So yesterday I finally got a chance to take the new golf for a spin... White beauty with xenons, sunroof, touch screen multimedia player, MFS and park control. Well it's about what I expected The DSG box is superb and obviously such a pleasure with the seamless shifts (have driven a 5 DSG before) Things that stood out for me was the linear power band from low down all the way to the redline. No sudden "powah on" as the turbo kicks in but rather a constant thrust. The throttle blips in sport mode on the down shifts sounds very sporty.. The sound track is a lot better than in the 5 btw with the zorst burbling mini style . Dynamically it feels very solid and even though I only had one longish bend to negotiate the car felt very stable. Inside the build quality is superb. Big car feel with a real sense of class. The insulation is great with no wind noise and limited road noise. Suspension was on the harsh side but so be it for good reasons. Imo I found the GTI faultless after my short stint with it. My only con is "driver appeal" as I'm not sure it will last beyond the 1st year. The emotion the car evokes within you after spending some time with it. But that differs from person to person so not really a bad thing. Would I buy one? For sure! But not right now as I'm still loving my MCS to bits

 

I test drove a 2007 GTI before ordering the MINI. Thought the GTI was boring to drive, even on the twisty country roads around Salinas CA.

 

Just looked up the specs:

0-60 mph (Manual/Automatic) 7.2 seconds / 6.9 seconds Top Speed* (Manual/Automatic) 130 mph / 130 mph
A little disappointing for a GTI, I thought they were a lot faster than that...

 

^ VW is known to be very conservative with those specs. Magazines tested the MKV at around 6.5 seconds for 0-60. The MKVI is supposed to be lighter so it might even be faster than that.

 

Time to take the 6 for spin. Agreed possibly not as much fun as the mini but as a all round package it's going to be hard to beat....

drewstermalloy Just looked up the specs:

0-60 mph (Manual/Automatic) 7.2 seconds / 6.9 seconds Top Speed* (Manual/Automatic) 130 mph / 130 mph
A little disappointing for a GTI, I thought they were a lot faster than that...

drew I think those are a little conservative as k3vin said. The dsg is def quicker than that! In our mags they've tested the Scirocco DSG 0-100 km/h in 6.49s so the GTI should be matching that. It's not so much the speed that impressed me but more so the overall experience.

 

when did dealers received the 6s?

 

looks like Johan is in Johannesburg (as in S.Africa :-) ), don't think 6 made it to the US yet, I'd like to test drive one too

 

I wouldn't buy one RIGHT NOW. In the US and Canadian markets the GTI still has the engine from the MK5 but in Europe they have a new engine that provides an extra 10hp.

 

Soz guys I checked out vw.com last nite only to discover you guys across the Atlantic are still waiting for the 6 to be launched... As an ex GTI 5 owner I was quite impressed with the improvements made to the 6 and even though it's only 6hp (8kw) more than the 5 it puts the power down very well.

The DSG is great as well with lightning fast changes... You just plant it and the car sprints to 62 at a rapid pace... It's still a little pricey imo. I'll have to wait another year or 2 but a low milage 2008 Factory JCW is within reach. Approx $8000 that I have to pay in on my 2007 MCS...you guys think it's worth it Similar spec as my MCS but obviously with the Aero Kit and JCW goodies.... There's also an Audi S3 priced similarly to the JCW but I can hear the JCW calling my name.

 

I've had lots of VAG products, most recently a 2006 A3. They're great cars, lots bigger and roomier than MINI's and still fun to drive, but as far as nimbleness, there's not getting around their extra 500+ lbs over the MCS. Despite its technological prowess, the DSG leaves me cold too, it's very disappointing to me that VAG is dropping their manual transmissions in the US little by little. I drove an Audi TTS a few months ago and would consider one except for it being DSG only in the US.

 

I was going to buy a 2009 GTI MK5 version with the DSG because they had a really attractive 0% financing on it.

However trouble was i didnt like that i couldnt see the front very well.... and there was a IIHS issue with the DSG gearboxes... and now im happy not bought one because they're all being recalled! 14k VW vehicles with DSG!!! because of sensor faulty

 

I was going to mention that Johanvandenberg is in S. Africa, where they get the European version of the Mk6. From what I have heard, there are worlds of differences from the USA version and the motherland version. My question to you, Johanvandenberg is: Why not go with the Sciroco GT with the Audi 265hp motor? It looks like a channelled, sectioned shortened up version of the GTI. Very nice to me. I'd also forgo the slushbox DSG. When all is said and done, it's still a slushbox.

 

DSG is awesome, I loved driving the GTI MkV. I'm still somewhat considering one, but they look so, so uninspiring. It's not as much raw fun as the Mini either, doesn't drive as much like a go-kart, but I think as an overall package, it's better. More spacious, more refined, more low-end torque, but less fun. I'd be really into the scirroco if they brought it to the US, but since they don't, I'm finding myself passing on the GTI in favor of either keeping my Mini or trading up for an MCS.

