What to buy? GTI or R20

[elisiX]

Thanks for working that out Corey. Much appreciated and gives me a good idea assuming R32 pricing.

[iBoost]

My opinion is that the GTI represents the best value for money in the 40 - 45k range. My concern with optioning it up to the hilt was recouping the extra money spent on options when it comes time to sell.

If the R20 really is circa 60k on the road then it makes sense to go for that over a fully optioned GTI. For me, I decided to be happy with a lower spec as 60k was over my budget.

Either way you'll have a grin on your face, I'd want to know official pricing though before changing my order.

[Timbo]

Sorry Timbo, wasn't having a go or anything mate - I just feel that VW will play ball from the get go as they have with the GTI

Jay, was no concern to me, merely pointing out that if the engine and AWD drivetrain is now your key criteria, then there are S3s out there now, for the asking.

. This is actually a good point, since the S3 and R20 are so similar then VW may ask Audi to stop giving such significant discounts on the S3 so it doesn't hurt the R20 sales!

I'm not sure how that would work. Audi and VW are separate companies and organisations in Australia. There's not a lot of love between them. More importantly, their dealer networks are very different and I suspect Audi dealers would be very pissed off by any action Audi or VW took to reduce their competitiveness. It'd probably give rise to a complaint to the ACCC. If it was possible (and I say not) we would have already seen it in play, as the low spec A3s can be had at Golf prices.

My other point is this: having owned (and still owning) both VW and Audi, my preference is currently well towards the Audi and I'd certainly pay a $10k premium for a car that has fundamentally the same underpinnings. The Audi interior is a much more pleasant place to be, the build quality is generally better, and (IME) Audi service and support is, hands down, a much better experience than VW.

[Sharkie]

1 thing everybody has to keep in mind .....

spend $20K on options on a GTI and come trade time you will get about $2K of that back. Options add very little to the value of a used car ....

Spend $20K extra and get the R and you will see a far larger portion returned come trade time .... about $10-12K. Plus you would have had far better performance.

If I wanted to spend only $40-45K the GTI would be my buy (actually no, Tiguan 147 would be it) and for $60K to me its a no-brainer to go for the R.....

[backdoc]

1 thing everybody has to keep in mind .....

spend $20K on options on a GTI and come trade time you will get about $2K of that back. Options add very little to the value of a used car ....

Spend $20K extra and get the R and you will see a far larger portion returned come trade time .... about $10-12K. Plus you would have had far better performance.

If I wanted to spend only $40-45K the GTI would be my buy (actually no, Tiguan 147 would be it) and for $60K to me its a no-brainer to go for the R.....

That actually is a really good point. Instead of looking at the purchase cost of the vehicle in isolation, we should be looking at the "cost of ownership" and then start looking at the bang for buck equation.

The R it is.............

[Glennb]

All good points guys but let me clarify.

Budget is really not the problem at the end of the day.... *snip*.

This is pretty much exactly how my reasoning has gone as well. I've postponed my order until there is more info, as the jump from fully optioned GTI to R20 is not large if that is the budget you are looking at.

[Mk6 GTI]

I guess it depends on whats more important to you.. luxury of options or performance..

my opinion: Id rather have the luxury of all the options instead of a car that performs better with no leather seats, satnav sunroof dynaudio etc.

We dont drive on race tracks everyday! But instead most of us spend time in traffic.. id rather be in a optioned up GTI which, lets face it, has nice amounts of power, instead of a R with none of the bits i want if 60k is my limit. Theres no way id buy the GTI or R with no options like leather, sunroof, satnav. To me thats silly.. Again depends on what you want!

Yes you dont get money back on options.. we all know that! But im not buying the car as an investment.. I want to enjoy it everytime i get in it!

If i had 70k to spend.. Id probably spend it on an Audi S3 5dr not an VW R..

Thats my few cents worth!

[Mk6 GTI]

Jay, was no concern to me, merely pointing out that if the engine and AWD drivetrain is now your key criteria, then there are S3s out there now, for the asking.

I'm not sure how that would work. Audi and VW are separate companies and organisations in Australia. There's not a lot of love between them. More importantly, their dealer networks are very different and I suspect Audi dealers would be very pissed off by any action Audi or VW took to reduce their competitiveness. It'd probably give rise to a complaint to the ACCC. If it was possible (and I say not) we would have already seen it in play, as the low spec A3s can be had at Golf prices.

