Matt R Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Been for a drive this afternoon, First impressions are good, but it is an extremely hard ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy2shots Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Been for a drive this afternoon, First impressions are good, but it is an extremely hard ride. Suspention Blocks:roflmao: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Been for a drive this afternoon, First impressions are good, but it is an extremely hard ride. Harder than a Mk4 R32? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Not far off a Mk4 R32 at all! Probably to encourage people to pay extra for Adaptive Chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 (edited) Not far off a Mk4 R32 at all! Probably to encourage people to pay extra for Adaptive Chassis. ....Having driven Dan's Mk4 R32 on KW-V3 coilovers and my own Mk5 GTI on VWR-KW-V3's, both of which are hard but never harsh and result in excellent handling, and also taking the new Scirocco's ACC (which I didn't like or see the point of) into account, it then sounds very good that the stock Mk6 GTI has a good hard suspension without forcing the driver to have the gimmicky ACC. In other words, it's good news that the ACC is an option which can be left out and that the base car suspension is nice and hard. [iMO] Afterall, the GTI is supposed to be a sporty hot hatch and not just a Golf with a more expensive badge. Edited May 8, 2009 by RedRobin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 But that's what it's sold as Robin and you're not comparing like for like. One of the reasons the Mk5 GTI has been so successful is because it's understated and it can be driven like a regular car, which is what probably 95% of owners want. The minority of owners want to bolt on bits to make it quicker or tart it up to look like a chav-mobile, but, if it's as hard a ride as the Mk4 R32 in standard guise, it'll put off a shed load of new customers. It's no Focus RS and it shouldn't be marketed as one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppetboy Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Nice one Matt The front is OK, but oh that rear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemod Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Totally agree, that rear end is :flush: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Squashed Touareg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 But that's what it's sold as Robin and you're not comparing like for like. ....Fair enough re the like-for-like but I don't agree that the GTI is sold (marketed) as merely a higher spec'd badge. The GTI was born from the efforts of enthusiasts and that tradition has remained and is alive and kicking. One of the reasons the Mk5 GTI has been so successful is because it's understated and it can be driven like a regular car, which is what probably 95% of owners want. ....You underestimate the percentage of owners who are enthusiasts and understand the GTI tradition. The Mk5 GTI has been so successful because it has returned to the earlier GTI traditions - Better handling, better chassis, better performance, etc. Your description better suits the rather dull (as standard) Mk4 GTI. The Mk4 R32 satisfied what GTI enthusiasts wanted. But now the R32 is to be no more, what VW offer as a GTI becomes more important. The minority of owners want to bolt on bits to make it quicker or tart it up to look like a chav-mobile, but, if it's as hard a ride as the Mk4 R32 in standard guise, it'll put off a shed load of new customers. ....Pah! It's very sad, tragic even, if all people want is some caccooned marshmallow living-room armchair on wheels to travel unconsciously from A to B - Comfortably numb! It's no Focus RS and it shouldn't be marketed as one. ...."Shouldn't"? It's a different car to the Focus RS but where's the harm in emphasising both the performance and tradition of performance in the GTI? Are you concerned that owning a GTI may bring with it associations you prefer not to have? It's a pity if people are so inclined to attach so much social importance to the car they drive - Otherwise, what's your "chav-mobile" comment all about? I don't see what the Focus RS or its tradition has to do with the GTI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 (edited) You sound like you've been properly sucked in and spat out by the VW marketing machine. ....Pah! It's very sad, tragic even, if all people want is some caccooned marshmallow living-room armchair on wheels to travel unconsciously from A to B - Comfortably numb! Welcome to reality Robin - you'll find a huge amount of people have a car purely to get them from a to b. Are you concerned that owning a GTI may bring with it associations you prefer not to have? I've had more GTI's than I care to remember (even two Mk4s ). One of the great things about a Golf GTI is that it's classless, whether it was a Mk2 when it came out, a Mk5 now or a Mk6 in a few weeks. Please don't tell me you're naive enough to think people don't put others in boxes based on the cars they drive. Edited May 8, 2009 by Mook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSheds Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Thanks Matt for pics. Will wait till I've seen it in the flesh for myself ( Mrs TS's initial reaction was that she thought it looks like someone has been at a Halfords catalogue with the shiny black wheel inserts, bling on the steering wheel & the twin horizontal red grill lines...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 You sound like you've been properly sucked in and spat out by the VW marketing machine. ....Really? For someone who has had so many GTI's, you don't seem very aware of what GTI enthusiasts want, regardless of how VW respond in what they offer and market. However, as I have already said, I agree that there are, of course, many people who own GTI's who aren't enthusiasts but not such a high percentage as you claim. Welcome to reality Robin - you'll find a huge amount of people have a car purely to get them from a to b. ....Yes, I do realise that, Mook. I didn't say it wasn't so, did I - I only said that it was sad and I was meaning sad in the sense that they were numb to the joys of driving. Your wit is often admirable but sometimes you are just condescending. I've had more GTI's than I care to remember (even two Mk4s ). One of the great things about a Golf GTI is that it's classless, whether it was a Mk2 when it came out, a Mk5 now or a Mk6 in a few weeks. Please don't tell me you're naive enough to think people don't put others in boxes based on the cars they