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Thomas, about teh hidraulic struts and the soft plastics you are totally right. I am fed up with toy cars, full of toys and tech and no really quality in terms of materials used to build. Give me less gimmicks and more build quality and purity/nobility of materials used.
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Ax Cn Difference of opinions. I struggled with my previous car. The Passat B5.5 has one of the worst headlights I have ever seen in any car. And the car brand new was 47 000 euros. Its a crime to put crappy headlights. My GF’s 1998 Suzuki Swift had better headlights and the car costed 10k brand new...
I agree. I have suggested in the past also, but it will cost a lot of time. But it will be very usefull! They should be the first carreviewers to do that.
I personally really like the infotainment. Finally simpler / minimal graphics. Also like the climate controls. You can still swipe the bar easily without taking your eyes off the road yet it keeps the cabin looking very clean. Nice solution. Especially with the voice control as well.
@@SeaLifeCro You see the engine hood with 2 locks one in the left and other in right that's mean the hood is very weak not like all golf precedent generations with only one lock in the middle !!!!!
From the video it looks like there is a downgrade i n materials. In 2017 I bought my wife a Tiguan TDI R.line 4 motion 190 cv and the quality of plastic and the seats alcantara and tissue is much worst than what she had in her 2012 Tiguan. I find it Very disappointing as a long time Vag costumer.
The small window you mention is already present in my Golf 7 GP (2018) And I really dislike the new digital cockpit screen and UI. I feel the current Golf has a way more premium one.
Thomas and the team: you guys make the best reviews about cars ever made! Thank you so much, it really is easier to decide about new car with your detailed inspection. Greetings from Slovenia!
Although I really like the fact that the MK8 has a widescreen infotainment system, I'm not impressed in the slightest by this MK8 platform. My MK7.5 GTI is staying in my garage for a long time.
I was interested in the Mk8 but those headlights. I just can't convince myself about the odd face it's making. I'm on the Mk7 but I think next year I'll get myself a GTi Mk7.5. That's a seriously nice looking car all round. This Mk8 looks good from some angles and odd from others.
As a previous MK7 owner I can easily find at least 7 premium features missing in the MK8 in order to make it cheaper for VW. It completely lost it's sophistication and uncompromised quality. Not a car for me anymore...
@@ziomorph No hydraulic struts, missing cupholder cover (under the armrest), rubber bottle holders instead of the adaptive mechanical solution, glovebox without fabric inside, glovebox without locking, missing cupholder under the seetring wheel (under the light control), middle consol without a cover (under climate controls), removed chrome and aluminium decorative trims from the door handles, around the cluster, from the steering wheel (around the logo, from buttons to increase speed and menu buttons), steering wheel airbag cover surrounded by a single piece of fake aluminum plastic (previously a combination of a piano black and brushed aluminum trim). Another thing I just saw, the upper plastics on the door are from a single rubber piece, same as previously had Octavia and Leon. The MK7 had an ultrathin rubber cover with a foam underneath making it ultrasoft on touch, really something you couldn't find in this class, but now is gone...
Same. I chose Mk7 because it felt the most premium/quality car in that size segment and I didn't mind paying a little extra over a Focus or something. Mk8 is a huge disappointment.
Thanks Thomas. This is MUCH appreciated. I waited for this for a LOOOONG time. Now I wonder; when will we hear more about the Variant? Thanks for your EXCELLENT channel and great efforts to really deliver! Biss denn, P
If you look just above the coolant reservoir at 6:57 the ball socket bracket that is currently used for the hydraulic bonnet struts IS STILL THERE, maybe the GTi and R will have them??!?
Perhaps the new golf has a pedestrian safety feature which they've had to include to reduce pedestrian injury. Such as a pop up bonnet or airbag (which would not work with a hydraulic bonnet struts).
I can see many changes even for base golf. Hydraulic for the hood. Maybe a cover under the vents in the middle. Android auto is easy really. All can come 2nd year for mk8 so 2022-2023
@@FGvici mk7 also has a fake exhaust but it's still a top selling car in Europe and one of the best hatchbacks you can buy. Most people doesn't care about exhaust. If you do then you will go for a gti or a gtd r line model that does have the real exhaust. As far as design goes, people were saying golf is boring and the company is not making any significant design changes and now you are crying because they finally did it. I bet that after a while people will love it. The interior is better, more tech, more space, better engines, more options to choose from...it's a step up. And that's a fact.
The bezels around the infotainment screen and dashboard is something I expected from KIA or Hyundai. It looks horrible and outdated from the beginning. I really hate to say this because otherwise the interior looks sleek and modern but they screwed that part up big time.
My wife and I have just ordered a new golf 8, automatic, Style. Petrol 1.5tsi 150 bhp. Trading in a Polo 1.0 . This was a really good review and made me think we have made the right decision. BYW I had a 2007 Tuareg which I sold last week, so going from a polo and a Tuareg to a new Golf seems to me very sensible and I can't wait to drive it. Mind you, it's a few months away!
Mk8 is big disappointment, it’s ugly and the quality is not like previous generations, VW thinks that with those screens and touch buttons will impress us? well totally not because touch buttons ain’t practical and the cockpit is too much analog is better at least for me. I will keep my MK7 and skip that.
Apart from the hydraulic strut lift. In which aspects is it cheaper than previous one? I don't think it deserves this comment at all. It looks well built IMHO
@@RafitoMembroza Of course it is well built. It sets the quality standards in its class. It's a Golf and each model is more sophisticated and more premium than the former model.
I have a 2017 Golf Tsi with the 1.8 turbo. It's fun to drive. This body style hasn't made yet to the US. The exterior for the MK8 is growing on me. It will take time to get used to the interior though. Great review!
Totally agree with the comment on the temperature sliders. I think the functionality is fine when stationary, but when moving and traveling over bumps having a dial is much better as you actually hold onto it with your fingers while adjusting. I like Land Rovers solution in this respect, having the dials overlaying part of the centre screen.
