Golf VI

[Philly]

Ding-Dong The Rabbit's Dead

That'd be the 2010 Golf GTI, coming soon to Europe, September for the Americans.

Hasn't the current GTI been sold as the Golf GTI in Europe? VW could still easily pull a quick name change on us to Rabbit and GTI.

I think hes talking about the cheaper and faster MS3 versus that of the GTI. Of course, that ignores what VW has done with the GTI all along; Sell the car for the chassis and overall refinement, not the power.

And there is nothing wrong with that. The GTI is absolutely amazing to drive. The only time it feels inadequate is when a car with much less sporting credentials pulls up and you know you can't out-drag them.

Still, nice looking car, although I'm not too sold on the new corporate "Sirocco" face. In fact, on the Golf, it kinda makes the whole thing look...Impreza-ish.

And the purpose of having both is completely nullified with this car and that face. Offering the GTI, Scirocco and A3 is something even GM probably wouldn't do. The 'Rocco is just a little wider and shorter and has two doors, which you can get in the GTI. Plus a slightly different face, which now are very similar.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think hes talking about the cheaper and faster MS3 versus that of the GTI. Of course, that ignores what VW has done with the GTI all along; Sell the car for the chassis and overall refinement, not the power.

As true as that is, the MS3 still will outhandle the thing and be quite refined in it's own right. I mean, sure, the Golf is refined...it's also gained a bit of extra weight.

I want my 1600-class cars back.

 

[Omnis]

Man, that car looks hot. DaSilva is a genius.

 

[Azuremen]

I think hes talking about the cheaper and faster MS3 versus that of the GTI. Of course, that ignores what VW has done with the GTI all along; Sell the car for the chassis and overall refinement, not the power.

And repairs. The Civic Si out handles the GTI and the WRX puts down more power with more wheels. And can be had with plenty of refinement.

Just seems to me that there are several cars that make more sense than the GTI.

 

[FoolKiller]

And repairs.

Are the MkV GTIs having problems not found in the Golfs/Rabbits? I'm at 52,000 miles, and with the exception of a couple of sensors covered by warrenty have had no repairs.

 

[homeforsummer]

i want my 1600-class cars back.

+1

 

[Jondot]

I like it. Let's hope VW releases this one over here, we never got Mark V. This is what we're stuck with:

*oh-my-eyes-ness*

I guess you can call it Mark IV/2.

Good god! I thought you'd actually photoshopped that until I googled it...

 

[Div is back]

And the purpose of having both is completely nullified with this car and that face. Offering the GTI, Scirocco and A3 is something even GM probably wouldn't do. The 'Rocco is just a little wider and shorter and has two doors, which you can get in the GTI. Plus a slightly different face, which now are very similar.

Wrong. The Scirocco is not coming stateside unless confirmed otherwise, and if it ever comes, I'd doubt they'd bring it over with a simple 2.0T. While the current Portuguese factory does not have the tools for 4Motion, I would assume VW would upgrade the factory and replace the R32 with the Scirocco 4WD V6 or a tuned 2.0T.

 

[YSSMAN]

Just seems to me that there are several cars that make more sense than the GTI.

Depends on what you're looking for. I'd say the GTI would be right up my alley, but I blame that partially on being a VW fan and acting a lot older than what I am.

 

[EA11R]

VW doesn't seem to be very concerned about keeping up with the Jonses (Mazda in particular,) do they? I mean, 200hp was a lot for a hatchback...in the late '90s.

Nah, Volkswagen simply isn't buying into this high-horsepower FF malarkey. Just like Honda Civic Si, and, to an extent, the Minis. The Volkswagen GTI, as of late, realizes that the very fastest hot hatch is a stupid thing, with way too much power. So they just focus on control and refinement.

In a magazine review a while ago, they more or less properly characterized it: "The GTI is the sensible coice, but sensible rarely wins races."[sic] Apparently, magazine editors have little concept of reliability. Whatever, it's refined, damnit.

I like it. Let's hope VW releases this one over here, we never got Mark V. This is what we're stuck with:

I guess you can call it Mark IV/2.

The back looks like a front, and the front looks like an Australian. The interior has me confused.

I am so sorry.

 

[seckcimike]

THey should have stick to the old model like 2004 body style it looks way better in my opinion for the gti class

 

[YSSMAN]

The MKIV GTI? It was a good looking car, particularly in their special edition trims (the 337 and 25th Anniversary models esp), but I definitely prefer the look of the MKV and MKVI overall.

Of all the GTI models, the MKII was the best-looking if you ask me.

 

[Philly]

Are the MkV GTIs having problems not found in the Golfs/Rabbits? I'm at 52,000 miles, and with the exception of a couple of sensors covered by warrenty have had no repairs.

I feel like I'm taking my GTI in once for every month spent driving it. But in terms of stuff actually breaking, all I've had are broken headlight adjusters from a body shop fix and something with the vacuum system in summer 2007.

Wrong. The Scirocco is not coming stateside unless confirmed otherwise, and if it ever comes, I'd doubt they'd bring it over with a simple 2.0T. While the current Portuguese factory does not have the tools for 4Motion, I would assume VW would upgrade the factory and replace the R32 with the Scirocco 4WD V6 or a tuned 2.0T.

In Europe though, the cars are extremely similar. And I believe the GTI-R is pretty much confirmed with a 275 horse 2.0T and AWD, although that would be a sweet car to see over here in a Scirocco body, and then it wouldn't compete with the GTI too much.

