Ike

I drove a manual car and a car equiped with DSG.

The manual first...

The shifting is a little rubbery but not as bad as VWs and Audis from the past. The shifts are very smooth, though not as snick snick and short as I would prefer, I don't think many people will complain that the throws are too long. Clutch engagement was also very easy and the clutch pedal was very light, again not my preference but will please the average consumer. My biggest complaint is the push type clutch VW and Audi insist on using, if I have a sporty car I don't want to have to push the pedal almost all the way to the floor.

This particular car had the leather interior and upgarded 17" wheels. The seats were quite good, nicely bolstered and comfortable. Not Evo good, but I have yet to find a better stock seat, the GTI seats were a little snugger than the STI seats.
The plaid seats in the DSG car weren't quite as good, but there wasn't a big difference and the plaid was a nice touch, though I'd worry if I would still like it down the road a couple years. The interior was very good, quality materials and excellent fit and finish They got important stuff like the steering wheel and pedals right as well. C&D pointed out the high dash, and it is apparent but not terribly bothersome and something that I could easily get used to. For a small car the interior felt roomy and I wasn't cramped in the least. Someone else might go on more about how great the interior is but I could honestly care less about that stuff.

The engine felt peppy, but coming from a car with almost 300whp of course it's going to feel a little anemic. Speed wise I'd say it's about on par with the RX-8 but doesn't feel quite as fast due to the early power delivery and seemingly linear delivery of power all the way to redline. There is no turbo lag, to the point that it doesn't even feel like a turbo car. Punch the gas at 2k RPMs and it feels almost the same as punching it at 4k. The engine has a nice little growl to it as does the exhaust.

The ride was nice and smooth, not overly soft and floaty and it absorbed all the bumps in the road without issue. I didn't even come close to testing the handling limits but the car handles well enough to make a spirited jaunt around town or on a twisty road pleasurable.





The DSG...

It's brilliant, it shifts seamlessly, by far the best AT I've ever driven. BMW wishes their SMG was this good. Not one hint of bucking or downtime, you don't even realize it's shifting unless you're really getting on it. Even when you're hammering on the throttle you have to pay attention to realize you just went up a gear. No early shifts here either, the car fully utilizes its powerband. In sport mode using the paddles, it's just as smooth and won't try to dictate what RPMs you're in, even allowing you to go past the redline before it shifts for you. Like I said, it's brilliantly executed, I however still felt detached. I felt like I was playing a videogame rather than driving a car, the smoothness with which it carried out my little clicks of the paddles enhanced that feeling. In fact the car is so good in auto mode I don't even see the point of the paddles.

If I owned this car I'd play with the paddles for the first week or two and probably never use them again unless I did a track day. Even then the benefits of the paddles would be minimal, and I'd question my own sanity for buying an auto if I intended to do track days.

On a side note, the shifts are so quick and seamless the DSG did feel faster than the MT. A very well driven MT would still be a tick faster in my mind, but not consistently so. Average 10 1/4 mile times between the two cars and the DSG will come out the victor. Both cars also had some wheel spin when getting on it in low gears, but no typical torque steer or wheel hop.

VW has a real winner on their hands and this is totally the kind of car I'd like to see my girlfriend drive or send my kid off to college with. Bravo VW!




Stupid things salemen say...

Whenever I testdrive cars there's always some stupid things said by the salesman that stand out. My sales guy knew his stuff pretty well, but not all his stuff.

"This car makes peak horsepower at 1800 RPMS"

I corrected him that he means torque, he still insisted it makes its peak horsepower at 1800. It's really 5100 for the hp and 1800 for the torque.

"With just a chip this car will put 265 horsepower to the wheels"

Nonsense of course, but this was after the peak horsepower discussion so I let it go. I'm sure the car will respond well to a chip just like the 1.8Ts did, but 265 to the crank is pushing it.

VikingDJ

Nice write up. A GTI is a possible STI replacement for me as a daily driver, since I am a total VW guy at heart when it comes to daily rides. Reliablility is the key factor, along with being able to accept that kind of hp loss in my daily driver/commuter car. I most certainly think the car is better looking both inside and out, so that scores points with me as well. I'm gonna have to check out the DSG model, because that will suit me nicely, considering I am always stuck in traffic. I'd like to get my hands on a new R32, but it may never see the US, so I won't hold my breath on that.

Chrisbert

How much HP to the wheels does the car have. In one place you said it had almost 300WHP, then you said that 265 to the crank was pusing it.

Tirminyl

The 300hp remark was in referring to his Evo. Stating that coming from an almost 300hp car the GTI felt anemic.

Chrisbert

Ah, now that makes sense. I was corn-fused. Going back to sleep now...

trickshot

I just had a positive premonition today that the GTI is going to be around for another generation.

Dinhx8

has anyone here driven both the GTI and the Civic Si?
if so thoughts?
C and D did a comparo and the GTI edged based on its torque and some other small factors... I for one can't decide which I prefer..

map

To clear things up, the GTI hp is underated, and is actually pushing between 190 to 200 hp to the wheels in stock trim. This is based on dynos from vwvortex boards.

Ike

I'm going to drive the SI at some point in the near future.

DreRX8

I wish that Mazda had a dsg for the RX8--I believe that if it had a launch control feature it would be a nice match for the rev band of the RX8.

saturn

Haha, classic.

