d suggest that the GTI and WRX are two very different cars, one is front-wheel drive and the other is all-wheel drive.
I’d also suggest that they would attract different kinds of buyers.
I agree Anthony the WRX is not in the same class but the HSV astra is, you did a review on that , do you think the GTI is better then this??
The HSV Astra is a seriously quick car, but hard to compare with a brand new Golf GTI. With the Astra you do get exclusivity (there aren’t that many around) but it can’t compete with the Golf in terms of overall quality and electronics.
The XDL electronic diff lock on the Golf is one very good reason to buy the Volkswagen over almost any other car in the class.
Practical, refined and quick car – superb.
More gold from CarAdvice here though:
“Here’s the thing, there’s so much mid range torque available, that I rarely need to downshift out of third gear, and that’s over a distance of twenty kilometres.”
Well here’s another thing, when I drove across the Nullabor in a Hilux, I rarely needed to change down from fifth gear and that was over a distance of one thousand kilometres!
Mmmm, do you reckon that perhaps the road has just as much to do with such claims as the car does?
So, you’re comparing bend-to-bend winding roads in a Golf GTI to the Nullabor plain in a Hilux?
No problem, I can recommend an excellent neurosurgeon.
No, but without either:
(a) you driving the same road in some competitors (Focus XR5, 3 MPS perhaps) and reporting on their relative ability; or
(b) your readers having knowledge of and access to the same road in order to do their own test;
how are we to gain any meaningful knowledge from your statement? No doubt I seem like a nitpicker Anthony, but I genuinely would just like this interesting site to report with a little more rigour at times.
really expensive compare to the price in china. that’s my dream.BTW is this the 6th generation golf?
I must say sir/madam, your username suits you very well…
Wait till the R Golf, then compare it the the STI!
The 2010 GTI can still be had in either three-door or five-door hatchback layout, with the three-door being the decidedly sportier looking option
I pick up mine on Wed, red with DSG. Thought I would buy a manual, but DSG is so good, with added benifit of ‘auto’ for the traffic
Picked mine up boys, i was going to get the R but can’t wait and the GTI is like AWD car anyway . Love you Volkswagon thank you
well I still have 2 months to wait…. red, DSG, “18″s dynaaudio with sat nav, ACC….cannot wait… I did test drive one too…suburb….
Always love reading the comments. Great review but then I am a fanboy+++
I have a MkV with DSG and cloth seats. At 195cm, I wish I had optioned leather; the manual adjustment needs rake and for me the lumbar support is way too low. The leather seats are much more user friendly. Advice for people with bad backs: GET THE LEATHER. Also any comment on the gradations on the speedo? Such a $#@$%$ to have to guess where 110km/hr is!
Cheers Golfers
Brilliant car, drives fantastically well. My one beef, why the hell isn’t a blue colour available in Australia? Other markets get it, but we don’t. A VW dealer thought they were smart and said it’s because the R20 will be in blue. I take it that means the R20 will be sold exclusively in Australia?? What a bunch of crap. Who decides what market get what colour? VW Australia said the decision comes from Germany. Would I still buy the car? Probably, but I’d rather have a wider colour selection.
On Nov 20 I posted that “I pick up mine on Wed”. Well I did and have covered 2000km. I got a red 5 door DSG with cloth. I couldn’t justify more options to end up paying more than $50k for the same performance. Anyway, how is it? Magnificient. Driving to work which is around 30km of combination suburban and freeway driving I get 6.7l per 100km. Economy aside, performance is more than you will ever need or be able to use on the road. The engine is seemless with no lag. DSG is great: the best of both worlds. Great ergonimics and classy cabin. Rev over 3000 rpm and you get a welcome turbo ‘oomph’ sound, not too much, but just enough. Diff lock is teriffic, nearly impossible to understeer. Suggest you get one for yourself and enjoy.
I thought I’d add a quote from the Top Gear website about the quality of the new GTI to depress the sceptics out there, it reads…
“It’s a Volkswagen, and a posh one at that. With that I mind you can rest assured the quality of materials and fit and finish are all superb. Mechanical reliability ought to be top notch too, so there’s nothing to worry about here.”
16/20, 80% is pretty good!
I’ll want mine in carbon steel and probably a three door, unless my family grows.
We are looking at buying a GTi either a 2009 MK V DSG or a 2010 MK VI DSG. Given we can get a near new demo 09 MkV with only 1000kms on odometer for about $5k less than brand new MKVI is the upgrade to the latest MK VI worth the extra $5k?
Yes, just the anti-understeer electronics are worth that alone. Let alone the nicer interior styling and extra features.
Wake up to yourself Dan, whether you like the golf or not be happy he is enjoying it and seems to have spent his money well.