Depends on what you're looking for. I'd say the GTI would be right up my alley, but I blame that partially on being a VW fan and acting a lot older than what I am.

I find that the GTI is generally a more mature choice over the other, faster hot hatches. Sure, you see plenty of young guys driving them, and a lot of them are going to be VW fans. But I think I'd say the majority of people buy them because they want a car that has something a little extra, but won't rattle the teeth out of their skull. You will see a lot of women and older men driving the GTIs.

And then there is the overall driving excitement that takes it one step past the other hot hatches that'll out accelerate it and out corner it. Coming from a friend who gets to drive Ferraris and Porsches and things, and drives an M3 every day, the GTI is one of the most fun cars you can buy today.

 

[YSSMAN]

Some News for the Americans:

The 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mark VI) is upon us, and as suspected, the thinly-veiled "concept" shown in Paris is an exact duplicate of the production model we'll be getting in the States this summer.

Continue Reading

Sounds like they're keeping things on track, otherwise a good move on VW's behalf. I do wonder what kind of effect that will have on the actual release of the Golf/Rabbit here in the US, much less, what kind of engine and transmission options will eventually be made available.

But, there is better news...

We've been hearing rumblings about a new variant of the Volkswagen Golf and Rabbit for several months now, ever since a reader sent in what appeared to be an order form for the new sixth generation model for the U.S. market. This new model was dubbed the Rabbit GTD, implying that it's a sporting variant like the GTI, but powered by a TDI diesel engine. Volkswagen of America has only confirmed that the U.S. will get a new Mk VI GTI this summer followed by a new Rabbit in the fall that will offer TDI power.

Continue Reading

IF that rumor is true, its an EXTREMELY smart move by VW. Package the extremely popular TDI engine into a fun-to-drive and otherwise sporty model at a reasonable price? Its a recipe that I've been hoping for, and should it do well, I think we could see others follow suit shortly thereafter.

 

[Philly]

I can't wait to start seeing these things around! I've gotten to love the look of the new Volkswagens.

I'll definitely try to take one out for a spin when they come out to see how different they are from the current car.

 

[eiriksmil]

I nearly bought a VI last year, test drove a couple of them in December. Here's a 140 bhp diesel, which was incredibly fast considering what it is..

 

[YSSMAN]

MOAR News 4 Teh USA

The Rabbit is dead! Long live the Golf!

Hey Volkswagen... PLEASE make up your mind!

 

[EA11R]

Clearly, the Rabbits proliferated to the extent that the ecosystem could not provide the nutrients and support for them all. They sucked every last bit of life out of said ecosystem, then starved, having exhausted the resources. They were doomed from the start.

Golf, meanwhile, is characterised by nonreproductive competition in a realm of ecological sustenance. It sounds like just the thing for the barren, ravaged landscape of the post-Rabbit era.

 

[Philly]

Hopefully they'll stick with Golf. It's a more classic name than Rabbit I think.

 

[FoolKiller]

So do I own what will eventually be a rare item?

 

[Philly]

Probably not with the number running around. MKI Rabbits aren't exactly the hottest items on the market right now...

 

[eiriksmil]

Said by a MkV owner.. Nuff said
I think the Rabbit name ruins the original name used on the Mk1, even though they were also called Golfs here. Wouldn't mind if they changed it back.

 

[YSSMAN]

O HAI, I R TEH GTD

So, VW has released the deets on the 2010 GTD, otherwise known as the Diesel GTI. It has all the trimmings, the chassis setup, the DSG box, but takes a power cut (down to 170 BHP) in the switch to diesel. Still, its good for a eight second 0-60 run, and it should handle just as well as the petrol version. No word on pricing, or if the US will even get it, but it makes sense... Almost too much sense.

 

[Keef]

It's got 258 lb-ft of twist and it's only good for an 8 second run? Damn. That thing must be heavy as bricks or have super tall gearing. I guess perhaps VW is into diesel economy instead of diesel performance, eh?

Okay, maybe now they're all about economy. They do offer a V6 TDI now, afterall.

 

[YSSMAN]

Its really not that far behind the GTI when the GTD is running at 8.1 seconds. A second or so difference in performance is hardly a penalty, although I'm moderately certain that VW's numbers are pretty conservative.

 

[Jim Prower]

Hm. I might compare this Diseasel GTI to the Naked version of a sportbike: usually the engine's a bit torquier, not as outright fast, but still quick enough to make your passenger wet him/herself.

 

[Philly]

8.1 is still pretty good for a diesel too. I'm sure the GTD needs pretty tall gearing to keep it in the power band, hence the disadvantage.

Although I do wonder: Does anybody think VW is risking falling behind the rest of the hot hatch crowd by not putting 225+ hp in the GTI VI? At the time it came out, the GTI was pretty far up there in terms of performance, but since then there have been quite a few newcomers that put up better numbers. That's not to say that it isn't still one of the best, if not the best mixes of acceleration, handling and practicality, but I'm not convinced that the MKVI will stay on top for it's whole run unless some magic has been done to chassis tuning or something.

 

[YSSMAN]

That would ignore what the GTI has always been about: Solid chassis design and performance, never the power output.

The only exception to that rule was the 115 BHP 2.0L MKIV GTIs they sold. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

 

[Philly]

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.

But we'll see what happens when the GTI-R gets here. Maybe that'll be a car to blow everybody's doors off in the autocross, and then turn around and be a champ drag racer.

 

[Omnis]

How many mpg does it get?