@@BirdiesGoCherp For what it's worth, I had a MK4 with APR stage 1, exhaust, intake and springs up to about 140miles and the only problem I ever had was the waterpump. Not even a clutch.
@@BirdiesGoCherp My stage 2 Mk6 has been pretty good, 120,000 km's on it so far. Most expensive thing so far was replacing the known problematic timing chain tensioner, and then the oil leak that that has caused because no one seems to be able to get a front cover sealed right after its come off... Other than that only real failures I have ever had are coil packs, so cheap and easy to fix I carry a spare in my trunk now!
So much for having you drive my swapped Forester. I just totalled it at Angeles Crest on Sunday. At least I got to meet Lou Ferrigno who was one of the rescue guys...
not sure what the amount of doors on a car have something to do with having or not having friends. but I prefer 3 doors on smaller cars (like the Polo, Corsa, Clio etc.) but the Golf isn't that small so 5 doors work aswell. if 3 doors are practical or not depends on your lifestyle frankly, I could live with a 2 seater in terms of. . . well, seats. but not with the luggage space of a "typical" 2 seater.
The 5 door also makes it easier for the driver to get in and out of it in parking lots, plus puts the seat belt in an easier to reach position. On the downside it does add a little weight. Get a two door with no sunroof and remove the spare tire and you can drop a significant amount of weight vs a 5dr SE model.
This is honestly one of the most enjoyable segments to watch. I love seeing the everyday mods that people rock and end up with nice reliable cars. Good job Matt.
I will admit to "hatin" before the get go because I'm just not a VW fan (sorry). BUT holy cow was I surprised. That little thing is sweet! Super quick, sounds nice, and rips through corners. All without much modification. Another great video. Keep em coming! (*imho: Its a lot easier, for us viewers, to differentiate the quickness between two cars, when they are shot on the same road. I know you can't shoot in the same city (you have a life too), but I hope this series stays limited to one, maybe two, road routes. One, good, versatile road.)
There's two schools of thought RE: roads - One is that all cars should be shot on the same one or two roads for better comparison's sake, and another that says we should change up the roads for scenery and variety's sake. That's from the viewers perspective. From our perspective, we like the variety, because it keeps the content fresh, and because I want to avoid the thinking that, if we use only one road, that it's our "test track" and that type of mentality. At this point we're already committed to using a variety of roads, as I have 12 more of these videos already shot.
Touche, and I totally understand that. Maybe since these are short episodes, and I think we all scream for more, it'd be cool to maybe shoot them on the same three roads in one day. Three episodes allow for different cars to have better showings over the set (the 'crest' na miata would make up brownie points on this road). More episodes + more of your opinions = win/win! I'm not complaining at all, either way I'm watching. Ef it, I'm just being greedy.
I am not a VW fan at all, but this car, also the 2 door are built very well it seems. I love hatch's so it gets bonus points. Way to go VW for not building another pile of junk!
I'm not really a VW guy but I like this car because the owner has only done basic mods that doesn't make the car unreliable and has maintained the car's good condition.
Very nice presentation, Matt! This GTI is tastefully modded and the DCT on them are fantastic. The owner seems like a nice guy. Well done. Can't wait to see more!
I have the same car with same suspension setup and similar tune mods. I'm glad to hear its Matt Farah approved! All the VW guys will crack jokes about which is better, the 2dr vs the 4dr. To me the number of doors separates the age bracket and income level of the owner. Thanks for the vids Matt and keep them coming!
I have a MkV GTI with a stg 1 APR tune and absolutely adore it! I've never been in a fwd car that is more willing than it or has as much low down torque either. Awesome cars, great buys
+Kenji SFL the one that really made me notice was "this is why this car WAS the benchmark for so long" lol, the fiesta isnt replacing a GTI anytime soon. +Jono D the focus ST and GTI are much closer competitors. the fiesta ST is cheaper then the base GTI vs fully loaded ST, and a fully loaded GTI is 10k over a fiesta ST.
justin MacPhee As much as I love ford the fiesta isn't for me. As big as matt is you'd think he would be all over the focus st. That seems like more of a fair comparison in my opinion...In addition you really can't beat the look and feel of German made build quality.
Thanks Cory! Oddly enough, my car is a Mk6 APR stage 1 with aftermarket paddles and brand-new A/S 3 tires. It is amazing how those 3 simple changes make the stock car nearly perfect and was good to see it on film. Nice Matt agreed that it is an awesome package once you add what VW skimps but don't go crazy. At first thought it'd be some big-turbo manual beast.
I just wanna say that these vids of cars from regular tuners are my new favorite things to watch from you. If I lived anywhere near you i'd definitely be in line. Great stuff!
Really digging this series you guys have been doing. It's great to see the wide variety of enthusiasts vehicles out there, and what mild tuning can do to wake them up. Hope to see more stuff you wouldn't think of off the bat like the Volvo. And glad to see you liked the GTI!
