For the last two years I have been driving a GTE VW hybrid which has many shortcomings but as you say puts a huge smile on your face when you select the GTE mode and wow the car comes alive. Stiffer suspension and steering together with that lovely grunt from the engine when you floor it!, and I’m 74 and still enjoy driving haha
I bought a MK5 TDI about 8 years ago: plain simple boring but it did have DSG about which I knew nothing. I’d had a 2002 for years, an Audi 90 and a Volvo 850 but was looking for a cheap to run care not a sports. A couple of years ago I was at a parts yard stripping a aircon from a GT and saw the bigger discs. I fitted them and had to buy higher wheels to fit. I got Siena 17s and good tyres - I’d already thought it handled well as standard but the new setup was a revelation! Subsequently I fitted paddle shift and cruise control along with the wheel from the GT badged TSI. The diesel is an amazing motor and squeezing torque effortlessly down country roads is my favourite thing ❤ Not about power, it’s the package!
With the GTI . You don't need huge power . It's the best all rounder . It's like Ronseal ....... Does what it says on the tin . I love my 7,5 Manual . Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it 😊
I don't get how everyone here calls the GTI an all rounder. If it rains you're barely putting any power down and things turn into an FWD understeering snoozefest once you start cornering. If it snows lol, might as well leave it in the garage. The R is the true all rouder because its versatile and usable in all conditions because of AWD. In case of the MK8, you've even got a trick rear-diff capable of power on oversteer to boot. GTI's are great FWD fun, i've owned and tracked one, they're iconic. However, an all rounder, they are not.
Best is 7.5 3 dr 6 speed manual. Owned one since 2018 and love it. I’m lucky to live close by to many mountain roads and nothing is as fun in all weather conditions (except snow!)
I run a 7.5 DSG PP with the torque vectoring l/s diff and Bridgestone blizzak winters tyre's and can assure you it's unbelievable. Couple of years ago we had some good snow and live on a single track road....it pushed through drifts upto the bonnet height with little fuss. On one occasion it rained and froze, no gritters on these back roads and on the 1/2 mile straights I could run at 50 with plenty of control, even when braking for corners I could do so with more force than I thought possible before it locked up and it recovered almost straight away. The winter tyres transform the cars abilities.
Never really got the GTI. Then decided to sell my 5.0 mustang as I needed a better daily driver. Decided to get a GTI mark 7 as a cheap run around. My first VW, and decided to get the DSG and it’s my first auto in 30 years of driving. I’m completely blown away. Even with my mustang being a V8, this little golf puts a way bigger smile on my face everytime I fire it up. I absolutely love it!!!
My wife & I both owned Mk 7.5 GTi's and enjoyed them both. On the 1st March this year I took delivery of a manual Mk 8 GTi. It was one of the last manual GTi's ever to be built. 👍👊
Ditto, mine registered 30th Jan. Manual is the way to go, just a shame you haven’t been able to order it for some time and there will be no more three pedal GTIs.
I have a Mk2 GTI (1989) which I absolutely love. A few years ago I took it to Wolfsburg to visit the factory and it was a very memorable trip. Glad you’ll be joining VW for the drive to Wolfsburg to celebrate 50 years and the chance to drive all the variants. I’m sure VW will bring out a special edition GTI to celebrate 50 years. Now that would be a temptation as it will almost certainly be the last ICE GTI before it all goes electric with the Mk9. The GTI has always been understated and a great all rounder which is why it’s such an excellent car.
We had a mk 2 16v for about 12 years. That was an excellent car. Very well built and reliable. Quick and decent handling. Much better brakes than my old mk1. We sold it with well over 100k miles on it for decent money. You cant really beat that , can you?
Absolutely agree - I remember Jeremy Clarkson writing in Performance Car in the 1990s as to why anyone would buy GTI over Maestro EFI - I wasn’t the only one who replied to that opinion - my view was if it was your own hard earned money you wouldn’t be saying that plus how many EFIs will be on the road in 10 or 20 years
Most overrated Hot hatch, I had a NEW (1989) MK2 Golf GTi Campaign on loan for a week. What a Shed, No Central Locking, Wind Up Windows No Tints totally GUTLESS, Having been bombarded by the likes of Clarkson and Brewer about how great they were It was CRAP, So I bought a Toyota Corolla GTi-16v , Pilloried by the motoring press as BORING. Well Guess What, It's a better car than any MK1 MKII or MK3 Golf, I still have it ua-cam.com/video/Ll0KxvuCsWU/v-deo.html
Congratulations on your Corolla - very good car and sorry about your experience with the Mk2 Golf GTI - early cars didn’t come with electric windows, power steering or tinted windows except the 1988 special models to celebrate either 19 or 20 million Golfs. The big bumper models from 1990 came with central locking, power steering and electric windows. Enjoy the Toyota- it looks great in red and well looked after 😊
My only Golf was the ‘89 Mk2 GTI. Was fun but by modern standards a bit of a yawn! I remember thinking 0-60 in 8.5 seconds was great, especially after coming from an MGB GT shed !!
I have a manual 2017 MK7 GTI and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. One of its strengths, as this video points out, is its ability to laugh at inclement weather. It just stays so composed, it's a joy to drive. And the MK7 is delightfully analog. I can actually set the temperature with a dial!
I owned a Mk7 GTI for a few years and got rid of it late 2022. I've missed it so much that I'm getting a new MK8 GTI in 2 more months (waiting for it to get to port). Was such a great daily driver that was very practical, but if you ever wanted to have fun it knew how to flip a switch and become more than a daily. The MK8 styling and interior takes a lot of getting used to coming from someone who owned a MK7. However, working at a dealer and being around them and hearing from people who have owned them for 10k+ you start to see that they aren't bad especially the outgoing 2024 model year. I look forward to your endeavor coming up later this year the 8.5s as I'm curious to see what all changes.
I bought an 18 plate 7.5 in January and its a great car. My last car was a 206 180 which was a teenager and the Golf is a grown up. The performance is enough on British roads and it feels very planted. Following the demise of the 206 I had a Mk 8 for a month but prefer mine. Loving it ❤
Such a nice surprise this evening watching your video on the Golf GTI. Never owned a GTi, sadly, but loved my Golf 7 GTD, and now my 8 eTSI. You can’t go wrong with a Golf. It is the iPhone of the car world. I remember loving the GTIs back in the 80s. Hope to drive one sometime soon. Brilliant review Pete, and can’t wait for more Golf content this summer! Am loving your Japan trip coverage btw! 👍🏻 Cheers, Tom
Great video! In the past I owned an '88 GTI for 200+ thousand miles and loved it. Currently own a Mk6 GTI (since 2011) and have handed it down to my 16 year old son. They are truly great all around cars!👍
Nice motor but I couldn’t get past the slider controls & why I bought a BMW 128ti. No manual option, but such is life. An absolute hoot in sport mode & sensible when needed in normal. Great review as usual 👍😎
i bought a golf r estate 7.5 2 years back and lov it , it has not been modified , it has the superb engine and dsg gearbox and 4 wheel drive , what more can i ask for , digital dash etc the only drawback is that the police are always there and they caught me speeding 2 mph more so got a speeding ticket 2 years ago lol .
Great review! I have an identical GTI to the one you drove and overall it’s a great all rounder. After 3 years however I have to say the infotainment gets no better and the unlit slider controls are just stupid. Otherwise it really is a car, greater than the numbers suggest,is fantastically well balanced, technology like the predictive cruise control and the IQ lights are seriously good and it still puts a smile on my face. I’ll be ordering an 8.5 as soon as the order books open and really hope they’ve sorted the software and infotainment as promised. Enjoy Wolfsburg!
Love our golfs , my first car in the 80’s was a mk1 golf and since then my wife and I have owned 5 different generation GTI’s. Our current mk8 is a fabulous drive. It shares the garage with my much loved 350z and current model Defender 90. If we could only own one car it would hands down be the GTI - great review - cheers from Brisbane
Awesome to see you driving around the Petersfield area I drive that route everyday to work with my Golf Gtd some lovely roads around there! Great video!
