Our Golf GTI VI

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hi all. I finally got around to taking some photos of my wife's Golf this weekend, so I thought I'd post a few online. Quite an excellent little car really. It has an APR tune so it's at 189KW and 400NM of torque. 0-100 is an insane 5.5seconds.

4 months of ownership and a few issues addressed under warranty:
1. Blown front speaker
2. Intake manifold flap malfunction (not related to the aftermarket tuning apparently)
3. Creaking from the door seals over speed bumps and other steep inclines and declines.

The first two issues were addressed under warranty, and the third issue they keep on lubricating the door seals etc. but the problem still persists, though it is subdued. It's rather odd because it tarnishes a perception of otherwise impeccable build. Apparently it's a problem common to Audi's and VW's and they routinely grease everything up as part of every service. Why not just use better rubbers in the first place?

Other than that the car is an absolute joy and lives up to it's name for the price. It's incredibly smooth and refined for a small car (we're talking giving the E-class and C-class a run for their money!!) and the performance, especially with the APR tune, is brilliant. If only it looked a little bit more 'special'.

 

[Zafiro]

I want a Scirrocco with the same engine as GTI. Anybody know if the engine have any realibilty issues?

 

[Deckhook]

The wife's GTI is 2yrs and 4mths old, so far no engine or gearbox problems (manual). The thing I like about the car and engine is its economy for the performance on offer, averaging 32.8mpg imperial is brilliant and 90% of those journeys are under 10 minutes long.

Plus points
1/ go-kart handling with nicely weighted steering if a little lifeless.
2/ image, everyone young and old really like it with its tartan interior.
3/ dynaudio speaker upgrade, worth every penny.
4/ feels proper quick even though it's not that quick really.

Negative points

1/ overly firm ride for rear passengers especially.
2/ lots of road noise on poor surfaces
3/ flush rims means too easy to scrap when parallel parking, wife has had it twice now.

P.S.
Great car Mr Mercedes, glad to see you're part of the gang.

 

[Giannis]

I really dig the 5door GTI, so what a nice car you've got there mate!

PS. Can you give us more details about the APR tune? Is it just the ECU reflash, or have you replaced parts like the turbo, exhaust manifold or the exhaust? If I am not mistaken, it comes with a KKK K03 turbine, right? I think that replacing the K03 with a K04 is a very very common upgrade.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The wife's GTI is 2yrs and 4mths old, so far no engine or gearbox problems (manual). The thing I like about the car and engine is its economy for the performance on offer, averaging 32.8mpg imperial is brilliant and 90% of those journeys are under 10 minutes long.

Plus points
1/ go-kart handling with nicely weighted steering if a little lifeless.
2/ image, everyone young and old really like it with its tartan interior.
3/ dynaudio speaker upgrade, worth every penny.
4/ feels proper quick even though it's not that quick really.

Negative points

1/ overly firm ride for rear passengers especially.
2/ lots of road noise on poor surfaces
3/ flush rims means too easy to scrap when parallel parking, wife has had it twice now.

P.S.
Great car Mr Mercedes, glad to see you're part of the gang.

Pros:
1. Agree
2. They really do all love it. Though I'm tired of people wanting to race at traffic lights. 99% of the time, they don't stand a chance with the APR tune in this little beast. lol
3. Standard sound system is not great and I wish it had the Dynaudio. I can't justify spending any more money on it though.
4. Get an APR tune and it really is quick.

Cons:
1. I've never actually sat in the rear and very rarely have somone there, so It's not something i've noticed or had complaints about.
2. Road noise is so wheel and tyre dependent. We have incredibly poor course chip roads here and the 'Federal' tyres are quite as a mouse. I was being serious when I said it rivals our C and E in terms of refinement.
3. Previous owner had already scratched a couple of the rims. I knew my wife would do the same so I haven't bothered repairing them.

Deck, do you have any issues with creaking from the doors seals?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I want a Scirrocco with the same engine as GTI. Anybody know if the engine have any realibilty issues?

Just Me, I was told the intake manifold has been one of the most common engine issues, but generally they are very very reliable. Apparently is an OEM part that's actually manufactured in China and they've had a few issues with the supplier.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I really dig the 5door GTI, so what a nice car you've got there mate!

PS. Can you give us more details about the APR tune? Is it just the ECU reflash, or have you replaced parts like the turbo, exhaust manifold or the exhaust? If I am not mistaken, it comes with a KKK K03 turbine, right? I think that replacing the K03 with a K04 is a very very common upgrade.

No part upgrades, just an ECU reflash. The tune can be turned on or off through the cruise control stalk. It's actually a tune developed here in Australia itself, and the guys here are nice enough to even uninstall the software if you need to go into the garage for any engine issues under warranty.

 

[Deckhook]

No seal issues at all though maybe the fact that the temperatures have less of a swing where I am might have something to do with this. The tyres on the wife's car are now Goodyear I believe, previously they were contis which I renewed with something different because of the road noise which didn't improve, maybe it's the road surface we have here that's playing it's part more so than the choice of rubber.

Won't be chiping it as it's getting changed in 5/6 months time (hopefully), I say hopefully because finding a replacement the wife is happy with is proving difficult such is her love of the GTI which I am sure you are now aware of. She has took a shine to the new 3 series so will get a drive when available and take it from there.

P.S.
Need to call in DentMaster as my youngest has dented the front wing whilst playing golf in the front garden, not bad but noticeable to me which is enough.

 

[Zafiro]

My only complaint with GTI is the steering. Too light and nervous for my taste. But probably something you will get used too after a while.

 

[Deckhook]

Maybe coming out of an S4 and Jaguar most recently I didn't notice its lightness, though I do find that it's without much feeling at all. I do think that as you live with something you adapt and over time don't notice these failings that we're so apparent at the beginning.

My shock is the cars I have suggested and even taken my wife to drive, to her none have matched the whole image and excitement that her GTI gives her. Volkswagen has done something quite special with the latest two versions and I hope the next one builds on this.