Used 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback Consumer Reviews
Used Golf GTI for sale
The Daddy Hot Hatch is Back!
Yohan Walter, 08/27/2017
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
TL;DR: Feels properly sporty and responsive, with no compromises. It's a typically perfectly executed German sports car. Punches well above its pay grade and makes neat farting noises. Jeremy Clarkson has one. FULL: I bought my 2016 S new with no options other than the DSG gearbox (shiftable automatic) for $21,999 last year. It was a year-end sale, so you can definitely be pretty spoiled for price as far as the base models go. Some cons: I quickly found that the base headlights weren't great, and upgraded to an aftermarket "lighting package style" headlight kit. It has the same red stripe and U-shaped daytime lights. I went for them mainly so that I could get projector low beams and install a good HID kit. The improvement was day and night, and is a perfect alternative to shelling out the $1000 for the lighting package. Of course, if the parts go wrong, you won't have the dealers to help you out, so be aware that the $500 you save comes with that caveat. The front seats (tartan plaid cloth) are really comfy for short drives, but on two-plus hour drives, my bum starts to ache slightly. The ride is also slightly harsh, but is MUCH more supple than the competition. If you have a choice of tires, I wouldn't go with the Pirelli P7 Cinturato set if you're easily bothered by tire groan. The rear seats would be cramped for three adults, but definitely seat two comfortably. PROS: Lots to say here. By far the best handling I've ever had. It shoves its shoulder into corners like a true 80's sports car, and corners pretty flat. The normal brakes can take some significantly heavy braking, but wouldn't be track-worthy by any means. On normal back road blasts, you really don't get brake fade at all, and usually I take an empty 110 mile route with a mix of corners and short straights. It doesn't really go anywhere so I usually have it to myself. On off-camber corners, you get some loss of grip and understeer, which is especially noticeable without the performance package, but in flat and banked corners, the car uses the brakes to pull the nose closer into the apex, so you do get really amazing grip. Hairpins are an absolute joy, especially with a dash of liftoff oversteer, combined with the immense low-end torque that slingshots you out of the corners. The turbocharger is audible from the interior, especially when you stray over 2500 RPM. The turbo lag is a little noticeable, but is really not a big deal, because you have the power to get through it. Noise peaks at around 3500 RPM, which is also when you start to hear pops and farts from the exhaust. The engine itself is an absolute peach, and combined with the great chassis and fantastic MQB platform makes the GTI a great car for purists and tuners alike. The DSG is sort of a hit or miss, honestly. I love it because I pretty much always take it in manual mode and the shifts are insanely quick, but in auto, it's really clunky at low speeds, which is a common property of dual-clutch gearboxes. You'll get a little lurching and jerking when the gearbox isn't sure whether or not to disengage the clutches, which is why manual mode is usually better for communicating with the car. Also beware that the reliability of DSG's is relatively unproven as of now, so be wary of issues. The exterior styling is a bit reserved compared to its competition, but is much sportier than the Mk. 6 GTI, without being brash or "yobbish." It's a car you can drive up to the valet without judgment and also excite your inner child when you catch a glimpse of its reflection. It's a car that doesn't get old to stare at. The interior is simply fantastic. The clark plaid seats cup you nicely with side bolstering in the back and legs, lumbar support is available, and thigh support is good for taller drivers. The steering wheel feels amazing and looks great. It has buttons on it, but not so many that it's overwhelming. The flat bottom is a great touch, and the size is perfect for fast back road driving and motorway cruising alike. The paddle shifters are well-placed and satisfying to use, but are pretty modest. I prefer to switch gears with the sequential style on the gear shifter itself. It's just that much more satisfying and doesn't move around when the wheel turns. Equipment is pretty simple, but you certainly don't feel like it's missing anything--It doesn't feel cheap. If you slapped a BMW or Audi badge on the wheel, I'd be fooled. I absolutely love the abundance of cubbies. The diver's seat has a small cubby underneath to hide your french fries from a hungry significant other, and many more little hidey holes for clutter as well. There are great styling touches on the doors and sills that tell you that you're in a genuinely sporty car, but you sacrifice nothing in the way of visibility. The infotainment is simple and lacks some bells and whistles, but is easy to master. Basically, to end, when I get home, my face aches from the smiles and G-forces that come with driving this brilliant machine.
