Over the weekend I test drove the following two demo cars from VW, back to back:-

 

1st up:-

 

Golf GTD (184bhp diesel)

Red

5 Door

DSG

Full leather

Auto Chassis Control

Adaptive cruise control

19" alloys

 

2nd:-

 

Golf GT (150bhp diesel)

White

3 Door

Manual

18" alloys

 

Both looked superb in their respective colours and both had very comfortable seats (and seating positions), albeit I preferred the leather in the GTD as it was easier to 'slide' in and out and the leather provided a more quality feel.

 

Both had the electronic handbrake and hill hold control.  The hill hold was a very useful idea and functioned flawlessly.  The auto handrake, however, was a different matter.  The DSG handled this better as just a little more throttle and off we went.  The manual took more getting used to in order to balance the revs and biting point of the clutch to free the brake.  I stalled the manual a couple of times as a result and when I finally got going there was more of a jerk as the car pulled away.

 

Both had uprated alloys in terms of diameter.  The 18s rode very well over the not so smooth roads of West Yorkshire but, surprisingly, so did the 19s.  I noticed very little difference in ride quality, albeit my passenger (my 8 year old daughter!) claimed the 18s provided a better ride from her rear seating position.

 

The five door provided two obvious advantages, three if you count price, one being easier access for rear seat passengers, the second being better visibility when checking over the shoulder blind spots for example.

 

The DSG was seemless in auto or when using the paddle shifters.  The manual was also a smooth operator and provided me with more instinctive gear changes and appeared to rev more freely - the DSG appeared to shift up at lower revs when accelerating harder.  There was certainly no lack of 'go' from the 150 unit.

 

I excuse the DSG on this point as I'm used to manual boxes and I think it wouldn't take me long to master the dynmamics of the DSG.  I missed the DSG terribly when taking the manual through town.

 

I didn't get much opportunity to use the auto chassis control or adaptive cruise control unfortunately but I believe both are worth having if you can afford.

 

Personally I would buy a five door with a DSG box with my preferred colour of carbon grey,  I'm yet undecided on whether in GT or GTD guise.  The GTD certainly looks the part and stands out from the crowd.

 

Would I like one?  Undoubtedly 'yes'.  Would I buy one?  Certainly not at the RRP (£6k difference from dealer to Drive the Deal) but you appear to get more from VW in this package compared to the new Octavia.  I hate to say it, as I've been a Skoda fan from 2001 and and 9 Skoda models later, but I feel Skoda have priced their models too close to the likes of VW, Audi etc so why wouldn't I buy a Golf?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good review.

 

I've been pondering these two, but when I spec'd up a 150 GT, it got to about £1,200 of a spec'd up GTD. So I reckon the GTD is the way to go.

 

I have (and remain) interested in the Leon FR, but as yet they still don't offer the adaptive damping on the hatch and that's an option I definitely want (wafting around in an air sprung, adaptively damped A6 has spoilt me!). Seat say it will be an option, it's just that nobody seems to know when!

Good review - appreciate you taking the time to post.

 

Recently had the 150 Tdi DSG in an Octavia loan car.

Me and SWMBO didnt get on with it at all if i'm honest.

 

The DSG settings for Normal, Sport, etc just did not seem well matched to the engine at all.

DSG is an acquired taste. Personally I prefer the involvement of a manual. I have also heard stories that it is better matched to the petrol engines than the Diesel but I have only driven one in a Fabia VRS Twincharge so cannot comment. To me the potential for future trouble and the extra servicing costs put me off DSG. How did you find the electonic handbrake? That is another thing that puts me off the Golf. Neighbour had this on a Passat and it gave him no end of trouble.

A great review indeed.

 

 For peace of mind my Passat has the electronic handbrake which has worked well for 100,000 miles barring the need for a bit of tlc on the driver's side release mechanism. A common fault but after numerous winters and many miles is the only thing to report of it. Release and engages well and makes life easier when moving away uphill when laden. I've been quite impressed by it so far. 

 One thing I could never be convinced about is an auto box. 

The electronic handbrake - I covered this in my original review but called it an auto handbrake that may have caused confusion, apologies.  This was a good bit of kit in theory but with the manual box is was a 'dog' to use and became a little tedious having to over rev the engine slightly at the biting point of the clutch before it would release the brake, then when it did it was far from seemless.

