Great review! I have an identical GTI to the one you drove and overall it’s a great all rounder. After 3 years however I have to say the infotainment gets no better and the unlit slider controls are just stupid. Otherwise it really is a car, greater than the numbers suggest,is fantastically well balanced, technology like the predictive cruise control and the IQ lights are seriously good and it still puts a smile on my face. I’ll be ordering an 8.5 as soon as the order books open and really hope they’ve sorted the software and infotainment as promised. Enjoy Wolfsburg!
Hi Ped It was a wake up call when you mentioned “50 yrs”.🤭 Going way back in time we had Golf GTI but then changed over to scirocco and then Corrado VR6. What a car never went back to the Golf!😉
Gti great car all round. I prefer GOLF 7.5 manual or auto both good. Had a Octavia Vrs. Great car and it was the diesel. Again not about the numbers but fast enough especially midrange. I've got a Seat Leon mk3 ST awd 7sp dsg 70 reg (golf r 7.5 equivalent estate) Amazing car all round and one of the only estates that I like the look off. Ability in any weather brilliant especially with winter/summer tyre combo. It's a bit different too and works well as a family car. Etc. Good for camping too with roof tent too and bike. I refuse to by an SUV ! So quick estate suits. Shame they don't make a Golf GTI estate but the Golf R estate is awesome too but again I like the look of the Leon better.
Yesssss :) So happy you liked it. I've had a Mk6 and had my Mk7 for 10 years!! It's just the perfect all rounder. I've promised myself I'll stick with GTI's until I can afford a 911 :)
Great informative overview of the famous VW GTI golf….. however in the video, we saw postman Pat hindering your progress, the next clip we see the posties Fiat doblo leave you for dead 😂😂😂.
For the last two years I have been driving a GTE VW hybrid which has many shortcomings but as you say puts a huge smile on your face when you select the GTE mode and wow the car comes alive. Stiffer suspension and steering together with that lovely grunt from the engine when you floor it!, and I’m 74 and still enjoy driving haha
With the GTI . You don't need huge power . It's the best all rounder . It's like Ronseal ....... Does what it says on the tin . I love my 7,5 Manual . Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it 😊
I don't get how everyone here calls the GTI an all rounder. If it rains you're barely putting any power down and things turn into an FWD understeering snoozefest once you start cornering. If it snows lol, might as well leave it in the garage. The R is the true all rouder because its versatile and usable in all conditions because of AWD. In case of the MK8, you've even got a trick rear-diff capable of power on oversteer to boot. GTI's are great FWD fun, i've owned and tracked one, they're iconic. However, an all rounder, they are not.
I bought a MK5 TDI about 8 years ago: plain simple boring but it did have DSG about which I knew nothing. I’d had a 2002 for years, an Audi 90 and a Volvo 850 but was looking for a cheap to run care not a sports. A couple of years ago I was at a parts yard stripping a aircon from a GT and saw the bigger discs. I fitted them and had to buy higher wheels to fit. I got Siena 17s and good tyres - I’d already thought it handled well as standard but the new setup was a revelation! Subsequently I fitted paddle shift and cruise control along with the wheel from the GT badged TSI. The diesel is an amazing motor and squeezing torque effortlessly down country roads is my favourite thing ❤ Not about power, it’s the package!
Best is 7.5 3 dr 6 speed manual. Owned one since 2018 and love it. I’m lucky to live close by to many mountain roads and nothing is as fun in all weather conditions (except snow!)
I run a 7.5 DSG PP with the torque vectoring l/s diff and Bridgestone blizzak winters tyre's and can assure you it's unbelievable. Couple of years ago we had some good snow and live on a single track road....it pushed through drifts upto the bonnet height with little fuss. On one occasion it rained and froze, no gritters on these back roads and on the 1/2 mile straights I could run at 50 with plenty of control, even when braking for corners I could do so with more force than I thought possible before it locked up and it recovered almost straight away. The winter tyres transform the cars abilities.
