Mark 7 Boot Less Depth

[Arnold]

Are there any posts on the whys and wherefors of the Mark 7 boot which is not as deep, front to back, as in the Mark Fix?

Anyway, I went into my local VW dealer today to do my final evaluation, bringing with me one of my two large suitcases, both of which sit side by side, laid flat, in the back of my Mark V, providing I put the rear seat backrests forward temporarily before placing them in the boot.

No such luck in the showroom with the Mark 7 with the floor in either position or completely removed. Interesting in this regard that unlike the 6R Polo arrangement, the Mark 7 does not provide a second floor.

I have read elsewhere (Boot reduction in size... - GOLFMK7 - VW GTI MKVII Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVII Forum (http://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2718)) that the boot is, on one account, 1.5" less deep, front to back.

If so, VW has managed to create a larger car with a less practical (shorter) boot. Possibly the biggest travesty since the Monty Hall thread (http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f40/finally-monty-hall-problem-explanation-makes-sense-even-me-82027.html?highlight=Monty) was closed before buller_scott and team_v had figured it out. Travesty!

So what to do? Audi Sportwagon? Can you get an A3 with GTI-like grunt and a 6MT? Or a newer Mark VI . . . or new luggage, as the helpful saleswoman suggested?

PS - Can you put snow chains on the 18" rims on the GTI? Roofrack World tell me the Rudd Centrax I bought for my Mark V 17" rims will not suit the 18" wheels on the Mark 7.

Can you fit Mark Fix 17" rims to a Mark 7 for trips to the snow?

[godzilla_110TDI]

The mk7 boot has a larger capacity than the previous model at 380 l verses 350 from memory

[team_v]

So what to do? Audi Sportwagon? Can you get an A3 with GTI-like grunt and a 6MT? Or a newer Mark VI . . . or new luggage, as the helpful saleswoman suggested?

PS - Can you put snow chains on the 18" rims on the GTI? Roofrack World tell me the Rudd Centrax I bought for my Mark V 17" rims will not suit the 18" wheels on the Mark 7.

Can you fit Mark Fix 17" rims to a Mark 7 for trips to the snow?

Buy a tiguan.
Bigger boot, more cabin room, sliding/folding 60/40 rear seats.
AWD with clearance and can fit snow chains.

[Arnold]

The mk7 boot has a larger capacity than the previous model at 380 l verses 350 from memory

...but less boot depth front to rear so does not accommodate bags the Mark Fix does...

[Arnold]

Buy a tiguan.
Bigger boot, more cabin room, sliding/folding 60/40 rear seats.
AWD with clearance and can fit snow chains.

Considered the Tiguan option, briefly, and note new Tiguan due in October, however only the 2WD is available in manual. Like the sliding rear seats. Nothing unique about 60/40 split seats, of course. Clearance for snow chains and <18" wheels would be nice although Rudd Centrax and Thule chains, I understand, will fit Mark 7 GTIs.

The Octavia RS sedan has more boot space than the GTI . . . same engine too!

Driving the auto GTI this afternoon I could imagine what it felt to be a hairdresser so effortless and unengaging was the drive compared with the less costly and more engaging 6MT which journos regard as one of the finest manual boxes on the market. Might have to get some new luggage!

Interesting review of 6MT vs DSG Mark 7 GTI by-and-large favours the 6MT, save for benefits of DSG in traffic for lazy drivers: Volkswagen Golf GTI gearbox comparison : Manual v DSG | CarAdvice (http://www.caradvice.com.au/297289/volkswagen-golf-gti-gearbox-comparison-manual-v-dsg/).

Thanks for the suggestions.

[kennyc]

Well my golf buggy would fit in the boot folded up on the Mark 4.
On the Mark 7 I have to take one wheel off as front to back it is smaller.

[Arnold]

Well my golf buggy would fit in the boot folded up on the Mark 4.
On the Mark 7 I have to take one wheel off as front to back it is smaller.

