That said the car in the pictures still had heated seats...not exactly a weight saving measure that.

The Clubsport S is rather akin to a Golf version of the Porsche GT3 RS....

Id wager it will set the path for the Mk8 GTI having that kind of stock power, with the next R having power levels approaching 400hp. I wouldnt be entirely surprised if the next R doesnt adopt the Audi 2.5 5 pot as just launched in the new TTRS.

Nothing really that wrong with a Composition Touch stereo and no AC....I dont think the S is really intended as a daily drive its a hardcore trackday car that can be used on the road...Megane R26R style.

 

If it was akin to the Porsche then where are the decent monoblock callipers, its not as if VAG do not fit these to other high end MQB cars..

 

I'll state clearer, the Clubsport S has a more basic smaller screen than what the most basic Golf is in UK. UK basic Composition is colour & 5.8inches. The Clubsport S "Composition" is smaller & black & white, & has no brains in the glovebox.

 

 

That said the car in the pictures still had heated seats...not exactly a weight saving measure that.

 

Exactly, & neither are the very heavy cast iron fist brake callipers....

If it was akin to the Porsche then where are the decent monoblock callipers, its not as if VAG do not fit these to other high end MQB cars..

I'll state clearer, the Clubsport S has a more basic smaller screen than what the most basic Golf is in UK. UK basic Composition is colour & 5.8inches. The Clubsport S "Composition" is smaller & black & white, & has no brains in the glovebox.

Exactly, & neither are the very heavy cast iron fist brake callipers....

To be fair a light 310ps car doesn't really need multi-piston/mono-block brakes though. Stick some decent pads on it and I am sure they will be more than capable for track day use.

If they go too silly with componentry the car will become cost prohibitive and no one will buy them.....though that said they can stick Brembos on a Leon....wouldn't kill them to do that on the quicker more premium car would it :-)

To be fair a light 310ps car doesn't really need multi-piston/mono-block brakes though. Stick some decent pads on it and I am sure they will be more than capable for track day use.

If they go too silly with componentry the car will become cost prohibitive and no one will buy them.....though that said they can stick Brembos on a Leon....wouldn't kill them to do that on the quicker more premium car would it :-)

 

But how many are buying 2-seater track specials at the price range though unless it's something as hardcore as an Atom? The S just doesn't make any sense to almost anyone other than VW itself and its Type-R Nurburgring hunt. The Leon Brembos are not the best choice for daily drivers either as they need 19'' to clear them so totally not practical for your second winter wheel set. You can get the same stopping power by 6-piston VWR or Stoptech BBK offered at 355 and 360mm disc sizes that will clear much cheaper 18''s.

 

That been said I am curious to try the stock 340 brakes on the road and track. The more I thought they needed imminent upgrading in the beginning, the more posts I read in VW forums stating they are more than capable in most situations unless serious racing. There was even a guy running some sort of local championship in his R that said they coped fine in 45' sessions with just uprated pads and fluid. Hmm...

By the way, does anyone know where a European GTI is being built (is it Wolfsburg?) and how many days does it take for one car to be fully manufactured? 

Saw this very detailed post on the Clubsport S here:-

 

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=277872.0

 

Exterior specifications.

semi-slicks (Michelin Sport Cup 2) mounted on 19-inch “Pretoria” alloy wheels,

The 17-inch brake system was also modified and is particularly stable on racing circuits, to withstand the high temperatures of the brake components. The brake bells are made of aluminium; the friction ring made of cast steel is connected to these aluminium brake covers by cast locating pins and are thus able to expand radially when they heat up. Further advantages of the new brake discs include well controlled dosage of braking force as well as stability. An important factor for the car's dynamic handling is that the unsprung mass of each wheel is a whole kilogram lower thanks to the aluminium brake covers. To further improve the hot braking performance, the Golf GTI Clubsport S also leaves the factory with special brake pads on the front and rear axles.

 

So give it 19inch alloys & fancy tyres & 17inch two piece brake discs & pads (as per Audi TTRS & Seat Leon) & boast about 1kg lighter per corner unsprung weight & blindly obviously forget to fit the matching lighter weight monoblock brake callipers from those other cars & insist on fitting heavy cast iron ones instead. Also no mention of the brake cooling fins (to direct cool air at hub/disc) fitted to the lower wishbone as per the Audi TTRS

 

 

Aerodynamics. When it comes to aerodynamics and the associated downforce values spoliers & bumpers etc.