That's great driving on the right hand side. Most of the people I watched before they drive on the wrong side and I don't like that. Thanks for the beautiful video brother. Keep up the good work ✌🏻🇿🇦
Great video Ped, I’m not a great lover of the 8 truth be told. However, we had a MK5 GTI Edition 30 that we just loved, also a MK5 GTI which was great but my own personal favourite was our MK 7.5 GTI Performance (‘Eddie’), absolutely amazing car!!!!! 🥰
My mates always had Golfs when I had 205 GTis and I thought the Golf was not as good. After I bought my first Golf GTi I reckon I was converted within about 500 miles ! They are a great car - and so stable in the wet as you found out. I reckon because they are built to drive flat out on the Autobahn at normal driving speed they just tick over easily. I remember back prior to speed cameras driving to the south of France in one at a steady 120 mph, 3 up with 3 mountain bikes hanging on the back - great memories !
Hi Ped It was a wake up call when you mentioned “50 yrs”.🤭 Going way back in time we had Golf GTI but then changed over to scirocco and then Corrado VR6. What a car never went back to the Golf!😉
Great video. I love the Golf over the years and the Scirocco that came from it. Had a lovely bright red mk 2 Scirocco in the 80’s. Can’t wait to see the Golf 8.5. Sounds like they’ve sorted many of the issues and Golf is back to its best.
Got a 2018 GTI 7.5 Performance DSG (APR stage 1). Been fantastic for the 5 years I have had it. It's everything you need in one car. Prices are slowing going down again now, I've been riding the wave of high resale values for the past couple of years. I think this will be with me until it dies (or I do!) 🤣 Welcome to the GTI party, Ped - even though it's overdue 🖖
This gen was a horrible miss for me. I took delivery of a Clubsport in November 2021 and VW accepted my rejection about 4 months later. The bugs on the SW where it thought it was in Germany and braked because it thought you were undertaking, set the speed to 100mph thinking it was 100kph... The hepatic buttons were miserable, the volume and temp buttons not illuminated and the infotainment crashed all the time. Then I got creaking suspension dealers couldnt sort and that was the end of that! It was a shame as it was great fun to drive!
I bought a CS (2023) for my wife as a daily driver and she loves it. No issues with the software, and the ACC has been brilliantly intuitive. My wife would be the first to say she isn't into cars and doesn't like tech - but she really likes the CS. True, it takes time to adjust to the haptic buttons but once you've dialed into it they are not a problem. It's a car that quietly grows on you and impresses you over time. We've found it economical, plenty of power, superb motorway cruiser, easy to drive and park. Build quality has been excellent. And it's great fun on B roads.
I ran 2 MK1 Sciroccos and then got both an 8 and 16V Mk2 GTI as company cars when I worked for London Car Telephones. The Mk2 was a wonderful car, and so reliable. I put 100,000 miles on the 16V between services (it was a company car after all) and it never missed a beat and always a blast to drive on any type of road
My G7 GTI is 10 years old this year and I haven't had a single issue with it. It still looks brand new and I love driving it. I was a bit disappointed by the interior of the G8, but I'm glad that they've fixed a lot of the issues in the G8.5, so I'm looking to finally upgrade later this year. The fact that it's understated is something I really love, but those who know, know. Cars like the i30N are a bit too boy racer for me, whereas the GTI is the more "elegant" of the bunch.
Even the basic TDI can be a lot of fun on a twisty road - gobs of power and precise handling. I put 17" wheels and bigger discs and paddle shifts in mine - quite happy with the power and easy on the mpg
I had never driven a Golf GTI until two years ago when I was looking to replace my JCW and had found a 19 plate GTI Performance but I was really disappointed in the sense of theater with it ie interior and noise. It drove OK in the limited time I had it on test but in fact I liked my Golf GTD Estate more than that car with the sound generated through the speakers, fuel consumption and practicality with the Estate and two dogs. There is still something to this day I seem to like about the Golf GTI though and I think it is the heritage of being the genre of car I seem to revert back too after owning a JLR product and being let down but always returning after I have come to terms with it.
I’ve had my MK8 GTI (in Kings Red which is gorgeous in person) for two weeks now after having had a MK7 for 9 years. I went through a period of frustration and adjustment to the infotainment system but after a bit of time, I’m now understanding the system and feeling incredibly at home in it. I’m totally getting the haptic steering wheel buttons with no false presses. Being able to swipe and light press and hard press to adjust ACC, swipe for volume and swipe for skipping etc. All easy. The range of views and widgets you can have on the dash is nuts! I’m now completely comfortable with the UI and think it’s pretty smart. I love driving the car and I personally love the finish and acres of gloss black. Just keep a microfibre towel in the glove box. I did not like the MK8 when I first saw it. I didn’t like it the second or third time. But by sitting in it and driving it and playing with the infotainment system I came around quickly. I’d go so far as to say I love it.
🖐️It was mentioned a while ago on a Top Gear episode , that when questioned about the 220 h/p (at the time) , not being significantly more , VW said it was quite sufficient . All these years later even at 240 h/p , it seems they were right . Great review , thank you 👊
Really balanced review; I currently run a late 7.5 DSG and can't think what I'll replace it with. I was very close to pressing the button on a Mk 8.0 clubsport last year but just could not see past the VW cost cutting (no std heated seats/rear view camera/gas struts deleted on bonnet). Add to that the low rent interior and poorly thought out controls - what is that gear selector about? - Like many people in the comments have said, it's an 'everyman' car; enough power without ever being intimidating.
I had a Mk1 GTI. It was a 1983 Y reg model with the 1781cc engine. Just about the best fun car I’ve owned, and never failed to put a smile on my face. As said, not loads of power, but the package was just so right. A very forgiving car, which was just as well given my youthful exuberance😄. The overall package is made/makes it was it was/is.
I have a Jaguar XF-S sportbrake, my wife has a 7.5 GTi performance (both are auto). I love driving both cars as they are so different. The Jaguar is understated, practical, great on a long journey, superbly smooth and plenty quick enough. The GTi is louder, more of a hooligan, feels quick and is great fun to drive. Sadly, hers doesn't have the adaptive dampers and this makes it quite a hard ride on our country roads, It also has the low profile 19's making it even more rock hard but, in a way, that adds to the fun. oh, and hers is volcano red !
Had a MK6 GTi manual, loved it. Now in a DSG 7.5, and never fails to not put a smile on my face. Had a 7.5 R as well and I know which one I preferred, the GTI all day long
@@MartinPearson-df8xf for me the R was great as well but the 4motion just seemed to take some of the fun away, knowing you can chuck it in to any corner and it would get you round there. The GTI just feels a bit more fun. Dad has had 4 Golf GTI now and has move onto his 2nd polo GTI now. I can see where I get it from now
Took me a few days to get used to the haptic controls on the steering wheel, and mercifully, have the 8" infotainment (S model). No complaints with the lack of real buttons. Really happy with my Mk 8.
I think the mk7 gti is where it's at, looks and performance, especially mine. Stage 1 300bhp more fun than my standard golf mk7 r for sure! Both are manual aswel. I think you would ❤it too in gunmetal grey!
I recently bought a Mk7 Clubsport Gti (supposedly for my wife) and I absolutely love it. I test drove a Mk8 Golf R a few years back and I was not excited by it. Also not a fan of the Mk8 Styling. I think Mk 7/7.5 is my favourite flavour of Golf Gti. Fairplay on your honesty about previous Golf Gti experience btw.
It’s a perfect car. Mine is the US GTI 380. Manual. Got all the Autobahn dynamic stuff, sticky tires and adaptive dampers with LsD. It’s fabulous. It’s my daily driver and I have a Cayman for the weekend. I didn’t wait for 8.5 because this was the last manual to be ever made and I can live with the infotainment.
Great review of the GTi - summed up perfectly why these are such fabulous daily cars. We’ve been lucky to have had 3 GTis including our current 7.5 Performance which is arguably the best ever. Very keen to try the 8.5 as that will surely be the last ?