This is a travesty; a travesty I tell ya!

More particularly, it presents an excellent example of retrograde design.

Congratulations VW for creating a larger, less practical Golf.

Not easily done, to be sure, but "you" will be made to pay!

Stupidity must be punished.

Yes indeed, that's for sure!

[tigger73]

Isn't that why they make the Golf wagon????


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Arnold]

So VW can make the Golf hatch less of an all-rounder?

I think not.

I am pretty sure that this change to the boot would qualify the Mark 7 Golf as being in rare, if not exclusive, company indeed: cars that have less usable boot space in a successor model.

[i286]

VW is not exception in this. All new model cars are getting bigger in size but with less space in the cabin. Golf has increased boot volume on the Mk7 but dimensions in millimeters are different so in your situation is less usable, but many other will find it just right.
At least Mk7 went on diet and is lighter than predecessor.
I personally have a problem with reduced visibility from the driver seat in new cars generally, not just Golf.

[team_v]

So VW can make the Golf hatch less of an all-rounder?

I think not.

I am pretty sure that this change to the boot would qualify the Mark 7 Golf as being in rare, if not exclusive, company indeed: cars that have less usable boot space in a successor model.

How often would a car owner need to utilise 100% of the available boot space vs relative comfort of passengers due to increased cabin space?
I would hazard a guess that the majority of owners/passengers appreciate the extra room far more than they would the extra boot space for 1 or 2 times a year.

As Damien pointed out, if boot space is that essential, you can buy the golf/octavia wagon or the Tiguan.

[Arnold]

Typical VWW comment...that treats a comment on ONE aspect of the car (boot size in this case) as if it should be allowed to trump all others, eg:

If you think a particular Golf is not good value, then buy an Hyundai.

If the grip of a Golf is not what you hoped for, buy a 4WD.

If you don't like (unprecedented in history of Golf) reduction in Golf boot depth, buy a wagon that is 300mm to 450mm longer, even if you like the Golf for its Tardis-like properties.

No, reducing the boot size while increasing the overall length of the car is a ****-up by VW and if I do buy a Mark 7 I will exact some measure revenge.

Imagine if the Mark 8 repeated the boot size reduction, and then the Mark 9. Would you still be there saying it is worth the extra legroom when boot depth could have been maintained while increasing legroom?

It is like saying your chances of winning a one-in three guess in the Monty Hall dilemma increase from 33% to 50% depending on the order in which the doors are opened. Does not make sense.

[Arnold]

All new model cars are getting bigger in size but with less space in the cabin.

Without any equivocation I can say either you are making this up or something is not quite right.

[team_v]

Typical VWW comment...that treats a comment on ONE aspect of the car (boot size in this case) as if it should be allowed to trump all others, eg:

If you think a particular Golf is not good value, then buy an Hyundai.

If the grip of a Golf is not what you hoped for, buy a 4WD.

If you don't like (unprecedented in history of Golf) reduction in Golf boot depth, buy a wagon that is 300mm to 450mm longer, even if you like the Golf for its Tardis-like properties.

No, reducing the boot size while increasing the overall length of the car is a ****-up by VW and if I do buy a Mark 7 I will exact some measure revenge.

Imagine if the Mark 8 repeated the boot size reduction, and then the Mark 9. Would you still be there saying it is worth the extra legroom when boot depth could have been maintained while increasing legroom?

It is like saying your chances of winning a one-in three guess in the Monty Hall dilemma increase from 33% to 50% depending on the order in which the doors are opened. Does not make sense.

You are delusional.
It's called product differentiation and it happeens in almost all successful businesses.
There are a number of cars in the VAG range that suit the requirements you specifically asked for regarding boot space.
When we point them out you argue that it isn't a golf hatch so you don't want it.

Good luck buying a car if you want a golf hatch that does everything better than any targeted VW model.

