I want to talk about a new car that is a real piece of work. It seems to combine the impossible. Practicality, Affordability, and Performance. Of the three affordability is probably its weakest link since there are several very practical cars for well under 20k… but not so many hot performance cars. This is the gold standard car of the Euro Hot Hatch. After all, the introduction of the Golf GTI birthed the class. While VW abdicated their throne for a couple of generations, the MKV has reclaimed it with a vengeance. Simple, Purposeful interior, Everything is at the drivers fingertips. Hatchback practicality for hauling people or gear (choose one mind you) and the ability to cruise sipping gas at 30mpg with every airbag possible on a car these days. Tight suspension, Alphabet Breaks and an out of this world power box mated to the emerging standard in performance transmissions gives you some serious giggle inducing performance…. All for ~25k. Not cheap, not expensive. Its peers are the Mazda 3, RSX-S, Civic SI and several other multipurpose front wheel drive rockets. The DSG sets it apart. Some call it boring… I call it technology. Finally I can have a car that is fun to drive and has a clutched transmission that my wife can drive since she doesn't have to work a clutch pedal. I get my crisp high performance shifts and real gear/engine control while she gets boring drive to the grocery store ease.
How fast does this transmission shift? When it guesses right? By the time you register the noise it makes, the next gear is fully engaged and the revs are rapidly climbing to the next bfffft gone click. Even a bad shift where it is guessing wrong is pretty crisp… slow for a good clutch artist, about par for your typical joe schmoe just punching the clock and not trying to click and go. I won't say anything silly like it is more enjoyable than a clutch job… but for performance it is pretty damn hard to question it. I know every one of you that has ever loved a clutch pedal has also had those days/times where you just wish you could throw the damn thing into drive and forget about it for a little while. Of course the feeling passes, and you know you would never give it up for the pain that is a slush box. But the DSG isn't a slush box so most of the fun is there in the paddle shifters. The mental game is all the same… you just have to leave your left foot on the sidelines.
How good is the performance? Well… I drive by the seat of my pants. The seat of my pants going around my favorite twisties in my roaring 89 5 speed Mustang GT says 55-65 is pushing it.. and if its raining the posted caution sign is probably much closer to being right than wrong. Driving the GTI… 75-85 feels right and my stomach does flip flops imagining what I would have to do to get that same sensation I used to have squealing tires in my stang at 65 through a nice curvy section of mountain road. I don't believe It is ever going to give me that same raw feeling. But if I want to experience some sideways Front wheel drive mayhem I have just to click off the traction control program, use my DSG launch program and go for it… for the most part I think I will pass. It is a nice change of pace to throw far more than is legally allowed at a road and have a car that is yawning at me and calling me a pussy for not going at it harder. Going fast in the GTI vrs an older car like my mustang is like comparing the DSG to your typical 5/6 speed row action… it does it so well for you that it does a good job of making it boring. But no so boring I didn't sign on the line to trade in my Mustang.
As for practicality? That one is well established. This is just a dressed up Rabbit/Golf. Hatchback bliss. But here you go. I am 5'10 and a smidgin.. and I am Husky (if you are being nice). The salesman was about 6'2 or so. I had him sit in the front passenger seat and place the seat where he had a good inch between his knees and the glove box while I sat in the back… I had a good inch or two myself from the back of the seat. The back seats have air vents (directed center console and under seat) and cup holders as well as through access to the trunk. Color me surprised. The trunk/boot whatever you want to call it isn't large, But it will haul a load of groceries or enough crap for a couple on a weekend jaunt. For any more you need to fold down the seats or go for the roof rack. I think a roof rack and bag would suit a family of 3 best, and be a tad tight for 4… but forget Fido. If you are there you are looking bigger than this class anyway. Golf clubs require at least one of the seats down. All in all a very capable small car.
As for style? That is in the eye of the beholder. I rather like the 3 door hatch look… and with the factory 17" wheels, clean lines (read no crazy wings and intakes) and subtle trim details, the car stands apart from its less capable chassis mate the Rabbit, but brings a much needed understated air to the class of performance compacts. To the initiated, the GTI stands out… to others it just looks like a compact car. That is good for some and not so good for others. To each their own and all that.
All in all this car is one hell of a ride and the grin is still firmly stuck on my face a week after I drove it home.
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