Weird gearknob 'bit'

[Andy Beats]

On the manual gearknob, there's a 'ridged' bit at the back, which the chrome trim actually goes around.
Anyone know what on earth they were thinking doing this?
Seems completely pointless.

[monkeyhanger]

Any pics for those of us with DSG? I haven't seen what you describe on my last 8 manual VWs, so it must be a new thing. Intended to improve grip perhaps?

[Andy Beats]

Any pics for those of us with DSG? I haven't seen what you describe on my last 8 manual VWs, so it must be a new thing. Intended to improve grip perhaps?

It's really not in a place where it would have any advantage to grip.
I find posting pictures on here a proper pain, you have to use an external source to get an IMG code etc.

[SRGTD]

On the manual gearknob, there's a 'ridged' bit at the back, which the chrome trim actually goes around.
Anyone know what on earth they were thinking doing this?
Seems completely pointless.

Same could be said for lots of ‘design features’ on any car. Some are purely aesthetic and don’t serve any practical purpose. The gear knob in my previous generation Polo GTI has a small chrome edged cut-out section which can be seen in the picture below, and it’s never bothered me; certainly not enough to wonder why it’s there. The gear know in my mk6 Golf GTD was a similar design, so it’s probably just a ‘VW thing’.

[Andy Beats]

Yup, exactly the same.
Seems a really weird thing to do....multiply the expense of the 'bit' and the extra chrome around it by X thousand cars....

[monkeyhanger]

Does seem like aesthetic reasons after seeing SRGTDs pic which seems to demonstrate something similar to that which Andy describes.

[SRGTD]

Current model GTI with manual transmission also has this chrome edged cut out / recessed section on the gear knob. You can see it in the picture posted by Alkis-cze towards the bottom of page 2 in the ‘Manual GTI’ thread - Link below;

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