I have a ‘23 GTI 40th anniversary edition, so it has the “S” model infotainment. Coming from an MK7.5 I owned for 6 yrs previously, I was a little skeptical of the MK8. I liked the looks but the interior and infotainment had me a little worried. However, after owning the car for over a year now I can safely say that I really actually love the interior. The haptic steering wheel buttons don’t bother me one bit and the infotainment at least the S model infotainment works really well. and overall, I absolutely love the car, especially my 40th anniversary edition. I don’t think the car has lost its way at all. I think they could have asked owners or potential buyers if they wanted the all touch infotainment before actually making it but overall, it does work well and if you’re thinking of getting one, it shouldn’t dissuade you.
Great comments. Thank you! Always good to hear from an owner. I just bought a 24 Mk8 R manual two weeks ago and so far I'd agree. Such fun, yet truly usable cars.
I agree about the refinement. It's both a pro and a con. Makes for an excellent daily driver, but leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to a driving engagement. Still a great car though and can still be tons of fun to drive.
It's really too bad that VW is getting rid of the manual option here in North America now. I know it's still quite popular but I believe they already got rid of it in Europe for emissions. I'm assuming keeping it around for less than half of their sales in our SUV-crazed continent does not make a lot of financial sense for them. Between the discontinuation of the manual, the fact I dont need a hatchback and the fact I'm concerned about long-term VW reliability, I'd still take my money to Honda and get the Si.
With such a high take rate for the manual, it's a dumb move to axe it. Now all those would-be buyers are only going to have choices of si, wrx or elantra n. though i am guess those choices won't be around much longer either. Shame.
It's not too refined. It's just awesome. I don't really give too shits about the infotainment. It's fast, fun and a beauty to drive. I ended up with the 2024 WRX for a few reasons including availability, VW reliability concerns and cost value, but I have no regrets. The VW was a serious 2nd place despite my past experience with VW reliability issues and truly loved driving the current GTI, both in manual and DSG format. It's a true drivers car. If I had the money, I would own my daily (a 2020 Accord Sport 2.0T), my current summer toy in the 2024 WRX and a GTI for extra shit and giggles.
@steve8803 True. But I store it Nov to April. Summer only performance Dunlops and I daily my 2022 Accord 2.0T. Sport. I only put on 2800kms in its first year. Lol
I see you did a gti and r review recently. Last year i was torn between the two ultimately went with the gti with sport suspension in a manual. If i was a little more patient i def could of gotten a R as msrp now i dont wanna take the hit and trade in for one. My question is am i really missing out on alot i have a tacoma for really bad weather so i figured the fwd woudnt really matter. But i still wonder if i missed up not getting R eventually i do plan on tracking the car i know the golf r is the more out the box trackable car but over time ill add mods to the gti to make it a more track friendly car. Whats ur take? Cause the GTI i have has all the same features since its got the leather seats. Would you say the AWD in the Golf a make it or break it with the goal as a fun side car when its nice with the goal to track it once i pay it off and do some mods
Great question! I definitely wouldn't say you are missing out. Now that I have driven both back to back, I have to say I actually prefer the GTI in looks (for some reason the R now looks more like a little CUV to me than a hot hatch, because of the extra length exaggerated by the spoiler and bumper). Plus, the straight line performance isn't much different to the bum in the seat (I couldn't believe how much faster your GTI is than mine). And your GTI even has those little fart noises too like the R lol. And as you said the interiors/features are pretty much the same. Where I noticed a huge difference was in the rest of the power train though and its electronic systems. I'm sure some will read what I'm about to say and laugh lol, but the R really felt special. The farts were louder and the car had little to no understeer!! You could feel the car thinking and reacting automatically underneath you. It felt like an exotic rwd biased German car from a 15years ago. The old R was just a fast point and shoot machine. So long story short lol, I think the MK8 GTI would be my choice over a MK7 R, but even if you were to mod a new GTI I don't know if it would beat or be more fun than a MK8 R. All I know is I'm jealous of yours now over my GTI lol.
