Limestone Grey GTi 1st Week Review

Limestone Grey GTi Performance Pack Review

Car: GTI 3Door with Performance Pack and Dynaudio

First Drive

Context: Mid 40s always been a fan of hot hatches right back to R5 GTTurbo, Fiat Uno Turbo, 205GTi etc, I do track days occasionally, and I have recently owned a 123d, Cayman S and 964 (see sig)


Engine
More after 1k see post #14


BTW did I mention I don't know how to work the Coming home lights and auto wipers?


Gearbox
Its light in the way it engages and short enough in throw to be sporty and not tiresome. You also don't think too much is in the way between the gearstick and gearbox which is a nice experience. Some cars feel spongy in the way the gear engages due to the linkages, but I would say VW got it spot on, short throw, light but mechanical.
I have noticed that when cold the gearbox is a little sluggish and the oil and synchros need a little heat and lubrication to become efficient. I don't mind the small compromise of cold working feel, because when warm it's a very smooth precise operation and something to enjoy. Some manufacturers just don't understand how important the working feel of the gearbox is, however on the Mk7 I think its a very good performer, and you really would need to want a DSG to sacrifice this manual gearbox.


Interior
I think the layout is clean and simple, it reminds me of Audi's (I guess this is obvious) but its only after driving some other makes that it just feel logical in comparison. Step into a 1 series and you wonder why they put the cup holders so close to the dash. Get in a new A class and you wonder why they put the gearstick or hand brake in that odd location. Or the AC control behind the cig lighter as we all now plug mobiles into it and it hampers the use of the AC controls.


exterior noise entering the cabin is higher than the last couple of cars when sitting in traffic and on a motorway, i could hear the cars on the other carriageway so much I thought my window was open a crack. Its not a bad thing really just an observation on the thinner lighter panels used on the non structural parts of the car.

I decided against Nav as the smaller 2d option seemed pointless and the £1500 pro nav is likely not as good as my phone nav. I used my phone to drive to Lyon in France and Spain this year so more than happy to have that for the long Euro trips and it has a far better screen res than the VW screen.
Speaking of the display screen this is a compromise that slightly lets the car down for the latest MK7 model. I think the screen would have been out of date in the Mk5 let alone the latest incarnation. Its 400x200 or something silly which is a bit embarrassing compared to any average mobile phone for under £200. I am glad I didn't spend more on the more expensive larger screen as I really think for all that is great about the car, the Media screen resolution is shocking. It is also below your wrist when driving straight with hands at 9/10 to 2/3 position. This makes the nav a poorly located design and should (like BMW and Audis) be in a pop up screen far higher up the dash and at eye level to the dials. The vents are where I mount my phone Nokia Here Maps nav and this is a much better location. Having driven a pro nav Golf, Merc A class and 4 Series BMW, the VW screen location is in a poor location for a sat nav.

Dynaudio
Had a little play with the setting and it seems to offer a nice clear sound. I have it on Dynamic setting as I mainly listen to people like Unkle, Claude Von Stroke, Chemical Bothers etc. So it's perfect for this type of music. My wife listens to Paul Weller, Black Keys, Paloma Faith and other acoustical type music and likes it too. I found the door speakers putting out too much bass so turned the bass down a few increments and increased the sub to compensate. If you are a connoisseur of Audio it may not be enough for you, but having come from BMW and previously to that, Audi and Bose in a Porsche I chose it to make sure I got the best I could get from the factory. I am not one for removing panels on brand new cars so really happy with the choice.

Dynaudio Sub in spare wheel well _ BTW how nice it is to see a manufacturer that isn't afraid to put a tyre in the boot, instead of sh*tty run flats with tyre foam...Breath and relax.......

The car can best be described as subtle, from the small lip on the roof spoiler to the crease in the door handle and fading horizontal line along the side. If you are after the Megane Cup looks you are looking at the wrong car.



I originally ordered red but much back and forth over images on line, and just before build week was confirmed I choose to change the colour option and select a unusual or mad limestone grey on the GTI. Does it work? Well having had second thoughts right up until I picked the car up I can happily confirm I made, or my wife made, an inspired choice. I like the "sleeper" look, I like the contrast of red on the sides and back as I think it's a little more subtle. This colour really does change constantly depending on its surrounding, I understand the jury is still out on this colour for the GTI, but I am happy to accept if anyone thinks its naff. lol



Steering .
In the BMW the only sensation of the road was through the seat, as the electric steering was numb. This however is a great improvement, as Chris Harris says "they're getting good at this you know" and while these steering systems aren't making us feel like we are driving a Peugeot 205 GTI from yesteryear it is something that I find doesn't cause me to think about a lack of feel when driving. Now I can think and understand what the car is doing through the steering wheel, its only slight but its getting better with electric. I don't care much for any flat bottomed steering wheel but it seems to be the norm so won't pull VW up for that. It is nicely weighted and pretty thin in diameter, it allows the car to feel more delicate, its not something that you need to wrestle.


