They should have made it so that you would have to shift gears via touchscreen

In the shoppe.. serious stern men Track driving impressions.. giggling like little schoolgirls Love you guys

I own a mk8 gti. Tbh the buttons aren't that bad you really adapt quickly.

This is far and away the best Mk8 video out. I've been looking for a deep dive of the suspension changes and if they were able to make a more communicative engaging drive. The euro reviews just punt it down a b road and call it fun. The other American reviews even the ones that had this car on the track with these tires we're incredibly vague and lackluster. Thank you guys for actually putting in the time to not only articulate a driving experience but explain the engineering behind it.

They really should've replaced the windshield with a 4k HDR screen for that extra immersion.

I love that you have mentioned the lack of storage in the Mk8, everyone gets so stuck on the touch controls they miss that you have lost the sunglasses holder above the rear view mirror, the covered space in front of the gear shifter and the covered sliding space behind it. Where am I meant to put the my Ray-Bans and change that I want to throw at the peasants?

The seat demonstration, there is nothing more precious than a child’s laughter.

Never thought I’d see the day……where a dub has more plastic than a Honda.

we'll see how VW responds to Honda wisening up and returning physical controls to their cars like the new Civic. Because they realized how horrible the touch /capacitive buttons were

How could they have made the same mistake that Honda made in the previous-gen Civic? Cars need manual controls for audio/HVAC.

This review is so huge guys. The exploration of the limits is so crucial for anyone who wants to drive these cars Seriously and not experience the 6/10ths "Sporty" feeling accompanied by disappointment once abused. Love what you guys do. Can't believe I watched a Volkswagen review 3 times over the last few months.

Remember in High School how bad i wanted a GTI! They still look good every generation.

Everything is an improvement but the interior, what a huge step back.

A lot of mid 2010's Hondas had those dumb touch volume sliders, they replaced with knobs after a few model years when they realized it was dumb.

I presume most people here have never test driven a mk8, because once you get to really drive one, the buttons are the last thing that comes to mind. This car reduces my stress from driving by half. I've owned only for a couple months though, it's quite possible that I will find inconveniences with time, but I don't miss physical buttons a bit, but that's me, I guess I'm not a majority.

I don't care how good the car is. Any car with no physical knobs and buttons is a no-go; period. That's funny that the navigation apps warn you or prevent you from interfacing while driving and lots of cars these days force you to do so!

Every time Mr. Goose says "MK 7.5" or "MK 8," I imagine he's referring to versions of himself.

The only car channel that is truly funny and technically serious. 5:13

I love seeing you guys genuinely laugh. The atmosphere is always so gloomy and serious, it's nice to see you really let loose.

OMG yes exactly my thoughts, owned a 7.5 and the user experience inside was chef's kiss! Saw all the changes they made to the interior and decided not to roll over into the new model immediately.

The piano black on the steering wheel is almost enough to disqualify this from consideration

I've been on the fence for a while now about buying a mk8. The driving dynamics is good and all, but operating everything via touch would drive me fucking insane. I can't do it.

"Just send it to the junkyard already." -Turbowski probably

Control changes in the name of "progress" often do the exact opposite. Designers need to be forced to test their layout against the old one and do it just as fast or faster.

That interior is hell incarnate, and of course it had to be gloss black.. this is not Starbucks drive-thru worthy

Dude your production value is unrivaled

That side by side discussion of controls was excellent. It's easy to talk about this touch capacitive garbage, but you showcased why it's a problem very well!

Sounds like VW has made an impressive car with the new GTI, at least from a vehicle dynamics perspective. Can't wait to actually see these on the streets in the USA!

Watched another video comparing interiors of Mk8 and Mk7.5. It showed quality of materials had gone down with newer model. Reducing switches and knobs was another cost cutting.

Love that you guys are now able to do an on track segment.

You guys posting the technical changes and getting it on the lift is phenomenal. Thank you!

So much of the commentary in this video can be directly attributed to super sticky tires. Would like to see this same drive with the US market all-seasons.

That laughing and screaming with the seats made my day. I was howling!

It’s always good to start my day with strong coffee, a mild cigar, and a new Mark and Jack review. Kudos to you both - and VW - for keeping some fun in driving. (Great giggles, too.) Regards and be well.

still loving that you do an Audio Review! Thank you Gentlemen!

Probably my favorite video you've ever done & I've been a loyal sub for 5+ years

The interior on the mk7 is so classy. The new one is just cheaper looking.

I am actually quite surprised they shipped you guys this car with 71Rs. It's a discontinued tire so it's weird as you cannot buy this tire from the dealer.

The special one. Great cinematography! 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

When is the GTI going to have a touchscreen for steering?

Mark likes when there's a Magnum in his back end 5:12

Touch screens are a pain in general, especially during the winter when you are wearing heavy gloves.

