You almost make it sound like a good thing. They put touch controls that didn’t illuminate at night for some of the most basic functions a driver needs instant access to from barely a glance - and then caved in to the resulting pressure after everyone complained how dangerous they’d made their cars. And those cars are still on the road, maybe coming round a fast dark corner on our side of the road bc the driver needs to quickly de-mist their windscreen. I love my VW but the company deserves nothing but hate for those controls.
Autobox, GTi door badges, and the tablet-stuck-on-the-dash screen detract from an otherwise nice package. Dynamic suspension control should be standard at that price tag...
Love the wheels -they make it! - had a mk5 with Monza wheels and this together with the tartan seats is one of the reasons i’ve ordered a 8.5 normal GTI
That dashboard should have been redesign completely to integrate that big screen but I suppose the bean counters wouldn't allow that. All this touch screen stuff is getting dangerous. like the look of the car but I much prefer my mk7.5 dash. The door badges look to big, VW used to do subtle. Good review.
It's not much of an upgrade over the mk8 clubsport . From 2022 onwards the mk8 was fine. I have one and love it. The 8.5 steering wheel buttons are old fashioned and don't match the high gloss dashboard. Gloss black on lower front bumper is nice but stone chips will be hard to mask unless it's covered with expensive expel . The Mk 8 touch screen is nice and not over distracting when driving compared to the cinema screen in the 8.5
Enjoyed the film Amelia. I did not realise there was no self cancel button on the steering wheel for a phone call. I would also go for the 18" on the GTI Clubsport. I drove this red car and the white 18" GTI CS VW had the 18"'s worked better for me. Both also had DCC. Lovely Review 😊
nice review and i will always have a soft sot for the GTi but i will say that premium and sporty are not exclusive! I used to have a mk8 CS and did find it a bit plasticky compared with the 7.5. Wonder of you found the same
Bought ours in 2021 up for 37.999, with discount working for vw and car chopped in the total was £27k keep the 8.5, get a mk8 make sure the steering wheel has been changed under warranty and get it mapped Still worth 23k/24k cash trade in 4 years on No brainer
Love the film Amelia,so how much more uncomfortable is it compared to the standard Gti ,also I love those wheels ,if you going for 19's why would you go for a wheel with R branding on it not on my Gti ,I don't get why people do that also on my car don't you just press ok to end a call?
Great review thanks. I like the wheels but even the base cost and especially with desirable options such as DCC make it way to expensive. It sits in the luxury car tax banding.. It should not be considered a luxury car.. It is a GTI and should be a raw, thrill car with preferably a manual gearbox. I will stick with my TCR with DCC for the time being although VW got that model wrong by only giving DSG. Oh how much I would love it more if I had a gearstick...
I'll stick with my Clubsport 45 DCC and 19s. I love the no buttons on the wheel, easy to clean and use. Don't like the front of the 8.5, changed for no reason other than to make it different. The screen is too big. No issues with touch controls with no illumination, it's only volume and heat controls which are easy to use at night and less of a distraction. De-mist, rear window etc. are all illuminated. The screen on my Clubsport 45 can be slow occasionally but usually only when starting up sometimes and is a better size. I find with all touch screens that if my hands are dry (I'm a builder) they don't work very well. I just lick my finger to dampen it and it works fine 😂😂. I have to do the same with my phone and washing machine sometimes😂😂. End of the day its each to their own.
Think with mk8.5 clubsport, the better fwd hot hatch would be the Type R. Clubsport should have kept the manual if driver involved was the purpose. I’d get the Golf R over both in the real world with all 4 seasons.
In a way I have to agree to a extent but driving this model especially when tuned (like ours) it’s a absolute weapon 450bhp with a TCU tune for less than £2200 it’s absolutely as said ridiculously quick on the move
Guys, guys, this is a deposit on a decent house, that earns you money. Do not withdraw 47k or finance this. You can't drive this any faster in this country than my 4k yes 4k 6 years ago and still going strong Fiesta ST 👍
Don't get me wrong it's beautiful looking but I'm so gutted because it's not a driver's car, it's got that stupid semi automatic gear box they should never have taken away a full manual gear box. Because the new gearboxes will cost an absolute fortune to replace or repair.
