Golf VI

[YSSMAN]

I'd bet that it isn't as spectacular as the BlueMotion or a sensibly driven Jetta TDI, but I would think 40 MPG highway would be easily attainable.

 

[Hugo Boss]

I'm not saying that it needs more power to be a GTI, but it's the appearance of the car versus other cars to regular shoppers that would worry me. If handling performance was what sold cars, then the GTIs would have no troubles flying off the lots. This is reflected in the driving experience, who will make anybody in the market for one want one even more.

But for someone looking at numbers, 0-60 times and horsepower ratings jump out a lot more than slalom speeds and skidpad rating. So for the people looking for a car using those numbers, well, the GTI might not stand out as the best choice to them. And then you wonder if VW is perhaps not paying as much attention to the market as they could.

It's mostly the youth or the benighted who look at sheer numbers only. When I was looking for my first car (I was 17), I wanted the fastest car I could afford. I wanted a Civic or Peugeot Rallye with around 100hp. Couldn't find anything decent though and bought something slower but in a proper condition. Now after 7 years I still enjoy every ride in my 15 year old Polo with only 55 hp. It's got sports seats, nicely direct steering, a silky smooth gearbox and a lively engine. The performance figures wouldn't even impress your grandmother, but the ride just feels right.

Same goes for the Golf GTI. Not the fastest of the lot, but it's a great allround hot hatch. The car you buy is always a compromise and for a lot of hot hatch buyers the GTI is the best compromise. That's what Golf GTI buyers expect from the car. The figures aren't that important.
Partly similar is the case with the Civic Type-R. Not so powerful, but you know you get a hardcore hatch that handles right and simply works at the track. That's worth more than an additional 40hp.

On the other hand, you shouldn't worry about VW's models not being powerful enough. A lot of carnuts work at VW and for the last 30 years they've produced many original and powerful models. The Golf R20 will become something special for sure 👍

 

[Philly]

That is a little comforting. And I guess with the types of people who drive MKVs, acceleration can't be the biggest concern.

Plus the youths looking for extreme drag strip numbers will probably go for the Cobalt SS anyway, and the GTI stands zero chance of taking that car on in the near future.

 

[Hugo Boss]

VW started testing the R20T/TDI on the Ring:

Dutch source: Autoweek.nl

 

[Hugo Boss]

Let's hope we'll see the first vids on Youtube soon

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Is there going to be a 3-door Golf or would that be the GTI?

 

[YSSMAN]

There should be three and five door versions sold here just like before. But, the three door GTI will be coming here first.

 

[Philly]

Any news on an estimated time?

 

[YSSMAN]

The Car and Driver article I read online yesterday said September-ish, which is a bit later than I had anticipated (July).

 

[Philly]

Lol. Lap time I meant. But September? Strange that VW would put their R model out so quickly after the regular car...

 

[YSSMAN]

Its September for the MKVI GTI in the USA. No word on GTD laptimes. As for the R20 being released, I imagine it would be at least 9-12 months after the GTI is released in Europe... So probably spring 2010?

 

[YSSMAN]

Hey, Remember When We Wanted to Know When the MKVI Was Coming to the States?

To answer the question: Within the next month or so

What Do You Need to Know?

• The Rabbit is dead (again), they're calling it the Golf in the US for 2010
• The 2010 should be in dealers within the next week or so, depending on the market, with no major changes by comparison to the European model(s)
• The Golf 2.5 3-Door starts at $17,490, the 5-Door at $19,190
• The Golf TDI (hooray!) starts at $21,990
• The Golf GTI starts at $23,290

...According to Autoblog...


The TDI price sounds pretty fair, and seeing as how the Jetta TDI sells out every year, I'm sure the dealers like the sound of having more models to please more people. I'm looking forward to seeing the MKVI in person, as it looks rather good. How much time until the MKVI Jetta shows up?

Also, VW, it would be totally awesome if you'd give us the GTD. Seriously.