 

NO mention of additional undertrays, so my betting is the other (max4) ones which will can fit the GTI are not there...

 

I think with the so called radical "S" version VW have lost the plot, get the road basic version & tune/enhance as you want, as the "S" version is a waste of an opportunity...
 

Edited 12 May, 201610 yr by fabdavrav

I think with the so called radical "S" version VW have lost the plot, get the road basic version & tune/enhance as you want, as the "S" version is a waste of an opportunity...

 

Thanks, I'll do just that! 

VW's greatest Fanboy Mags Auto Express & Autocar are looking like being lukewarm on the Golf Clubsport GTI 40 Edition.

There is no getting away from VW cashing in on people paying the high price on something maybe not as good as the competition at the same price or cheaper even.

*If there are to be only 1,000 and you are buying 'exclusivity' then surely they will be numbered 1-1,000!*

http://autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/93548/volkswagen-golf-gti-clubsport-edition-40-review

 

VW are hardly 'pulled out all the stops', it is nearly June 2016 and Motoring Journalists are still 

having to review on the strength of driving a left hand drive model on UK roads.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

VW's greatest Fanboy Mags Auto Express & Autocar are looking like being lukewarm on the Golf Clubsport GTI 40 Edition.

There is no getting away from VW cashing in on people paying the high price on something maybe not as good as the competition at the same price or cheaper even.

*If there are to be only 1,000 and you are buying 'exclusivity' then surely they will be numbered 1-1,000!*

http://autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/93548/volkswagen-golf-gti-clubsport-edition-40-review

 

VW are hardly 'pulled out all the stops', it is nearly June 2016 and Motoring Journalists are still 

having to review on the strength of driving a left hand drive model on UK roads.

 

George, have you read both reviews thoroughly? The Autocar one is rather favoring it and gives it 4,5/5 actually:

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf-gti/first-drives/2016-volkswagen-golf-gti-clubsport-edition-40-review

 

"The real upshot though is the invigorating effect is has on the chassis" ,

 

"Aided in no small measure by the addition of Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tyres in our test car’s case, the Clubsport responds sweetly to being introduced to a corner 15mph faster than before. It combines first-rate lateral grip with a meticulousness in the steering surpassed only by the outgoing Megane."  ,  

 

"Fused with traditional GTI strengths - on the adaptive dampers, and in comfort mode, it rides more contentedly than most conventional hatchbacks, let alone the hot versions - the Clubsport puts forward a formidable case for ownership."

 

All that is basically on the same page as every other review that's been out so far.

 

 

Something seems to be wrong with the Autoexpress review on the other hand. For starters they got their facts wrong. There's no 380mm discs (it's 340) and the 0-62 is 5,9" instead of 6,3" and it's been proven already in a few videos in YT, did they even bother timing it themselves? Greatest surprise is to hear for the first time ever that "even in the Comfort setting the Golf fidgets uncomfortably at low speed, while bigger potholes send a crash through the cabin. A standard GTI with this set-up rides like a luxury limo by comparison"  Now this is one thing I investigated a lot, to an extent of getting actual hold of people that drove it and every single one of them confirmed it's as comfortable as any other GTI in Comfort mode. Funnily enough, Autocar claims exactly the opposite from Autoexpress in the comfort department, same as every other journalist that has driven it:

 

"The GTI is best know for its comfort levels, refinement and crisp handling; none of these is reduced a single notch. Instead, like adding chili powder to shop-bought tikka masala, the whole concoction merely emerges spicier and that bit more fulfilling."

 

Makes you wonder whether during the Autoexpress review the car was still on transport blocks or they have a personal issue against the Clubsport. Of-course as in every car there's the odd review that begs to differ from the others. While investigating into the Cupra some time ago, I came across reviews that were criticizing it because of supposed torque steer, inability to put the power down, even understeer was mentioned. When in fact, every other review was commenting how all of these typical FWD issues had disappeared in the Cupra. Interesting...

 

 

 

Of-course the Clubsport was not built with the intention to be a better all-rounder than the R, but a more focused and special yet daily driver Golf. Yet it has a 20lt bigger boot than the R.

