Performance and handling was identical?
There's 50 more lbs/feet of torque in the MK7 with one less turn lock to lock in the steering.
Technically speaking, I don't believe the MK7 has 50lb-ft more torque than the MK6, I think its more likely that the MK6 has always made more power than VW says it does, making the increase in power much more negligible than one might think.
We've seen several dynos of stock MK5 and MK6 TSI motors making 220-230 lb-ft brake torque and equivalent brake horsepower. APR concluded on several occasions that the TSI was in fact making the rated brake horsepower and torque at the wheels.
Perhaps VW is rating their power more accurately at this point. Either way, it doesn't feel like there is 50 lb-ft much of a difference, especially not after driving a Stage 1 MKV for a year. Considering MK7 and MK6 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are so close, I'd say the two cars were much closer than VW rated.
That extra turn to lock feels like it was accomplished by increasing the sensitivity of the power steering. The steering in the MK7 feels excessively electronic and lacks the road input you get in an MK6. You can swing the wheel around with little effort compared to the MK6 and especially MK5.
Someone was sipping on the coool aide hard...
Mk6 handles better because of tires?
mk7 is not faster?
I drove both cars extensively. I wasn't going to spend $35,000 on a new car without being thoroughly informed.
The MK7 comes with a set of Dunlop SP Sport AS all-season tires.
The MK6 comes with a set of Pirelli P Zero Nero 1 season tires.
That difference is HUGE.
If the MK7 (non performance pack) is faster than an MK6, why are their 0-60 and 1/4 mile acceleration figures almost identical?