My other point is this: having owned (and still owning) both VW and Audi, my preference is currently well towards the Audi and I'd certainly pay a $10k premium for a car that has fundamentally the same underpinnings. The Audi interior is a much more pleasant place to be, the build quality is generally better, and (IME) Audi service and support is, hands down, a much better experience than VW.

I looked at both the Audis 2.0T and the VW GTI.. and at this point in time i dont think Audi has the edge with the interior.. Usually yes.. but not at this point in time..

Its overdue for a makeover if you ask me! I was a little disappointed..

Just my opinion though!

Also.. One thing that people seem to be forgetting is that irrespective if the base price of the R and the S3 are close.. the cost of the options on the Audi and alot more!! One example is the satnav: VW=$2500 Audi=$5500!

If your not buyuing any options then fair enough.

[astro]

I got this email back from VW when I asked about release date on the R

Thank you for your correspondence in regards to the exciting new Volkswagen Golf R.

The information available regarding the release date for the Volkswagen Golf R is very limited. However, I am able to advise you that at this stage the estimated release date for the Volkswagen Golf R is due approximately in the third quarter of 2010.

Please continue checking the Volkswagen Website for updates on this vehicle, as it will also provide the latest information released on the Volkswagen Golf R.

Alternatively, please consult your nearest Volkswagen dealership to find out if they are accepting advance orders for the vehicle.

[Mk6 GTI]

I got this email back from VW when I asked about release date on the R

Bugger! Goodluck to all of you waiting on the R.. esp if your going to custome order.. you'll get it 2011 :|

[elisiX]

May is not Q3... SO where did May come from and why the hell is there going to be a 9 month delay between NZ and Australia. If this is true - it may have made my mind up. There is no way I will be waiting that long for an R (and even longer if the spec I want doesn't arrive early from a pre selected batch). Oh and in response to an earlier post - I wouldn't take a base R over an optioned GTI either - but the R will most likely still come standard with Leather and Xenon's with Nav retrofitted later (or I stump up for it).

[Mk6 GTI]

May is not Q3... SO where did May come from and why the hell is there going to be a 9 month delay between NZ and Australia. If this is true - it may have made my mind up. There is no way I will be waiting that long for an R (and even longer if the spec I want doesn't arrive early from a pre selected batch). Oh and in response to an earlier post - I wouldn't take a base R over an optioned GTI either - but the R will most likely still come standard with Leather and Xenon's with Nav retrofitted later (or I stump up for it).

Bixenons will be standard.. But i doubt leather will..

All the photos ove seen indicate cloth as standard..??

[Sharkie]

Bi-Xenons, Leather & metallic paint will be standard, same as the R32. Goodies as such as alarm etc also likely to be standard.

Options likely to be limited to sunroof & SatNav / Dynaudio, MIDI / IPOD & Bluetooth interfaces. Option list on the R's will be small just like the R32s.

I have seen a dealer notification that showed deliveries to start end May 2010. These will be pre-ordered by VWA and if you want specific spec, likely be able to order end May with a 4 month wait ......

.... and its not about the budget, its about value for money.... .... spending $20K extra on an optioned GTI is poor value for money. But if you like wasting it, by all means do so .....

[elisiX]

Once official pricing is released (I imagine within the next month for sure), then we will know more about pre selected vehicles. I would also think that leather/xenon will be standard, but if they pre select a few with a roof, i'd be happy with that. I can retro fit the Nav and not wait 4-6 months further again. I am sure i've read that MDI can be retro fitted also but itll be in the glove box and not in the centre console. All of this is pure speculation so lets not get ahead of ourselves. I will be disappointed if the wait is further than May and pricing isn't as expected but I want to be optimistic ..

[Lima]

...Assuming the R can be had on the road for $62-65k with Leather, DSG, 5DR and Xenon's (and hopefully a Sunroof), i'd be happy...

You may have already seen this, but as a FYI a new bloke on OZaudi has just signed for an S3 3dr with about 3K in options for $64,400 driveaway.

http://www.ozaudi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25207

To get the options you want you'd need to add a few more grand to that price. Point is I reckon Golf R and S3 pricing may be very close. Like others have said I've also been surprised by the deals being claimed for the GTI, so perhaps the Golf R may come in a comfortably under Audi's. But there's always the UK pricing situation leaving a bit of doubt in our minds, haha.