Well ty for the insight your comment both helped and didnt XD. From alot of the reviews i see if kinda what you are saying the MK8 GTI compared to the MK7 GTI is night and day difference and way better but the MK8 R is just special and thats kinda why i feel like im missing out i am financing most of the car so part of me is like if im on a big loan i kinda wanted it to be the best of the best so i dont worry and have the what ifs. I think my gti was 39k basically and golf r for 48k for 10k over the duration of a loan that special factor of the golf r feels worth it. However i do think with a tune and new clutch this gti could be a monster. The long term running cost of just one diff and no dcc suspension is a plus for maintenance but with how close the pricing is i just feel like a golf r at msrp is the better option unless ur getting a S trim GTI. I also put a carbon spoiler on my GTI so it kinda lost the short sporty look its barely shorter then the R spoiler but i actually prefer the after market one i put it Doenst make it look as long. Ty again tho i never got to test drive either before i dont blame a dealer not trusting me test driving a manual without knowing how. Also i know if i test drove a dsg i would of gotten one but i wanted to learn standard. Those DSG are just subjectively better but also boring compared to shifting yourself @@Neutralreviews
Also around me in PA there are some really good deals on used MK8 GTI i think alot of people got GTI and waited for their R then traded their GTI in i just cant take the financial hit.
@@dylan4119 100% agree! I literally just told someone that yesterday that the DSG is objectively better suited to the car but personally there is nothing more engaging or soothing than shifting my own gears! Good for you for not chickening out and going with the manual!!! Wish more would have that courage to help keep the manuals alive. Especially when new cars are so much more user friendly and easier to learn on. I'm a sucker for the R and regret not getting it over my GTI (still love it and am grateful to own one but not the same thing lol)
Can someone tell me what the difference is between the 2024 Volkswagen GOLF GTI 380 Autobahn and the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 SE they look the same, but the Autobahn is a bit more expensive
You can look on their website. Off the top of my head the autobahn had leather seats that are fully electric and cooled. Rear climate control and heated seats. And an adaptive suspension system.
I have a ‘23 GTI 40th anniversary edition, so it has the “S” model infotainment. Coming from an MK7.5 I owned for 6 yrs previously, I was a little skeptical of the MK8. I liked the looks but the interior and infotainment had me a little worried. However, after owning the car for over a year now I can safely say that I really actually love the interior. The haptic steering wheel buttons don’t bother me one bit and the infotainment at least the S model infotainment works really well. and overall, I absolutely love the car, especially my 40th anniversary edition. I don’t think the car has lost its way at all. I think they could have asked owners or potential buyers if they wanted the all touch infotainment before actually making it but overall, it does work well and if you’re thinking of getting one, it shouldn’t dissuade you.
Great comments. Thank you! Always good to hear from an owner. I just bought a 24 Mk8 R manual two weeks ago and so far I'd agree. Such fun, yet truly usable cars.
I agree about the refinement. It's both a pro and a con. Makes for an excellent daily driver, but leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to a driving engagement. Still a great car though and can still be tons of fun to drive.
Well said.
Eh. It’s really dumbed down
It's really too bad that VW is getting rid of the manual option here in North America now. I know it's still quite popular but I believe they already got rid of it in Europe for emissions. I'm assuming keeping it around for less than half of their sales in our SUV-crazed continent does not make a lot of financial sense for them. Between the discontinuation of the manual, the fact I dont need a hatchback and the fact I'm concerned about long-term VW reliability, I'd still take my money to Honda and get the Si.
With such a high take rate for the manual, it's a dumb move to axe it. Now all those would-be buyers are only going to have choices of si, wrx or elantra n. though i am guess those choices won't be around much longer either. Shame.
It's not too refined. It's just awesome. I don't really give too shits about the infotainment. It's fast, fun and a beauty to drive. I ended up with the 2024 WRX for a few reasons including availability, VW reliability concerns and cost value, but I have no regrets. The VW was a serious 2nd place despite my past experience with VW reliability issues and truly loved driving the current GTI, both in manual and DSG format. It's a true drivers car. If I had the money, I would own my daily (a 2020 Accord Sport 2.0T), my current summer toy in the 2024 WRX and a GTI for extra shit and giggles.
@user-sn1lu5yi6r WRX as a summer toy? That's be better suited as a winter toy!
