2018 GTI: Initial Thoughts After a Week

irish44j said:

Before you go DSG, drive the MT. It's definitely the smoothest-shifting manual I've ever driven and the clutch pedal is perfect weight. I'm  sure the DSG is a bit quicker, but still...

A good portion of the reason for even looking at VWs in the first place is for the DSG, because my wife refuses to drive a manual. I've been trying for 20 years*. I give up, she wins. I'll just switch to educating the kids in the way of Row Your Own when they are old enough.

*at times trying to get her enthused about it in a Turbo RX-7 (massive burnouts), D100 (clutch too heavy), Subaru (scared of it), Miata (stalls, stalls, stalls), I wish I had had a modern TDI Golf in there at some point, they're among the easiest manuals to drive.

You like the 2018 wheels? I hate them. They point different ways on different sides the car. I like the 2017 wheels better. The 2019 has a wheel option like the 2017, except they are black, not shiny. 

2017- same wheel profile on both sides

2018

Backwards on the passenger

Forwards on the driver

I have just rolled over 1500 kms on my 2018 Autobahn.  We replaced our F150 with it, and last night I had three passengers, plus way too much other stuff, packed in.  I was amazed at how much it could hold, given its overall diminutive size. 

I posted a comparison of the GTI to my M2 (both 2018s).  TLDR:  the VW has better overall technology than the BMW.  But the BMW has way more power, and RWD :).  The LED lights in the BMW are also much better -- apparently you can adjust the height of the VW lights, which would fix the issue in my opinion.

Canadian Autobahn editions don't seem to have the adaptive suspension.  And all GTIs in Canada have the trick LSD.

I had snows mounted on the "Milton" wheel -- like you, I hate directional wheels.  I will find something black or bronze for my the Pirellis that the car came equipped with.

I do miss having "start-stop" on my DD.  I am surprised it isn't available on the manuals.  I certainly got used to it with the F150, and I've almost trained myself to effectively use it in the M2 (car has to be in neutral, foot on the brake).

The GTI is a fantastic car indeed.  I am really pleased with it.

Brett_Murphy said:

irish44j said:

Before you go DSG, drive the MT. It's definitely the smoothest-shifting manual I've ever driven and the clutch pedal is perfect weight. I'm  sure the DSG is a bit quicker, but still...

A good portion of the reason for even looking at VWs in the first place is for the DSG, because my wife refuses to drive a manual. I've been trying for 20 years*. I give up, she wins. I'll just switch to educating the kids in the way of Row Your Own when they are old enough.

*at times trying to get her enthused about it in a Turbo RX-7 (massive burnouts), D100 (clutch too heavy), Subaru (scared of it), Miata (stalls, stalls, stalls), I wish I had had a modern TDI Golf in there at some point, they're among the easiest manuals to drive.

You like the 2018 wheels? I hate them. They point different ways on different sides the car. I like the 2017 wheels better. The 2019 has a wheel option like the 2017, except they are black, not shiny. 

2017- same wheel profile on both sides

2018

Backwards on the passenger

Forwards on the driver

Hmm, no those aren't the ones he has on his car. Those have the same issue as the stock GTI wheels, the "different directions on different sides" thing that drove me crazy the moment I bought this car. I assumed his were stock, but maybe not. Oh well. 

red_stapler said:

z31maniac said:

After living with the 135i, my biggest concern with the DSG would be how it acts in stop-and-go traffic, or pull up and don't do a complete stop and keep going, situations like that make the DCT aggravating. 

In my experience, you have to mentally manage the DSG just like a normal 3 pedal manual.  Which is why I have a Prius now.

I've learned to "drive around it" most of the time, but I find it aggravating because it still doesn't seem to act consistently in the same situation. 

The dangerous thing is when it lags, then HITS with all the power, which causes the TC to come on, cutting the power, then letting you move again. That 2-3 seconds can be especially dangerous during heavy traffic.

The GTI I linked above is gone.

Looking for leftovers now- unfortunately the trim I want is a 2017 only.

In reply to Brett_Murphy :

The 2018's have the 6 year/72k mile warranty.  That alone would be enough for me to ignore whatever it is that you want from the 2017 and buy the 2018...

I'm unable to get the performance package and no sunroof in 2018. It's a conundrum and balancing act.

In reply to Brett_Murphy :

No performance pack on the '18's?  Thought all the GTI's save the Golf R came with a sunroof?

docwyte said:

In reply to Brett_Murphy :

No performance pack on the '18's?  Thought all the GTI's save the Golf R came with a sunroof?

For ‘18 performance pack is standard on the SE and up, not available on the S.

Brett_Murphy said:

I'm unable to get the performance package and no sunroof in 2018. It's a conundrum and balancing act.

I seem to recall hearing that the ‘19 will have PP available without a sunroof.

Brett_Murphy said:

I'm unable to get the performance package and no sunroof in 2018. It's a conundrum and balancing act.

I think the "Rabbit" trimline is equipped that way.  Also has the adjustable suspension (or it does in Canada).

It won't help you find a 2018 to your spec, but I've read here and elsewhere that ALL 2019 model GTI's will get the Performance Pack as standard.  

https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/golf-gti

"Every GTI gets more power and new standard performance equipment for 2019, with an extra eight horsepower—for a total of 228—as well as brakes and a limited-slip differential"

So unless you're hunting for deals on a leftover '18, you'll have a new crop of '19's to pick from where the Performance Package will now be the default.  

xflowgolf said:

So unless you're hunting for deals on a leftover '18, you'll have a new crop of '19's to pick from where the Performance Package will now be the default.  