Never really got the GTI. Then decided to sell my 5.0 mustang as I needed a better daily driver. Decided to get a GTI mark 7 as a cheap run around. My first VW, and decided to get the DSG and it’s my first auto in 30 years of driving. I’m completely blown away. Even with my mustang being a V8, this little golf puts a way bigger smile on my face everytime I fire it up. I absolutely love it!!!
Yeah the infotainment sucks, but as for it being "better" in the 8.5 - that MASSIVE tablet they stuck on the dash on the 8.5 is absolutely hideous. I wouldn't want either, hence I keep my 7.5 R.
My wife & I both owned Mk 7.5 GTi's and enjoyed them both. On the 1st March this year I took delivery of a manual Mk 8 GTi. It was one of the last manual GTi's ever to be built. 👍👊
Ditto, mine registered 30th Jan. Manual is the way to go, just a shame you haven’t been able to order it for some time and there will be no more three pedal GTIs.
As a mk5 gti owner, the mk8 is the ugliest, crappiest, cheapest looking thing ever, and really dragged the VW badge down so low that I don't think I'll bother with VW in the future. Everywhere you look on the mk8 screams "Cost cutting" and nothing else. The engineers were tasked with making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you own a mk7.5, don't ever let it go, they'll surely appreciate in value once the supply of them thins out.
I owned a Mk7 GTI for a few years and got rid of it late 2022. I've missed it so much that I'm getting a new MK8 GTI in 2 more months (waiting for it to get to port). Was such a great daily driver that was very practical, but if you ever wanted to have fun it knew how to flip a switch and become more than a daily. The MK8 styling and interior takes a lot of getting used to coming from someone who owned a MK7. However, working at a dealer and being around them and hearing from people who have owned them for 10k+ you start to see that they aren't bad especially the outgoing 2024 model year. I look forward to your endeavor coming up later this year the 8.5s as I'm curious to see what all changes.
Try a 7.5 TCR, which is essentially an updated 7 clubsport, and you will find the pick of the bunch for the majority of people. Pairing with the tune of £25-28k for a decent well specced TCR however is a big ask for a lot of people. Only 800 or so in the UK though, well looked after examples are sure to hold values relatively well though I don’t imagine will climb any higher than current prices.
Beautiful car on the outside. Even inside. That dashboard though, it looks terrible. Shiny plastic does not look nice, and does not hold up well. The capacitive touch buttons need to be outlawed. And the way the infotainment screen is just bolted onto modern cars' dashboards, like an afterthought, is so lazy. 8:43 Perfect a example of over-engineering.
It’s tuff for me to get into the mk8 because I have no payments on my 7.5 and I heard that no more manual transmission 😢 It’s one of my favorite cars and it feels a little like my gf mk1 r8 in overall drivability.
My G7 GTI is 10 years old this year and I haven't had a single issue with it. It still looks brand new and I love driving it. I was a bit disappointed by the interior of the G8, but I'm glad that they've fixed a lot of the issues in the G8.5, so I'm looking to finally upgrade later this year. The fact that it's understated is something I really love, but those who know, know. Cars like the i30N are a bit too boy racer for me, whereas the GTI is the more "elegant" of the bunch.
Loved the MK2 Golf GTI but that MK8 is lacking compared to its rivals and the VW name doesn't make the difference that it used to. I'd take the Hyundai i30N over it everyday! or even a Focus ST...
Don’t have a gti but do have a 21 plate GTD so inside just the same .I actually think the steering wheel buttons controls are brilliant as for the virtual dash and screen control unit again I think it works brilliantly. The gear lever thing I think your just old school Porsche has a very similar one in the 911
I bought an 18 plate 7.5 in January and its a great car. My last car was a 206 180 which was a teenager and the Golf is a grown up. The performance is enough on British roads and it feels very planted. Following the demise of the 206 I had a Mk 8 for a month but prefer mine. Loving it ❤
Maybe a silly question but is the Porsche Cayman S significantly better than this or does the Golf match it? I have had both, a 20 plate Cayman and a 64 plate Golf GTi.
