I've sold my wife's car, so I've managed to get a GTD out of my local dealer for a long weekend. It's a very basic spec, in fact I don't think it has any options, bar 5 door and metallic paint, but all the same I have to say, so far I'm very impressed. We've done approx 90 miles today, over a good mix of roads, mostly town, and it's averaging 48mpg
I've been having a good play in it as well..... Engine sounds great for a diesel, but I understand it's been enhanced digitally??, performance is ok, but a pain in a manual as you are for ever changing gear and short shifting, due to the smaller rev range- we will be having the DSG, and I'll get it mapped to approx 200-210bhp, which will satisfy my needs until I decide what car I want next! Handling is good, but we'll have the 18's not the 17's as fitted to the demo. To be fair it'll be perfect for my wife, she's loved all the golfs we've had previously, and even though she doesn't do many miles, diesel is the better option, as we'll hardly have to fill it up and in this ever increasing fuel price culture we're in, it'll be an added bonus, and she loves driving this one bar the manual gearbox. Her driving is mainly town - school runs etc, so this will be easy to park, and manoeuvre.
Looks wise, I think they've got it spot on, but then bar the rear stripe and exhaust position it looks the same as a GTI - I may change the grille trim to red as I think it looks better than the chrome. And I like the dark grey of the demo, I'm pretty set on white, but come order time, I could do a last minute switch!