I was hunting deals, but pickings are slim anyhow. A '19 may be the way to go. I didn't see auto stop/start mentioned in the article, but when I'm done working I'll do more research.

Ah, got it.  That's a bummer!  The '19's are right around the corner, so maybe check out the options and then decide?

On a car like this I don't really get the "can't have a sunroof" thing (I know, personal preference - I just don't really get the logic behind it). On a track car, sure, for the weight aspect. On this one, the sunroof is huge (the whole width of the roof) but doesn't seem to affect headroom much since it slides OVER the roof and doesn't have a drop-down headliner for it to slide IN.  I'm 6'0 and sit tall in the seat and am noplace near the sunroof, even with a helmet. It also "blends in" to the exterior (if you get a dark color), not like an old-school sunroof with a big rubber seal around it or something. 

Just my 2C. 

It is kind of nice, with the sunroof open, you can still keep the shade screen closed so you get the open-airness without the sun burning your bald spot ;)

The auto start/stop is another thing I don't really get. I had that in a rental A4 a few years ago in Germany and found it annoying. I assume it's to get an extra tenth of a gallon on your MPGs? I was next to a guy yesterday wiht it at multiple lights and all I kept thinking was "seems like a good way to have to replace the starter frequently."

Is there another reason for it that I'm missing?

I can't stand the auto start/stop.  I turn it off immediately when I get in the car.  Really happy none of my cars have it.  All the cayennes but the diesel have it, so yippee for diesel!

irish44j said:

The auto start/stop is another thing I don't really get. I had that in a rental A4 a few years ago in Germany and found it annoying. I assume it's to get an extra tenth of a gallon on your MPGs? I was next to a guy yesterday wiht it at multiple lights and all I kept thinking was "seems like a good way to have to replace the starter frequently."

Is there another reason for it that I'm missing?

It's more like a 10% gain.  Most cars see 2-3 MPG improvement in city driving with the start-stop active.

Personally I think idling is an incredible waste of fuel.  Looking at it on a large scale, we collectively burn millions of gallons of fuel every day just sitting in gridlock or waiting for traffic controls.

I hate idling.  And you get used to it quickly.  Plus it is a bit of a game for me to time everything just right  so I can win the stoplight drag.  In a manual car like my M2 it requires footwork and handwork.  

I guess I just don't spend time in gridlock like you guys do, lol. And I live in Washington DC and commute around the city. 

irish44j said:

On a car like this I don't really get the "can't have a sunroof" thing (I know, personal preference - I just don't really get the logic behind it).

I admit it's nice to be able to crack them open while the car is parked during the summer to help reduce the greenhouse effect. Driving at night and being able to let the wife look up at the sky is also nice.

The cons are:

More things to break
Rattles
Leaks

I guess having too many cars with hacked in aftermarket jobs in the 80s turned me off on them forever. Maybe I'll give it another shot.

Brett_Murphy said:

irish44j said:

On a car like this I don't really get the "can't have a sunroof" thing (I know, personal preference - I just don't really get the logic behind it).

I admit it's nice to be able to crack them open while the car is parked during the summer to help reduce the greenhouse effect. Driving at night and being able to let the wife look up at the sky is also nice.

The cons are:

More things to break
Rattles
Leaks

I guess having too many cars with hacked in aftermarket jobs in the 80s turned me off on them forever. Maybe I'll give it another shot.

 

I own a 1988 Porsche 924. No matter how many new seals you put on it, no matter how well you clear the drains, it leaks. So I know what you speak of lol.

I think VW actually changed over from the "traditional" sunroof design a few years ago. The one on this car actually goes all the way to the "rails" on the roof and has a pretty good surround for drainage. Just based on looking at the design i would say it would be difficult for it to leak, even with old seals on it, unless the drains were also totally clogged. 

As a VW electrical part - point taken on things to break. But I'll worry about that in 6 years when the warranty is up!

Side note: 170k on my WRX and the sunroof never rattled, leaked, or broke (and it was used regularly). I actually think the VW has a simpler and more efficient design since it doesn't have to "drop down" below the roof plane to retract into the roof. The WRX sunroof had to both go upward and downward to tilt open or to fully open. This one just goes one direction, so maybe less moving parts, IDK.

red_stapler said:

irish44j said:

The auto start/stop is another thing I don't really get. I had that in a rental A4 a few years ago in Germany and found it annoying. I assume it's to get an extra tenth of a gallon on your MPGs? I was next to a guy yesterday wiht it at multiple lights and all I kept thinking was "seems like a good way to have to replace the starter frequently."

Is there another reason for it that I'm missing?

It's more like a 10% gain.  Most cars see 2-3 MPG improvement in city driving with the start-stop active.

Personally I think idling is an incredible waste of fuel.  Looking at it on a large scale, we collectively burn millions of gallons of fuel every day just sitting in gridlock or waiting for traffic controls.

The wife's car has auto start/stop. I don't mind the idea of it but in this  case I'm not a fan of the implementation. It'll shut off at almost every stop but it will only stay off for maybe ten seconds then it's back on and idling for the rest of the stop, which seems rather pointless to me. 

irish44j said:  But I'll worry about that in 6 years when the warranty is up!

Good point. I actually didn't even consider the warranty factor. 

Good write up. Man, this is really pushing me towards one of these when it's time for my '06 Mustang to go. I do a lot of driving at night too so those headlights are really appealing. The stock headlights on the Mustang are some of the worst I've experienced, and it's the newest car I've ever owned. If I can find a GTI in the same color you have with a six-speed and the upgraded audio, I'll probably be joining the club in a year or two haha.