I believe that it is still king of Hot Hatches for the simple fact that manufacturers still benchmark this for their products as well as auto journalists when testing anything close to being a sporty hatch. One example being the Mazda 3 and Car and Drivers 10 Best review of the two. Is it the best value... I think the ST and the new Veloster might be better. LOVE THE CONTENT!! Happy Birthday J!
Hey does numbers are not the actual prices in the USA. 2018 GTIs start at $25k base, then 2 trims above and the top Autobahn at $36k. Just want people to understand they won't get a new 2018 GTI for $31k lol
I test drove a 2016 GTI Autobahn yesterday, and I totally get the hype now. The GTI just feels very alive - not computer-like like so many other cars today. I hear and feel more, but not in a negative way. I hear the turbo spooling, the engine revving, and little imperfections in the road through the steering wheel. The DSG is fantastic, too. Of course it's not as fast as a PDK or as smooth as a ZF 8HP, but it feels very direct and shifts crisply. What's more is that the GTI is just incredibly easy to drive. Everything just works - as far as both infotainment and driving. I might have to get one.
@@SuperEman500 I have a GTI with a 6 speed manual and when I want to take off, I keep it in first and just rev the engine harder! I do NOT recommend installing aftermarket seats. Ze Germans thought of just about everything in this car. It's a bit difficult for me to get out because I don't have long legs and I have to haul myself over the side bolsters but they DO keep me from sliding around when the car corners. It corners so hard that my head gets nauseous and I have to back off the throttle!
The thing with the DSG is you can tune it to be way more aggressive and it will probably outlast the engine. Unless youre making 600+ hp which at that point is a drag car.
With the base GTI, you get : - no sunroof = lower center of gravity - no adaptative suspension = less weight - 17” wheels = more confort, less weight - same hp, diff, intercooler, red calipers, infotainment, drive settings, red door lights and plaid seats
I went from a 2005 BMW 330Ci ZHP Convertible to a 2019 GTI Autobahn. It's not quite as nimble as a Mini, but I hate what BMW have done with the Mini design of late, especially those square-ish headlights on the 2019 Cooper S JCW (which was the other option I was looking at). It is seriously fun to drive, gets great mileage, and is practical for tooling around with the family. Much recommend, would buy again.
Recycled volume knob from the past 3+ years. And yes it 's a big OCD pet peeve. Leave it pointing UP and use steering wheel volume always. If someone touches the knob.. reset at first available opportunity. LOL
There is a guy who has a store called Badge Skins which sells vinyl stickers to both cover up the power button and the airbag warnings. I have both, because like you I also suffer from the need to keep the knob perfectly aligned.
Because golf R insurance is cheaper than GTI insurance (on progressive) and the Rs depreciate to new GTI prices pretty quick. The ST is also cheaper for insurance than the GTI on progressive. For 21 yr old me, insurance price is critical.
@@caseyman97 how exactly? And progressive insurance you mean monthly? I tried a GTi quote and an R quote. Golf R was more but I'm UK based so probably different
@@jakedavies3155 There is a separate category for the GTI but not for the R when you select a vehicle to quote. If I plug in a VIN for an R, it quotes me as a regular old 1.8 golf. The STs also don't have a separate category compared to a normal focus either, its just a trim level but the RS has its own category.
I love my GTI. I have the 7, it's everything you could possibly need in a daily. Performance, perfect amount of luxury, looks both interior and exterior, roomy, and the best part, you'll never see it coming but you'll certainly see it going haha.
@@samrobertmuik34956’4” owner here. I can sit behind myself while maintaining a comfortable enough driving position in the front. It’s a nice amount of room for a small-ish car
My bone stock 2013 GTI has been a pleasure to daily drive since new. 106K miles now and I've only had to replace a coil pack...that's it. Would buy again without hesitation.
It loses the electric seats and leatherette door trim inserts tho... Previously, they would charge you 1500$ to get the electric leather seats so you basically give them all that extra cash for nothing if you choose the plaid seats. Some genius at VW really knows how to make easy money lol
When I got my MK7 the Plaid was standard in Autobahn and the only extra $ options were leather and nav and DSG, which I all declined. Definitely the pricing has gone way up in MK7.5, plust some of the switchgear and trim has cheapened and they added no-cost optional 'downgrades'.
Exactly, they should offer a trim between the base and Autobahn. The base looks awful, at least offer the LED headlights and sunroof as part of a package, it's the only thing it needs. The wheels I can pass, I'm sure every dealer has some nice wheels as accessories because tbh, those on the mk7.5 are worse than those on the mk7
Yo I love you guys. I try to watch other car reviewers, and there's no one who has as much spirit about it as you two do. It always cheers me up. I loved seeing Jakub fling the visor across the cabin! Good job, VW.
My first choice was a Mustang GT. But then i moved onto a WRX. Ultimately, I went with a GTI as well because i wanted a great daily driver... easy on the fuel, performance when you need it. It's pretty stylish and practical as well... almost looks like a sleeper to those that don't know much about the Golf GTI. If you de-badge it, it will look like a regular TSI. And, I made sure i got the trim with the limited slip differential. Now that i own it, I LOVE THE DSG! I love the sound... all i did was change the exhaust tips. I get an average of 35 mpg with the car. 10 mpg better than the other 2 cars i was looking at.
Late to the party, but I got my first VW last week, 2018 Autobahn in Red with pristine owner history. Drove it home to NC from PA in a 2-day round trip, almost hit 38mpg with it. Glad to have chose this as my first "serious" car purchase.
I'm 5 years in on my 2019 GTI Autobahn manual and it's been nothing short of a pleasure to own. It impresses me everyday in driving experience, upscale style, newest tech, and easy maintenance (and it came with a SIX year warranty). If you appreciate good cars and love driving, GTI is best addition to your life.
