Golf GTI Edition 30 Review. By Peterhope.

I'd known for some time that I wanted to replace my Audi TT 225 Quattro coupe with a Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI. Ever since the first pictures of the Mk5 GTI concept appeared, and how the actual car appeared soon afterwards, I knew that I wanted to own one. The initial press pictures showed several red and white examples, and I knew that I wanted one of these 2 colours for mine. I had been disappointed with the Golf GTI in the MK4 version, and despite nearly buying an 180hp 20VT Mk4 anniversary, had chosen to try the Audi TT instead, and wait for the Mk5 GTI to be launched.

After the launch, I had test driven several MK5 GTI cars and had come to the decision that it was way ahead of the TT in the fun factor. I was particularly impressed with the flexibility of the TFSI engine compared to the 1.8t 225hp of the Audi TT. The hard part of my decision was internet and magazine rumours of a special edition GTI that would likely be launched to mark 30 years of GTI production. Disappointed that I wasn't going to be getting a GTI immediately, I made up my mind to wait and see what was announced, as I would have kicked myself if I had purchased a GTI only to find a more desirable model announced shortly afterwards.

I don't have the luxury of a company car or an endless supply of money to upgrade/modify cars, so I wanted this car to be as close to what I wanted as possible.

When the first VW UK press and internet announcements were released in October/November 2006 of the Edition 30, I tried to find out as much confirmed information as possible. The specification sounded excellent, with a horsepower increase for the engine, upgraded interior trim, painted bodykit parts, but with poorly photoshopped "Pescara" wheels shown on the press release. I visited my local dealer, Specialist Cars VW of Aberdeen to try and find out more information from my long suffering salesman. The increased price of the Edition 30 over the GTI can even be viewed as good value for money with the extra specification and equipment, and limited numbers of 1500 available for the UK market

Despite the limited information available, I placed an order that very day. I had an idea of what I wanted to order already, so it was fairly straightforward to get my specification placed on an order sheet. By ordering early (I was only the 2nd person at the dealership to place an order) I would be assured of 1st March 2007 delivery. The specification that I preferred was:

3 door, manual
Tornado Red
Bi Xenon headlights
Parking sensors
Ipod preparation and armrest
Highline computer
Dealer fit cruise control
Multi-function steering wheel

After swithering overnight, I amended the order the very next day to Candy White. If anyone else is swithering over white, take a look at these pics, and I dare you to say no!

I took delivery on the 1st March 2007. The car was absolutely stunning when I went to pick her up. The showroom lights gave the colour a fantastic appearance, and many positive comments were given by the sales and service staff at the dealership. Even the "Pescara" wheels, a BBS made wheel very similar in apperance to the BBS CH and CO aftermarket wheels looked far better in the metal than they had appeared in photoshopped press releases and camera phone pics from the internet.

The only hiccup with the ordering process was that the multi-function wheel had been inadvertantly left off the order form, but as I considered this as one of my non-essential options, I didn't feel too annoyed at the mistake.

:: Appearance
The first thing that people always comment about is the colour. In an office car park full of grey, silver and black BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Golf TDI and the other usual company car suspects, a Candy White GTI stands out a mile. My office receptionist took me to one side and jokingly complained that I've doubled her workload with all the people asking her about the car and exclaiming what a fantastic colour it is!

People often wish a look inside, and the usual second comment is "tartan??!!!" The Edition 30 takes the tartan Interlagos cloth from the base GTI for the seat inserts, and combines it with the leather bolstered heated sports seats with electric lumbar adjustment. It really is the best of both worlds, as the cloth gives excellent grip through corners, and retains warmth more effectively than leather. Along with the distinctive red stitching to the seats, steering wheel and gear stick gaitor, the design of the tartan cloth may not be to everyone's taste but it is a true GTI feature and is not garish as it may sometime appear in pictures. The 1/2 leather seats, currently unavailable in any other GTI, give yet another exclusive touch to the Edition 30.