I have a Mk2 GTI (1989) which I absolutely love. A few years ago I took it to Wolfsburg to visit the factory and it was a very memorable trip. Glad you’ll be joining VW for the drive to Wolfsburg to celebrate 50 years and the chance to drive all the variants. I’m sure VW will bring out a special edition GTI to celebrate 50 years. Now that would be a temptation as it will almost certainly be the last ICE GTI before it all goes electric with the Mk9. The GTI has always been understated and a great all rounder which is why it’s such an excellent car.
We had a mk 2 16v for about 12 years. That was an excellent car. Very well built and reliable. Quick and decent handling. Much better brakes than my old mk1. We sold it with well over 100k miles on it for decent money. You cant really beat that , can you?
Absolutely agree - I remember Jeremy Clarkson writing in Performance Car in the 1990s as to why anyone would buy GTI over Maestro EFI - I wasn’t the only one who replied to that opinion - my view was if it was your own hard earned money you wouldn’t be saying that plus how many EFIs will be on the road in 10 or 20 years
Most overrated Hot hatch, I had a NEW (1989) MK2 Golf GTi Campaign on loan for a week. What a Shed, No Central Locking, Wind Up Windows No Tints totally GUTLESS, Having been bombarded by the likes of Clarkson and Brewer about how great they were It was CRAP, So I bought a Toyota Corolla GTi-16v , Pilloried by the motoring press as BORING. Well Guess What, It's a better car than any MK1 MKII or MK3 Golf, I still have it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ll0KxvuCsWU.html
Congratulations on your Corolla - very good car and sorry about your experience with the Mk2 Golf GTI - early cars didn’t come with electric windows, power steering or tinted windows except the 1988 special models to celebrate either 19 or 20 million Golfs. The big bumper models from 1990 came with central locking, power steering and electric windows. Enjoy the Toyota- it looks great in red and well looked after 😊
My only Golf was the ‘89 Mk2 GTI. Was fun but by modern standards a bit of a yawn! I remember thinking 0-60 in 8.5 seconds was great, especially after coming from an MGB GT shed !!
Great review but that interior dash with the tandy display and haptic controls just ruins it. Mk7 seems the sweet spot, would rather have a mk7 than an 8. Fake noise not great either. If VW had analogue dials and buttons, that would be spot on
I see in the comments that people really like the 7.5. I really like mine and agree that the interior is probably the best GTI interior ever. My issues with the car are a creaking sunroof that no dealer can fix, and VW just dismisses it. And the godforsaken UNDEFEATABLE traction/stability control. My MK 7.5 is stage 2 ecu and tcu tuned, but that bloody TC/SC are the bain of my ownership experience since day one. I came from an MK7 that had fully defeatable TC/SC, and it was WAY more fun, no comparison. I only kept the 7.5 because i was told repeatedly that the TC/SC would eventually be defeatable; unbelievably, it never happened, and at this point, most likely, never will be. So sad, so frustrating. I would have upgraded, but then VW s@#t the bed in interior design, making the choice for me. Maybe they will fix the interior, and i will then make the move. I won't hold my breath. They may bring back more buttons, but will probably ruin it with some monster screen no-one needs or wants.
For me the GTI and the R just look soooooooo boring, they could be amazing to drive but i wouldnt part with my own cash nor would i be anywhere near tempted
This gen was a horrible miss for me. I took delivery of a Clubsport in November 2021 and VW accepted my rejection about 4 months later. The bugs on the SW where it thought it was in Germany and braked because it thought you were undertaking, set the speed to 100mph thinking it was 100kph... The hepatic buttons were miserable, the volume and temp buttons not illuminated and the infotainment crashed all the time. Then I got creaking suspension dealers couldnt sort and that was the end of that! It was a shame as it was great fun to drive!
I bought a CS (2023) for my wife as a daily driver and she loves it. No issues with the software, and the ACC has been brilliantly intuitive. My wife would be the first to say she isn't into cars and doesn't like tech - but she really likes the CS. True, it takes time to adjust to the haptic buttons but once you've dialed into it they are not a problem. It's a car that quietly grows on you and impresses you over time. We've found it economical, plenty of power, superb motorway cruiser, easy to drive and park. Build quality has been excellent. And it's great fun on B roads.
