The Golf 7 GTi.. where do I start? In all fairness this was just a runaround for me to use because I sold the 997 Carrera S and needed something LHD in Germany after moving here.
It was never supposed to be a permanent fixture but after two years of daily and Nürburgring Nordschleife Track driving I think this may have changed. For those interested please read on..
It was never supposed to be a permanent fixture but after two years of daily and Nürburgring Nordschleife Track driving I think this may have changed. For those interested please read on..
The Golf was chosen because I had owned two Golf 5 GTi's and really enjoyed them. The MK4 is one of the most disgusting objects created but luckily, along with the 2.0 TFSI Motor and sorted Chassis my faith was restored in the Volkswagen brand.
I knew it would be a challenge but wanted to master not only the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which I had already been Modifying for customers, but to harness the Traction Control and get the ABS and ECU working for my driving style. Without boring you all to death, the 7er uses a Siemens ECU whereas all earlier models had Bosch which I prefer when working on Engines. Bosch is 100% perfect German logic, order and rationality. Siemens on the other hand would do better as a door stop or paper weight. Nevertheless I was committed to making it function.
I knew it would be a challenge but wanted to master not only the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which I had already been Modifying for customers, but to harness the Traction Control and get the ABS and ECU working for my driving style. Without boring you all to death, the 7er uses a Siemens ECU whereas all earlier models had Bosch which I prefer when working on Engines. Bosch is 100% perfect German logic, order and rationality. Siemens on the other hand would do better as a door stop or paper weight. Nevertheless I was committed to making it function.
It is a daily hack. Which means that it is used for my general daily activities along with the odd few 'fun' Laps on the Nordschleife. I drive on Michelin Tyres and bought a set of BBS 18" Wheels to keep the originals in good condition. The Car is not the 'Performance' or 'Clubsport' Edition, it has the very standard 230ps CHHA Engine, smaller IS20 Turbocharger and no Front Differential. The Brakes are from the 1.4 TSI/1.6 TDI/2.0 TDI Model from Factory as it was probably never intended to be used on Track being the cheapest 7er GTi.
I have done some work to get around its shortcomings and have not changed any of the original components - that was my goal and I am glad to have proven several critics wrong with my ''it WILL work'' mentality when it comes to modifying a Vehicle for spirited use.
I have done some work to get around its shortcomings and have not changed any of the original components - that was my goal and I am glad to have proven several critics wrong with my ''it WILL work'' mentality when it comes to modifying a Vehicle for spirited use.
The Center Caps have been removed because they fall out with Track driving temperatures. Brake Calipers and Discs are Standard Fit but with Uprated Pads. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 have been my Tyre of choice for over two Seasons now. They are an older 1997 Tread but with 2020 date markings all round. I had the same rubber on the 911 and am a real fan of the Michelin brand.
For anybody wondering why the Tyre looks under-inflated it is because of Track use. I generally run 0.1-0.2 Bar under the Manufacturers specifications and for general cruising it isn't a problem as they heat up fairly quickly. I have no idea which BBS Alloys are on the Car and didn't spend any time searching for a set of Wheels, I bought the first set offered to me from a Garage close to the Nürburgring!
For anybody wondering why the Tyre looks under-inflated it is because of Track use. I generally run 0.1-0.2 Bar under the Manufacturers specifications and for general cruising it isn't a problem as they heat up fairly quickly. I have no idea which BBS Alloys are on the Car and didn't spend any time searching for a set of Wheels, I bought the first set offered to me from a Garage close to the Nürburgring!
All said and done it is just a Golf and nothing that I will fall in love with. Essentially it is a piece of metal that takes me on my explorations of Germany, more recently to either Köln, Bonn or Koblenz then I use Public Transport to travel further out. I love Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and also plan trips around surrounding Cities such as Palma, Paris, Amsterdam, London etc.
