I drove a new Golf GTI today, so here are my impressions. For all they count for...

The first fast FWD car i have driven since my Teg, i had forgotten just how easy they are to drive quickly. Over country roads i had never been on before, the golf felt fantastic, even just jumping into it, the "getting to know you" phase was about two corners, by then I felt comfortable enough to really commit, and the golf just gripped and turned in. Heel and toe is made really easy with the floor mounted accellerator pedal. It felt very potent, although lacking the out right speed of the S.

A great car, and pratical too, one down side was the brakes. Over servoed, lacking in feel and before a tight left hander they faded away to nothing, scaring me a little.

In all honesty I would be faster on those roads in the Golf, but rewards and thrills of getting right in the S make it worth while.

Don't really want to think what happends when get it wrong tho :|

 

They're great all round cars, no doubt about it - can't be considered as a replacement for an S2000, different type of thing, but we've had ours about 1 year now, and it can still entertain you when you're in the mood

 

The driving position is good - I like the right foot rest for traffic jams.

Much improved over the (at least Golf-looking!) mark 4. Like a Tipo, one always felt like sitting on a bar stool.

 

My mate has chipped his to approx 265bhp - quite quick

 

DSG gearbox is nice too!

 

I love the GTI, but it's just not raw enough for me, a bit too German - does everything too well.

The TT is actually a much more fun drive, with a better exhaust sound and seems to enjoy being thrashed more (different ECU setup I imagine). The TT is also more fun in the bends and has anharder suspension setup.

I really think the GTI would benefit from the R32's suspension the Audi S3's engine!! Would be a weapon then!

 

I really like the GTI. If I had to drive something new and FWD it'd be that with a DSG gearbox, or a DC5 ITR.

 

Do you mean new or old TT? New one sounds very good by all accounts, and I like the new look.

But it's a different type of car - I wouldn't expect the Golf to be better than a small low slung coupe, but with the Golf you get 5 seats and bags of practicality for when you need it. If you don't ever need it, then get a TT.

 

New one, old one was cack!

 

Then again, a bloody Civic is easy to go too fast in, from the off.

It becomes pointless.

And there's teh styling; The hard points of the B5 platform came out of the computer. The guy vaguely drew on some Mk4 headlights, a Polo waistline & then cried & threw himself out of the window.

I drove the EK4 Civic VTi last night. It felt so very light & darty, it was nippy off the line, bounced slightly over ridges and made me grin on a mundane trip to the sorting office & supermarket.

I drove it far over the speed limit, because it compelled me too.