[Dutch77]

LOL, apparently increasing the cargo space by over 8% while reducing the length of the car was bad planning by VW because they didn't measure all luggage on the market for fitment. ;)

[tigger73]

Well Arnold (http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/members/arnold/) if you're committed to buying a Golf at expense of everything else then it sounds like you may need to get a low km Mk6 or wait until the Mk8 comes out and hope that has a deeper boot.

When design decisions are made I am certain the marketing dept is involved. As with everything there is a trade-off - rear legroom vs. boot depth. Now I'm guessing that someone at VW said they reckon they will sell more cars if they have 20mm more rear legroom than 20mm more boot depth.

How about you just go and buy yourself a new suitcase that fits. Problem solved :)

[tigger73]

LOL, apparently increasing the cargo space by over 8% while reducing the length of the car was bad planning by VW because they didn't measure all luggage on the market for fitment. ;)

I know for some Japanese car manufacturers (in particular performance/high end cars) rate the ability to fit a Golf bag in the boot is a critical measurement. If they don't do this they risk losing a large segment of their customer base.

[andrew7]

^ my solution is to by some roof racks and a luggage pod so on the relatively few occasions when I'm fully loaded my R becomes the family 'wagon' ;)

[tigger73]

^ my solution is to by some roof racks and a luggage pod so on the relatively few occasions when I'm fully loaded my R becomes the family 'wagon' ;)

I've done the same thing and put roof racks on the Tig so that when we do go to IKEA with the family and buy something that we hadn't planned on we can still get it home. Roof racks stay on so that they're always there if I need them.

[Arnold]

You are delusional.

Not bad coming from a supposed "moderator".

And yet you're the one who thinks your chances of winning the car in the Monty Hall game increase from 33% to 50% after the host opens one of the doors to reveal a goat. I think that fits the very definition of "delusional".


It's called product differentiation

No it is not; it is called product design, otherwise the Golf brochure would be proclaiming the "new, shorter boot".


and it happeens in almost all successful businesses.

No, **** happens, product differentiation is planned and rarely involves reducing the practicality of any aspect of the design unless there is an offsetting benefit.


There are a number of cars in the VAG range that suit the requirements you specifically asked for regarding boot space. When we point them out you argue that it isn't a golf hatch so you don't want it.

But you conveniently ignore the fact that boot length is the only aspect of the Mark 7 about which I am dissatisfied. Given the Mark 7 is the first Golf to have a reduction in boot length, and by Tigger73's account it has less length than his Mark IV, this is not only remarkable but should give you pause before suggesting alternative cars that over-compensate for the loss of boot length while failing on the count of size (Octavia wagon) and fun factor (Tiguan) to meet all of my other needs.

You also ignore that fact that in your earlier post your suggested alternatives were predicated on boot space being "essential". Well, it is not, we can always buy new luggage, and would rather do that than drive a Tiguan, but such a retrograde design change still makes for an interesting topic of discussion.

Why? Because most people would not have taken the relevant suitcase to their VW dealer as I did yesterday and so those assuming their existing items will fit (as did Tigger73) could benefit from learning of the shorter boot as many have found their wheelchairs and other items did not fit until it was too late.


Good luck buying a car if you want a golf hatch that does everything better than any targeted VW model.

What is a "targeted VW model, team_v"? Do you even know what that string of words means, because I don't. What is the "targeted VW model" you have in mind, team_v? Please do not answer that, I could not stand another tortured explanation.

For me, the Golf is my target car because it checks every box in terms of price, performance, size, fun to drive, available in a manual and its Tardis-like qualities. I just lament the step backwards in boot length such that I cannot fit our existing pair of large suitcases as my Mark V can. Seems like a reasonable lament. Not to you, team_v. You have to moderate by calling me "delusional" and generally missing the point. Bravo!

But then, reasonableness does tend to be at a premium on these pages.

[team_v]

Not bad coming from a supposed "moderator".

