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Better Enough Than the Last? - 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,315
edited June 2015 in Volkswagen
imageBetter Enough Than the Last? - 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Long-Term Road Test

Is the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI better than the previous-generation GTI? One editor weighs in after a road trip to the majestic Oceano Dunes.

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Comments

  • 7driver7driver Member Posts: 145
    The 2016 supposedly is coming with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That could tip the balance.
  • s197gts197gt Member Posts: 486
    another car magazine editor said pretty much the same things as you. he has a previous version as well and the only thing he misses with the newer version is the enhanced and improved electric gizmos.
  • hopsterhopster Member Posts: 6
    The Performance Pack with a larger brakes and a true limited slip is a VERY good reason to get the Mk7.
  • dgcamerodgcamero Member Posts: 148
    And the current model has the most infuriating requirement of black leather to get a sunroof, it is way too hot in most of the country for black leather, even with window tint. They should offer the tartan seats on all trim levels, or at least allow grey or tan leather instead of only black. VW also lies about the lower trims being equipped with Climatic single zone manual climate control. They have a fully manual hvac system now, no more temperature setting on the hot-cold dial, or automatic temperature regulation from the mislabeled Climatic system. I hope they fix those two problems soon!
  • desmoliciousdesmolicious Member Posts: 671
    Really really nice photos.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited June 2015
    Indeed they are, @desmolicious. I'm just an hour from White Sands and need to get over there again soon (even have dune sleds :) ) My favorite dunes are up at Great Sand Dunes NP and they are just a long day's drive north of me. Almost got my old Outback stuck there one trip.
  • id19id19 Member Posts: 7
    Great photo set.
  • millemanmilleman Member Posts: 19
    I've owned my 2010 mostly-stock GTI for 50K trouble-free miles, long highway slogs to expert-level racetrack outings. I"ve driven 3 Mk7 GTIs for 'evaluation', solo, at length, aggressively. And a Mk7 owner has driven mine.

    This format forces me to be brief(er), but I'm disappointed by the new car. To meet higher mpg and not increase US pricing, too many real-world compromises and stealth cost-cutting versus a decade of tech improvements. Lots more turbo boost and *much* taller gearing forces low revs and less shifting for better gas mileage. Lighter engine block and components means coarser, less-elastic engine sound and feel as part of weight-cutting, though my 2-door stick is an actual 2980 lbs. Muted windows-open exhaust, intake and turbo sounds offset by obnoxious Soundaktor. I didn't ask VWoA to spend $$ on auto-headlights, backup camera, etc, yet $1000 upcharge for xenons and no LED taillights. Some instrumentation, electronics and ergos a short step backwards. Fender audio worse than Dynaudio.

    New chassis more buttoned-down at 10/10ths. Seats and shifter a smidge better. Steering, brake and clutch feel unchanged. Some Mk6 idiosyncrasies fixed. New ones created.

    1/4 mile times marginally faster, but Car and Driver Lightning Lap times identical to 2010 on similar tires. Basic GTI traits and goodness intact, but not the step forward I had hoped, hampered by tighter regulations and US cost constraints. I remain very happy with my 2010...
  • fordson1fordson1 Unconfirmed Posts: 1,512
    I would really hav to spend some time in the new one...if you are going to chip it, the new, longer gearing is better...my stage I 2011 Autobahn 6mt could use longer gearing. The auto lights and wipers are nice in the new.one...the power seats...more room, etc. The new one is probably better, but better enough? I have 43,000 no-wInters miles, and it's still basically new...and I have $4,200 left to pay...nope.
  • millemanmilleman Member Posts: 19
    Ever since the first Mk1 GTI, it's had short gearing, the better to use the whole rev range and gearbox for 'driving engagement' without busting all the speed limits. I'm fine with the Mk6 gearing 1-5, but they absolutely should have made 6th an overdrive -- even stock it could spin 500rpm less at 60 and get a few more highway mpg when traveling above 65mph. A downshift to 5th as needed should be part of the plan.

    If VWoA is trying to meet a strict price point on a car marketed for sportiness and less weight, I'd rather see the money going towards performance items that make a difference (those mostly removed from EU GTIs for US market) than pseudo-luxury items (auto lights&wipers, power seats) that could go in a Golf SEL or a cost-no-object Golf R.
  • ducky10ducky10 Member Posts: 27
    Buying 2010 GTI allowed me to ala carte option Dynaudio with a sunroof and the plaid interior. I like having an Aux input which I hear the Mk 7 lacks. I have upgraded the car with Koni yellow shocks, an ECS rear sway bar, Neuspeed CAI, better brake pads and rotors, and at over 114,000 reliable miles, have a car which looks new, handles and brakes better than new, sounds great, and allows me to play my old school DATs and cassettes through a fine stereo. Not in a hurry to change cars for the sake of change.
  • racingmaniac1racingmaniac1 Member Posts: 7
    I just did the switch myself. Trading in a 2011 2 Door DSG for a 2016 2 Door PP 6MT. I was expecting incremental gain and I think its more than that. The 2011 with me lived a pretty hard life as I autoXed it probably weekly for the last 3 years in the summer month(and ice rally cross it once in the Winter, #Michiganed). I really really liked the car. It seemed like a car that can do it all and do them well. Its not super modified neither since the classes I picked basically only allows simple modification(exhaust, sway bar, wheels and tires). With the MK7 with the performance pack giving some real advantage over the MK6 I decided to trade for a new one and so far I think its a good decision. The extra power is very noticeable and thats despite the taller gearing. The in gear thrust feels as good if not better even though it seems like it might be too tall(2nd is good for 72mph). The car is nearly 50lb lighter despite the obvious gain(more power, bigger heavier brakes, and diff). NVH in the new car seems improved, but might just be the beat up older one being less than perfect now. The newer infotainment system with now App Connect support is quite good and the interface feel slicker than the 2015 car I test drove also. Hopefully it'll be a good car between the cones too.
  • saratogastevesaratogasteve Member Posts: 186
    anyone know if the Golf can be bought through European Delivery program? is this car built in both the US and Germany? I toured all over Europe in a Golf back in 1984 - was a little scary passing on the autobahn back then with a full load.
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