One word: ICON.

There’s people that will only wear Nike and never be seen dead in Adidas. Some people prefer Cadburys over Nestle. Theres even people that prefer Liverpool FC to Everton (its weird to me too). For years, I was like this over Volkswagen. I’d prefer a VW over most other car brands. Well, unless you want to pass me the keys to a Porsche Carrera but then theres a similarity there now anyway. As a lifelong VW fan I was twitching with excitement when eCars247 told me they had a VW Golf GTD in stock. I have heard great things about this particular model of Golf but Ive always been keen to form my own opinion. If you’ve read my last eCars247 blog (here) you’ll know I was the proud owner of a 1990 Mk2 Golf GTi. Ever since owning that car, I have loved the styling of this ever popular VW model and the evolution of the Golf has never disappointed me. I look at some cars and think ‘the classic model was much better’ but with the Golf, I like how VW have progressed with its styling whilst still paying homage to the brilliant MK1 that was first released back in the 1970’s. 



After receiving the car, I instantly felt happy. There was a feeling that I got when I sat in it. Recognition? Nostalgia? Whatever it was, it was familiar.

From the outside, there is no denying that this car looks really good. The big 18” alloys give it a sporty (yet not boy racer-y) look. The smooth sleek shape from the grill backwards gives you a hint that that car is not only great looking but will also shift. The colour of this car is a winner for me as well. When it came to the original MK1 and MK2 golfs, the best colour to have, in my opinion, was red and that definitely hasn’t changed. Although I’m an Everton fan, and I do actually know some Everton fans that wouldn’t drive a red car, I believe the Golf suits red. I’m not sure if this refers back to my days of owning toy cars and the fact that my favourite model Porsche and Ferrari were red but I feel like it makes me think of a fast car! 

The key was a flip out one, so I excitedly jumped in and fumbled around to find the keyhole. It took me about 20-30 seconds to realise that there was a start/stop button next to the gear stick and the key was in fact for the petrol cap. You threw me on that one VW. Anyway, I put my foot on the break, pressed the start button and fired it up.



Volkswagen don’t mess about. Their seats hold you in firmly but not too tight. They give you enough support to feel like you’re in a quality car. The interior is made up mostly of plastic but its solid and by no means feels cheap. Lets not forget though that the Golf is still a family hatchback. It needs to be sturdy and practical whilst not sacrificing its style and sophistication.

The upholstery of the interior wouldn’t be my first choice. I think I’ve been spoiled having leather interior in my own car which is easy to keep clean and adds just a bit more of a quality feeling to the car. Although this cloth wouldn’t be my first choice when it comes to looks, the quality of the seats is by far above average and the checkered pattern does give the seats a classic smart appearance. 



The positioning of the media screen is slightly tilted towards the driver meaning you have full control of what music is on, how cool the temperature is and what postcode you decide to put in the sat nav. (Who’s got time for passengers that try to take control of your drive!) The buttons around the edge of the display are clearly marked and it took me no longer than 1 minute to hook my phone up to the bluetooth. 

I left eCars 247 and got straight on the motorway to see a client. This was a perfect opportunity for me to get into 6th gear and see how comfortable the GTD was to drive. I was impressed!

Again, like the Focus ST the VW GTD is a diesel manual. Did The ‘D’ give it away? I found the VW felt more solid and slightly quicker that the ST. I haven’t read into the stats but I’m guessing just the build quality of the Volkswagen alone could have added to this positive experience. The diesel engine is obviously a great choice as it has all the power to get you there quick but also has a great mpg. I got the car with a full tank of fuel and after covering about 200 miles in it, the needle had barely moved, even though I did drive the car not like your average 70 year old would. The GTD is a great alternative to the GTi for people who spend the vast majority of their time on the motorway. It provides the same hot hatchback style and performance without the traditional high running costs.

The only thing I found tricky to figure out was the cruise control. I’m one of those people that won’t read a users guide or manual (it gets binned along with the cardboard box) and I just want to play straight away. I guess a quick look at the users guide though would have had me using the cruise control in under 2 minutes. The seat position was perfect for me and I felt really comfortable. If you are on the taller side, even though the Golf isn’t a massive car, you would have no struggles getting in and out and I’m sure you’d find the driving position really comfortable.

 

The Golf GTD is an ideal car for somebody looking for a stylish/modern looking car with great performance. Why would you choose a Golf GTD over a standard VW Golf? Because you be getting a better performance and better looking car. The impressive yet subtle upgrades on the GTD set this car in a higher class.

Would I want to buy a VW Golf GTD? Yes, definitely! Everything I want from a car is there and presented in a really attractive way. Theres no smoke and mirrors with this car, you get exactly what you pay for.