 

The REAL competition to the Mini s will be the Polo GTI, which I am told will come to the USA in either late 10 or early 11. It's got the supercharged & turbo 1.4 ltr. motor and looks about the same weight as the Mini. Could be interesting. Other than that, the only thing coming to the USA is the GTI R20, which will be the 265 hp all wheel drive. But, that will be priced in the mid $30s probably. Then the Audi S-1 is supposedly coming here, but again, in a 4-door hatchback version. And, they're pushing their DSG again.

 

The Polo GTI is going to be priced way, way less than the MCS. It'll be competition for a low-option MC, maybe, but I can't see it breaking 20k, not with the GTI living in the 24-27k range, much less the 25-30+k range most MCS's go for.

 

You are happy you didn't buy one because of the recall? You do realize a recall can be a good thing... VW is fixing the problem, and on top of that they are extending the warranty on the transmission to 100,000 miles. Sounds good to me!

 

Mini needs to do several recalls to fix the scoop melting issue, cold start chatter, valve deposits, window dipper, and sun roof issues to name a few.... Instead they waste our time shortening our exhaust pipes...

 

this thread is in the wrong forum, should be in "Off-Topic, Autos." I, and Im sure many others here, could care less about minor-league VAG products. If it aint a Bentley or a Bugatti, it aint worth discussin.

 

Hi guys, see that the thread's been moved to the correct section...

The scirocco (roc) is a nice car for the v dub stable. Something a little bit more eye catching but we only have the 2.0T and 1.4 TFSI versions here for now. The GT version or Scirocco R will only be launched later... Imo this will be a pricey car and would then open up other options for me so would more than likely not get the Roc... I sat in one the other day and even though it's better looking from the outside vs the golf 6 gti (imo) it feels dated inside compared to the 6... so for me it's a no

The dsg debate has been going on for ages already and well... whatever floats your boat.. for some (including myself) I feel it's a great piece of engineering and for the manual fans it will never be appealing... for city driving it does make for more relaxed driving and for robot to robot stuff the manual won't keep up...

 

The only thing that you mentioned that affects safety is the exhaust pipes. There hasn't ever even been a recall made on the exhaust pipes. They work just about the same way as everything else. While your there, if they notice it, they change it.

 

I was eagerly waiting for the MKVI...I have an '07 MKV GTI 6 speed, so the DSG doesn't do much for me (although the DSG is 100 times better than the stick, there truly is no replacement for 3 pedals). The things I would have expected them to update on the car they DIDN'T change. The things I loved about the car's looks, for one thing the nose. I'm partial to the new look. The tail lights look as big as the ones on a Touareg. The interior however, looks great. I didn't have any problems with the interior of the MKV, and they improved on something that was already good, so to that.

I would have expected a little more juice, maybe the upgrade that the Audi's got for the 2.0T (211hp/257tq), but no siree bob

I would have expected a more firm suspension (and a little more of a drop) so I didn't have to change it myself,

The amount of features my car had that were STANDARD was a great thing, but most of those on the MKVI are either not available (Climatronic) or Xenon Lights (Now an option) on the US cars. Also, there a bunch of features the Euro cars can get that you can't get at all on the US cars.

Overall, I truly enjoyed the MKV GTI. It was a fantastic car, the engine is a GEM, it had a smooth ride, and it was very predictable at the limits. Definitely a LOT of fun to drive. So much so, I had a hard time getting out of it and into my MCCS. It took me a little while to "love" my Mini because there was so much more about the GTI that I loved over the Clubman. I got my Mini in June because I took advantage of a lease deal they had. My GTI lease was set to expire 9/4, and I gave the car to a friend to finish off the last few months, and he asked me to extend the lease for a month, so I still technically have it until 10/4 now, but it's not in my possession, he's using it. If I didn't get the Mini and waited for the for the MKV lease to finish, I probably might have gotten the MKVI if I found something with the features that I want and the lease was good, but I guess that's not happening anytime soon, I got over it...

My MKV

 

yah, the only GTI i ever considered was a R32...but even that, i passed.

the problem with DSG and any AT is unless you have canyons to carve or road courses near by to race, it gets boring too fast.

 

Kenchan: The word from VW is that they are going to bring the Golf GTI R20, which is the Audi 265hp in all wheel drive, to the USA. But that brings up two questions. 1. How much? 2. Depending on question number 1, what are they going to take off this car, like they are doing with the standard GTI? Personally, if I were to consider a VW it would be the Polo GTI with their 1.4 turbo/supercharged 178hp car in a possibly all wheel drive. Now that just might be interesting.

 

3. and is it going to be DSG or a car enthusiast's 6MT.

R32 with 6MT would get my attention but they never offered it in the US.

 

Kenchan,

From what I have read both will be available. Maybe someone in Deuchtland is getting smart......I doubt it. No Sciroco yet.