Great video Ped, I’m not a great lover of the 8 truth be told. However, we had a MK5 GTI Edition 30 that we just loved, also a MK5 GTI which was great but my own personal favourite was our MK 7.5 GTI Performance (‘Eddie’), absolutely amazing car!!!!! 🥰
I have a Mk8 GTI, and I love it!! I don’t find the haptic buttons to be a big issue, you get used to them over time. I have accidentally turned on the steering wheel heater a time or two, but that’s all. It is a blast to drive on the twisties and should be better with a few modifications. When accelerating and the turbo kicks in, it feels like a rocket ship. No regrets on my purchase!!!
The mk7.5 is a better quality car, with less touch screen interference of proper knobs to press and turn. The TCR was the best for me, just wish i’d kept it
Nice motor but I couldn’t get past the slider controls & why I bought a BMW 128ti. No manual option, but such is life. An absolute hoot in sport mode & sensible when needed in normal. Great review as usual 👍😎
I had never driven a Golf GTI until two years ago when I was looking to replace my JCW and had found a 19 plate GTI Performance but I was really disappointed in the sense of theater with it ie interior and noise. It drove OK in the limited time I had it on test but in fact I liked my Golf GTD Estate more than that car with the sound generated through the speakers, fuel consumption and practicality with the Estate and two dogs. There is still something to this day I seem to like about the Golf GTI though and I think it is the heritage of being the genre of car I seem to revert back too after owning a JLR product and being let down but always returning after I have come to terms with it.
I had a mk7.5 Golf R and while it was fun, I always wanted a GTi because the R wasn’t fun unless you were breaking the speed limit everywhere. Hate the mk8 design inside.
You asked: Have you owned/driven a Golf GTI ? Here goes ! I started with a company car ( remember those) 8v mk2 in 1986 -60k miles in 14 months ….since then I’ve had everything except a mk3 - I’ve raced 2 x Mk1 s lost count of the Mk2s including winning the production Gti championship in 2012. More recently raced 2x mk5s - even today I’ve been at Snetrerton in a mk7 TCR Best ? How long have you got ? Oh and I’m in my 70s and ride a Honda VFR Crossrunner for fun around Europe
i could go for the type R, all wheel drive. that 4.4sec to 60 sounds kinda fun.. but something like the GTI SE doesn't float my boat, when we have say, the mazda cx-30 carbon turbo that is just as fun, if not better, to drive for around $4K (usd) less!
I have a manual 2017 MK7 GTI and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. One of its strengths, as this video points out, is its ability to laugh at inclement weather. It just stays so composed, it's a joy to drive. And the MK7 is delightfully analog. I can actually set the temperature with a dial!
Had a 7.5 that I loved. I’ve had my 8 for about a year, and it’s a huge improvement. I actually like the haptic buttons. I really don’t understand what you car reviewers have against them. The infotainment system is pretty simple & intuitive in my opinion. I’m sad the 8.5 will have a huge screen just slapped on the dash versus the 8’s integrated screen.
Oh my heart! You don’t like red cars. Lol as I have a 95 z28 Camaro that’s red with black striping. I’d have to agree with ya sir Pete on I’d take a mini countrymen over the golf. It’s got more character to it and I like cars with character. I do think they look nice but not for me. I’m really interested in getting a Audi allroad a4 as a daily driver to replace my 2500 avalanche in the future
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the haptic buttons or the infotainment system at all. I much prefer it over the boring dirty buttons that get worn and battered. The screen is super easy to setup so everything is at your fingertips. Sick of “car experts” talking nonsense. I remember when everyone said IPhone was the worst phone ever because of the button-less Haptic Touch screen and they would never sell…shame VW don’t have the balls to stick it out!
Power isn’t everything, but if it’s your fancy know that same as your mini, a stage one tune with all stock hardware on the MK8 gets you to 360ps 370lb/tq in the blink of an eye.