Well going from manual GTD to DSG GTI I mainly found the engine sound and general feeling of speed was better. Fuel economy is obviously worse by about 10mpg but doesn’t bother me too much. In terms of the mk7.5 to mk8, I’d say none of the ‘missing’ things they go on about in comparison reviews really affect my usage of the car. The infotainment makes sense when you get to know it, and mine is reasonably responsive (wireless charging is hit and miss though). the haptic steering wheel buttons are actually quite nice to use, but I will say the climate control is a slight pain and I generally adjust it before setting off. Big improvements I’ve noticed are the headlights (mk7.5 dipped are dim and mk8 matrix are amazing). Seats are more comfortable imo, the ACC is a bit smarter and brakes earlier and reacts more like a human would. The ambient lighting is a lot nicer with the colour settings, and I personally think the lightbar at the front looks smart in the dark. One thing I do like, is in my area the mk8 and especially the GTI isn’t a very popular car, so you stand out a bit even though it’s a sensible daily driver. I found after I’d had my 7.5 for a few years it seemed every other person in town had one.
Yeah the infotainment sucks, but as for it being "better" in the 8.5 - that MASSIVE tablet they stuck on the dash on the 8.5 is absolutely hideous. I wouldn't want either, hence I keep my 7.5 R.
Bought a Mk8 GTI. I love it! When you put your foot down, like on an overtake, and that turbo kicks in, man does it take off!. Few peeves, the seats do get a little uncomfortable on long drives. I had the infotainment screen not come on, then later work, twice now. I find the Windshield wiper controls for both front and back to be a bit Fiddley. No problems with the haptic buttons. Many reviewers complain about accidentally turning on the heated steering wheel, it has happened a couple times, but for the most part, it’s not a problem. Overall I love my GTI, it’s a fun car on the twisties. Maybe my only regret is not going for the Golf R.
Had a mk7 performance for 9 years. Always loved it, still looks great. Put a stage 1 on it and it became a completely new beast. Even more smiles when you chuck it through corners and it jumps out ready to eat up the road. Great car.
Mark 3.5 Octavia 245 in manual, passive dampers, 18" wheels. Best setup for broken UK roads, with all the power of the GTI, the LSD, tardis interior, proper buttons and handbrake
Although i had my doubts, considering the lousy software, i bought one last year. It is as brilliant as my late Golf 7 GTI Performance. It’s still the car that ticks all the boxes. Comfortable and spaceous for the family and when you are allone, you can drive as if your trousers were on fire. The software problems are gone, although, when the emblem is wet or dirty, the radar behind it gets confused and leads to alarm messages that the brake assist and travel assist do not operate anymore. Slight drawbacks that do not nearly weigh up to the exquisite ride. A brilliant car then, but fully equipped like mine it costs EUR 70,000 here, in the Netherlands….
Good review here - well balanced viewpoints and I’m thankful you’ve got the GTI “thing” ! I started with a Mk2 16v GTi shortly after a canny salesperson loaned me an 8v when my lowly 1.6 Golf was out of action. This was it for me and became just a matter of time until I had that 16v sitting on the drive. Fast forward 30 years when a random visit to the dealer left me with a 7.5 Performance on the drive during lockdown. Living near open countryside meant I could sneak out for some hooning about on very quiet roads, for legitimate reason of course. The LSD was the most amazing feature for a FWD hot hatch, just astounding grip out of corners and out of gnarly junctions. Someone got a great motor when I swapped it for a Tiguan…..
Have a MK5 GTI, owned for the last 5 years and still love it. Completely stock apart from a cat back exhaust. Fancy a MK 7.5 but I still think the MK5 styling is great, much more distinctive than later models. Hate the MK8 front end.
I was always attracted to golf as a kid.. i am as old as the golf..😑 the first car i bought was a golf! A manual 1981 With the skinny bumpers.. i had a super bike at the time before having a car! I called it my rally car. It had no power, interior was basic. But the driving experience was mind blowing. After that i got a 1998 e36 bmw 318i .. manual as well.. 🤯 german cars are so nice to drive.. love the handling and the driving experience even if you dont have the top end model. Back then my dream car was a golf vr6! Cheers mate.. yeah not much power but the driving experience is super nice...✌️👊👌👍♥️
Love your channel Ped, please keep up the quality. Have owned 4 GTI's, two MK1 1.8's and a MK2 8v. Then marriage reduced income for a while. The money had to be found to PCH a MK7 though, almost back to the GTI roots. Loved my too few years with it. Really hope VW's change back to physical buttons, etc goes far enough to improve this current dreadful generation of interiors. I'd love to own another ICE powered GTI before they too are removed from production.
Had a Mk5 R32 for 6yrs. Great fun, wonderful all-rounder. Last year, picked up a 2019 Mk7.5 GTi. Big improvement over Mk5 in many ways, yet the core spirit of the Golf lives on inside. Hugely practical, fantastic economy, great fun on b roads...and everybody in the family can drive it any time anywhere!
Thank goodness they are changing the interior slightly and the mild increase in power gives it just enough to be a great finish for one of the automotive greats.
Great video ped. I owned 4 mk 2 gti s 1 mk 3 gti and an mk 5 R32. My son runs a mk 7.5 slightly modified also various golf diesels. So a true golf history. Looking to move to a golf R . or an 8.5. Looking forward to the 50 th celebration. .
I have the 2024 MK8 GTI. Almost did not purchase due to all the negative infotainment press. Did anyway and loving it. The usual fun ride, an uptick from the MK7 I traded in. The infotainment: I'm old and I've mastered it. Never want to go back to buttons. It works seamlessly now that they got all the kinks out. A bit of a learning curve but so what. Lean dashboard, nice! Don't want to sound like a commercial, just the way I feel. Don't let the infotainment system scare you off. Honestly.
Exactly, you figure it out, via directions or whatever and it’s a done deal. It works period. The reviewers don’t live with the GTI day in and day out. My 2019 SE was brilliant. The MK8 is a better handling buttoned down vehicle. And the little shifter knob took me aback at first. Now it’s priceless. The Fender radio in the 7 sounded a little more pleasing to my ears than the HK, but not major. Really sad that the infotainment system is driving potential buyers away. But hey, I don’t mind the exclusivity the GTI has now.
Thank you for this video and bringing across that the Golf Gti is not just about number chasing power figures; it’s the consummate practical all rounder that can do it all without looking out of place at Harrods or on a housing estate. The GTi is playful as the rear moves around whereas an R is so planted you have to go above and beyond the speed limit for the car to un stick but you then may end up in a hedge. I am on my second GTi. I had a mk5 (featured in your Covid 20 owners cars section) and had that for 9.5 year. I now have a 2020 mk7.5 GTi performance. The LSD works a treat and makes the car fun and enjoyable to drive.
Have had 2 Golf GTI’s over the years, both red (sorry!) and both with a manual gearbox. The first was a 1983 late mark 1 with the 1800cc engine rather than the earlier 1600. It was an ex demonstrator which was about a year old when I bought it, I loved it, a really great car . My second Golf GTI was bought new in 2012, it was an “edition 35” that the dealer had in stock which meant it had slightly more power than the regular one, it must have been god because I kept it for over 3 years. Shortly after buying the second one a friend looked at the edition 35 badge and asked if that meant 3.5 litre or 350 horsepower, I was tempted to lie but decided to explain it was the 35th anniversary model which had apparently been kept in production for a few years!
First time owner, '24 380 SE. REALLY getting to like it! Just have to modify the gear shift height and throw. Stock feels too much like a game. Shifting by sound is out, intuition is the name of the game, about the only learning curve. Yeah, the buttons are a different philosophy, but workable. Would like better software functionality behind them, though. Beautiful sound system.
I have owned one of the first Mk1 1800cc in the country, mk2 8v, mk3 vr6, mk4 Gti,mk 7 R. The mk1 was outstanding in its day, great reliability and build (I traded in a mk2 RS2000 Escort), the Others never had the spark of the Mk1,but the Golf R is a fantastic car.