I had a 5 door DSG mk6 GTI for a little less then a year. I real enjoyed the power delivery and the transmission. It was fully loaded with nav. Interior fit and finish is above the competition. But, my brother needed a car and I missed driving stick shift, so he took over the GTI and I picked myself up a mk6 golf R. Both are amazing in their own way.
Great video as usual and I'm not gonna argue manual vs DSG but I will say that Matt is one of the first people I've ever heard complain about the way a VW manual feels. Oh well, enjoyed regardless and this is definitely one of the best series of videos you've done.
Funny thing that Matt doesn't like the VW manual trans but in every comparison, just about every reviewer says that for any vehicle under 40k it comes second only to Honda's manual. Also most reviewers are not a fan of Ford's manual.
peakay2002 Even more if planning to tune...the dsg is much more capable. I had a stage 2 APR 3 door mk5 gti, which I absolutely loved, until the manual transmission was entirely replace for $4500...
nice video matt. this new series is the best thing ever with the simple, perfect onboard view a real enthusiast always wanted. these canyon roads n shit are amazing we have some nice roads here too that's exactly what I want to see and you're driving these cars like a man haha great
That is awesome. I am thinking with my passion for a manual gearbox and my wifes distaste for them. This would be a great little car for for her to have. She can drive it in auto, and I can use the paddle shifts in the bendys. I like.
Great review! Loving these One Take videos you've been doing on fans cars! As a proud owner of a 2010 MK6 GTI (6MT), I truly enjoyed this particular review with the feedback on the Vdub. I've heard mixed reviews on VW manual transmissions: I hear they are about as smooth shifting and easy to operate as a manual trans gets (one review mentioned driving a Mk7 for several months and never once crunched a synchro!). I've also heard they are numb-feeling (most common complaint - maybe a trade off for extreme smoothness), not direct enough, and 1st gear has some wobbly play in it. I agree the shift feel comes off a bit numb at times. Truth is, what sold me on the manual was how buttery-smooth shifting was with it. I suppose mechanically, that may be a trade off. I always hear of Hondas having excellent if not the best manual gearboxes. Anyone with experience driving a manual VW, please share your thoughts!
Just finished watching the One Take of the 1990 NA Mazda Miata, and there was lots of positive commentary on it's shifter, reminding me of how many good things I've always heard. That being said, anyone know (despite any response inevitably being more opinionated than factual) which has better manual shifter action: Honda (i.e. Civic, S2000, etc.), Mazda (i.e. all Miata gens), or VW (i.e. GTI, Golf R, etc.)? Just curious on thoughts of enthusiasts who have driven all three!
VQSeries As a current owner of a 2012 Mk6 GTI 6MT, I can tell you its not the worst gearbox ever but I'm not super in love with it. Previous to this I had two Subaru Imprezas with 5MT (2011 Impreza 2.5i Hatch, 2013 Impreza 2.0i Hatch), and they weren't smooth shifting but they made up for it in spades with mechanical feel. My GTI as far as VW gearboxes go feels better than the one I've experienced in some Golf/Jetta TDIs and Audi A4s, but I find the gates are a little too narrow and I don't get enough mechanical feedback for my liking. I'd happily give up some smoothness for some feel. That being said, its not a deal breaker by any stretch and now that I'm used to it I barely notice it at all.
Patrick Gile Thank you for your excellent response - just what I was hoping for! As an owner of the 6 speed manual MK6 GTI, I agree with how it feels as well, in comparison to other sticks I've driven as well! Once again, thanks for your detailed response! Anyone else have thoughts to share on this?
Watercooled4ever Thanks for the reply! Did some research on it, and I'm strongly considering it but worry throws will be too short or too notchy - I don't need my gti to give up its drivability too much - I watched a sample vid of a Mk6 gti driver cycling through the gears, and the shift throws and effort didn't appear too extreme in comparison to a stock shifter. I just may get it by Spring time :)
love vw's, my first car was a 2001 1.8t jetta wolfsburg edition with the bbs rims. it was quick. perfect road car, except for the many sensors that failed me. but i'm sure vw has ironed out the kinks in the last 14 years. can't wait to own another one!
Launch control for VW and Audi. Sport mode FIRST, then you take off traction control. Both feet on pedals. If the car revs high without jerking forward and resisting the brakes then you've done it right. Release the brake and off you go.
I had a focus ST with Cobb tuning and it’s totally true about the focus ST petering out at high rpm. My Mk 7 with Neuspeed module pulled great from 5 to 7,000 RPMs, that was until a teenager ran a light and totaled it, I’ll bet he was on his phone…
MrGovenator1 I heard that the new(ish) Hyundai i40 manuals seem to have no connection with the actual transmission. Changing gears did not provide any mechanical feedback and clutch pedal was very inconsistent, supposedly. In that case, AT or dual clutch would be much more preferable.
Cool one take Matt. The Diesel Geek SS takes away the spongy feeling in the stock shifter of the Mk VI GTI. Probably the best $200 mod available for the car. Other shifter mods can make it even better I'm told. Funny that you hate the stock manual because Chris Harris seemed to like it in one of his reviews (maybe that was the MkVII but I doubt there is any real difference). Also, a larger RSB seems to control that understeer pretty well in these cars.