I don’t understand the shouting about the interior. I have a mk8 GTI and the infotainment is modern and not laggy at all. Touch controls are alright when used everyday .
you just copy paste the same crap like everyone else on youtube, be inventive next time. I have this car and buttons on a steering wheel could be a bit annoying but nothing major really and im happy its not that ugly old school stick but just a button for gears. A bit annoying thing that each time you need to pick profiler even if there is just one and that bloody playstation engine noise from speakers.
The GTI used to be the bonkers Golf, but now just blends into the pack behind the R. Its like a luke warm Golf and whats the point of that. People will say its a great all rounder, but if thats the case then mid range engine Golf 1.5 TSI or something. Oh well..
For similar money, a year old Audi S3 would be a much better buy in my opinion (against a new Golf GTI). Unfortunately the MMI is / was a disaster and there is clear signs of penny pinching in the interior. Also what is it with German manufacturers and gloss black plastic…!!!
Got a 2018 GTI 7.5 Performance DSG (APR stage 1). Been fantastic for the 5 years I have had it. It's everything you need in one car. Prices are slowing going down again now, I've been riding the wave of high resale values for the past couple of years. I think this will be with me until it dies (or I do!) 🤣 Welcome to the GTI party, Ped - even though it's overdue 🖖
Really balanced review; I currently run a late 7.5 DSG and can't think what I'll replace it with. I was very close to pressing the button on a Mk 8.0 clubsport last year but just could not see past the VW cost cutting (no std heated seats/rear view camera/gas struts deleted on bonnet). Add to that the low rent interior and poorly thought out controls - what is that gear selector about? - Like many people in the comments have said, it's an 'everyman' car; enough power without ever being intimidating.
My mates always had Golfs when I had 205 GTis and I thought the Golf was not as good. After I bought my first Golf GTi I reckon I was converted within about 500 miles ! They are a great car - and so stable in the wet as you found out. I reckon because they are built to drive flat out on the Autobahn at normal driving speed they just tick over easily. I remember back prior to speed cameras driving to the south of France in one at a steady 120 mph, 3 up with 3 mountain bikes hanging on the back - great memories !
Yes never really ticked the box for me. Test drove a couple a 6 and 7 I think. Just missing something. Was a passenger in a mk1 convertible a number of years ago and yes that was very special.
i bought a golf r estate 7.5 2 years back and lov it , it has not been modified , it has the superb engine and dsg gearbox and 4 wheel drive , what more can i ask for , digital dash etc the only drawback is that the police are always there and they caught me speeding 2 mph more so got a speeding ticket 2 years ago lol .
First time owner, '24 380 SE. REALLY getting to like it! Just have to modify the gear shift height and throw. Stock feels too much like a game. Shifting by sound is out, intuition is the name of the game, about the only learning curve. Yeah, the buttons are a different philosophy, but workable. Would like better software functionality behind them, though. Beautiful sound system.
The last GTI I drove was an '82 or '84 Mk I in the early 90's - since then I've not parked my cheeks in the fun seat - only rode as a passenger. We were considering one before we purchase our first F56 JCW - I'd be interested in give a vee-dub a whirl....
Sounds terrible.Try a GTI engineering re1900 MK2 16v and you will get how badly things have gone for Golf. My last was a MK7 which was Ok but not great.
@@jamesbrowne7601 nope. I don’t really like the styling, or proportions. I got my 7.5 remapped and it’s my last golf. Plus I also have a GR Yaris, which is way more fun.
Ped, lve always understood that one shouldn't use cruise control on wet roads because aquaplaning can quickly send you off the road and into the hedges. Have you heard of this? Perhaps a question to be investigated and answered? Cheers
Not something I have heard. For sure you should be vigilant and if you see excessive standing water deactivate cruise. Just because you are using cruise control doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be paying attention to road conditions 😜
Continental tires recommends deactivating the cruise control when it rains. However: I saw multiple sources that claim that it's not a problem on slightly wet roads and in light rain. So my guess is that aquaplaning is the main reason to get rid of cc.
