STelfmachine
New member
- Location
- Maryland
- Car(s)
- 2020 GTI SE
As many of the new threads start, long time lurker here who finally decided to post. 2018 we purchased a 2018 GTI S 6MT as our first VW. Former vehicles included multiple EP civics and 2.5 impreza. Always driving a manual in the past, it just seemed right to go with the 6 MT on the S and for the price at the time, everything felt right. After purchasing the car in Feb 2018, and discovering the forum, and the threads on manual vs DSG, I always, at heart, wanted to side with the manual crew. After a few days in the new 2020 SE, I can honestly say that there is a new discovery period I am enjoying with the vehicle. It is really amazing, even unconsciously, how much the shifting of the gears can take your attention from the other enjoyable aspects of this vehicle. You can really enjoy the handling and the smooth ride with the DSG. From pulling in and out of parking lots, to fumbling with cell phones and the dreaded, should I be in 1st or 2nd gear at this moment, are all afterthoughts with the DSG.
Nighttime driving with the adaptive headlights is also a huge difference between the models. I don’t think there’s any argument how much better the SE headlamps LOOK than the S, but the actual experience of driving with them make them something you can not simply classify as aesthetically better, they simply create a safer and more pleasant night time driving experience. I thought the biggest thing for me to get over would be the cloth seats to leatherette interior. I really liked to use this as self affirmation that the S model was tolerable over the SE because the seats looked awesome and had character. The leatherette really matures the car that I could equate to the way you dress at 18 vs 35. It just makes the car more “mature” all around. I have always been a sunroof guy as well. I enjoy the fresh air and looking up to the sky above. So it was a tough pill to swallow again on the S not having that option. The few days I’ve enjoyed the warm Maryland autumn, the sunroof will be open as often as possible. Overall, I loved my time with the 2018 S and it opened my eyes to how a fun hatch should be. Now, almost 2 years later, I wouldn’t have known what to look for without the experience of owning the S. And also, the forum was a big help in showing me what I would like out of a Volkswagen.
Nighttime driving with the adaptive headlights is also a huge difference between the models. I don’t think there’s any argument how much better the SE headlamps LOOK than the S, but the actual experience of driving with them make them something you can not simply classify as aesthetically better, they simply create a safer and more pleasant night time driving experience. I thought the biggest thing for me to get over would be the cloth seats to leatherette interior. I really liked to use this as self affirmation that the S model was tolerable over the SE because the seats looked awesome and had character. The leatherette really matures the car that I could equate to the way you dress at 18 vs 35. It just makes the car more “mature” all around. I have always been a sunroof guy as well. I enjoy the fresh air and looking up to the sky above. So it was a tough pill to swallow again on the S not having that option. The few days I’ve enjoyed the warm Maryland autumn, the sunroof will be open as often as possible. Overall, I loved my time with the 2018 S and it opened my eyes to how a fun hatch should be. Now, almost 2 years later, I wouldn’t have known what to look for without the experience of owning the S. And also, the forum was a big help in showing me what I would like out of a Volkswagen.
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