Chassis & Diff
More after 1k see post #14


The location for the warning triangle in the tailgate. BTW this has got to be the most expensive warning triangle known to man, ask at VW or Audi for one and you will laugh. Picked a new one up of ebay for £10 to complete what should have come with the car if VW UK weren't so tight. But compared to US cars we still have a great package.

Great car history

I'm pretty much the same, a fan of hot hatches & track cars. Having owned GTE's, RS Turbo's & numerous 205 Gti's and Golfs. And my favourite Lanica Delta HF Turbo.



I sometimes wish I had opted for the Golf R. But cant knock the GTD for eco even when driving it hard.

Limestone is a bit of a Marmite colour. I dont hate it, but cant make my mind up. I have only ever seen one and I much prefer the Golf in Pure White. My last white car was my Delta & RS Turbo.

Look forward to your next update,

Rappy.

rapport25 said:

Great car history

I'm pretty much the same, a fan of hot hatches & track cars. Having owned GTE's, RS Turbo's & numerous 205 Gti's and Golfs. And my favourite Lanica Delta HF Turbo.



I sometimes wish I had opted for the Golf R. But cant knock the GTD for eco even when driving it hard.

Limestone is a bit of a Marmite colour. I dont hate it, but cant make my mind up. I have only ever seen one and I much prefer the Golf in Pure White. My last white car was my Delta & RS Turbo.

Look forward to your next update,

Rappy.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rappy - The HF Turbo was a great car! My brother had one and its Italian idiosyncrasy stood out a mile lol. The limestone grey is a colour I really didn't get until I saw it on the GTI. Lots of "standard " 1.4TSI cars with it but they don't look the same so I was preparing to suck in through my teeth when I first saw it. lol

Ever since my youth I have been looking for cars to have a little something that is enjoyable at sensible speeds. Well any speed really but mostly on track days. So I have been in search of basic car dynamics enjoyment for a few years now on B roads. I have had extremely capable cars, but they are so capable that at anything below 3 figures speed they appear dull, so off to a track I go for my fix.
But I recently read an article about car enjoyment and how the cars like the 205GTi, R5Turbo etc are part of a dying breed due to the need to produce lap times at the Ring. Capable, fast, stable cars that can handle high speed corners and therefore able to produce competitive laps times for manufacturers. This got me thinking about my next car and I ended up with the Golf. Light in design, agile and with the PP diff pretty capable. I have had more enjoyment in the last 5 days and 400 miles than my track set up 123D with Bilstein suspension, M3 arms and poly bushing. How is that possible when the BMW is the ultimate driving machine? For me it was because most of that is PR marketing. I drove a Megane Cup road car at Silverstone and loved it far more than my 1 Series. So FWD it is

The R is very fast and capable I guess, but I had a feeling that it might not feel as light/agile and the haldex system might shunt about a bit, and not wanting to add weight to the car I chose a FWD and higher MPG...

I have a GTD on order in LSG. Love the colour. Was originally going to buy an R in LSG, but I do 20k miles a year, and I worked out that fuel would have cost me circa £4.5k a year, so head won over heart.

beautiful looking stock car.

Plastic said:

I have a GTD on order in LSG. Love the colour. Was originally going to buy an R in LSG, but I do 20k miles a year, and I worked out that fuel would have cost me circa £4.5k a year, so head won over heart.

Click to expand...

Not done the fuel calcs, pleased with my GTD even more. Thanks for that.

rapport25 said:

Not done the fuel calcs, pleased with my GTD even more. Thanks for that.

Click to expand...

No problem, in case you are interested, here is how I worked it out using my poor maths skills.

12 (tank size in Gallons)
* 30 (mpg)
= 360 (miles per tank)

20k (annual milage)
/ 360 (miles per tank)
= 55.6 (tanks per year)

55 (tank size in Litres)
* 1.30 (average price of petrol)
= 71.5 (cost of tank in £)

£71.50 (tank)
* 55.6 (tanks per year)
= £3975.40

Ok so less than I said originally, but I think 30 mpg may be optimistic!