drive. .... Your last sentence contradicts your previous about classless. Nothing is truly 'classless' in the sense that as a species (as in the animal world) we are hardwired to make instant judgements about everything which is presented before our eyes - It's part of our means of survival. Hence we categorise (pigeon-hole into 'classes') and our brains run a match to what is stored in our experiences and conditioning including social conditioning. I'm sure you must already know this, at least I do hope so! The Golf is a very class-conscious car - Black Mk4's were virtually the uniform of the average 'successful' business women and the Mk5 Golf is typically very middle-class trying to claim classlessness. Looking average and anonymous doesn't guarantee appearing classless. So, what's the Mk6 Golf? Aspiring to the perceived luxury of Audi and all that the Audi image stands for? But what do most GTI enthusiasts want? - A car which is a closer rival in performance to the Focus RS, Audi S3, etc. That's why so many are waiting for the rumoured 'R20T'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Your wit is often admirable but sometimes you are just condescending. Must brush up on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Nothing is truly 'classless' in the sense that as a species (as in the animal world) we are hardwired to make instant judgements about everything which is presented before our eyes - It's part of our means of survival. Hence we categorise (pigeon-hole into 'classes') and our brains run a match to what is stored in our experiences and conditioning including social conditioning. I'm sure you must already know this, at least I do hope so! Sometimes you really do spout some sh*te Robin, you really do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewcam Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Like the pics Matt It looks a bit different compared to the red one that i seen. Just shoes what a colour can do to a car. I do really like the front of the new shape. It's sort of aggresive looking and is probably the best angle of the car, because the rest of it doesn't do anything for me The pipes on either side just don't look right to me but those interior pics do look nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 I do really like the front of the new shape. It's sort of aggresive looking and is probably the best angle of the car I like the Scirocco-esque look to the front The pipes on either side just don't look right to me An article in EVO mag said that the engineers didn't want twin pipes, because it was more complex to make the car, but the marketeers got their own way on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewcam Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 I like the Scirocco-esque look to the front YES, thats what it reminds me of. I knew it looked like something i had seen before An article in EVO mag said that the engineers didn't want twin pipes, because it was more complex to make the car, but the marketeers got their own way on it. Well the marketeers magic hasn't worked for me :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Sometimes you really do spout some sh*te Robin, you really do ....If you don't understand what I posted, it doesn't make it sh*te. I am genuinely surprised you didn't understand that sh!t [and it's also a bit worrying]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppetboy Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 An article in EVO mag said that the engineers didn't want twin pipes, because it was more complex to make the car, but the marketeers got their own way on it. The pipes make it look less subtle, which for a GTI is plain stupid... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Took mine in for a service & MOT today. A new red GTI was being PDI'd today at the dealer. I could only see it through the large workshop observation window but it looked very nice from the front & side. Couldn't see the rear unfortunately. There appeared to be about an inch less clearance in the arches suggesting a lower suspension than the MKV. It was attracting a huge ammount of attention from all the staff. Whilst I like the design, I do wonder if in say 8 years time it will look bland compared to the MKV - a bit like I perceive the MKIII to be now. Although I do like the look of it, it doesn't give me that 'must have' feeling I sometimes get when a new model is launched. The dash / interior makes me want it more than the exterior does. Thanks for posting those pics Matt. Prefer the red (faster) version though from what i've seen +++ Hope they didn't get grease on the seats and dry the bonnet without washing it first like they did mine though or nobody will want to buy it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 The pipes make it look less subtle, which for a GTI is plain stupid... Perhaps they should make them triangular shaped like the Civic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Twin pipes nothing special IMO, much prefer the R32 layout but each to their own I prefer the R32 layout, but I'm not adverse to the twins. Would be even better to have quads, IMO. For me, this evolution just isn't sporty enough or even GTI enough in it's present guise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Perhaps they should make them triangular shaped like the Civic Yuk. Those pipes look ridiculous. In fact, the Civic looks ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 (edited) But that's what it's sold as Robin and you're not comparing like for like.One of the reasons the Mk5 GTI has been so successful is because it's understated and it can be driven like a regular car, which is what probably 95% of owners want. but, if it's as hard a ride as the Mk4 R32 in standard guise, it'll put off a shed load of new customers. It's no Focus RS and it shouldn't be marketed as one. Must say after reading the topic responses since my last reply I agree with Mook rather than Robin for me personally. I bought a SEAT Leon Cupra R over a R32 simply because of the ride. I do 60 miles commute a day, spend a lot of time in traffic or motorways visiting customers so I need a car that does everything well not just one thing fantastic that I can play with on country roads. There is more than one type of GTI enthusiast imo. In GTI history the mk1 was never hard it was no escort RS2000 in its ride Similar story with the mk2. I think I can class myself as a GTI enthusiast due to owning them since the 80s and currently own 4. Edited May 9, 2009 by Snoopy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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