 

[homeforsummer]

Ugh. Fair play to you getting excited by the MkVI coming your way, especially as you're finally getting a diesel with it, but speaking for myself and I'm fairly sure a large section of the motoring press over here, we've lost interest in that car. We get the Scirocco which is prettier, quicker, handles better and doesn't actually cost any more, and rumours of the next-generation Golf have started surfacing too. I can't find an internet link anywhere but the most recent issue of Car magazine in the UK hints at the following details on the next Golf:

• Launch in late 2011
• Flexible platform architecture shared with 2011 Audi A3
• Around 130kg lighter than the MkVI
• Platform can be stretched - will also be used for next-gen Passat
• Coupe in the pipeline that may take over from the Scirocco
• Various other variants, Golf Plus, Touran, Tiguan, CC, Estate, Jetta
• Engines ranging from a 1.2 TSI to a 276bhp R20T, diesels from a 1.3 3-cyl turbodiesel to a 217bhp 2.0-litre GTD
• Hybrids might be available, starting with a "mild hybrid" in the BlueMotion version

The article is on page 149 in the current issue (Oct 09) of Car, for any UK peeps who want to check it out.

The weight is the most important thing in my view. The new Polo is lighter than the model it replaced, wheras the Golf is as fat and lardy as the Mk5. It's probably my least favourite VW in quite a long time. It's just unfortunate that it's still a few years before the MkVII is released.

 

[Tornado]

Are they raising the prices in an effort to turn it back into the Mk IV, or are they simply going broke?

 

[homeforsummer]

You mean with the MkVII? I'd expect they might lower prices a little. Prices for the MkV and MkVI were elevated compared to those of the Mk4 and yet many argue quality took a step downwards. In my view it's pointless making the Golf too luxurious as VAG already have a perfectly good A3.

The Mk1-3 Golfs were never the last word in luxury - they just lasted and felt solid whether they had 10 miles on them or 100k miles on them. This is what the Golf needs to return to. Let Audi do the luxury and squishy plastics thing and just make the Golf like the old Mk2 advert proclaimed "if only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen". Just a dependable product that feels like it's going to last forever.

And VW are making ridiculous profits anyway, $6.3bn as of March this year. They'd more than make up in numbers what they'd lose from charging a premium if the next Golf was sold at a lower cost.

 

[Tornado]

I meant for the USDM Mk VI, which looks to be around $3,000 higher across the board if YSSMAN's prices are accurate.

 

[homeforsummer]

Meh. You're still paying in Dollars what we're paying in Pounds over here. It's always surprised me how ridiculously cheap the Rabbit seemed to be. Fair enough, yours is built in Mexico rather than Wolfsburg but still, Volkswagens seem to be a bit of a bargain in the States.

 

[Omnis]

I'll be looking at a Golf TDI.

 

[YSSMAN]

Are they raising the prices in an effort to turn it back into the Mk IV, or are they simply going broke?

I thought the same thing. Then I double-checked the MSRP on the 2009 models...

Rabbit 2.5 S 3D - $16,300
Rabbit 2.5 S 5D - $19,340

GTI 3D - $23,230
GTI 5D - $23,830

Not a huge jump, but you are getting a better car. Or so it appears. The interior refresh and the addition of a TDI model make it a solid choice, especially when your next-best options for "totally awesome drive" are the overpriced MINI or the FUGLY Mazda 3.

 

[Tornado]

Wait, when did they raise the prices on the V?

 

[Philly]

I'm pretty excited to see these things popping up around. I think it'd be cool to get a spot before I leave for Michigan.

I'm hoping to go out with one of my friends and try and take some of the new 2010s out for a spin. And the GTI will be pretty high on my list.

