KING OF THE NURBURGRING! - VW Golf GTI Clubsport S - THE FULL STORY

[@dasautogt]

Now that's why he's called VolksWIZARD peeps. Well done young Andrew, I found it really interesting and looking forward to the remainder of the '45' series.👍

[@VVH1997]

I really love mine, ive done about 40k miles in it and still enjoy it so much. Bit of tweaking makes it even more fun

[@volkswizard]

40k in a Clubsport S? REEPECT 🙌

[@obsessedcloset2638]

I am on my second Clubsport S’s. Currently own a tornado red car with AC. Prices seam to be on the up and up. Red being the rarest colour and the best looking. Great video btw. 👍 27 tornado red 58 black 65 white.

[@kentowers2802]

I owned a tornado red #237. Sensational car to drive and fantastic looking.

[@GTI_CHHA]

Great new series, this is one of the videos I have enjoyed the most so far. The Mk7 GTI CS-S is a truly special car. I am reminded of it every day in my Mk7 GTI PP, as I fitted the CS-S mid and rear mufflers, which is such a huge improvement over the stock rubbish exhaust. Cheers mate

[@volkswizard]

Glad you enjoyed it mate!

[@rockerwilson]

I've done the exact same thing, SO much better!

[@benhill2454]

I have a Mk7 GTI PP and am interested in better sound. Where did you get the mid and rear mufflers? Suspension-wise, I want to keep the standard height but find there’s knocking at the rear so will look at new shocks.

[@GTI_CHHA]

@@benhill2454 Hi, I got all my parts here: shop.ahw-shop.de/ They are unbeatable in price and shipping speed/service. It's best to get both MSD and ESD mufflers as they were designed to work together. So better (deeper and louder) without adding drone, with stock set-up. If you change the downpipe, you might get some drone at highway speeds. The rear knocking - also have it on my 2013 GTI PP - is a very common problem for cars from 2013-2014, VW would replace them if you complained. My advice, don't bother to replace with VW new ones, just get a set of Bilsteins B6 (200 euro for 2) and you will have a better handling and more quiet car..

[@j99bgr]

Watched this video so many times, the best one you've ever done. Deserves so many more views. My favourite car VW have ever made, a great story and as you said, we're very lucky to even get this car. So, so special and I just love everything about it!

[@billx4266]

Nice video but you have to admit it, this looks way better then the mk8... I have also a manual clubsport, 3 doors. its gonna be my last gti because i cannot get used to the mk8.....

[@volkswizard]

It does look good but it's also starting to look a bit old. A lot of people have said they don't like Mk8 but time and some decent spec examples have slowly but surely made them warm to them, hopefully you will too👍

[@MKI4EVA]

the honest reaction at the end is best. it is a great car isn't it.......hope they do a special with the MK8 GTI on par with that car.

[@brianbasta293]

Two and a half yrs ago i bought my R, the dealer had a club sport S for sale too 10k on the clock, i said to him i would probably never again get the chance to drive one, so he very kindly let me take it out for drive, simply awesome! I loved it, it took me straight back to driving a mk1 gti but on steroids so quick. Do i wish i had bought it? As a daily for me the R was a little more practical. I still have a little vid of me driving it that the wife took i hasten to add, when she calmed down enough to hold my phone Lol. Well i do really wish now i had 😔.

[@garysimpson3900]

The second car I ever bought in 1985 was a Mk1 Golf GTI 1.8 registered in May 1983. Looking at pictures of it I so wish I had kept it but of course at the time you want something "better" and at the time I could never afford to have kept it & bought something else. I hope you will cover that model. Looking on the DVLA site it's tax expired in 2005 so lasting 21 years is testament to VW build quality.

[@Julia-xz7vb]

just watched this video again after looking it up to send to someone else- it really is a brilliant video (and car obv) 👍

[@kristijancoric3604]

9 more years and I can import one of these to Canukistan. But by then these babies will be worth your weight in gold. I adore this car.😊

[@MrMedven]

This is the GTI. Wanted at least Clubsport, but had to settle with GTD. Thanks for this great content. Love your style, calmness and of course VWs.