I have also never washed the Car myself. I take it to a Drive Through because I don't care that much, and also because I don't have time to give myself back ache only to brag that ''I washed it myself''. Purists will have to forgive me.
I have also never washed the Car myself. I take it to a Drive Through because I don't care that much, and also because I don't have time to give myself back ache only to brag that ''I washed it myself''. Purists will have to forgive me.
The Boot area is spacious enough for Luggage though I generally use the Passenger Seat to hold my Rucksack if I am travelling overnight. The interior is also standard apart from the Schroth 'Quick Fit' Harnesses that have proven more than handy for both Road and Circuit Driving. These Harnesses are really practical because I can disconnect them from the original sockets and travel with four people in less than two minutes! There are two Pizzas in the Passenger Seat because I was on my way home with Food Shopping when I took the pictures.
Apart from an Engine Sensor and the Radio Unit replacement by Main Dealer under Warranty I have had zero issues whilst driving the Car. The Sensor was a sporadic fault and I didn't notice there was a problem until it was scanned during one of the Scheduled Services. I also had no idea the Radio Unit was dysfunctional (screen fault) because I only glance at it when selecting a new Album to listen to. Additional Servicing is paid for by myself but kept at Volkswagen for the Service Record.
Apart from an Engine Sensor and the Radio Unit replacement by Main Dealer under Warranty I have had zero issues whilst driving the Car. The Sensor was a sporadic fault and I didn't notice there was a problem until it was scanned during one of the Scheduled Services. I also had no idea the Radio Unit was dysfunctional (screen fault) because I only glance at it when selecting a new Album to listen to. Additional Servicing is paid for by myself but kept at Volkswagen for the Service Record.
The 2.0 TFSI was renamed 2.0 TSI for no reason other than to confuse humans. There is in fact ZERO Stratisfied Charge in the Turbo versions, that is strictly for FSI (Fuel Stratisfied Injection) models only. What does impress me is that these Engines can produce up to 600ps on stock internals! I knew it was possible and have been pleased to see a few of these Cars running around the 600ps mark in the UK without issues.
There is another guy pumping out just over 500ps from his 7er GTi, which is phenomenal considering it is the same version as mine without a Differential! Personally I am happy with my Stage 1/1+ Software Tuning and am not looking to increase power by changing hardware at the moment.
There is another guy pumping out just over 500ps from his 7er GTi, which is phenomenal considering it is the same version as mine without a Differential! Personally I am happy with my Stage 1/1+ Software Tuning and am not looking to increase power by changing hardware at the moment.
I have driven several Laps on Track and also enjoyed some Autobahn Driving where there is Zero Speed Restriction. For somebody who grew up driving Cars wanting to enjoy the freedom of vehicle ownership, living in Germany is basically Car Heaven.
Zero Restriction means exactly that. The general limit of 130 km/h is to be observed, and will be used against you if you were driving too fast in a collision. I generally drive up to 180-200 km/h for a minute or so then slow down to a reasonable speed. I am really impressed that it hasn't had a hiccup or problem during the time that I have driven it but lets get on to the Review!
Zero Restriction means exactly that. The general limit of 130 km/h is to be observed, and will be used against you if you were driving too fast in a collision. I generally drive up to 180-200 km/h for a minute or so then slow down to a reasonable speed. I am really impressed that it hasn't had a hiccup or problem during the time that I have driven it but lets get on to the Review!
The Chassis
Driving this Car is good fun. The MQB Chassis is agile and really enjoyable when throwing it about on Track. I have taken a few people out for Laps and some have switched to a Golf 7 or MQB variant after seeing what a fairly standard example can do.
Suspension has been lowered with Eibach Pro Kit Springs. You will find more on these kits under the Tuning Tab and clicking the 'Tuning and Suspension' link. Brakes as mentioned are 100% Original Discs but the Pads are uprated for heavy use.