And yet you're the one who thinks your chances of winning the car in the Monty Hall game increase from 33% to 50% after the host opens one of the doors to reveal a goat. I think that fits the very definition of "delusional".



No it is not; it is called product design, otherwise the Golf brochure would be proclaiming the "new, shorter boot".



No, **** happens, product differentiation is planned and rarely involves reducing the practicality of any aspect of the design unless there is an offsetting benefit.



But you conveniently ignore the fact that boot length is the only aspect of the Mark 7 about which I am dissatisfied. Given the Mark 7 is the first Golf to have a reduction in boot length, and by Tigger73's account it has less length than his Mark IV, this is not only remarkable but should give you pause before suggesting alternative cars that over-compensate for the loss of boot length while failing on the count of size (Octavia wagon) and fun factor (Tiguan) to meet all of my other needs.

You also ignore that fact that in your earlier post your suggested alternatives were predicated on boot space being "essential". Well, it is not, we can always buy new luggage, and would rather do that than drive a Tiguan, but such a retrograde design change still makes for an interesting topic of discussion.

Why? Because most people would not have taken the relevant suitcase to their VW dealer as I did yesterday and so those assuming their existing items will fit (as did Tigger73) could benefit from learning of the shorter boot as many have found their wheelchairs and other items did not fit until it was too late.



What is a "targeted VW model, team_v"? Do you even know what that string of words means, because I don't. What is the "targeted VW model" you have in mind, team_v? Please do not answer that, I could not stand another tortured explanation.

For me, the Golf is my target car because it checks every box in terms of price, performance, size, fun to drive, available in a manual and its Tardis-like qualities. I just lament the step backwards in boot length such that I cannot fit our existing pair of large suitcases as my Mark V can. Seems like a reasonable lament. Not to you, team_v. You have to moderate by calling me "delusional" and generally missing the point. Bravo!

But then, reasonableness does tend to be at a premium on these pages.

So you are hapy with everything else about the Mk7 Golf hatch but aren't happy with the boot space.
Enough so to make statements that you would exact revenge on VW if you do ever actually buy a mk7 .
To me that sounds like it is an essential requirement for purchasing the car.

It is product differentiation.
VW targets different buyers with differnt model options.
You want a performance hatch, get the GTI/R/scirocco.
You want the fuel economy version, get a 77/90SI or a TDI.
You want more boot space, get the wagon/octavia/tiguan.
You want a convertable, get the golf cabrio/eos.
Want something bigger, get the Passat/Superb/Audi A/Q(>4)/Touareg/Panamera/Cayene etc.
Want something smaller get the polo/A1/fabia.

[Arnold]

Okay, team_v, taking that thought a bit further, who is VW "targeting" when it reduces the length of the boot by an amount that is imperceptible in the showroom and not heralded in the brochure but which renders previously Golf-compatible luggage incompatible and golf buggies and wheelchairs harder, if not impossible, to carry in the boot?

Are you still sure it's "product differentiation"?

Sorry, team_v, but this thread has nothing to do with "product differentiation" and is all to do with a quirk of design that has seen the length of the Golf's boot decrease for the first time. And for that I will have my revenge as stupidity must be punished!

It is something about which I thought other prospective Mark 7 owners should be aware however your contributions make it all the harder for that to occur, because you think it is about marketing when it is about an ill-conceived design with real world impacts (having to acquire new luggage etc) affecting real people who could not be bothered with irrelevant concepts such as "product differentiation".

[team_v]

Okay, team_v, taking that thought a bit further, who is VW "targeting" when it reduces the length of the boot by an amount that is imperceptible in the showroom but which renders luggage incompatible and golf buggies and wheelchairs harder, if not impossible, to carry in the boot?

Are you still sure it's "product differentiation"?

Sorry, team_v, but this thread has nothing to do with "product differentiation" and is all to do with a quirk of design that has seen the length of the Golf's boot decrease for the first time in over years. And for that I will have my revenge as stupidity must be punished!