Another great video! Just a couple things FYI - 1. For some reason VW decided to include atmospheric pressure to the PSI gauge, so just subtract about 14 PSI from the reading and that is about what the actual boost is (depends on elevation). 2. The DSG is a great transmission, it shifts faster than anyone could possibly shift a manual and it is fun to go through the gears on the paddles or leave it in auto while in traffic. I have read that the 6-speed manual is very tall geared, which is good if you don't like to shift a lot but not good for performance. 3. I see the GTI Autobahn vs Golf R price comparison quite often, and based on MSRP the Golf R is definitely a better value, even though the GTI Autobahn does come with more luxury/comfort options than the Golf R. The Golf R is heavier because of the AWD system so they are trying to keep the weight down elsewhere. The R is a lower volume car so they don't want to spend extra money on adding more trim levels to it. The GTI's go on sale for $5,000 USD or more at the right time of year and I have never seen a Golf R on sale, they are always at MSRP or over because they are more rare. If people are actually paying 33k-34k (plus tax depending on state) USD for a GTI Autobahn vs 40k or more for a Golf R (plus tax) that is actually a substantial price difference. On top of that the Golf R AWD system is really a retro-fitted front wheel drive system and adds substantial weight, although it is still nice. In actual track testing with lap times on a 2 mile course, the R is only about a second faster than the GTI because the GTI is lighter. For an average driver the difference would not be noticeable. The R is faster in the 0-60 by about 0.9 to 1.4 seconds though due to the AWD so anyone would be able to notice that. The R really only makes sense to me if you live in a very cold climate and you need to drive on snow and ice often or if you are planning on modifying the car to make it so fast that the extra grip would be necessary. Just my two cents. (I own a 2017 GTI Sport DSG, which is basically a base with the performance package, lighting package, nicer wheels and the Keyless Access System)
@@EthanL21800 I'm assuming you're ignorantly comparing apples and oranges? I.e. a FWD car on winter tires is better than an AWD car riding on something completely different? Because in no way, shape, or form is FWD or RWD a "burden" in the winter. When comparably equipped an AWD car will outperform it in handling and acceleration. Handling, because the car and use the rear/front wheels in coordination with ESC, ABS, and torque vectoring to stabilize the car and I'm hoping acceleration is obvious. At this point I'm not sure if it is to you. Just let me know if you're still confused.
I really don't want to like the Golf or Golf GTI or any Golf. Because historyteachers, as myself, should drive boring cars like ten year old Toyotas, (as myself), or something other boring. And we are supposed to get a little mocked by the teenagers we meet at Our job on the cars that we're driving. But I have to come out of the closet and admit that I actually really do love Golf GTI. I drove it almost 2000km over a weekend and I loved every kilometer. But not as much as i loved the visor-test on this episode. I laughed. Hard. Thanks for that. I needed that after eight hours With thirty fourteen year olds in a classroom. VW Golf GTI is the best. It's just sad that it's so freakin' expensive. Happy birthday Jakub! I love the fact that you ended up cleaning cake from the interior. You should have filmed it.
Don't know how much history teachers make, but you can find used GTI's for a good price, since they depreciate like crazy. If you were to find one in a decent condition, you can swap your current car without making huge financial dent in your budget. GTI wil still cost significantly more to maintain but if done properly it wouldn't be a financial disaster.
GTIs are always the best! Honestly I prefer it to the R (looks more sporty imo).. I’d get get exactly those wheels, white exterior, cloth seats are a must and I’d get the big infotainment and the new display.. and maybe a manual! And the headlights are a must! (In Europe you get them as standard)
I prefer my 2015 GTI Autobahn over my 2018 BMW 340Xi Msport. However, I am on Long Island. The VW dealer experience is terrible here. They hold onto Autobahn GTIs like they are gold. There are probably two of them in the whole area. Case in point, when I purchased my 2015, the production build date was 10/14, yet I purchased it in June of 2015. That’s how long they held onto it for. It’s 2018, we don’t even have the Golf R’s yet. Guaranteed if I went to lease a 2018 Golf R after waiting for months and looking everyday to see which dealer had one, the lease would be more than my $60K BMW. It’s a shame, because VW is building a lot of crap recently, and this is a gem of a car.
Best review yet. Love the GTI, but would get a different colour, flat cement grey tries to smother any excitement. VW can not afford to get this car wrong. I did a test drive in a closed circuit course and I was really impressed.
When you're not driving like a HOON the whole time that 9-10L per 100km will average out to about 6L per 100km. It's very efficient power. Love that. Definitely no jerry cans required, even with a small 50L tank.
Bought a 2015 GTI MK7 in January so I got some of the first MK7 shipments in the USA no problems just normal matinence and now 2018 and 47,073miles latter still pulling strong and reliable. People say Volkswagens aren't reliable I would admit their old stuff is not as good as my sister had a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta that had tons of problems but their new stuff is really good plan on getting a Golf R when the MK8 comes to the US.
Love your videos, great fun car reviews. Confession, I have owned my car for 8 years and put 190,000 miles on it, I didn’t know the sun visors extended until watching your videos.
Recently took delivery of a mk7.5 GTI thanks partially to this and the DSG vs. Manual video! Car rocks, I can point and shoot through traffic and still adult...keep the reviews coming boys. Cheers
Spot on guys! This is your sweet spot. So fun to watch! Also...always Love the GTI. Even though it's now sold (MKIV VR6) and the daily is a Cayman S. I still miss the GTI....I will have another. GTI VS R.....probs R
I got my first car as a 2013 GTI and it’s perfect for living in NYC and wanting to go autocrossing. I would prefer something greener either hybrid or electric. I agree with the step to an Audi.
Really like the show, you guys are my favorite Canadians (Although I really don't know any others)! I'm still trying to convince my wife I need a GTI.....
The reason people don't buy a VW is because they aren't reliable for the long run. Although with the new warranty in the US, it might be a viable option.
I own a Mk7. The 30 PSI is not the true boost. It is counting atmospheric pressure. The peak stock boost is around 18 PSI. On stage 1 it is around 22-23. Also, manual trans is amazing. I like my tuned GTI 10x better than my buddie's stock Golf R. And my Sport trim was over 10,000 USD cheaper than his R
Hi Yuri, I really liked your question/comment "why does somebody buy a GTI?" You are the only car review UA-camr that puts across the "so what" about these cars. Keep up the great reviews! Thank you
I keep seeing Caledon area in the backdrop, it's hilarious to see a really good car review channel from some down home Canadian dudes from this neck of the woods. Just picked up a new manual R last night. Looking forward to seein you boys just send it in one next week!
