Volkswagen Golf GTI (2013 - 2017) 2.0 TSI GTI 5d DSG Owner Review
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In their own words
The Golf GTI Mk7 DSG is a sporty hatch with bags of power for overtaking or cruising on the motorway. Mine has the heated leather seats and I’m 6ft4 and find the seats / driving position extremely supportive and easy to get comfortable. It’s economical for a 220bhp petrol engine and running costs are reasonable. I do wish the boot space was a little bigger and the red non-metallic paint does seem to chip quite easily. The water leak mentioned previously was a real pain and is something every owner or prospective buyer should check on purchasing and be aware of in case the problem arises. The car looks very understated and I like the fact it doesn’t draw any attention like some other warm / hot hatches. I’ve owned 3 previous Golf GTI’s in the past and this is the best overall package by far. I do wish VW would bring out a GTI Estate for those of us who can’t afford or want to pay the extra for the Golf R. The Mk8 is out now and looks stunning but it does not look so different to make me want to spend more than double to swap from my Mk7.
How reliable do you find the car?
Mechanically the car has been sound but I soon noticed the rear carpets were extremely wet. Upon searching on line it appeared my car was suffering a fairly common problem with 5 door Mk7 Golfs, being that the foam seal that is supposed to seal the rear speakers to the door had perished and excessive rain water was leaking in through the speaker and out at the bottom of the door card, rather than draining through the proper drain holes. To fix this I had to remove the door cards, drill the rivets to free the speaker, reseal the speaker using silicone, then refit the door cards. The carpet of the car and soundproofing was very wet, so I had to lift the carpet and use electric fan heater’s and a dehumidifier for a week to dry it out. VW are apparently aware of this failing but only repair under warranty if the cars are less than 3 years old.Does the car do everything you expected it to do?
I wanted a fairly fast, sporty hatchback with auto box and reasonable boot space. I’ve owned two Seat Leon ST estates previously but wanted a bit more power than the 180bhp Leon I was driving. The Golf GTI is quick, not lightning fast but has a smooth delivery of power. I do wish the boot was bigger though as carrying a small dog crate in the back limits the space significantly.About their car
- Fuel type Petrol
- When purchased July 2020
- Condition when bought Used
- Current Mileage 35,000 miles
- Average MPG 35 mpg
