GTIfan99 mk8 GTI 380 S review and "build" thread.

[GTIfan99]

Loaded up the EQT tune today. It's so much faster than Cobbs OTS tune. Pulls much harder up top than the mk7 EQT tune did. Hooks up nicely with the RE71RS's and the stiffer rear springs.

My fastest 1/4 mile with the mk7.5 was 13.75@105mph. I can't wait to take it to Gainesville and see if it's quicker.

 

[MrTSI]

Observations after 2 weeks of ownership.

I'm digging the higher powerband of the mk8 vs the mk7. It's just more usable and fun.

They really got the suspension tuning right for a road car.

The slightly firmer clutch and more consistent engagement makes a massive improvement over the mk7's setup, with no real downside. So much easier to drive around town.

I miss keyless entry more than I thought I would. I'm going to hit up DAP to see if I can retrofit.

Not sure if something is different with 2024, but my OBD11 won't talk to the car.

I think they're using a slightly less aggressive stock front brake pad. That, or the calibration of the abs/braking system requires more effort for the same braking force. Hard to really tell on the street. Easy to modulate though and firmer feel overall. Stock mk7.5 pp brakes felt like an on off switch stock and were hard to modulate


Overall, feels like a tighter mk7 with slightly bigger turbo. I'm liking the interior more than I thought I would. It's what I wanted the Rabbit Edition to feel like, but it never really got there. I went slightly over the mark and compromised it as a street car more than I wanted to and the brakes and clutch never felt decent. I don't regret selling the mk7.5, other than the fact it was paid off.

I'd give the car in this spec 9/10. 380 SE would solve the couple of gripes I have, no keyless entry and no wireless Android Auto, but then I'd be stuck with a sunroof. Overall really happy with the car.

When I get bored, I'm going to look at IC, mk8 CS springs, CS hubs, offset lca bushings and a titanium exhaust. I can't see pushing it power wise more than just a tune.

This car is ALMOST perfect out of the box. The Rabbit was significantly off the mark stock.

I just traded my 7.5 for a Canadian-spec 380 and your comments are spot on. This car is phenomenal. It fixes all the gripes I had with the 7.5. I even like the infotainment system, even though I am (was?) a die-hard button guy.

Seems like Canada got the better 380 package though. Up here, we can combine it with the Autobahn or the Performance trim. Mine is an Oryx White 380 Autobahn w/ solid roof, the snazzy Golf R wheels w/ summer rubber, DCC, ACC, adaptive LED headlights with the grille light, Keyless entry, the top spec infotainment system (minus the HK speakers), wireless CarPlay. Literally option for option how I would have spec'd it if I could do a custom build. It slots right in between our Autobahn and Performance trims price-wise so it's an incredible value.

Like you, I ditched the stock shift knob the day after I took delivery in favor of the Sportshifters GT3 I had in my MK7. I also swapped in my ECS bleeder block and clutch stop. Much better!
All in all, I'm over the moon with this thing. Way more than I expected. Enjoy!

 

[GTIfan99]

I just traded my 7.5 for a Canadian-spec 380 and your comments are spot on. This car is phenomenal. It fixes all the gripes I had with the 7.5. I even like the infotainment system, even though I am (was?) a die-hard button guy.

Seems like Canada got the better 380 package though. Up here, we can combine it with the Autobahn or the Performance trim. Mine is an Oryx White 380 Autobahn w/ solid roof, the snazzy Golf R wheels w/ summer rubber, DCC, ACC, adaptive LED headlights with the grille light, Keyless entry, the top spec infotainment system (minus the HK speakers), wireless CarPlay. Literally option for option how I would have spec'd it if I could do a custom build. It slots right in between our Autobahn and Performance trims price-wise so it's an incredible value.

Like you, I ditched the stock shift knob the day after I took delivery in favor of the Sportshifters GT3 I had in my MK7. I also swapped in my ECS bleeder block and clutch stop. Much better!
All in all, I'm over the moon with this thing. Way more than I expected. Enjoy!

Wait until you get a decent tune on it. Just went EQT stage 1 93 Oct. So much fun. I also swapped out the 300tw Bridgestones for 200tw Bridgestones. So much fun

 

[MrTSI]

Wait until you get a decent tune on it. Just went EQT stage 1 93 Oct. So much fun. I also swapped out the 300tw Bridgestones for 200tw Bridgestones. So much fun

A tune is in the plans, probably next spring. Not much use for face-warping torque in the winter. For now, the stock setup feels quite nice compared to the 7.5 and it seems to be improving since my last fill up. Hard to find anything higher than 91 around here, but the car feels noticeably better than it did with whatever swill the dealer used. I'll have to try some 93 next time I drive down to Vermont. My wife's 330 certainly responds well to it.

 

[GTIfan99]

A tune is in the plans, probably next spring. Not much use for face-warping torque in the winter. For now, the stock setup feels quite nice compared to the 7.5 and it seems to be improving since my last fill up. Hard to find anything higher than 91 around here, but the car feels noticeably better than it did with whatever swill the dealer used. I'll have to try some 93 next time I drive down to Vermont. My wife's 330 certainly responds well to it.

There's been multiple tests. Stock tune makes same power on 87 and 93. Only need higher octane if tuning.

 

[mrmatto]

Here are some detailed tests I did on fuel octane (for the GTI), as well as a summary of existing data: Mk8 Fuel Octane Research

 

[MrTSI]

Very interesting! My car DOES feel noticeably better on my latest tank of fuel, but maybe it's just a combination of a new engine loosening up, a tank of old dealer gas and the good ol' placebo effect.
The 7.5 was factory rated on 91 octane according to the manual, and generally felt "happier" on 91 in the hotter months. Not really noticeable in the winter. If the MK8 is in fact rated with 87 and doesn't use high octane adaptations, then 91 is indeed a waste. I will play with it this winter and see. In any case, it will be moot point once I tune. Thanks for sharing that data.

 

[mrmatto]

Very interesting! My car DOES feel noticeably better on my latest tank of fuel, but maybe it's just a combination of a new engine loosening up, a tank of old dealer gas and the good ol' placebo effect.
The 7.5 was factory rated on 91 octane according to the manual, and generally felt "happier" on 91 in the hotter months. Not really noticeable in the winter. If the MK8 is in fact rated with 87 and doesn't use high octane adaptations, then 91 is indeed a waste. I will play with it this winter and see. In any case, it will be moot point once I tune. Thanks for sharing that data.

I would not be surprised if the dealer was using the cheapest possible gas they can get their greedy little hands on. They're not filling up at Shell, I'm sure.

Other thing is during the summer you're naturally going to have some variability in power as the intake temps go up and down depending on how you're driving.

 

[ken527k]

Observations after 2 weeks of ownership.

I'm digging the higher powerband of the mk8 vs the mk7. It's just more usable and fun.

They really got the suspension tuning right for a road car.

The slightly firmer clutch and more consistent engagement makes a massive improvement over the mk7's setup, with no real downside. So much easier to drive around town.

I miss keyless entry more than I thought I would. I'm going to hit up DAP to see if I can retrofit.

Not sure if something is different with 2024, but my OBD11 won't talk to the car.

I think they're using a slightly less aggressive stock front brake pad. That, or the calibration of the abs/braking system requires more effort for the same braking force. Hard to really tell on the street. Easy to modulate though and firmer feel overall. Stock mk7.5 pp brakes felt like an on off switch stock and were hard to modulate


Overall, feels like a tighter mk7 with slightly bigger turbo. I'm liking the interior more than I thought I would. It's what I wanted the Rabbit Edition to feel like, but it never really got there. I went slightly over the mark and compromised it as a street car more than I wanted to and the brakes and clutch never felt decent. I don't regret selling the mk7.5, other than the fact it was paid off.

I'd give the car in this spec 9/10. 380 SE would solve the couple of gripes I have, no keyless entry and no wireless Android Auto, but then I'd be stuck with a sunroof. Overall really happy with the car.

When I get bored, I'm going to look at IC, mk8 CS springs, CS hubs, offset lca bushings and a titanium exhaust. I can't see pushing it power wise more than just a tune.

This car is ALMOST perfect out of the box. The Rabbit was significantly off the mark stock.

Apr high torque 93 stage 1 on my 2024 and it pulls like a stage 2 mk7. And the clutch still has yet to slip at all. Definitely agree on the brake thing. Especially when slowing down from high speeds

 

[GTIfan99]

So my goal is to make this car fast and reliable on track, but not ruin it's manners. With that in mind, I made the first suspension change.

I had an old set of APR rear springs, which they rate at 374 lbs, in the garage and I thought that spring rate would go really well with the stock front rate. I bought some adjustable rear spring perches so I could get the rear height right, stockish. Been driving on them for a week and you really only notice them ride wisewhen DCC is set to soft, you can tell they're a little firmer. Can't tell a difference when DCC is in sport ride wise, but the rear rotates much better. Time for an alignment and a little toe out front, zero toe rear.

 

[GTIfan99]

What I've done recently.

Used an old set of rear APR springs with modified soloworks rear adjustable perches to get stock ride height to match the height of the stock front springs. Rear spring rate is now 374 lbs, per APR.

Added 034 Camster plates. With stock front springs, they're sitting at -2.2 camber.