My dad had a couple of mark 2 gtis back in the 90# and noughties as his sensible car (his other being an early 1988 911 carrera sport which he had for over 25 years from 1991)- and he loved his golf’s. They handled being driven so damned hard without breaking sweat, yet my mum would drive it if they popped out and didn’t want to take the family car (she refused to drive the 911). The gti could keep up in the twisties with much more powerful cars especially amazing if you weren’t called senna or Prost or mansell, but my dad also picked me up from uni in it as my mum needed the big car. We both enjoyed the drive home. The second one left us with 150k on the clock only just run in, and feeling like it still had 139 ponies under the hood. My dad always came back to golf as a model. He still has a golf (gtd now, mk7) as it does enough of the fun stuff whilst being parked on the street and not get noticed, and 50 to the gallon on a run.
I've only driven a gen 2 GTi in Germany. I'll always have a soft spot for these... Lovely...even when lots of folks don't seem like this or that version. Hot hatches...forever!
I think many of us are in the same camp as you Pete, when it comes to the Golf GTI. I lusted after them back in the day. I owned a MK2 1.6CL, which looked like a GTI, but obviously lacked the performance. I just loved the look of the MK2 though, in a Lancia Delta kind of way. From there on the GTI just seemed to become more of a ‘sport lite’ car, not delivering the performance of the R, the A145, the M135i/M140i etc. I’ve given them a cursory consideration from time to time, but have struggled to see why I would consider it ahead of some of its rivals. Like you say in the video however, sometimes we should just drive and experience cars, rather than shortlisting after playing a game of top trumps with the stats.
Wow loved this video pete as that has more or less made my mind up about waiting for the facelift 8.5 as I'm considering either the 8.5 GTI or a M135i or the facelift Leon Cupra so would love you do do even a review of the M135i but again the facelift as thats due soon too like the GTI & the Leon Cupra!!😊 Anyway great video pete all the best Dave..👌🏻👍🏻
6:28 steering wheel controls are button-y. They do press. Very hard to hit/ change by accident. Screen haptics are absolutely fine. After 2 hrs no big deal
Yesssss :) So happy you liked it. I've had a Mk6 and had my Mk7 for 10 years!! It's just the perfect all rounder. I've promised myself I'll stick with GTI's until I can afford a 911 :)
Great vid as normal Pete but can’t agree re the gearbox. These things are epic and having had both wouldn’t go back. Especially if have to use in traffic which as a daily you do.
Yes never really ticked the box for me. Test drove a couple a 6 and 7 I think. Just missing something. Was a passenger in a mk1 convertible a number of years ago and yes that was very special.
It’s tuff for me to get into the mk8 because I have no payments on my 7.5 and I heard that no more manual transmission 😢 It’s one of my favorite cars and it feels a little like my gf mk1 r8 in overall drivability.
I had 7.5 performance gti .. great car wish I still had it . Plenty of power for driving on roads front wheel drive but handled really well . Much prefer the interior of golf compared to the mini
Pete, I had a 1980 reg Mk 1 1.6 GTI in red between 1983 to 1986, but had to sell it not long after getting married. If I remember correctly it cost £4600 then. Fond memories of that car, really quick in 2nd & 3rd gears [only 102hp if I recall]. Before the days of aircon and elec windows, but such a great drive! Definitely had the grin factor. Sad to see it go, but don't have the marriage either any more :). Great video.
I am glad you made the distinction between the Golf R and the GTI. Despite sharing most of their DNA, having the same driver interface, they are different. I had a U.S. 2002 GTI MKIV 337 (25th Anniversary GTI in the rest of the world) and a 2004 MKIV Golf R32 concurrently for a few months. The GTI was light (for a MKIV) hung on to corners and was a joy to drive, the R32 while heavier, attacked the corners better, the AWD changed the dynamic. If I had the means at the time I would have kept them both.
Power isn’t everything, but if it’s your fancy know that same as your mini, a stage one tune with all stock hardware on the MK8 gets you to 360ps 370lb/tq in the blink of an eye.
Don’t have a gti but do have a 21 plate GTD so inside just the same .I actually think the steering wheel buttons controls are brilliant as for the virtual dash and screen control unit again I think it works brilliantly. The gear lever thing I think your just old school Porsche has a very similar one in the 911
Had a 7.5 that I loved. I’ve had my 8 for about a year, and it’s a huge improvement. I actually like the haptic buttons. I really don’t understand what you car reviewers have against them. The infotainment system is pretty simple & intuitive in my opinion. I’m sad the 8.5 will have a huge screen just slapped on the dash versus the 8’s integrated screen.
Picked up a 1991 last of the Mk2 8v back in 99 and owned it for 15 yrs mostly over in Spain and in the mountains was so much fun. Finally had to give it away for free !! to my garage nr Madrid with 252 000 miles on it as had as well the Mk5 GTi and could not afford both. Still got the Mk5 now 17 yrs old and still the Mk2 was always so grippy. Maybe this Mk5 which the first owner crashed in Spain suffers chassis damage even though told it was straight so can't really compare the bigger Mk5 as never driven a straight one, but the Mk2 I still dream of. Don't get me wrong, the Mk5 is alot of fun too !
I had a mk7.5 Golf R and while it was fun, I always wanted a GTi because the R wasn’t fun unless you were breaking the speed limit everywhere. Hate the mk8 design inside.
For the last two years I have been driving a GTE VW hybrid which has many shortcomings but as you say puts a huge smile on your face when you select the GTE mode and wow the car comes alive. Stiffer suspension and steering together with that lovely grunt from the engine when you floor it!, and I’m 74 and still enjoy driving haha
I literally picked up my MK7.5 GTI Performance on Monday, and I’m absolutely in love with it
Congrats 🥳
I bought a MK5 TDI about 8 years ago: plain simple boring but it did have DSG about which I knew nothing.
I’d had a 2002 for years, an Audi 90 and a Volvo 850 but was looking for a cheap to run care not a sports.
A couple of years ago I was at a parts yard stripping a aircon from a GT and saw the bigger discs. I fitted them and had to buy higher wheels to fit. I got Siena 17s and good tyres - I’d already thought it handled well as standard but the new setup was a revelation!
Subsequently I fitted paddle shift and cruise control along with the wheel from the GT badged TSI.
The diesel is an amazing motor and squeezing torque effortlessly down country roads is my favourite thing ❤
Not about power, it’s the package!
I picked up an Mk8 GTI 10 days ago & I’m absolutely in love with it as well!!
Where did you buy it from? Looking for one myself
Got my 7.5R around the same time as you, loving it
Bring back red cars. The sea of monotone grey, black and white cars is depressing.
I bought one like 4 days ago in the kings red with black rims 😁😁
Tornado red is best, I have moonstone which is cool
Charcoal gray is best for me. It looks clean even if it’s dirty lol.
With the GTI . You don't need huge power . It's the best all rounder . It's like Ronseal ....... Does what it says on the tin . I love my 7,5 Manual . Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it 😊
The 7.5 was the best golf imo. I wish they still made them new. I've got a mk8 r, it just feels cheap compared to the 7.5
Love that comparison to Ronseal 😂
@@leccy9901had a mk 8 gti and to drive it was ace. But the infotainment and software was awful. If the 8.5 has fixed it I’d love another
I have a 7.5 …my 6th gti over the years and it is a brilliant all rounder
I don't get how everyone here calls the GTI an all rounder. If it rains you're barely putting any power down and things turn into an FWD understeering snoozefest once you start cornering. If it snows lol, might as well leave it in the garage. The R is the true all rouder because its versatile and usable in all conditions because of AWD. In case of the MK8, you've even got a trick rear-diff capable of power on oversteer to boot.
GTI's are great FWD fun, i've owned and tracked one, they're iconic. However, an all rounder, they are not.
Best is 7.5 3 dr 6 speed manual. Owned one since 2018 and love it. I’m lucky to live close by to many mountain roads and nothing is as fun in all weather conditions (except snow!)
congraz, best combo!