It is targeting all the buyers who rarely fill their boot to capacity and have passengers who sit in the back seat row.
Which would be almost all of their potential buyers, hence why they have made the decision to increase cabin space.
If you put 2 or 3 people in the back seat of the golf and they get an extra few cm of space, the passengers and the driver are going to be more happy than being able to fit your 2 suitcases in the boot in a specific configuration.

If you have a need for a bigger boot, you can buy the golf wagon, octavia wagon, tiguan, touareg etc.

[mui_michael]

Arnold, I totally understand the point you are making and yes I do tend to agree with you about the new golf not having the boot size(dimension) of the previous generation of golf's.

As a designer(product and interior) myself, sometimes we do not have the luxury of creating "The unicorn". In 99% of the time we are bound and gaged by different factors such as company's vision, cost, market's direction etc... we love to give everything a customer wants but sadly we do not live in a perfect world nor does we always get what we wanted.

The mk7 really is an exceptional car for what it is and you have said it yourself, it ticked all your boxes except the boot space issue... I'm sure there are ways to get around the luggage dilemma... how about brushing up your Tetris skills a bit? Haha jks

Look, at the end of the day you are buying a car for yourself(family) so only you will know what is best suited for your needs, buy the golf hatch if you can work around it, buy a wagon if you want the boot space, either way you will forget your two luggage in the back very soon as you shifting through your manual mk7...

[Arnold]

It is targeting all the buyers who rarely fill their boot to capacity and have passengers who sit in the back seat row.
Which would be almost all of their potential buyers, hence why they have made the decision to increase cabin space.
If you put 2 or 3 people in the back seat of the golf and they get an extra few cm of space, the passengers and the driver are going to be more happy than being able to fit your 2 suitcases in the boot in a specific configuration.

Targeting my arse.

People who rarely fill their boot?

Who have passengers who sit in the back row?

You just described nearly every single car buyer.

But VW does not target the Golf at people carrying four passengers one bit. The car is a compromise for 4, but a bloody good one that did not need to have its boot length reduced as it had sufficient rear legroom for 90% of its buyers - singles and those with young families. Expressly not those carrying 3 adult passengers sufficiently often to warrant an increase in rear leg room at the cost of boot length.

So back to the drawing board with that thought bubble, team_v. (Have you figured out the Monty Hall problem yet?)

Anyway, whatever the decision to increase legroom at the expense of boot length may be, it is a mistake as it is very rare to see a Golf with more than 2 adults on board let alone 4 adults. Two adults and two children would be the typical max load. Any more than that and the journey would be so short as to not warrant increasing legroom at the expense of boot length.


If you have a need for a bigger boot, you can buy the golf wagon, octavia wagon, tiguan, touareg etc.

There are many options if I need a bigger boot, thanks, team_v, but a Touareg would quite clearly not be among them for someone considering a Golf given all of the reasons they might be doing so and some of which I have highlighted (manual fun to drive, compact, Tardis-like etc etc).

[brad]

Added this fine fellow to my ignore list ages back. I can highly recomend the action.

The word "concession" is not in his dictionary.

I mean this:

And for that I will have my revenge as stupidity must be punished!

Seriously? I'm sure the designers all sat around their beer steins laughing their backsides off when one proposed "Lets shorten the boot length just to annoy Arnold in Australia."

[team_v]

Added this fine fellow to my ignore list ages back. I can highly recomend the action.

The word "concession" is not in his dictionary.

I mean this:


Seriously? I'm sure the designers all sat around their beer steins laughing their backsides off when one proposed "Lets shorten the boot length just to annoy Arnold in Australia."

Have taken your advice.
Apparently VW should bring Arnold in as a design consultant and build the car to meet his explicit design specifications and price point.

[Arnold]

Arnold, I totally understand the point you are making and yes I do tend to agree with you about the new golf not having the boot size(dimension) of the previous generation of golf's.