Mpg Golf R

I have a manual. Some average ”small town” driving mixed with high way.
28 Mpg (uk) = 10 liter /100 km is about what my car consume. No Eco driving….

Very satisfied with this consumption since it includes some “have fun” .

/Peter


PS Very pleased with my choice of LSG. Have also notice the variance in color with different light settings.

28mpg isn't too bad. I am getting 35mpg avg at the mo. I got 40 mpg cruising to Essex recently for an hour. Not bad considering the last Diesel i had got about 45mpg.

You have to be satisfied with that consumption. My former GTI 6 (stage 1) had about the same mpg as my new R. Your new GTI is even leaner…. .

/Peter

If I wasn't doing so many miles I would have gone for the R in a heartbeat.
Gtd is definitely a compromise, but I liked it when I test drove it.

Yeah I can justify £130 tax, my last toy was £425 which was very painful come renewal time due to Co2. I like your R in the LSG, have seen them in the flesh they look very aggressive at the front, but can't fork out a higher amount in petrol than I already do.

I think at 10K plus miles, the GTD is a great choice, having had 2 diesels for my last couple of main use cars and only now doing 6k a year, the GTi is justifiable to the wife

I have ordered Black.

Would never have considered Limestone till I saw yours & another this week. Beautiful colour that grows on you.

Engine & Chassis

I have started to wind on the miles and a little more power - Let's make it clear, its not a beautiful purr or thrilling pitch to the red line, but it's not quite a harsh sound either. Its a 4 cylinder engine, so what can you expect?
I'm not sure if I prefer it with the soundaktor in full "faux" sound mode or not? This is achieved by putting the car mode into "Sport" and I've tried it in normal and switched to sport and its clear it has a certain growl when in sport, but not sure which one I would want to live with. But I guess that's the point, I don't have to live with it as its available at the touch of a button. Some will not like the falsely added sound, however I take it as a part of increased refinement with a sporty character, you know you are in something slightly different when you put your foot down, but you can also cruise to the continent in relative quiet/comfort. I would describe it as a pleasant and informative sound, that can make you want to push it more, so for the GTi it fits the bill but I wouldn't overstate the sound.
I have had a few occasions where the engine has shown flashes of pace that seem greater than the sum of its parts, but also times when I realise it's got a turbo just ahead of the dash. I don't think it's an "off boost" moment, it could just be me being picky. However it seems all the car you would need - achieving silly speeds on B roads with dips and off camber corners to negotiate. I am starting to find that I like this GTi more and more and the engine and gearbox are a key contributing part. Push your foot right down in 2nd and 3rd and it does sprint very quickly to the next corner.

Chassis
Regarding the B road fun - I guess the best way to describe the car is that it has a little essence of the cars I mentioned before, 205gti, R5 Turbo, albeit in a 2014 package. Yes its a stable platform that is heavier and faster, but from the thin rimmed steering wheel to the turn in at the front, the car has an agile nature to be used and abused without being caught out. Tiff Needle and others want it to move around a lot more at the rear, that's fine on the 22mtr wide Paul Ricard circuit, but I am negotiating damp B roads in the UK. I drove the Megane RS at Silverstone last year and had a great time, it's a fantastic car and very capable, I got out with a huge smile on my face after absolutely thrashing it and I was using opposite lock at Vale and Copes. Do I want that in a road car on damp roads? I could bare my not very hairy chest and say yeah bring it on, but If I'm honest, not really.

So at this point and with only limited miles, I think the GTi is a fun, agile car (for its size) that does seem to reward enthusiastic driving without letting you get caught out. Driving FWD cars I always find they do seem to push more than you really want, when you apply the throttle more it seems you are always on the edge of grip on the roundabout exit or corner, and it permanently takes a little bit of the fun away as the car gives up before you truly want it to. You're not doing this all the time but when you want to play the car gives up its grip and its a little deflating, but having played a little with the car and set the Diff to sport, it does seem to help the car rotate through the corner and this is opening up a side to FWD driving that I was hoping with the PP. I can drive out of the corner and the car says "bring it on" . Clearly VW have managed to tame a major issues with FWD cars with the addition of the Diff, A great achievement by VW

Excellent assessment, thanks. I have to agree about fwd cars feeling less competent or usable on roundabouts / exiting junctions, I've been driving a BMW for the last 80k, (which has its own problems in snow / ice) so it's going to take some getting used to, hope the e-dif helps.