Great review. I just drove a Tesla Model 3 for a week recently and I wasn’t a fan of having almost everything contained on one screen. I think the Golf here is better in that it features a second screen in front of the driver to display the digital speedometer, map, and other info. The Tesla just had the one screen off to the right of the driver and I feel like the driver experience suffered because of it. Ease of use and functionality is lost when touch screens and capacitive buttons are used in cars. Maybe if I spend more time with these systems I’ll feel better about it. But as it stands right now, I like the tactile feel of turning a dial or pressing a button in my MKV GTI. I can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on the new GTI and post your impressions of it. Keep up the great work.
Thankfully new octavia is the goodooking one in the segment and VAGroup. Golf Mk 8 stylingwise is blend and auris'y. The answer to a question noone asked.
Great review as always Thomas. Not a fan of touch screens or sliders, either. Volvo, once renowned for safety, moved to big touch screens - strange. This infotainment doesn’t look very intuitive. Agree, I liked graphics of old 12.3” Active Info Display! 33:37 who needs AEB when you have co-pilot Holger - greetings to him. 40:40 “Woe!” Yes, I like a HUD. Thanks for all the info Thomas.
@Autogefuhl - Thomas - I hired a New Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro for a week, nice and very expensive car. Pros and Cons. For: good touch screen. Against: the idea of a touch screen in a car isn't good!
Really informative and comprehensive review, honest too. I love Golf (I have a Mk5 GTI and a 7.5 R- so yes I’m a big fan). This Mk8 looks great. I totally agree regarding the bonnet strut, it cheapens the car. Also the hard plastics on the doors in the rear- although that’s the same as the Mk7. I’m sure I shall have one when the time comes 😊
Your accent alone drips attention to intellect and detail. You significantly continue to mature with your camera(s). You would be at home in lecture halls presenting subjects of your choice. So fun to visit you for kindly delivered, thoroughgoing observations on subjects of personal interest. Your German audience must appreciate your videos as much as us grateful Yanks.
The exterior design is much better on the Mk 7.5. This one went too far into the conservative/boring ground. It is sad to see VW regressing with its most popular car. So far Mazda3 is the best looking hatch.
@Isaac Clarke i actually think the previous model Focus ST look more of its own. The new ST looks somewhat like a Hyundai. 2019/2020 seems to be the year of shitty designs so far.
Welcome to Portugal and especially to Porto Thomas and all your crew. What I like more about your reviews is your impartiality. The new Golf first weird and then guts. Time will tell. Good work.
Thomas, I really enjoy all of your reviews. I agree that the hard surface on the upper rear doors is disappointing but not a deal-breaker. A great deal of the Audi feature has been grafted into this new Golf. I want one now!.
I really like the new headlight design and the more understated grille (narrow slits are always better for aero, you just don't need a huge grille unless it's a passively air-cooled car!), and I looove the progressive activation on the indicators. It's a subtle thing but it's a look that's always impressed me, noticed it on Audis the last few years, neat to see it on Golf now. I also really enjoy the centred GOLF text underneath the VW roundel, which maybe is just following a fashion (as Ford put many of the model names centred and with large letter-spacing too), but I like it for reminding me of various retro cars, having their name always spelled across the centre. Whether it was Ford, Buick, or whoever else, there's just something deeply appealing to me about seeing name badging given such a wide stance and prominent focus on the front or back of a car, instead of being tucked in the corner like an afterthought. I don't like the new VW logo itself though. Something about the bottom corners of the W not touching the outer circle anymore just bothers me. Makes it look slightly visually unbalanced to me. I have mixed feelings about the interior. I enjoy looking at traditional gauges, but in practise 99% of the time I just look at the speed readout on the little LCD put between the gauges. Taking the extra mental time to parse where the needle is pointing when the number is right there already doesn't exactly make sense to me. So in practise I might get along better with a digital dash, even though I love the look of gauges. I can imagine having a tachometer on a dial but the speedometer just as a number. I've always liked the idea of having the map inside the dash, though I've got to wonder if it's only for VW's own maps. I'd really prefer getting Google Maps there through Android Auto, but something tells me that's likely to only be able to put content onto the central screen instead. I too enjoy separate buttons for climate controls, though I am less fussed about volume. The tiny knob on the previous generation wasn't impressing me either, and on RHD models the knob is still on the left, so it's further away from the driver instead of next to them. Not having separate buttons for heated seats seems potentially highly annoying, if the controls are really buried as you show. I have my suspicions that maybe you could quickly access them by pressing the climate control display in the bottom left of the screen, just by how it looks, but maybe it's misleading design and you can't! But I use heated seats a lot and regularly shift between the low and medium settings, being able to do it just by feel is certainly nice. If the voice system is good enough it might be a viable replacement for certain hands-free adjustments, or it could be flakey and annoying. The seat memory and seats automatically sliding back for ease of entry is really nice. It might be a small detail, even gimmicky for some, but not for me. I currently have to do all that manually to drive, being pear-shaped with large thighs compared to my waist and shoulders, just to have enough room to get in under the steering wheel! And with the slight slop in manual seat mechanisms it's not always the easiest to do subtle adjustments, especially when your weight needs to be forward to pull the seat forward, then you have to sit back properly again to gauge what you've actually achieved. Simply saving my preferred position in a memory so I can alter it and then easily recall it seems great. Again, maybe it's gimmicky for some, but I can also see it making things much easier for people with wheelchairs, canes, or crutches to enter the car and safely stash their equipment on the passenger side. After they're finished, they can have the seats smoothly move back into the appropriate driving position. I like the sound of the mild hybrid, reading up on it I was a little worried the engine might have no character at low speeds. The faster initial movement from the torque boost looks like it's quite good from the video too. That addresses a problem with these smaller turbocharged engines, having to build up enough exhaust pressure to actually get the turbo going. Of course turbo lag is nowhere near as pronounced today as it was a few decades ago, but it was still noticeable nevertheless. A small boost from the electric to get it all started looks like it could help a lot, especially with going up hills from a standstill. People who may have previously automatically opted for the 1.5L to cope better with hills in their area may be able to go for the higher powered 1.0L instead? I am a big fan of the driving mode selector. The previous selector, with the various ways to pull it and tilt it to go between modes never agreed with me. I've highly enjoyed seeing more interesting drive mode selectors lately, with Ford's circular dial and some other carmakers putting it on a stalk by the wheel and so on. You have the paddles already for manual shifting, so I can't imagine wanting to reach down and use the drive mode selector. I love the feel of a real manual as much as anyone else, but tilting the old selector to upshift or downshift didn't feel very much like a real manual to me anyway. And paddles are cool, and fun, and still have a certain allure to them. For me, simply having the option of picking which gear I'm in whenever I please is far more important than getting to work a clutch and a gearstick. Then the DSG can take over at other times where I don't care as much about having full control, and that also enables the use of proper stop&go adaptive cruise control for boring motorway driving, and so on. In this day and age, with electronic handbrakes, I think it just makes sense to downsize the drive mode selector too. We don't have a large stick for gears and large lever for parking brake anymore, and I find a large gearstick-styled drive mode selector put next to a tiny electronic handbrake switch to look almost laughable honestly. An actual gearstick, not so much, as it still serves a genuine purpose. But when you're just informing the gearbox which mode to choose anyway, does it really need to be large and with mechanical gating? In my book, it doesn't, and I'd rather have more storage space. Despite the tradeoffs in the cabin, I do like that the screen is raised up so it's closer to your line of sight, and I do like the increased airiness in the cabin. I'm afraid I'm a sucker for RGB lights too, so knowing it has that option makes me happy. Again that's something I've seen and lusted after in pricier BMWs, Mercs and Audis, ambient cabin lighting, so it's nice to see it available on the Golf now too. Those seats look extremely nice, also. Alcantara is a wonderful fabric, with the best feelings of suede and velour, while still remaining pretty hardy as textiles go.
