6 Things I Learned From My ‘Year Of GTI’

After spending the best part of the year with VW Golf GTIs - first a Mk7 Clubsport and then a standard Mk7.5 - here’s what I discovered…
6 Things I Learned From My ‘Year Of GTI’

For the vast majority of 2017, I’ve had a new Golf GTI on my driveway. Just before Christmas a Tornado Red Mk7 GTI Clubsport arrived, before being ‘swapped’ around Easter for a facelifted ‘Mk7.5’ GTI finished in Silver White Metallic.

Thus, I’ve decided to label 2017 as my ‘year of Golf’. I went from one end of the GTI spectrum (ignoring the ultra-focused, ultra-limited Clubsport S of course) right to the other, and learned a hell of a lot in the process.

Let me take you through it…

The whole point of the GTI is it exercises restraint while cars at the sharper end of the hot hatch descend into power-mad lunacy. We’re looking at the next Mercedes-AMG A45 packing over 400bhp, after all.

The standard GTI then is a refreshing alternative, and really, its 228bhp is all you should need on the road. I said as much in my first Mk7.5 update, but it is worth pointing out a GTI with more power is awesome.

The Clubsport proved this, but crucially, it did so without becoming some uncompromising, single-minded monster of a thing. My view that a GTI with a wee bit more power is a very good thing was further cemented by a drive in a modified example packing nearly 300bhp, which - if you took off the needless lowering springs - would be just as useable and pleasant as a boggo GTI.

You need a VAQ differential

6 Things I Learned From My ‘Year Of GTI’

If I were buying a brand new Golf GTI, it would have to be the Performance Pack. Not for the token 15bhp boost over the standard car - nope, the VAQ differential that’s fitted as standard is the big draw. Best thought of as one half of a Haldex four-wheel drive system, it uses clutches to send anything up to 100 per cent of torque to either driven wheel. And it’s bloody effective.

It allowed for particularly committed cornering in the Clubsport, and even in the facelifted, 245bhp GTI Performance, its effects are noticeable. Back in ‘our’ base GTI, I were always wanting for more front-end grip - every time the front end gave up and washed wide into understeer territory, I felt a pang of disappointment.

Manual gearboxes aren’t the be-all and end-all

6 Things I Learned From My ‘Year Of GTI’

Neither the Clubsport nor the Mk7.5 GTI had a manual gearbox, and I never really found myself pining after one. The six-speed DSG automatic transmission may not always be on the ball in auto mode (VW is slowly replacing it with a superior seven-speed version), but it’s still a fast, effective ‘box, not to mention a great match for the car.

Even with a lower power output, the Golf holds its own against sharper competition. It never felt that far off the tremendous Hyundai I30 N on the occasion tested against the hot hatch newcomer, and when going into battle with the Civic Type R, the Golf made me question whether the Honda’s bonkers looks were worth living with for the extra grip and composure it brings to the table. Is that extra 10-20 per cent of ability worth the compromises? It’s a tough call.

The Golf R was - for a little while at least - the darling of the motoring press, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I actually got around to driving one. I tried an R first in a back-to-back with the Clubsport, and a few months on drove the facelifted version not long before taking delivery of the Silver White GTI. My conclusion after those two encounters? I’m not sure I get the fuss.

Around 300bhp isn’t an output that requires a four-wheel drive system these days, and adding one to an EA888 ‘TSI’ inline-four with around that poke seems to neuter it. I like the feeling of a front-wheel drive car’s front end scrabbling around to find grip, and the absence of that - replaced by unflappable grip - is something I find a little dull.

For the sort of person that likes marvelling at a car’s ability and leaning on it whatever the weather, there’s a case for the R. But for anyone really interested in driving, the GTI is the way to go.

Golf life makes other cars seem more annoying

6 Things I Learned From My ‘Year Of GTI’

The Golf range as a whole sets the gold standard of how a hatchback should go together. Where the controls are laid out. How the infotainment works. Even the seating position. Jumping into a Golf of any kind is like digging out your favourite hoodie from the back of the cupboard and remembering why you used to wear it so much.

The only problem with that is if you’re running a Golf as your daily, it merely highlights what doesn’t quite work on other cars. When we had a Hyundai I30 N in for a week, for instance, I was immediately irked by the naff sat nav and the placement of some of the controls.

No one has nailed this like a glove feeling quite like VW, and once you factor in the added power and ability of the GTI version, you have what is surely the most easy-to-live-with performance car out there.

