I find them so dull I sold my first mk6 GTI and bought another!!
They're a stupidly expensive (as are all half decent new cars now) but very accomplished product. Although the similarities of chassis and size are far closer, a mk5 and mk6 compare a little like a mk1 and mk2 GTI.
Yeah, the R looks better (to most people's eyes, some people prefer the GTI), but is a lot more expensive to buy and run. So it depends on how you use the car really. Mine is just a family car so mods will be kept to a minimum and I don't need 4wd.
The K04 engined car is going to be the modders choice, as ever, and actually offers good value for money over a new standard GTI but the 'normal' mk6 GTI is a very good everyday allrounder.
It looks good in the right colour with the right spec (LED tail lamps make a big difference and xenons make the front end look bang up to date), has an amazing spread of options if you don't mind flushing thousands of quid down the bog come re-sale time and has a very mature feel to it. It delivers the goods without you really noticing sometimes, so I can sympathise with the 'cold'ness a little. Once you jump into another car you appreciate what the GTI can do with its blend of talents. I drive vans and trucks a fair bit so it feels very refined to me!!
I agree with the sentiment that on first acquaintance the inside seems a bit more claustrophobic. It is all black plastic and seems very dark until you get familiar with it. The dash is a much nicer shape than the mk5 one. The other bits of trim are just 'different'. But it does feel more expensive until you really look closely.
Both of mine have been treated to stage 1 software. The first one had REVO and the second has been given the Bluefin treatment as I just fancied a different angle on this one to compare. The engine is good, it sounds and goes a bit better than the mk5 unit & is quite a bit better on fuel.
I owned two mk5s previously (and at least one example of every Golf from a mk1 GTI, several mk2s, a couple of mk3 VR6s and even a mk4 1.8t and it's Cupra sibling). The mk6 GTI reminds me a lot of my mk2s; just not as well engineered!!
Like the mk2, the first time you test drive one it leaves you a bit underwhelmed. But for some reason you go back and have another go; then the subtleties hit you bit by bit. Then the cost hits you with a wallop!!
