What to buy? GTI or R20

[backdoc]

I am trying to decide between the GTI & the R20. I sold my R32 last year, which I enjoyed alot and was sad to see it go. I have just purchased a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon as the family car and now need something for fun on the weekend.

Money is not the issue bewteen these 2, but by all accounts of the reviews I've read from overseas, the R20 seems to be lacking something. I need a car soonish (next 6 months), so I was looking for input as to what would be the way to go.

Does more expensive mean better? Will the fact it is a bit more exclusive mean anything? Will it offer much more thrills for the extra $15-20K?

I just don't know what to do. The other option was a 3-4 year old Porsche Boxster S.

Opinions. I need some.

[lincs]

i'm still leaning towards the R at this stage - provided i can get a 5 door manual. ive had a MkV GTI since july 06 (after a 6 mth wait) and have loved every minute of it. i tested the APR chip to get it up to 188kw, but never ended up spending the $2000.

i also considered the upgrade to a pirelli when they were released, but only coming in DSG (and with stock numbers similar to the APR1 on my GTI), i wasnt interested.

so yeh, i'd be more than happy with a new stocky GTI, IF for some reason i decide against the R.

the other thing to take into consideration is waiting times.. (i think GTIs are somewhere back to around 6mths depending on what options you want?).. and theres still no release date on the R other than heresay on "mid year", "juneish" or "second half of the year" depending on who you ask.

i saw 1 review from europe (i think) where the person wasnt 100% over the moon with the R. i'd like to drive one before i commited a cool $60k on it, too... but yeh it looks like a tough machine, presumably with great potential for an ECU upgrade if you're into that sort of thing.

[iBoost]

I ordered my GTI today and was told to expect June delivery. I can't wait!

I did consider getting the R, but for my wife and I the GTI is more than enough, especially once I put take it to APR for a flash tune.

The R by all accounts is an incredible car, but it's more than I am comfortable spending. Either way you'll end up with an awesome car.

[Glennb]

I've decided to wait until more info is known. Was going to order a GTI now, but i'm not in a rush, and i'm hoping that by late Feb or March that full specs and Price will be available for the R/R20.

To the OP, if you likee the R32, then i'd wait for more information to be avaialble, as from memory the R32 never recieved good reviews either (understeer being the biggest complaint if i recall). If the difference betwen my spec'd up GTI and a similar spec'd R20 is within about $5k, then i'm going for the R.

[noone]

So the GTI is a 2lt Turbo
and the R20 is a 2lt Turbo?

Weird...

[triode12]

So the GTI is a 2lt Turbo
and the R20 is a 2lt Turbo?

Weird...

yup - but the R has the 2L engine and larger K04 Turbo of the Pirelli.

[triode12]

I am trying to decide between the GTI & the R20. I sold my R32 last year, which I enjoyed alot and was sad to see it go. I have just purchased a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon as the family car and now need something for fun on the weekend.

Money is not the issue bewteen these 2, but by all accounts of the reviews I've read from overseas, the R20 seems to be lacking something. I need a car soonish (next 6 months), so I was looking for input as to what would be the way to go.

Does more expensive mean better? Will the fact it is a bit more exclusive mean anything? Will it offer much more thrills for the extra $15-20K?

I just don't know what to do. The other option was a 3-4 year old Porsche Boxster S.

Opinions. I need some.

The R will be more like your R32 - setup for comfortable long distance driving - a Grand Tourer. The suspension will be tweaked for that according to one report. So it depends on what you want I suppose.

Personally, faced with the same decision, I would either go back to an R32 (since you know what it is like) or buy a Pirelli (same engine as the R but w/o AWD). The R32 will become a collectable like the Pirelli because it will be last of it's kind - no more V6 engines for the Golf.

If you like a car that is more fun/thrills than the two suggested above (the new GTI included) ...a Polo GTI is what I would suggest you test drive.