As a designer(product and interior) myself, sometimes we do not have to luxury of creating "The unicorn". In 99% of the time we are bound and gaged by different factors such as company's vision, cost, market's direction etc... we love to give everything a customer wants but sadly we do not live in a perfect world nor does we always get what we wanted.

The mk7 really is an exceptional car for what it is and you have said it yourself, it ticked all your boxes except the boot space issue... I'm sure there are ways to get around the luggage dilemma... how about brushing up your Tetris skills a bit? Haha jks

Look, at the end of the day you are buying a car for yourself(family) so only you will know what is best suited for your needs, buy the golf hatch if you can work around it, buy a wagon if you want the boot space, either way you will forget your two luggage in the back very soon as you shifting through your manual mk7...

Thanks for your intelligent and thoughtful contribution which is like a breath of fresh air among the stultifying contributions of brad and team_v. I think Brad is probably one of the people who took exception when my alter ego suggested to an enquiring prospective Golf buyer, years before the DSG recall, that the DSG was probably less reliable than the 6MT based on the number of threads and posts lamenting DSG issues and the relative dearth concerning the 6MT.

I've driven a Mark V manual GTI since May 2008 when I first joined this forum of petrol heads and assorted dolts. And if I get a Mark 7 it will be the same, but with DAP in addition to leather and roof. And it will be fun.

But the retrograde boot dimensions will be an issue and irritation as my two large suitcases sit perfectly flat, side-by-side in the Mark V and until team_v set me straight I had thought it perfectly reasonable to expect this to be possible in a later, larger successor, such as the Mark 7. But it has less length than a Mark IV, Tigger73 informs us all, something team_v and brad do not find in least bit remarkable. So let me repeat it: The Mark 7 is longer than the Mark IV and the Mark Fix and has less usable boot space.

The incongruity of that clearly does not register with the intelligentsia comprising Brad and team_v (who despite his perspicacity in matters of "differentiation" and "targeting" still fails to grasp the Monty Hall dilemma). One day; uno giorno; un jour . . .

[tonymy01]

Can you have the cases vertically instead of flat, and just unclip the parcel shelf thingy?

I think you need to fix your vocabulary checker, Mark Fix LOL. Well, it isn't really funny actually, just comes across as pretentious.

[Arnold]

No, on their sides it does not work as the bags become taller and the boot length shortens the higher you go due to the rake of the seats. Maybe on their sides parallel to boot lip might work, but I think I would have tried all of these before working out I could squeeze the bags in flat into the Mark V if I put the seats forward first and then slammed them shut. It is tight I am tellin' ya (is that better)?

So you like "Mark Fix" for Mark V/VI but think my words are pretentious? I prefer "highfalutin". But it is how we speak around here and even at the risk of sounding pretentious, I would rather use my usual vocabulary than curb it for the benefit of the audience as that could create a false impression, and we wouldn't want that!

[Arnold]

Have taken your advice.
Apparently VW should bring Arnold in as a design consultant and build the car to meet his explicit design specifications and price point.

If you say so, team_v, however I understood that role had already been filled by Golf7. Speaking of whom, where is Golf7? I really miss his amusing snippets of misinformation.

Seriously, why would someone, like me, who is lamenting the first reduction in practical boot size in a new Golf be appointed design consultant to VW?

team_v, you have demonstrated far greater insights into design issues such as differentiation (by reducing usable boot size) and targeting of buyers who plan to carry passengers in the rear seat and not completely fill their boot. Better not let BMW or Audi develop a passenger-carrying car before VW can address that niche in the, er, passenger car market.

[The Bone Ranger]

A hatchback the size of the golf is trying to be all things to all men, and ultimately, some buyers will fall through the cracks if they have specific needs.

Whilst we may not see 4 adults in a Golf here in Australia, it's worth remembering that single car families in Europe will use a golf for everything, whereas a traditional Aussie family would step up to a larger vehicle eg Commodore or Falcon. Yes, the European family would need to pack light, and the teens in the back may be a little cramped, but when you have one car and one car only, it will get the job done for the once a year it is required.

