2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Manual Review - Why Do We LOVE Hot Hatches?

[@millersivak493]

Thank you as always Zack! For everyone commenting on the FCP boxes- maintenance items! Fun was had!

[@michaeldittmer5065]

Hot hatches are practical, accessible, down to earth fun. The turbo, the manual shifter, the handling - all awesome. Your average RWD sports car (I have a Miata) is fun, but also has a compromised seating position, a lack of space, and a lack of power unless you're paying a lot of money for some turbo V6 or V8 car. That's why hot hatches are awesome.

[@swag-cc4uc]

Definitely the best hot hatch on the market imo

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

The Volkswagen Golf Mk7 is literally the best VW Golf in the 21st century and every generation of the Golf competes with other compact cars since the '70s such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. I'm Filipino, but in 2017, my dad bought a Golf Mk7, but it's an Estate/GTS (as meant in the Philippines) which is a station wagon version and it's very genuine and was made in Mexico and has a TDI diesel engine. In the Philippines, before selling VWs made in China since 2018, only the station wagon of the Golf Mk7 was sold there, but not the hatchback because the hatchback version, I believe, doesn't meet vehicle requirements in the Philippines, but the Beetle A5 does which is another compact hatchback that rivals the Golf Mk7 in the 2010s.

[@ARentz07]

Tiny correction - this one apparently has the Performance Package (you can tell thanks to the "GTI" script on the brake calipers), so it makes 220 horses instead of 210. This one looks like it's a Sport due to the wheels. I used to have one myself - a 2016 GTI 4-door Autobahn DSG with the Performance Package in the same color as this one. Just seeing it brings back memories.

[@mbd501]

My family had a 1977 VW Rabbit when I was a kid. I've been a VW fan ever since. I drive a Jetta now. I prefer sedans. The original Mk1 Jetta was literally a Golf with a trunk grafted on. But today they're a little bit different, although they still share the same platform.

[@RobG1981]

I'm a bit jealous that Jettas are still offered in the US. In Europe they aren't sold anymore. I drove a "Vento", which was the Mk3 Jetta in Europe, for many years and loved it. These days it's all about station wagons and SUVs.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

The Golf Mk1 was the model of VW's compact hatchback to replace the aging Volkswagen Beetles. The difference is the Golf is FWD with the engine in front while the Beetle is RWD with the engine behind. What else are different making the Golf more efficient than the Beetle?

[@mbd501]

@@RobG1981 Yes, and we've lost several models, too. They discontinued the Golf Sportwagen, the regular Golf that isn't a GTI or R, and the Passat. It's all about crossovers and SUVs here now.

[@mbd501]

@@CrystalClearWith8BE The Golf was far more advanced than the aging Beetle, which originally debuted in the late 1930s. It was a big step up in technology at the time.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

@@mbd501, the Beetles were built for 40 years and the last one made in Germany was in 1978 and the last Type 1 made in Mexico was in 2003, discontinuing the production of the Type 1. In the late '90s and 2000s, the New Beetle was introduced, but it's FWD with the engine in front like the Golf. In the 2010s came the Beetle A5 as a successor of the New Beetle and by 2019, the Beetle design was retired and was replaced with the Golf for generations to come.

[@dave11686]

So cool, love the plaid seats

[@hollybirge4087]

I have a 2020 GTI, and it’s the best car I’ve ever owned

[@Me-eb3wv]

Why

[@hollybirge4087]

@@Me-eb3wv So many reasons. It's a super easy car to drive in town; you know the power is there but it doesn't force you to tap into it unless you want to. The handling is sharp and precise; it's amazing in our nasty and rainy weather even without snow tires. My large dog fits great and I can haul so much stuff. And when I have an open stretch of highway, I can easily access the power and just have a ball. And finally, it's been 100%% reliable over my three years of ownership -- and that is saying a lot for a VW

[@katiecannon8186]

@@hollybirge4087 I bought a low mileage 2020 about a year ago when I was desperate for a new to me car. I absolutely fell in love with it. So much so that I traded it for an mk8. Mostly because I’m 60 and have never had a new car. And I just kinda wanted a new car. Both the 7 & 8 are great. Can’t really say I like one more than the other. And, oh, I’m a female too. More women should buy these cars 😊

[@diydrivenGA]

I am a hatch fan....and even though my favorite hatch has to be my old Honda Fit (underpowered as it was), this GTI is my 2nd favorite, the only issue I have with it is potential reliability issues and some design issues like acceptable leaks and messy maintenance. The scene and fun I've had with this car more than makes up for it.

[@rudyardharrison4177]

Thanks for an entertaining and intelligent review of a really special car. I love this car, why, its compact, serviceable, handles fantastically, has enough punch and looks great. I've been fortunate to own a series 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 7. I won't sell my Golf 7 for anything. It's also a manual!!! May the force be with you.

[@drewryan2641]

i absolutely love my 2017 mk7 gti. i’m pushing about 310 to the wheels and it’s is extremely impressive in a straight line and in the corners. mine is the 6 speed manual aswell finally we get some love over the DSG 😂

[@bazilwreckerloughead]

Always been a 'hot hatch' fan!

[@iCarlyfan4534]

I own a 3dr mk5 and you hit the nail on head talking about the 5 door version. It is such a pain and a waste of space to have 2 gigantic doors instead of 4 normal ones also the rear latches don't break you're correct but in super rusty states they rust out (atleast on the mk5)

[@markhealey9409]

I much prefer the look of two door cars,though.

