There are only a few genuine classics in the auto industry, that are affordable anyway, and this is one of them.
Let's see what the seventh generation feels like, and how it carries its legacy as we drive the 2015 VW GTI.
This one's an SE.
With a manual by the way.
Check the tech.
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First of all a Golf is still a Golf.
One of the most reliable formulas in the business is still basically the same formula.
It's a little longer, it's a little wider than the last generation, but almost trivially.
The big give away for the spotter is the hood, the face of the current Golf has got this lower sloping down snout.
Going along with that, our new headlights and tail lights.
Beyond that the packaging is very familiar.
Now I may not like every BW car, but I think I like every BW cabin.
They just punch above their price class in terms of having a nice, mature style.
Solid materials.
Now, we have the lesser of two head units, a 5.8 inch display radio.
A larger NAV unit, eight inch, in a package, is available, but to be honest, I don't think it holds a lot of delights.
VW is just not cool when it comes to doing great head units.
Even on this one, look at that crappy dot pitch of that display.
You've got some nice.
Well thought out helper hard keys around it your immediate choices are pretty good its not a class leader in terms of apps for example if your gonna play an app its gonna be just the audio coming off your phone instead what you've got is a CD player over here where you can't reach it in the glove box.
SD card slot there as well because you know everyone loves that, here's your multi device interface down there in the binacle, I hate these things you got a custom port that has to go to a VW or Audi cable that then goes to your device, just get a USB.
And of course you have blue tooth streaming, that's gonna be your saving grace along with your radio choice.
Rear camera's optional on these cars.
The base cars do no have it.
Bear that in mind.
Ditto for park distance sensors.
That's another option package it's part of.
Sunroof, keyless access, those are also part of option packages.
And your audio can get bumped up, and I mean bumped.
To fender audio, which to me just sounds like more speakers with a massive subvert for you can easily use to overdrive everything else.
So keep it around the middle.
Ok, under the hood, one engine choice on the GTI, you got a two litter, side saddle, in line turbo four.
Two gearboxes are available though.
Six speed manual, thank you.
Or a six speed DSG.
It's there dual clutch transmission.
Front wheel drive 210 horsepower or 220 if you get a special performance package that basically hops up the software.
In both cases though 258 pound feet of torque.
Zero to 60's in the.
Low sixes for this car.
Now if you want all wheel drive not available here.
Interestingly you get slightly better mileage with the manual, that isn't usually the case these days.
25, 34 if you have a clutch, 25, 33 if you get.
The DSG gear box and this engine wants premium by the way.
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So first of all you've got to get use to a couple things before you get going int his car.
I'm not crazy about the clutch, it's one of those really light ones, never been a fan, but that is a little easier to commute in and you may like that feel.
The power comes on in a spooly fashion, like this.
Nice little growl you get out of this engine.
And yet, at idle its dead silent and so keep moves.
The driving ergonomics quite nice on these vehicles, at least I think so.
Plenty of head room by the way even if you're tall.
And as I mentioned earlier, a nice sturdy build quality in here.
So the adaptive suspension available for the GTI, we don't have it and I don't miss it.
I like the way this car handles.
Now the least you can get into a GTI for is about 25,600.
It's going to be a manual transition car, no rear camera, no nav, no sunroof, pretty bare bones, but you're getting the DNA.
At $600 for a four door, $1100 for the duel clutch transmission, the performance package that gets you more horse power,limited slip and bigger breaks is $1495.
Driver assist is also pretty limited.
Park sensors and forward collision warning for 700, I can take or leave it.
Adaptive suspension, can't comment on it, because we don't have it.
But it's $800 and it requires that previous performance package.
The key is the s e trim level for sunroof, keyless, rear cam, automatic lights, fender audio, unfortunately you're gonna lose the cool plaid cloth.
Autobahn for seventeen hundred, is only on four doors by the way, and also brings you power seat for the driver and automatic temperature control.
Your 26,000 dollar GTI can rather easily become a 35,000 dollar GTI if you do it all up.
CNET style.
Still a couple grand shy of the entry point for Golf R though, so they maintain some separation there.
And for most people this is enough, great everyday driver and ready for spirited driving when you are.