[@volkswizard]

Glad you enjoyed the video (and my style!) Tomislav. There is a bit of Clubsport S even in your GTD so enjoy it!

[@ThomasHarrisonLord]

That was superb, thank you - looking forward to the next video in the series!

[@volkswizard]

Glad you enjoyed it Thomas!

[@kentowers2802]

I owned #237 - definitely a special car. Much more than the sum of its parts. Have owned a cupra 290 and 7.5GTI since and the CSS is another league though basically the same car. Feel the same about mine - totally understand why you sold yours and why you maybe regret it. I sold it as I was too precious over it and felt I couldn’t enjoy it to its full in fear of devaluing it. Really was epic to drive. Loved the noise, the driving position and the way it went down a B road.

[@gerardcahill3924]

Sounds like the MK8 Clubsport has met its match

[@volkswizard]

It has but it's just so impractical, it's rivals are really 2 seat sports cars, not hatchbacks and that is a much harder battle to win

[@olnaj]

Can't wait for the rest of these videos.

[@cynicalmanc]

Another great video just makes me wish I'd kept my 17 plate Clubsport Edition 40 3 door the only car I've ever owned I regret selling. Probably still worth today what I sold it for?

[@thamilawrence8468]

I am privileged to have driven this car no. 387 here in South Africa one belonging to my friend. I have seen it in action and my word what a car. I would never have known how brilliant it is had it not been for the practical experience of it. What a machine.👌

[@Zero_Ninety]

The fact that VW will never make a car like this again makes me sad in my heart.

[@volkswizard]

Maybe they will but the signs are not good

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Me too

[@michaelglisson8240]

Awesome video! Man you guys and gals in Europe are so freaking lucky to get such totally awesome cars like that! We only get the sanitized versions with comfortable dampers and non-comfortable leather seats. We have to make our own versions here in the US. Great in theory, but mostly worthless as resealable cars anyone wants. Really hoping the Golf R Mk8 is as good as I've heard. So looking forward to test driving the GTI and R. Be safe and have fun doing it driving!

[@volkswizard]

Hey Michael, are you getting the GTI as well as the R over there?

[@michaelglisson8240]

We are getting both the GTI and R. VW USA haven't entered configuration yet, but to my knowledge, no Clubsport. Both will have manual or DSG option choice. R is supposed to be spec'd comparable to European counterparts, but we may not get cloth seats, just leather. Be safe!

[@samk9661]

Great review - love the sound! My GTI 7.5 manual sounds crap in comparison. Interested if you think it’s as responsive into the corners as your MK8? Obviously the weight differences factor but is the steering as tuned in or do you still feel planted with as much grip?

[@SChapps]

Always really wanted one of these, those black wheels need changing to silver though!

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Black wheels seem the worst. Any colour can do but black.

[@London-united-kingdom]

Amazing car I just think for a road/track car the TCR I prefer and maybe be doing a Stage 3 conversion to approx 500 bhp ,but would love the clubsport s seats on my TCR

[@volkswizard]

The lack of weight really is important, more so that power. It's pretty much undriveable in the wet as it is with 310 PS. I'd strip the back seats etc out of a TCR, keep the cruise and parking sensors and as you say get some bucket seats and sticky tyres - sorted.

[@London-united-kingdom]

@@volkswizard it’s a 380hp at the moment I’ve got Michelin PS4’s tyres all round Motec ultralight wheels seems to grip well till now and Tuner said would be able to tune it by gear so low boost in 1and 2nd gear and up the boost in the rest of the gears will see if it happens I’ll let you know 👍 definitely them seats they just sooooo expensive it’s crazy

[@simonturner2867]

Hi Andrew, how would this car compare to the latest clubsport?