 

The Autocar seems to have nailed it here: "The equally-as-quick Seat Leon Cupra 290 is £2.5k cheaper; worse still, thanks to the formidable bite recently taken out of its starting price, the frugally equipped Megane Cup-S is almost £6.5k less. Neither car compares with the Clubsport’s Swiss-watch build quality or its uncanny sense of class" That's exactly what it is. I was considering a Cupra for almost 6 months, yet every time I thought I had made my mind something told me it didn't feel right to spend that much money on it. The Megane even less. Once I got in the R and GTI I couldn't deny the interior was clearly in a different league, and I couldn't deny I wanted it in my life.

Would I exchange it with a Type-R or Megane or a Cupra because of a liitle bit more performance? They're cheaper as well. Absolutely not. I can easily make car even more track-focused If I feel it isn't enough with standard mods. But if interior, class and build quality are not there there's nothing I can do unfortunately. 

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

 

Of-course the Clubsport was not built with the intention to be a better all-rounder than the R, but a more focused and special yet daily driver Golf. Yet it has a 20lt bigger boot than the R.

 

 

That's because it has a different rear boot floor metalwork compared to the "R" as the Haldex/4WD driveline takes up room in the 3/5dr Hatch and the boot floor is raised to accommodate this. In the Estate this is not a problem as the spare wheel well is moved 1ft backwards away from the rear suspension which creates room for the Haldex/4WD driveline, & all types of estate have the same body shell.

 

As for tyres, pot luck from the factory as far as I'm concerned, want better? just go down to the type place & fit better, that's what I did!

newbie69,

Auto Express makes it clear they are driving an early left hand drive Golf GTI Clubsport,

are Autocar maybe driving the same car or one of a group of Media Cars?

 

Not 1 of the 1,000 maybe, not one that will be sold as is to someone through VW?

 

Looking forward to getting to read of Right Hand Drive cars driven on the road as they are delivered to Customers be that VW Dealers or private buyers.

 

Another review.

http://topgear.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/golfgolf-sv/20-tsi-gti-clubsport-dsg-3dr/first-drive

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

newbie69,

Auto Express makes it clear they are driving an early left hand drive Golf GTI Clubsport,

are Autocar maybe driving the same car or one of a group of Media Cars?

 

Another review.

http://topgear.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/golfgolf-sv/20-tsi-gti-clubsport-dsg-3dr/first-drive

 

Don't know what Autoexpress is driving but it can't be the same Clubsport everybody else has driven that's for sure.

 

and wow, what a raving review from TG  :clap:  

 

I particularly enjoyed this part: "Because this is a tremendous car. Honestly, one of the very best I’ve driven in 2016. All of the confusing spec nonsense floats out of the window when you give the Clubsport a bit of stick, and discover what this car does is take the very likeable – but slightly untaxing – Golf GTI, and ramp up the aggression in every single department, without ruining any of the day-to-day ability."

 

And this:  "I’d personally like to drive one of these round to the house of every armchair critic I see whining on how ‘boring’ hot Golfs are, and sit them in the bolstered bucket seat of a Clubsport for twenty minutes. That’d do the trick."

 

And this:  "So it’s refined and easy-to-use? Still sounds boring to me…  No, that’s its trump card, the daylight between it and say, a Honda Civic Type-R. In the wet, or on poor roads, or when you’re not quite in the mood – or all three – it’s a very habitable, well-damped and extremely smartly finished product. It’s not a rocket that you merely ‘put up with’ on the towns between A- and B-roads"

 

I could just go on and paste the entire article but that's not the point. The point is pretty much every reviewer seems to agree on and praise the very same things about it. And they actually go in lots of detail about it. As opposed to Autoexpress who other than stating the official figures (and they didn't even succeed in doing that correclty) they wrote a mere 2 sentences about the way the car they'd got drove, with one of them not even being true. Maybe they were denied a proper UK car and decided to slag it off in revenge? Still doesn't make any sense.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

Odd because 'Factory Insiders' are always giving the inside info to Auto Expess, 

little snippets of stuff that can only come straight from the Media Departments of VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi.

Many other journalists just quote straight from the Media Press Pack,

never checking Tyre Pressures, putting the car on the Weigh Bridge or Corner Weight Scales, 

(plugging into the OBD and seeing what the car has been given to them with.  Actually that is expecting too much, 

just taking some fuel out the tank as the car was delivered to see what was in buy getting it tested would be enough.)

Odd because 'Factory Insiders' are always giving the inside info to Auto Expess, 

little snippets of stuff that can only come straight from the Media Departments of VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi.

