IMOTO: VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI
IF we were playing cricket, the new VW Golf GTI would raise the bat and the audience would applaud it by adding 50 while it was still there.
When the youth took the war away from Soweto in 1976, VW in Germany built the Golf 1 GTI.
At this time, no one thought that over the years it would become so popular even here that it would be called Vrrr Pha.
In fact, VW has built more than 2.5 million Golf GTIs.
The way the Golf GTI has made history in South Africa has become part of our culture, you who saw the people of Durban crowding the beach on December 16, playing the song Sista Bettina when you are happy and so on.
Everyone has a story to tell about the Golf GTI. I started to get wiser when I saw a Golf 4 GTI driving a police unit that was being dispersed by Scorpions. It is still a favorite of law enforcement.
I remember when I was in high school, the Golf 5 GTI arrived.
My cousin Khanyile, who we call Nhliziyo, once tried to drive me with his black Golf 6 GTI so that I could use it to crush another girl’s cock. I don’t want to handle the women’s, there are many losers who win because of GTI and others are taken from them.
My first event that I was invited to at VW Group Africa was to drive the Golf 7 GTI and Golf R from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein.
I can talk until the sun goes down, but what I’m saying is that VW hasn’t run out of steam, they’re continuing the story of the Golf GTI with the new 8.5.
It’s called just 8.5, it’s because the Golf 8 has been developed, which started selling in this country in 2021.
This upgraded Golf 8 GTI comes as perfect as a Sunday plate with all the salads. Only you choose the color of the body.
It has Matrix LED headlights, the VW logo is illuminated on the front and it has 19-inch rims.
At the top, it comes with a sunroof so you can enjoy the breeze like Thinah Zungu sitting on the balcony of her famous house.
The interior has leather seats. The former can be heated or cooled.
People cry out loud about the shiny buttons on the steering wheel because the old solid ones are gone. This steering wheel can be heated.
Up front is a large 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It comes with navigation, you can connect your mobile phone via Apple CarPlay/Android Auto wirelessly, you can play the radio, it shows you the outside when you park and so on.
The side of the gear is shiny, you must always have a cloth because it catches the dirt.
IGTI is known for its power and in the present it is a thing. You know, when the Golf 1 GTI arrived, it had 81kW. When the 8 GTI came, it came with 180kW. Now they have been increased pushing 195kW and 370Nm torque from the same 2.0 TSI engine.
The 7 speed DSG gearbox shifts well, I even forgot to use the pedal shifters behind the steering wheel.
I remember when I want to hear “pha!” if it changes but you’re not the same as before, you’re old.
The new power makes it go from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds. If you really drive, it can trick you with Duma’s good RTI because it stops at 250km/h.
Although the sound of Vrr Pha has decreased but the fun is still there. It also shows growth because it is more sensitive to bumps which is nice because it has Adaptive Chassis Control.
Since the tires are low profile, they are sensitive as I was driving them and saw that they had a tire on the side.
Another thing that has increased is safety and driver’s services, including airbags inside. adaptive cruise control, tells you when you’re about to crash, helps you park and more.
The Golf GTI has no peers because many have tried but it rolled like the Hyundai 130N that just said goodbye.
There is also a Toyota GR Corolla with more power of 210kW, all-wheel drive and a price of just over a million rand.
Price:
VW Golf GTI – R908 000
It comes with a five-year or 90,000km service plan and a three-year or 120,000km warranty.