* Personally, I Like the new front; looks far more menacing than the Mk 5... and the 6 is more than capable of backing it up with some action too (unlike its wide-eyed predecessor)
Exhaust revisions result in a more aggressive note; tail-pipes are now on either side of the rear under-skirting.
* Engine is a turbocharged 2L, but this isn't the same engine found in the Mk 5. The heavily revised powerplant feels punchier (slightly more horsepower than the outgoing car) and the sound it makes on the move is outstanding (also thanks to the revised exhaust system)! Stupendous low to mid-range punch...
* New steering wheel is even more delightful to hold; Racing red stitching matches the gear-gaiter.
Familiar DSG gearbox; still not a huge fan, but i have to say it makes light work of A-B driving, but occasionally, one feels the gear-box is second-guessing the driver during up (or down) shifts.
The cabin is well appointed and exudes the kind of well-built ambience that so many have come to associate with German brands. Of course, recent times have seen a gradual decline in the average build quality of stalwart brands, but with the mk 6, with the exception of some parts, overall cabin quality seems far higher than the Mk 5.
Although the Mk 6's dash architecture is similar to the mk 5, the quality of materials used is far higher than the earlier car and prove tactile to the touch.
* Even on 18-inch alloys and low profile rubber, the chassis and suspension of the Mk6 GTI has been well-sorted. In fact, in terms of ability, it far surpasses the Mk 5, which could get crashy at times and wheelspun easily with even minor prods of the gas pedal.
Even in 'Sport', the ride is perfectly acceptable; the Mk6 now features XDS, an electronic transverse differential lock, and what a difference to handling it makes: the Mk6 GTI has certainly transcended the realms of the average straight-line warrior.
Corners can now be attacked with a high level of confidence (and speed); previously, one either worried about wheel-spinning if the gas was applied too early or if applied too late, not carrying enough speed out of the corner (before the inevitable comments about 300bhp or 400bhp Mk 5s start coming out of the woodwork, of course I'm talking about stock to stock).
Of course, there's more to chassis dynamics than just adding a trick LSD, since there have been recent FWD cars that have tried to use that as a selling point, even if the results have sometimes been far from satisfactory.
Ultimately, the mk6 GTI shines as a complete package and can be driven hard with finesse. The GTI's steering weight/communication, power delivery and suspension have all been tuned to optimise the LSD, which ultimately enhances the car's handling, stability and poise... and that has made
all the difference between this and the Mk 5.
new instruments are easy on the eye.
Familiar wheels to many; unlike the Mk5, 18s come as standard this time around; but thankfully, the chassis of the Mk6 has been well sorted to deliver a firm yet comfortable ride.
With the launch of the Golf R, hardcore enthusiasts have something else to look forward to, where the turbo'd 2L has been boosted to 270bhp and like the R32, will feature VW's latest 4Motion 4WD system for optimised traction (after all, one can only go so far with FWD).
As much as i loved the rasp of the V6 in the earlier Golf V R32, the reality is Singapore's road tax structure, which penalises cars with bigger engine capacities, made ownership of the R32 rather prohibitive, or rather, there were plenty of compelling alternatives (some higher up the brand hierarchy, no less) in that price and engine category that could be enjoyed.
In any case, the Golf R should be making it to Singapore; the only concern is, will the official channel serve up the de-tuned 'hot climate' version?
Anyway, fingers are crossed for the full bhp variant!
Til then, The Miff says 'bye'!
Fast Facts : Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk 6)
Engine: 1984cc, 16-valves, in-line 4, turbocharged
Maximum power: 210bhp at 5300rpm
Maximum torque: 280Nm at 1700-5200rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
Top Speed: 238km/h
LxBxH: 4213 x 1779 x 1469 mm
Wheelbase: 2578mm
Kerbweight: 1339kg
Agent: Volkswagen Centre Singapore
URL:
http://www.vwasia.com/publish/vwasia/singapore/en/company/location.htmlPrice: S$134,300k (5-dr) / S$130,800 (3-dr)