[@IanForsythWestCoast]

I think the moniker of hot hatch, is a clever alliteration, and brings to mind a car that offers sports car like performance, but with daily practicality, in a very subtle unassuming package. Unless you are an enthusiast, most people would just think it’s a standard Golf, so devoid of any “boy racer” add-ons. What’s ironic is that, on the whole the American market is quite hostile to hatchbacks in general. Although super popular in Europe and even in Canada, American’s seem turned off by a hatchback’s utilitarian nature, thinking it downmarket and preferring a trunk. That’s one of the main reasons standard VW Golfs are no longer sold in the US and Canada (Canadian cars are spec’d similar to American models, so we lost out in Canada, because it wasn’t economically feasible to build so few cars just for the much smaller Canuck market). Proof is in the pudding with the continued success of the Jetta, which has outsold the Golf in the US for years, and it will continue to be offered for the foreseeable future. Of course, all sedans have suffered severe retraction of sales due to the continuing popularity of SUVs which, very ironically, are all basically big hatchbacks! Go figure.

[@doug6191]

1999-2004 was the most attractive GTI, though it wasn't particularly fast in its competitive set.

[@seanmcgivney7631]

I do love hatchbacks. They are so versatile. I own one.

[@TheeKevlarDucky]

Always loved the transmission and those plaid seats

[@tredfxman]

@7:08 Getting someone parked next to you is what happens everytime owning a GTI 😂 Happens in my GTI Clubsport all the time. Yes its annoying. Also people driving in the Middle of the road when theyr in front of you. And simply people simply challanging you for a race. Though that im completely fine with as it shows pure intentions, compared to the sneaky park beside cult... 😂

[@katiecannon8186]

I had a 2020 7.5 that I traded in for an 8. I still miss my 7.5. But would trade for the 8 again. Though if I could have them both, I would - lol.

[@danielkelly7009]

I love a hatch, fun but i can just throw all my stuff in the back and go to Montreal for a few days easy. ive only ever owned manual vw golf 4 doors, my first car was a 1.8t mk7 and i kinda fel in love with vws. Vw just does it right, handles really well for a small car so natural progression is a golf R. And now for a beater i have a mk4 city thats lifted but still a manual golf.

[@JMousieify]

The big bottles fit in the door cup holder

[@karoltakisobie6638]

Hatchbacks are very versatile and efficient cars. Too bad they just about disappeared from dealerships.

[@mbd501]

Actually, they still sell very well in this country - as long as you give it a raised ride height and stretch out the body a little bit, and call it a crossover.

[@katiecannon8186]

@@mbd501 Can’t really replace the lower center of gravity of hatches

[@Underated77]

you have to do a sportwagen or alltrack review - manual transmission of course

[@WaySydeBeats]

I got a sportwagen the automatic or dsg is better then the manual version,I drove the manual version and it's decent. But the sportwagen is more luxury and also very sporty but it's just comfy. Not really a track toy but a excellent daily

[@moufidyh4456]

Finally a manual transmission in this channel

[@justinedse8435]

Didn't think they made manual anymore!

[@kclefthanded427]

Beats most slower, thirstier and heavier small crossovers. I dig the seats

[@Fbothoughtofmind]

Not to mention these things are fast with an upgraded turbo they're on par with my supercharged coyote

[@HOTPLATEGAMING]

Mk7 if you got 6MT the achilles heel is the clutch

[@dougjones4007]

Ford Mustang 2, Dodge Omni Kia Soul all hatchback s ❤em all!

[@chaospxl_]

truthfully, i think that the classic hot hatch, or what we know as a hot hatch, has died in the late 2000s to a degree.. i dont know, something feels off about every GTI after mk5. and any other Hot Hatch for that matter, they just are.. too pricey too.

[@Crispychicken4u]

I agree on this.. hatches have grown in length and weight . Gone is the tossablity and the sensation of goin fast even tho you don’t have massive horsepower. Simple tech before 2010 also

[@donaldvanvliet9039]

‘I don’t know why this guy is parking next to me’….you’re in a parking lot, take a wild guess…

[@diydrivenGA]

Trunk full of FCP Euro: a Euro car owners best friend.

[@hampter2005]

Day 1 of asking Zack to review a hampter

[@bwofficial1776]

Something like a Golf GTI is all you really need to have fun on the road. It's got enough power to have fun but not enough to really cause trouble. The chassis is well sorted and responds well to tuning. The DSG is a fantastic transmission but if I'm driving a small sporty car I want the engagement of rowing my own gears. Volkswagen went downhill after the Mk7 Golf with the Mk8's bland exterior and poorly-designed interior.

[@toms_garage]

I used to have a mk7 gtd, was great until it hit 100k miles

[@MrBasstothemax]

What went wrong?

[@toms_garage]

@@MrBasstothemax started to drink oil every 1k miles after it, I was topping it up monthly if not twice a month.

[@jacquesc3166]

JFC. It's SIX years old and the hatch is full of FCP crap. Woooooooooooooow. Long time VQ driver here, I'm laughing uncontrollably. Poor VW owners, though it is their choice after all. What a life. My 10 year old 3.7 has 194K on it, the 3.5 HR in the roadster has 66K on the clock... several dimensions better than VW in terms of reliability.

[@justinedse8435]

Your 3.7? Never heard of it. Who makes it? Toyota, lmao.

[@jacquesc3166]

@@justinedse8435 VQ35HR, VQ37VHR... Toyota??? How high are you, kid?!?? 🤣

[@MrBasstothemax]

Its probably just maintenance stuff, no lights on the dash lol also those cars used to look great back in the day and now just sorta look like shit and vqs also sound shit