Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

I own a 2018 GTI DSG Autobahn trim that I purchased last year when I replaced a much loved 2013 MK6 version with a Stage I APR tune. Had 70K miles on the MK6, the last GTI on the old platform and the last version built in Germany. My MK6 was trouble free including 30K miles with the Stage I (APR) tune. The 2018 model built in Mexico on the MQB platform has likewise been trouble free while being tighter, quieter, and somewhat quicker than my (untuned) MK6 version. I could go on and on about my impressions but I'll try to restrain myself to a few comments. () The difference between the 2018 and 2019 models comes down to a seventh gear in the DSG and the addition of Golf R brakes to lower trim levels. (They were already a feature of the 2018 Autobahn trim.) The additional gear does nothing for performance; it was added primarily to make the automatic shifts slightly less noticeable and to improve highway fuel efficiency by an mpg, or so. The eight HP bump is mainly marketing-speak, possibly resulting from a difference in the calculation of HP. In any case it's virtually invisible even on a dyno. And of course with even the mildest ECU tune, it disappears completely. No criticism intended. VW needed some bells and whistles for 2019 while waiting for the 2020 MK8 generation but an 8 HP bump, even if it exists, is simply not an issue. () Trim levels for the GTI in North America are often confusing. Never more so than in 2019. The Rabbit is a limited edition in the US slotted between the S and SE trim levels. It's apparently just a separate trim level in Canada with no limit set and there are no "S" or "SE" trim levels. The plain GTI appears to correspond to the US "S" trim. The Rabbit comes with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) which is apparently not available (or not mentioned) for the upper Autobahn trim. (It was standard on the Autobahn in 2018.) My guess is that this all has to do with some parts availability issues and will disappear once those are resolved and the supply of the supposed "limited" edition Rabbit is exhausted. The fact that the Rabbit sticker is now sent to a US purchaser rather than placed on the car at the factory suggests a buyer should check the exact specifications of the model to see just what is included in the "Rabbit" they're considering. () GTI vs Golf R. It's often noted that a Golf R is only "a few thousand dollars" more than the top trim GTI. In my experience that's very misleading. In the first place finding a Golf R in the US can be difficult. (That's apparently not true in Canada.) And when I was shopping dealers routinely applied "market adjustment" stickers to the few Golf R's available that made the real world difference in price $10,000 or more. Second, while the R is far more powerful than the GTI, it's also about 200 lbs heavier. That's like putting an NFL cornerback in the back seat. The GTI is considerably more nimble as a result and the performance difference can be significantly reduced by adding a Stage I tune to the GTI. (That's especially true for the DSG equipped GTI's that don't require a periodic clutch replacement to handle the additional power.) Both the GTI and the Golf R are magnificent machines imo but in my case I decided that a $10,000 price difference was a bridge too far. () All in all, I'm a long time VW fan. I drove a '61 Beetle in high school, two Rabbits (when all Golfs in the US were called Rabbits) in the '70's and more recently two GTI's. When I was shopping last year I also considered the larger Accord 2.0L turbo and the Mazda6 2.5L turbo. Each is an impressive vehicle. But when I drove the MK7.5 GTI, I was at home. There are quicker and less expensive "hot hatches." But for all round driving enjoyment combined with versatility, I don't think the GTI can be beat.
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Both are great cars. But the oft made claim that a Golf R is "only a few thousand dollars more than a top trim GTI" is misleading in my experience, at least in the US. (Apparently it's different in Canada where R's are much more commonly available.) When I was shopping a little less than a year ago only 3 of the 6 dealers in the Seattle area I consulted had even one R on their lots. And two of the three wanted between $2K and $3K over the $41K sticker price. The other dealer was willing to sell their R (a pre-order that was declined when it arrived) at MSRP but it was gone in 24 hours to a buyer who traveled a thousand miles to buy it. Considering that I bought a fully loaded DSG Autobahn GTI for $32K plus TTL, that made the difference at least $10,000. In addition, the Golf R outweighs the GTI by about 250 lbs. That's like carrying around an NFL linebacker in the back seat. The R's additional power compensates for that on straightaways but the GTI is considerably more nimble, especially on a tight track or on backroads where the additional power of the R either can't be exploited or can land you in jail (or in the hospital). Furthermore, the R's 4Motion AWD is engaged only when slip is detected in the front wheels. Otherwise, it's a FWD vehicle. That doesn't eliminate its value but on a dry road with good tires, it's not likely to be an important differentiating factor. In messy conditions the R's AWD has an advantage but a good set of winter tires on a GTI will perform just about as well in snow about 95% of the time. Third, the huge HP/Torque advantage of a stock R can be reduced substantially with a Stage I ECU tune for a price of about $700. And despite claims to the contrary it doesn't invalidate the vehicle's warranty unless a problem can be traced to the effects of the tune. And on that score, a GTI with a DSG doesn't have to have a periodic clutch upgrade/replacement to cope with the additional power. Finally, the Autobahn GTI has a standard sunroof that's not available at all on the Golf R (presumably to make driving on a track with a helmet easier). That might be a small issue for many (or even a disadvantage) but living in Seattle we need all the light we can get in an otherwise very dark cabin. I wouldn't criticize anyone who purchases an R over a GTI. Different strokes for different folks. But for me the GTI was the better choice.