Many other journalists just quote straight from the Media Press Pack,

never checking Tyre Pressures, putting the car on the Weigh Bridge or Corner Weight Scales, 

(plugging into the OBD and seeing what the car has been given to them with.  Actually that is expecting too much, 

just taking some fuel out the tank as the car was delivered to see what was in buy getting it tested would be enough.)

 

Seems like they didn't this time. Wrong brake sizes, wrong 0-60 times, wrong on suspension comfort and wrong assumptions that the Clubsport was intended to be as hard-core (and hard to live with) as a Type-R or a Megane RS. Well at least they got the name right.

 

 

An interesting note from the thorough Top Gear review is that the brakes feel so much better than in the R for supposedly two reasons: 1) Brake ducts (known no.1 mod for the track)  2) 125kg off.

 

To Fabdavrav: Seems as they might be just fine in the end, we'll see,

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

And I nearly missed the "British road evaluation" bit which I know a lot of you were waiting for:

 

Again, you’re instantly aware the GTI’s chassis has been dissected under a microscope and had every element honed into something more focused. It’s firmer in all three of the damping modes, but the genius is it retains superb body control and an ability to nonchalantly shrug off cruddy roads without jittering occupants and buzzing the structure like a giant tuning fork. It’s one of the best hot hatch compromises for British roads out there – less firm than a Megane on Ohlins, but almost as absorbent to abuse.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

 

 

An interesting note from the thorough Top Gear review is that the brakes feel so much better than in the R for supposedly two reasons: 1) Brake ducts (known no.1 mod for the track)  2) 125kg off.

 

To Fabdavrav: Seems as they might be just fine in the end, we'll see,

 

Like I said earlier on I wondered if they transferred the Audi cooling ducts as it appears they transferred the whole alu subframe & wishbones...so it looks like they opted for the cheapest way to get more out of the brakes, eg two piece discs, better pads & better cooling, instead of expensive 4 or 6 pot moonblock callipers. However from a less unsprung weight perspective the expensive callipers win hands down!

 

Anyway I have the Audi cooling ducts for my car (to be fitted) & also awaiting the bigger GTI discs (size & better pads) to retro fit as the standard ones can't cope with the roads around here & after 2hrs of back country driving they cooked...

newbie69, 

I am reading the VW Golf GTI Clubsport 40 Edition Brochure,  

and VW have printed the 0-62 mph of 6.3 seconds for the manual and the DSG and it gives the fuel as 98 Super Unleaded.

 

We all know cars might do better and the car has overboost and are not the given 265ps as VW again print.

When the cars arrive we will see just what the Production models really are like.

newbie69, 

I am reading the VW Golf GTI Clubsport 40 Edition Brochure,  

and VW have printed the 0-62 mph of 6.3 seconds for the manual and the DSG and it gives the fuel as 98 Super Unleaded.

 

We all know cars might do better and the car has overboost and are not the given 265ps as VW again print.

When the cars arrive we will see just what the Production models really are like.

 

 

George, maybe you won't believe me when I say this but guess what, seems VW have been playing with numbers once again   When the Clubsport was announced in 2015 it was advertised as doing 5,9" for 0-62. This seems to agree with the Cupra 290 0-62 announced time of 5,8" which has also proven to be true in various tests. Given that the Clubsport gets the overboost 290ps during launch control and that is 20kg lighter than the Cupra it makes sense that it can crack that 0-62 in under 6" as well. Luckily those pages are still up and running, just need to search by date and voila...

 

These are official VW announcements in various countries from 2015:

 

1) http://media.vw.com/release/1054/   5.9"

 

2) https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/detailpage/-/detail/GTI-Begegnung-der-besonderen-Art/view/2951608/6e1e015af7bda8f2a4b42b43d2dcc9b5?p_p_auth=wE6ic5Ii  again, 5.9"

 

Not to mention every car magazine review like CAR, Evo, Top Gear etc. etc. reported 5,9" as well, as that's was the time VW had announced after all.The reviews are all there to check for anyone bothering.

Now... in spring 2016 when the actual release took place, VW, for whatever reason, decided to make the Clubsport look slower in the 0-62 run announcing 6,3" which doesn't really make sense if you compare it to the equally powerful and slightly heavier Cupra 290 or to the 6,4" GTI PP's time which is 60ps down. I make a prediction now that in August we might yet again get a different "official" time and another one when actual production stops. In all seriousness they need to sort this internal competition thing, it really is becoming ridiculous.