If your ever in RI for the summer I have a mk4 Jetta bagged with vr6 24v strapped with a GT35R. Not the best for turns but hell of a lot of fun doing pulls =)
Really like this review, its real people on a real road. I feel bad for the owner though, I could never give my GTI to someone who was going to punish it like that
The Mk6 is a great car no doubt, had one ourselves; however, the Mk7 comes with a bigger turbo and once tuned makes 280/350 to the wheels on 91 octane. The power the new GTI makes with just a $700 tune is ridiculous, same it's going to be the case with the upcoming Golf R.
Apr tunes are $699 Uni is around the same and the piggy backs are under $500 Cobb is $650 for the port but allows you to get protunes by doing pulls emailing a log and they email you backa tune to load
The argument against DSGs isn't about performance or feel anymore, it's about maintenance intervals/costs and serviceability. A manual is still a lot less money to own and maintain (DSGs need clutch packs ever 40k miles, manual just needs MTF until the clutch goes) and if your DSG goes, it's much more to replace and isn't something you can have really serviced by a transmission shop. But they certainly work really well. My other complaint about VW's DSG is just down to programming; drive is too eager to hold high gears and reluctant to downshift, sport is too eager to hold low gears and reluctant to upshift. And I personally like VW's manual shift feel, though it's helped by non-OEM fluid and a mild short shift for sure. I've hammered every GTI from the MkIV onward, as well as the MkV and MkVI R's, on some of my favorite local roads, and in stock form, the MkVI is really competent and flowing, but too buttoned up to be really engaging...over-competent, as it were. But this tuned and re-sprung machine is likely an improvement :) I'm all the way up in the bay area but would love to have you do a one take in my tweaked MkIV someday, if you're still doing one takes in a few months :)
Hmm, friend works at VW dealer here for years now and talks about seeing clutch pack replacements required on DSGs often...then again, he only sees who comes in, not everyone, so he gets a stilted view.
Like the other guys said, it's a fluid change every 40k lol. I'm on 51k now with my '13 GLi and no probs. Dyno'd 244whp/288wtq on the factory intercooler APR Stage 2 and DSG tune (amazingly good!). Super flat powerband so it pulls so much harder than the peak numbers even suggest. All of my other VW's were manual, but wow this gearbox is great! 40k fluid change is no biggie for this reward. :)
You should drive another Miata somewhere in the Santa Monica Mountains. It feels more at home there, instead of the Angeles Crest, in my personal opinion. Feel free to rip mine around if you'd like for another test run. Also check out Tuna Canyon Road, right off of Topanga Canyon. The only downhill one-way canyon in Southern California! Views on the ocean the whole time along with sketch 200 foot cliffs to the left at all times..
Mines not a gti, but the brother a 2014 gli jetta. And even though it doesnt have all the power in the world its a freaking blast to drive. Im waiting on the stage 2 to be released for the gen 3 motors and a stage 2 dsg tune. From what ive seen its like owning a whole different car.
Hey Matt! Come up to Hollywood North (vancouver) and you can drive my lightly modified 135i 6MT.. has a tune, down pipe, IC and of course a water meth kit. Or the highly modified 86' GLH-T… If I can finish it in time!
If you enjoyed this I wish I could ship my Mk5 GTI over to you; 5dr manual with AmD Stage 1, full Milltek exhaust, intake and sticky Conti tyres. ~270hp and roughly 310 lb/ft at the wheels. A lot of fun and very quick
Yeah the guys who did the tune dyno'd it. Put 267 and 309 down on 97 octane fuel, I'd love to find the printout but I have no idea where it is and the dyno is 3 hours away. Their tunes are well known to be some of the highest power gaining tunes for VAG cars.
"It's really hard to argue for a stick anymore if the alternative is a good dual clutch" This is exactly why I went DSG for my GTI when moving to LA. Just not worth the 6-speed fun on some roads while suffering in 405 traffic.
Matt, are you coming to the Frankfurt Auto Show this year? You can do the same thing here in Europe ^^. I have a completely modified MK6 GTI Stage II+ by APR with around 310HP(102 octane) and 430NM of torque. We also have a modified 2014 Focus ST with 316HP(Revo Stage II) and 480NM of torque. You can pound these cars on the Autobahn ^^. And please, keep doing these Videos, they are awesome! Greetings from Cologne Germany
I think you would probably enjoy driving my moderately tuned late model C4 Corvette. Although Matt I know you're partial to the C5. I would be interested in your comparison. To bad I'm not in California. I like these videos though.
If someone is interested, then look on youtube for "Boba Tuning". This channel is belongs to a german small tuner. He has a Golf Mk2, with a 2.0l turbo engine with 1150hp on AWD, on the street!!! o.O
Hey Matt, I've met you quite a few times up on Mulholland Snake (I was with my silver Hayabusa). I also got a 2-door MK6 GTI, APR Stage-II tuned which also has the intake, but with stock exhaust. It'd be nice to know how it is compared to this stage-I GTI. Next time I see you up there I may let you take it for a spin to see how you feel about it.
