Golf VII GTI

[TurboDan]

Most people in their 20's didn't come from money.....

I don't consider myself as "coming from money" at all. There was just a lot of money to go around for a while, and people took advantage of it. Some of us were coming into a period where we were interested in cars during these times.

The bubble did burst, by the way, and a lot of that wealth was short-lived. My family probably fared a little better than some others in retaining it because my parents switched some of it from semiconductor/telecom stocks to real estate, but net worth went down significantly regardless.

[AltinD]

It's working for them.  My friend was about to buy a Camry, then he and his wife drove the Passat, and they both preferred it and bought that instead.  Japanizing it is getting them more sales.  Midsize sedans aren't really for enthusiasts anyway.  I mourn the loss of a fun Passat, but I understand it.  Sell more Passats, get better Golfs.

In North America .... but I don't live in North America

The US made Passat is sold here slightly more expensive then the lesser trim of the B6 offered here: The TSI with the 1.8T engine, same power BUT with DSG and of course a real German Passat. And from there wou could have jumped on the 2.0T, the V6 and the R36, while now people are stuck with the same lame engine and less available options then the B6 offered, both in tech and equipments and luxury.

So you have a car that is only bigger, is bloated, not really German, gives you not much choice of engines, trims and options .... and still not price competitive to the Camcords.

A lesser car for the same price? NO THANKS!

[SVT666]

The new Focus ST absolutely spanks the GTI in the new Road & Track.

[Galaxy]

The new Focus ST absolutely spanks the GTI in the new Road & Track.

But that is the current VI GTI, not the VII correct?

[MrH]

In North America .... but I don't live in North America

The US made Passat is sold here slightly more expensive then the lesser trim of the B6 offered here: The TSI with the 1.8T engine, same power BUT with DSG and of course a real German Passat. And from there wou could have jumped on the 2.0T, the V6 and the R36, while now people are stuck with the same lame engine and less available options then the B6 offered, both in tech and equipments and luxury.

So you have a car that is only bigger, is bloated, not really German, gives you not much choice of engines, trims and options .... and still not price competitive to the Camcords.

A lesser car for the same price? NO THANKS!

"not really German"

Lol

[sportyaccordy]

I still don't get the psychology of the growth of midsizers. My bro's 06 Altima is cavernous, and the one that followed was even bigger. But still couldn't really sit 5 full grown adults in comfort for long distances. I'm glad that trend is dead.

[2o6]

Full size market died, though.

[AltinD]

"not really German"

Lol

Yes, not really. It looks like Camcord, and is equipped like one. Thanks, but no thanks .... it will not be my next car, I don't do dullness.

[Atomic]

Nice car for sure... and I think Raza is right. That kind of thinking is what I got razed about when supporting Chrysler all these years... The return of the RWD, a modernized HEMI V8 and the SRT branded cars on sale at Chrysler dealerships after years of lesser offerings while GM and Ford disappointed us with their fullsize car lineup. Now will the heightened MPG figures change the direction at Chrysler? Another thing closer to the Golf GTI is the influence of the "Americanized" (and cheapened) Jetta that we may come to see across the line.

[Char]

Highs: VW faithful will love it, a very nice interior for the class, lighter and more powerful.

Lows: real enthusiast will hate it, looks ugly, will probably be overpriced.

Verdict: Same damn thing as a MK5/6. Call me when VW makes something worth a damn.

[Galaxy]

Call me when VW makes something worth a damn.

Pray tell, how would that look like?

[Char]

Pray tell, how would that look like?

Probably a BRZ, Genesis, Mustang V6 and all other cars I would have over this soon-to-be overpriced crapbox.

[2o6]

It's a hot hatch, not a sports coupe.

[Raza]

Pray tell, how would that look like?

Eh, he's just a hater.  Volkswagen makes some awesome cars (though fewer now than they did just a few years ago). 

[Char]

Nothing VW makes can be considered awesome if you actually enjoy driving your car.

[MX793]

Nothing VW makes can be considered awesome if you actually enjoy driving your car.

Have you ever driven a recent (mkV or newer) GTI?

[2o6]

Have you ever driven a recent (mkV or newer) GTI?

Has he ever driven a VW.....ever?

[Char]

Has he ever driven a VW.....ever?

I have, and I'm not impressed. And why should I be, the GTI was barely quicker than a SI is C/D lightning lap (which was abysmally slow?) I'm not talking about plaid seats, "DSG" (Automatic) that requires expensive flushes and an undefeatable traction control system, those don't entertain me. I know a few of you think you?re Fernando Alonso because you hustle your car around the neighborhood, but for some of us a hopped up Golf is not adequate, so you care about performance (and driving enjoyment), you?re not going to be looking at a GTI. Period.