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Depends on the size of the family. My wife and I, our teenage daughter and our big dog fit nicely in our GTI.
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I hope you give it the tender care it deserves. :)
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The addition of the seventh gear to the DSG transmission results in slightly different behavior with more narrow spacing of gear ratios. If you don't care for it, it's easy to reprogram the shift points via a 30 minute "tune."
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Different strokes for different folks and the GLI is a tempting choice compared to the mid-level GTI trims. But the GTI is a far more versatile vehicle with cargo space approaching that of a compact crossover.
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As noted in another comment the differences between US and Canadian GTI's can be very confusing. I've long believed that someone in VW Canada has embarrassing photos of German VW execs that are used to negotiate special features on the vehicles imported to Canada. It's also the case that Golf R's are readily available in Canada and very difficult to find in much of the US.
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VW limits the range of GTI's in the US in a number of ways compared to Europe. The easy answer to your question is that neither dealers nor VW want to see 2 door GTI's sitting unsold on dealer lots.
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If that's your fantasy a Stage I APR ECU tune can easily accomplish it for about $700 and 30 minutes in the shop. And contrary to claims that such tuning will void your warranty, that's not the case. Nor will it impact reliability if you have a DSG transmission that can handle the additional power.
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That's something of an oversimplified version of history. It's certainly true that the original beetle was the "People's Car" (i.e. Volks Wagen) designed by Porsche. However, very few of that vehicle were ever produced before production shifted to support vehicles for WWII. After the war the VW corporation was created under the supervision of the British and located in Wolfsburg. The vehicles that were produced first in Germany and then exported in the late 1940's were based on Porsche's design but neither the company nor the Beetle can trace their direct lineage to the pre-war period.
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I hope you understand that your comment is heresy. But as a GTI owner I secretly agree with you.
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@gregholman2930 I think you have your heart and your mind mixed up. :)
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@gregholman2930 I have a lot of respect for what Biermann and his colleagues have accomplished at Hyundai and KIA. I own a 2018 Sorento (my second) and consider it to be among the best values in the "tweener" category of crossovers between the compact and larger midsize vehicles. And if I were looking for a track toy the Veloster N would probably top the list. But my GTI is my daily driver and my early Sunday morning canyon carver. It feels like a quality machine each time I sit in the driver's seat. And when I take my wife, daughter, and big dog along on a day trip or make a run to Costco for 40 rolls of TP , 20 jars of mayo, a dozen shirts, 25 frozen dinners, etc. the 53 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats swallows it all without a hitch. In short, the GTI is the most versatile vehicle I've ever owned.
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Get a photo. They're discontinued.
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I'd driven many, many years with at least one MT vehicle in my garage before I bought a DSG GTI in 2013. When I replaced it with a MK7.5 GTI last year I didn't hesitate to choose a DSG version again. I'd estimate that I drive in manual mode more than 50% of the time, choosing the gear I want with the paddle shifters or by clicking the stick on the center console. It shifts virtually instantaneously, faster than any human being can, holds the gear I choose to redline, and gives me every bit as much "engagement" as an MT. And when I'm stuck on freeways around Seattle creeping along at 2 to 20 mph I'm more than willing to let the transmission decide which gear to use. The only "engagement" I miss is downshifting automatically to second and then to first gear when I come to a stop. The DSG does that automatically and I don't miss the excitement of doing it myself. :)
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@daniellocke9534 Different strokes for different folks. The versatility of the GTI is far greater than the STI.
