GTP Cool Wall: 2013+ Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7

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2013+ Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7

  • Total voters
    116
  • Poll closed .
To me, the only cool Golf GTis are completely original Mk1 and 2s, and even then there are several of their contemporaries that I prefer.

I know that the motoring press rave about the new one, but it just doesn't excite me. Personally I'd rather have a Focus ST. Uncool
 
The most expensive hot hatch you can buy here, which is very quickly getting left in the dust by its cheaper and faster competitors. However, has been more reliable than it's competitors. Not sure what to vote...
 
I think there's two reasosns why this thing is so overpriced:
1. It's considered the best overall car and also considered "the big daddy" mainly because it's a GTI.
2. Because they still sell despite the stupid price.
 
Cool. Not the best hot hatch, but it's understated, good looking, and reasonably fun to drive. It also doesn't look boy racer-ish like some other hot hatches do.
 
As a VW fan, I like the GTI. Its quiet, comfortable, and certainly very capable both in terms of performance and practicality.

But, man, they just aren't what they used to be. Sure, each generation has some stand out qualities, and even some stand out models that rose above the best, but I just can't bring myself to let this one get past "uncool," just like the overwhelming majority of the MKIV models (exception: Golf 337). Granted, VW ticked all the boxes correctly on this one... But it just isn't as cool as the Focus ST. Hell, even the Veloster Turbo gives it a run for the money.

Sorry VW, you're losing the ghost again...
 
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This exists.

Meh.
 
The Golf GTi has become the default 'grown-up' hot hatch. Which makes it both cool and uncool at the same time. Meh from me.

It looks a lot classier than all the other hot hatches in its class that i can think of off the top of my head. But i suspect that factor goes against it as much as goes for it for most potential buyers.
 
Cano
How I wish we could say the same here in Mexico, where, oddly, this never made it. It would make the VW lineup a lot less lame.
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Once you've seen a few on the road they become a lot less striking. They're essentially like a slightly squashed Mk6 Golf, in both looks and actuality. Unless you catch one in that striking green metallic, you'd probably not give one a second glance.
 
TheCracker
Once you've seen a few on the road they become a lot less striking. They're essentially like a slightly squashed Mk6 Golf, in both looks and actuality. Unless you catch one in that striking green metallic, you'd probably not give one a second glance.
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Well yeah, I suppose if you saw a bunch it would become a normal, every-day car, like guys in Hong Kong who don't even give Porsche Turbos a second glance after a while :lol:
 
LJ12
I respect the history and legacy of the Golf GTi, but they have never been my type of car. They are too dull, and uninspiring to me.
Prefer an Alfa Romeo Giuletta QV or a Lancia Delta 1.9 JTD Twin Turbo Platino any day over this.
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I wish I could prefer the new QV to the Golf GTI, but it's really a poor car in my opinion. The handling is not anywhere near as fun as, say, the Focus ST, is more expensive, and an essential ingredient to the feel and experience of driving a hot hatch, a responsive and slick manual gearbox, is replaced by a recalcitrant DCT. It isn't too bad in isolation, but it's in a class of seriously capable opposition. As much as I like the idea of a hot Giulietta, the standard one and the warm Sportiva variant are better than the QV, especially relative to their respective class opposition. On the other hand, I totally agree with your choice of the Delta JTD - in a class of very dull blobs, the Delta is a classy, competent, and interesting alternative, much like the standard Giulietta is when compared to standard Golfs and Focuses. However, the QV's opponents are so much better than it that I find it hard to prefer, even in the irrational "it doesn't matter because it's an Alfa Romeo" context.
 
Makes me wonder why they even bother making a 3-door Golf any more.