What I meant is that it appears more visually, you can see the big difference when you compare it to Mk7: www.autogefuehl.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VWGolfGTI_TCR_Serie_TornadoRot_16.jpg This pillar basically blocks the view from the inside to the window, whereas in the new generation you can clearly see the window from the inside
Totally the opposite :) Mk4 was the worst looking, mk5 best, mk6 ok. Mk7 I never got because it was the worst since mk4. Happy that the mk8 is better again.
Outstanding review! I can’t wait to test drive one when they arrive in the US. I do agree with you about the climate controls being better with traditional knobs, just my personal preference but I’m happy to try and evolve with the new technology!
Danke, Thomas und Holger! Analog cluster and simple knobs for me. Struts? Must have! Big fan of the Golf for many years now. Great review, as per usual. 👏🏻👋🏻
Its always your reviews i trust most and look forward to even though i will never have a nice car, your reviews helps me dream I have. So you even a dream maker. Thank you and keep tracking and stay safe.
Hope you enjoyed the trip through our roads! Although to be honest I find portuguese roads pretty rough, full of road holes. I think the fantastic beach sights compensate that!
I love the Golf and I own one, but the MK8 looks like a Toyota Auris. It's not bad, but nok Golf-like. More like an Artean look, and not very conservative. I am very dissapointed that it does not have hydraulic struts. My 1.4 TSI has it. If I bought the MK8 I would install it after - and that is a huge dissapointment to be honest. The interior is top notch, I really like it, and the 1.5 TSI is sweet
Yes, very disappointing design from Volkswagen. They have left the "Golf soul" with this new design and messed it up. The front shouldn't be on any Golf. Sales will go down.
VW keeps cutting costs with every generation since a decade ago (or longer). You can tell by little details as much as big ones. Aside from directly increased profits, they want people to shell out for an Audi if they want the nice touches. It's bad for business if VW intrudes on Audi, much like if the Polo GTI intruded on the Golf GTI.
MK 7’s design is very clean, simple and confident. It’s kind of the perfect design as a golf. When I brought my MK 7 Golf R, I foresee the difficulty for further improvement on the exterior, but I would expect more high tech interior. Now, it reflects my expectation kind of right!
Thomas your review is the best as always , you are a professional ! The golf you reviewed with 5L per100 km was etsi or just regular 1.5 tsi ? Thank you again !
Some good points. Sad to see the hydraulic struts gone and a few other cost cutting bits such as engine cover looks plain (used to have VW logo on and look more fancy). You see it’s these little things coupled with the excellent refinement that’s made the Golf stand out from the crowd in terms of quality and design ever since the MK4. always loved the Golf but prefer look of new Octavia I think.
Good review - and given its importance and relevance to so many people, the Golf is a car deserving of the full Autogefuhl treatment rather than a 10 minute summary. Look forward to the ID.3. I don't like the rolling indicators though: reminds me of flashy (and trashy!) US imports to Europe of 30+ years ago.
I waited for this car so much, and I don't think I like it... :/ Don't like the exterior that much, I hate the piano black touch buttons, and I really don't like the infotainment system graphics, not to mention the shifter thingie... I'm still waiting for the GTI version, maybe they change a few things around... I want real buttons, a volume knob, and analogue gauges :/ Maybe I should just get a mk 7.5 Golf R instead..
I've got a MK7.5 GTI, I'd highly recommend the R. A great all round car, I love mine. Amazingly fun to drive, yet decent mpg when needed. Looks subtle, yet stylish and everyone knows what it is. Perfect all round car!
I'm with you. I don't like the new touch-only handling. I'm a fan of good usability. One Button, one purpose. Clear, easy. Now you have to learn shortcuts or search within the touch menu, while driving 220km/h on the Autobahn. I will keep my Golf 7 for some years and maybe other manufacturers have better concepts. Driving Golf for the last 40 years does not mean I have to drive Golf for the next 40 years. Sad, but VW hat the choice.
Yes, it's strange when Golf 4 has hydraulic struts an this one not... From exterior I waited more, maybe need to see live, but interior and tech is really good.
I like the new lane change alert on the inside plastic part of the sideview mirrors instead of being integrated into the actual mirror part. NOT a fan of any driver assist that brakes or steers for you. Alert systems are great. But the driver should be in control of the vehicle at all times, not the vehicle in control of the driver.
