MK 7 GTi

[xjay1337]

Yeah, that was a concern to me.. it seems very ... uhh ... exposed, shall we say, to stonechips, small, low speed parking bumps. Adaptive cruise control has been around on cars for ages, and I have never seen whopping great big sensors mounted out front, I don't know why they couldn't have mounted it further back out of harms way, or incorporated it into the headlights somehow.

It's great they are giving away basically on nearly every car, but still...

I am not a Fan of electronic handbrakes but I wouldn't not own a car because of one... I think that's just a bit daft, but each to their own. 

[chris a]

I've got acc on me man truck absolute god send when on the motorways with variable speed limits. But like has been said very exposed showing in the front bumper

[stealthwolf]

The car is growing on me more than the MK6 did. I would just stick with the 18" wheels. The front radar sensor ruins the front view which concerns me. If I wanted to buy a new car, I'd be sorely tempted.

[camfollower]

What was the thinking behind the pedals?  The floor mounted accelerator ones are much nicer.
I prefer a manual handbrake.

Wheels are foul... They should have given it better brakes too... This is a 220 bhp, 30 grand car, what's wrong with some 4 pots!?  They were in the parts bin from the 225bhp cupra r, 6 billion years ago.

They've given and taken away all in the same breath to keep costs down and profits up.  Like the mk6 rear which doesn't have cut outs for the tips, so that it can be used on other models.  Volvo did the same thing with estate t5.

As for the claimed mpg, 45mpg urban.... Bullllllsh*t.  Other than that and the red line through the headlights and gopping sensor up front, I'm sure it's very nice.

[gobbleplease]

Its Nothing to do with seeing it on top gear.

I drive a lot of hire cars through going away on jobs with my work and the vast majority of them are fitted with electronic handbrakes, I just hate them, they are dimwitted take an age to operate and obviously you can't modulate a button.
Me no Like em !

There are absolutely no advantages to a keen driver with an electronic handbrake IMO

[camfollower]

The handbrake should be an emergency brake as much as a parking tool.  Had one on the old Tiguan, I agree they are dimwitted and useless other than parking up.

[mad_pete]

I've had an electric brake on my jag and it was fine. If the all brakes totally fail use engine braking and then hit something gentle like a hedge. If VW can do DSG I'm sure they can do a semi sensible electric parking brake.

[Hedge]

If the all brakes totally fail use engine braking and then hit something gentle like a hedge.

No hit somethings else. 

[GTI5]

I'm going to say this has grown on me.

I don't think the wheels are too bad, they are ultimately an option as is the Cloth trim.

I don't think they could carry on with Monza's anymore...

I have also found the GTI's MPG rating not far off the mark? Sure 35.3 combined MPG on MK5 GTI doesn't always happen but that's what stop/start driving does to any car.

As for the E-Handbrake I agree seems a bit needless?

[camfollower]

I've had an electric brake on my jag and it was fine. If the all brakes totally fail use engine braking and then hit something gentle like a hedge. If VW can do DSG I'm sure they can do a semi sensible electric parking brake.

In an emergency situtation, engine braking really isn't going to help much, even if you have time to mash it into a low enough gear.  A manual handbrake will at least lockup the rears and shave a decent amount off.

[mad_pete]

Who here has had total brake failure on a car say up to 8 years old and this is a brand spanking new car, i don't think you are going to drive off the forecourt and get total brake failure. With the wheels locked there is questionable ability to steer and if both normal  brake systems fail under emergency heavy braking I'd be surprised if you have time to do something meaningful with the handbrake.  I guess the e brake is partially there for the older generation that have trouble getting the manual one on and off. But each to their own I just don't view the handbrake as some sort of back up parachute on modern cars.

[NezEd30]

auto matic hand brake 

Agree, just one way to take some of the fun out of driving...

[swgti]

I really like the Mk7 design but the Gti.........

Wheels - not a lover of these types similar to those on the megan rs, fiddly to clean and will no doubt be covered in white worm in no time.
Front end - Much nicer than the Mk6 but that sensor thingy looks ridiculous.
Rear  - Looks like it's not been finished, tail pipes are just hovering in thin air.
Interior - Lush dash and instruments and quite like the led idea but the seats look very cheap.

Would I have one? Yes, like it better than the Mk6.

[andrewparker]

My Mother has the ADC sensor on hers (a 2.0 TDI GT MK7) and its actually far less obvious than it looks in photos, though certainly more so than the sensor for the Active Cruise Control on our BMW. I'm not sure but maybe it's so big because it has something to do with the pre-crash detection system?

As for the GTI wheels, it seems a lot of people are confusing the option wheels with the Monza-esque ones that come as standard.

[simonp]

Also the steering wheel.... is it round!? ...not flat bottomed!!

Why is that a problem? I really can't see any point whatsoever in a steering wheel that isn't round.