Top Gear MKVII GTI Preview

[BClear]

This has be posted elsewhere, but I figured I'd repost it in this section because it is relevant.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/n...k-7-2012-01-30

Cliffnotes:
+ electronically controlled mechanical limited slip diff
+ ~30 hp
+ ~50 tq
- ~220 lbs
- ~30% manufacturing costs

[hussdog426]

That's good news

[randy915]

The next R will rock our socks.

[uber drift]

The next R will rock our socks.

Oooookay. Cuz the current one sucks right? Lol.

[AeonNovro]

Test drove the '12 Golf Tdi. Not bad, lot of fun. Very quiet. I have an 03 GTI VR6 that has been modded by a previous owner and very, very quick but I want to support biodiesel. If I could get a Bluesport in a hatchback, if they were to make that wonderful concept, would be incredible I am sure. Was very disappointed when I found out the GTI was not available in a TDI, so right now, Golf TDI is the way to go. Going to be trading in. Might wait to check out '13 but with driving over 800 miles a week, I really want to start supporting biodiesel now. I believe Diesel is the way of the future. Biodiesel. Can't wait to see what else is around the corner, but I will never buy another gas vehicle.

[feels_road]

I want to support biodiesel.

With the currently available BioDiesel, VW says at most 5% is recommended. It may be safe to use up to 10%, but above that you need much more frequent oil changes (it condenses on the cylinders, and the piston rings scrape it into the oil), and at one point you need to worry about the fuel pump and injectors because of the much higher viscosity.

My guess is it will take another decade or so before fuel from other sources (e.g., algae) has been developed and which would be safe to use.

[eurolife]

I love the current GTI and it seems like the next generation will be even better. I'm pretty excited for it.

[AWhiteRabbit]

The next R will rock our socks.

I surely hope so.

[BMP_3918]

I kinda hope it looks ugly so I don't feel so bad about just buying my MK6

[roger2050]

I kinda hope it looks ugly so I don't feel so bad about just buying my MK6

How dare you?!

[eurolife]

I kinda hope it looks ugly so I don't feel so bad about just buying my MK6

I heard its ganna look quite similar to the mk6, just lower overall height and wider wheel base. So you might regret mk6 GTI buy even though it's super bad a

[oxide2782]

Just test drove the Mk6 GTI the other day and have gone Golf mad since then. Signed up on 3 Golf forums and haven't stopped reading. Haven't found a nifty little ride in the same price bracket that feels better.

I haven't bought the Mk6 yet. Would I be better off waiting for the Mk7? Would the price be around the same as the current GTI?

[Golf_kris]

Just test drove the Mk6 GTI the other day and have gone Golf mad since then. Signed up on 3 Golf forums and haven't stopped reading. Haven't found a nifty little ride in the same price bracket that feels better.

I haven't bought the Mk6 yet. Would I be better off waiting for the Mk7? Would the price be around the same as the current GTI?

I'm guessing the Mk7 won't be in the states for a couple years. If you really need a car before then you really can't go wrong with a Mk6. I'd get a nicely used one then trade it when the Mk7 arrives. I'm hoping the price is the same or less since this is supposed to be a cost-cutting platform. However, the Mk6 was supposed to be more cost efficient to make than the Mk5, however the prices tell a different story

[oxide2782]

I'm guessing the Mk7 won't be in the states for a couple years. If you really need a car before then you really can't go wrong with a Mk6. I'd get a nicely used one then trade it when the Mk7 arrives. I'm hoping the price is the same or less since this is supposed to be a cost-cutting platform. However, the Mk6 was supposed to be more cost efficient to make than the Mk5, however the prices tell a different story

I live far away from the US. Will be headed to the dealer for some discussion on options tomorrow, will pop the question about any Mk7 news.

Not in a hurry to get a car, but really liked the feel of the GTi.

[Midlife Crisis 2]

Just don't ask the sales staff. I heard a guy on the phone telling a potential customer that the new Golf R model is available with DSG.

