VW Golf 7 GTI TCR revisited: Will the new Golf 8 deliver the ultimate GTI?
The Volkswagen GTI is flawless. A bold claim, but VW has been perfecting the hot hatch formula with its driver’s choice Golf, since the mid-1970s.
More than four decades of evolution has matured the GTI into arguably the most convincing hot hatchback in production. If you like the mechanical engagement of a spirted drive but have the comfort and utility of passengers and luggage to consider, the GTI does family motoring better than any other.
VW Golf8 GTI to be ‘most complete hot hatchback’
As with all things, the VW Golf evolves through its various iterations and platforms. Production delays, the pandemic and software issues have thus far prevented South African VW followers from experiencing the company’s advanced Golf 8. Which promises, in GTI form, to be the most complete hot hatchback ever made.
Special edition GTIs: Looking at the TCR
To celebrate the end of the VW Golf 7 production, Volkswagen did what all clever car companies do: A series of special edition GTIs. The most notable of these, is the TCR.
Exclusivity is guaranteed with these enhanced GTIs. Only 300 were imported to South Africa during 2020. But are they truly worth the price?
TAKING THE VW GOLF 7 TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION
I remember first driving the Golf 7 back in 2013 and being amazed at how comparable it felt to a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, in terms of mechanical smoothness and cabin sound insulation.
The TCR takes that mighty impressive, and now basically retired, Golf 7 platform and gives it a very peculiar configuration. What you get, is a slightly detuned Golf R engine and front-wheel drive.
With 213kW and 380Nm, it is always going to be a brisk car. The six-speed DSG transmission makes it very docile to drive in traffic, or at low speeds. It never lurches when you come off the brake and lightly feather the accelerator.
In all the ways familiar to us, this is the ultimate GTI. It is quiet when required. The luggage space is generous and seating comfort, excellent. But where the TCR excels, is as a purist driving machine.
CLEVER DIFFERENTIAL THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Engineering theory says that 213kW and front-wheel drive is not a recipe for great dynamic fluidity. Especially when you wish to use all of that power, at low speed and extreme steering angles.
VW’s engineers love geeking-out on suspension geometry and intricate differentials. As such, the TCR rides 5mm lower than an equivalent Golf7 GTI Performance edition. It also has a proper locking front differential, which makes a huge difference in calming potential torque steer.
Use the power and it builds momentum with great urgency, feeling every bit as fast as the claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds. I found it an incredibly precise driver’s car with benign balance and a wonderful balance of performance, very unlike some other hot hatchbacks with more than 200kW of power.
Enduring example of brilliance
At R675,700, is the TCR an overpriced GTI or a bargain front-wheel drive Golf R? That is an interesting debate, that is sure to rage for a long time, especially among the 300 South Africans who will eventually own these limited edition cars, with their matching numbers.
But as a driving experience, there is no question that the VW GTI TCR, is an enduring example of how brilliant the Golf 7 was. And when the Golf 8 GTI arrives in a few months time, expect the values of those 300 GTI TCRs to start rising.