[STV4SYT]

Sounds like it would be worth taking the S3 for a spin. To all accounts its what the R20 is going to be based on quite closely and available now, but with a price of around $80k its a fair bit more than an R

[G-rig]

Sounds like it would be worth taking the S3 for a spin. To all accounts its what the R20 is going to be based on quite closely and available now, but with a price of around $80k its a fair bit more than an R

Someone on GolfMKV took an S3 for a spin and didn't really like it over the GTI, however ordered a Golf R anyway (not that there is a price or any information on them here, the dealers are just holding the deposit I imagine).

Also S3's aren't 80k, you could get them for less than 68k driveaway with roof, flat bottom wheel and RS4 wheels (probably a lot more now around the 60k mark). However if you tick all the options could quite easily be over 80k. Audi are doing fairly good discounts but it's the options pricelist I don't like, everything costs a fortune (ie. flat bottom wheel $700, nave $5300 etc).

[noone]

yup - but the R has the 2L engine and larger K04 Turbo of the Pirelli.

I think you'll find there will be plenty of turbo kit upgrades for the GTI that will surpass the R20 available in the future that will make the R20 seem slow and overpriced.

I assume the R20 its awd? Guess this will be the big difference for anyone wanting a track monster.

[G-rig]

The R will be more like your R32 - setup for comfortable long distance driving - a Grand Tourer. The suspension will be tweaked for that according to one report. So it depends on what you want I suppose.

Personally, faced with the same decision, I would either go back to an R32 (since you know what it is like) or buy a Pirelli (same engine as the R but w/o AWD). The R32 will become a collectable like the Pirelli because it will be last of it's kind - no more V6 engines for the Golf.

If you like a car that is more fun/thrills than the two suggested above (the new GTI included) ...a Polo GTI is what I would suggest you test drive.

I initially thought the Golf R would be like an AWD GTI but will still weighs 160-180kg more than the GTI, has the older FSI engine and doesnt really stand out from the other Golf's as much as the MK5 GTI/R32. Given the extra drivetrain losses of AWD (10-12%) may still be slower than a retuned GTI. A retuned Golf R would be enough power you'd think, but extra lag so it's a hard choice.

Around town the GTI would probably be good enough for the price saving but those who want to push big power for the streets are better off getting the Golf R (coming to realise that power isn't everything and you can't use it legally most of the time and is a bit pointless- may as well get something that is a hoot to drive like the R32 with the sound, or smaller lighter FWD cars).

If I were placing an order for a MK6 GTI I'd probably want to wait to see really how good the Golf R is and drive it, although the wait is ages for both. The mk6 is really not worth the extra over a Mk5 either given the saving on used ones, but some people like new cars.

[backdoc]

I think you'll find there will be plenty of turbo kit upgrades for the GTI that will surpass the R20 available in the future that will make the R20 seem slow and overpriced.

I assume the R20 its awd? Guess this will be the big difference for anyone wanting a track monster.

Upgrading/tuning is one thing I'm not really into. I like cars to be as stock as possible. Don't mind subtle upgrades like exhausts & wheels but not really into mucking around significantly with hardware or software.

I might take the S3 for a spin. That's a good idea and failing that I may just have to wait for the R20 to arrive before I can decide.

[VW Central]

Upgrading/tuning is one thing I'm not really into. I like cars to be as stock as possible. Don't mind subtle upgrades like exhausts & wheels but not really into mucking around significantly with hardware or software.

I might take the S3 for a spin. That's a good idea and failing that I may just have to wait for the R20 to arrive before I can decide.

I agree somewhat, I just think its better to buy a car with a bigger turbo rather than buy a GTI and then upgrade to k04 afterwards etc..

[G-rig]

I agree somewhat, I just think its better to buy a car with a bigger turbo rather than buy a GTI and then upgrade to k04 afterwards etc..

That is the beauty of the Pirelli/S3 and Golf R although there is a bit more lag but like the idea of having more power in stock form as well.

[VW Central]

So pretty much, best value car was the GTI Pirelli