Comments

Anonymous

There would be no problem if the Golf was there here back home and the R/GTI versions were not that expensive. The reason in India is that good cars come at a high cost. Good cars like the Hyundai Verna, Creta, Elantra and Santa Fe’s cost ranges (containing all the cars) are from 1.2 million rupees (18,738 US dollars) to 3 million rupees (46,844.99 US dollars). The Polo GTI itself is 2 million dollars (31229.99 US dollars) Now you may think these prices are very cheap, but here in India these are very high prices. But if I move to other countries I may can afford these beauties.

12/24/2017 - 10:57 |
38 | 4
CS55

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yeah, it’s like that because of corruption and financial crisis in some cointries. In others because cars “pollute” too much and they only need to be accesible for the richest people and so those countries are “cleaner”…

12/24/2017 - 11:11 |
16 | 0
Jakob

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s exactly the same price tag the Golf GTI has all around the planet. 30500€ (36200 US$) for the manual, 32500€ (38500 US$) for the DSG are the prices in Germany. Of course, wages are higher in Europe than they are in India, but the price tag of these cars certainly isn’t especially high compared to other country.

12/24/2017 - 11:24 |
12 | 0
Nishant Dash

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Taxes… That’s all

12/24/2017 - 11:54 |
4 | 0
Bring a Caterham To MARS

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Who may think 2M dollars is a good price, if I’m to ask?

12/24/2017 - 20:17 |
2 | 2
InjunS2K

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

LOL, meanwhile in the US, my college buddies are buying GTIs for $25k brand new XD This is why I’m never moving back to India

12/25/2017 - 10:07 |
2 | 0
Tomislav Celić

I just wish we would get a bonkers Golf. Please VW…

I’ll stick to my “anything but German” hot hatch policy becouse of that. A45 is a miss IMO and others aren’t bonkers enough for me. Hope that changes soon.

12/24/2017 - 11:23 |
4 | 2

M140i and RS3 aren’t crazy enough for you?

12/24/2017 - 12:02 |
10 | 0
Tariq alkhamis

After 2 years of my ownership of the mk7 gti i found 1 negative thing about it

It is so perfect to the point where it makes every other car seem like a complete nightmare to drive
Everything about it is so convenient and simple
I feel like i’m in a death trap whenever i drive a Ford Taurus or a Lincoln MKC because of how unbalanced they are in comparison

12/24/2017 - 12:47 |
20 | 2

Are you sure that isn’t just a Ford thing?

12/24/2017 - 17:42 |
2 | 2

Ayy you’re that guy from twitter lol

12/24/2017 - 18:18 |
0 | 0
5:19.55

The r with 400 hp would be around if it wasn’t for the emission scandal

12/24/2017 - 12:49 |
2 | 2
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

In reply to by 5:19.55

That’ll just understeer tho

12/24/2017 - 18:17 |
4 | 2
ismail beygirci

i heard gti s have some gadget that makes fake engine sound if you can remove it without avoiding warranty its very good car just imagine awd 6 speed manual 5 cylinder gti with this 7.5 chassis it would be best hatch in the world.oh lets not forget that super annoying vw fanbase… without them it would be great

12/24/2017 - 14:17 |
0 | 10

the GTD (diesel version of the GTI) had an Sound Generator if you ordered a sport package

12/24/2017 - 21:19 |
2 | 0
TheCuttingboard

Monty4248

12/24/2017 - 16:31 |
0 | 0

I love the car, my only issue is that it isn’t an 86/brz. But yes, pretty sure come January…

12/24/2017 - 18:29 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

You buy Golf when a BMW is out of reach?

12/24/2017 - 16:47 |
2 | 10
Williard

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yeahhhh not like a 3 series is less than a gti

12/24/2017 - 22:19 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

I don’t think VW controls are a standard in ergonomics. Quite the opposite. There are other brands where, once you jump in the car, you have the instant felling of everything positioned at your finger tips. VW is far away from this

12/24/2017 - 17:41 |
6 | 12
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Care to elaborate? What controls are out of reach or unituitive in a gti?The professional car reviewer in this article, and millions of VW owners disagree with your statement.

12/24/2017 - 21:10 |
2 | 2
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

I couldn’t agree with you more. VW needs to start making a ‘kind of’ slightly more track focused CS with every generation

12/24/2017 - 18:16 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Factoring price, practicality, fun, dimensions, interior quality, performance, fun, tuneability, DSG gearbox etc… The gti is the best car in the world. The pound for pound champ.

12/24/2017 - 21:07 |
0 | 0

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