As a rule I drive no more than 3-4 Laps in succession before taking a break, not to mention keeping the small Single Piston Calipers which supposedly aren't 'good enough' for driving the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I have completed two Seasons driving both Touristenfahrten and Track Days so it proves the Car DOES work, provided you have the correct Pads fitted. Brake Fluid is Motul RBF 700 which has a dry boiling point of 336 Degrees. To end it is a budget Chassis that I do enjoy and am happy to continue driving for the foreseeable future. Brake Cooling Ducts are from the 2019 Audi RS3 and were supplied by my Volkswagen dealer.
The Body
I wouldn't say it is the best 'looking' Car because it is just a Golf. This means it cannot be anything other than a VW Golf so it would be silly to clap and dance next to it. I suppose it looks okay from the front but don't often look at it. I literally get in and drive!
I chose the colour and that was about it. Somebody said it is a Golf 7.5 because of blah blah blah and I said okay, but its a Golf 7. He proceeded to argue that it is a Golf 7.5 and I stopped talking to him for being weird.
The Throttle
Now this is where things get interesting.. I am a fan of 'tweaking' and it wasn't long before I got my Laptop out and started to fiddle with the Software in WinOLS. WinOLS is a Software Modification Tool for professional Tuners around the World! It does not provide any 'help' or assistance so you have to actually study each Make and Model or pay for a Map Pack (OLS) so that you can control the Maps yourself and make whichever changes necessary for the desired output.
I have not visited a Dyno/Rolling Road but estimate the Power to be somewhere between 255-260ps and Torque from the original 350NM to a respective 420NM. These Cars are actually restricted by the DSG (Automatic Gearbox) and if tested may demonstrate a maximum of 400NM. Either way I am more than happy and am able to switch back to Original for Road use and Modified for Track Driving.
The standard Torque Maps in these Cars aren't to my liking if I am going to be honest. From very low RPM's the Car requests 350NM + and while this may please most people I find it jerky at low revs and adjusted it accordingly. 100NM or more has been removed from VW's maps between 1000-2500 RPM and it drives a lot smoother as a result. There is a DSG update at VW but I asked them to leave it alone since sorting the problem myself. I also couldn't get any information as to what was changed in the update. The Gearbox ECU is and will remain 100% standard for longevity. Changes have been made to the Engine ECU only.
The Exhaust
Now I don't mind the little 'fart' when changing gear in these Cars. What does bother me is when people remove the original system and make it too loud. Ignition Cut is used when selecting a higher Gear in the 2.0 TFSI/TSI Motors and it adds to the character. Thankfully the 2019 and newer models have GPF/OPF which solved the problem of people making offensive noises from the Exhaust with aftermarket pipes and silencers.
Mine is standard and I don't have any plans to change anything i.e. Downpipe, Rear Silencer or anything that alters it from factory spec. A friend suggested Black Tailpipes so I'll put them on if he buys them (thanks Alex).
Driving this Car is good fun. The MQB Chassis is agile and really enjoyable when throwing it about on Track. I have taken a few people out for Laps and some have switched to a Golf 7 or MQB variant after seeing what a fairly standard example can do.
Suspension has been lowered with Eibach Pro Kit Springs. You will find more on these kits under the Tuning Tab and clicking the 'Tuning and Suspension' link. Brakes as mentioned are 100% Original Discs but the Pads are uprated for heavy use.
As a rule I drive no more than 3-4 Laps in succession before taking a break, not to mention keeping the small Single Piston Calipers which supposedly aren't 'good enough' for driving the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I have completed two Seasons driving both Touristenfahrten and Track Days so it proves the Car DOES work, provided you have the correct Pads fitted. Brake Fluid is Motul RBF 700 which has a dry boiling point of 336 Degrees. To end it is a budget Chassis that I do enjoy and am happy to continue driving for the foreseeable future. Brake Cooling Ducts are from the 2019 Audi RS3 and were supplied by my Volkswagen dealer.
