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@@onwardlemongaming same I miss my gti mk7 it’s been in shop for 1 week now I Waiting when they gonna deliver it I had it for Days and it was overheating so I needed to repair it and now sitting and waiting and it’s painful waiting for it I miss driving that car I got as my first car
I’m a manual guy through and through but if you haven’t had the opportunity to drive a dsg or a dct do it, at least the dsg system is so fun and you honestly still feel in tune, it rips on the back roads and the dsg box in a hot hatch is just cheat code on the streets. Crazy car considering a nice one is 20ish and I’ve seen high mileage below 10, crazy value.
Other than being a great enthusiast car, the GTI is timeless. Since buying my '19 after college, I've had elderly people, high schoolers, men, women, car enthusiasts, people who barely know anything about cars, strike up conversations about cars with me. Whether it's just someone complementing the looks of the car or someone who had a GTI in their younger days and is sharing their VW story, it's always interesting. The community around GTIs varies so vastly, young to old, low and slow, fast and loud, you can always find what your looking for. Jason Camissa from Hagerty said it best, it's a car you're equally likely to see in a bad neighborhood as you are to see in a rich person's garage.
I have a '17 Sport and had two conversations initiated by two different people just last Saturday about how good-looking the car is; which led to conversations about the cars we've owned and driving experiences we've had.
I own a manual mk7, and have previously had a dsg mk7. EQT Tuning is the place to go for tunes, no question. Porsche Macan brakes are the best bang for buck brake upgrade there is. Rear sway bar upgrade will change the whole car for the better. Most aftermarket coilovers have rear springs that are wayyy to stiff for the platform, in an attempt to induce oversteer, but they will reduce your overall cornering G and make you slower. If you cant get a PP, the base model can be fitted with a wavetrac LSD. If you cant afford an R, the GTI can be AWD swapped for 5-6k depending on where you source parts.
What source(s) do you have, or a link you can share with me, on making the FWD to AWD conversion for my MK7 GTI? I have big plans for my MK7 GTI, and if I could make it AWD for $10k (after labor costs), it would be worth it to me in the long run.
@@JacesOwnWorld I don't know of any resources but I know you need - front bevel box, drive shaft, drive shaft support, rear haldex, rear subframe, rear axles, rear hubs, haldex controller, fuel tank, exhaust, and maybe some custom wiring.
Being a mk7 gti owner, I can say they are absolutely awesome cars. Mine is a 2016 SE as well, but it is stage 3 with full mpi, lpfp, big hybrid turbo, big injectors, and full pm40. On 91 right now but moving to e85 soon. Awesome video!!
My is38 gti sees WOT every day, never skipped a beat. 88k miles running strong! If people are wondering, IHI is38, Intake, Turboback, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, HPFP Intrernals, RS7 Plugs/coils, and ACT Stage 3 Singlemass. UM tuned for 20k at 29.8psi, made 355whp/370wtq. Now EQT tuned on base map (waiting on revisions:( )
I work at a dealer and drove one of these... it was so fun i started looking on marketplace and saw what they were going for, definitely a bargain for how much fun it is to drive
I bought a 2015 Autobahn GTI earlier this year for $12k with 85k miles and I can honestly say I wish I had owned one a long time ago. Absolutely perfect.
Yup I agree with all of this. I run a 2018 golf gti Autobahn and I personally recommend you get the 2018 vs any other year. It has all the facelift tech and still has the 6 speed dsg. The 7 speed doesn’t feel as raw and fast as the previous year. Also 300whp is so easy to get on the gti.
As a MK7 owner with 6 speed manual, I would too get the DSG over the manual if I were to buy again. And yes misfires do happen, not often though (ive had them twice during idle in the last 15 months)
I just bought a 2015 Mk7 Gti PP.. Its my first car.. I was soo against getting a front wheel drive.. I thought it wont be fun and people will say I bought the wrong drive/car.. Tbh, its one of the best decisions i have taken.. Its a car for mature driver..(im 26 btw) Its good for daily and weekends... I just lov it.. I do plan to tune it in the future, buts its soo good enough as it is now... For anyone thinking of getting one and who is thinking like me.. try it..
Congrats! You'll get a lot of joy out of your car. For what it's worth, I've got over 100k miles on my 2015 GTI and it's still going strong, tuned most of the miles to boot, without any repairs and only regular maintenance. Just remember to always do the recommended maintenance at or before the indicated intervals (especially oil which VW says 10k but I like to do at 7k or so) and the DSG fluid service (assuming you have the DSG).
@@Krauser1226 Yea, im new to golf gti maintainance. I used to take care of my Dad's cars, but this feels quite different as this is a bit sporty...Thanks for the info mate ... She is my baby girl and i want her to be in good condition.. 😄
The clutch. Honestly, if I knew ahead of time that the stock clutch sucked so bad I would have bought a DSG. Live and learn. I do love it with my upgraded clutch now.
Sooo...whadidya get? I have a '17 that swapped over to a DKM stage-2 daily single disc. Noisy as fuck at idle but performs flawlessly with the Unitronic stage-1+ tune. Stock clutch started slipping in 5th & 6th at just over 70k. Very dissapointing as I did not whoop on it.
Hey Guys, I have a 2015 2dr GTI (DSG) mk7, currently it’s stock but with an intake. I previously had a tune and a down pipe and it was great and must faster than when it was stock. Doing some work to another car so I brought it to stock to keep it reliable. That being said, the car as is; stock, is a phenomenal car. The handling on it is superb, you can hit bends and corners at competitive speeds, Tail of the Dragon is literally so fun, especially when you’re hitting the roads in Upstate NC,TN,SC etc. while I’m down in SoFlo, the GTI still is a fast and fun car. The interior is done right, the dials, clusters, infotainment, seats and steering wheel are done right. They’re very appealing and they don’t look dated and “old” as some cars can be even after a few years. The car stock is very reliable and it’s hard to make them unreliable. Tunes and parts are important in keeping them reliable. They’re also very solid and safe cars because the chassis of the GTI is one solid shell. It is not clamshelled, or a 2pc like every other company. That in turn adds to the collision safety of it and a tad bit to the handling. I’ve had this car for 3 years, I put 100k on it and I’m going to be pulling it apart very soon to rebuild it (to bolster it up) and go stage 3 with full build. Suspension, chassis, etc. and the engine still runs like a top. Only issue I’ve had with this GTI is the coolant system and the speakers. My coolant tank had a small crack and ended up leaking coolant and not alerting me, cracked the hoses and cracked the radiator. (This just happed at about 99k miles) and it’s all new OEM and works great. The speakers in the base model are decent for what it is, but the passenger door speaker has blown for no legitimate reason. (I don’t blast bass or anything too loud) and it started to just fall out of tune and then blow itself out. This has happened with a few other GTI owners in my area so it’s something I assume is a trait of issue with them. Anywho, it’s a great car and when modded correctly will gap TF out of a lot of cars. Oh and launch control with DSG farts is fun :)
I have a 2016 GTI S dual clutch with a stage 1 APR tune. I'm at 50k miles without any issues. I just do the recommend maintenance. I love it for the easy power and the city practicality. I highly recommend the car!
DAMNIT!!! I just bought a 2017 Focus ST. To be honest I had 3 straight GTIs a Mk4, a Mk6 and a Mk7. Then I went to a A3 2.0T Quattro. After 10+ years with DSG transmissions I was ready to go back to a manual. No regerts.
I own a 6spd manual 17’ MK7 GTI, and you are 100% right about the manual on this car. Stock clutch can’t hold enough torque and the shifter components are pretty “loosy goosey” as well. It all needs to be upgraded, which, on this car, isn’t cheap. I have over double the power from factory in my GTI, and I’ve upgraded everything. It includes: 1. SouthBend Stage 3 Endurance clutch ($1850) 2. ECS Tuning bleeder block ($125) 3. Raceseng Sphere 100 shift knob ($180) 4. Forge Motorsports short shifter ($120) 5. ECS Tuning shifter billet bushings ($50) All in all, that adds up to $2,212! Yes, that is a ton of money, and yes, these are items that aren’t entirely necessary to have if you tune your MK7 GTI. From my experience with being on my third aftermarket clutch on this car, and being IS38 on meth (400whp’ish/430wtq’ish), I wouldn’t recommend any other clutch brand except Southbend, even though they’re very expensive (same clutch I have now is over $2000 new!!!). I also installed all of these components myself, so after all required items to be installed (fluids, tools, etc.), I’m looking at closer to a $2,500 total cost for my 6spd manual MK7 GTI to actually be enjoyable to drive and also be able to hold the power. I would say it’s going to be at least $1700 for anyone else (without labor fees for install) to enjoy their 6spd manual tuned MK7 GTI. That’s a big chunk of $$!! If I had a second vehicle, which I don’t, I would still choose the manual because when dialed in, it’s a blast to drive, but given that I don’t have a second vehicle, if I did it all over again, I would’ve chosen the DSG because it’s just a lot less of a cost in the long run. I can care less about how fast it shifts, but it would be nice to not have to spend so much $$ on clutch components…
Bought one of these in January 2021! 2016, S trim, performance package, DSG, with 32,000 miles for 16k! Love the car! Currently EQT stage 2 and its nuts!
My first car was a 2015 focus SE, I thought it was decent but holy shit was it a POS. End of June I bought myself a 2016 GTI Autobahn, almost identical to the one you reviewed (without mods). It is literally the most fun and most luxurious car I have ever driven. I test drove a manual and it was so much fun and literally effortless (it was only my 4th time driving manual) but the one I bought was a dct (just got a way better deal). But I'm honestly so glad I did, it feels connected and engaging on backroads, the car is a rocket, and I am so so glad I can switch it to auto when I'm driving in hilly cities or traffic. At this point I literally can't imagine selling the thing as I can't imagine owning a more perfect car unless I went up to something like an Audi S/RS 3 or 4
@@jimmywoo7875 yeah but vw fucked the bushings I think in the manual trans, so if you even put on a sport clutch after breaking stock it’ll just break the trans :/
First time I’ve watched one of your car reviews and I just wanna say props, dude! This was a great video. I watch a ton of modded car reviews on TH-cam and this was right up there with the best. Thanks for being honest and down to earth, and for not cheesing it up and over reacting to every little turbo noise. I’ll definitely be adding you to my notifications!
This beauty has everything literally everything I’ve planned to put on my mk7.5, already got the Megan racing downpipe & already have those exact wheels and tires in my cart lol. Thank you for the video! Definitely made me geek out a bit
I just bought a mk7.5 Golf R DSG DCC for a daily driver, and it's a great smooth ride with a bit of pep. A tune definitely wakes up the car, I got the cobb accessport with it's preloaded stage 0-1 tunes with dsg and EQT stage 2 tunes (ECU/TCU). Once I get my hardware installed it'll be full stage 2 for when I want that bit of fun on the road. Driving to work on eco-mode I get 30-35mpg which is nice specially since I'm tuned for 93. Edit: You mention the loose steering, if you get an ODBEleven, there's a mod where you can put the steering into dynamic mode, which tightens up the steering while driving at higher speeds.
Yeah I felt you when you said expensive💀 I bought a mk5 as my first car and it’s been in the shop since I got it and cost me over 3k Gotta love Volkswagens
I love manual. But I’ll tell you what. My dsg mk7.5 gti is so much fun. You feel so connected with the paddles and you can downshift last second. I love it
These are fantastic, but if you can afford to step it up to a Golf R, definitely do it. Everything is better, you get the 4motion, the DCC, and that extra power is nice. They're also a little more rare
@@bradfoster8146 I recently changed the spark plugs and coil packs. I’m running denso spark plugs, would you know if ngk is better or what the differences are . Also I was thinking is38 swap or would that be too much?😅
I think it would be worth mentioning that this is a non Performance Pack mk7 GTI, which does not have the VAQ fron limited slip differential and the bigger mk7 R / S3 brakes, which all do make a huge difference in the handling department and stopping power. btw, looking into purchasing a mk7 gti perf atm
My first fun car was a 2010 Miata. I always thought FWD was pointless. After selling the Miata cuz I needed something that's more of a daily, I went and got a 2012 MazdaSpeed 3. I know understand the hype of the turbo FWD cars. They're honestly just as fun as something like a Miata. Just enough power, with room to mod. Good usability, cuz of the hatch and four doors. And the sounds they make are amazing. And if you're a decent driver, they're really not that bad through corners.
Having DD'd a manual and DSG Audi TTs, I can say it's all about personal preference. If you want the quickest 0-60, DSG. If you're like me and aren't worried about that extra .2, .3, etc. manual.
Sport mode on these makes the diff work and then you can actually put down some of the power even in the dsg it really helps. Honestly don't mind my lug bolts that much but totally get people wanting to swap to lugs. Sit on your butt and use your feet to hold the wheel up. If you're using a lift then there's a tool you can get to help out.
Miy 7.5 and my NA Miata, best cars I've owned. For the money and for all the things it can do including the cost to purchase one, the 7.5 is perhaps one of the best cars on Earth. The interior alone is worth the price of admission.
I drive a 2018 GTI SE manual. Absolutely love it. Still running stock for now. But an incredible car. Can't wait to get my bolt ons and see what it can really do.
We have the same care. I did apr stage 1, cat back, cold air, dieslgeek short shifter with esc bushings, and impeller-less clutch bleed valve, and set of pilot sports...car is the perfect gti and needs nothing.
I’m collecting my black mk7 golf GTD tomorrow which is the diesel version. I’m from UK and it’s a great car, need the diesel cause I drive an hour to work everyday and an hour back. VW are awesome. Had a stage 1 Leon fr diesel before 2016 plate and that was pulling 215bhp
If could re-buy my Mk6 again I'd actually go manual, but the DSG is very good and i'm happy with it. For automatic cars, I couldn't imagine buying anything but a dual clutch, auto trucks can stick with a torque converter though.
Also a mk7 owner, watch out for IHI (oem manufacturer) turbos, some last forever other just blow up for no reason, mostly only affected 2015 and some 16. he manual cars have a larger issue with the thrust washer failure causing crank walk, mostly with SMF. And 1 million percent chance a carbon cleaning is going to be needed as basic maintenance but VW wont admit it. Aside from that the motor is safe up to 450ftlbs of tq and roughly 500 hp. Once you get there you need to be ready for the engine to pop. Love the car though
It’s too good not to use! I’m thinking about keeping it on the intro of every video from this series, as sort of it’s theme song. Would that be to redundant? -SeanB.FI
Man I deadass thought it was Cauliflower until you guys said something. I was looking to buy one and couldn’t even get the name of the colour right lmaoo
i have a 2016 a3 the awd audi model of the vw gti (same motor with dsg and awd). my cars a fueling turbo downpipe car and makes upwards of 500 and does 10.80 on the 1/4 and high 7s 60-130
Ironically, I've been working with lug bolts for so long that I find studs more difficult to align and deal with. It could be because the only studded wheels I deal with are on my trailers. My trailers don't have brakes; so, sometimes I have to fight against the hub rotating while I attempt to align the bolt holes. Maybe that's not a problem with cars. HAHA! I park the car in gear and with the parking brake set. All four wheels are held firm, so it's easier. Anyway, maybe I'll leave VW someday and find out. Until then, I'm content with my lug bolts. Fun video!
I must throw something that is relatively important:this is a non-performance pack mk7 gti aka-no vaq front limited slip diff and no larger front golf r brakes. I drive a dsg and let me just say it makes a huge difference. Obviously it helps immensley with traction; but switching between normal and sport mode(lsd off and on) youll find that the steering response and shift speed/quality changes. When the lsd is on the steering stiffens(beyond just selecting sport steering response), it feels more planted and too summarize the steering is completely different because of the change in power distribution between the wheels. Also because of the change in power distribution(atleast for the 7spd dsg) it shifts wayyyy better. When the lsd is engaged comparing full throttle straight line too full throttle straight line the dsg shifts slightly faster, noticeably smoother and doesnt make the common "dsg mistakes/retardism moments. Edit: and let me ellaborate that i am not comparing normal mode too sport mode as thats like comparing a ripe too non ripe apple... i am talking about using the custome setting and turning everything too sport except for the differential, and then conparing that with the differential on! I havent heard much talk but everyone ive pointed that out too on my 2019 mk7 vw jetta gli; apr ecu+tcu has noticed that there is a noticeable difference though i havent heard much talk about it on forums..(prolly cuz when people go into sport mode they always use full sport mode. And i do too but i drive normally with everything except diff in sport because its slightly harder on stuff.
@@FitmentIndustries I'm trying to look at all of them stock but most have been at least sightly modified. I've I test drove quite a few of each. Stock for stock for stock the speed 3 is much more of a handful. The ST and the GTI are nicer inside though. I purchased a completely stock red gen 2 speed I plan to go FBO with. Would really love to see 340+whp.
I sold my stage 2 mk7 gti sport dsg for a clean stock mk5 r32 I had to have. now that i’m dailying an 09 audi a3 (6 speed manual) while being fun shifting gears I miss just slamming paddles in a dsg.. i’ll be looking to get into a dsg mk7 golf r down the line
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This video makes me miss my GTI
I didn't sell it or anything, it's just been a few hours since I drove it
I feel you 🥲
I feel the exact same way. Let me get back out there haha
Love this comment
i make up stupid shit for the wife so i can go out and drive for like a half hour to an hour lol Cant get away from the car i love it
@@onwardlemongaming same I miss my gti mk7 it’s been in shop for 1 week now I Waiting when they gonna deliver it I had it for Days and it was overheating so I needed to repair it and now sitting and waiting and it’s painful waiting for it I miss driving that car I got as my first car
I’m a manual guy through and through but if you haven’t had the opportunity to drive a dsg or a dct do it, at least the dsg system is so fun and you honestly still feel in tune, it rips on the back roads and the dsg box in a hot hatch is just cheat code on the streets. Crazy car considering a nice one is 20ish and I’ve seen high mileage below 10, crazy value.
Same same my friend! New trans tech is wild. DSG stuff is Definitely an underrated experience.
-Sean
Hmm i"ve tried it, not even close to the driver engagement that a manual has..
@@thijss1272 That’s not what I said, I just said for an auto option it’s still very good imo, to each their own though
@@SaabStory636 oh for sure it would be a great option if you want an auto, if you want driver engagement, don't go with a dsg lol
@@FitmentIndustries DSG is the correct choice on these cars. Super car transmission for 25k. No brainer plus the GTI manual sucks.
Other than being a great enthusiast car, the GTI is timeless. Since buying my '19 after college, I've had elderly people, high schoolers, men, women, car enthusiasts, people who barely know anything about cars, strike up conversations about cars with me. Whether it's just someone complementing the looks of the car or someone who had a GTI in their younger days and is sharing their VW story, it's always interesting. The community around GTIs varies so vastly, young to old, low and slow, fast and loud, you can always find what your looking for. Jason Camissa from Hagerty said it best, it's a car you're equally likely to see in a bad neighborhood as you are to see in a rich person's garage.
Went to college in the "hood" and worked at a country club, my old mk4 got a ton of love in both places. Jason's the man haha.
I have a '17 Sport and had two conversations initiated by two different people just last Saturday about how good-looking the car is; which led to conversations about the cars we've owned and driving experiences we've had.
I own a manual mk7, and have previously had a dsg mk7. EQT Tuning is the place to go for tunes, no question. Porsche Macan brakes are the best bang for buck brake upgrade there is. Rear sway bar upgrade will change the whole car for the better. Most aftermarket coilovers have rear springs that are wayyy to stiff for the platform, in an attempt to induce oversteer, but they will reduce your overall cornering G and make you slower. If you cant get a PP, the base model can be fitted with a wavetrac LSD. If you cant afford an R, the GTI can be AWD swapped for 5-6k depending on where you source parts.
I love my Mk6 GTI but I do wish it had 4wd. Couldn't get the R with a dsg here in the states though for the 6th gens.
What source(s) do you have, or a link you can share with me, on making the FWD to AWD conversion for my MK7 GTI? I have big plans for my MK7 GTI, and if I could make it AWD for $10k (after labor costs), it would be worth it to me in the long run.
@@JacesOwnWorld I don't know of any resources but I know you need - front bevel box, drive shaft, drive shaft support, rear haldex, rear subframe, rear axles, rear hubs, haldex controller, fuel tank, exhaust, and maybe some custom wiring.
What coilovers would you recommend that aren't worse for cornering? I was looking at Bilstein B14s
I swear to god y’all are telepaths I was literally looking at gti’s while the vid dropped
Do it do it do it!
Try to look for the autobahn edition. The Autobahn come with the limted slip diff.
@@vwcorrado916 you mean performance pack?
@@Masong424 You both are right, but it just depends on the year model. PP comes standard on 2017 to 2021 SE trim and Autobahn.
@@wereastray we must live in different countries, here in the us it definitely was not standard in 2017 or 2018
Being a mk7 gti owner, I can say they are absolutely awesome cars. Mine is a 2016 SE as well, but it is stage 3 with full mpi, lpfp, big hybrid turbo, big injectors, and full pm40. On 91 right now but moving to e85 soon.
Awesome video!!
My is38 gti sees WOT every day, never skipped a beat. 88k miles running strong!
If people are wondering, IHI is38, Intake, Turboback, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, HPFP Intrernals, RS7 Plugs/coils, and ACT Stage 3 Singlemass. UM tuned for 20k at 29.8psi, made 355whp/370wtq. Now EQT tuned on base map (waiting on revisions:( )
I Just started looking for a MK7 a week ago and now you guys make this. Now I'm obligated to buy one
Do it I just bought one 4 days ago and it’s one of the best decisions of my life.
Join us 😈 is38 swap and you Gucci
Best purchase ive made in hears
@@Jose_bello_Jr hey did you find a salvaged is38 or buy a new one? Thinking of doing this but do you need a new downpipe?
@@ejcucinelli7695 I'm just waiting for the right one that's manual to be for sale
I work at a dealer and drove one of these... it was so fun i started looking on marketplace and saw what they were going for, definitely a bargain for how much fun it is to drive
Mazdaspeed has entered the chat
@@lonewanderer958 mazdas are great, but i'd still rather have this
@@SpaceMissile for sure, everyone has their preferences!
@@lonewanderer958 my brother has an RX-8 and it's a great car. honestly really like mazda's stuff.
I bought a 2015 Autobahn GTI earlier this year for $12k with 85k miles and I can honestly say I wish I had owned one a long time ago. Absolutely perfect.
Yup I agree with all of this. I run a 2018 golf gti Autobahn and I personally recommend you get the 2018 vs any other year. It has all the facelift tech and still has the 6 speed dsg. The 7 speed doesn’t feel as raw and fast as the previous year. Also 300whp is so easy to get on the gti.
Got the 18 dsg. Threw an iE stg2 tune on it. Very fun. Reliable. Best daily I’ve ever had.
As a MK7 owner with 6 speed manual, I would too get the DSG over the manual if I were to buy again. And yes misfires do happen, not often though (ive had them twice during idle in the last 15 months)
at idle its pretty normal, generally a sign that you need a carbon clean. at WOT is when there's something wrong
I just bought a 2015 Mk7 Gti PP.. Its my first car.. I was soo against getting a front wheel drive.. I thought it wont be fun and people will say I bought the wrong drive/car.. Tbh, its one of the best decisions i have taken.. Its a car for mature driver..(im 26 btw) Its good for daily and weekends... I just lov it.. I do plan to tune it in the future, buts its soo good enough as it is now...
For anyone thinking of getting one and who is thinking like me.. try it..
Nice man enjoy one day I'll grab a gti 😬
Only elitists hate on fwd cars
@@tommoon2700 Ill do say it now.. you will enjoy it 😁✌️
Congrats! You'll get a lot of joy out of your car. For what it's worth, I've got over 100k miles on my 2015 GTI and it's still going strong, tuned most of the miles to boot, without any repairs and only regular maintenance. Just remember to always do the recommended maintenance at or before the indicated intervals (especially oil which VW says 10k but I like to do at 7k or so) and the DSG fluid service (assuming you have the DSG).
@@Krauser1226 Yea, im new to golf gti maintainance. I used to take care of my Dad's cars, but this feels quite different as this is a bit sporty...Thanks for the info mate ... She is my baby girl and i want her to be in good condition.. 😄
Get the MK7.5 if you can. It gets the Golf R 7 speed DSG and performance pack is standard
The 2019+ models get the 7 speed, my 18 SE has the dq250.
The clutch. Honestly, if I knew ahead of time that the stock clutch sucked so bad I would have bought a DSG.
Live and learn. I do love it with my upgraded clutch now.
Sooo...whadidya get? I have a '17 that swapped over to a DKM stage-2 daily single disc. Noisy as fuck at idle but performs flawlessly with the Unitronic stage-1+ tune.
Stock clutch started slipping in 5th & 6th at just over 70k. Very dissapointing as I did not whoop on it.
@@audieconrad8995 south bend stage 2 daily clutch. Definitely noises at idle but I kind of like it. Smooth and holds perfectly.
@@kc510 ahhh ya good clutch. Continued good luck.
Hey Guys, I have a 2015 2dr GTI (DSG) mk7, currently it’s stock but with an intake. I previously had a tune and a down pipe and it was great and must faster than when it was stock. Doing some work to another car so I brought it to stock to keep it reliable. That being said, the car as is; stock, is a phenomenal car. The handling on it is superb, you can hit bends and corners at competitive speeds, Tail of the Dragon is literally so fun, especially when you’re hitting the roads in Upstate NC,TN,SC etc. while I’m down in SoFlo, the GTI still is a fast and fun car. The interior is done right, the dials, clusters, infotainment, seats and steering wheel are done right. They’re very appealing and they don’t look dated and “old” as some cars can be even after a few years. The car stock is very reliable and it’s hard to make them unreliable. Tunes and parts are important in keeping them reliable. They’re also very solid and safe cars because the chassis of the GTI is one solid shell. It is not clamshelled, or a 2pc like every other company. That in turn adds to the collision safety of it and a tad bit to the handling. I’ve had this car for 3 years, I put 100k on it and I’m going to be pulling it apart very soon to rebuild it (to bolster it up) and go stage 3 with full build. Suspension, chassis, etc. and the engine still runs like a top. Only issue I’ve had with this GTI is the coolant system and the speakers. My coolant tank had a small crack and ended up leaking coolant and not alerting me, cracked the hoses and cracked the radiator. (This just happed at about 99k miles) and it’s all new OEM and works great. The speakers in the base model are decent for what it is, but the passenger door speaker has blown for no legitimate reason. (I don’t blast bass or anything too loud) and it started to just fall out of tune and then blow itself out. This has happened with a few other GTI owners in my area so it’s something I assume is a trait of issue with them. Anywho, it’s a great car and when modded correctly will gap TF out of a lot of cars. Oh and launch control with DSG farts is fun :)
I have a 2016 GTI S dual clutch with a stage 1 APR tune. I'm at 50k miles without any issues. I just do the recommend maintenance. I love it for the easy power and the city practicality. I highly recommend the car!
DAMNIT!!! I just bought a 2017 Focus ST. To be honest I had 3 straight GTIs a Mk4, a Mk6 and a Mk7. Then I went to a A3 2.0T Quattro. After 10+ years with DSG transmissions I was ready to go back to a manual. No regerts.
I own a 6spd manual 17’ MK7 GTI, and you are 100% right about the manual on this car. Stock clutch can’t hold enough torque and the shifter components are pretty “loosy goosey” as well. It all needs to be upgraded, which, on this car, isn’t cheap. I have over double the power from factory in my GTI, and I’ve upgraded everything. It includes:
1. SouthBend Stage 3 Endurance clutch ($1850)
2. ECS Tuning bleeder block ($125)
3. Raceseng Sphere 100 shift knob ($180)
4. Forge Motorsports short shifter ($120)
5. ECS Tuning shifter billet bushings ($50)
All in all, that adds up to $2,212! Yes, that is a ton of money, and yes, these are items that aren’t entirely necessary to have if you tune your MK7 GTI. From my experience with being on my third aftermarket clutch on this car, and being IS38 on meth (400whp’ish/430wtq’ish), I wouldn’t recommend any other clutch brand except Southbend, even though they’re very expensive (same clutch I have now is over $2000 new!!!). I also installed all of these components myself, so after all required items to be installed (fluids, tools, etc.), I’m looking at closer to a $2,500 total cost for my 6spd manual MK7 GTI to actually be enjoyable to drive and also be able to hold the power. I would say it’s going to be at least $1700 for anyone else (without labor fees for install) to enjoy their 6spd manual tuned MK7 GTI. That’s a big chunk of $$!!
If I had a second vehicle, which I don’t, I would still choose the manual because when dialed in, it’s a blast to drive, but given that I don’t have a second vehicle, if I did it all over again, I would’ve chosen the DSG because it’s just a lot less of a cost in the long run. I can care less about how fast it shifts, but it would be nice to not have to spend so much $$ on clutch components…
Bought one of these in January 2021! 2016, S trim, performance package, DSG, with 32,000 miles for 16k! Love the car! Currently EQT stage 2 and its nuts!
My first car was a 2015 focus SE, I thought it was decent but holy shit was it a POS. End of June I bought myself a 2016 GTI Autobahn, almost identical to the one you reviewed (without mods). It is literally the most fun and most luxurious car I have ever driven. I test drove a manual and it was so much fun and literally effortless (it was only my 4th time driving manual) but the one I bought was a dct (just got a way better deal). But I'm honestly so glad I did, it feels connected and engaging on backroads, the car is a rocket, and I am so so glad I can switch it to auto when I'm driving in hilly cities or traffic. At this point I literally can't imagine selling the thing as I can't imagine owning a more perfect car unless I went up to something like an Audi S/RS 3 or 4
You mean dsg?
@@thegohanmk7411 dct stands for dual clutch transmission, so same thing to my knowledge
as a VW geek, i see a lot of issues with the manuals. Dsg overall is better for power, and reliability.
A dsg is very limtied... Switching a clutch to hold more power is easier then rebuilding a dsg which is a feat on its own.
@@jimmywoo7875 yeah but vw fucked the bushings I think in the manual trans, so if you even put on a sport clutch after breaking stock it’ll just break the trans :/
@@cafemochaaa south bend stage 2 without issue so far
@@jimmywoo7875 dsg tune changes everything
@@juicecity77 it might change some things but it cant change how it was built.
First time I’ve watched one of your car reviews and I just wanna say props, dude! This was a great video. I watch a ton of modded car reviews on TH-cam and this was right up there with the best. Thanks for being honest and down to earth, and for not cheesing it up and over reacting to every little turbo noise. I’ll definitely be adding you to my notifications!
Hey thanks! Appreciate the love!
Mk7 Golf R follow up video in the future?
I have a 2019 R and just crossed over 20,000 miles, so I’m about to begin modding it
R600 intake. Stage 1 ecu & tcu flash, rear away bar & endlinks,
The wheel studs are no big issue. There is a tool you can get that screws into one of the lug holes if you can't line them up otherwise.
they've never bothered me either
When he said I'm watching for you David I just about fell out of my chair 🤣
I'm subscribed! I promise! 🤞
This beauty has everything literally everything I’ve planned to put on my mk7.5, already got the Megan racing downpipe & already have those exact wheels and tires in my cart lol. Thank you for the video! Definitely made me geek out a bit
I just bought a mk7.5 Golf R DSG DCC for a daily driver, and it's a great smooth ride with a bit of pep. A tune definitely wakes up the car, I got the cobb accessport with it's preloaded stage 0-1 tunes with dsg and EQT stage 2 tunes (ECU/TCU). Once I get my hardware installed it'll be full stage 2 for when I want that bit of fun on the road. Driving to work on eco-mode I get 30-35mpg which is nice specially since I'm tuned for 93.
Edit: You mention the loose steering, if you get an ODBEleven, there's a mod where you can put the steering into dynamic mode, which tightens up the steering while driving at higher speeds.
oh dear god ive been looking at mk7s saving up and time for the price gouge🥲
I like bratwurst and sauerkraut. And GTIs...
*BTW, I'd really love it if those Artisa Nights came in a 5×112 to fit my Mk7 Golf*
Gti gang!!
Lug bolts are fantastic, makes it much easier to use wheel spacers, etc. Just get a stud tool for when mounting wheels.
I own a 2016 autobahn DSG stage 2 unitronic with almost full bolt ons and I honestly can't recommend it enough. Im in love with this car.
Yeah I felt you when you said expensive💀 I bought a mk5 as my first car and it’s been in the shop since I got it and cost me over 3k
Gotta love Volkswagens
I love manual. But I’ll tell you what. My dsg mk7.5 gti is so much fun. You feel so connected with the paddles and you can downshift last second. I love it
MK6 GANG 💪😤🤙
These are fantastic, but if you can afford to step it up to a Golf R, definitely do it. Everything is better, you get the 4motion, the DCC, and that extra power is nice. They're also a little more rare
What’s the difference between a DSG and DCC?
@@brian9807 the DSG is the transmission and the DCC is the Dynamic Chassis Control (adjustment dampers)
@@bradfoster8146 got it thanks I’m barely getting into the car scene. Recently bought my brothers slightly modded Passat :)
@@brian9807 no problem man! Congrats! Just keep up with your maintenance and do modifications sensibly and it'll treat you right
@@bradfoster8146 I recently changed the spark plugs and coil packs. I’m running denso spark plugs, would you know if ngk is better or what the differences are . Also I was thinking is38 swap or would that be too much?😅
I think it would be worth mentioning that this is a non Performance Pack mk7 GTI, which does not have the VAQ fron limited slip differential and the bigger mk7 R / S3 brakes, which all do make a huge difference in the handling department and stopping power. btw, looking into purchasing a mk7 gti perf atm
My first fun car was a 2010 Miata. I always thought FWD was pointless. After selling the Miata cuz I needed something that's more of a daily, I went and got a 2012 MazdaSpeed 3. I know understand the hype of the turbo FWD cars. They're honestly just as fun as something like a Miata. Just enough power, with room to mod. Good usability, cuz of the hatch and four doors. And the sounds they make are amazing. And if you're a decent driver, they're really not that bad through corners.
Picking up my first gti tomorrow 😁 super excited
Bet! We got some 🔥 wheels and suspension for that 😉
Bridge!bridge! bridge! That made me happy 😁
I have a manual mk7.5 and I will go DSG on my next.
Do it! I came from a manual to DSG. No regrets at all. Still gives me that evil grin when sport mode
That's awesome! Good to know.
Having DD'd a manual and DSG Audi TTs, I can say it's all about personal preference. If you want the quickest 0-60, DSG. If you're like me and aren't worried about that extra .2, .3, etc. manual.
6:08 "loosey goosey" lmao issa vw
Sport mode on these makes the diff work and then you can actually put down some of the power even in the dsg it really helps. Honestly don't mind my lug bolts that much but totally get people wanting to swap to lugs. Sit on your butt and use your feet to hold the wheel up. If you're using a lift then there's a tool you can get to help out.
Yep. I use the wheel hanger tool from ShopDap and its not that bad.
I have a gti and it’s the best car I’ve ever owned
yessirr me too man
what year do you have
Yesssirrrrr
Miy 7.5 and my NA Miata, best cars I've owned. For the money and for all the things it can do including the cost to purchase one, the 7.5 is perhaps one of the best cars on Earth. The interior alone is worth the price of admission.
South Africa is just full of these
I drive a 2018 GTI SE manual. Absolutely love it. Still running stock for now. But an incredible car. Can't wait to get my bolt ons and see what it can really do.
We have the same care. I did apr stage 1, cat back, cold air, dieslgeek short shifter with esc bushings, and impeller-less clutch bleed valve, and set of pilot sports...car is the perfect gti and needs nothing.
Literally just got my 2017 with the DSG last Tuesday. 😎 Loving it so far.
My name is David , that was trippy .
I traded my 2015 Veloster Turbo for a 2020 GTI SE two weeks ago, wish i had this video then!
I’m collecting my black mk7 golf GTD tomorrow which is the diesel version. I’m from UK and it’s a great car, need the diesel cause I drive an hour to work everyday and an hour back. VW are awesome. Had a stage 1 Leon fr diesel before 2016 plate and that was pulling 215bhp
Jealous. Wish the gtd was in america!!
@@mynameisnotcory it looks better I think with the chrome and black as opposed to red on the gti
@@darthwaffleass696 agreed
4:48 how’d he know i was watching bruh
2015 PP Autobahn Stage 1 APR
I love it
4:47 Dude, I freaked out when you said to subscribe, my name is David. I was like wtf, how does he know?!
4:41 what did I do I may not have hit the notification bell but I am subscribed
I have a B5 A4 and had a crackle tune on it. Put on a K04 and switched to Eurodyne so I can tune it myself... I miss my crackles...
Let me know if y’all wanna do this again for a is38 swap Gti haha. I will be a happy volunteer
Can u guys do Audi S3 next or soon? Cause I wanna buy one
Golf R next!?
I gotta 2017 that’s surpassed the 400 club,
ready for more🚀🏁
I think a lot of us viewers got R’s ;)
Probably not dude lol. Rs are pretty expensive for an average person and rare.
I got my 2015 vw gti for $14,500 really nice car for pretty well priced still love it
If could re-buy my Mk6 again I'd actually go manual, but the DSG is very good and i'm happy with it. For automatic cars, I couldn't imagine buying anything but a dual clutch, auto trucks can stick with a torque converter though.
Just brought MK7 GTI its a dope ass car
Also a mk7 owner, watch out for IHI (oem manufacturer) turbos, some last forever other just blow up for no reason, mostly only affected 2015 and some 16. he manual cars have a larger issue with the thrust washer failure causing crank walk, mostly with SMF. And 1 million percent chance a carbon cleaning is going to be needed as basic maintenance but VW wont admit it. Aside from that the motor is safe up to 450ftlbs of tq and roughly 500 hp. Once you get there you need to be ready for the engine to pop. Love the car though
Ay! Can’t get enough of those sick beats on the intro!
It’s too good not to use! I’m thinking about keeping it on the intro of every video from this series, as sort of it’s theme song. Would that be to redundant?
-SeanB.FI
@@FitmentIndustries naw! I love it! Keep up the fantastic works Sean!
Deiselgeek short shifter, esc bushings, good to go. Huge difference.
You guys did this right as I was looking at a 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Rabbit in that beautiful Cauliflower blue. What perfect timing 👏
Cornflower* not cauliflower 😂
Moldy cauliflower blue? Lol j/k good chuckle
Man I deadass thought it was Cauliflower until you guys said something. I was looking to buy one and couldn’t even get the name of the colour right lmaoo
@@drmememachine lol, you’re good, man! I would still present it that way just to mess with the sales folks
@@drmememachine at least your heart was set on a healthy alternative 😌
12:04 is me when I see a Camaro looking like bumblebee while in my Mustang.
I don’t even want a gti but I clicked fast as hell lmao
i have a 2016 a3 the awd audi model of the vw gti (same motor with dsg and awd). my cars a fueling turbo downpipe car and makes upwards of 500 and does 10.80 on the 1/4 and high 7s 60-130
Just got my MK7 in June. Love it.
Man I was smiling the whole way too. Dope ride. Gonna be my next one.
Ironically, I've been working with lug bolts for so long that I find studs more difficult to align and deal with. It could be because the only studded wheels I deal with are on my trailers. My trailers don't have brakes; so, sometimes I have to fight against the hub rotating while I attempt to align the bolt holes. Maybe that's not a problem with cars. HAHA! I park the car in gear and with the parking brake set. All four wheels are held firm, so it's easier. Anyway, maybe I'll leave VW someday and find out. Until then, I'm content with my lug bolts. Fun video!
The Golf R is the way to go bro
Aye can you do a vid on 7th gen civics. Love to see your opinion on them!
Nice wheel choice and fitment 👍
I'm really hoping the shop DAP holy shift kit will clean up the slop
I went thru 3 short shifters before going with DAP!
Bestbout there, hands down. The Diesel one was OK, but still sloppy.
I have a Volkswagen Tiguan, it’s my first car, and now im desperate to switch over to the hatchback.
He said David, you better subscribe. I'm like 👀👀👀 bro I'm already subsided man why you come at me like that lol 😳😂
😂
Lug bolts and hub centric wheels are sick tho
On my third GTI and went DSG on this mark 7.
I neeeed that spoilerrrr
great rims - i've got some that are very similar, and that makes me feel good seeing them on a fitment industries vid ;)
Imagine getting pulled up on by FI while going to work😂😂😂
What color are those wheels? They look a little bronze 🔥
Boost in first pip popp pippity pop.
I'm subscribing... yeeez! Ok, You guys keep up the good work :)
I must throw something that is relatively important:this is a non-performance pack mk7 gti aka-no vaq front limited slip diff and no larger front golf r brakes. I drive a dsg and let me just say it makes a huge difference. Obviously it helps immensley with traction; but switching between normal and sport mode(lsd off and on) youll find that the steering response and shift speed/quality changes. When the lsd is on the steering stiffens(beyond just selecting sport steering response), it feels more planted and too summarize the steering is completely different because of the change in power distribution between the wheels. Also because of the change in power distribution(atleast for the 7spd dsg) it shifts wayyyy better. When the lsd is engaged comparing full throttle straight line too full throttle straight line the dsg shifts slightly faster, noticeably smoother and doesnt make the common "dsg mistakes/retardism moments.
Edit: and let me ellaborate that i am not comparing normal mode too sport mode as thats like comparing a ripe too non ripe apple... i am talking about using the custome setting and turning everything too sport except for the differential, and then conparing that with the differential on! I havent heard much talk but everyone ive pointed that out too on my 2019 mk7 vw jetta gli; apr ecu+tcu has noticed that there is a noticeable difference though i havent heard much talk about it on forums..(prolly cuz when people go into sport mode they always use full sport mode. And i do too but i drive normally with everything except diff in sport because its slightly harder on stuff.
Yes. The answer is yes
Count Dankula!!!
I've been shopping these against the focus st and mazdaspeed 3 and I ended up choosing the speed. It's so much more unhinged and fun.
Whats all done to it and whats the plan?! -Edgar
@@FitmentIndustries I'm trying to look at all of them stock but most have been at least sightly modified. I've I test drove quite a few of each. Stock for stock for stock the speed 3 is much more of a handful. The ST and the GTI are nicer inside though. I purchased a completely stock red gen 2 speed I plan to go FBO with. Would really love to see 340+whp.
What happened to the Mazdaspeed 6
Ayyyyy Sterling
More gti content 🥵 I’m fbo 6speed sneekytuned 😤
I sold my stage 2 mk7 gti sport dsg for a clean stock mk5 r32 I had to have. now that i’m dailying an 09 audi a3 (6 speed manual) while being fun shifting gears I miss just slamming paddles in a dsg.. i’ll be looking to get into a dsg mk7 golf r down the line
1:40 Reference to NFS MW 2006...If you know you know
Isn't the focus st a euro since they don't sell them here anymore
Yes, Yes it is.