I can't find an internet link anywhere but the most recent issue of Car magazine in the UK hints at the following details on the next Golf:

I remember the MKVI was rushed in order to make the Golf more profitable because the MKVs were too expensive to build. I definitely think that you made some points that would improve the car, but it's a bit strange that they'd roll out a new model two years after their brand new one. I almost don't want to see them do it...

And word on the power output of this supposed MKVII GTI? The current car is no slouch, but I think another 20-30 bhp would me just magical.

 

[Tornado]

If it weighs as much as its supposed to, it won't need any more power.

 

[Philly]

Good point. A ~10% reduction in weight will be much more beneficial than a ~10% bump in horsepower.

 

[homeforsummer]

I remember the MKVI was rushed in order to make the Golf more profitable because the MKVs were too expensive to build. I definitely think that you made some points that would improve the car, but it's a bit strange that they'd roll out a new model two years after their brand new one. I almost don't want to see them do it...

I wouldn't call the MkVI a "brand new" car. It's still essentially a MkV that's been redesigned to be cheaper to produce. And outwardly it looks little more than a half-hearted facelift.

The brand new MkVII is VW's attempt to address the relatively slow sales of the VI (remember, it's been on sale in Europe for a fair while already - you guys are getting it fairly late - plus, as mentioned, it's essentially a revision of the Mk5 rather than a whole new car, so development costs wouldn't have been as high as designing a car from the ground up), which hasn't flown out of the showrooms like the previous Golfs. Some of this has been down to the recession of course. The idea is also to roll out the new platform which will become a very common sight if it's anything like the Mk4 and Mk5 platforms.

And word on the power output of this supposed MKVII GTI? The current car is no slouch, but I think another 20-30 bhp would me just magical.

Car reckon the R20T will make 276bhp. So a lot. But this is likely to be a model above the GTI, in the same vein as the R32 was. Not sure how much power the GTI itself will have but I'd expect a small increase, just because everyone ramps up the power a little in their new models.

 

[FoolKiller]

Is the TDI supposed to be a 3 door or 5 door? If it is a 3 door then I will likely be looking at used Jettas in a couple of years. I have been told that now that we have a kid coming any new car will have to have proper backdoors to make child seat placement easier.

I thought the same thing. Then I double-checked the MSRP on the 2009 models...

Rabbit 2.5 S 3D - $16,300
Rabbit 2.5 S 5D - $19,340

Wow, mine started at $14,990.

 

[YSSMAN]

I thought they started in the $14s back in 2006/2007, but I couldn't remember for sure. I do recall looking at them a while back, and getting approved for the VW Credit's $0 down, $249 a month deal a while back. The only thing that stopped me from signing was the fact I hadn't driven a Mazda 3 yet, and that the fuel mileage wasn't that great.

Surely the bump from 140 BHP to 170 BHP wasn't the primary reason for the price increase?

 

[FoolKiller]

I thought they started in the $14s back in 2006/2007, but I couldn't remember for sure. I do recall looking at them a while back, and getting approved for the VW Credit's $0 down, $249 a month deal a while back. The only thing that stopped me from signing was the fact I hadn't driven a Mazda 3 yet, and that the fuel mileage wasn't that great.

Surely the bump from 140 BHP to 170 BHP wasn't the primary reason for the price increase?

I would give up half the airbags, interior cockpit lighting, insulated air conditioned glove box, and a half dozen other things to see the TDI drop under $20,000.

 

[Omnis]

And I hope the TDI is getting retarded fuel efficiency with MB's BlueEfficiency cars on the horizon.

 

[YSSMAN]

I think they have them rated at 30/42 by the EPA. With the stick. Its in the link from my post, as I recall.

 

[homeforsummer]

VAG turbodiesels always seem to get ridiculously good fuel figures so I can't see why this one would be any different.

Also, there's not really been any big fanfare about the BlueEfficiency Mercs, at least over here. I'm not sure if any of them have particularly stunning fuel figures but I've heard so little on them that they're not so much "very efficient", as "as efficient as they should have been irrespective of a fancy eco label".