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Wouldn't want to lose my GTI sunroof. (Doesn't creak.) Around Seattle we need all the light we can get in a dark cabin with black leather upholstery.
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@thecure3665 I understand. Despite my comment, my family and I take trips and transport guests primarily in our KIA Sorento. Saw the Arteon in person for the first time last week. A gorgeous automobile. VW doesn't expect to sell many in the US. My dealer has been allocated only two for the rest of 2019. Good luck.
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Furthermore, one of the best features of the GTI is the sliding and ratcheting armrest. I'm puzzled as to why more manufacturers don't adopt the design. It's extremely beneficial for those with different arm lengths.
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If that's your major priority, I'm sure you can pick up a used Aztec.
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Biermann and his associates at Hyundai deserve kudos for producing a near track ready hatch at an affordable price in the Veloster N. But in terms of factors relevant anywhere other than on a track, the GTI shines far more brightly.
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The so-called "Mexican" models of the GTI are both better built and more reliable than their predecessors from Germany. Robots know no nationality.
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@davemcguigan218 Having owned both the last MK6 GTI built in Germany and a MK7.5 GTI built in Mexico I'd maintain that the 7.5 version on the MQB platform is significantly superior in build quality. As to why VW is considering moving production of Golfs to Germany, manufacturers make those kinds of decisions for many reasons. In the case of the Golf it may well be that VW wants to ramp up production of the Jetta in Mexico because that is their volume model in the US while the base Golf sells so poorly that they are considering discontinuing it in the US. It makes little sense to build Golfs in Mexico if it isn't even sold in the US. BTW, if you're going to proclaim your expertise about Mexican auto production, you should probably learn to spell "Senor."
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@davemcguigan218 Not Spanish. Just not a xenophobe either.
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@davemcguigan218 If you consider unverifiable internet complaints to be "facts," there's very little hope for you. But you can console yourself with the thought that Russian hackers just love folks like you.
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Private Eyes Good information. A couple of points in response. It's certainly possible to increase HP and torque with a Stage I or even a Stage II tune without abusing an MT GTI. My comment stemmed mainly from the advice I received when I added a Stage I tune to my MK6 GTI from one of the premiere APR tuning shops in the US (Achtuning in Redmond, WA). The shop manager asked if my GTI had an MT or a DSG. When I replied it had a DSG transmission he said, "That's good. We won't have to have 'the talk' about potential clutch replacement." I can certainly understand the preference for an MT. Over nearly a half century of driving I had always had at least one MT vehicle in my garage until I purchased my GTI. I found the DSG provided nearly as much "engagement" (in manual mode) as an MT transmission while making creeping along in crowded daily driving in Seattle traffic much more bearable. And since my wife (who prefers an AT) sometimes drives the GTI, it was an easy choice for me. Bottom line? A GTI with an MT may require a periodic replacement or upgrade of the clutch simply because a third party ECU tune tempts a driver to exploit its behavior. A DSG version presents no such temptation and provides slightly better performance from faster shifts. Pay your money and take your choice. As far as the sunroof issue in the Golf R is concerned, there's no question that VW deletes the option in the Golf R in the US for cost reasons. But it's also true that VW believes (correctly I think) that US consumers are far more resistant to the MSRP of both the GTI and the Golf R than Europeans. Adding $1500 to $2000 to the MSRP in the US presents a sales challenge that VW (and dealers) would prefer to avoid. Furthermore, VW has indicated that considering the limited appeal of the "R," spending several million dollars for separate crash testing of the Golf R with a sunroof was unlikely to be worth the investment.
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@RaitisRides Thanks, Joe. Your reviews are always both entertaining and informative. I try not to miss a one.
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Private Eyes It's important to keep in mind that a top trim Autobahn GTI has an MSRP well over $50,000 in Germany at current exchange rates. That's not a price US consumers are willing to pay. I purchased my 2018 Autobahn VW for $32,000. VW isn't alone in tailoring the features of their vehicles to a price point in particular markets In fact, it's a common practice.
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You might want to edit your comment so it makes sense.
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@justarandomyoutubeuser5074 I'm aware of that history. Your original comment was gibberish.
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