[Golf_kris]

Just don't ask the sales staff. I heard a guy on the phone telling a potential customer that the new Golf R model is available with DSG.

[Golf_kris]

I live far away from the US. Will be headed to the dealer for some discussion on options tomorrow, will pop the question about any Mk7 news.

Not in a hurry to get a car, but really liked the feel of the GTi.

Welcome to Vortex, where are you from?

[kimilein]

Just don't ask the sales staff. I heard a guy on the phone telling a potential customer that the new Golf R model is available with DSG.

There are certainly douchenozzle salesguys, like that one guy who gave me a BS answer about available features just to keep me interested.

Then once you go into details, they'll tell you you can't order cars or that you can't actually get things a certain way even though the websites very clearly say you can.

Had this happen to me while I was in to test drive the new Focus. I asked the salesguy helping me if I could get a Titanium with a manual, because I saw I could configure one on ford.com and this was new to me, because I couldn't earlier. He was a bit green so he asked one of the older guys who said "YES OF COURSE" without hesitation. Only to tell me after the test drive that he can't find it in their official book that the manual isn't an option on the Titanium and tell me that it doesn't matter what the website says. So technically he was right, but then argued against himself even after I showed him on Ford's website that it was configurable that way.

I do have to say, in this current round of car shopping, I've only encountered two other douchenozzle salesguys. One was a manager at a VW dealer who lowballed my trade and quoted me $1000-$1500 less than the other dealers I checked with the very same day, and then $2000 less than a dealer from the same chain who bought that car 3 days later. He also told me that there was going to be a $3000 mark-up on a base manual Sportwagen.


Then a Nissan salesguy was pushing the CVT like it was a dairy product a day before it was about to expire. Even after I specifically stated I was under no circumstances interested in a CVT or any automatic. His words: "the manual shift mode drives just like a manual, man".


But the salesguys who helped me at Mazda, Subaru, KIA, and Toyota were awesome and very professional. Upfront pricing, understood what I wanted, didn't argue against me or try to convince me I want a Chartreuse SUV with CVT and a $5000 chrome package.

[oxide2782]

I agree about car salesmen. When I bought my Subaru Legacy 5 years ago, it was the best sales experience I'd ever had. But other dealers at the time were nightmarish. Hoping things would've settled down I visited Audi for the TT and even though the price was a bit much (Golf R territory), I was pleased with the salesman (and he was local too, shocking).

But by golly, I went to BMW the other day and was gobsmacked at the ignorance displayed!

I'm now sold on the Golf GTI, but the salesman who is dealing with me isn't the most pleasing. He's a nice guy and all, but people who sell cars here sell mainly for vanity, not actual features. So we're basically assuming or going by 'word' of what I'm actually getting with the car. I will only know for sure when I buy it. Crazy!

Welcome to Vortex, where are you from?

Thanks! I'm from India but I live in Oman!

[Golf_kris]

Thanks! I'm from India but I live in Oman!

That's really cool! I visited Salalah while on a Navy deployment in 2010. Our tour guide and the merchants were very friendly and we had a great time. If you're ever in the US on the east coast give me a shout!

[VR6Geek]

I sincerely hope the quality of materials matches/surpasses that of the MKVI. The newest Jetta (sedan, non TDI) was a little iffy when I test drove it compared to that of the MKVI golf or Jetta Sportswagon.

[spaz_666]

I sincerely hope the quality of materials matches/surpasses that of the MKVI. The newest Jetta (sedan, non TDI) was a little iffy when I test drove it compared to that of the MKVI golf or Jetta Sportswagon.

That's because the current US-Market Jetta sedan is just that. a US-Market Jetta that is no longer based on the Golf and price-point engineered for lowest common denominator American car buyers. My god man.... they brought back the 2.0 8v x-flow and drum brakes... really? drum brakes in 2012?

[feels_road]

Will be headed to the dealer for some discussion on options tomorrow, will pop the question about any Mk7 news.