I run a 7.5 DSG PP with the torque vectoring l/s diff and Bridgestone blizzak winters tyre's and can assure you it's unbelievable. Couple of years ago we had some good snow and live on a single track road....it pushed through drifts upto the bonnet height with little fuss. On one occasion it rained and froze, no gritters on these back roads and on the 1/2 mile straights I could run at 50 with plenty of control, even when braking for corners I could do so with more force than I thought possible before it locked up and it recovered almost straight away. The winter tyres transform the cars abilities.
Good choice!
Never really got the GTI. Then decided to sell my 5.0 mustang as I needed a better daily driver. Decided to get a GTI mark 7 as a cheap run around. My first VW, and decided to get the DSG and it’s my first auto in 30 years of driving. I’m completely blown away. Even with my mustang being a V8, this little golf puts a way bigger smile on my face everytime I fire it up. I absolutely love it!!!
My wife & I both owned Mk 7.5 GTi's and enjoyed them both. On the 1st March this year I took delivery of a manual Mk 8 GTi. It was one of the last manual GTi's ever to be built. 👍👊
Ditto, mine registered 30th Jan. Manual is the way to go, just a shame you haven’t been able to order it for some time and there will be no more three pedal GTIs.
Very nice!
I have a Mk2 GTI (1989) which I absolutely love. A few years ago I took it to Wolfsburg to visit the factory and it was a very memorable trip. Glad you’ll be joining VW for the drive to Wolfsburg to celebrate 50 years and the chance to drive all the variants. I’m sure VW will bring out a special edition GTI to celebrate 50 years. Now that would be a temptation as it will almost certainly be the last ICE GTI before it all goes electric with the Mk9. The GTI has always been understated and a great all rounder which is why it’s such an excellent car.
We had a mk 2 16v for about 12 years. That was an excellent car. Very well built and reliable. Quick and decent handling. Much better brakes than my old mk1. We sold it with well over 100k miles on it for decent money. You cant really beat that , can you?
Absolutely agree - I remember Jeremy Clarkson writing in Performance Car in the 1990s as to why anyone would buy GTI over Maestro EFI - I wasn’t the only one who replied to that opinion - my view was if it was your own hard earned money you wouldn’t be saying that plus how many EFIs will be on the road in 10 or 20 years
Most overrated Hot hatch, I had a NEW (1989) MK2 Golf GTi Campaign on loan for a week.
What a Shed, No Central Locking, Wind Up Windows No Tints totally GUTLESS, Having been bombarded by the likes of Clarkson and Brewer about how great they were It was CRAP,
So I bought a Toyota Corolla GTi-16v , Pilloried by the motoring press as BORING. Well Guess What, It's a better car than any MK1 MKII or MK3 Golf, I still have it
ua-cam.com/video/Ll0KxvuCsWU/v-deo.html
Congratulations on your Corolla - very good car and sorry about your experience with the Mk2 Golf GTI - early cars didn’t come with electric windows, power steering or tinted windows except the 1988 special models to celebrate either 19 or 20 million Golfs. The big bumper models from 1990 came with central locking, power steering and electric windows. Enjoy the Toyota- it looks great in red and well looked after 😊
My only Golf was the ‘89 Mk2 GTI. Was fun but by modern standards a bit of a yawn! I remember thinking 0-60 in 8.5 seconds was great, especially after coming from an MGB GT shed !!
I have a manual 2017 MK7 GTI and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. One of its strengths, as this video points out, is its ability to laugh at inclement weather. It just stays so composed, it's a joy to drive. And the MK7 is delightfully analog. I can actually set the temperature with a dial!
I owned a Mk7 GTI for a few years and got rid of it late 2022. I've missed it so much that I'm getting a new MK8 GTI in 2 more months (waiting for it to get to port). Was such a great daily driver that was very practical, but if you ever wanted to have fun it knew how to flip a switch and become more than a daily. The MK8 styling and interior takes a lot of getting used to coming from someone who owned a MK7. However, working at a dealer and being around them and hearing from people who have owned them for 10k+ you start to see that they aren't bad especially the outgoing 2024 model year. I look forward to your endeavor coming up later this year the 8.5s as I'm curious to see what all changes.
I bought an 18 plate 7.5 in January and its a great car. My last car was a 206 180 which was a teenager and the Golf is a grown up. The performance is enough on British roads and it feels very planted. Following the demise of the 206 I had a Mk 8 for a month but prefer mine. Loving it ❤
Such a nice surprise this evening watching your video on the Golf GTI. Never owned a GTi, sadly, but loved my Golf 7 GTD, and now my 8 eTSI. You can’t go wrong with a Golf. It is the iPhone of the car world. I remember loving the GTIs back in the 80s. Hope to drive one sometime soon. Brilliant review Pete, and can’t wait for more Golf content this summer! Am loving your Japan trip coverage btw! 👍🏻 Cheers, Tom
Had a MKV GTI for twelve years and absolutely loved it. Had no issues with it and was a joy to drive.
Good to hear!
Ditto
Great video! In the past I owned an '88 GTI for 200+ thousand miles and loved it. Currently own a Mk6 GTI (since 2011) and have handed it down to my 16 year old son. They are truly great all around cars!👍
Very nice!
Nice motor but I couldn’t get past the slider controls & why I bought a BMW 128ti. No manual option, but such is life. An absolute hoot in sport mode & sensible when needed in normal.
Great review as usual 👍😎
Good choice!
Nikes a manual. The last one to ever be made in the US. We demanded it.
Not a big deal after a few hrs in the car
i bought a golf r estate 7.5 2 years back and lov it , it has not been modified , it has the superb engine and dsg gearbox and 4 wheel drive , what more can i ask for , digital dash etc the only drawback is that the police are always there and they caught me speeding 2 mph more so got a speeding ticket 2 years ago lol .
Great review. I am waiting for the next Golf GTI 8.5, to see if there are real improvements.
I have own some Golf GTI in the past, a long time ago.
Great review! I have an identical GTI to the one you drove and overall it’s a great all rounder. After 3 years however I have to say the infotainment gets no better and the unlit slider controls are just stupid. Otherwise it really is a car, greater than the numbers suggest,is fantastically well balanced, technology like the predictive cruise control and the IQ lights are seriously good and it still puts a smile on my face. I’ll be ordering an 8.5 as soon as the order books open and really hope they’ve sorted the software and infotainment as promised. Enjoy Wolfsburg!
Love our golfs , my first car in the 80’s was a mk1 golf and since then my wife and I have owned 5 different generation GTI’s. Our current mk8 is a fabulous drive. It shares the garage with my much loved 350z and current model Defender 90. If we could only own one car it would hands down be the GTI - great review - cheers from Brisbane
Awesome to see you driving around the Petersfield area I drive that route everyday to work with my Golf Gtd some lovely roads around there! Great video!
Thanks 🙏🏻
That's great driving on the right hand side. Most of the people I watched before they drive on the wrong side and I don't like that. Thanks for the beautiful video brother. Keep up the good work ✌🏻🇿🇦
Great video Ped, I’m not a great lover of the 8 truth be told. However, we had a MK5 GTI Edition 30 that we just loved, also a MK5 GTI which was great but my own personal favourite was our MK 7.5 GTI Performance (‘Eddie’), absolutely amazing car!!!!! 🥰
Ive had several over the years and for me the best was the Mk2 16v in Oak green! Lovely, wish I still owned it!
My mates always had Golfs when I had 205 GTis and I thought the Golf was not as good. After I bought my first Golf GTi I reckon I was converted within about 500 miles ! They are a great car - and so stable in the wet as you found out. I reckon because they are built to drive flat out on the Autobahn at normal driving speed they just tick over easily. I remember back prior to speed cameras driving to the south of France in one at a steady 120 mph, 3 up with 3 mountain bikes hanging on the back - great memories !
Hi Ped
It was a wake up call when you mentioned “50 yrs”.🤭 Going way back in time we had Golf GTI but then changed over to scirocco and then Corrado VR6. What a car never went back to the Golf!😉
Great video. I love the Golf over the years and the Scirocco that came from it. Had a lovely bright red mk 2 Scirocco in the 80’s. Can’t wait to see the Golf 8.5. Sounds like they’ve sorted many of the issues and Golf is back to its best.