As was noted, most cars in Australia carry a single person the majority of the time. I've driven a hatch smaller than the Golf for many years, and the times I've filled the small hatch are few and far between. And I'm usually the only person in the car.

Again, the Golf aims to be all things to all men. There will be small compromises.

And ultimately, if you need more space, $1500 will get you a wagon with a boatload more storage, and if the reviews are to believed, very little change in performance, economy or driving dynamics.

Andrew (awaiting delivery of a Golf Wagon)

[VW Convert]

Every new car I've ever purchased has involved some sort of compromise. Simple answer is if the boot dimensions are a deal breaker, buy something else.

Cheers

George

[Arnold]

My Mark V GTI (manual, of course) is so little of a compromise that, with a Thule roof box at hand when needed, it can meet all of the needs of my family of four for which it is the only car. It is a:

- Near-perfect city car;

- Excellent touring car;

- Great holiday car;

- Great snow car;

- Perfect car in all respects;

- Accommodates two adults and two teenagers and their luggage perfectly and has done so on at least two holidays per annum including one to the snow; and

- it goes like a sports car.

In summary, it is the perfect family car.

In fact, it succeeds admirably at being all of the things I could want in a relatively inexpensive, mass-produced car.

Bone Ranger's generalisations about how Europeans and Aussies use cars would not bear much analysis.

VW Convert states that if the boot dimensions are a deal breaker buy something else. Well, of course, if any aspect of a car is a "deal breaker" you're not going to buy it, are you?

But thanks for contributing.

No, this thread was started to raise awareness about a reduction in boot length which has not been reported in the media (standby on that one) and seems hitherto to have been unknown to most owners and virtually no prospective owners. I only discovered the issue when I took one of my two large suitcases to the dealership yesterday to ensure the two level floor would accommodate them.

Suggestions about what I should buy because the boot is smaller when the car is perfect in all other respects are not really required, thanks all the same.

Amazement that VW would do this, for the first time to this longer, new release of their top seller was more expected, but there you go. Instead I just got a lot of statements of the blindingly obvious and claims I was "delusional" from team_v, a moderator no less.

I think this is big news and valuable information for anyone upgrading from a Mark IV or Mark Fix Golf: Your luggage/golf buggy/wheelchair etc may not fit so easily, if at all.

PS - the main reason I dismissed the 120d back in 2008 was because the boot was considerably smaller than the Golf's. I am not yet prepared to give up on the Golf Mark 7 because of this issue however VWs have always been renowned for having terrific load carrying capacity, especially for sedans in cars like Jetta's and so on and so it is that much more galling that VW has seemingly turned its back on that tradition of having above-average storage despite putting out a longer car.

This will probably be my last petrol car so I probably cannot easily wait for a Mark 8 as I believe within 5 years at least 30% of small cars, if not all cars, sold to inner-city dwellers like me will be electric, and I think I will be driving one them. Eine kleine VW perhaps.

[AdamD]

No, this thread was started to raise awareness about a reduction in boot length which has not been reported in the media (standby on that one) and seems hitherto to have been unknown to most owners and virtually no prospective owners. I only discovered the issue when I took one of my two large suitcases to the dealership yesterday to ensure the two level floor would accommodate them.

Suggestions about what I should buy because the boot is smaller when the car is perfect in all other respects are not really required, thanks all the same.

That point you wished to raise has been made. And given you're not looking for any constructive suggestion I am closing this thread.

Edit: I'm reopening this thread now for those who wish to continue the discussion constructively. :)

[lambertia]

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2014/08/19827a26f9efbac0e2ea2fb8b77887ac-1.jpg

I think the dimensions are perfect in all the right prices :-)

[Arnold]

The false floor is the main cause of the reduced boot capacity in the Golf 7/8 over the Mark VI. But is it really worth it?