How does it drive? Not badly. I’ve had the experience to drive quite a few fast cars now, but this still feels fast while having considerably less power. It’s may not be faster than the others, but it ain’t slow. It’s quick in first gear, but not without a bit of hesitation from the drive by wire system. You fight your instincts to call it turbo lag, so you remember that current sports cars are all plagued with this new-age issue. It’s not the turbo, it’s the DBW. First gear doesn’t last very long though, with peak rpm reaching about 7000 before the dash displays the number “2”, telling you it’s time to shift. Dump the clutch, and bang into second; the number 2 disappears. The clutch feels easy to play around with, the shifter is comfortably direct and not too loose, and I liked the ratios being spaced out, allowing for smooth shifts without waiting for the revs to drop for too long. It sounds good too, with the exhaust rumble even on a cold startup sounding well worth waking up on a cold morning for. Braking power is good, but the pedal feel is numb initially, and it doesn’t bite until you’ve clenched your toes a brief moment of nervous anticipation.
How does it handle? Like a GTI. It’s well worth the douchebaggery to just say those three letters. Those three letters are synonymous with one of the best ride handling characteristics of all time, and this rendition holds true to the GTI’s core values. It handles like a GTI. Enough said.
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