Guys, think about it. You buy the base, which comes with everything the autobahn has outside of headlights, wheels, sunroof, and drivers assist package, and you go out and buy aftermarket wheels and headlights, and voila, you have a better looking GTI than the autobahn, and you still save thousands of dollars. The base model GTI is the way to go!
I haven't finished watching the video, but the after market support for the mk7 is amazing, especially tuning. Stage 2+ pushes 350+ hp. Some people tune and mod them up to 500 hp
For anyone wondering, the 30 psi isn't really 30 psi. They added atmospheric pressure into it to make it look like it's higher. So it really got to ~15 psi.
It’s got Clark seats :) I just purchased a 2020 GTI and i'm probably older then most watching this review. My attraction was the maturity and practical aspects along with the fun
@@thetailpipe6762 I had mine for 3,5years and 72k km. The things to look out for apart from mechanical stuff is rust on tailgate, lower part of the front fenders behind the wheels. Cracked plastics on sunroof surround if you have one and also cracking in reflectors and lights in general. The «cover» on the front calipers with the GTI/R logo on tends to corrode and lose paint as well. Thats some things I remember from the top of my head. Bear in mind mine had none of those faults apart from the calippercover. But some friends had all of those.. GL and have fun! 😎👍🏻
Jakub, totally agree with the base GTI being the sweet spot. I'm a bit sad I miss out on the headlights and wheels and other luxuries Yuri loves, but I picked up the last remaining manual transmission base GTI in Ontario, save over $5k from the Autobahn and couldn't be happier!
The boost gauge is accurate in terms of how it response to changing pressure, but it's WAAAAY to optimistic. If this car generated over 30 psi, it would make 500 horsepower.
regarding the boost - it shows relative pressure, not absolute. So, "0 psi" is a vacuum. You gotta figure out what the value is at 12 o'clock. That's 0 PSI. In my R that's 17/18PSI, so when my car says 32psi, it's actually like 16ish PSI.
Vw Golf are my favs over everything else. Since i got interested in Cars Golf was always the car i wanted. Currently driving Mk5 but next year i am upping it to Mk7 Gti. I spend no money on anything and this is what i am getting next. its just overall such a great car.
I bought mine in March of 2018 and had watched this review several times. I got the SE manual for a little under $27k USD, and after almost 9 months of ownership I definitely love this car. Could I have gone faster for the money? Probably. Could I have had all the utility and luxury items as well? Nope.
My "visor test" a car must have yellow turn signals all around. It's been proven they are more effective and reduce accidents. No yellow turn signals... No deal.
Ive been using it in my GTI because I drive almost 800 miles a week. I have a 2018. I can get up to 40mpg on the highway using 87 octane. I'm saving up to pay off the car in 6 months so after I pay it off I probably wont use ECO.
That 1997-2000 Honda Civic Type-R was -simply- the best car, because it could run on a few liters of petrol FOREVER. These days it will be the Mazda Skyactiv-X (engine) and nothing else. Why drive a car that spends twice as much fuel as anything else... I wouldn't..;) :)
Hey Guys! Love your videos. In Germany, the base model GTI comes standard with the kickass LED headlights. Base Price here is 30.000€ which is 45.000 CAD. But we're big on discounts: 20-22% off are nothing unsual. I just picked up my GTI from the VW Headquarters in Wolfsburg two weeks ago. A red GTI with trailer hook, manual gearbox and the lovely loud rear view camera among some other options. The mechanical LSD is not a standard option. You can only get it if you get the Performance Pack. VW give a nice Diesel Scrappage Deal since August and until the end of March, which means another 7500 CAD off of the dealer's discout of 20-22% if you get a Golf. I use it as a Daily, but I also use it to do 500 km journeys twice or three times a month. And in Summer I use the Golf to pull a 1300 kg caravan with my race bike inside to do some just-for-fun Races here in Germany and some of the neighbouring Countries. Keep up the good work. Send it
I more or less stole a '17 GTI when they were making room for the '18s. It's a base model S w/ DSG without the high-res display or cool headlights, but for $21k USD ($26k CAD), you're not gonna get a better mix of speed, practicality, niceties, and comfort. I had had my heart set on a WRX before getting this car, but testing driving both of them immediately changed my mind. It's not the fastest or the most race-oriented or best handling in the hot hatch category for sure. It isn't a 10/10 on any one thing, but it's a solid 8/10 in everything it does, which offers the best all-around experience.
"Why do golf/gti's have roofracks?" It makes much more sense to put roofracks on hatchbacks, sedans, wagons because they are much easier to access due to the lower roof height when compared with an SUV.
I would rather walk then drive a white car. I miss my MK 5 GTI. I sold it to a friend when it had 275,000 km on the dial. It now has 350,000 km on it and still going strong. What a great car.
Ok guys, how about the snow, the R has all wheel drive but probably summer tires. Without snows, you’re driving a roller skate in the winter. Jakob, happy anniversary, it’s the 11th anniversary of your 21st birthday. Great road test.
Just an FYI, the boost gauge in the infotainment doesn't subtract atmospheric pressure. So, subtract 14.7PSI at sea level to get a more realistic number.
In America, the GTI Autobahn trim makes zero sense. $38k for an Autobahn vs $40k for a Golf R. Just get the Golf R. They only come one way: Fully loaded. And for that extra $2k you get much more power and all wheel drive. All you lose is the sunroof because for whatever reason VW doesn't sell the Golf R with a sunroof in the states. There IS a reason I just can't remember it at the moment.
