Last year gave us the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 45, so it’s not all that bad.
I’ve not always been much of a fan of the Volkswagen Golf, that is until I drove the Golf GTI Clubsport 45. Before then I much preferred rear wheel drive coupe or saloon cars, like a BMW M3 or M4. When I was given the opportunity to drive the latest anniversary edition of the Golf GTI at the Millbrook Proving Ground I had to see what all the fuss is about.
What is the Clubsport 45 then? Well, it’s the celebration of the birth of the Golf GTI, which as you’ve guessed, turned 45 last year. That makes the GTI over a decade and a half older than me! But I’ll try to stay on topic. The big changes for the Clubsport 45 come in the form of 19-inch Scottsdale wheels, some metallic black bit on the roof and door mirror housings, some decals on the skirts that read ‘45’ with a hexagonal pattern, and most noticeably an Akrapovic Titanium Exhaust.
You may think this isn’t much for an added £3000 (or thereabouts) over the GTI Clubsport, but then you must remember that the 45 comes from the Clubsport which means the car already has upgraded suspension and sits lower to ensure a more track-focused driving experience. The exhaust itself may actually make the 45 value for money compared to the Clubsport. Bhp is increased to 297, 20 less than the Golf R, but 74 more than the standard GTI. If you’re after speed, then the Clubsport 45 has you on that one too; the rev-limiter has now been lifted to allow up to 166 mph. Another benefit of the 45 over the Clubsport? It can go around the Nürburgring a comfortable 13 seconds quicker.
So, what did my experience in the mighty Golf GTI Clubsport 45 feel like? Well, normal. I was surprised at the refinement of the car; it didn’t feel like a ‘little lunchbox’ as I’ve heard people call it before. I shouldn’t be surprised however, with a gargantuan company like Volkswagen, and with the fact that the Golf GTI has been around for 45 years, it’s little wonder that the GTI caught on.
Comfort?
Exactly as you’d expect. The suspension didn’t feel anymore stiffer than I would’ve liked in a daily driver, of course it does lean more on the side of letting you know where the bumps are on the road, but with the modifications already made to the normal GTI Clubsport this is expected. Besides, the Clubsport, and the Clubsport 45, are built to be sportier than the already sporty GTI, sporty-ception.
Power and handling?
Tonnes of it! Because the Golf recipe has always been lighter than a crisp packet the 45 is very lively and add to that the electronic limited-slip differential at the front, and you can poke the 45 into any turn and come out feeling like one of Formula 1s finest drivers. It’s nimble and agile, perfect for the city roads, the British countryside, or as previously mentioned the Nürburgring. There is of course the Nürburgring mode which allows the suspension to soak up as much of the bumps in road while still retaining the all-important grip.
How does it sound?
Not much different to the GTI Clubsport, there is a small amount of difference, but to the untrained in Golf GTI acoustics they would sounds similar. The pops and bangs do sound satisfying to hear but represent a balance between what is acceptable around a residential area and what is just plain excessive.
All-in-all, the Clubsport 45 does offer a little more than the Clubsport, and that’s why it’s priced only a fraction more too. If you’re offered one over the Clubsport then it’s worth going for, but otherwise I wouldn’t see anyone aside from hardcore GTI enthusiasts opting for the Clubsport 45. Besides, in 5 years we’ll probably get the 50-anniversary edition, and that one has to be good.
Reviewed and Written by Naveed Hussain @naveed4speed