Very nice writeup Ike. Glad to see you got a chance to drive the DSG, even though you don't seem totally sold on having one. We've had this whole discussion before, but it seems as though a car with a DSG or even a CVT is the fastest and best way to keep a car in its powerband at all times. But having silky smooth shifts or no shifts at all (CVT) would probably drive anyone with a sports car crazy. You're not the first person I've heard say that the shifts on the DSG are almost too smooth so maybe VW will start listening and do something about it.

Chrisbert

I like the Si. If i was looking for a cheap sporty car, I'd consider it.

BlueEyes

Nice write up. The GTI is finally up on the canadian VW website, and suprise suprise is more expensive than it is in the states (w/ conversion). That really grinds my gears. I can option a car out in the states to my liking for 29k CDN. That's where the GTI starts here. And to top all that off, we don't get any of the options except sunroof and leather!! no nav, not sat. radio, no nothing!

saturn

Did you vote in the DSG poll (https://www.rx8club.com/polls-70/would-you-get-dsg-rx-8-a-82401/)? Not that it really matters what the outcome is. But who doesn't like to vote?

Ike

FYI, the US cars didn't get launch control.

Also, it was pretty funny driving the Evo away, I pushed the clutch in and thought it was broken. It was so hard to push in compared to the GTI that I was straining, but after a few minutes it felt normal again. I guess I've been driving these cars with stiff clutches for so long I don't even notice.

Glyphon

i haven't driven the GTI, but my fiancee has a jetta with the DSG, and that thing is incredibly smooth. similar to what ike said, unless you are flooring it, or looking at the dash the exact moment it shifts, you'll won't notice that it shifted. the DSG is by far the best automatic tranny out there. she especially love the hill assist feature.

Chrisbert

I just had this funny image of you 5 years from now with a giant left leg and a regular sized right leg.

Design1stCode2nd

I’m planning on taking a day to test drive a whole mess of cars just to get a really good idea of what I want and to have fun. The list consists of:

Audi A3 S-line with the DSG V-6
RX8
MS 6
WRX STi
Evo MR (if I can find one)
Charger R/T

Really interested in the DSG since the Evo X is supposed to have this as at least an option.

VikingDJ

I looked at a white GTI today at dealer in showroom. I was ultimately impressed. Now I gotta drive one. I left before I did something stupid. I am comparing this car to my STI, because it's a possible replacement as a daily commuter car. I just need to get over the power loss before it becomes a reality. I agree with alot of what Ike said, and maybe after this weekend, I'll agree some more. I love the interior, and the seats are great. This one had the amenities like dual zone auto climate control, heated seats, leather, ect ect. It also had the dsg. I am a Vw guy for daily driving, and I crossed over when I got the STI, but if there is a car that can get me back, this is it. I'd like to wait for a new R32 though, if that's even coming here. Either way, this car is more me then the STI. I do a lot of driving, and sit in a lot of traffic, and the STI is beginning to bother me a bit with that heavy clutch, road noise, harsh ride, and more importantly just the overall look of the car with that hideous wing disturbs me at times. Don't get me wrong, I love the STI for how it drives, but now that I have seen this GTI, I'm looking at interior and exterior, and liking it a lot more. It trumps the STI no doubt about it. Not even close IMO.

I also tarted around at the pontiac dealership today and test drove a demo 05 GTO. I must say, that car is freaking fast. My STi from a roll will have it's behind handed to it I know that. Muscle cars aren't my thing, but the seats are great, interior isn't really as bad as people say it is, and the ride is smooth and luxurious for a 400hp beast. I love that engine. The guy started putting out numbers, and I ended that with BS to get out of there.If I could afford a third car, this could very well be it. This was an auto, but it didn't feel like that played any role in performance. I definitely love the rush, but a car like likely will bore me in a few months. I'm gonna have to test drive a GTI, and see if it's a future STI replacement or not. I'm pretty sure it is, but only if I can not miss the power and performance loss.

Cooder

I think if VW pulled the GTI, it would be a little too reactionary.

Cooder

I think you logic is screwy. Way too long. Get to the point. Don't use pretentious words like "brilliant." Let the British use the word. Did Brian Boitano or Austin Scarlett ever talk like that?

I'm fully aware of what the word "brilliant" means, if I had a "brilliant" meal yesterday and said it's one of the most "brilliant" meals I've had in the last decade would you argue with me that it can't be so just because I had some awful meals in 1997?

After reading your second paragraph I shall bid you adieu.... Wow, just wow...

Ike

Funny thing is I could dunk when I was younger and stopped playing basketball as much and then could only dunk if I had a toss or bouned the ball since I can't palm most basketballs. After I started driving my WRX I gained back the inch or two I had lost and could dunk again since I'm a one footed jumper

Ike

I know the RX-8 and GTI are fast cars to most people, but I just couldn't handle driving them. I mash the gas and feel like I'm going nowhere. It might not be so bad for you since I've got another 50 or so whp, but I wouldn't have nearly as much fun with the GTI as my daily.

Cooder

Brian Boitano did some truly awesome triple axels. I bet he could have spun straight up into the hoop and dunked a basketball...if he played.

Japan8

You mean the GTI's power deliverly is so linear that it doesn't feel as fast as the RX-8, or did you mean the opposite?

How does the GTI stack up to the RX-8 for you?


Actually... didn't you read my posting in another thread? There is a kit out already that does ECU flash and turbo back exhaust... good for about 268hp. Others that have gone on to do more work in Germany/Europe... bore up, bigger turbo, etc. have pushed the engine to about 400hp I think it was... VW themselves have an upcoming application of the engine in the Audi S4 which is supposed to put out about 260hp (according to Road and Track or Car and Driver).