I don't know what you say, i think it's a very good looking progression. Golf like other German cars have very slow progression in design for a lot of reasons..This looks fresh and the interior is gorgeous. If you think about it, there were always people who hated the new Golf.
![[FINALE] 💸ที่แท้พ่อเป็นผู้ถือหุ้นบริษัทพันล้าน เขากลับใจตอนนี้ก็สายไปแล้ว🙇🏻♂️#ละครคุณธรรม #short](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yFwgjTFISUI/mqdefault.jpg)
►Follow us on Instagram @autogefuehl and @thomas.letsgo
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►Subscribe to our 2nd channel with shorter reviews: th-cam.com/users/autogefuel
►Also check out the studio episode (e.g. the car with panoramic roof): th-cam.com/video/rDC6qm8s1zc/w-d-xo.html
►Compare the VW ID.3: th-cam.com/video/op4HO6GHC8Q/w-d-xo.html
the headlights are what destroy the whole car! otherwise perfectly ok design
Thankyou for this video . How much price?
the 1.5 TSI is 3 or 4 cylinders?
Thomas after sex with his wife:
"Do you like this one? Tell me in the comments"
Thomas, about teh hidraulic struts and the soft plastics you are totally right. I am fed up with toy cars, full of toys and tech and no really quality in terms of materials used to build. Give me less gimmicks and more build quality and purity/nobility of materials used.
"they turned the headlamps upside down" lol! Why we love Thomas! 😆😆😆
😂
😂😂😂😂😂
He's absolutely right: watch Thomas VW Golf 7 facelift review Feb 12 2007, at 25:30, turn your screen upside down
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
Excellent detailed review
marked as advertising. sad but true
That interior is so amazing.........minimalist austere to the extreme but beautiful......WOW.
Finally!!!! Night time test with the headlights. Please do it for all cars. I believe it is one of the most important things in a car.
No, is not.
Ax Cn Difference of opinions. I struggled with my previous car. The Passat B5.5 has one of the worst headlights I have ever seen in any car. And the car brand new was 47 000 euros. Its a crime to put crappy headlights. My GF’s 1998 Suzuki Swift had better headlights and the car costed 10k brand new...
I agree. I have suggested in the past also, but it will cost a lot of time. But it will be very usefull! They should be the first carreviewers to do that.
@@kamata93not as worse as lada, a Suzuki is the worse of all headlights I’ve ever seen!
When i saw first mk7, i said “wow, amazing”
When i saw this one, i said “what an ugly car they made”
Mk7 is the best and will be the best always...
OMG I feel exactly the same about those two generations of Golf.
Mk6 golf is the best.
Same here, but I think the look is growing into me now, I'm starting to like it, or perhaps accepting it
İch habe golf sieben und neu golf ist (almost) genau .
Laughs in an ansolute beast, the king Mk4, by far the best Golf.
I personally really like the infotainment. Finally simpler / minimal graphics. Also like the climate controls. You can still swipe the bar easily without taking your eyes off the road yet it keeps the cabin looking very clean. Nice solution. Especially with the voice control as well.
I think there is a downgrade of material quality
The guy said it's a good quality materials inside with better seats. No German car manufacturer made a downgrade of material quality ever.
@@SeaLifeCro You see the engine hood with 2 locks one in the left and other in right that's mean the hood is very weak not like all golf precedent generations with only one lock in the middle !!!!!
@@SeaLifeCro well that's utter bullshit. Mercedes uses renault motors.🤣😂
most components have been made in Mexico
because as usual VW has cut costs
From the video it looks like there is a downgrade i n materials. In 2017 I bought my wife a Tiguan TDI R.line 4 motion 190 cv and the quality of plastic and the seats alcantara and tissue is much worst than what she had in her 2012 Tiguan. I find it Very disappointing as a long time Vag costumer.
Think this is the best car channel we have now in the entire TH-cam. Fair, direct, honest, lot of details.
Well done Autogefuhl !
Thanks so much!
The small window you mention is already present in my Golf 7 GP (2018)
And I really dislike the new digital cockpit screen and UI. I feel the current Golf has a way more premium one.
Great detailed review. I’ve seen all the reviews now on TH-cam for this car, and this was the best one, most in depth and covered everything.
thanks, please recommend =)
Thomas and the team: you guys make the best reviews about cars ever made! Thank you so much, it really is easier to decide about new car with your detailed inspection. Greetings from Slovenia!
thanks, best greetings!
They really F***** up with this Golf. Im sticking to my MK7.5
Me too
Although I really like the fact that the MK8 has a widescreen infotainment system, I'm not impressed in the slightest by this MK8 platform. My MK7.5 GTI is staying in my garage for a long time.
@@strker99 the infotainment user interface looks like it's from 2015... It's so controverse to the modern interior.
It looks better from the back and from the profile
Front is uglier cause of the headlights
I was interested in the Mk8 but those headlights. I just can't convince myself about the odd face it's making. I'm on the Mk7 but I think next year I'll get myself a GTi Mk7.5. That's a seriously nice looking car all round. This Mk8 looks good from some angles and odd from others.
As a previous MK7 owner I can easily find at least 7 premium features missing in the MK8 in order to make it cheaper for VW.
It completely lost it's sophistication and uncompromised quality. Not a car for me anymore...
Same
Can you list them? I've never been in a MK7, but I'm curious how they're cutting corners now.
@@ziomorph
Hydraulic struts removed
Glovebox felt lining removed
Car got narrower
Driverside storage compartment removed
Sunglass holder removed
@@ziomorph No hydraulic struts, missing cupholder cover (under the armrest), rubber bottle holders instead of the adaptive mechanical solution, glovebox without fabric inside, glovebox without locking, missing cupholder under the seetring wheel (under the light control), middle consol without a cover (under climate controls), removed chrome and aluminium decorative trims from the door handles, around the cluster, from the steering wheel (around the logo, from buttons to increase speed and menu buttons), steering wheel airbag cover surrounded by a single piece of fake aluminum plastic (previously a combination of a piano black and brushed aluminum trim).
