2016 VW Golf GTI Clubsport S Review - When Germans Have Fun, They Take It Seriously. 

I miss the 3 dr GTI. Yes the 5 dr is more practical but I’m old school and I love a 3 dr hatch

I’m a gti clubsport S owner since 3 years i’ve done prox. 55.000 km in it and i havent regret any single one of them. This car is just so much fun. In februari 2020 i bought a bmw m2 competition and advertised the gti, since then i havent made any terms with possible buyers since im not ready to let go of it yet. Its sitting in the garage and i still take it for a drive now and then. People ask me what i think about the m2 and i have to admit its a very very nice car, but i just dont get that feeling that i do in the gti. I wont sell it any time soon 🤭

Clubsport S - the best Golf ever made. JayEmm, your channel is great! Great selection of odd older cars and your presentation reminds me of old school Top Gear.

I'm genuinely shocked. I've never driven a GTI Clubsport but wasn't expecting such a glowing review. Might have to look at the normal Clubsport variant as a daily!

Hi , Jay, thanks for the amazing series, how about a little comparison/summary of all the hatches you have driven this week, ie which had the best engine, steering etc. Maybe a chat from your office. Thanks for all the work and really glad your channel is doing so well, keep up the good work, you have done something good here

Never heard of the Clubsport S before. This is a proper Golf GTi in my eyes. Happy they stuck with it being FWD too.

Still have mine 392/400 but it’s making 500hp and is an out and out track toy. Love it it’s an absolute blast and a giant killer on track

What a car. It inspires Bib to put 'taste the difference' diesel into his Peugeot 106 diesel in the hope it makes it as fast as this VW.....

Amazing, Ben who owns this car bought my Megane Trophy R. Great guy with a mega collection. I love the Clubsport S it was a toss up between this and my Trophy R at the time but went with the Renault as I have a soft spot for them. One day I will own one of these though!

So it’s been 1 year that I have my clubsport S and I love it, more then my 390hp Ford Focus MK3. I usually did not like or the R or the other GTI’s even the special 360hp limited Swiss edition Golf R, but this thing is so much fun that I put my Focus for sale. I don’t really like the front diff, I find it to slow so a wavetrac diff is getting it’s way into it and to use the capable chassi I think that 369-380hp should prove just right. For now it seems stock suspensions are fine, since its an every day car and mountain road in Switzerland are a bit like your B road in Uk. I swapped the focus suspension after 2000km when Liethfield came out with their KW for the focus, an improvement but still not as comfortable as the golf. This car is not going to be sold any time soon, I reckon its going to go with my Evo IX 2008,. I also like the fact its a Golf, quite discreet and not so loud as the focus. I loved this car from start, I did Geneva-Cavalaire-sur-Mer at the end of the lockdown for covit on winter tyres and fell in love, even on wet and cold roads it was just easy and healthy chassis and great break with a bit of brake-oversteer, but nothing dangerous, just enough to really out the car in place for a nice fast exit. Some traction loss, but in wet with winter tyres it was more then acceptable. Of course all electronic help was switched of. If you can find one not to expensive, get one, but hurry price have gone up 7000pounds since I bought mine.

I am lucky to have experienced this car. My friend owns no..387 of 400 and most people will never know how capable this car is. It just delivers in every situation while being fun just amazing how it delivers power at the top for a 2L engine.

To be clear, the Civic Type R you referred to being beaten by the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S at the Nurburgring, was the prior iteration from 2014, the newest version (2017 onward) won back the Nurburgring top spot until 2019 when it was overtaken by the Renault Megan RS (EVO magazine). Loved this review and the Clubsport is lovely! Fastest hot hatches top 10 recap: 1. Renault Megane RS Trophy-R - 7:40.1 2. Honda Civic Type R - 7:43.8 3. Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S - 7:47.2 4. Honda Civic Type R - 7:50.6 5. Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R - 7:54.4 6. SEAT Leon Cupra - 7:58.4 7. Ford Focus RS - 8:06.3 8. Renault Megane RS Trophy - 8:08 9. Renault Megane RS R26.R - 8:16.9 10. Ford Focus RS - 8:26

I love the Clubsport S. I just ended up getting a MK7 performance pack, remapping, adding dampers and additional camber and some stiffer suspension bushes, the S exhaust, and tracking it.

The word "serious" was used an awful lot in this review. And that sums up the golf for me.

It's weird when you recognise the roads you are driving, the turn off to Holme Lacy gave it away... have enjoyed all of this weeks videos.

The Clubsport/Clubsport S and now TCR are the best Golf's you can buy. Hate it when most just go straight for the R just for the crazy acceleration figures. It looks so boring in comparison and they are usually on basic lease spec with no options.

One of the best cars I've ever owned.