The painted bodykit is not to everyone's taste, and even I felt initially that the matt black parts of the standard GTI provided some contrast to the car. However, the painted bodykit has grown on me, and I feel that it gives the car a different visual identity to the GTI. My team of 17 colleagues, ever the epitomy of good taste, all give it the thumbs up!

Several people have made a "looks like a Star Wars stormtrooper!" comment about the white and black Edition 30. so it seemed only appropriate to take this picture!

My only disappointment with the exterior is common to all 2007 model year 3 door Golf - the removal of the black trim around the rear window. The removal of the trim now gives a visual "break" to the smooth appearance of the window. An example of cost cutting going too far!

:: Engine
First impressions of the revised engine are that it takes what was good about the 200hp version of the 2.0 TFSI engine, and turns it up to eleven. The revised engine (BYD engine code) shares many upgraded parts with the version that powers the 240hp SEAT Leon Cupra and the 265hp Audi S3 models. The main upgrade from the ordinary GTI version is the inclusion of a version of the larger KO4 turbo, rather than the version of the KO3s that powers the ordinary GTI. Initial results from the tuners are very promising, with over 300hp possible from straightforward remapping. This version of the 2.0 TFSI engine is surely a great base for tuners to build some stunning cars from.

The benefits of this are noticeable higher in the rev range, as the Edition 30 provides a higher peak torque figure, and continues to give that punch well past 5000 rpm, where the smaller KO3s equipped engine struggles to maintain peak torque. It still provides the excellent low down torque of the GTI engine, and simply gives more, without ruining the all round flexibility of the GTI engine.

I've now driven over 1700 miles in the 3 weeks after I took delivery. The running in took place over a variety of A roads, B roads, dual carriageways, town routes and motorways. The engine is performing smoothly, and is very responsive. Once fully warmed, the engine responds magnificently to sharp bursts of acceleration. It's caused me to have to slow down several times already, as it is very eager to rev and accelerate quickly up to normal driving speeds. The easy to operate cruise control is a licence saver with all the speed restricted areas of roadworks that I encounter weekly!

:: Handling
My car came equipped with 225/40 R18 Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres mounted on the Pescara wheels. I'd heard some poor reports over this make of tyre fitted to other GTI cars, so I was a little concerned when I saw these on the car at delivery.

I needn't have worried. These tyres have performed fantastically so far, providing excellent cornering grip, ride quality and have performed very well in the rain and even occasional snow that they have subjected to. Even when the car has been taken onto rural B-roads, the tyres have performed well when I have given the Edition 30 some spirited driving!

Whilst other cars like the Civic Type R Renaultsport Megane and Focus ST may provide a more thrilling ride on a track, the Edition 30 copes with all road types well, and is surely a better car to live with on a day to day basis for anyone who lives in the real world and has to contend with the patchwork of roads.

Sharing the same excellent cornering and damping characteristics of the GTI, ( the Edition 30 has the same lowered sports suspension as the GTI), the car has been brilliant to drive the varied road types I have been on. It performed exceptionally well on a single track section of rural road around the Loch Earn area of Perthshire, where this photograph was taken.

My only disappointment has been with the way it reacted to a concrete section of motorway, where the rebound damping struggled to maintain a smooth ride over the rippled sections. Several GTI owners have found the same, and it may be that a damper such as the KONI FSD type could be the solution.

:: Economy
Fuel economy, despite the higher output engine (and the temptation to put my foot down!) has been excellent, despite the varied selection of roads and speeds I have driven at. The average consumption so far is stated as 29.8mpg by the Highline computer, with typical motorway consumption of 33mpg in my experience. I have run the car solely on Shell V-Power since delivery, and I feel that for such a powerful 4 cylinder engine that encourages you to press on, the fuel consumption is very good

Overall, I find the Edition 30 is simply a great GTI made better. It's not as if the base GTI is a poor car, so I would be happy with either version. The Edition 30 adds more power to an already impressive engine, and the exclusive specification is great value for money, likely to retain a premium percentage residual figure over the base GTI in the second hand car market.

Posted on behalf of Peterhope.

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