Another thing I just saw, the upper plastics on the door are from a single rubber piece, same as previously had Octavia and Leon. The MK7 had an ultrathin rubber cover with a foam underneath making it ultrasoft on touch, really something you couldn't find in this class, but now is gone...
Same. I chose Mk7 because it felt the most premium/quality car in that size segment and I didn't mind paying a little extra over a Focus or something. Mk8 is a huge disappointment.
Thanks Thomas. This is MUCH appreciated. I waited for this for a LOOOONG time. Now I wonder; when will we hear more about the Variant? Thanks for your EXCELLENT channel and great efforts to really deliver! Biss denn, P
I've read somewhere that it will be available by the end of 2020. Not 100% sure tho.
we ll keep u updated on that for sure :)
I agree with you about the hood struts. Bad decision. Maybe they could offer a Thomas package with a padded rear door top and hood struts.
If you look just above the coolant reservoir at 6:57 the ball socket bracket that is currently used for the hydraulic bonnet struts IS STILL THERE, maybe the GTi and R will have them??!?
@@cfbm125 really? seriously? honestly? ...who cares!
JASON K well! He mentions it in the video! so clearly he cares, as does CarLuvrSD.
Perhaps the new golf has a pedestrian safety feature which they've had to include to reduce pedestrian injury. Such as a pop up bonnet or airbag (which would not work with a hydraulic bonnet struts).
Thomas is a stickler for hood strut, no hard plastics and no animal skins..lol
I don’t like the new Mk8 golf. I dislike it so much I bought a new 2019 mk7.5 Golf R just the other day so i didn’t have to wait longer for a new car!
Well arent you a silly boy.
I can see many changes even for base golf. Hydraulic for the hood. Maybe a cover under the vents in the middle. Android auto is easy really. All can come 2nd year for mk8 so 2022-2023
Good Choice
Ben Upde , I’ve would’ve waited but that’s me
Ben Upde just seeing a hook rather than hydraulics, just stinks of penny pinching
I don’t like it. I think they’ve ruined the Golf.
Agreed.
You don't hve to like it, you are a second-hand buyer, nobody cares about you
Adi Adr by second hand will cost 5 k😂 thats what base golf value when they depreciate as soon as is purchased 😂
Stupid design trend fake exaust tiips. Well lets give what people want fake stuff
@@FGvici mk7 also has a fake exhaust but it's still a top selling car in Europe and one of the best hatchbacks you can buy. Most people doesn't care about exhaust. If you do then you will go for a gti or a gtd r line model that does have the real exhaust. As far as design goes, people were saying golf is boring and the company is not making any significant design changes and now you are crying because they finally did it. I bet that after a while people will love it. The interior is better, more tech, more space, better engines, more options to choose from...it's a step up. And that's a fact.
Yawn! stop doing fake exhausts! front looks awful
The bezels around the infotainment screen and dashboard is something I expected from KIA or Hyundai. It looks horrible and outdated from the beginning. I really hate to say this because otherwise the interior looks sleek and modern but they screwed that part up big time.
Michael Schwartz the mk 7.5 with the big screen upgrade looks so much premium than this. Looks like VW cost cutting in full force on new models
Totally agree. I thought the same from day one
Filip Sykut It looks very much downgraded
My wife and I have just ordered a new golf 8, automatic, Style. Petrol 1.5tsi 150 bhp. Trading in a Polo 1.0 . This was a really good review and made me think we have made the right decision. BYW I had a 2007 Tuareg which I sold last week, so going from a polo and a Tuareg to a new Golf seems to me very sensible and I can't wait to drive it. Mind you, it's a few months away!
I like interior of this car. Thank you our german journalist for this regiew :D
Mk8 is big disappointment, it’s ugly and the quality is not like previous generations, VW thinks that with those screens and touch buttons will impress us? well totally not because touch buttons ain’t practical and the cockpit is too much analog is better at least for me. I will keep my MK7 and skip that.
I think it only looks good in white but in other colours it's ugly
Apart from the hydraulic strut lift. In which aspects is it cheaper than previous one? I don't think it deserves this comment at all. It looks well built IMHO
@@RafitoMembroza Of course it is well built. It sets the quality standards in its class. It's a Golf and each model is more sophisticated and more premium than the former model.
no one ask you to but this mk8. it’s a good upgrade and we all know that amd you’re just being insecured with your car
Exactly! - Ill be keeping my GTI Clubsport you see at my channel - Thats one thing for Sure !! 👍
Great review as always Thomas - let's see how long we have to wait for it in Australia
I have a 2017 Golf Tsi with the 1.8 turbo. It's fun to drive. This body style hasn't made yet to the US. The exterior for the MK8 is growing on me. It will take time to get used to the interior though. Great review!
Thanks keep following!
The golf was the car for everybody. It will be interesting how the older Generations will arange with the new Systems.
Totally agree with the comment on the temperature sliders. I think the functionality is fine when stationary, but when moving and traveling over bumps having a dial is much better as you actually hold onto it with your fingers while adjusting. I like Land Rovers solution in this respect, having the dials overlaying part of the centre screen.
I honestly really like this car. I had the opportunity to do a 1000km Roadtrip with it, and it was a great car for it.
in 2 years:
how to unlock Golf Adaptive high beam with OBD2 for free.
Pretty sure they are gonna be SWAP
more like in a couple of months
Kinda like a Tesla. You have to buy it. Or everyone with a Tesla could randomly save the 20k and get the performance for free
Is DSG7 DQ200 0CW good?
Great review. I just drove a Tesla Model 3 for a week recently and I wasn’t a fan of having almost everything contained on one screen. I think the Golf here is better in that it features a second screen in front of the driver to display the digital speedometer, map, and other info. The Tesla just had the one screen off to the right of the driver and I feel like the driver experience suffered because of it. Ease of use and functionality is lost when touch screens and capacitive buttons are used in cars. Maybe if I spend more time with these systems I’ll feel better about it. But as it stands right now, I like the tactile feel of turning a dial or pressing a button in my MKV GTI. I can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on the new GTI and post your impressions of it. Keep up the great work.
