The Entry-Level VW Golf GTI Has Sold Out, And It May Not Return
If you’ve been on the VW configurator lately, you might have had a little surprise: the standard GTI is nowhere to be seen. Sure, you can still buy the 241bhp GTI Performance with its fancy locking diff and bigger brakes, but the 228bhp baby of the range? It’s vanished.
It turns out this isn’t a mistake. Speaking to Car Throttle, a VW UK representative confirmed that the car has sold out for the 2018 model year in both manual and DSG automatic formats, and would not confirm whether or not the car will be returning next year.
It certainly sounds to us like the ‘GTI 230’ won’t be coming back before the Mk7 Golf is retired, which is something that’s happening sooner than you might think - the Mk8 should arrive at some point in 2019.
As for why VW has seemingly ditched the 230, that’s open to speculation. The Polo GTI is much closer to the standard Golf GTI than it has been before, being having grown in size and become more powerful, so that could be a factor behind the decision. We doubt it’s related to the new WLTP restrictions - which we’ve seen kill off numerous cars recently - since the Performance is remaining on sale.
Whatever the reason, we won’t be shedding a tear over the car’s departure. The Performance has always been the version we recommend (although it’s worth pointing out it was outsold by the entry-level car), and should VW do the inevitable and bring the TCR into the world in Production form, the GTI range will be looking very healthy, and nicely simple.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
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Conspiracy theory: They bought them all themselfs to test on monkeys
MAKE THIS THE TOP COMMENT
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First I was like WHAT but then I read the performance remains
I think they just want to boost sales of both the Polo GTI and Golf GTI Performance
Unlikely to be “sold out” - after all how can a car which is basically a “modification” (Performance Pack) be not sold out and the “stock” version sold out?
Or is it simply that the performance variant is outselling the base variant? If I have made up my mind to get a GTI, I would probably go straight for the performance version.
The Octavia too hasnt got the 230hp option anymore soon itll have only a 245hp option and no “performance” anymore but all options of the 245 model of the current one become now standard options
As long as the 245 received a price cut i wouldn’t worry about it
They think people only want suvs and electrics…
thats what the news websites been telling you, written by people who know nothing about cars or the average car buyer, that have never heard from actual car enthusiasts