About the Volkswagen Golf
KP bought this Volkswagen Golf new for $46,000 (including all on-road costs). KP wouldn’t buy this car again because: “Yes, if I was taken back in time to the same condition. However, would I buy the current generation, sadly not.”
I think the hot hatch game has moved on and it’s not so clear who the market leader is. The latest Mk8 GTI doesn’t represent the same value either, although much is borrowed from the Mk7.5. I also find that the cost of ownership is quite high, the better performing wet clutch type DSG fits my GTI accounts for some of that. “
How reliable has your car been? Let us know about any issues.
Very reliable. It doesn’t have a single mechanical issue or snag. It is expected with the last of a generation.
Volkswagen has done an excellent job of refining and improving the Mk7 throughout its life and it shows in the reliability of this vehicle.
What about the ownership experience with your car?
Overall ownership has been a smooth but slightly expensive experience.
Servicing has been longer than expected but fuel costs have been reasonable despite it sipping premium unleaded, with long-term fuel economy sitting around 7.5L/100km.
The feature set of the car still stands up to newer models that cost a lot more. It’s a very fun car to drive, with on-screen load settings, adaptive dampers, and drive modes to boot.
The seven-speed wet clutch DSG is a great long-travel dual clutch. It doesn’t suffer from any of the usual dual-clutch grips.
How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?
After sales support from Volkswagen has been good and any queries I have have been answered promptly.
My car was even selected by Volkswagen Australia to be used in a mystery shopper program to test the dealership, resulting in them picking up and dropping off the car and paying for the service.
This is not common among other Australian brands, which shows how seriously Volkswagen takes the after-sales experience.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
Without a doubt, the amount of features included for the driveway price I paid is unmatched in today’s market.
Custom drive modes, full-size screen in front of the driver, LED lights all around, adaptive suspension, sports exhaust, auto reserve parking… the list really goes on.
Also the 2.0L Turbo is such an impressive engine, torquey at any speed but still very efficient
What do you think about your car’s performance and economy?
I honestly think this is all the performance car you need on Australian roads. I have fast and sporty cars but this feels like a goldilocks zone for hot hatches.
It’s quick enough to blast down some twisty roads but it’s a breeze to keep under control. Economy has been excellent, when I was driving 100km per day, I regularly returned 6.8 L/100km on a mix of highway and city driving.
In short, a very complete package.
What about the technology in your car?
This car has all the options and technology you need in a modern car, and considering its sub-$50k price tag, it doesn’t skimp on much. The adaptive cruise and lane keeping system is excellent and doesn’t interfere like others I’ve used.
Stop/Start is smart and never leaves the car when you need it most. The feature set inside would be at twice the price in a car at home, it’s well thought out, easy to use and reliable.
I enjoy the Auto Reserve Parking feature, it’s still impressive how well it works. The screen in front of the driver is clear and gives you all the important information. The entertainment system is smaller than what you usually see in new cars, but it’s responsive and has all the creature comforts.
Best of all, there are no capacitive buttons or switches in sight.
How about your ride comfort and handling of your car?
A big tick for ride and handling. It’s certainly not the last word in the sporty hot hatch feel, I came from a Renault Sport Megane with a cup chassis, now that’s an informative ride.
The front end can feel a bit sluggish when you’re really pushing, but overall it always feels sure-footed and controllable.
But it’s great to live with everyday in and around the city and suburbs. Set it to a comfortable and relaxing experience.