Glad to see a positive review of the GTI. Great cars, manual trans, daily usable, and good power. Good vid man

MK8 is an outstanding car, I am grateful VW gave us a manual GTI in 2024..I just bought Gti 380 SE my way of thanking to VW and to all engineers for building a manual 🙏

Brilliant and refreshing car review on a European car. I'm from the UK and that's the only really in-depth, useful review I've seen, and you guys are from the US! You do great reviews so keep up the good work....

That infotainment is a deal breaker. Just awful having everything work through it.

FINALLY!!! someone reviewing manual transmission golf. Thank you

Two back to back videos I've watched from you guys where you are dying with contagious laughter. The golf and the e63s wagon. Pure awesomeness!

The romantic tension in those curves was powerful

In the future, volume will be controlled by a series of gestures after getting to the appropriate submenu.

I wish we had a dual fuel injection system, specifically the inclusion of port injection to keep valves clean. My MK6 GTI had ghastly deposits on its valves with its direction injection set up. While I didn't notice any idling issues until about 150K miles, once I cleaned the valves and replaced the injectors the car ran and idled like new again. I'm now nearing 200K miles. The car has been an absolute joy to own and drive. Considering a MK8 purchase.

Aside from looks, I'm so surprised at how well the new GTI Mk8 performs and handles and it's even better than the Mk7! And I'm glad that VW is still offering a manual for the GTI and R in this day and age

The street drive impressions were so heartwarming, for real. Just the good 'ole bros, never meanin no harm. Also, here's my obligatory "touch controls suck" comment for the pile.

I don't understand why they didn't make the break pedal into the touchscreen. Strange decision by VW

You guys are so awesome. So insightful and informative. Thanks for all your hard work!

the shot on the track going into the corner and mark flying into frame is maybe the best car content I've seen on youtube

I like Jack's Silverback routine in the intro 🤣

Gonna need my best EDM playlist when I watch this.

Honestly guys, I love this more then the new top gear. Hope it continues and you guys grow! Thanks heaps for the tasteful content!

The genuine giggling while testing the seat grip is EVERYTHING. Y'all are adorable

I would just like to say as a vw fanboy, a set of coilovers paired with the LSD in the old gti will get rid of the delay issues that were mentioned

Saw it in person in Florida a few weeks ago, they had Michigan plates. One R and one GTI. Humble Mechanic was right, the pictures do it ZERO justice it looks way better in person. I've worked at a VW dealer and have owned 9 VWs myself half of them bieng GTIs, I'm, glad VW is upping the drive more. I've always loved them for keeping the styling non "Boy Racer" like the STs and Civic SIs/Type R but It's about time they upped the driving while keeping that understated look. Great Review as always Geese really looking forward to your take on the New .:R!

I really enjoyed learning about the GTi on track and thought your commentary and driving were great!

Love the care into the analysis boys!

These interior gimmicks are getting out of control, if you’re designing a spirited driving vehicle you don’t need gimmicks.

This MK8 interior makes me want to keep my 2020 MK7.5 GTI forever. Also your MK7.5 review was on really mediocre all-seasons and the MK8 is on sticky summer tires. Hard to compare those.

Guys - great great job on this video. Good dialogue back and forth. Serious, interesting, AND FUN.

What a channel this is! Thank You Guys!

So glad you guys got the Euro Spec. This was a great video!

Savagegeese makes my Friday!!! 😁

Great review, especially the seats 😂 I don't know why you don't have 1M + subscribers. Your content is always top notch!

@14:45 great to see you guys have fun. Thanks for the great reviews guys, keep up that great work. Thanks for all you do.

Can't wait to see the video on the new Golf R

So you have track duty tires and now you've turned OFF Stability Control with the Mk8. That has to take up a LARGE percentage of the improvement, so I wonder how much responsibility the other changes in the car take for the transformation. Love the video, thanks for getting this car and uploading.

The both of you giggling really reminds me of my buddies at track too. Made my day!

Feels like that intro camera work was insane! Good work

So in summary- we want the dynamics of the mk8, but the physical controls and interior of the mk7.5. Solid video either way. Looking forward to the final U.S. variant

Unsprung mass is everything NOT supported by the suspension: wheels, tires, brakes, knuckle, etc. The aluminum knuckle is therefore the bigger deal than the aluminum subframe. The subframe is sprung mass, just like the rest of body and structure.

I’m 29 seconds into the video and I just had to pause it to comment this big thank you of that eye candy pan and focus from the tree to the car. Comes to watch cars, gets mad excited with the low key cine skills goin on. Wonders how many takes go by for some of them Thank you!