Loved the Scirocco 👌
Got a 2018 GTI 7.5 Performance DSG (APR stage 1). Been fantastic for the 5 years I have had it. It's everything you need in one car. Prices are slowing going down again now, I've been riding the wave of high resale values for the past couple of years. I think this will be with me until it dies (or I do!) 🤣
Welcome to the GTI party, Ped - even though it's overdue 🖖
Have a 2017 7,5. Love the drive and a great all round runner
This gen was a horrible miss for me. I took delivery of a Clubsport in November 2021 and VW accepted my rejection about 4 months later. The bugs on the SW where it thought it was in Germany and braked because it thought you were undertaking, set the speed to 100mph thinking it was 100kph... The hepatic buttons were miserable, the volume and temp buttons not illuminated and the infotainment crashed all the time. Then I got creaking suspension dealers couldnt sort and that was the end of that! It was a shame as it was great fun to drive!
I bought a CS (2023) for my wife as a daily driver and she loves it. No issues with the software, and the ACC has been brilliantly intuitive. My wife would be the first to say she isn't into cars and doesn't like tech - but she really likes the CS. True, it takes time to adjust to the haptic buttons but once you've dialed into it they are not a problem. It's a car that quietly grows on you and impresses you over time. We've found it economical, plenty of power, superb motorway cruiser, easy to drive and park. Build quality has been excellent. And it's great fun on B roads.
The creaking suspension needs a thick grease in the voids of the suspension bush
Not good 😢
@@chrisp4899 Sadly VW at the time couldnt work out what to do despite 3 visits to the dealer.
@@MyNameIsJeeeffLooks like they ironed out the bugs from the early cars as you'd expect!
Had a mk1 8v on a y plate, loved it, yet never went back to one.
I ran 2 MK1 Sciroccos and then got both an 8 and 16V Mk2 GTI as company cars when I worked for London Car Telephones. The Mk2 was a wonderful car, and so reliable. I put 100,000 miles on the 16V between services (it was a company car after all) and it never missed a beat and always a blast to drive on any type of road
My brother had a Mk1 Scirocco Storm…loved that car 👌
My G7 GTI is 10 years old this year and I haven't had a single issue with it. It still looks brand new and I love driving it. I was a bit disappointed by the interior of the G8, but I'm glad that they've fixed a lot of the issues in the G8.5, so I'm looking to finally upgrade later this year. The fact that it's understated is something I really love, but those who know, know. Cars like the i30N are a bit too boy racer for me, whereas the GTI is the more "elegant" of the bunch.
Great mix of content on the channel well done 👍👍👍
Thank you 👍
Even the basic TDI can be a lot of fun on a twisty road - gobs of power and precise handling. I put 17" wheels and bigger discs and paddle shifts in mine - quite happy with the power and easy on the mpg
I had never driven a Golf GTI until two years ago when I was looking to replace my JCW and had found a 19 plate GTI Performance but I was really disappointed in the sense of theater with it ie interior and noise. It drove OK in the limited time I had it on test but in fact I liked my Golf GTD Estate more than that car with the sound generated through the speakers, fuel consumption and practicality with the Estate and two dogs. There is still something to this day I seem to like about the Golf GTI though and I think it is the heritage of being the genre of car I seem to revert back too after owning a JLR product and being let down but always returning after I have come to terms with it.
I’ve had my MK8 GTI (in Kings Red which is gorgeous in person) for two weeks now after having had a MK7 for 9 years. I went through a period of frustration and adjustment to the infotainment system but after a bit of time, I’m now understanding the system and feeling incredibly at home in it. I’m totally getting the haptic steering wheel buttons with no false presses. Being able to swipe and light press and hard press to adjust ACC, swipe for volume and swipe for skipping etc. All easy. The range of views and widgets you can have on the dash is nuts! I’m now completely comfortable with the UI and think it’s pretty smart. I love driving the car and I personally love the finish and acres of gloss black. Just keep a microfibre towel in the glove box. I did not like the MK8 when I first saw it. I didn’t like it the second or third time. But by sitting in it and driving it and playing with the infotainment system I came around quickly. I’d go so far as to say I love it.
🖐️It was mentioned a while ago on a Top Gear episode , that when questioned about the 220 h/p (at the time) , not being significantly more , VW said it was quite sufficient . All these years later even at 240 h/p , it seems they were right .
Great review , thank you 👊
Really balanced review; I currently run a late 7.5 DSG and can't think what I'll replace it with. I was very close to pressing the button on a Mk 8.0 clubsport last year but just could not see past the VW cost cutting (no std heated seats/rear view camera/gas struts deleted on bonnet). Add to that the low rent interior and poorly thought out controls - what is that gear selector about? - Like many people in the comments have said, it's an 'everyman' car; enough power without ever being intimidating.
Yep 👍
I had a 7.5 GTI for a few years, it was a fantastic daily driver and good for an early morning Sunday drive in the hills.
This video makes me miss it!
👍
Informative enjoyable great GOLF GTI review i love all your car content on you tube m8.😁
I had a Mk1 GTI. It was a 1983 Y reg model with the 1781cc engine. Just about the best fun car I’ve owned, and never failed to put a smile on my face. As said, not loads of power, but the package was just so right. A very forgiving car, which was just as well given my youthful exuberance😄. The overall package is made/makes it was it was/is.
I have a Jaguar XF-S sportbrake, my wife has a 7.5 GTi performance (both are auto).
I love driving both cars as they are so different. The Jaguar is understated, practical, great on a long journey, superbly smooth and plenty quick enough. The GTi is louder, more of a hooligan, feels quick and is great fun to drive.
Sadly, hers doesn't have the adaptive dampers and this makes it quite a hard ride on our country roads, It also has the low profile 19's making it even more rock hard but, in a way, that adds to the fun.
oh, and hers is volcano red !
Had a MK6 GTi manual, loved it. Now in a DSG 7.5, and never fails to not put a smile on my face. Had a 7.5 R as well and I know which one I preferred, the GTI all day long
I have a r and love it. But never tried a golf gti. I literally went from a stage 1 polo gti to an R....what do you prefer about the golf gti ???
@@MartinPearson-df8xf for me the R was great as well but the 4motion just seemed to take some of the fun away, knowing you can chuck it in to any corner and it would get you round there. The GTI just feels a bit more fun.
Dad has had 4 Golf GTI now and has move onto his 2nd polo GTI now. I can see where I get it from now
Took me a few days to get used to the haptic controls on the steering wheel, and mercifully, have the 8" infotainment (S model). No complaints with the lack of real buttons. Really happy with my Mk 8.
I think the mk7 gti is where it's at, looks and performance, especially mine. Stage 1 300bhp more fun than my standard golf mk7 r for sure! Both are manual aswel. I think you would ❤it too in gunmetal grey!
I recently bought a Mk7 Clubsport Gti (supposedly for my wife) and I absolutely love it. I test drove a Mk8 Golf R a few years back and I was not excited by it. Also not a fan of the Mk8 Styling. I think Mk 7/7.5 is my favourite flavour of Golf Gti. Fairplay on your honesty about previous Golf Gti experience btw.
It’s a perfect car. Mine is the US GTI 380. Manual. Got all the Autobahn dynamic stuff, sticky tires and adaptive dampers with LsD. It’s fabulous. It’s my daily driver and I have a Cayman for the weekend. I didn’t wait for 8.5 because this was the last manual to be ever made and I can live with the infotainment.
Very nice!
Great review of the GTi - summed up perfectly why these are such fabulous daily cars. We’ve been lucky to have had 3 GTis including our current 7.5 Performance which is arguably the best ever. Very keen to try the 8.5 as that will surely be the last ?
