Wednesday 18th August 2004

New Golf GTi

Order the 197bhp hatch online

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The new Golf GTI can now be ordered via a dedicated new website. Volkswagen has taken the unusual step of enabling customers to place their orders for the forthcoming model months before its debut, through the website.

The site contains a wealth of information about the fifth generation GTI, including 'indicative' pricing and specification details. The new model is projected to cost £19,995 on the road for the three-door, with the five-door carrying a £500 premium. All prices and specification are expected to be confirmed on 25th September, the day that the car makes its public debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Robert McAllister, Product Marketing Manager for the Golf warbled: ‘We fully expect demand for the new GTI to outstrip supply in its first year of sale, such is the huge amount of interest in this model. This website will allow customers to get their order in early so that they can be among the first to have the new GTI on their driveway. ’

The new Golf GTI is a highly focused hot hatchback, which harks back to the spirit of the ground-breaking Mk I model of 1976. This means an exterior appearance that is very distinct from other Golfs, with a full length honeycomb grille, eye-catching 17" alloy wheels (18" versions of the same design are available as an option), roof spoiler and GTI badges that emulate those used on the very first generation.

A turbocharged 197bhp 2.0-litre FSI petrol engine is available from launch. A six-speed manual transmission is provided as standard, while a DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) will also be available.

The website enables customers to specify their GTI through a simple step-by-step configurator, choosing, for example, colours, options and upholstery. At the end of the process, the customer is given a Unique Reference Number (URN). The customer then needs to save their order, print it off and take it to their nearest Volkswagen retailer, where the order is placed fully. A dedicated GTI helpline on 0800 052 0484 is available to help customers with any questions regarding the car or the ordering process.

Link : www.newgolfgti.co.uk  

[VladD]

It's nearly as bad looking as the Civic Type R. Why are the big manufacturers producing such ugly cars these days. AARRGGHH!!!!

[the fury]

It's no beauty, but at least they've had an attempt at putting a bit of red piping round the edge pof the 'grille.

[dinkel]

197 horses . . . VW has to move on with the R32 then . . . or make it lighter FFS!
Styling is OK. Wait for the flesh to roar by.

[snorky]

£20K for a car with about the least BHP in it's class ? that a VW alright !

[dinkel]

I bet it's the heaviest in its class as well

[cliffe_mafia]

dinkel said:

197 horses . . . VW has to move on with the R32 then . . . or make it lighter FFS! Styling is OK. Wait for the flesh to roar by.

They are doing - R36

There's pictures on here

www.forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51690

[dinkel]

My god where does that end? 2009: VW Golf R52 . . .

Make the thing lighter!

[edc]

They've also got the Leon Cupra R with the 225PS engine to compete with. Ok, so the last GTI had 180PS in Anniversary guise but when the new Leon comes out on the mk5 platform you don't think they will release a range topper with less power than before?

[turbosei]

And the DSG gearbox is only available on the 5-door... why?

[130tdi]

Where's the oil burner ?

[Witchfinder]

Overpriced and underpowered. Hope this isn't an indicator of what we can expect from the next generation Octavia vRS...

[annodomini2]

£20K!!!!!

Overpriced, overweight and under powered.

Buy an rx-8 or the like, prettier, probably faster and will more than likely hold their money better.

[NDT]

or wait (should that be weight???) for the diesel version...
almost as quick, half the cost to run...

[MEMSDesign]

Seems well overpriced compared with my Seat Leon. Spec it up to the same standard as the basic Cupra, and it costs around 6 grand on top. Not worth the difference.

[rob.e]

annodomini2 said:

£20K!!!!! Overpriced, overweight and under powered.

er.. and the rest!

Reasonble spec: 3 door, metallic, sat nav and heated seats + 18 rims is almost 25 grand..

No thanks. I'll buy one ex-fleet six month down the line i think..

[edc]

Considering you can get a Leon R with more power, equal spec for £16.8k brand new it looks at face value like too much money. But it's a Golf GTI so ppl will buy it regardless cos it has the right badge and because they are marketing it as being 'rooted' in the mk1.

[Witchfinder]

edc said:

But it's a Golf GTI so ppl will buy it regardless cos it has the right badge and because they are marketing it as being 'rooted' in the mk1.

I don't know about that - I heard VW dealers were having real trouble selling Mk V Golfs, and that sizable discounts are available.

[edc]

Witchfinder said:

edc said: But it's a Golf GTI so ppl will buy it regardless cos it has the right badge and because they are marketing it as being 'rooted' in the mk1. I don't know about that - I heard VW dealers were having real trouble selling Mk V Golfs, and that sizable discounts are available.

Maybe ppl are waking up to the premium pricing of VW compared to Skoda/SEAT.

I really cannot see why a person would spend a substantial amount more for a car that is really not much different, and in some ways inferior, (or even better quality) apart from badge and styling. Indeed with the lesser brands you typically get more spec too and interior plastics which maybe from the previous Golf/A3 eg Leon has dash from previous A3.

For the time being the advantage for the Golf5 is that the newer engines haven't quite filtered down.

Once the new Leon/Octavia variants are launched and the initial gremlins ironed out the they should be well worthy of anybody considering a VW. The quality is just a myth/perception, especially if you look at recent years of quality/customer surveys.

[chrisx666]

130tdi said:

Where's the oil burner ?

From site FAQ:

Will there be a diesel GTI?
Yes, a 2.0l TDI PD 160PS is planned as a future addition to the range. Timing is yet to be finalised.

[dinkel]

[redacted]