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What is it?

This is the new VW Golf GTI, the Mk6, although it’s not quite brand new. Beneath the new VW Golf GTI’s freshened body lurks an upgraded version of its predecessor’s underpinnings and floorpan. Given the praise heaped on that car, it’s a great starting point. Still, there is still plenty that is new about Wolfsburg’s latest hot hatch.

The styling changes successfully set the latest VW Golf GTI apart from the standard Golf. At the front, the angular headlamps wit...Read the full article

It was always going to be good, but is it better than its closest rival - the Scirocco?

This is probably 'the' car one could ever want. It is not expensive, its fun, fast, sounds like a sports car and yet is refined, quite economical, very practical (especially as a 5-door), pleasant to look at and a pleasure to sit in. What else could one want?

Orangewheels:

It was always going to be good, but is it better than its closest rival - the Scirocco?

That will depend on if you need a five door, or like me you think the back of the Scirroco looks like a mid 90's Mitsubishi Colt. Golf every time for me.

Orangewheels:

It was always going to be good, but is it better than its closest rival - the Scirocco?

It's better in one respect - stealth. The Scirocco says 'trying too hard' to me, but that is purely a matter of personal taste. It's a pretty tough choice unless you need 5 doors.

 errr.... Think you'll need to adjust the price a little - £18599 !! this has just become the bargain of the last 10 years.

I believe you'll need to add vat and on the road charges to this price.

£22-23k is a bit nearer mark. VW will want to address the pound/euro change since the mk5 Gti model, making it more expensive than the outgoing model. Like they have done with the rest of the mk6 range.

Price as tested £18,599

Erm, where did you get those figures from?

Golf GTI model line-up and prices

3dr 6-spd manual: £22,410.00

5dr 6-spd manual: £22,995.00

3dr 6-spd DSG: £23,715.00

5dr 6-spd DSG: £24,300.00

To my mind this really shows up the Golf for being overpriced to the extreme. Its £2500 more than the virtually identical (and more expensive to build) Mk5 was at its launch.

This model really doesnt seem worth the bother to me. Far too similar to the last one. It even has the same seats and alloy wheels for gods sake! Unless you really have to have the latest model, save yourself £10,000 and get a 2yr old used car.

The original govner hot hatch and, imo, still the best all rounder. Delivers on all important areas and knocks the spots off all other pretenders with superior quality and refinement, Love it.

 Frankly, I think it looks awful. The old GTi had far more presence. I'm sure it's a great all-round car, but to me it just looks like a standard Golf with oversized wheels.

Still, 170g/km is very impressive considering my 2001 100bhp 1.6 Focus is rated at 165g/km.

LateKnight:

VW will want to address the pound/euro change since the mk5 Gti model, making it more expensive than the outgoing model.

 

too right. Euro/pound prices are converging. GTI prices start at €23,395 in Germany before VAT and on the road charges and £18,861 in UK - an implied exchange rate of £1:€1.19, whereas the old Golf V was exchanging at around £1:€1.35.

Lee23404:

the Scirroco looks like a mid 90's Mitsubishi Colt. Golf every time for me.

 It definitely does look like a mid 90's colt and the front of the scirocco is not what you could call beautiful but as a current mk5 golf owner, I think the mk6 is actually worse looking than the mk5 and just for a sense of difference, I would go, in fact will go, for the scirocco.

Maybe the best all -rounder, but in terms of being a performance all-rounder it will again be the the slowest turbo"hot" hatch out there.

I think people tend to get caught up in the hype and start believing without question.There have been numerous issues with reliabilty with the "made the in Germany GTI".

Quality issues have also included panels not lining up properly,especially the rear lift gate and not to mention the rattles these problems have been experienced as far as Australia!

The Golf may have earned it's high level refinement tag ,but it still has some way to go in terms of quality(doesn't necessarily mean nice touchy,feely soft plastics/rubbers etc) and reliabilty.