Thanks 🙏🏻
I’ve got a mk8 GTI and came from a mk7.5 GTD, and i found after a couple of days of getting used to it, it’s actually a really good car
What differences did you notice the most ? I’ve got a mk7.5 GTD & thinking of making the change
Well going from manual GTD to DSG GTI I mainly found the engine sound and general feeling of speed was better. Fuel economy is obviously worse by about 10mpg but doesn’t bother me too much. In terms of the mk7.5 to mk8, I’d say none of the ‘missing’ things they go on about in comparison reviews really affect my usage of the car. The infotainment makes sense when you get to know it, and mine is reasonably responsive (wireless charging is hit and miss though). the haptic steering wheel buttons are actually quite nice to use, but I will say the climate control is a slight pain and I generally adjust it before setting off. Big improvements I’ve noticed are the headlights (mk7.5 dipped are dim and mk8 matrix are amazing). Seats are more comfortable imo, the ACC is a bit smarter and brakes earlier and reacts more like a human would. The ambient lighting is a lot nicer with the colour settings, and I personally think the lightbar at the front looks smart in the dark. One thing I do like, is in my area the mk8 and especially the GTI isn’t a very popular car, so you stand out a bit even though it’s a sensible daily driver. I found after I’d had my 7.5 for a few years it seemed every other person in town had one.
Just got an mk8 R a few weeks back. 💕 Love it
Nice 👍
Congratulations ❤
Still enjoying my MK6 GTI. A great daily driver and a quite fun back road bomber.
Agree, mk8 GTI is a fun drive. Even the infotainment you get used to it when you live with it for a while, it's not a deal breaker for sure.
Yeah the infotainment sucks, but as for it being "better" in the 8.5 - that MASSIVE tablet they stuck on the dash on the 8.5 is absolutely hideous. I wouldn't want either, hence I keep my 7.5 R.
Bought a Mk8 GTI. I love it! When you put your foot down, like on an overtake, and that turbo kicks in, man does it take off!. Few peeves, the seats do get a little uncomfortable on long drives. I had the infotainment screen not come on, then later work, twice now. I find the Windshield wiper controls for both front and back to be a bit Fiddley. No problems with the haptic buttons. Many reviewers complain about accidentally turning on the heated steering wheel, it has happened a couple times, but for the most part, it’s not a problem. Overall I love my GTI, it’s a fun car on the twisties. Maybe my only regret is not going for the Golf R.
Nice 👌
Just got an mk8 R but test drove the GTI. Great car
Had a mk7 performance for 9 years. Always loved it, still looks great. Put a stage 1 on it and it became a completely new beast. Even more smiles when you chuck it through corners and it jumps out ready to eat up the road. Great car.
Very nice!
Mark 3.5 Octavia 245 in manual, passive dampers, 18" wheels. Best setup for broken UK roads, with all the power of the GTI, the LSD, tardis interior, proper buttons and handbrake
Although i had my doubts, considering the lousy software, i bought one last year. It is as brilliant as my late Golf 7 GTI Performance. It’s still the car that ticks all the boxes. Comfortable and spaceous for the family and when you are allone, you can drive as if your trousers were on fire. The software problems are gone, although, when the emblem is wet or dirty, the radar behind it gets confused and leads to alarm messages that the brake assist and travel assist do not operate anymore. Slight drawbacks that do not nearly weigh up to the exquisite ride. A brilliant car then, but fully equipped like mine it costs EUR 70,000 here, in the Netherlands….
Will keep my Mk 7 Golf GTI. Just simple to use buttons and switches. Not stabbing away at a screen! What a stupid idea!
Say that again. Surprising how they could approve such a stupid idea
Loved my 7.5 manual. I think it was a sweet spot. I am keen to see the 8.5 but not sure we will see another manual.
Good review here - well balanced viewpoints and I’m thankful you’ve got the GTI “thing” ! I started with a Mk2 16v GTi shortly after a canny salesperson loaned me an 8v when my lowly 1.6 Golf was out of action. This was it for me and became just a matter of time until I had that 16v sitting on the drive. Fast forward 30 years when a random visit to the dealer left me with a 7.5 Performance on the drive during lockdown. Living near open countryside meant I could sneak out for some hooning about on very quiet roads, for legitimate reason of course. The LSD was the most amazing feature for a FWD hot hatch, just astounding grip out of corners and out of gnarly junctions. Someone got a great motor when I swapped it for a Tiguan…..
Golf GTI 8 is an awesome car. I totally agree with you with the switchgear being poor. That has now been corrected in the Golf GTI 8.5.
I have no issues with mine works fine
Have a MK5 GTI, owned for the last 5 years and still love it. Completely stock apart from a cat back exhaust. Fancy a MK 7.5 but I still think the MK5 styling is great, much more distinctive than later models. Hate the MK8 front end.
Never owned a GTI, but had the privilege of driving a MK2 back in the 00’s. Still my favourite car to have driven all these years later
I was always attracted to golf as a kid.. i am as old as the golf..😑 the first car i bought was a golf! A manual 1981 With the skinny bumpers.. i had a super bike at the time before having a car! I called it my rally car. It had no power, interior was basic. But the driving experience was mind blowing. After that i got a 1998 e36 bmw 318i .. manual as well.. 🤯 german cars are so nice to drive.. love the handling and the driving experience even if you dont have the top end model. Back then my dream car was a golf vr6! Cheers mate.. yeah not much power but the driving experience is super nice...✌️👊👌👍♥️
Had a mk 2 what a car beautiful no gimmicks power steering power windows just a solid Moter brilliant drive 😊
Love your channel Ped, please keep up the quality. Have owned 4 GTI's, two MK1 1.8's and a MK2 8v. Then marriage reduced income for a while. The money had to be found to PCH a MK7 though, almost back to the GTI roots. Loved my too few years with it. Really hope VW's change back to physical buttons, etc goes far enough to improve this current dreadful generation of interiors. I'd love to own another ICE powered GTI before they too are removed from production.
Very nice!
A good all rounder but those haptic controls would be challenging.Look forward to more drives later in the year.
Had a Mk5 R32 for 6yrs. Great fun, wonderful all-rounder. Last year, picked up a 2019 Mk7.5 GTi. Big improvement over Mk5 in many ways, yet the core spirit of the Golf lives on inside.
Hugely practical, fantastic economy, great fun on b roads...and everybody in the family can drive it any time anywhere!
Thank goodness they are changing the interior slightly and the mild increase in power gives it just enough to be a great finish for one of the automotive greats.
I've got a 2015 Mk 7 GTI PP , it really is the perfect hot hatch , makes me smile even writing this let alone jumping in it every day
Nice 👌
Great video ped. I owned 4 mk 2 gti s 1 mk 3 gti and an mk 5 R32. My son runs a mk 7.5 slightly modified also various golf diesels. So a true golf history. Looking to move to a golf R . or an 8.5. Looking forward to the 50 th celebration. .
Very nice!
You need the Clubsport if you want to experience the real GTI power Much better than the normal GTI and an absolute joy to drive
I have the 2024 MK8 GTI. Almost did not purchase due to all the negative infotainment press. Did anyway and loving it. The usual fun ride, an uptick from the MK7 I traded in. The infotainment: I'm old and I've mastered it. Never want to go back to buttons. It works seamlessly now that they got all the kinks out. A bit of a learning curve but so what. Lean dashboard, nice! Don't want to sound like a commercial, just the way I feel. Don't let the infotainment system scare you off. Honestly.
I test drove one when putting a deposit on my R ( wanted awd manual). The mk8 GTI is niiiiiccccceeee ❤
Also: agree about infotainment. Truly no big deal. My former car had zero tech too
Exactly, you figure it out, via directions or whatever and it’s a done deal. It works period. The reviewers don’t live with the GTI day in and day out. My 2019 SE was brilliant. The MK8 is a better handling buttoned down vehicle. And the little shifter knob took me aback at first. Now it’s priceless. The Fender radio in the 7 sounded a little more pleasing to my ears than the HK, but not major. Really sad that the infotainment system is driving potential buyers away. But hey, I don’t mind the exclusivity the GTI has now.
@@jbowgo9599 💯✔️
Same here. Just got the SE with leather for my 60th birthday present lol. A week in and I find no problem with the screens.