[@liam5064]

Great video,Love this car 😍

[@andrewmcivor42]

The ultimate weekend fun car! Totally impractical but totally fun - who needs a sporty coupé! Great video 👍

[@markwatson4106]

Great great video. 👍

[@jayburrell]

Great video wow !looking forward to the rest of the series 👍

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Jay! 👍

[@danl4252]

Looking forward to the series. I’m looking at getting my first ‘proper’ hot hatch in the next year or two. really like the look of the 6C Polo GTI. like the LED headlights and 3 door option. But undecided weather id rather bite the bullet and go for a Golf with an independent suspension set up. Haven driven a newer Polo, they handle better than my MK4 Golf. But that being said, I know that independent setup is just better

[@simonupex2628]

You were quite emotional at the end there Andrew, perhaps regretting selling your clubsport S now after a couple of years (the one that got away ).

[@volkswizard]

Just a bit but right now I’m saving to move again so it’d have to go if I still had it

[@986am]

Nice video Andrew - I’ve got CSS 221 (White / AC) superb fun machine, love driving it (I came from a MK 7R - APR stage 1 - 3 dr - DSG) CSS is so much better to “drive”..... it’s even used with 27,000 miles on it - I did post on the gti forum to update the register post. Drive safe 🏁

[@agood1280]

I love the video can’t wait to see the next GTi cars that you cover over the coming weeks I feel like I need to change my TCR for a clubsport s sound amazing and that manual gearbox Something they missed out and with the club sport mark 8

[@speedmaster5005]

Stick with the TCR mate. You’ll regret selling that.

[@agood1280]

@@speedmaster5005 Yeah still love the TCR myself was with that manual gearbox I think that’s what the TCR really misses Really love it every time I drive it it’s just as if it was the first drive And really difficult to beat its locks Do you have a TCR yourself

[@Julia-xz7vb]

TCR and CSS = perfect 2 car garage !

[@crocoman776]

Very informative. Never actually realised how rare they were/are.

[@Pete7.5R]

Good to see you feeling the love for the manual gearbox 😍 so glad I resisted going down the mk8 route and decided to keep my manual 7.5R (and 3 door to boot). . . although my first love is GTI (don’t tell the missus), so would definitely be tempted if the right spec Edition 40 came along (3 door manual of course) 😎

[@mxdavies]

Very nice. My TCR would beat it 😁

[@volkswizard]

TCR would win in the contest to carry 2 or more passengers or speed of parking in a tight space. Aside from that you've got no chance :)

[@chrisjd1984]

I drive an r but loved this vid mate lovely car well presented

[@d.kashani]

best car in the world to me i love it

[@reds005]

Loved this Andrew, very interesting. Surely VW must be tempted to do a MK8 Clubsport 'S'!

[@volkswizard]

Thanks reds! I am not sure they have the wish to do anything so niche now, the lap record is pretty quick now having been set by a very expensive and trick Renault. Having said that £50k Golf R doesn't cause much chatter these days so a £50k Clubsport S Mk8 might make sense. We've still got a lot of time ahead with Mk8 on sale so who knows what's to come. If nothing at least the cars we can all buy in unlimited quantities are dynamically the best they've ever been thanks to lessons learned with Clubsport S

[@Chris_gti7.5]

Fantastic looking car 😍 great video really enjoyed it

[@volkswizard]

Glad you enjoyed it Chris

[@PedroPereira-vg9xz]

Beautiful video, you got to me from minute 24: 25 seconds. Share your enthusiasm for this special model, it’s a masterpiece. 👏

[@volkswizard]

Thank you very much Pedro! Didn't you have a Mk3 Anniversary?

[@PedroPereira-vg9xz]

Hi Andrew, no, I have a MK4 Gti anniversary and a gorgeous version of this stunning CSS.

[@mxm5783]

Great video! Alas, we never got the Clubsport in the US.

[@volkswizard]

That's a shame!

[@mrstanhope1516]

Looks really nice in white with the black wheels. Considering how expensive these are could you modify a standard car with some of the special parts? Would imagine the bucket seats go for silly money but brakes and front uprights surely not too expensive?