I see the GTI Autobahn vs Golf R comparison quite often, and based on MSRP value this is absolutely true and I agree, even though the GTI Autobahn does come with more luxury/comfort options than the Golf R. The Golf R is heavier because of the AWD system so they are trying to keep the weight down elsewhere. The R is a lower volume car so they don't want to spend extra money on adding more trim levels to it. The GTI's go on sale for $5,000 USD or more at the right time of year and I have never seen a Golf R on sale, they are always at MSRP or over because they are more rare. If people are actually paying 33k-34k (plus tax depending on state) USD for a GTI Autobahn vs 40k or more for a Golf R (plus tax) that is actually a substantial price difference. On top of that the Golf R AWD system is really a retro-fitted front wheel drive system and adds substantial weight, although it is still nice. In actual track testing with lap times on a 2 mile course, the R is only about a second faster than the GTI because the GTI is lighter. Ror an average driver the difference would not be noticeable. The R is faster in the 0-60 by about 0.9 to 1.4 seconds though due to the AWD so anyone would be able to notice that. The R really only makes sense to me if you live in a very cold climate and you need to drive on snow and ice often or if you are planning on modifying the car to make it so fast that the extra grip would be necessary. Just my two cents. (I own a 2017 GTI Sport DSG, which is basically a S with the performance package, lighting package, nicer wheels and the Keyless Access System)
Benefactor What luxury features are lacking on the Golf R? Other than the sunroof, it's a fully loaded car. Even has adjustable dampers, a feature missing in the GTI lineup. And as for driving experience, I'd be willing to bet(although I've never driven an R) that there's a significant difference in feel between the two. The way I've always seen it described is that the GTIs with LSD feel very good FOR A FWD CAR, whereas the Rs simply stick to the road in a way few other vehicles do. Add to that the R's straight up FAST 4.5 or less 0-60 time (using DSG and launch control) and you have a rocket ship of a hot hatch compared to the GTI being a pretty quick hot hatch. So even if let's say you could get a GTI Autobahn for $34k. I'm still gonna really be eying an R cuz even a $6k difference ain't that bad for everything you get.
Gti has red stitching...seriously though, I thought the Mk7 Gti was more fun to drive, and the new front differential with DCC is something to behold, totally let’s the car oversteer and get sideways in a delightfully artificial way.
New to channel. Best car review/news team since KBB! You should have so many more subscribers. Also love seeing other Ontario people! It's like local'ish flavor
Shopping for a new car? There's a discount when using The Straight Pipes link tsp.truecar.com
Idk.. Once that Veloster N comes out.. it might take over.. Also, I'm keeping an eye out for the Mazda Kai concept
Golf R :)
I believe that it is still king of Hot Hatches for the simple fact that manufacturers still benchmark this for their products as well as auto journalists when testing anything close to being a sporty hatch. One example being the Mazda 3 and Car and Drivers 10 Best review of the two. Is it the best value... I think the ST and the new Veloster might be better.
LOVE THE CONTENT!! Happy Birthday J!
Kergami Nope, the boot opening is way too small and visibility in the Hyundai...nuh-uh.
TheStraightPipes next time you should do the Vw Up Gti 2018 Review
As a GTI owner, I bought it because I want a sporty car without it being too "flashy".
mature choice
You’re being flashy right now.
And if you get a stage 2 tune, with the loud exhaust crackle and pops, cops will think it's the sporty car behind you.
If you really did not want to be flashy gli the move
I bought GTi 3years ago,but i like porsche,because in China ,cayman after tax is 130000usd,i don't have money,so i bought GTI
Ripped off visor, cake and confetti all over the interior. Whomever at VW you gave this back to must have been so pleased. ROFL.
+Netcruzer RC TECH CARS Jakub spent about an hour cleaning the interior. Visor reattached no problem!
VW should feel blessed they did such an epic review.
ha ha Yuri made the mess though
Kenny Byerly ...but he brought a cake, says something about the real friend...
Not their fault that VW has crappy quality control and the visor wasn't even properly attached at the factory.
United States prices
Base gti: $26,000
Autobahn: $34,000
As tested: about $37,000
TheHaydeenee you're the man
TheHaydeenee Thanks! Very helpful conversions.
VW GTI $31,200 USD. GTI = Garbage Tub Itch
Hey does numbers are not the actual prices in the USA. 2018 GTIs start at $25k base, then 2 trims above and the top Autobahn at $36k. Just want people to understand they won't get a new 2018 GTI for $31k lol
+Pinochet6000 haha yeah they're literal cad to usd conversions
I test drove a 2016 GTI Autobahn yesterday, and I totally get the hype now. The GTI just feels very alive - not computer-like like so many other cars today. I hear and feel more, but not in a negative way. I hear the turbo spooling, the engine revving, and little imperfections in the road through the steering wheel. The DSG is fantastic, too. Of course it's not as fast as a PDK or as smooth as a ZF 8HP, but it feels very direct and shifts crisply. What's more is that the GTI is just incredibly easy to drive. Everything just works - as far as both infotainment and driving. I might have to get one.
Sounds interesting, I was considering buy one but I don’t want to deal with Turbo lag, I think I’m going for a 2014 Audi A7 with the Supercharged 3.0t
@@SuperEman500 I have a GTI with a 6 speed manual and when I want to take off, I keep it in first and just rev the engine harder! I do NOT recommend installing aftermarket seats. Ze Germans thought of just about everything in this car. It's a bit difficult for me to get out because I don't have long legs and I have to haul myself over the side bolsters but they DO keep me from sliding around when the car corners. It corners so hard that my head gets nauseous and I have to back off the throttle!
The thing with the DSG is you can tune it to be way more aggressive and it will probably outlast the engine. Unless youre making 600+ hp which at that point is a drag car.
With the base GTI, you get :
- no sunroof = lower center of gravity
- no adaptative suspension = less weight
- 17” wheels = more confort, less weight
- same hp, diff, intercooler, red calipers, infotainment, drive settings, red door lights and plaid seats
Visor designed to be used by the rear passengers too. Kudos VW. And Happy Birthday!
I went from a 2014 Mercedes CLA250 to a 2018 GTI Autobahn and I absolutely love it! I can’t believe I didn’t get a GTI sooner!
Manuel?
I bet you took a bath on that CLA..
I went from a 2005 BMW 330Ci ZHP Convertible to a 2019 GTI Autobahn. It's not quite as nimble as a Mini, but I hate what BMW have done with the Mini design of late, especially those square-ish headlights on the 2019 Cooper S JCW (which was the other option I was looking at). It is seriously fun to drive, gets great mileage, and is practical for tooling around with the family. Much recommend, would buy again.
me too. Well I know why for myself-I had an old vw scirocco that was an unreliable disaster and swore off VW’s for 20 years.
@@paulscillia1274 manual*
Recycled volume knob from the past 3+ years. And yes it 's a big OCD pet peeve. Leave it pointing UP and use steering wheel volume always. If someone touches the knob.. reset at first available opportunity. LOL
Netcruzer RC TECH CARS Hahaha, I thought I was the only person who hated that volume knob. My GF always turns it to annoy me.