@steve8803 True. But I store it Nov to April. Summer only performance Dunlops and I daily my 2022 Accord 2.0T. Sport. I only put on 2800kms in its first year. Lol
I see you did a gti and r review recently. Last year i was torn between the two ultimately went with the gti with sport suspension in a manual. If i was a little more patient i def could of gotten a R as msrp now i dont wanna take the hit and trade in for one. My question is am i really missing out on alot i have a tacoma for really bad weather so i figured the fwd woudnt really matter. But i still wonder if i missed up not getting R eventually i do plan on tracking the car i know the golf r is the more out the box trackable car but over time ill add mods to the gti to make it a more track friendly car. Whats ur take? Cause the GTI i have has all the same features since its got the leather seats. Would you say the AWD in the Golf a make it or break it with the goal as a fun side car when its nice with the goal to track it once i pay it off and do some mods
Great question! I definitely wouldn't say you are missing out. Now that I have driven both back to back, I have to say I actually prefer the GTI in looks (for some reason the R now looks more like a little CUV to me than a hot hatch, because of the extra length exaggerated by the spoiler and bumper). Plus, the straight line performance isn't much different to the bum in the seat (I couldn't believe how much faster your GTI is than mine). And your GTI even has those little fart noises too like the R lol. And as you said the interiors/features are pretty much the same. Where I noticed a huge difference was in the rest of the power train though and its electronic systems. I'm sure some will read what I'm about to say and laugh lol, but the R really felt special. The farts were louder and the car had little to no understeer!! You could feel the car thinking and reacting automatically underneath you. It felt like an exotic rwd biased German car from a 15years ago. The old R was just a fast point and shoot machine. So long story short lol, I think the MK8 GTI would be my choice over a MK7 R, but even if you were to mod a new GTI I don't know if it would beat or be more fun than a MK8 R. All I know is I'm jealous of yours now over my GTI lol.
Well ty for the insight your comment both helped and didnt XD. From alot of the reviews i see if kinda what you are saying the MK8 GTI compared to the MK7 GTI is night and day difference and way better but the MK8 R is just special and thats kinda why i feel like im missing out i am financing most of the car so part of me is like if im on a big loan i kinda wanted it to be the best of the best so i dont worry and have the what ifs. I think my gti was 39k basically and golf r for 48k for 10k over the duration of a loan that special factor of the golf r feels worth it. However i do think with a tune and new clutch this gti could be a monster. The long term running cost of just one diff and no dcc suspension is a plus for maintenance but with how close the pricing is i just feel like a golf r at msrp is the better option unless ur getting a S trim GTI. I also put a carbon spoiler on my GTI so it kinda lost the short sporty look its barely shorter then the R spoiler but i actually prefer the after market one i put it Doenst make it look as long. Ty again tho i never got to test drive either before i dont blame a dealer not trusting me test driving a manual without knowing how. Also i know if i test drove a dsg i would of gotten one but i wanted to learn standard. Those DSG are just subjectively better but also boring compared to shifting yourself
@@Neutralreviews
Also around me in PA there are some really good deals on used MK8 GTI i think alot of people got GTI and waited for their R then traded their GTI in i just cant take the financial hit.
@@dylan4119 100% agree! I literally just told someone that yesterday that the DSG is objectively better suited to the car but personally there is nothing more engaging or soothing than shifting my own gears! Good for you for not chickening out and going with the manual!!! Wish more would have that courage to help keep the manuals alive. Especially when new cars are so much more user friendly and easier to learn on. I'm a sucker for the R and regret not getting it over my GTI (still love it and am grateful to own one but not the same thing lol)
@@dylan4119 makes sense:)
is it crazy to cross shop this with the new civic hybrid? it seems fast
Not necessarily. The GTI is refined and not bad on gas. I haven't tried the new hybrid myself but am curious:)
Can someone tell me what the difference is between the 2024 Volkswagen GOLF GTI 380 Autobahn and the 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 SE they look the same, but the Autobahn is a bit more expensive
You can look on their website. Off the top of my head the autobahn had leather seats that are fully electric and cooled. Rear climate control and heated seats. And an adaptive suspension system.
@@radicallarry1006 thank you
Didnt know John Travolta did car reviews :O
Nice video. I think your Golf GTI has some more competition... Lol! BTW, the moose baby was a nice touch.
He is demanding though😂
VW should listen to people and reconsider manual transmission cars and rear axle bus with manual transmissions. Good video anyways
I agree. And thanks for the kind words
That's NOT a golf ball shifter, google! LOL
"promo sm" 💞
VW feeling generous giving people an engine cover, though really ugly and cheap looking.