I love watching such a well versed auto journalist like yourself still be surprised and having your preconceptions flipped! This week was like, "watch James realise how good these cars actually are" its so refreshing, not even considering how much experience you already have! Side note, I've just finished building my 318i convertible E36 into 2.5 6pot fast road build for British roads! Whilst still retaining all the luxury and comfort of Oem BMW. I'll be studying Auto Design in Coventry from September on wards if you would like a blast!

I think if I stay with golfs after my edition 30, I might look at getting a regular clubsport. The styling on these things is brilliant.

Not the biggest fan of the Golf aesthetic but this one looks ace in the 3dr variant with that extra aggressive styling. I'm yet to drive a Golf though surprisingly but I've only heard great things. I drive an '07 Mini Cooper S with some mods at the moment, it's so much fun. I'd love to drive it back to back with one of these.

Forgotten about this car. Great review as always

This is possibly the best video I have seen of yours. Not sure what it is, extra footage etc? But really good stuff. Thanks.

Another nice video James.I would live to drive the Clubsport S someday,they really seemed to have gotten something very special with this car.From memory didn't Karsten Schebsdat,the Porsche engineer do a lot of work on the S?There are a lot of little differences between the S and other hot Golf's like the R,like aluminium subframe and brake rotors.It seems pretty remarkable that they can put that power and torque through the front wheels without it torque steering you into a hedge on your typical bumpy backroad.Hope the owner of the car in the video really gets to enjoy driving it,thanks for sharing a great car.Hopefully they will come down enough in price so I can afford one,but I think they will always be desirable.

Congratulations on the win. Looks like a great event with lots of variety 👍

Filmed in my home city of hereford down the rotherwas industrial estate!!!

Good car the clubsport S also just the clubsport if you want the practicality

That’s my old car!!!!! I was the second owner. I bought it from Cameron’s in Perth Scotland. Nice. The original owner was from Kirkcaldy in fife. I put dynax wax under all the suspension to help protect it. If the current owner needs any info then feel free to contact me. Think I still have some of the original paperwork somewhere. Oh and the spare and rear boot liner was added by the owner that bought it of me. I’d suggest removing it as it suppress the exhaust sound. Good to see it being used.

Great review Jay. I'd love a Clubsport as it definitely is the best drivers Golf. Sadly I have children and I'm too old to bother changing gear so I'm slumming it in an R instead😫

Cup tyres are a critical differentiator on the CSS. In the the wet the R will disappear. With Michelin PS4S tyres on the R, with a remap, the R is just as much fun in the dry. Am on my 2nd R CSS with no doubt hold value well for future collectors.

This guy has some collection of appreciating cars. Far more interesting then a room full of supercars imho

Fantastic car. Iconic S

Mine is a 3 door MK6 and I was thinking of trading mine but since VW killed the 3 door, I will keep mine as long as it lasts!!

Adding the price differentials would help with comparisons. Good review by the way

James you're the only person I know who doesn't like alcantara, myself included.

Never owned any type Golf not yo say i wouldn't But owned a few hondas now the FK8 good review once again..

Soooo... VW didn't do their market research homework properly back in 2014-2015 and came up with 240hp GTI in the world of 276hp hot hatch. Looks like they didn't do their homework again last year and came up with a GBP33k 250hp GTI in the world of GBP30k 280-300hp hot hatch. Uh. Damnit. If I'm in the market for hot hatches, and wanting a GTI, this Clubsport S or the TCR would be the first choice.

Sounds great, fancy that though, usually folk just yawn and walk away but you didn't so that means it's a good'en!

This car sums up why I bought a SEAT Leon Cupra 280 instead of a Golf GTI after testing each back to back. Clubsport is great but it’s too late to the party by about 5 years.

Really nice review. Would be interesting to see a review on a Mk5 Edition 30 and maybe a TCR too

There’s a uk Clubsport S for sale on AT, Feb 28 th 2024, for £41,995. I wonder what the list was back in 2016? I would guess possibly more than this, so values are stable but its not an investment car.

That's a nice golf lighter than a lancia can't believe I wasn't subbed sooner

Quite fancy one of these, I’ve been looking at them for ages, I own a megane MK4 Trophy R and an R26.R, I’d certainly like a go in the Clubsport S

No Club sport in the States so had to do next best thing and install IS38 Turbo (and other mods) on my 2016 GTI SE. 300 HP in a 3000 lb car.

These are super popular in Australia, I was going to get one but I snapped up a 350z instead

WHYYYY!, I'm desperately trying to tell myself there is no point in swapping my GTI for a clubsport S... now this, really not helping.

I love the camera in the back

Clubsport S the beat golf ever made and like you say .. will sit in collections undriven until the window regulators stop working (it’s a golf it WILL happen at some point!)