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I absolutely love this car
Doug, 09/17/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE w/Performance Package 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2016 GTI 4DR Manual SE w/Performance Package in anticipation of returning my VW Golf TDI to VW for the diesel buyback extravaganza. I fell in love with the GTI as soon as I test drove it. The engine is very quick and sounds great. The performance package adds an extra 10 HP and gigantic brakes that make stopping the car not only easy, but strangely fun and engaging. I also opted for the manual transmission because I feel it adds an extra level of engagement that the DSG does not provide (I really did not like the DSG, but I think I'm in the minority on that one). This car also has the lighting package, so the headlights are not only incredibly bright, but they actually move as you steer the car. The interior is beautiful and simple, and although I wish the SE had the option for plaid cloth seats, the leather seats are nice too, and remain comfortable on long drives. I'm 6'2" and I fit easily into this car. There is so much leg room in the front that I can't reach the pedals with the seat slid all the way back. The technology in the 2016 GTI is also a monster upgrade from the 2013 TDI to which I became so accustomed. CarPlay is a great addition, and even though Apple Maps isn't my favorite, it integrates seamlessly with the in-dash touch screen. All of the controls are easy to use and quick to respond. The steering wheel is cool but most of the controls are flat and I find myself looking at the wheel for each control instead of feeling around for them (e.g. cruise control, radio controls, etc.), but that's only a minor gripe. The ride is surprisingly good and road noise seems much lower than my 2013 Golf TDI. The Fender stereo system sounds very, very clear, and has a subwoofer that makes me feel like a complete idiot when it's cranked up high. Overall I'm incredibly happy with this car, and I look forward to every time I get to drive it. Even to work. By far the best car I've owned.
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2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI for sale near you
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- S 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $14,35519 mi away
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Ray's Rave Review
RayG, 02/13/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Check prices of the car before you start to shop. Know what your trade-in (if you have one, of course) value is and what the best 'mark-down price is. Review the Mfg.'s and dealer's tag for costs and see what the guides say about negotiating those costs as they can be quite (too?) high. Know what you want for options and check the value of those. Check out the interiors and if you want an upgrade on an item that is available on the next higher model see if you can get only that item without the balance. I was able to have all leather installed at the dealers replacing the cloth and it looks great. And shop all of the dealers for the best price. I love the looks. performance and fit of my GTI and all of the intuitive electronics. Great looking and very fun to drive.
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Hot Hatch is (Still) Hot
David Cole, 05/25/2016
updated 07/25/2017
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE w/Performance Package 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
This is just a fun car to drive - was lucky to find a Pure White SE w/Performance Package that included the Driver Assistance Package (DAP), Lighting Package (SEL), and Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) in Franklin, Wisconsin at Boucher Volkswagen. This combination of packages is very difficult to find because of the DAP - - not many of them out there, and I got a pretty good deal on the price from Boucher as well. As an aside, the dealer was really good to work with - - I flew to Wisconsin from Texas to get the car and the sales rep (Justin Zantow) picked me up at the airport. They were also very candid and transparent about what they could / could not negotiate with on price, down to showing me their numbers and pushing their own finance people to make the best deal possible. The car was immaculate when I picked it up and the sales rep took the time to walk me through the features and get the infotainment system set-up with my phone before I drove off the lot. It's a solid car - well put together and nothing looks cheap or flimsy on it. It's a little beast. I think I've taken advantage of / experienced all of the different facets of the DAP, from lane change warnings, adaptive cruise control, to emergency braking. Some of these were done intentionally, and others happened when other folks did something stupid on the road. Bottom line - - the DAP works as advertised and I highly recommend it if you can find a GTI with it. The Lighting (SEL) package is pretty sweet as well - gives the car a wow factor when you get in or when folks watch you drive by. I haven't messed too much with the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) yet - it is only available with the Performance Package, I think - most of the settings are set to "Sport" except for the distance on the cruise control - - "dumb people doing stupid things on the road" is the best explanation. Probably the only regret is the seats on the SE aren't as adjustable on the Autobahn - - they're not bad, but I'm still getting used to the distance required to hit the clutch properly when shifting. It wasn't worth the extra money to me to upgrade for just the seats and fancier infotainment system. The other beefs, and they are minor, are - The storage space in the center console is barely big enough to hold a large smartphone like a Note 4 or an iPhone. You could keep the phone somewhere else and connect to the infotainment system via Bluetooth to make phone calls, but there's only one USB port and you have to be connected to it to use Android Auto, Apple Car Play, or MirrorVision (?) - (1 year update) one other minor complaint about the infotainment system is the wired connection to the phone to use Android Auto (I don't have an iPhone so I can't comment on Car Play). VW recommends you use the phone manufacturer's cable to connect the phone to the USB slot in the center console. Not the easiest place to get your hands into connect an USB plug, and any wiggle/connection problem on the mini-SD connection with the phone causes the infotainment system not to recognize the phone, preventing you from using Android Auto. - You can only have one active Bluetooth connection with the infotainment system - - I have an Android phone and an iPod and wanted to use the iPod as a data source for my music. A second USB port would've done the trick, perhaps, but I think the designers assumed users would have their music on their smartphone (like an iPhone). The alternatives are to use the AUX connection (basically a dumb line in that you manage from the iPod) or copy your music to an SD card and use one of the two SD card slots in the glove compartment so the infotainment system can read the music from there. Apart from that - the car's (still) a blast, gets great gas mileage and is hella fun to drive even shifting in traffic. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great mix of performance and economy.
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My 3rd and best GTI!
Michael Mac, 03/17/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE w/Performance Package 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
When you want to have a performance car it is that for you, when you want to go to Home Depot it is that for you, when you are stuck in traffic it is that for you! All around, in my opinion, the best car for the money out there!
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