GTI: the choice is automatic

It’s sad when a performance car comes only with an auto to change gears.

So it is with the iconic VW Golf GTI, available in just the one spec these days, with five doors and a twin clutch tranny.

Granted they sold mostly autos before the manual was dropped, but anyone who fancies themselves as a driver wants to change gears manually — just like an adult.

It’s all part of the fun.

Even though the twin clutch produces faster acceleration times and better fuel economy figures, the fact is there’s nothing quite like the act of braking hard into a corner and working the clutch and gears, before catapulting out the other side.

It’s sublime, so more involving and so much more satisfying than an auto — paddles or no paddles.

Yeah, that’s how F1 drivers change gear, but that’s another planet and it is populated by an entirely different race.

Despite this, VW continues to dumb down the GTI, driven my market considerations.

If you want a manual, you’re directed to the more expensive Golf R, which is heavier and some would say less agile.

The latest GTI is available only as a five-door with a 7-speed twin clutch box and paddle shifts, priced from $47,990 driveaway.

If you still fancy one, you have until March 31 to take advantage of the driveaway offer.

The five door MY19 Golf GTI comes with the output and drivetrain of 2017’s limited run, THREE-door Golf GTI Performance Edition 1.

Triple play — the Thunderbolt Way

This includes the same 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol four, 7-speed wet-clutch DSG, electro-mechanical front differential lock, with the ventilated front and rear disc brake package from the Golf R.

The MY19 Golf GTI also gets the Active Info dashboard readout in addition to the Driver Assistance Pack, with the safety features listed below.

Key features include: