golf R

[G-rig]

Don't think NZ has a car industry to 'protect' do they?

[jausho]

I agree with Lunar to an extent.

The exchange rate puts it at 57.5K here for a base model
Add onto that price the luxury car tax (anything over 57K if it runs more than 7L/100km) and you get a pretty hefty base bill.
Then you have to add on any options and the on-road costs (dealer delivery, rego etc) which will push it close to 70K.

If VW uses that pricing model here, it will just be too similar to the S3 and I doubt they will make many sales outside of the pure .:R enthusiasts.

But a direct currency conversion is hardly indicative of what the R will cost here. Look at the cost of their GTI.... If it was simply a matter of converting dollars, then our GTI SHOULD cost around $45K. If anything, that should indicate that the R will start at LESS than $57K here.

I think VW are a smart enough company to price it according to its value and the market. From what we've seen, the MK6 GTI is, overall, a cheaper car than the MK5 was when it first came out (ie, large discounts, more equipment as standard etc). I can't see why the MK6 R, being cheaper to build, having lower import duties and possibly being less "special" than the R32, wouldn't follow that trend of being cheaper.

[elisiX]

The R has got to be $70k on the road but I imagine as with the MK6 GTI, discounts will be available from Day 1.

I'd expect to pay $65k drive away with an option or 2.

[team_v]

The R has got to be $70k on the road but I imagine as with the MK6 GTI, discounts will be available from Day 1.

I'd expect to pay $65k drive away with an option or 2.

With a base 3dr S3 at 70K driveaway, the base .:R would have to be below 55K driveaway to be a viable option

[elisiX]

Well if it doesn't sell, they will drop the price. But I would be expecting a $15k premium at least over a regular GTI for RRP.

[team_v]

Well if it doesn't sell, they will drop the price. But I would be expecting a $15k premium at least over a regular GTI for RRP.

For the older NA models, i would have agreed, however this is just a GTI with AWD so the pricing difference may not be as extreme.

[elisiX]

Perhaps you are right.

Does the GTI actually need 4WD though?.. I mean with a tune from the many suppliers, its going to have R20 power right?

I certainly didn't notice the torque steer in the GTI like I did in the Mazda 3 MPS for example.

[Corey_R]

I think we've already been over this before, but several things:

As people have noted, NZ car prices have no relation to Australian car prices. Their taxes and costs and competition is different to Australia.

The Audi S3 3dr and Sportback stock model 'Drive away price' for NSW according to the Audi website is $78,718, not $70k as claimed on the previous page.

Volkswagen Australia have basically said that the Golf R will be priced similarly, if not identically, to the R32 which it replaces, as per every other MK6 Golf released thus far. Which means:
3dr Man $55490 RRP (~$61706.33 drive away)
5dr Man $56990 RRP (~$63753.83 drive away)
3dr DSG $57990 RRP (~$65118.83 drive away)
5dr DSG $59490 RRP (~$67166.33 drive away)

Now both these prices R prices and S3 price are obviously without negotiation. We also know that the Audi prices are already 'inflated' to begin with, so there is more negotiation with them. But either way, the Golf R prices are not going to be anywhere near the S3 prices.

As for the GTI and 'torque steer'. That comes from having an imbalance in the drivetrain between the front left and front right wheels, which the GTI does not have. So you could have the 300KW/515NM of the APR GTI Stage 3 kit and still not have torque steer. The Mazda 3 MPS is just crap

[team_v]

Why bother though when you can get a 1yr old S3 with extra's on carsales for $58,900

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7850676&__Qpb=true&Cr=2&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c0%7c%7cpCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%204294967194%204294967179%201282&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&__No=15&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=20&__sid=125B0FBF6E34

I love the .:R cars but if they price it to similarly to the upper-spec'd S3 then they won't get the sales

[Corey_R]

Dude... The Golf R32 has sold well, has it not? Nothing is changing in this situation.

Why would ANYONE buy a new car when you can get a 1 year old model for a substantial discount? I purchased my Golf GTI MKV from a dealer at 8 months old with only 8,112km on the clock for over $10k off the drive away price of a new one!

But people will continue to buy new cars because they can get exactly what they want and also have the new car experience etc etc.

Oh and btw, the S3 can be priced over $100k full optioned (RRP driveaway without negotiation). So again, the Golf R is going to be nowhere near the S3 prices.

So don't get all stressed about the Golf R being priced too high. Wait till the official announcement comes. If the prices are the same as the R32 as expected, then all will be good

[G-rig]

Why bother though when you can get a 1yr old S3 with extra's on carsales for $58,900

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7850676&__Qpb=true&Cr=2&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c0%7c%7cpCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%204294967194%204294967179%201282&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&__No=15&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=20&__sid=125B0FBF6E34

I love the .:R cars but if they price it to similarly to the upper-spec'd S3 then they won't get the sales

THat's true, and it's not hard to get a super deal on the current S3's brand new either for mid-late 60k. I imagine many people paying more than 60k for a golf R which are really just a AWD GTI. I agree they should be priced at similar RRP as the R32.

But people will continue to buy new cars because they can get exactly what they want and also have the new car experience etc etc.

There are also tax advantages and buying second hand cars is a bit harder (but not impossible), also eliminates the risk of buying 2nd hand cars for those who've been stung before.

[Sharkie]

Even though I've ordered 1 already, I've decided not to take delivery until
1. I've test driven it (both DSG & manual)
2. I'm happy with the price in comparison.

I'd happily go for either a S3 or a 135i (in fact 135i is my 1st choice) if the prices were too close to each other.

Driven the S3 and 135i back to back earlier this year and the 135i is a much much much ... better drive

so in the meantime my 200kw/410NM Tiguan will do just fine .... in fact its just like the R20 .... only taller ....

and BTW the advantage of the R will be the AWD ... no GTI will come close to its off the line performance ... FWD just does not transform enough of the power into traction

[Corey_R]

Driven the S3 and 135i back to back earlier this year and the 135i is a much much much ... better drive

Yeah, that's basically where I'm at. If the Golf R isn't to my liking, I'll probably get the 135i. I don't think that the interior is as nice or the practically as good in the 135i compared to the Golf, but I don't think that the S3 is a 'better' option than the Golf either

[MaccaTSI]

Re: Golf R official pics.

If I were spending $70k on a car I'd definitely get a 135i.

I think it's the best looking car BMW has made in a long time!

Although, if 4 doors were required it would be an R or S3 : D

[Christopher]

f the prices are the same as the R32 as expected, then all will be good

Also, you have to consider that the .:R's have a hardcore fan base around them... Even if they are not as good as they could be, .:R lovers will still buy one for the thrill and honour of owning one...