Most annoying thing about your GTI

NoGodGetOverIt said:

After owning my car for over a bit over a year now, I find the most annoying thing to be just how much performance overhead VW left on the cutting room floor.

This car feels like it could do so much more (which we all know it can when modded/tuned), but was hamstrung at the factory. On two separate occasions, I've tried to pull on two Chevy Equinox turbos to get over for an exit, and both times I got stuffed, and had to concede and get in behind them. It's not a huge deal, as my main goal is to get where I'm going, but it's kind of embarrassing to have to deal with smiling Equinox (and Kia, Hyundai, Dodge, Ford, etc.) owners nodding knowingly when I have to back off, beaming at the fact that they created hardship for a perennial C&D top-10'er known for it's fun-factor and performance characteristics. Sure, on a track or auto-x course, everything changes...but I don't drive to work on a track or auto-x course.

This really wasn't a problem in my Evo, as 90% of what was on the road just wasn't competitive, so I'm not really used to this. It's annoying that my options are to keep getting punked by more pedestrian vehicles, tune it and blow the warranty to hell, or go the JB4 route and scurry around like a rat in the dark pulling the gear out every time I have to visit the dealership service bay.

Why can't VW simply give us performance options that don't hinder warranty coverage, a la TRD, Nismo, etc.? Or bring the ClubSport or TCR over here?

I know the R is an option, and it was my original target, as it made more sense to me with a performance envelope closer to what I was used to with the Evo, and AWD. There just weren't any available when I needed one. Maybe the MK8s will offer another opportunity for me to get something with a little more road-going authority.

I LOVE my MK7 GTI, I just wish VW had seen fit to gift it with a little more gravitas than the general turbo-powered flotsam on the road...

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Revolver1966 said:

In the 3 GTIs I've driven over 6 years I can't imagine never having them tuned with a basic stage 1. At the VERY least a JB4 is worth it....The amount of time you spend using the car is many times higher than the time spent at the dealer service dept (I would hope! If not you have a lemon).
Boggles me why people spend so much time and effort on other things with the stock power output. It's simply unacceptable. The rest of the car is almost perfect.

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mikkelz_za said:

A bloody vibration/rattle from the driver's side door/dashboard.

Sounds like glass rattling. It is not:

- the sun roof
- the sun visor
- the glove compartment to the right (RHS drive) of the steering wheel
- I have hit and pushed against every trim piece possible on the A pillar/drivers door

I think I need to take the entire door trim piece off and check it out. I just hope it's not in the dash.

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Will_ said:

Rattles. Rattles everywhere. Car is only a year old and I'm about ready to tear the a-pillars clean off. Attempted the popular a-pillar rattle fix this last weekend but decided to wait another week to see if I can learn a little more about the process before doing it.

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Revolver1966 said:

In the 3 GTIs I've driven over 6 years I can't imagine never having them tuned with a basic stage 1. At the VERY least a JB4 is worth it....The amount of time you spend using the car is many times higher than the time spent at the dealer service dept (I would hope! If not you have a lemon).
Boggles me why people spend so much time and effort on other things with the stock power output. It's simply unacceptable. The rest of the car is almost perfect.

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Cool Hand Pete said:

For me, it’s about the cost of a clutch upgrade. Being married with a baby on the way, I need to be cautious how much exposure I have once I tune.



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Jacobmk7 said:

How when it’s raining, when I open my door, water runs off the roof and onto my seat.

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fuelboss said:

The Mk7.5 GTI DSG appears to shift down at much lower rpm in D mode. Car sounds like its struggling with somewhat of a rattle from the box. Frequently have to manually change down. Previous MK7 was different. Probably VW trying to improve fuel efficiency figures.

I understand I can get a DSG tune but is it worth it?

Also cabin noise in my opinion is greater in the 7.5 compared to my previous Mk7. There can be a distinct whine in the 7.5's as I proved by driving various Mk7.5 versions

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TheRealStanki said:

I did this job multiple times...what finally fixed it was filling in any and all open space within the a-pillar itself with thick foam, covering all the edges in Tesa tape, and I also replaced both of the two-step clips and covered them in tesa tape....on the third time ripping the a-pillar out I wasn’t going to risk that damn rattle again lol


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chiefhiawatha said:

Where is that piece? Can you sent pic from where it was before?

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