But then again the amount of seemingly pointless overlapping that goes on within German manufacturers line-ups, still confounds me. :confused:
 
chzsln485
I wish I could prefer the new QV to the Golf GTI, but it's really a poor car in my opinion. The handling is not anywhere near as fun as, say, the Focus ST, is more expensive, and an essential ingredient to the feel and experience of driving a hot hatch, a responsive and slick manual gearbox, is replaced by a recalcitrant DCT. It isn't too bad in isolation, but it's in a class of seriously capable opposition. As much as I like the idea of a hot Giulietta, the standard one and the warm Sportiva variant are better than the QV, especially relative to their respective class opposition. On the other hand, I totally agree with your choice of the Delta JTD - in a class of very dull blobs, the Delta is a classy, competent, and interesting alternative, much like the standard Giulietta is when compared to standard Golfs and Focuses. However, the QV's opponents are so much better than it that I find it hard to prefer, even in the irrational "it doesn't matter because it's an Alfa Romeo" context.
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Agree with you, @chzsln485. The main reson I prefer the Giuletta QV, is because I've been an Alfa enthusiast since childhood. I do love the exterior, interior and the lovely 1750 TBi engine.
I do hate the fact that the TCT isn't an option, but standard on the QV.
I've never driven a Golf GTI, Focus ST or a Giuletta QV, so I can't say my oppinion on how they drive.

The Delta 1.9 JTD Twin Turbo, is the choice I would more than definatley choose in this class. They are rare, look insanely good, and has a torquey diesel with a 6-Speed Manual. Also the fact that it is the last Lancia which bears a Lancia badge without any influence with Chrysler, makes the 3rd gen Delta a car which I love and would love to own myself!

 
LJ12
Agree with you, @chzsln485.
The Delta 1.9 JTD Twin Turbo, is the choice I would more than definatley choose in this class. They are rare, look insanely good, and has a torquey diesel with a 6-Speed Manual. Also the fact that it is the last Lancia which bears a Lancia badge without any influence with Chrysler, makes the 3rd gen Delta a car which I love and would love to own myself!
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You very rarely see Deltas in the UK, but a couple of years ago, I went on holiday to Italy, and I saw quite a few. They looks absolutely stunning, and far more premium and expensive then any VW. I think the reason it sells poorly over here is because it's a Chrysler-badged product, and they are put off by that because it reminds them of fake wood, cheap leather, and wallowy dynamics. Certainly, I remember Chrysler for the Neon and the PT Cruiser, neither of which were very good. If the Lancia badge returned to the UK, it would probably sell on the grounds that it sounds exotic and chic. Of course, there's far more to the Delta than just a name, unlike a certain German hatchback that's in the title of this thread. That just seems to trade on its name, and all the associations of reliability that used to be true.
 
Around here, this is a pretty vanilla, grown up, hot hatch, though there aren't that many choices. It's probably a great, fun little car, but for that vanilla factor, this earns a meh.
 
Love the new MK7 Golf...

Truly the people's Car... the car that everyone need...

It dont see what you all complain about, i think the design is quite handsome.

Would do. Cool.
 
CTznOfTime
Love the new MK7 Golf...

Truly the people's Car... the car that everyone need...
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It's about as exciting as waking up. It does absolutely everything in an entirely competent fashion with no obvious flaws. It's the very definition of "functioning within normal parameters". There's nothing interesting about it and if The Neutral Planet had a state vehicle, it'd be a Mk7 Golf...

idontcar2.jpg

Yes, it's all the car that anyone needs (though frankly, starting at £17k, it lost the tag "people's car" several generations ago), but it's about as desireable as socks.

The Mk7 Golf is bread. Not even sliced bread - just bread.
 
Famine
It's about as exciting as waking up. It does absolutely everything in an entirely competent fashion with no obvious flaws. It's the very definition of "functioning within normal parameters". There's nothing interesting about it and if The Neutral Planet had a state vehicle, it'd be a Mk7 Golf...

Yes, it's all the car that anyone needs (though frankly, starting at £17k, it lost the tag "people's car" several generations ago), but it's about as desireable as socks.

The Mk7 Golf is bread. Not even sliced bread - just bread.
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Just sit in a MK7 for a bit, it feels as if it's a class above the Focus/Astra/i30 group. Well worth the money.

And the GTI/GTD interior is quite special.
 
Leggy1
Just sit in a MK7 for a bit, it feels as if it's a class above the Focus/Astra/i30 group. Well worth the money.
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And that's supposed to be exciting, is it?