Thank you for this video and bringing across that the Golf Gti is not just about number chasing power figures; it’s the consummate practical all rounder that can do it all without looking out of place at Harrods or on a housing estate. The GTi is playful as the rear moves around whereas an R is so planted you have to go above and beyond the speed limit for the car to un stick but you then may end up in a hedge.
I am on my second GTi. I had a mk5 (featured in your Covid 20 owners cars section) and had that for 9.5 year. I now have a 2020 mk7.5 GTi performance. The LSD works a treat and makes the car fun and enjoyable to drive.
Have had 2 Golf GTI’s over the years, both red (sorry!) and both with a manual gearbox. The first was a 1983 late mark 1 with the 1800cc engine rather than the earlier 1600. It was an ex demonstrator which was about a year old when I bought it, I loved it, a really great car . My second Golf GTI was bought new in 2012, it was an “edition 35” that the dealer had in stock which meant it had slightly more power than the regular one, it must have been god because I kept it for over 3 years. Shortly after buying the second one a friend looked at the edition 35 badge and asked if that meant 3.5 litre or 350 horsepower, I was tempted to lie but decided to explain it was the 35th anniversary model which had apparently been kept in production for a few years!
First time owner, '24 380 SE. REALLY getting to like it! Just have to modify the gear shift height and throw. Stock feels too much like a game. Shifting by sound is out, intuition is the name of the game, about the only learning curve. Yeah, the buttons are a different philosophy, but workable. Would like better software functionality behind them, though. Beautiful sound system.
I have owned one of the first Mk1 1800cc in the country, mk2 8v, mk3 vr6, mk4 Gti,mk 7 R. The mk1 was outstanding in its day, great reliability and build (I traded in a mk2 RS2000 Escort), the Others never had the spark of the Mk1,but the Golf R is a fantastic car.
My dad had a couple of mark 2 gtis back in the 90# and noughties as his sensible car (his other being an early 1988 911 carrera sport which he had for over 25 years from 1991)- and he loved his golf’s. They handled being driven so damned hard without breaking sweat, yet my mum would drive it if they popped out and didn’t want to take the family car (she refused to drive the 911). The gti could keep up in the twisties with much more powerful cars especially amazing if you weren’t called senna or Prost or mansell, but my dad also picked me up from uni in it as my mum needed the big car. We both enjoyed the drive home. The second one left us with 150k on the clock only just run in, and feeling like it still had 139 ponies under the hood. My dad always came back to golf as a model. He still has a golf (gtd now, mk7) as it does enough of the fun stuff whilst being parked on the street and not get noticed, and 50 to the gallon on a run.
I've only driven a gen 2 GTi in Germany. I'll always have a soft spot for these... Lovely...even when lots of folks don't seem like this or that version. Hot hatches...forever!
Hi,
I had a Mk1 campaign and enjoyed it very much.
I sold it due to buying a house and later saw it on Car SoS when Tim Shaw went to a specialist.
I enjoyed watching the Video. I particularly like the Red Paint Colour 😊
I think many of us are in the same camp as you Pete, when it comes to the Golf GTI. I lusted after them back in the day. I owned a MK2 1.6CL, which looked like a GTI, but obviously lacked the performance. I just loved the look of the MK2 though, in a Lancia Delta kind of way. From there on the GTI just seemed to become more of a ‘sport lite’ car, not delivering the performance of the R, the A145, the M135i/M140i etc. I’ve given them a cursory consideration from time to time, but have struggled to see why I would consider it ahead of some of its rivals. Like you say in the video however, sometimes we should just drive and experience cars, rather than shortlisting after playing a game of top trumps with the stats.
Wow loved this video pete as that has more or less made my mind up about waiting for the facelift 8.5 as I'm considering either the 8.5 GTI or a M135i or the facelift Leon Cupra so would love you do do even a review of the M135i but again the facelift as thats due soon too like the GTI & the Leon Cupra!!😊 Anyway great video pete all the best Dave..👌🏻👍🏻
M135i is a great car too 👍
6:28 steering wheel controls are button-y. They do press. Very hard to hit/ change by accident. Screen haptics are absolutely fine. After 2 hrs no big deal
Yesssss :) So happy you liked it. I've had a Mk6 and had my Mk7 for 10 years!! It's just the perfect all rounder. I've promised myself I'll stick with GTI's until I can afford a 911 :)
Nice 👌
Great vid as normal Pete but can’t agree re the gearbox. These things are epic and having had both wouldn’t go back. Especially if have to use in traffic which as a daily you do.
Yes never really ticked the box for me. Test drove a couple a 6 and 7 I think. Just missing something. Was a passenger in a mk1 convertible a number of years ago and yes that was very special.
It’s tuff for me to get into the mk8 because I have no payments on my 7.5 and I heard that no more manual transmission 😢 It’s one of my favorite cars and it feels a little like my gf mk1 r8 in overall drivability.
Had a mark 2 16v 3 door big bumper back in mid 90’s…very little could keep up with it
I had 7.5 performance gti .. great car wish I still had it . Plenty of power for driving on roads front wheel drive but handled really well . Much prefer the interior of golf compared to the mini
Thanks for this great video - having a mark 8 delivered next week......
Have fun!
Pete, I had a 1980 reg Mk 1 1.6 GTI in red between 1983 to 1986, but had to sell it not long after getting married. If I remember correctly it cost £4600 then. Fond memories of that car, really quick in 2nd & 3rd gears [only 102hp if I recall]. Before the days of aircon and elec windows, but such a great drive! Definitely had the grin factor. Sad to see it go, but don't have the marriage either any more :). Great video.
I’m blessed with first Clubsport GTI 3 door , best car I have owned .
I am glad you made the distinction between the Golf R and the GTI.
Despite sharing most of their DNA, having the same driver interface, they are different.
I had a U.S. 2002 GTI MKIV 337 (25th Anniversary GTI in the rest of the world) and a 2004 MKIV Golf R32 concurrently for a few months. The GTI was light (for a MKIV) hung on to corners and was a joy to drive, the R32 while heavier, attacked the corners better, the AWD changed the dynamic.
If I had the means at the time I would have kept them both.
Neither had I until I was 50 then I bought it and flipping love it. 2016 GTI performance pack.
Power isn’t everything, but if it’s your fancy know that same as your mini, a stage one tune with all stock hardware on the MK8 gets you to 360ps 370lb/tq in the blink of an eye.
Still no where near the RS Megane 300. 297hp (Renault claim 300hp) 420nm and that's stock, no mods.
Don’t have a gti but do have a 21 plate GTD so inside just the same .I actually think the steering wheel buttons controls are brilliant as for the virtual dash and screen control unit again I think it works brilliantly.
The gear lever thing I think your just old school Porsche has a very similar one in the 911
Just came from an 09 R56 Mini Cooper. Wanted manual and awd so the mk8 R checked the boxes ☑️
Had a 7.5 that I loved. I’ve had my 8 for about a year, and it’s a huge improvement.
I actually like the haptic buttons. I really don’t understand what you car reviewers have against them.
The infotainment system is pretty simple & intuitive in my opinion.
I’m sad the 8.5 will have a huge screen just slapped on the dash versus the 8’s integrated screen.
On point I feel the same way let haters be haters😂
Picked up a 1991 last of the Mk2 8v back in 99 and owned it for 15 yrs mostly over in Spain and in the mountains was so much fun. Finally had to give it away for free !! to my garage nr Madrid with 252 000 miles on it as had as well the Mk5 GTi and could not afford both. Still got the Mk5 now 17 yrs old and still the Mk2 was always so grippy. Maybe this Mk5 which the first owner crashed in Spain suffers chassis damage even though told it was straight so can't really compare the bigger Mk5 as never driven a straight one, but the Mk2 I still dream of. Don't get me wrong, the Mk5 is alot of fun too !
I had a mk7.5 Golf R and while it was fun, I always wanted a GTi because the R wasn’t fun unless you were breaking the speed limit everywhere. Hate the mk8 design inside.