 

I drove an Passat with the first generation electronic handbrake and it drove me insane, I couldn't actually get moving!  This newer unit works much better but is still not my cup of tea.  As I said it was better suited to the DSG box and wouldn't stop me buying the Golf with the DSG, but with the manual it would bug me very quickly.

 

In terms of the DSG box, I must admit I prefer the more useability and involved human touch with the manual box but, having driven a few DSGs now and my increasing maturity towards more comfort and relaxed driving, the DSG is a sweet unit, at least looking past the oddities others have noted in terms of slight hesitation at low speeds and when trying to reverse up a steep incline at slow speeds (parking in a drive and the likes).

 

I have driven DSGs in petrol and diesel and didn't notice that much difference between them, however, you only have limited time on a test drive so a longer test would be beneficial to clarify this point.

 

I would NEVER consider buying a car with DSG if I planned on owning it for a few years outside warranty and would only ever have one on a PCP as I'd be covered by warranty and give it back if it proved problematic.

That electronic handbrake thing would be a deal breaker for me then. It sounds grim. I would go for an Octavia Estate and save myself a few grand lol. I kind of like the sound of the new 140 bhp 1.4. It has not got the cylinder shut off  in the Skoda but Autocar still managed to get 50 mpg out of it.

I drove a mk7 Golf the other day and I really liked the electronic handbrake and hill hold.

 

Put it on, then to set off, just drive off as normal. No over-revving or anything.

 

Maybe the one you had was not right?

Coming from my old Octy it took me a short while to get used to the 2 auto braking modes in my DSG equipped Mk7 GTi but now love them both. Auto hold is so simple you just forget that once stationary you do not need to worry about using an old fashioned handbrake, auto hold just locks on and when you touch the throttle is comes off - holds on all levels.

 

The Electronic handbrake is also very easy to use once you know how it works but the brain takes longer to get over the fact that you do not have a leaver to use and so you can feel a little uncomfortable using it at first.  The Handbrake auto locks when you turn off the car, or manually engage it,  and when you restart or want to pull away  - simply press the throttle to pull away and it just disengages.

 

It is different but like most progress?? it just takes time to readjust before you feel comfortable with it.

 

These comments are based on DSG equipped car, I have never driven a manual and after a DSG Octy  and now  GTi I would never drive a manual again - I firmly believe that there is a Stress pump built into the left knee, DSG = all the fun and none of the stress.

I drove a mk7 Golf the other day and I really liked the electronic handbrake and hill hold.

 

Put it on, then to set off, just drive off as normal. No over-revving or anything.

 

Maybe the one you had was not right?

 

Yeah, maybe, but more likely to be the driver needing more time to adjust!  I previously drove an R Line Tiguan with the same brake and that seem to pull away far easier.

Interesting the comments re the electronic handbrake as I'm looking in the next year to get a new car. The short list was Roomster or Yeti........................but I am seriously thinking about the new Golf SV (manual version with the 150PS 1.4TSI petrol)................which of course has the electronic handbrake.

 

 

Will have to wait until July when the car hits the UK!!!!

Took a Golf MK7 GT estate for a test drive with the 2lt diesel engine..............believe the road tests..........the car is very good, handles very well, and yes the ride through potholes is firm, but not crashy, just short & controlled, & you don't notice that you are in an estate!!!

 

Now have one on order but with the 1.4 TSI ACT 150PS engine & manual 6 speed gearbox!!............

Just completed a 95 mile drive from Heathrow to Oxfordshire in a 1.2 dsg bluemotion golf. Not sure how many hp it has but it seemed nippy enough, esp in sports mode!

It was a night time drive and I was mostly on the a40, at the end of the drive my mpg was a very impressive 48. I know the data will be optimistic, but even so for an automated petrol, nice!

One thing I found really odd was the speedo. My vrs has both miles and kilometres displayed( obviously) and I found it to be a little cluttered, but on the golf its horrendous. With both sets of markings very close together I was happy to have the digital display in the centre!

Edited 17 October, 20169 yr by Offski

Good stuff George, Very interesting

 

GTI Clubsport S 10 BHP more than Golf R and much lighter into the bargain etc. Sticky rubber and in the dry. Was that manual v DSG?

Edited 17 October, 20169 yr by vrskeith

What gets me is that my car has the same spec front ARB as the GTI & Clubsport...24x3.8mm tube. Rear though on all the estates is way thinner than hatch as I presume to allow more contact of inside rear wheel to prevent pendulum swing on back end...