First test drive of 2014 Volkswagen GTI

[Sport-Tech]

Up at Autoblog. The upcoming GTI's got a first-ever for the GTI mechanical LSD as an option, plus better power. The Autoblog author commented in a response to a post that

The dynamics on this GTI Performance [the version with the LSD] nicely outstretch those of the Focus ST. Better materials inside and out everywhere, too.

Only a GTI fanatic could tell it apart from the current model, however - still looks like a box compared to the gorgeous Scirocco.

Despite its deficiencies as a styling exercise I'd love a test drive. Won't see this till summer 2014 though, don't know if I want to hold off on a BRZ that long - have to see what Subie does to up the game for MY 2014.

[n2oinferno]

There are so many great cars out now. If the FRS and BRZ didn't exist, I'd really have a hard time choosing.

[dem00n]

Looks like a very promising car.

To bad most people are this forum are like LOLZ, omg FWD sukz.

[BMWDavid]

I'm looking to replace my '06 MKV GTI with a new MKVII GTI. Current GTI has 98,000 totally trouble free miles. It has been one of the best cars I've had in the past 41 years.

I'm a little concerned about VW building the US GTI's in Mexico.

[Supermassive]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Looks like a very promising car.

To bad most people are this forum are like LOLZ, omg FWD sukz.

Its one of those things that differentiates car people to a polarizing degree. The general concensus is that if FWD was so good why is it that no top end sports cars are FWD? Thats not to say they cant be good cars, but if you want a car that is a sports car RWD is the way to go. If you want a car for point a to point b driving then a FWD car is fine.

As for myself, my dislike of FWD cars comes from experience working on them. A RWD car is typically a lot easier to work on...anyone who has replaced a clutch on a 3000GT will know my pain. FWD platforms also suffer from torque steer to varying degrees. I will admit that I also have a severe distaste for modern VWs. Germans make great quality cars but my god theyre bland through and through. VW hasnt had an interesting design since the Scirocco but what do you expect from a company that doesnt have to have any inspired design since they also own Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and other marques.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Supermassive

Its one of those things that differentiates car people to a polarizing degree. The general concensus is that if FWD was so good why is it that no top end sports cars are FWD? Thats not to say they cant be good cars, but if you want a car that is a sports car RWD is the way to go. If you want a car for point a to point b driving then a FWD car is fine.

As for myself, my dislike of FWD cars comes from experience working on them. A RWD car is typically a lot easier to work on...anyone who has replaced a clutch on a 3000GT will know my pain. FWD platforms also suffer from torque steer to varying degrees. I will admit that I also have a severe distaste for modern VWs. Germans make great quality cars but my god theyre bland through and through. VW hasnt had an interesting design since the Scirocco but what do you expect from a company that doesnt have to have any inspired design since they also own Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and other marques.

its one thing to say that you prefer rwd. its another when many of these people write off a car simply because its fwd. from what i have read, the new gti has zero tq steer which is odd since it has 250ish tq. up to a certain power level i think fwd is more than capable of being fast and fun. of all the fun cars ive ever owned, i would put the crx probably right at the top and then probably my miatas tied with my speed protege and then followed by my ae86. ive also had tons of fun in my sisters mazda2.

fwd has pros and cons that can be polarizing but i think the frs is the only budget rwd (well and the miata) that are anywhere close to being as cool as a those fwd i mentioned before.

[Lonewolf]

Nice to see they've dropped weight and added power...don't get too excited though, its still over a year away...

and they still kept those damn plaid seats....

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Nice to see they've dropped weight and added power...don't get too excited though, its still over a year away...

and they still kept those damn plaid seats....

I love the plaid seats. Unfortunately when I got my MKV I had to get leather to get the European sport seats, so that's what I had.

[Supermassive]

Originally Posted by fatoni

its one thing to say that you prefer rwd. its another when many of these people write off a car simply because its fwd. from what i have read, the new gti has zero tq steer which is odd since it has 250ish tq. up to a certain power level i think fwd is more than capable of being fast and fun. of all the fun cars ive ever owned, i would put the crx probably right at the top and then probably my miatas tied with my speed protege and then followed by my ae86. ive also had tons of fun in my sisters mazda2.

fwd has pros and cons that can be polarizing but i think the frs is the only budget rwd (well and the miata) that are anywhere close to being as cool as a those fwd i mentioned before.

I guess it can be fun to drive FWD, I just don't find it all that enjoyable, part of the draw of RWD is being able to steer your car with the accelerator. I also think that my dislike of FWD is rooted in the fact that I have liked very few FWD cars as far as aesthetically...I think the last FWD car I even remotely liked was the Honda Prelude, since then Honda have gotten uglier and uglier and so has virtually every other FWD car in existence...its almost like the car manufacturers have a secret wager between them to see how ugly they can make a car and people still buy it (I still think the Aztek and Cube are tied for ugliest cars ever). I guess that a car has to be appealing to all my senses and my prejudices. When I bought my FR-S I broke one of my long standing prejudices and that was that i would never buy a car with less than 6 cylinders...so I could one day change my mind about FWD but it would take one hell of a car to do that.

[Sport-Tech]

More raves from first-drive reviews compiled at Jalopnik. It's more $ than a BRZ Limited here in Canada so it'll have to be a step up to justify the added cost.

[GTFrank]

I own the BRZ and I love it. Up to 70% of the two cars potential the GTI is better in almost every way. Push them out to 80% and the BRZ just takes over. How many of us drive at 80% of a cars potential? I guess all of us do that's why we own theses cars.

[Sport-Tech]

The raves continue to pile up. I'm drifting to the dark side - starting to lurk over at VWvortex now...

I know it's quite different from the twins, but I am still looking forward to the comparative reviews.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

The raves continue to pile up. I'm drifting to the dark side - starting to lurk over at VWvortex now...

Drifting? Fwd? Confused?

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

The raves continue to pile up. I'm drifting to the dark side - starting to lurk over at VWvortex now...

I know it's quite different from the twins, but I am still looking forward to the comparative reviews.

I traded in an MKVI (2011) GTI for my BRZ, and although the MKVII looks to improve on almost everything (Mexico assembly does concern me though), they are just so different. I could never get over the fact that I was still driving a tarted up Golf. The twins have their own platform, and it makes the driving experience so unique.

Very glad that I made the trade.