What to buy? GTI or R20

[G-rig]

Didn't think the wheel gap looked to big at all. I would say at least the same as the R32.

Seems to me like someone is a bit obsessed with the R! That is quite a collection of photos.

Perhaps i'm used to looking at mine!

Don't mind the stock wheels on the new one! Black on White looks ok but i think my OZ painted gun metal would be better.

Still like Blue with silver..

White would be easy to look after but not much shine or depth...

[astro]

in looking at them pics i think im going to get a white one white on black looked amazing, but i don't think i will be keeping stock rims for too long. are the wheel arches flared a little from the gti?

[triode12]

Perhaps i'm used to looking at mine!

Don't mind the stock wheels on the new one! Black on White looks ok but i think my OZ painted gun metal would be better.

Still like Blue with silver..

White would be easy to look after but not much shine or depth...

The new R needs that bright Blue livery to offset it's boring looks ....(flame suit on)

[elisiX]

Do you think the dealers will be discounting the initial Golf R's that arrive? I wouldn't think so but you never know. I must say, while I have ordered a GTI (with lots of great options..), if the price of the R comes in anywhere near my optioned GTI, I'd be inclined to just take one without a bunch of options (leather & DSG is a must) and pay the difference between the two in cash + finance.

In other words, my GTI was $57k on the road and I paid $2k down already. I had planned on placing another $5k down to finance approx $50k only. If the R were to come in on the road (with leather & DSG) for about $62k, then I'd be happy to finance $55k instead, using the same down payment. This would also be dependent on wait time as I am already painfully waiting until April at this stage for the GTI.

I am planning on keeping this car for 3+ years (which I NEVER do)... so perhaps have a more complete package for ~$5k more would be the smarter choice in the long run. I have no doubts as to how much fun the GTI will be and am totally happy to stick with it, but I am curious to say the least. Coming from a Quattro 265HP TT.. I am familiar with the similar power and performance the R will bring.

[G-rig]

The new R needs that bright Blue livery to offset it's boring looks ....(flame suit on)

I agree, otherwise looks like any other MK6 except for the dual exhaust.

I'm quite happy to keep my R32 until the MK7 or New S3 in a few years, would be more than a facelift by then too.

However if i was after a new car the MK6 GTI would be plenty for the street, mind you I'd rather a Golf R than a loaded GTI.

[Corey_R]

I know the R will be quick but meant from a rolling start ie 60kmph it would be similar and thought your stage II would have been great planting your foot on the highway etc. Just depends if it's worth the extra price, but should be.

Yeah I'll give you that - the Stage II GTI was AWESOME from a rolling start of say 60. But I fully intend to do the ECU update on the Golf R, so it'll be just as good in that respect

[Glennb]

Do you think the dealers will be discounting the initial Golf R's that arrive? I wouldn't think so but you never know. I must say, while I have ordered a GTI (with lots of great options..), if the price of the R comes in anywhere near my optioned GTI, I'd be inclined to just take one without a bunch of options (leather & DSG is a must) and pay the difference between the two in cash + finance.

In other words, my GTI was $57k on the road and I paid $2k down already. I had planned on placing another $5k down to finance approx $50k only. If the R were to come in on the road (with leather & DSG) for about $62k, then I'd be happy to finance $55k instead, using the same down payment. This would also be dependent on wait time as I am already painfully waiting until April at this stage for the GTI.

I am planning on keeping this car for 3+ years (which I NEVER do)... so perhaps have a more complete package for ~$5k more would be the smarter choice in the long run. I have no doubts as to how much fun the GTI will be and am totally happy to stick with it, but I am curious to say the least. Coming from a Quattro 265HP TT.. I am familiar with the similar power and performance the R will bring.

ElisiX - I was told (quite firmly) that there would be no corporate discount at all on the initial release of the R, although they didn't rule out some bargaining room. Also, they estimate that each dealership will get 4-6 R cars in the initial release only.

My thoughts are very similar to yours in that i'm willing to pay a bit more than an optioned out GTI to get a more complete car (power and AWD), and have postponed my order until i know more information.

Either way, i've been told that the R cars will be on the boat to Aus by late Feb and they will know at that point what the specs are on those vehicles and pricing. So i can either look through the Vehicle list (probably talking early March) and see if one matches and make my deposit then, or order one as a factory order and wait the 4 months for delivery.

I was told that Corp Discount would be available on any Factory ordered R's!
So for me that "hopefully" means that i can get a R for less than $60k vs $55k for a GTI with options , but we'll have to wait and see....