I was going to get this car is GTI spec, but it's just too ugly. They really messed up the design.
I think it looks fine actually.
It’s one of those designs I think you hate at first but then will come to like.
@@macjoseph2375??? What???
@@alext1452 is there a problem?
@@macjoseph2375 yeah if you think Mk8 is fine then you should go check up
Thankfully new octavia is the goodooking one in the segment and VAGroup. Golf Mk 8 stylingwise is blend and auris'y. The answer to a question noone asked.
I'd say the Mazda 3 is the prettiest one, but the Octavia is definitely in the top as well.
Great review as always Thomas. Not a fan of touch screens or sliders, either. Volvo, once renowned for safety, moved to big touch screens - strange. This infotainment doesn’t look very intuitive. Agree, I liked graphics of old 12.3” Active Info Display! 33:37 who needs AEB when you have co-pilot Holger - greetings to him. 40:40 “Woe!” Yes, I like a HUD. Thanks for all the info Thomas.
😎
@Autogefuhl - Thomas - I hired a New Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro for a week, nice and very expensive car. Pros and Cons. For: good touch screen. Against: the idea of a touch screen in a car isn't good!
Beautiful review. Totally enjoyed it. South Africa will get the Golf in late 2020, the forth quarter probably. 🙂
Awesome reviews as always, love the thoroughness and detailed presentations
Really informative and comprehensive review, honest too. I love Golf (I have a Mk5 GTI and a 7.5 R- so yes I’m a big fan). This Mk8 looks great. I totally agree regarding the bonnet strut, it cheapens the car. Also the hard plastics on the doors in the rear- although that’s the same as the Mk7. I’m sure I shall have one when the time comes 😊
Your accent alone drips attention to intellect and detail. You significantly continue to mature with your camera(s). You would be at home in lecture halls presenting subjects of your choice. So fun to visit you for kindly delivered, thoroughgoing observations on subjects of personal interest. Your German audience must appreciate your videos as much as us grateful Yanks.
Welcome 🙏
I love Golfs and I like the changes over the Mk7. Looking forward to the GTi version.
Drive Test on cobble stone :D that is why Thomas is our favorite
The exterior design is much better on the Mk 7.5. This one went too far into the conservative/boring ground. It is sad to see VW regressing with its most popular car. So far Mazda3 is the best looking hatch.
The car looks nice, and it probably drives extremely smooth. I wouldn't mind owning one, if I had the money. Top notch review😊
it will grow onto many people. Just watch.. like many other cars did.
Yeah, we will get used to cheaper, uglier cars, no problem.
🤣🤣🤣
I find it's over designed, and at the same time there is downgrades. The MK7 is a perfect golf.
@Isaac Clarke i actually think the previous model Focus ST look more of its own. The new ST looks somewhat like a Hyundai. 2019/2020 seems to be the year of shitty designs so far.
Love this, really looking to get the new Golf GTE, and you're my favorite reviewer. Would be great to see you drive the GTE as well
Rear lights looks more modern on MK7...
*MK7.5
Rhemedy Beats yeah..
MK7 > every other golf
Welcome to Portugal and especially to Porto Thomas and all your crew. What I like more about your reviews is your impartiality. The new Golf first weird and then guts. Time will tell. Good work.
Thanks Antonio!
I agree with you ,Thomas, I'd prefer knobs for volume and temperature control. Seems more intuitive to me.
Thomas,
I really enjoy all of your reviews. I agree that the hard surface on the upper rear doors is disappointing but not a deal-breaker. A great deal of the Audi feature has been grafted into this new Golf. I want one now!.
Appreciated!
I really like the new headlight design and the more understated grille (narrow slits are always better for aero, you just don't need a huge grille unless it's a passively air-cooled car!), and I looove the progressive activation on the indicators. It's a subtle thing but it's a look that's always impressed me, noticed it on Audis the last few years, neat to see it on Golf now.
I also really enjoy the centred GOLF text underneath the VW roundel, which maybe is just following a fashion (as Ford put many of the model names centred and with large letter-spacing too), but I like it for reminding me of various retro cars, having their name always spelled across the centre. Whether it was Ford, Buick, or whoever else, there's just something deeply appealing to me about seeing name badging given such a wide stance and prominent focus on the front or back of a car, instead of being tucked in the corner like an afterthought.
I don't like the new VW logo itself though. Something about the bottom corners of the W not touching the outer circle anymore just bothers me. Makes it look slightly visually unbalanced to me.
I have mixed feelings about the interior. I enjoy looking at traditional gauges, but in practise 99% of the time I just look at the speed readout on the little LCD put between the gauges. Taking the extra mental time to parse where the needle is pointing when the number is right there already doesn't exactly make sense to me. So in practise I might get along better with a digital dash, even though I love the look of gauges. I can imagine having a tachometer on a dial but the speedometer just as a number. I've always liked the idea of having the map inside the dash, though I've got to wonder if it's only for VW's own maps. I'd really prefer getting Google Maps there through Android Auto, but something tells me that's likely to only be able to put content onto the central screen instead.
I too enjoy separate buttons for climate controls, though I am less fussed about volume. The tiny knob on the previous generation wasn't impressing me either, and on RHD models the knob is still on the left, so it's further away from the driver instead of next to them. Not having separate buttons for heated seats seems potentially highly annoying, if the controls are really buried as you show. I have my suspicions that maybe you could quickly access them by pressing the climate control display in the bottom left of the screen, just by how it looks, but maybe it's misleading design and you can't! But I use heated seats a lot and regularly shift between the low and medium settings, being able to do it just by feel is certainly nice. If the voice system is good enough it might be a viable replacement for certain hands-free adjustments, or it could be flakey and annoying.
