Buying guide Volkswagen Golf VII GTI – you should know this about the fast 7 as an occasion

Back to the last century. Two years after the arrival of the Golf, the car that forever liberated Volkswagen from the Beetle yoke, the GTI appears. It is a lightweight jump-in-the-field that unleashes many tongues and then manages to win many hearts. Between 1976 and 2012, the GTI grows considerably, both in weight and in power. The car goes from 110 hp at a weight of 810 kilos to 220 hp at 1,370 kilos. Is that progress, or the law of diminishing returns? Unfortunately, between 1983 and 2005, the Golf GTI loses something of its shine and sportiness with every generation leap.

Since Generation V, however, the model shines again, with the famous golf ball knob poker and the famous tartan trim. With edition VII, which we put in the spotlight here, Volkswagen is promoting the GTI from 2012 to a real all-rounder. There are more power variants, the DSG box is back, as well as an otherwise unpopular three-door body. In 2017, the Golf as a whole will undergo a facelift and the even more powerful GTI TCR will join the ranks.

Watch out for oxidizing wheels on a GTI

At Nijburg Automotive in Apeldoorn, a ‘very real’ Golf 2.0 TSI GTI with six-speed gearbox is waiting for us. Just try to keep your head up at the sight of the Tornado red GTI. Try to focus on any traces of use in the upholstery, damage (e.g. quickly oxidizing wheels) or damage instead of imagining what it will be like to be on the road with this car in the future.

Is a Golf GTI an enthusiast’s car?

Is a Golf GTI an enthusiast’s car or not? Yes, is the confident answer, one that is thoroughly enjoyed and that allows many kilometers to slide under it. Because he tempts you to use his potential, the technique can suffer. None of that applies to our photo model, which has only put 96,000 kilometers on its counter in ten years. It is an original Golf delivered in the Netherlands. That characteristic is something that provider Nijburg makes its specialty. The test drive does not reveal much. Creaking front springs and noises from the independent rear suspension, things that the Golf VII is notorious for, are conspicuously absent in this car. If you are going for a test drive, turn off the fan and radio and concentrate on those sounds. If they are there, you don’t have to turn around: new rear shock absorbers, bushings or balls in the front pivots or tightening the subframe bolts can get it to stop again.

Now that we’re on the road, we’ll steer the lever through all the gears. We pay extra attention to the reverse, because it can sometimes refuse. This is due to an expired adjustment of the cable mechanism. The clutch usually has a hard time in fast cars like a Golf GTI. Therefore, feel how high it rises. If you have a model with DSG gearbox in mind, check whether the oil has been changed every 60,000 kilometers and whether the gearbox shifts smoothly. It also does not hurt to brake firmly, because then you immediately feel whether the brake discs are warped.

On the way you can also put the infotainment through its paces. In particular, the navigation crashes at will, which is due to the 5F module in the glove compartment. The touchscreen has its own cures. Also put the fan on full speed, because it sometimes wants to stop. Users also report an electrically controlled parking brake that often fails. Problems with the start-stop installation are usually due to the battery, which loses capacity over the years. A tour around the car we assessed does not yield much, but Nijburg neatly points us to the fuel filler flap that sometimes does not want to open due to a broken actuator. The clear coat on the edge of the optional sunroof is peeling off in fifty percent of all units. You solve that with the application of a foil. The roof sometimes wants to leak and the water ends up exactly where sensitive electronics are installed. Blow through drain holes, is the motto. In addition, the roof likes to crack, so conduct your GTI during a test drive through a residential area and drive over manhole covers and thresholds. Water also enters through the front door speakers and through the interior air outlet, which is invisibly located behind the rear bumper. Lift both the front and rear floor mats, as well as those in the cargo area.

A GTI is often tuned

One engine has been available (the EA888), which has been adapted with software for the different versions. Countless GTI’s have also been sent to the tuner for more power and torque and for the installation of a tougher sounding exhaust. The EA888 is a strong engine, with a few striking features. Before we even get to it, we stumble upon a possibly broken release cable housing. The plastics that house the balls of both ends of the cable often break. Once you have managed to open the hood, you will go through possible ailments step by step.

First, there is the typical characteristic of direct injection engines: the formation of carbon deposits around the intake valves. The more miles, the worse this gets. Driving short distances often speeds up this process. How do you find out? The engine is not running smoothly, because it gasps for air and produces less power. Cleaning is the motto.

EGR problems are also of this century, as well as ignition coils that can give up the ghost. It can be felt when holding in and visible through the ‘check engine’ light in the instrument panel or recalled by the OBD. Water pump and thermostat leaks (they form one whole and are made of plastic) are also a regular occurrence. The leaks take place internally and are revealed by smell: coolant escaping the system smells sweet. In the case of the 2.0 TSI, the liquid runs into the plug of the coolant temperature gauge and eats up the wiring harness. Immediately check the expansion tank from which the liquid can escape. Walk under the car and check the plastic oil pan and the plug. The latter must be replaced at every turn and it must then be tightened with just the right torque to prevent damage to the threads of the fragile plastic part.

Recall for new fuel pump

Between 2015 and 2017, Volkswagen installed the IHI turbo of the type 702, which can cause problems. On the basis of the VIN (chassis number) you can find out whether your candidate is equipped with it. The GTIs produced in 2015 and 2016 were allowed to go back to the garage for a new fuel pump in the tank as part of a recall. Symptoms include smell of gasoline in the cabin, an illuminated ‘check engine’ light and loss of engine power. On the basis of the VIN you can find out whether your car has been returned.

The panoramic roof of the Volkswagen Golf GTI often causes leaks and noise.

Just don’t be distracted by the above list; after all, these are possible problems that do not always manifest themselves in practice. The seventh-generation Golf GTI is basically a reliable car. By the way, a Golf is immune to any attack on its reputation and that applies even more to the GTI. Other than the turbo, the cooling and a few possible water leaks, the list of potential problems is not too bad. In addition, a lot depends on the state of maintenance, so the love that the previous owner or owners have shown for the car. It is important to trace a fully maintained Golf, with a comprehensive history based on the digital service overview. If all that is in order, then you will have a lot of fun. Finally, we would like to mention the special versions; the GTI Clubsport that appeared in honor of the fortieth anniversary and the TCR are rather rare, while the Performance with its limited slip differential is the most sought after.