You almost make it sound like a good thing. They put touch controls that didn’t illuminate at night for some of the most basic functions a driver needs instant access to from barely a glance - and then caved in to the resulting pressure after everyone complained how dangerous they’d made their cars.
And those cars are still on the road, maybe coming round a fast dark corner on our side of the road bc the driver needs to quickly de-mist their windscreen.
I love my VW but the company deserves nothing but hate for those controls.
I love these Alloys, bit a throwback to its roots. Id happily spec them.
Autobox, GTi door badges, and the tablet-stuck-on-the-dash screen detract from an otherwise nice package. Dynamic suspension control should be standard at that price tag...
The main reason I’ll be buying this is the steering wheel physical buttons and the larger screen. So I love the screen.
Their really slow cars
Love the wheels -they make it! - had a mk5 with Monza wheels and this together with the tartan seats is one of the reasons i’ve ordered a 8.5 normal GTI
£47k for a GTi what on earth are VW smoking?
It is very nice. But not 47k nice
Blame the EU dictatorship. The economical penalties they put on the car industry are causing so much damage
70k here
It is still the benchmark nothing in that class comes near it, drive it and you will realize it ❤
The Rates Of Christmas Past
That dashboard should have been redesign completely to integrate that big screen but I suppose the bean counters wouldn't allow that. All this touch screen stuff is getting dangerous. like the look of the car but I much prefer my mk7.5 dash. The door badges look to big, VW used to do subtle. Good review.
I enjoyed watching the video 😊
It's not much of an upgrade over the mk8 clubsport . From 2022 onwards the mk8 was fine. I have one and love it. The 8.5 steering wheel buttons are old fashioned and don't match the high gloss dashboard. Gloss black on lower front bumper is nice but stone chips will be hard to mask unless it's covered with expensive expel . The Mk 8 touch screen is nice and not over distracting when driving compared to the cinema screen in the 8.5
Excellent review, well done 👏🏻👏🏻
Enjoyed the film Amelia. I did not realise there was no self cancel button on the steering wheel for a phone call. I would also go for the 18" on the GTI Clubsport. I drove this red car and the white 18" GTI CS VW had the 18"'s worked better for me. Both also had DCC. Lovely Review 😊
The only major issue I have with my Mk8 CS is the miniaturized shift paddles, and they haven't changed them.
I'll just stick to my Mark 3 2.0. It will always be more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slow.
Nice review! The wheels are named Queenstown.
nice review and i will always have a soft sot for the GTi but i will say that premium and sporty are not exclusive! I used to have a mk8 CS and did find it a bit plasticky compared with the 7.5. Wonder of you found the same
I have a 2017 regular Golf, which apparently they don’t sell in the US any more. Pity. The GTI is too pricey and the Golf is good enough for me.
Great review! For me, no tartan, no manual, no sale 😢
Drive an auto for a couple of weeks, and you won't bother with a manual again.
@@Brian-om2hhI have driven manuals and autos and I have hated driving all autos - particularly VW. It is a preference thing. 😊
Completely get that Stephen! That’s what the GTI has been for a long time
Bought ours in 2021 up for 37.999, with discount working for vw and car chopped in the total was £27k
keep the 8.5, get a mk8 make sure the steering wheel has been changed under warranty and get it mapped
Still worth 23k/24k cash trade in 4 years on
No brainer
GTI are general garbage slow cars compared to the golf r mk8, for the price u can get RS3
I’m a massive gti fan, i’ve had loads over the years and currently drive a mint mk5. I would grudge at paying £47k for one 😱
Love these wheels man
I don't think anyone asked for that big goofy screen tacked on the dash.