UGH, its the same in my 2010 mk6. I do the exact same thing as you XD.
There is a guy who has a store called Badge Skins which sells vinyl stickers to both cover up the power button and the airbag warnings. I have both, because like you I also suffer from the need to keep the knob perfectly aligned.
Holy shit I do this all the time!! 🤣
i bought a couple of stickers to fix this
As soon as the visor flew off I subscribed
+Brandon Kloss amazing
"Why would someone buy a GTI?"
"Why not?"
- My thoughts exactly when I last bought a car. A GTI.
Because golf R insurance is cheaper than GTI insurance (on progressive) and the Rs depreciate to new GTI prices pretty quick. The ST is also cheaper for insurance than the GTI on progressive. For 21 yr old me, insurance price is critical.
@@kshitijkumar4383 do it. Go quote a gti vin vs a golf r vin on progressive. I swear.
@@caseyman97 how exactly? And progressive insurance you mean monthly? I tried a GTi quote and an R quote. Golf R was more but I'm UK based so probably different
@@jakedavies3155 There is a separate category for the GTI but not for the R when you select a vehicle to quote. If I plug in a VIN for an R, it quotes me as a regular old 1.8 golf. The STs also don't have a separate category compared to a normal focus either, its just a trim level but the RS has its own category.
CUS THEY BUY GOLF R
I love my GTI. I have the 7, it's everything you could possibly need in a daily. Performance, perfect amount of luxury, looks both interior and exterior, roomy, and the best part, you'll never see it coming but you'll certainly see it going haha.
How do you think this car would fair for someone like myself? I'm 6'2. I'm interested but not sure if it'd be a little crammed for me.
@@samrobertmuik3495 6’1 here- plenty of room for me 👍
@@samrobertmuik3495 I’m 6’3 and I’m comfortable, I can put the seat back more if I needed to but I’ve never felt cramped. Tons of headroom too
Literally nailed it
@@samrobertmuik34956’4” owner here. I can sit behind myself while maintaining a comfortable enough driving position in the front. It’s a nice amount of room for a small-ish car
I've never watched a car review as many times as this one. GTI has to be my next car. Two Jerry cans in the back in the straight pipes honour.
Test out the new Mazda 3 hatchback first...it's a much much nicer car to be in.
@@bigmacdaddy1234 ...and still be will in 5-10 years, while the Golf leaves it's owner stranded on the side of the road.
James Eisenmann nah
After two years, did u own it ? 😜
My bone stock 2013 GTI has been a pleasure to daily drive since new. 106K miles now and I've only had to replace a coil pack...that's it. Would buy again without hesitation.
The best thing about VW GTI in Canada is we get Plaid seats in top-trim Autobahn. USA does not. I LOVE my GTI plaid seats!
It loses the electric seats and leatherette door trim inserts tho... Previously, they would charge you 1500$ to get the electric leather seats so you basically give them all that extra cash for nothing if you choose the plaid seats. Some genius at VW really knows how to make easy money lol
When I got my MK7 the Plaid was standard in Autobahn and the only extra $ options were leather and nav and DSG, which I all declined. Definitely the pricing has gone way up in MK7.5, plust some of the switchgear and trim has cheapened and they added no-cost optional 'downgrades'.
Exactly, they should offer a trim between the base and Autobahn. The base looks awful, at least offer the LED headlights and sunroof as part of a package, it's the only thing it needs. The wheels I can pass, I'm sure every dealer has some nice wheels as accessories because tbh, those on the mk7.5 are worse than those on the mk7
Ah really, wtf!?! I got really excited when they mentioned plaid seats on the Autobahn. As an American, that's really disappointing. :/
Vincentjr. Blount check with your dealer but last few years the autobahn in USA was leather only.
The little refinements they made to the front end has really perfected the look
Yo I love you guys. I try to watch other car reviewers, and there's no one who has as much spirit about it as you two do. It always cheers me up. I loved seeing Jakub fling the visor across the cabin! Good job, VW.
Ok by far you both have put on probably the BEST review of a Mk 7.5 GTI I have seen. The videography and the graphic work is amazing...👍🏽
+Mr. Mercedes thanks! Share the videos :)
Yes please! Top trim levels + manual transmissions make me very very happy! Speaking of which, happy new year Jakub!
I wished Jakub Happy B'day by unsubscribing and resubscribing. Happy?
TheVP very. Thank you
Did the same. :)
same
ChaoticCorruptor I
Great review. King of hot hatches for sure. Favorite UA-cam channel at the moment!!
2018: GTI is VW's bread & butter, VW cant mess it up
FF 2020 VW: Yes we can !!!
very sad. i have mk6 gti and have been waiting for mk8...
Mk8 gti tho is not beautiful. But it works and has the issues of the mk7 and mk6 fixed. And also the frond differential or what ever is called is LIT.
I'm not thrilled about the corolla headlights but all in all I think the mk8 is fine.
My first choice was a Mustang GT. But then i moved onto a WRX. Ultimately, I went with a GTI as well because i wanted a great daily driver... easy on the fuel, performance when you need it. It's pretty stylish and practical as well... almost looks like a sleeper to those that don't know much about the Golf GTI. If you de-badge it, it will look like a regular TSI. And, I made sure i got the trim with the limited slip differential. Now that i own it, I LOVE THE DSG! I love the sound... all i did was change the exhaust tips. I get an average of 35 mpg with the car. 10 mpg better than the other 2 cars i was looking at.
CryptoChat stick or dsg
My first car is a 2019 GTI 🤘 I have had it for a week now and love it !
Ur 17?
Late to the party, but I got my first VW last week, 2018 Autobahn in Red with pristine owner history.
Drove it home to NC from PA in a 2-day round trip, almost hit 38mpg with it. Glad to have chose this as my first "serious" car purchase.
Just bought a 2017 GTI here in Germany 2 months ago. I have the same trim. Love the little thing, really a perfect daily driver!
I'm 5 years in on my 2019 GTI Autobahn manual and it's been nothing short of a pleasure to own. It impresses me everyday in driving experience, upscale style, newest tech, and easy maintenance (and it came with a SIX year warranty). If you appreciate good cars and love driving, GTI is best addition to your life.
