GTi DSG vs R32DSG

[shot]

Hi all
Just discovered this forum and enjoying all the threads and comments.
I bought a GTi DSG last year and whilst enjoying the car found myself regretting not buying a R32.Whilst I have never driven a R32 I am wondering if I am missing out and should change over.So to all you R32 owners out there is there much difference between the two models and is it worth the price differential
Thanks

[FJ Steve]

IMHO...there will be few GTI owners here who will give an opinion that would favour the R32...and vice versa.

I never drove the GTI....went straight for a test drive of the R. It won me. It won my son. My wife thought about it for a few days, then said..."Bugger it, we only live once. Get it"

My recommendation? You have driven the GTI for some time....go to your local stealership (did I say that?), and ask for a test drive of the R. When you get back from that, jump into your GTI...drive 5 kms then stop. Ask yourself the obvious. Therein lies the answer grasshopper.

[Tim]

see above. 2 very different cars. make a choice based on what sort of drive you are hoping for after experiencing both

[99gti]

I will only add it's cheaper to get more power out of the GTI than the .:R. Do you intend to modify it?

Also - I'd love to have the AWD. Too many things that are just so different to be able to make a clear decision. It all comes down to personal prefrence.

[jb747]

When we went shopping, my wife came down in favour of the R32, whilst I was more inclined towards ticking all of the options on the GTI. We went with the R32, and I'm extremely happy with it. But, they're really quite different animals. Whilst a very fast car, the R is more of a cruiser than the GTI.

Neither is better, though they are different.

[Greg Roles]

Just a thought...petrol ain't gonna get any cheaper....and the mighty R seems to drink like a V8......

[GoLfMan]

the mighty R seems to drink like a V8......

only if your up it i recon (which i would be all the time!)

go the R32, AWD and the lush V6

[FJ Steve]

Just a thought...petrol ain't gonna get any cheaper....and the mighty R seems to drink like a V8......

The sound is worth the cost.

And as the 'famous' Rolls Royce quote said "If you have to enquire about fuel economy, then you can't afford it."

Back on topic

[jb747]

My R now has 11,600 kms on it. Consumption has averaged 10.2 ltr/100 km since new. Today on a long run in the suburbs it gave 9.2 lt/100 km. Country runs sees it drop down into the 8s. It sure isn't TD consumption, but it's not bad....and I'll bet there's many a GTI that's giving worse figures.

If fuel consumption is the driving force, then neither the R32 or GTI are the right choice.

[99gti]

Wow, I'd love to get 510km out of a tank. The best I've got would be just over 400km.

Mine is usually 11L/100km. It used to be around 11.8L/100km before chip, but not as much fun either

There you go - from a 1.8T. Makes the R32 look like a green saint!

[anarchycamp]

My R now has 11,600 kms on it. Consumption has averaged 10.2 ltr/100 km since new. Today on a long run in the suburbs it gave 9.2 lt/100 km. Country runs sees it drop down into the 8s. It sure isn't TD consumption, but it's not bad....and I'll bet there's many a GTI that's giving worse figures.

If fuel consumption is the driving force, then neither the R32 or GTI are the right choice.

country runs i get down to about middle/high 6s and city driving around 8.5....as every one said...drive it...see what you like. theres no other way to decide IMO.

My Golf GTI has better fuel comsumption than my Polo GTI

[hrb93]

Coming form an AWD background. The R32 does not put out the power to require AWD.

The GTI all the way, plus potential is the winner.

[Guest]

Test drove them both - twice - loved them both

Unfortunately it came down to budget - GTI won out - no regrets though.

[Manaz]

Coming form an AWD background. The R32 does not put out the power to require AWD.

The GTI all the way, plus potential is the winner.

I come from an AWD background too (I've driven Subarus for close on 10 years now). Exactly how much power is required before AWD is necessary?

I've driven AWD's from 92kW at the flywheel to 200+kW at the wheels, and the benefits of AWD are there regardless of the power level.

AWD has substantial benefits in less-than-ideal conditions (wet, slippery, etc), as the power is split over four wheels rather than two, and thus it's less likely that any one wheel will have enough power applied to break available traction than if you're putting the same power through only two wheels.

I drove the R32 (in a manual) and GTI (DSG) back to back, and it's VERY easy to break traction in the GTI, even on good roads in the dry (the dealer was amused, he'd told me to give it a bit off the lights). I didn't break traction in the R32 (I didn't give it as much stick), but I could really feel the rear wheels picking up power/torque through corners, it's a good feeling in my opinion.

I recognise that the R32 doesn't have full-time AWD, but I've heard really good things about the Haldex controller (which would be the first mod I'd make to mine when/if I get it). The R32 is my preference overall, but I'd certainly not be upset with a GTI - as already mentioned, it's cheaper to get bigger power gains out of the GTI than it is with the R32, so if modding is your pleasure, then the GTI may well be more to your liking (unless you're willing to spend big dollars/make serious changes such as opening the engine up to change cams, adding a SC, etc).

[Purgi]

Hi all
Just discovered this forum and enjoying all the threads and comments.
I bought a GTi DSG last year and whilst enjoying the car found myself regretting not buying a R32.Whilst I have never driven a R32 I am wondering if I am missing out and should change over.So to all you R32 owners out there is there much difference between the two models and is it worth the price differential
Thanks

If you want to know the answer, best way to find out would be to make a trip to your local dealer and take one for a test drive.