[@volkswizard]

Fair point, you can spec a Clubsport Ed40 to be close with DCC, buckets, Pretoria wheels and Cup2, even can be a 3 door manual. Then you need the brake discs (around £400), the knuckles (£?), the engine mapping for power and exhaust popping. I'd leave the seats in and delete spare wheel and boot floor, sound proofing pad. But then aluminium subframe, easily got off ebay from a scrapped A3 but quite a job to swap. There are a few minor detail changes too like brake system calibration but CS Ed40 may get that too. Definitely worth tweaking a Clubsport but I'd want it mapped 100% the same, especially as engine code is identical

[@xeon4888]

Thought this was a brilliant video. Frankly, one of your best. BTW you're the reason I bought a 2020 7.5 GTI. And I LOVE it.

[@sparkford04]

Andrew, Great,love it. Thanks

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

The bestGTI ever

[@bird-dog81]

What a gti ! Would love one of these but the price in the market is crazy. 🤪 gonna be a future classic. What will the price be for a mint condition 20 years from now. 🤔

[@wrashid89]

Fantastic video Andrew! How much are these worth in today’s market?

[@wrashid89]

Ignore, of course you answered it in the video already! Crazy money :)

[@volkswizard]

I think there is a £50k one on eBay 😟

[@wrashid89]

@@volkswizard 🤯

[@MKI4EVA]

Would be amazing if you could do a side by side comparo with the FK8 TypeR.

[@volkswizard]

They might challenge for the record but as road cars they are quite different. It’s hard to ignore the impracticality of a CSS and yet it looks really plain compared to Civic Type R. I suppose a good test would be simply based on thrills but really hard to delve too deeply on the road as you really need to be going very fast to make them come alive

[@obsessedcloset2638]

Oh and I thought the “18 wheels were called Belvedere?

[@volkswizard]

VW called them Quaranta for Clubsport (see brochure link below) and Belvedere for TCR. I am not 100% sure they are 100% identical so stuck with the correct name for the model www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/golf-gte-vii-pricelist.pdf

[@NoName-st6zc]

24:00 You can really tell by the way you're speaking and looking that this was a moment where you'd really like to punch yourself for selling your Clubsport S, understandably. I can imagine the answer to that question already but if you could go back in time, would you still sell the car?

[@volkswizard]

I made a decision based on the fact that unless you really drive the Clubsport S, a GTI Performance will do the same job without the CSS's compromises. Problem I had was that I have 1 day off per week which is inevitably spent with my other half and it's not sensible to push this car's limits with a passenger on board and unlike say, an R8, it doesn't feel special when not pushed, it's just another Golf then which I get to see a lot during my six day working week. It would have been nice to have been able to afford to just keep it and not think to much about it and buy other cars to enjoy but I was moving house so luxuries like that have to go. It was on sale in early 2020 at VW and they couldn't shift it, I'd just moved house so was skint then and new owner won't sell it. It's missing its unique number now which is odd but it went through 2 dealers before it sold so lots of opportunity for things to go missing.

[@NoName-st6zc]

@@volkswizard I'm following your videos since quite some time and of course i understood your reasoning behind selling the Clubsport S, no worries. Still kinda wondering whether you would have pushed yourself more towards keeping it.

[@yomismo1368]

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@D3GamingTV]

My man it's celebratin 40y of gti..

[@BradyT90]

for me best GTI 4ever

[@leemace9638]

Awesome awesome awesome 👍👍🇦🇺

[@volkswizard]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@butchmeister80]

Great vid as you say to pay all that for a car with v little extras best off with tcr for daily use. Edit. And it sounds amazing love my manual mk7 gti

[@AudioAdviceGroup]

Brilliant in depth reviews - love your videos. Really helped me when I bought my Ed40 Clubsport..... look forward to every one you do. Keep up the good work

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Iain 👍

[@964tractorboy]

A really great walk through the history of the Clubsport S. Some very memorable silences too. Well done for holding it all together!