For anyone looking after some real world performance check this video, 6,3" you say?? more like 5,5" from what I see.

 

What happened was that VW Group were caught in Co2 Irregularities with Euro 6 Engines petrol and diesel. VW, Seat & Audi.

The cars are supposed to be giving the figures on 95 Octane Fuel when petrols.

 

Anyway lots of engines were not as VW had given figures to the authorities.

 

Your 1390cc Petrol engine with upgrades is good for a 6 second 0-100 km, so its is not big deal that Porky Golfs can 

get a shift on, as long as they do not need Launch Control to do it.

 

VW had great plans for a sooper dooper 40th Anniversary Model and as it is to get headlines had to produce a Clubsport S 

in even more limited numbers and confuse journalists and the public with which does which, the 40 Edition or the 'S'.

That's because it has a different rear boot floor metalwork compared to the "R" as the Haldex/4WD driveline takes up room in the 3/5dr Hatch and the boot floor is raised to accommodate this. In the Estate this is not a problem as the spare wheel well is moved 1ft backwards away from the rear suspension which creates room for the Haldex/4WD driveline, & all types of estate have the same body shell.

 

As for tyres, pot luck from the factory as far as I'm concerned, want better? just go down to the type place & fit better, that's what I did!

This is a slightly off-topic query, but is there space in the spare wheel well in an R estate for the "normal" sized spare wheel?

(A 205/50?/16 wheel.)

 

TIA DC 

This is a slightly off-topic query, but is there space in the spare wheel well in an R estate for the "normal" sized spare wheel?

(A 205/50?/16 wheel.)

 

TIA DC 

 

I guess the folks over the Golf R thread would be of more help! Haven't got mine yet...

 

 

What happened was that VW Group were caught in Co2 Irregularities with Euro 6 Engines petrol and diesel. VW, Seat & Audi.

The cars are supposed to be giving the figures on 95 Octane Fuel when petrols.

 

Anyway lots of engines were not as VW had given figures to the authorities.

 

If that's the case why no other acceleration figure was corrected during that time? Cupras and Rs are still being sold and they advertise the same times as they did when they came out in 2014. Anyway what VW wants you to think their cars make is irrelevant, one should rather focus on the drivetrain.

 

Here's another test, very recent one as well. As they say:  Announced: 6,3"   Tested:  5,94", oh surprise surprise...

 

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

We know they do not perform worse than published figures for speed, only for MPG and emissions.

It is not rocket science they give the 0-100 km and max speeds and that has to be for all heights above see levels, 

all temperatures in World Regions.

 

If the cars they build can not perform in the EU on decent pump fuel and not very extreme hot temperatures there is something far wrong.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

This is a slightly off-topic query, but is there space in the spare wheel well in an R estate for the "normal" sized spare wheel?

(A 205/50?/16 wheel.)

 

TIA DC 

 

As I said all Golf estates have the same body shell, & you can fit the adjustable boot floor (vari floor) to the door sill level & fit a full sized 225/45R17 wheel in the well below no problems....or lower the boot floor so it sits directly on the lowest setting which is about 3 inches lower & sits above the spare wheel, but then only a skinny spare like I have!

We know they do not perform worse than published figures for speed, only for MPG and emissions.

It is not rocket science they give the 0-100 km and max speeds and that has to be for all heights above see levels, 

all temperatures in World Regions.

 

If the cars they build can not perform in the EU on decent pump fuel and not very extreme hot temperatures there is something far wrong.

 

George, what you say is true and common knowledge. It is not Clubsport-specific nor does it explain why VW decided to switch from an advertised 5,9" to a 6,3" 0-62 time without doing the same in every other VAG model on sale right now. Especially, when we know that the first one is easily achievable with standard 98 ron on the Cupra and proven to be so (and even lower than that) in Clubsport tests already.

 

Not that it matters really to actual buyers, but all these games VW are playing trying not to upset any of their clients when it is obvious that a lot of what they say is not true has become too silly.

Edited 25 May, 201610 yr by newbie69

They are saying they are selling 1,000 and 400 Clubsport S so it is just about getting space in Magazines and the net and not 

about the profits from 1,400 cars sold or Registered.

 

They sell lots of MK7 Golf GTI and Golf R's anyway.

 

Its all just kidology, but as long as you enjoy what you drive.