I have a skoda scala and compared to my mates mk8 golf which has slightly comfier seats, I much prefer my interior. I previously had a mark 7.5 and the mk8 felt a step down in quality imo
I still dont get the gti. I've got the mk8 golf r. At least it's fast. The gti is quick, not fast, doesn't give you that feeling you get when you floor it in a fast car. It's expensive, it looks very normal. I do like the car, but I'd never consider buying one. The mk8 does feel cheap inside compared to the 7.5, though. The plastic just isn't the same quality. It feels like they saved money by buying cheaper parts. That's not good.
I have a MK8 GTi Clubsport most of all the problems with the infotainment and functions of the car are overblown. I have never turned on any function buttons on the steering wheel by accident. You just need to learn how to use the infotainment like short cuts and the lane assist button thats hidden on the indicator stalk and stop start. Just turn it off before to drive off, really takes less than 20 second at most.
The best golf I've ever had was a turbo diesel golf in 1980s. It's. a GTI left hand drive turbo diesel. The registration was ARB. 737 Y. It could got the GLS sheet chin. Very comfortable. Very comfortable factory sunshine roof But just a lovely car to drive. Very comfortable. I got 59. 59 to the gallon and II shoaled it because of the insurance went from 300 pounds up to 600 pound and I just. got my redundant so I'm afraid it had to go but the best GTI ever out.
I've always liked, never driven. As said before, have Focus ST MK4 Estate (petrol, u should test!), looked at the R in estate, wondered if could accept a GTI or just hold on to what have (on last year of finance) and buy out
Well going from manual GTD to DSG GTI I mainly found the engine sound and general feeling of speed was better. Fuel economy is obviously worse by about 10mpg but doesn’t bother me too much. In terms of the mk7.5 to mk8, I’d say none of the ‘missing’ things they go on about in comparison reviews really affect my usage of the car. The infotainment makes sense when you get to know it, and mine is reasonably responsive (wireless charging is hit and miss though). the haptic steering wheel buttons are actually quite nice to use, but I will say the climate control is a slight pain and I generally adjust it before setting off. Big improvements I’ve noticed are the headlights (mk7.5 dipped are dim and mk8 matrix are amazing). Seats are more comfortable imo, the ACC is a bit smarter and brakes earlier and reacts more like a human would. The ambient lighting is a lot nicer with the colour settings, and I personally think the lightbar at the front looks smart in the dark. One thing I do like, is in my area the mk8 and especially the GTI isn’t a very popular car, so you stand out a bit even though it’s a sensible daily driver. I found after I’d had my 7.5 for a few years it seemed every other person in town had one.
My dad had a couple of mark 2 gtis back in the 90# and noughties as his sensible car (his other being an early 1988 911 carrera sport which he had for over 25 years from 1991)- and he loved his golf’s. They handled being driven so damned hard without breaking sweat, yet my mum would drive it if they popped out and didn’t want to take the family car (she refused to drive the 911). The gti could keep up in the twisties with much more powerful cars especially amazing if you weren’t called senna or Prost or mansell, but my dad also picked me up from uni in it as my mum needed the big car. We both enjoyed the drive home. The second one left us with 150k on the clock only just run in, and feeling like it still had 139 ponies under the hood. My dad always came back to golf as a model. He still has a golf (gtd now, mk7) as it does enough of the fun stuff whilst being parked on the street and not get noticed, and 50 to the gallon on a run.
Just sold my MK2 TT, had an MK1 TT before that, thinking of stepping backwards into MK8, non R. Will I be left wanting for my TT after 6 months of owning this?
I'm a huge fan of the VW ultimate hatchback, I will disagree with the desire of Manual Transmission on this vehicle. My experience with the 2023 Golf R with the 6 speed manual was not good to say the least, with a inconsistent clutch and poor shift linkage. I traded it for the 2024 Golf R with the DSG and I can suggest this is the way to go. Stay safe
I had a Golf MkIV TDI. I know it's not the GTI but, I loved that car. It wasn't super reliable though. In the shop once a year for something I couldn't do myself.
I've had 2 MK3 GTI 16V's, 2 MK4 VR6's and currently driving a MK5 GT TDI 16V. Personally the MK3 16V Golf's were the most exciting and engaging cars I have ever owned,by a country mile. Guy