[@volkswizard]

Many thanks! A bit of emotion is no bad thing I guess, luckily it's just a car :)

[@Birmingham_racing]

This or a boxer since it's only got 2 seats?

[@jamesonezsin.silver6685]

Amazing car. I keep look out for an edition 40 in the same spec as mine

[@chalikuddin5700]

Hi please can you do a review on new vw polo gti

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Crickhowell wtf! How bizarre… I’ve only been mountain biking round there. Not the first place I’d think of in relation to this car! Nice film Andrew as usual thank you. Look forward to the ones to follow

[@volkswizard]

VW UK used Crickhowell for the Up! GTI launch (Feb 2018) and TCR (March 2019 when it snowed). The mountain road used for the test route is often used for Carfection videos.

[@CK-297]

Great review on a great car Andrew. I wish you had more driving time/content.. but I'm sure you wanted more too! Looking forward to the rest of the series.👏

[@volkswizard]

Thanks CK. I drove it as much as I could even on the Sunday when I'd done nearly all the filming and was driving for fun, had to get as much of a fix as possible as who knows when I'll drive that again.

[@Wootoast78]

What a great video.👍👍👍👍

[@volkswizard]

Thanks David, you are too kind sir 👍

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Oh look there’s even a guest appearance from a certain Tornado red pp I recognise 😍

[@markgreen4455]

Andrew, quick favor, is your sparco gillet the blue or black one

[@volkswizard]

Blue, bought from Demon Tweeks 👍

[@Me-sb3mx]

What problem did you have with Mk7 Golf R ?

[@volkswizard]

First ever new car - tailgate bolts missing paint, dirt in paid, scratches in paint from supplying dealer valeting, front bumper lacquer looked sand blasted at 300 miles, tried to MOP it and it smudged the lacquer so can only assume it hadn't cured properly before handover due to winter weather. Mechanically in 8k miles it was spot on.

[@Piner5074]

Oh dear... definite regrets there then. Just had a look on eBay and there’s a mint black 360ml example, for £49,995 if you really want one back.

[@volkswizard]

£50k? Jesus! It's good but it's not that good. Plus god knows how many cold starts its had in 4.5 years with that mileage. These cars need to be driven and I'm not inclined to reward someone for stopping someone from enjoying (call me old fashioned)

[@Piner5074]

@@volkswizard inclined to agree, obviously bought by an opportunistic investor, not the enthusiast which it’s meant for.

[@mikem2652]

Very good review. 👍

[@volkswizard]

Glad you liked it Mike

[@mikem2652]

@@volkswizard you provide the information in a manner that’s like having a chat and a brew 😉 I have enjoyed your recent reviews re the mk8. I like the R but I can see me leaning towards a Clubsport. I know this thread is about this model but is the switch gear on your mk8 that bad? It seems to be spoiling the car. 👍

[@michaelglisson9988]

USA is getting the GTI, guessing it'll be similar to the previous mk 7.5 GTI S, SE and Autobahn. Never got TCR or Clubsport here. Good news for purests here is we get both manual and DSG in both GTI and R!

[@miljanivanko2312]

My dream car...Faster that all 7 and 8 Rs and 7and 8 Clubsport....Lonely wolf..Fast wolf

[@volkswizard]

If you ever want an example of why 0-60 means nothing, this is the car 1 sec slower than a 7R to 60, 24 secs quicker around the 'ring!

[@bird-dog81]

@@volkswizard a B road monster

[@miljanivanko2312]

@@volkswizard Yup...7:47:19....I always loved GTI more than R...Both are great...GTI smells motorsport..

[@gaycha6589]

Time for a hair cut.

[@volkswizard]

For sure, done today!

[@malcolmscott4150]

Nah he turns into Damon Hill with shorter hair lol 😝

[@stuf3804]

Fantastic review - never appreciated the Clubsport S was so special

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Stu👍

[@stevew579]

what a car it took my breath away.