Also, the Vauxhall Astra and Hyundai i30? Are they benchmarks for the Golf these days? Someone should let Wolfsburg know, because they've gone after the 1 Series and A-Class.
Leggy1
And the GTI/GTD interior is quite special.
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Uhh... either you're suggesting that the tartan they've still got because that's what the Mk1 had and they have no imagination whatsoever is interesting or you're suggesting that the £2k leather option that should be standard on a top-spec car costing £26k is interesting - but I'm not really seeing how either of those is interesting.

Or you're not talking about the upholstery and you're referring to something else in one of the most boring vehicle interiors in existence. Sure, it's well screwed together, but fit & finish or NVH don't exactly get me priapic.

Sit in an A-Class for a bit to see how hot hatch interiors should look. Or an Audi A3 or SEAT Leon - which is embarrassing for VW, since they're more-or-less the same car as the Golf.
 
Famine
And that's supposed to be exciting, is it?

Also, the Vauxhall Astra and Hyundai i30? Are they benchmarks for the Golf these days? Someone should let Wolfsburg know, because they've gone after the 1 Series and A-Class.Uhh... either you're suggesting that the tartan they've still got because that's what the Mk1 had and they have no imagination whatsoever is interesting or you're suggesting that the £2k leather option that should be standard on a top-spec car costing £26k is interesting - but I'm not really seeing how either of those is interesting.

Or you're not talking about the upholstery and you're referring to something else in one of the most boring vehicle interiors in existence. Sure, it's well screwed together, but fit & finish or NVH don't exactly get me priapic.

Sit in an A-Class for a bit to see how hot hatch interiors should look. Or an Audi A3 or SEAT Leon - which is embarrassing for VW, since they're more-or-less the same car as the Golf.
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I didn't say it was exciting, just saying that it's worth the money.

The Golf is a competitor for the Focus group. The A3 is the premium hatch from the VW group, even though the Golf is more upmarket than it's rivals it isn't intended as a direct competitor for the premium ones.

The A-Class interior is nice, and has quite exciting materials and design for a hatch. The GTI interior is quite a bit different from the regular Golfs, I think it is special for a hatch.
 
Leggy1
I didn't say it was exciting, just saying that it's worth the money.
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Yet you quoted my post, the whole point of which was that the Golf is very good but not exciting in any way...

So that wasn't an attempted rebuttal?
Leggy1
The Golf is a competitor for the Focus group. The A3 is the premium hatch from the VW group, even though the Golf is more upmarket than it's rivals it isn't intended as a direct competitor for the premium ones.
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Yeah, again you should let Wolfsburg know this, only they've gone and priced it identically to the A3.

Well, more or less. £20k gets you a 1.6 TDI A3 with 108hp or a 1.6 TDI Golf with 103hp, both in base trim (SE and S, respectively). £26k gets you a 2.0 TDI A3 with 181hp or a 2.0 TDI Golf with 181hp, both in top trim (S-Line and GTD, respectively).
Leggy1
The A-Class interior is nice, and has quite exciting materials and design for a hatch. The GTI interior is quite a bit different from the regular Golfs, I think it is special for a hatch.
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And yet either the relatively unimaginative tartan or the unacceptably optional leather. And not exciting.


There is absolutely nothing about a Golf that is in any way bad. There's also absolutely nothing about a Golf that is in any way interesting.

The Golf is bread. Or socks. Or a toothbrush.

And then people go and buy the Focus instead anyway.
 
As a Mk5 owner, looking at the Mk6 I basically don't see the point in upgrading, just not enough movement.

And I have to say, with the Mk7, sure its a new platform, updated looks and wheels, ect, more efficient, changes to ride and handling on the fly. The basic 217bhp version, imo, is not worth the upgrade.

Add the performance pack, and it's a completely different story.

A front wheel drive car with a mechanical locking differential is basically a standard requirement in hot hatches these days *cough* Ford what happened with the Focus ST? Remember the RS? *cough*. This is on another planet though, being electronically controlled, it can change how much power to be sent to each wheel up to 100% left or right in extreme circumstances. To have that on a track with a trailing throttle, would be amazing. Really wish that was in GT6 (better be in GT7).

GTI Mk VII - meh. GTI Mk VII pp - cool
 

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