[Rich]

I have, and I'm not impressed. And why should I be, the GTI was barely quicker than a SI is C/D lightning lap (which was abysmally slow?) I'm not talking about plaid seats, "DSG" (Automatic) that requires expensive flushes and an undefeatable traction control system, those don't entertain me. I know a few of you think you?re Fernando Alonso because you hustle your car around the neighborhood, but for some of us a hopped up Golf is not adequate, so you care about performance (and driving enjoyment), you?re not going to be looking at a GTI. Period.

You're such a lovely person.

[2o6]

I have, and I'm not impressed. And why should I be, the GTI was barely quicker than a SI is C/D lightning lap (which was abysmally slow?) I'm not talking about plaid seats, "DSG" (Automatic) that requires expensive flushes and an undefeatable traction control system, those don't entertain me. I know a few of you think you?re Fernando Alonso because you hustle your car around the neighborhood, but for some of us a hopped up Golf is not adequate, so you care about performance (and driving enjoyment), you?re not going to be looking at a GTI. Period.

So you've never driven one?


Have you driven both? I have driven a Civic Si, it's an awesomely quick little car, and in Mugen guise it actually punches well above it's weight on the track (as does the GTI).

[Char]

No, it's obvious YOU haven't driven them.

Tell you what, post up a video of you doing a few Autocross runs in a GTI/SI; show me how competent they are.
Edit: Did you mention the almost 30k Mugen Civic Si? And what 30K cars does it outrun, a 4 cylinder Toyota Camry automatic? You are absolutely ridiculous.

[2o6]

I think you're the ridiculous one.

[Char]

 But I'm not an idiot mouthing off without anything substantive to back up my comments.  It's ok that you like the GTI, I don't and I listed specific reasons why. I was asked what cars I would rather drive than one, I named a few (to which you stated they weren?t hatchbacks. That wasn't part of the criteria). I don't like FWD, I don't like hatchbacks, and I don't like VW's shitty engineers, questionable reliability and I especially don't like the pretentious, douchebag customers.  If you?re fine with that, enjoy your new hipster-mobile.

[2o6]

I can tell we will all have a wonderful relationship here.

[MX793]

No, it's obvious YOU haven't driven them.

Tell you what, post up a video of you doing a few Autocross runs in a GTI/SI; show me how competent they are.
Edit: Did you mention the almost 30k Mugen Civic Si? And what 30K cars does it outrun, a 4 cylinder Toyota Camry automatic? You are absolutely ridiculous.

The guy who won the overall PAX in our region's autocross series was in a stock Civic Si.  This was against WRXs, Corvettes, Miatas, a Lotus Super7, a snowmobile-powered open-wheeler, a couple of 125cc karts...  He had the top PAX time in half of our events and never finished worse than 4th on the day.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The guy who won the overall PAX in our region's autocross series was in a stock Civic Si.  This was against WRXs, Corvettes, Miatas, a Lotus Super7, a snowmobile-powered open-wheeler, a couple of 125cc karts...  He had the top PAX time in half of our events and never finished worse than 4th on the day.

To heck with PAX, I beat raw times of modified Vettes, WRXs, and most other things on DOT rubber in my base model 70-hp 4-speed Civic with $1700 worth of coilovers and tires. Miatas and Minis were evil, though.

[GoCougs]

I have, and I'm not impressed. And why should I be, the GTI was barely quicker than a SI is C/D lightning lap (which was abysmally slow?) I'm not talking about plaid seats, "DSG" (Automatic) that requires expensive flushes and an undefeatable traction control system, those don't entertain me. I know a few of you think you?re Fernando Alonso because you hustle your car around the neighborhood, but for some of us a hopped up Golf is not adequate, so you care about performance (and driving enjoyment), you?re not going to be looking at a GTI. Period.

What car(s) do you drive?

[Char]

The guy who won the overall PAX in our region's autocross series was in a stock Civic Si.  This was against WRXs, Corvettes, Miatas, a Lotus Super7, a snowmobile-powered open-wheeler, a couple of 125cc karts...  He had the top PAX time in half of our events and never finished worse than 4th on the day.

PAX = Driver, not the car. But older Civics/Honda's are known to be excellent. The new ones not as much.

What car(s) do you drive?

Slow boring appliances that I treat as such.
A Golf isn't a sports car, I don't even consider it a sporty car.

[2o6]

What car(s) do you drive?

His mom's Mercury Villager. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

His mom's Mercury Villager. 

Only if he's done with his homework...