u/One-Top4012

I wanted to share an important insight for anyone thinking about buying a Golf 8 GTE (this does not apply to the Golf 8.5 GTE).

I currently own a Golf 8 GTE, and while I genuinely enjoy the combination of the electric system and the decent performance of the combustion engine, there’s one major issue that potential buyers should seriously consider: the charging time.

The Golf 8 GTE takes around 4.5 hours for a full charge, which is simply too long by today’s standards. Here in Germany, many public charging stations are starting to limit parking/charging times to around 2 hours — and in some cases even just 1 hour, like in the photo.

Over time, charging the car has started to feel like a nightmare. Even when charging at places like Aldi, I’ve received several fine letters because the car was still connected after the allowed time.

I understand why charging companies are doing this from a financial and operational standpoint, especially with the shift toward faster charging infrastructure. Still, it creates a frustrating experience for Golf 8 GTE owners.

I really wish there were a way to upgrade the charging system in the Golf 8 GTE. So if you’re considering buying one, keep this point in mind before making your decision.

I previously used an iPhone 13 with my Volkswagen Golf 8, and CarPlay worked perfectly without any issues. About a month ago, I upgraded to an iPhone 17, and since then the connection has been unreliable. Sometimes it disconnects on its own, and occasionally ‘Hey Siri’ activates by itself.

At the moment, it won’t connect at all. I’ve already tried everything I can think of: removing the devices from both the car and the phone, rebooting both systems, and even turning the car off, waiting, and restarting it—but nothing has worked.

Has anyone experienced similar issues or found a solution? I’ve attached my system information, as I’m not sure which software version my car is running.