The seat memory and seats automatically sliding back for ease of entry is really nice. It might be a small detail, even gimmicky for some, but not for me. I currently have to do all that manually to drive, being pear-shaped with large thighs compared to my waist and shoulders, just to have enough room to get in under the steering wheel! And with the slight slop in manual seat mechanisms it's not always the easiest to do subtle adjustments, especially when your weight needs to be forward to pull the seat forward, then you have to sit back properly again to gauge what you've actually achieved. Simply saving my preferred position in a memory so I can alter it and then easily recall it seems great. Again, maybe it's gimmicky for some, but I can also see it making things much easier for people with wheelchairs, canes, or crutches to enter the car and safely stash their equipment on the passenger side. After they're finished, they can have the seats smoothly move back into the appropriate driving position.
I like the sound of the mild hybrid, reading up on it I was a little worried the engine might have no character at low speeds. The faster initial movement from the torque boost looks like it's quite good from the video too. That addresses a problem with these smaller turbocharged engines, having to build up enough exhaust pressure to actually get the turbo going. Of course turbo lag is nowhere near as pronounced today as it was a few decades ago, but it was still noticeable nevertheless. A small boost from the electric to get it all started looks like it could help a lot, especially with going up hills from a standstill. People who may have previously automatically opted for the 1.5L to cope better with hills in their area may be able to go for the higher powered 1.0L instead?
I am a big fan of the driving mode selector. The previous selector, with the various ways to pull it and tilt it to go between modes never agreed with me. I've highly enjoyed seeing more interesting drive mode selectors lately, with Ford's circular dial and some other carmakers putting it on a stalk by the wheel and so on. You have the paddles already for manual shifting, so I can't imagine wanting to reach down and use the drive mode selector. I love the feel of a real manual as much as anyone else, but tilting the old selector to upshift or downshift didn't feel very much like a real manual to me anyway. And paddles are cool, and fun, and still have a certain allure to them. For me, simply having the option of picking which gear I'm in whenever I please is far more important than getting to work a clutch and a gearstick. Then the DSG can take over at other times where I don't care as much about having full control, and that also enables the use of proper stop&go adaptive cruise control for boring motorway driving, and so on.
In this day and age, with electronic handbrakes, I think it just makes sense to downsize the drive mode selector too. We don't have a large stick for gears and large lever for parking brake anymore, and I find a large gearstick-styled drive mode selector put next to a tiny electronic handbrake switch to look almost laughable honestly. An actual gearstick, not so much, as it still serves a genuine purpose. But when you're just informing the gearbox which mode to choose anyway, does it really need to be large and with mechanical gating? In my book, it doesn't, and I'd rather have more storage space.
Despite the tradeoffs in the cabin, I do like that the screen is raised up so it's closer to your line of sight, and I do like the increased airiness in the cabin. I'm afraid I'm a sucker for RGB lights too, so knowing it has that option makes me happy. Again that's something I've seen and lusted after in pricier BMWs, Mercs and Audis, ambient cabin lighting, so it's nice to see it available on the Golf now too.
Those seats look extremely nice, also. Alcantara is a wonderful fabric, with the best feelings of suede and velour, while still remaining pretty hardy as textiles go.
Really love these in-depth reviews you do on cars. Keep it up!
thanks! Please recommend =)
The MK7 had those small front windows also. I owned a MK4, skipped the MK5 because it was ugly, owned a MK6 and now a MK7. I will skip the MK8 also.👎
LOL exactly my thoughts. I came from a mk3, to mk4, skipped 5 because wtf, bought a mk6, now a mk7 golf r. I'll skip the mk8 as well. yuck
@@98vwgolf guys, look at the new Skoda Octavia mk4, that thing will sell like hot cakes
What I meant is that it appears more visually, you can see the big difference when you compare it to Mk7:
www.autogefuehl.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/VWGolfGTI_TCR_Serie_TornadoRot_16.jpg
This pillar basically blocks the view from the inside to the window, whereas in the new generation you can clearly see the window from the inside
Totally the opposite :) Mk4 was the worst looking, mk5 best, mk6 ok. Mk7 I never got because it was the worst since mk4. Happy that the mk8 is better again.
@@kentech1179 hahaha
Outstanding review! I can’t wait to test drive one when they arrive in the US. I do agree with you about the climate controls being better with traditional knobs, just my personal preference but I’m happy to try and evolve with the new technology!
Thank you for this. I mean I am glad that someone is doing such a great car reviews as you do. Keep going.
This is the sort of review that I am willing to pay for. Good work.
Uh?
26:26 when your favourite car TH-camr starts the driving review on the route you take everyday for work 😂
😎👌
😎👌
Where it was shot?
@@vlmxs , Porto portugal
Danke, Thomas und Holger!
Analog cluster and simple knobs for me.
Struts? Must have!
Big fan of the Golf for many years now.
Great review, as per usual. 👏🏻👋🏻
thanks good to hear from you my friend!
You have the most perfect Gerglish accent in history.
I love how he says..." Wiss Thomas". Good, old Germans, you got to love them
Thanks for choosing Portugal, specially Porto/Gaia!!
it was the brand s choice, many german brands have been choosing Portugal to make their international launch
@@jh5kl yhea and Peugeot too
New Golf is great, but Portugal is fantastic for car reviews!
The graphics look retro and not modern. Like a cheap toyota system
Graphics look much better than toyota haha I drive a 2017 corolla and can confirm it looks like it's from 2008 lol
Sugi Corolla - boring car without any problems =) Golf - cool car with mount mechanical problems. That’s all
Its always your reviews i trust most and look forward to even though
i will never have a nice car, your reviews helps me dream I have.
So you even a dream maker. Thank you and keep tracking and stay safe.
22:48 I couldn’t agree more on your take on this Thomas.
In the beginning i hated the looks of the exterior but I have to say it is starting to grow on me now.
Great review Thomas.!
Hope you enjoyed the trip through our roads! Although to be honest I find portuguese roads pretty rough, full of road holes. I think the fantastic beach sights compensate that!
I love the Golf and I own one, but the MK8 looks like a Toyota Auris. It's not bad, but nok Golf-like. More like an Artean look, and not very conservative.
I am very dissapointed that it does not have hydraulic struts. My 1.4 TSI has it. If I bought the MK8 I would install it after - and that is a huge dissapointment to be honest. The interior is top notch, I really like it, and the 1.5 TSI is sweet
As a Mk7 GTI owner I am so hekin in love with this... I can't wait for the Mk8 GTI :D
Excelent review of the Golf 8.. and go Porto lovely city :D
Hi, I am from Hong Kong and I really like your reviews. They are informative and entertaining, keep up the good work👍
I prefer the old design. This one looks awkward
Yes, very disappointing design from Volkswagen. They have left the "Golf soul" with this new design and messed it up. The front shouldn't be on any Golf. Sales will go down.
That piano black key fob is the biggest middle finger move to all owners and YT channels like this that do not like seeing it used. I'm one of them.
A very objective car review of an excellent car
🙏🙏
Why on earth would VW not have gas struts for the bonnet?
Tan Ngo I’m shocked
VW keeps cutting costs with every generation since a decade ago (or longer). You can tell by little details as much as big ones. Aside from directly increased profits, they want people to shell out for an Audi if they want the nice touches. It's bad for business if VW intrudes on Audi, much like if the Polo GTI intruded on the Golf GTI.
Cost savings....because of dieselgate.
Do you go under bonnet just as much, if not more than going inside your car?
Maybe they were purchased by GM and the bean counters are in control..lol
YES THOMAS! I totally agree with you on previous digital speedo. The new entertainment system software reminds me of Atari 500.
The 7.5 have a better design. This 8 looks strange! Greetings from Portugal, Thomas!
Nice quality machinery. Love the German review s. Enjoyed your review. From US
cheers keep tuning in !
I'm looking forward to the Golf R 8 as it might replace my Audi S3 in a few years.
MK 7’s design is very clean, simple and confident. It’s kind of the perfect design as a golf. When I brought my MK 7 Golf R, I foresee the difficulty for further improvement on the exterior, but I would expect more high tech interior. Now, it reflects my expectation kind of right!
The headlights on a commuter model is probably fine. I think the upside-down lights will make GTI/R variants look less sporty.
Great video and nice presentation of this new VW Golf
Thank you again dear Thomas ,
You have also funs from France 🇫🇷🙏🏻
Merci beaucoup :)
I prefer manual controls for the volume, temperature
Great review Thomas. I like the new Golf.
Thomas your review is the best as always , you are a professional !
The golf you reviewed with 5L per100 km was etsi or just regular 1.5 tsi ?
Thank you again !
Etsi m8
As far as I know, the normal 1.5 TSI does NOT have that engine-off "coasting" option. Am I right? Thanks! :)
@@mrako84 You are right Marko
liberfarb liberfarb Thanks! 😉
The best looking Golf so far. Interior is very modern. Don't know how it will be accepted by conservative buyers but well done VW.
I'd have the New Skoda Octavia over this . Much nicer interior as well... 👌
Some good points. Sad to see the hydraulic struts gone and a few other cost cutting bits such as engine cover looks plain (used to have VW logo on and look more fancy). You see it’s these little things coupled with the excellent refinement that’s made the Golf stand out from the crowd in terms of quality and design ever since the MK4. always loved the Golf but prefer look of new Octavia I think.
32:43 there's a BMW driver using turn signals!?!? WHAT MADNESS IS THIS
I never knew BMWs have working turn signals
I wouldn’t rule out a malfunction 😃
He probably had to pay extra for those. I am sure they don’t come with the standard package
good review Thomas, and agree they focused on some good parts, and cheaped out/lost their mind with not including other features.
I'd love to own a Golf configured exactly like this one above.
Good review - and given its importance and relevance to so many people, the Golf is a car deserving of the full Autogefuhl treatment rather than a 10 minute summary. Look forward to the ID.3.
I don't like the rolling indicators though: reminds me of flashy (and trashy!) US imports to Europe of 30+ years ago.
thanks Gary!
Top review!!! ❤
i saw the Golf 8 recently. I'm surprised that Autogefuhl doesn't notice the incredible step back in build quality compared to the previous generation
I waited for this car so much, and I don't think I like it... :/ Don't like the exterior that much, I hate the piano black touch buttons, and I really don't like the infotainment system graphics, not to mention the shifter thingie... I'm still waiting for the GTI version, maybe they change a few things around... I want real buttons, a volume knob, and analogue gauges :/
Maybe I should just get a mk 7.5 Golf R instead..
I've got a MK7.5 GTI, I'd highly recommend the R. A great all round car, I love mine. Amazingly fun to drive, yet decent mpg when needed. Looks subtle, yet stylish and everyone knows what it is. Perfect all round car!
@Johnny Dong What's your point, it's a hatchback with ample room for 3 adults in the rear..
@Johnny Dong how is it not, when your referencing carrying back seat passengers..?
I'm with you. I don't like the new touch-only handling. I'm a fan of good usability. One Button, one purpose. Clear, easy. Now you have to learn shortcuts or search within the touch menu, while driving 220km/h on the Autobahn. I will keep my Golf 7 for some years and maybe other manufacturers have better concepts. Driving Golf for the last 40 years does not mean I have to drive Golf for the next 40 years. Sad, but VW hat the choice.
Yes, it's strange when Golf 4 has hydraulic struts an this one not... From exterior I waited more, maybe need to see live, but interior and tech is really good.
I like the new lane change alert on the inside plastic part of the sideview mirrors instead of being integrated into the actual mirror part. NOT a fan of any driver assist that brakes or steers for you. Alert systems are great. But the driver should be in control of the vehicle at all times, not the vehicle in control of the driver.
When will you be able to do a driving review of the ID3? As always you guys are the best!😊
We ll keep u updated on that!
Half of the golf buyers are car enthusiasts
And would not mind the absence of gas struts
Infact the support rod is old school and even cooler.
Nope
First time I will see one in my rear view mirror, I will think it's a Renault Megane.
I don't know what you say, i think it's a very good looking progression. Golf like other German cars have very slow progression in design for a lot of reasons..This looks fresh and the interior is gorgeous. If you think about it, there were always people who hated the new Golf.