Love the film Amelia,so how much more uncomfortable is it compared to the standard Gti ,also I love those wheels ,if you going for 19's why would you go for a wheel with R branding on it not on my Gti ,I don't get why people do that also on my car don't you just press ok to end a call?
GTI on the door is nothing short of ridiculous 😏😢
Here, enjoying my 2015 is38 gti for less than 20k
Great review thanks. I like the wheels but even the base cost and especially with desirable options such as DCC make it way to expensive. It sits in the luxury car tax banding.. It should not be considered a luxury car.. It is a GTI and should be a raw, thrill car with preferably a manual gearbox. I will stick with my TCR with DCC for the time being although VW got that model wrong by only giving DSG. Oh how much I would love it more if I had a gearstick...
Nearly 50k for a Golf GTI. It's no wonder VW are in trouble.
I'll stick with my Clubsport 45 DCC and 19s. I love the no buttons on the wheel, easy to clean and use. Don't like the front of the 8.5, changed for no reason other than to make it different. The screen is too big. No issues with touch controls with no illumination, it's only volume and heat controls which are easy to use at night and less of a distraction. De-mist, rear window etc. are all illuminated. The screen on my Clubsport 45 can be slow occasionally but usually only when starting up sometimes and is a better size. I find with all touch screens that if my hands are dry (I'm a builder) they don't work very well. I just lick my finger to dampen it and it works fine 😂😂. I have to do the same with my phone and washing machine sometimes😂😂. End of the day its each to their own.
The 8.5 has gone backwards imo
the tech is now sorted since vw accepted what was wrong
That screen is awful. I actually like the exterior changes over my mk8. But that screen is awful.
Nice motor but silly money
Think with mk8.5 clubsport, the better fwd hot hatch would be the Type R. Clubsport should have kept the manual if driver involved was the purpose. I’d get the Golf R over both in the real world with all 4 seasons.
You can still select your own gears with the DSG....
Going to Aldi and day to day it’s better than a type R
As for the R
when both are used in the better weather how is it different infact it’s not
Wheels look like the ones off the skoda octavia vrs
Exact same ones from a 6 year old skoda octavia vrs
........New subscriber 👍
Doesn't just look more expensive, it IS more expensive!
Amelia is so pretty 😍
Nearly 50k for a golf gti that’s bonkers I’ll stick with me mk7.5 gti that I hate with a passion it’s crap,but mk5 gti in me garage is me babe
In a way I have to agree to a extent
but driving this model especially when tuned (like ours) it’s a absolute weapon
450bhp with a TCU tune for less than £2200
it’s absolutely as said ridiculously quick on the move
@@escos0410m140i stage 2 with high pressure fuel pump XHP3 gearbox 500bhp all stock internals it would beat the GTI even tuned one in reverse
Nice car but the price is ridiculous no wonder VW are in trouble.
Will you be trying the New Civic Type R?
Guys, guys, this is a deposit on a decent house, that earns you money. Do not withdraw 47k or finance this. You can't drive this any faster in this country than my 4k yes 4k 6 years ago and still going strong Fiesta ST 👍
I have the 8.5 R if you want to review mine
If VW truly was listening then they should bring back the 6MT
Great review Amelia! The interior is awful, that's what put me off buying one. 👍
I was recently offered a 2018 golf R for my 83 gti with a 20v turbo.
No thanks obviously
Don't get me wrong it's beautiful looking but I'm so gutted because it's not a driver's car, it's got that stupid semi automatic gear box they should never have taken away a full manual gear box. Because the new gearboxes will cost an absolute fortune to replace or repair.
Get the gearbox serviced every 30k miles, and it'll be fine.
Get the TCU tuned and it’s a full on manual
£350
You can buy Audi rs3 2020 for around 34k
Even better? A 5 door golf has to be one of the most boring cars on the market. Not to mention slow