[@anUntouchable]

Is this the best GTI ever?

[@volkswizard]

Yes and no, for all its driving excellence, Clubsport S is a poor GTI because for me a GTI should remain delay useable, that's rule number 1 when making a good GTI. TCR and Mk8 Clubsport have kept useability and upper their dynamic game, undoubtedly thanks to lessons learned with CSS.

[@Musti.1973]

Beautiful Car. 👍👍👍

[@volkswizard]

It sure is Musti!

[@lukemartin981]

The ultimate GTI! Sadly I don’t think we will see anything quite like this come out of Wolfsburg again.

[@malcolmscott4150]

200 kg is a lot of weight - does the mk8 CS disguise it’s weight well Andrew?

[@volkswizard]

It does but the Clubsport S doesn't disguise its weight saving. So the Clubsport 8 drives like you'd think a Clubsport S drives but then you drive a Clubsport S and realise it's so different. It reminds me of an Up! GTI in the way it doesn't seem to put a lot of weight on the outside wheel in corners, the kind of weight transfer that makes you feel a bit uneasy and causes understeer.

[@JoJoJoker]

Hopefully you can get your hands on a Mk2 Golf Rallye.

[@volkswizard]

Done that video already 👍

[@DanJHayes]

Love your videos so don't like to criticise, but the sound quality on your mic hasn't been very good on your recent ones.

[@speedmaster5005]

Oh how I wish VW fitted those Recaros in my TCR.

[@volkswizard]

An option would have been nice wouldn’t it? Maybe they’d sacked off Recaro by the time the TCR came out as the Mk8 sporty seats are from a different firm

[@andrewcunningham6181]

Good review but would've liked to have seen more driving content! Makes you think what Volkswagen can really do when they put they minds to it! How about producing a mk 8 with this capability and forget the nanny state!

[@volkswizard]

I think a Clubsport GTS with the same 310 PS, back seats, parking sensors, cruise would have been pretty good but I guess that's what Mk8 Clubsport is really. Would have been nice to go manual but only if clutch is beefed up as it's the same ropey one as in manual R.

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Far too much info 🙈🙉🙊 re the seat comfort issue btw 😆 😆

[@volkswizard]

I thought you were going to say too many mentions of the absent parking sensors!

[@Julia-xz7vb]

@@volkswizard what’s more of an issue? Hitting the wall or crushing other areas ? 🤯🤣

[@marknall7550]

Great car and video but does it have parking sensors 😂

[@volkswizard]

😤😄

[@matthewsmith2787]

Strange how the Mk7 looks younger than the Mk8

[@DC5dotty]

And then Honda came and took the record back with the fk8😎

[@330driver330]

and they did it without taking half the interior out or having a special suspension setting to cut across the curbs.

[@volkswizard]

...but the Civic looked so 'extreme' so it could get the record, very few people bought it. Plus it runs such extreme tyres that they blow out on minor potholes (as reported in evo magazine when Ian Eveleigh ran a long termer)

[@DC5dotty]

@@volkswizard I had three of them and they were very good .. my golf r (7.5) lasted 6 weeks before it was traded in for some excitement :(

[@330driver330]

@@volkswizard true, honda kind of shot themselves in the foot to beat a car that is basically only designed to do a single fast lap of the ring. But then, honda is ran more by engineers than accountants and marketing executives.

[@pokest225]

@@330driver330 the record civic lap was done with a stripped car, with unknown setup, and unavailable tires from factory.... The best lap ever recorded with a street example is 8:01 by sport auto.

[@polopowered]

PEAK VW. It is all downhill from here. Current VW have lost the plot.

[@volkswizard]

Yes and no, the Mk8 Clubsport is getting the best reviews of any non-limited GTI. They aren't collectable in any way but they do mean more people get to experience the magic that VW learned when they did the Clubsport and Clubsport S.

[@polopowered]

@@volkswizard I understand. They will be collectable though soon enough. That is the magic of VW.