Boring VW hatchback for hauling dogs and family

Dan00Hawk

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I picked up a 2017 GTI S with DSG about 2 months ago for my daily driver. It is the basic version with plaid seats, regular lights, no sunroof, and regular differential. With 24k miles, I paid just over $17k. I traded in my Focus ST that had gotten damaged in an accident, and used the extra insurance money towards the VW. This is my first automatic in over 20 years. And after living with the car for these past 2 months, I believe I made the right decision.

Right now I just have some basic intake mods and the Konig Hypergram wheels that I installed today. I am considering a JB1/4 for a warranty friendly "tune", although I've used APR in the past with great results and zero issues.


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Dan00Hawk

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Congrats on your purchase. I’ve driven a few ST’s home and they are fun. The vw quicker ?

The ST was a bit more fun to drive, whereas the GTI is a bit more refined. The ST always encouraged me to be more immature with the car, whereas the GTI can engage in the same playful behavior, but just feels more mature and competent when doing it, if that makes sense.

Stock for stock, the GTI is typically just a few tenths quicker. With both cars tuned, the GTI is far quicker mod for mod as it has a bigger turbo and 200 or so pounds less.
 

IDAFC21

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The ST always encouraged me to be more immature with the car, whereas the GTI can engage in the same playful behavior, but just feels more mature and competent when doing it, if that makes sense.

I will 2nd this completely. Driving an ST turns you into a completely different person. I'm so much more laid back driving the bmw than I was driving the ST. :rofl:

Congrats on the vw!
 

Dan00Hawk

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Thanks for the compliments! I really like everything about the car so far. The value for this car is outstanding as a lightly used model, but I could certainly see going for a Golf R in the future before VW goes all electric.

The wheels are 18", but look smaller due to how the spokes don't extend to the edge of the rim. The wide opening between the spokes made drying them easy, but I'll see how it goes towards actual cleaning. Konig makes another wheel (Rennform) with more spokes that looks like a larger diameter wheel due to the spoke design, but only available in gray. I had a set of Konig Ultraforms on my ST, and I was very happy with their flow-formed set. The color and lightness of this wheel won me over, but a good second choice would be the Ampliform in bronze.

Right now, Konigs flow-formed series are probably the best value for a light weight yet strong wheel. https://konigwheels.com/wheels/flow-formed-wheels/

For the badges, the black/white are replacement emblems, and the plaid background is a decal.

The GTIs look a bit bland compared to some of the other hot hatches, so I was looking for some ways to make it look a bit more playful, yet not over the top.
 

DanJ

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I may or may not have had those bronze ampliforms in my cart for the past two weeks :rofl:

I could see those ultraforms working on an ST better. I was debating those as well but something about the lines on the MK7 just didn’t really look right to me.

What size tire did you go with? I have 225/40/18’s on my 18x8.5 VMR’s currently, and am planning on going to a 235/40/18 on the Konig 18x8.5. The 225’s have a bit of stretch and from everything I’ve read the 235’s shouldn’t rub.
 

Dan00Hawk

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I went with 235/40/18, General G-MAX RS and has a tread width which is 8.2" and weighs 22 lbs.

Some tires with the same listed width can actually have different tread widths. For example, Firestone Indy 500s are only 7.8" tread width in that same 235/40/18 and they weigh 24 lbs.

Take a look at TireRack for their specifications for whatever tires you are comparing, along with their weight. Going with a light-weight wheel only to go with an overly heavy tire would be somewhat self-defeating.
 

SMRTSS1

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I get 3 of my 50 lb dogs in the hatch, my 7 year old in the back seat, and my wife in the front. I'd be a good candidate for a Sportwagen version of the GTI or Golf R, though. :D



If they’d bring the Golf R Estate Wagon to the US I’d be a candidate for that! My psychotic 80 lbs boxer can tough it out the few times of the year we go on road trips.
 

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