Yay! 500k subs. Now to a million. Congrats guys

Any car which is so much fun it makes both of you giggle like little girls - which I don't recall ever seeing before in any of your other videos - is worth a look. I used to love the balanced performance of the mid- '80s GTIs, looks like the "fun factor" of the earlier cars may finally be getting restored. Hopefully the USA version is as good.

Jack's giggling > Matt Maran's giggling

Wow, coming from you guys, that means a lot. Will consider this as a nice fun daily!

Great video, Jack`s laugh and the "special box" Jack was stashing under the bumper....ha ha!

What a brave and inspirational man Savagegeese is. It's about time someone of importance stood up to the piano black industry. Who do they think they are? Slapping their finger smudging, easily scratched, faux-luxury, no good shiny cheap looking black plastic trim all over beautiful automobile interiors for years as though they are doing the customer a huge favor, not even having the common decency to give us physical volume and temperature knobs. His noble actions have inspired thousands of viewers around the world to not stand idly by and allow injustices to take place, to have the courage to stand up for what is right. Thank you Savagegeese.

The interior was a deal breaker for me

Been waiting fir this review!!! Thx, right on. Per usual. 🇨🇦

Good to see u guys enjoying your test drive.

Really appreciate the review, fellas. Especially given Jack's ownership experience with a MK7.5, the model I currently own. As GTI owners know, it's always risky to make judgments based on Euro-spec versions of the car. Our US versions lack some features available in Europe. A situation that stems in part from the fact that we pay considerably less for the vehicle than Europeans. Furthermore, Europeans can pick and choose individual options to meet their preferences and wallets while we Americans typically can choose only among three trim levels with an occasional fourth "special edition" (that's usually not that "special.") and few, if any, individual options. Nor do we receive GTI higher performance variants such as the MK8 "Clubsport". But VW, like every automaker, configures and prices its vehicles taking into account competition in particular markets. And it would be folly to believe that Americans would pay $50,000 or more for a GTI considering its sales competition in this country. Still, I love my GTI. I traded my Stage 1 APR MK6 version in 2018 for my current MK7.5. And I've lately been contemplating whether to have my current GTI tuned or replace it with a MK8 when it arrives and I have a chance to drive it. I do appreciate some of the NVH improvements noted in the review. And though I find removal of some physical buttons and dials to be annoying, it's not a big deal for me. Unlike an automotive journalist I don't drive 30 or more vehicles a year, each for a week or less. Accustoming myself to less than ideal design choices is typically a matter of getting used to them. No vehicle is perfect and I adjust if I like the car. What stands in the way of replacing my GTI is partly that the substantial improvements are most apparent at "10 tenths" driving. I doubt I exceed 8 on that scale more than a minuscule portion of my miles. Even when I'm having fun on backroads in the Cascades or on long drives that take me from the Seattle area to Montana, where high speed isn't exactly optional but widely tolerated, especially in the "stealth" costume of a Golf. I have no doubt that the changes VW has made to the GTI's handling, especially the near (total?) elimination of understeer, will result in faster track times. Possibly faster even than a "tuned" MK7.5. But when I do track days it's on two wheels rather than four. And on a bike leaning into a turn at 60-70 mph is more than enough to induce a rush. WOT at triple digits? No thanks. Finally, I have to admit an irrational rationale for keeping my GTI. The thought of selling it prompts a similar reaction to the thought of selling the family dog. 😢 Weird? Yeah. Nevertheless. With that in mind I'm considering passing it on to my teenage daughter and getting another vehicle for myself. That strategy means keeping it in the family (Without an APR tune. I'm a dad, after all.) And I might be able to justify a Golf R, a KIA Stinger or a (tuned) Arteon for myself. 😁

Wow a metal oil pan, hopefully we get that in the US.

The euro spec Magnums underneath the bumper were a hilarious touch. Understated humor seems a lot easier (and honestly more effective) than what Donut has been up to, and the end result is that I’m laughing without taking my focus off the car itself. Well done, now I want a Mk8.

I'm not excited about all the gloss black and all the touch buttons and other interior updates, but seeing the driving section of this video has actually made me excited for this car! "Better than a Veloster N" is a bold statement! Nice video! Love it!

Lol Jack will do anything to get Mark to snuggle up to him. Lol

Redirect R&D budget from interior design to driving dynamics? That’s a step in the right direction I suppose, but the MK7.5 interior was so, so nice.

I've seen multiple reviews & this is the 1st one that puts a positive outlook on my feelings about the new MK8 👍🏽

What a absolutely fantastic video. So pure, and honest. I need to Thank you !!! Very well done.

The seat gag was great. Sad to see the touch buttons on the steering wheel

6:50 How is an aluminum subframe contributing to unsprung mass? Brake rotors, wheels, tires, yes, but a subframe?!?

Wow, was already planning to get this car in DSG. The driving experience you describe has got me even more excited. Can't wait

Love to see Mark having fun in a FWD car!