The MkVII Golf will be introduced at the Paris car show in September, so I assume that production will start around that time frame. IIRC, the GTI is typically delayed by a bit, but I would guess it should be available before or by summer next year, in Germany. I have no idea how many cars VW sells in Oman, but I see no reason why it shouldn't be available there without much delay.

Supposedly, the car will be less expensive to produce because of the new platform, but if it gets the new Audi engine, the engine will be more expensive - so that probably balances things out.

[feels_road]

My god man.... they brought back the 2.0 8v x-flow and drum brakes... really? drum brakes in 2012?

According to Jamie, the dumb brakes are being phased out, and there are several other running changes to address some of the review low spots. And rumor is, the all-new 1.8TSI will be the new base engine.

[Snaeper]

Just when the Golf is getting good (1.8TSI)... the GTI gets even better (Aluminum roof, etc. Valve-lift TSI). Not to mention the improved performance of the diesels and even the Jetta Hybrid (I'd consider a Golf Hybrid if it is as good as the Jetta) is an attractive car... so many decisions.

[bigbb_3]

I doubt we'll get all the new amazing features in the US version of the MKVII.. Just like what happened with the MKVI. For instance, we'll probably get the current GTI engine that Europe has. VW always pinches their pennies for North American model cars.

[Snaeper]

I doubt we'll get all the new amazing features in the US version of the MKVII.. Just like what happened with the MKVI. For instance, we'll probably get the current GTI engine that Europe has. VW always pinches their pennies for North American model cars.

Why would they continue to produce an engine that is being completely phased out? It would probably cost MORE to keep making the current TSI, rather than replacing it with an engine that will be in every car around the world.

I think with the new MQB, we'll probably see a lot more content in the GTI's than we're used to, since all of the cars in VW's lineup are cheaper to produce. If anything, we'll probably see a cheaper interior (seats) again and fewer options than previously.

[randy915]

Oooookay. Cuz the current one sucks right? Lol.

It may not suck but it certainly isn't a game changer since the MKVI is pretty much an upgraded to MKV. Anyway you slice it, the EA888 is a superior motor to the EA113, so yes I'm looking forward to a properly factory tuned EA888 (gen 3?) on an AWD platform.

[johnnyveelish]

I doubt we'll see all those new stuff for the U.S./NA spec. They pay premium for premium features across the pond.

[polk808]

I sincerely hope the quality of materials matches/surpasses that of the MKVI. The newest Jetta (sedan, non TDI) was a little iffy when I test drove it compared to that of the MKVI golf or Jetta Sportswagon.

x2 if there is any updates on the interior I'm curious as well. hopefully its not like the mk6 gli, and hopefully they use the same leather sport seats in the current mk5-mk6 gti/golf r.

[Ceramic Rabbit]

30% less manufacturing costs? Holy god that's amazing, better start around 22k at the most then

[eurolife]

30% less manufacturing costs? Holy god that's amazing, better start around 22k at the most then

The likelihood of us seeing 30% reduction in costs is not likely. When you think of what goes into designing, developing, testing, and eventually manufacturing a car, manufacturing costs probably don't even make up half of the costs of a car. Even then we would only be seeing a 15% cut I costs.

Then you have to realize that Volkswagen has to put a ton of extra money into their factories at first to make these eventual cuts in manufacturing costs.

Also, what would push Volkswagen towards cutting manufacturing costs if they don't see the money themselves?

My guess is that the cars will still cost about the same. But more than likely well see the prices go up with an adjustment for inflation

[synthetikv]

I sincerely hope the quality of materials matches/surpasses that of the MKVI. The newest Jetta (sedan, non TDI) was a little iffy when I test drove it compared to that of the MKVI golf or Jetta Sportswagon.

This 1000x over. I have a MKV jetta, my mom has an MKVI the difference between the two is mind boggling. I remember getting into both cars for the first time, MKV I thought "wow this reminds me of a bmw" (obviously not the same quality but its up there for the price), then with the MKVI "wow this reminds me of my old cavalier..."

I'm looking at upgrading to a GTI but holding out for the mkvii, praying i'm not making a stupid decision...