Best Things About the Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn

"Danny Korecki" (dannykorecki)
04/06/2020 at 00:20 • Filed to: volkswagen, golf, golf gti, autobahn

I recently spent some time with a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I wanted to hit you with my normal list of the features that just were above the rest.

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For more of my automotive exploits, be sure to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (35)

Danny Korecki > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 00:20

keslord > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 00:28

why would someone buy this when for a $1k or 2 you can get a Golf R?

Danny Korecki > keslord
04/06/2020 at 00:33

well that can be said for so many trim levels for so many cars

keslord > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 00:36

this car has the unique spot of you spend a price, but $1-2k more can buy you the best version they make of it.

Danny Korecki > keslord
04/06/2020 at 00:39

sometimes $1-2k is a make or break

keslord > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 00:44

$1000 is only like $20 a month more on a 60 month loan.

Danny Korecki > keslord
04/06/2020 at 00:45

And $2000 is like $40. Maybe that is an electric bill, internet bill, etc.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > keslord
04/06/2020 at 05:25

Because they don’t sell for that much. There’s almost always rebates and financing on the GTI that isn’t on the R, and dealers are willing to deal on them vs the R. My 2018 Autobahn stickered for $38.8. I was out the door for $30,250. For a car that has more tech than an R, a sunroof, is more fun to drive and is better looking.

I’ve bought multiple new GTIs and every time I’ve shopped the R as well. The money hasn’t been a huge factor, but the R feels boring and heavy and they strip out the sunroof and nice stuff like the self parking. Maybe the MK8 will bring the USA an R that compares better to the GTI. I’ll drive them both and buy one, it would be nice to go to the R for the AWD, but I’m not especially hopeful.

Averyrm - GTI YUP > keslord
04/06/2020 at 07:28

I looked into this when I bought mine. The biggest reasons were:

1) GTI has a limited slip, R does not

2) 300 lb weight difference

3) Because of above, GTI was more fun in corners

4 ) W ith dealer discounts I got a new GTI Autobahn for ~ 30 k. R was still at sticker price (~42k)

redwagon > keslord
04/06/2020 at 08:16

MSRP difference is $4000 between a GTI Autobahn and the base level R.

DanTheMan > Averyrm - GTI YUP
04/06/2020 at 08:18

All exactly the same here. I track my car and the 300lb weight difference and proper diff make the gti the faster car when all else is like for like (suspension, tires, brake pads, etc)

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 09:24

The biggest problem I have with the higher trim levels of the GTI is that you can only get the best seating option in the cheapest model. They should make the plaid seats available across the board. Hell, if they want to offer leather, make the leather seats plaid too.

HONDAD > keslord
04/06/2020 at 09:43

Isn’t Autobahn trim around 36K and R in the low 40s? And typically Rs don’t get discounted, whereas GTIs do, so the price gap is actually much wider than 1-2K, could be as much as 10K.

Erik > keslord
04/06/2020 at 09:58

The real transaction prices are very different though. You can get a g or 2 off a G olf R, but more like 7-9k off a GTI right now.

Danny Korecki > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
04/06/2020 at 10:04

I love the plaid seatssssssss

MrSnrub > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
04/06/2020 at 11:00

Yes! Especially for the ‘19 and ‘20 models, the plaid seats are only available on the base S with the very blah-looking base headlamps, or the limited-run Rabbit edition. If you want the nice LED headlights with red accents, DCC or the uplevel infotainment, you’re stuck with leather.

I got an 18 so I was able to get cloth seats with everything I wanted on the SE (except DCC), but if a tree fell on my car or something and I were to replace it with another GTI, I’d probably have to go used because I just don’t like the way they’re doing the feature packaging now.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 11:18

As an owner of this exact car (2018 7.5), I agree with these points.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
04/06/2020 at 11:18

Fair point. I do like my leather though.....

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > keslord
04/06/2020 at 11:19

The reason I did, was because the 7.5 R’s hadn’t started sales in the US a the time I needed to buy a car.........

Looking back, I should have rented a car for 2 months then gotten an R. That being said. I love my GTI.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 11:28

Here’s one thing no one who reviews these cars knows! The wheels are soft as shit. I’ve always ran proper tire pressures on OEM tires, and I’ve had 3 blow outs in 2 years. A ll 4 of my wheels are bent too. Can’t wait to spend $1,000 getting replacement before I return the lease!

Danny Korecki > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/06/2020 at 11:37

Thanks dude. As someone making content, it’s good to hear when opinions align.

What other things do you really like about your GTI?

Danny Korecki > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/06/2020 at 11:38

Oh man, that sucks. But as you say, only an owner would know that problem.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 11:39

The trash MN roads don’t help either!

Danny Korecki > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/06/2020 at 11:43

Yeah in my earlier years, I wanted the nuttiest harshest suspension set ups, now I want the performance of a M3 with the suspension of a trophy truck lol

MK7>MK8 > keslord
04/06/2020 at 15:39

Owner of a 17' GTI Autobahn. Purchased new $4,500 below MSRP. At the time, a Golf R did not have i ncentives or huge discounts. So the difference was close to $8k (rather than $1k or 2). I think that has always been the case for the Golf R...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 20:58

As the former owner of one, I want another one, but an R, so I don’t end up with the same shitty Mexican build quality and shitty sunroof again.

Danny Korecki > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/06/2020 at 22:26

Where exactly is the R made compared to the reg Golfs?

Thomas Donohue > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 22:39

The NA Mk7 GTI’s were assembled in Mexico, Golf R was assembled in Wolfsburg.

I believe all the Mk8 models will be made back in Europe again, regardless of which ones come to the US.

The Tiguan has taken over the Mexican assembly lines.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Danny Korecki
04/06/2020 at 23:09

Germany. That, plus the lack of sunroof(a large percentage of cars with one will have problems, I have seen cars totaled out already due to flooding), means it’s just a better place to be. Not to mention after 5k miles the sunroof sounds like two pool noodles rubbing against each other.

Danny Korecki > Thomas Donohue
04/06/2020 at 23:54

Thanks for sharing that bit of info.

Danny Korecki > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/06/2020 at 23:55

that sounds horrible

Cameron G > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/07/2020 at 01:55

Yep, I had Pirellis as OEM tires on my 2015 Autobahn. I swapped them with Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ Never going back. Still driving the 2015.

TylerJ > Danny Korecki
04/07/2020 at 09:32

How did you get the DSG as a free option? It’s showing as $800 on VW’s site.

Danny Korecki > TylerJ
04/07/2020 at 19:04

Hmm. Here is a shot from the window sticker.

“7-speed DSG Automatic w/ Tiptronic - No Charge”

Kinja'd!!!

TylerJ > Danny Korecki
04/08/2020 at 12:49

That’s interesting because summer tires are also an extra paid option online.