Another great video! Just a couple things FYI - 1. For some reason VW decided to include atmospheric pressure to the PSI gauge, so just subtract about 14 PSI from the reading and that is about what the actual boost is (depends on elevation). 2.
The DSG is a great transmission, it shifts faster than anyone could possibly shift a manual and it is fun to go through the gears on the paddles or leave it in auto while in traffic. I have read that the 6-speed manual is very tall geared, which is good if you don't like to shift a lot but not good for performance. 3. I see the GTI Autobahn vs Golf R price comparison quite often, and based on MSRP the Golf R is definitely a better value, even though the GTI Autobahn does come with more luxury/comfort options than the Golf R. The Golf R is heavier because of the AWD system so they are trying to keep the weight down elsewhere. The R is a lower volume car so they don't want to spend extra money on adding more trim levels to it. The GTI's go on sale for $5,000 USD or more at the right time of year and I have never seen a Golf R on sale, they are always at MSRP or over because they are more rare. If people are actually paying 33k-34k (plus tax depending on state) USD for a GTI Autobahn vs 40k or more for a Golf R (plus tax) that is actually a substantial price difference. On top of that the Golf R AWD system is really a retro-fitted front wheel drive system and adds substantial weight, although it is still nice. In actual track testing with lap times on a 2 mile course, the R is only about a second faster than the GTI because the GTI is lighter. For an average driver the difference would not be noticeable. The R is faster in the 0-60 by about 0.9 to 1.4 seconds though due to the AWD so anyone would be able to notice that. The R really only makes sense to me if you live in a very cold climate and you need to drive on snow and ice often or if you are planning on modifying the car to make it so fast that the extra grip would be necessary. Just my two cents. (I own a 2017 GTI Sport DSG, which is basically a base with the performance package, lighting package, nicer wheels and the Keyless Access System)
Awd is a burden in the winter its not as great as it seems
I appreciate this break down of the differences really well! Appreciate you commenting on this
@@EthanL21800 I'm assuming you're ignorantly comparing apples and oranges?
I.e. a FWD car on winter tires is better than an AWD car riding on something completely different?
Because in no way, shape, or form is FWD or RWD a "burden" in the winter.
When comparably equipped an AWD car will outperform it in handling and acceleration.
Handling, because the car and use the rear/front wheels in coordination with ESC, ABS, and torque vectoring to stabilize the car and I'm hoping acceleration is obvious.
At this point I'm not sure if it is to you. Just let me know if you're still confused.
I love the variety of cars you guys review. You guys have very quickly become my favorite car channel.
I really don't want to like the Golf or Golf GTI or any Golf. Because historyteachers, as myself, should drive boring cars like ten year old Toyotas, (as myself), or something other boring. And we are supposed to get a little mocked by the teenagers we meet at Our job on the cars that we're driving. But I have to come out of the closet and admit that I actually really do love Golf GTI. I drove it almost 2000km over a weekend and I loved every kilometer. But not as much as i loved the visor-test on this episode. I laughed. Hard. Thanks for that. I needed that after eight hours With thirty fourteen year olds in a classroom. VW Golf GTI is the best. It's just sad that it's so freakin' expensive.
Happy birthday Jakub! I love the fact that you ended up cleaning cake from the interior. You should have filmed it.
Don't know how much history teachers make, but you can find used GTI's for a good price, since they depreciate like crazy. If you were to find one in a decent condition, you can swap your current car without making huge financial dent in your budget. GTI wil still cost significantly more to maintain but if done properly it wouldn't be a financial disaster.
That visor test! I'm dead 😂😂😂
GTIs are always the best! Honestly I prefer it to the R (looks more sporty imo).. I’d get get exactly those wheels, white exterior, cloth seats are a must and I’d get the big infotainment and the new display.. and maybe a manual! And the headlights are a must! (In Europe you get them as standard)
danI43541 - Check out the 40 Year Edition of GTI on my Channel & Compare Guys! - The Legendary 2017 GTI Clubsport... Enjoy! ;)
Agreed. I much prefer the red accents over the white/silver ones. I’d buy the GTI over the R.
You guys “sent” the visor 😂
I prefer my 2015 GTI Autobahn over my 2018 BMW 340Xi Msport. However, I am on Long Island. The VW dealer experience is terrible here. They hold onto Autobahn GTIs like they are gold. There are probably two of them in the whole area. Case in point, when I purchased my 2015, the production build date was 10/14, yet I purchased it in June of 2015. That’s how long they held onto it for. It’s 2018, we don’t even have the Golf R’s yet. Guaranteed if I went to lease a 2018 Golf R after waiting for months and looking everyday to see which dealer had one, the lease would be more than my $60K BMW. It’s a shame, because VW is building a lot of crap recently, and this is a gem of a car.
I have watched so many GTI reviews in the past and this is the most creative video by far! Plus I learned a few things! Keep up the good work guys!
did they say kilometeres....... finally a car channel that speaks my metrics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best review yet. Love the GTI, but would get a different colour, flat cement grey tries to smother any excitement. VW can not afford to get this car wrong. I did a test drive in a closed circuit course and I was really impressed.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKUB!
Gti actually really suits Yuri, the outfit that he wears really suits the cloth seat designs, or a beamer
When you're not driving like a HOON the whole time that 9-10L per 100km will average out to about 6L per 100km. It's very efficient power. Love that. Definitely no jerry cans required, even with a small 50L tank.
Bought a 2015 GTI MK7 in January so I got some of the first MK7 shipments in the USA no problems just normal matinence and now 2018 and 47,073miles latter still pulling strong and reliable. People say Volkswagens aren't reliable I would admit their old stuff is not as good as my sister had a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta that had tons of problems but their new stuff is really good plan on getting a Golf R when the MK8 comes to the US.
Love your videos, great fun car reviews. Confession, I have owned my car for 8 years and put 190,000 miles on it, I didn’t know the sun visors extended until watching your videos.
Allen South which car
Yuri Tereshyn a boring Taurus, not one you reviewed I just never knew extending visors were a thing. Haha
Recently took delivery of a mk7.5 GTI thanks partially to this and the DSG vs. Manual video! Car rocks, I can point and shoot through traffic and still adult...keep the reviews coming boys. Cheers
Spot on guys! This is your sweet spot. So fun to watch! Also...always Love the GTI. Even though it's now sold (MKIV VR6) and the daily is a Cayman S. I still miss the GTI....I will have another. GTI VS R.....probs R
I got my first car as a 2013 GTI and it’s perfect for living in NYC and wanting to go autocrossing. I would prefer something greener either hybrid or electric. I agree with the step to an Audi.