I have no interest in modern VWs or the golf R but these are simply epic. Although, I'm not sure what the benefit of stripping the rear is though if they didn't want to put a roll cage in. If no roll cage, just sell it with back seats and if someone wants to make it lighter they'll take the seats out. Of course I'm sure the lack of roll cage would have absolutely nothing to do with setting nurburgring times..... ;)

We don't get that car in the USA, unfortunately. We can only take a regular GTI, APR tune it, and add Michelin PSS tires. Or just get the R. But those beautiful seats are only for Europe.

I get car sick driving this on small tracks (the body roll is too much). Very fun on public roads though.

This makes me wonder why there are people that buy the £72k megane RS Thropy when you can have this for £30/40k...

Another great review 👍

These sports hatchbacks are tooooo expensive in UK market, just crazy!! The ALL NEW GTI sells for less than £19k in China, US and many places..

I'd love to have a go in one of these and compare it to my Cupra. Similar package but the manual and the weight reduction must really give it that 'old school hot hatch' feel. Hopefully these are all kept in good shape for years to come being a limited run. Having had a go in my Cupra, a friend of mine sold his tuned Golf R for a Megane RS, citing similar needs for more driver engagement. He did also go for a manual. A Clubsport S would probably have been a similar trade.

Decent car back on the channel

Reminds me of the R26R If i was in my early 20's would of snapped one of these up great value for what it is.

Makes me wanna rip out the rear seats of my Mk5 Golf GTI 😊

Funny how this lightweight, stripped down mk7.5 golf, weighs the same as my stock mk6 manual

I am still mad at VW for not bringing this to us in the States.

Should find a Corolla Supercharged and do a comparison against a GTI 30th edition.

Quite a ‘Serious’Hot Hatch then....

Would love one of these worth the premium

i thought lancias got lighter as time goes by :D

Please now borrow Andrew’s TCR..... and give us your opinion on that. 👍

Make comparison between this and civic type r.

we love your job too....

The aircon also saps power from the engine doesn't it, so it's a double whammy?

Get a focus St mk3 The gti is definitely better all round But been the focus is a more fun car to drive

Great car but they forgot big brakes

I think what makes the R not as fun is it’s additional weight

Instantly Forgotton? - don't think so, 2016 ECOTY #2 Legend.

Aw, no look at the Suzuki Swift Sport generations?

Did you mention something about an escort cosworth the other day? Will it be on the channel?

I would love a nice RWD hatch

Do a mk5 gti

Definitely one for GTi collector s. Just can't see the point of such a compromised hatchback, its still no real sports car. Love the regular mk7 GTi and though the 40th version would be interesting until I realised the MPG was just awful. It kind of stinks of VW building a car just for marketing that they've broken the ring record...

question would u taka a hothacht to your dream garage after this week

I really want to know what mounts you use for the cameras on the exterior shots, most of them ive tried can’t stay on above 50mph

4th today.......No Polo GTI possibly James

Hi James, how does it compare with the Cupra Leon in terms of dynamics?

Best video title ever?

Greatest Golf ever was the Mk I GTI

So the Clubsport or the Civic type R ?

The 40th Ed is so good you can have your cake and eat it.

Rear wheel drive would be cool

I’d have one of these over an R every day of the week. Much better looking, with far more presence, but I’d have a normal GTI over an R. Interesting re the weight given how much everyone moans about the weight of modern cars.

Too bad they didn’t release these with a DSG. If I was in Europe the 3-door R would be the way to go. The US didn’t get a R w/sunroof or 3-doors.

Who dislikes this guys videos?

removing the aircon out of a hardcore awesome hot hatch is a crime. because that is just going to lead you to not take it out for a drive for every day driving, which is a crime itself.

Great video. Das auto

If a manufacturer has to take rear seats out to improve the performance, they need to spend more money on the engine.

7:40 If they blocked out the rear windows I'd have been much more tempted by one of these...

It’s the caddy gti!

This is about my 30th comment to ask you if you can please; *REVIEW A HONDA CIVIC JORDAN* PLEASE!!

2 door car's always look better

I have a clubsport, and im gonna sell it for a................ clubsport S. I found one with just 800 km so its new

This video was bought to you by the mars confectionery group.👍

Well I am shocked how quite that is. sounds muted to hell. Give me a old golf de cat R32 sounds super mean and like my zed balls loud and super obnoxious at low speeds never mind high rpms. Love a loud exhaust but has to be a nice note.

Love the car but I dont track my dailys so my Manual Mk7 Golf R 3 door fits so well and my subscribers love them. Nothing against this car as its awesome but pound for pound a Golf R is a sensational daily driver all things considered 👍My RU-vid channel hopefully portraits that 😁

Doesn't seem like they sold this in the US, too bad.