[G-rig]

^Wouldn't hurt to stick with your order and saves waiting another 4 months if the R is all that it's cracked out to be. Would be good to be able to test drive one before deciding as well.

As long as you buy another car from them wouldnt be hard to change your mind, and they could sell the cars pretty easily (unless its fully optioned).

[lawsy82]

ElisiX - I was told (quite firmly) that there would be no corporate discount at all on the initial release of the R, although they didn't rule out some bargaining room. Also, they estimate that each dealership will get 4-6 R cars in the initial release only.

My thoughts are very similar to yours in that i'm willing to pay a bit more than an optioned out GTI to get a more complete car (power and AWD), and have postponed my order until i know more information.

Either way, i've been told that the R cars will be on the boat to Aus by late Feb and they will know at that point what the specs are on those vehicles and pricing. So i can either look through the Vehicle list (probably talking early March) and see if one matches and make my deposit then, or order one as a factory order and wait the 4 months for delivery.

I was told that Corp Discount would be available on any Factory ordered R's!
So for me that "hopefully" means that i can get a R for less than $60k vs $55k for a GTI with options , but we'll have to wait and see....

With a bit of research and negotiating you can get a optioned up 3dr MK6 GTI on the road for around $46K - Manual,ACC, leather,MDI, etc... With a $1,500 ECU reflash which will give around 180kw im not sure whether the new R is going to be worth the extra $14K atleast id say.

[elisiX]

The whole difference is in the base you have to work with. That's what your paying for with the R. For a long term purchase, if funds permit, its obviously the smarter choice. It's a toss up for me. I could afford the R, I just don't want to pay for another expensive vehicle. However if the margin is minimal, then it'd almost be silly not too. Again, no regrets with the GTI. For the money (even with options), its going to be an incredible bit of kit which will satisfy my Sydney driving to work needs 10 fold.

.... Having the extra 'bits' in the R would be for the weekend national park run.

[Glennb]

With a bit of research and negotiating you can get a optioned up 3dr MK6 GTI on the road for around $46K - Manual,ACC, leather,MDI, etc... With a $1,500 ECU reflash which will give around 180kw im not sure whether the new R is going to be worth the extra $14K atleast id say.

I'm talking about a 5 door DSG, so not comparable. Moving from the optioned GTI to an R probably isn't going to be as big a jump for me and my budget which makes it more attractive. If you are looking at $45k vehicles, then the R probably isn't going to be within your range, but if you are shopping for $60k vehicles (as ElisiX and I are), then it's a different story.

[Lima]

ElisiX - I was told (quite firmly) that there would be no corporate discount at all on the initial release of the R...

I'm pretty sure I read here/or some other forum that the same "No Corp Discount" policy was going to be applied to the Mk6 GTI.

We've all seen how well that worked.

However, with less volume you'd expect discounting on the R to be less favourable, but I have to say I've been surprised by the discounts on offer for the new GTI, so maybe Volkswagen won't be the tight arses we expect.

[lawsy82]

I'm talking about a 5 door DSG, so not comparable. Moving from the optioned GTI to an R probably isn't going to be as big a jump for me and my budget which makes it more attractive. If you are looking at $45k vehicles, then the R probably isn't going to be within your range, but if you are shopping for $60k vehicles (as ElisiX and I are), then it's a different story.

yeah ur right, povo people like me with my bloody $46k budgets

[G-rig]

The whole difference is in the base you have to work with. That's what your paying for with the R. For a long term purchase, if funds permit, its obviously the smarter choice. It's a toss up for me. I could afford the R, I just don't want to pay for another expensive vehicle. However if the margin is minimal, then it'd almost be silly not too. Again, no regrets with the GTI. For the money (even with options), its going to be an incredible bit of kit which will satisfy my Sydney driving to work needs 10 fold.

.... Having the extra 'bits' in the R would be for the weekend national park run.

That's true but depends if you will do the same mods on the R that you'd do to a GTI and end up spending a lot more. Basically over time you'd prob end up spending more on mods on a GTI in which case you could have got an R, but everyone is different.

Looking back the R32 was fairly good car already and may not have needed to do the mods I did but they still make it better. Could have been better value to mod a GTI, as long as you dont go for crazy power.

[elisiX]

If I got the R, i'd not be spending the money on wheels/suspension that I hope to do with the GTI. But it would still get flashed. I like the stock wheels on the R anyway and ACC might be another option I'd like to tick. For now - sticking with the GTI and ill wait to hear of pricing first before worrying about it. If the difference is minimal and reasonable to pay the difference on, and the wait time isnt anymore than 1 month more than the GTI, I might swing.