Really like the show, you guys are my favorite Canadians (Although I really don't know any others)! I'm still trying to convince my wife I need a GTI.....
Had an '87 GTI 16v 5 Spd, still BEST car i've ever owned !
The reason people don't buy a VW is because they aren't reliable for the long run. Although with the new warranty in the US, it might be a viable option.
I own a Mk7. The 30 PSI is not the true boost. It is counting atmospheric pressure. The peak stock boost is around 18 PSI. On stage 1 it is around 22-23. Also, manual trans is amazing. I like my tuned GTI 10x better than my buddie's stock Golf R. And my Sport trim was over 10,000 USD cheaper than his R
The moment with the visors was perfect!
Hi Yuri, I really liked your question/comment "why does somebody buy a GTI?"
You are the only car review UA-camr that puts across the "so what" about these cars. Keep up the great reviews! Thank you
Thanks. To be honest vw doesn’t do it for me but i do see the appeal for others.
I keep seeing Caledon area in the backdrop, it's hilarious to see a really good car review channel from some down home Canadian dudes from this neck of the woods. Just picked up a new manual R last night. Looking forward to seein you boys just send it in one next week!
Guys, think about it. You buy the base, which comes with everything the autobahn has outside of headlights, wheels, sunroof, and drivers assist package, and you go out and buy aftermarket wheels and headlights, and voila, you have a better looking GTI than the autobahn, and you still save thousands of dollars. The base model GTI is the way to go!
Jason S The SE is the way to go. It has everything the Autobahn has except for fender audio, parking assist, and lane assist for $30,000 -$32,000
Visor test lmfao
I haven't finished watching the video, but the after market support for the mk7 is amazing, especially tuning. Stage 2+ pushes 350+ hp. Some people tune and mod them up to 500 hp
You guys are my favourite!
My 75 year old grandmother drives a GLI she bought because she said its the perfect balance between fun and comfort.
GTI is the best car Period. I just bought my 3rd one in a row
For anyone wondering, the 30 psi isn't really 30 psi. They added atmospheric pressure into it to make it look like it's higher. So it really got to ~15 psi.
Starting to think The Straight Pipes is just a nickname for Jakub's muscles, holy shit. :D Happy birthday bud!
Stephen Bruni haha oops. Thanks!
It’s got Clark seats :) I just purchased a 2020 GTI and i'm probably older then most watching this review. My attraction was the maturity and practical aspects along with the fun
I own a 2018 GTI Performance, had it for 3 months /7k km now and i'm stoked!
Just bought a used one in good shape today, getting it registered, insured, and plated on Saturday! I'm super excited, do you have any advice?
@@thetailpipe6762 I had mine for 3,5years and 72k km. The things to look out for apart from mechanical stuff is rust on tailgate, lower part of the front fenders behind the wheels. Cracked plastics on sunroof surround if you have one and also cracking in reflectors and lights in general. The «cover» on the front calipers with the GTI/R logo on tends to corrode and lose paint as well.
Thats some things I remember from the top of my head.
Bear in mind mine had none of those faults apart from the calippercover. But some friends had all of those..
GL and have fun! 😎👍🏻
Jakub, totally agree with the base GTI being the sweet spot. I'm a bit sad I miss out on the headlights and wheels and other luxuries Yuri loves, but I picked up the last remaining manual transmission base GTI in Ontario, save over $5k from the Autobahn and couldn't be happier!
Owner of a MK6 GTI and I also love the phone dial wheels, the plaid, and yes, I added a roof rack because euro.
The Visor is meant to be shared with other people. VW, you guys did it again!
I subscribed again just for that visor test. +1
Best. Visor Test. Ever.
Now their RS5's visor test failed like this one too lol
The boost gauge is accurate in terms of how it response to changing pressure, but it's WAAAAY to optimistic. If this car generated over 30 psi, it would make 500 horsepower.
I’ve been waiting for this review.
regarding the boost - it shows relative pressure, not absolute. So, "0 psi" is a vacuum. You gotta figure out what the value is at 12 o'clock. That's 0 PSI. In my R that's 17/18PSI, so when my car says 32psi, it's actually like 16ish PSI.
Test drove a MK 7.5 a couple days ago and it was a blast. I really look forward to bumping up from a MK6 to a MK7.
Vw Golf are my favs over everything else. Since i got interested in Cars Golf was always the car i wanted. Currently driving Mk5 but next year i am upping it to Mk7 Gti. I spend no money on anything and this is what i am getting next. its just overall such a great car.
2:23 Haha, Jakub got that extra birthday strength with that visor test!
_窮 oops
It doesn't matter what this video is about, I think the beginning of it was great and I've never seen something like that before. I am subscribing.
+SirMontecristo thanks!
I bought mine in March of 2018 and had watched this review several times. I got the SE manual for a little under $27k USD, and after almost 9 months of ownership I definitely love this car. Could I have gone faster for the money? Probably. Could I have had all the utility and luxury items as well? Nope.
My "visor test" a car must have yellow turn signals all around. It's been proven they are more effective and reduce accidents. No yellow turn signals... No deal.
"We don't buy GTIs to save gas" LOL, 2017 models don't have ECO mode, who needs ECO mode in a GTI???
Ive been using it in my GTI because I drive almost 800 miles a week. I have a 2018. I can get up to 40mpg on the highway using 87 octane. I'm saving up to pay off the car in 6 months so after I pay it off I probably wont use ECO.
@@affinity3281 carbon buildup
That 1997-2000 Honda Civic Type-R was -simply- the best car, because it could run on a few liters of petrol FOREVER. These days it will be the Mazda Skyactiv-X (engine) and nothing else. Why drive a car that spends twice as much fuel as anything else... I wouldn't..;) :)
I don't know if I love the car more or you guys!! Cheers guys!! For keeping it so real and fun...
Hey Guys! Love your videos. In Germany, the base model GTI comes standard with the kickass LED headlights. Base Price here is 30.000€ which is 45.000 CAD. But we're big on discounts: 20-22% off are nothing unsual. I just picked up my GTI from the VW Headquarters in Wolfsburg two weeks ago. A red GTI with trailer hook, manual gearbox and the lovely loud rear view camera among some other options. The mechanical LSD is not a standard option. You can only get it if you get the Performance Pack. VW give a nice Diesel Scrappage Deal since August and until the end of March, which means another 7500 CAD off of the dealer's discout of 20-22% if you get a Golf.
I use it as a Daily, but I also use it to do 500 km journeys twice or three times a month. And in Summer I use the Golf to pull a 1300 kg caravan with my race bike inside to do some just-for-fun Races here in Germany and some of the neighbouring Countries.
Keep up the good work. Send it
I thought the auto show visor tests couldn't be topped, but lol it totally was. Happy Late Birthday Jakub! 👌
Happy birthday buddy! All you ever wanted was a visor that went all the way back to the B pillar, today you got one that went back to the C pillar!
+Maxwell Powers Hahahahahah
Best review EVER.
In our Volkswagens, we just position the volume knob to be upright and then just solely use the steering wheels controls. OCD much, but it works!
Now you need to do a focus st/golf gti/civic si comparison episode. Kings of the daily grind.
I think the guys at Top Gear did this once. The GTI came a very close second because Jeremy Clarkson is a huge fan of the car.
I more or less stole a '17 GTI when they were making room for the '18s. It's a base model S w/ DSG without the high-res display or cool headlights, but for $21k USD ($26k CAD), you're not gonna get a better mix of speed, practicality, niceties, and comfort.
I had had my heart set on a WRX before getting this car, but testing driving both of them immediately changed my mind.
It's not the fastest or the most race-oriented or best handling in the hot hatch category for sure. It isn't a 10/10 on any one thing, but it's a solid 8/10 in everything it does, which offers the best all-around experience.
GTI is a nice cross over for sporty and also comfortable. Ford went FULL race. GTI wins.
Kergami
Full race?
The crowd they went for is 15-20 year olds, it just looks like a hot wheels toy to me.
6 years late, but I literally just purchased a red autobahn trim this morning. Already happy with it.
My, these fellas have so much personality.
Gti isn’t flashy enough for my style but I like them and they’re fast. So they’re cool and they pass as enthusiast cars.
Slammed that like button after Jacob threw the visor across the car
"Why do golf/gti's have roofracks?" It makes much more sense to put roofracks on hatchbacks, sedans, wagons because they are much easier to access due to the lower roof height when compared with an SUV.
That's a great color. The facelift looks really good on these.
I would rather walk then drive a white car. I miss my MK 5 GTI. I sold it to a friend when it had 275,000 km on the dial. It now has 350,000 km on it and still going strong. What a great car.
Best visor test. Ever.
OMG, I totally bought my GTI to get under the radar from my wife!
Ok guys, how about the snow, the R has all wheel drive but probably summer tires. Without snows, you’re driving a roller skate in the winter. Jakob, happy anniversary, it’s the 11th anniversary of your 21st birthday. Great road test.
I have one and I will always drive GTI I love this car
Just an FYI, the boost gauge in the infotainment doesn't subtract atmospheric pressure. So, subtract 14.7PSI at sea level to get a more realistic number.
In America, the GTI Autobahn trim makes zero sense. $38k for an Autobahn vs $40k for a Golf R. Just get the Golf R. They only come one way: Fully loaded. And for that extra $2k you get much more power and all wheel drive. All you lose is the sunroof because for whatever reason VW doesn't sell the Golf R with a sunroof in the states. There IS a reason I just can't remember it at the moment.
The treacherous things is that almost all R in US is sold with marked up price. This is very true in the tri-state region, where I'm at.
hansel tan Ah. I live in New Orleans and don't think I've ever seen one marked up
I see the GTI Autobahn vs Golf R comparison quite often, and based on MSRP value this is absolutely true and I agree, even though the GTI Autobahn does come with more luxury/comfort options than the Golf R. The Golf R is heavier because of the AWD system so they are trying to keep the weight down elsewhere. The R is a lower volume car so they don't want to spend extra money on adding more trim levels to it. The GTI's go on sale for $5,000 USD or more at the right time of year and I have never seen a Golf R on sale, they are always at MSRP or over because they are more rare. If people are actually paying 33k-34k (plus tax depending on state) USD for a GTI Autobahn vs 40k or more for a Golf R (plus tax) that is actually a substantial price difference. On top of that the Golf R AWD system is really a retro-fitted front wheel drive system and adds substantial weight, although it is still nice. In actual track testing with lap times on a 2 mile course, the R is only about a second faster than the GTI because the GTI is lighter. Ror an average driver the difference would not be noticeable. The R is faster in the 0-60 by about 0.9 to 1.4 seconds though due to the AWD so anyone would be able to notice that. The R really only makes sense to me if you live in a very cold climate and you need to drive on snow and ice often or if you are planning on modifying the car to make it so fast that the extra grip would be necessary. Just my two cents. (I own a 2017 GTI Sport DSG, which is basically a S with the performance package, lighting package, nicer wheels and the Keyless Access System)
Benefactor What luxury features are lacking on the Golf R? Other than the sunroof, it's a fully loaded car. Even has adjustable dampers, a feature missing in the GTI lineup. And as for driving experience, I'd be willing to bet(although I've never driven an R) that there's a significant difference in feel between the two. The way I've always seen it described is that the GTIs with LSD feel very good FOR A FWD CAR, whereas the Rs simply stick to the road in a way few other vehicles do. Add to that the R's straight up FAST 4.5 or less 0-60 time (using DSG and launch control) and you have a rocket ship of a hot hatch compared to the GTI being a pretty quick hot hatch. So even if let's say you could get a GTI Autobahn for $34k. I'm still gonna really be eying an R cuz even a $6k difference ain't that bad for everything you get.
Gti has red stitching...seriously though, I thought the Mk7 Gti was more fun to drive, and the new front differential with DCC is something to behold, totally let’s the car oversteer and get sideways in a delightfully artificial way.
New to channel. Best car review/news team since KBB! You should have so many more subscribers. Also love seeing other Ontario people! It's like local'ish flavor
+Carl Muir thanks!
I really every video review you guys produce. Very informative and entertaining.