The Body
I wouldn't say it is the best 'looking' Car because it is just a Golf. This means it cannot be anything other than a VW Golf so it would be silly to clap and dance next to it. I suppose it looks okay from the front but don't often look at it. I literally get in and drive!
I chose the colour and that was about it. Somebody said it is a Golf 7.5 because of blah blah blah and I said okay, but its a Golf 7. He proceeded to argue that it is a Golf 7.5 and I stopped talking to him for being weird.
The Throttle
Now this is where things get interesting.. I am a fan of 'tweaking' and it wasn't long before I got my Laptop out and started to fiddle with the Software in WinOLS. WinOLS is a Software Modification Tool for professional Tuners around the World! It does not provide any 'help' or assistance so you have to actually study each Make and Model or pay for a Map Pack (OLS) so that you can control the Maps yourself and make whichever changes necessary for the desired output.
I have not visited a Dyno/Rolling Road but estimate the Power to be somewhere between 255-260ps and Torque from the original 350NM to a respective 420NM. These Cars are actually restricted by the DSG (Automatic Gearbox) and if tested may demonstrate a maximum of 400NM. Either way I am more than happy and am able to switch back to Original for Road use and Modified for Track Driving.
The standard Torque Maps in these Cars aren't to my liking if I am going to be honest. From very low RPM's the Car requests 350NM + and while this may please most people I find it jerky at low revs and adjusted it accordingly. 100NM or more has been removed from VW's maps between 1000-2500 RPM and it drives a lot smoother as a result. There is a DSG update at VW but I asked them to leave it alone since sorting the problem myself. I also couldn't get any information as to what was changed in the update. The Gearbox ECU is and will remain 100% standard for longevity. Changes have been made to the Engine ECU only.
The Exhaust
Now I don't mind the little 'fart' when changing gear in these Cars. What does bother me is when people remove the original system and make it too loud. Ignition Cut is used when selecting a higher Gear in the 2.0 TFSI/TSI Motors and it adds to the character. Thankfully the 2019 and newer models have GPF/OPF which solved the problem of people making offensive noises from the Exhaust with aftermarket pipes and silencers.
Mine is standard and I don't have any plans to change anything i.e. Downpipe, Rear Silencer or anything that alters it from factory spec. A friend suggested Black Tailpipes so I'll put them on if he buys them (thanks Alex).
To end, it is a little shopping Car that also happens to live at the Nürburgring and make use of the facilities here. I have no further plans to modify it and am happy with how it drives currently. Anybody who knows me is aware that I am still new to Europe, preferring to travel around and have interesting days out as opposed to putting every cent into a 'Racecar' or whatever modified Cars are called.
After a Rollercoaster adventure in my teens and twenties, (some good, some bad) I am enjoying my late thirties much simpler and this Car fits my requirements. I also get a great Service from VW and the guys at Auto Caspers in Birgel are the reason why I want to keep the Car another three to four years! They are always welcoming and have been nothing but helpful when it comes to working on the Car. I sent them 3 kg of Gummi Bears as a thank you, but that isn't actually enough because they have gone above and beyond what I ever expected from a Volkswagen Garage. They are also only a 25 minute drive from the Nürburgring!
If you haven't already, take a look at the pics and let me know what you think.
Nicholas Lawrence
web - www.on-cars.com
email - nick@on-cars.com
After a Rollercoaster adventure in my teens and twenties, (some good, some bad) I am enjoying my late thirties much simpler and this Car fits my requirements. I also get a great Service from VW and the guys at Auto Caspers in Birgel are the reason why I want to keep the Car another three to four years! They are always welcoming and have been nothing but helpful when it comes to working on the Car. I sent them 3 kg of Gummi Bears as a thank you, but that isn't actually enough because they have gone above and beyond what I ever expected from a Volkswagen Garage. They are also only a 25 minute drive from the Nürburgring!
If you haven't already, take a look at the pics and let me know what you think.
Nicholas Lawrence
web - www.on-cars.com
email - nick@on-cars.com
