Golf R 3 door/5 door speculation/information thread

[G-rig]

I agree, screw waiting till Aug only to find out the pricing then, and whether there will be a 3dr. All this is hyping it up a lot, may not even be much better than a GTI.

The 135i styling could be better but a second hand one may be a good prospect, not worth buying too many new cars in a row unless you plan to keep them for 5years etc.

[elisiX]

100% agree... unfortunately I don't listen to good advice and end up flipping new cars every 2 years lol.

[roy]

a little bit off topic... i saw a X1 on road this morning...it's blue...quite fast...
initially i thought it was R20...but oh nooooooooooo....wooooooooohhh

[Rocket36]

100% agree... unfortunately I don't listen to good advice and end up flipping new cars every 2 years lol.

Try two months! Seriously! Had a new car for just two months. Lost $10k on that one. But oh well, it was to get the R36 so I didn't care!

It's only money and you can't take it with you...

[JVLR32]

The 'stance' as in the ride height is identical (according to VW). As is the roof line (again according to VW). Although VW doesn't publish specs on the 'shoulder line' that also visually looks the same (as it starts at the same place on the headlights and ends at the same place on the rear tail lights).

As for posting pictures of side on between the 5 door and 3 door models, that is nigh on impossible to find the two pictures from the side at the same angle, let alone same car or colour etc. But here is about as close as I could find:



As you can see (apart from slight difference in ride height as they're different models) the main differences between the 3 and 5 door models are:
Length of front door is longer on 3 dr model
Less lines on the 3 dr model due to deletion of rear door, and a single glass panel for rear side windows instead of two.
The rear side window on the 3 dr model is more curved, especially along the bottom where it 'sweeps up' to the where 'elbow' would be in the 5 door's rear edge of the window creating a wider 'shoulder' between the window lower edge and the shoulder line which runs along the entire side.

To me, the only thing which could give any impression of change of stance would be the 3 doors sweeping lower edge on the rear window which would give the 3 door the more 'aggressive looking stance' due to the wider shoulder line...

thanks...just doesnt look right for me

[G-rig]

3 doors make it look too small/short wheel base, but would prob look better in the flesh. Just a modern day euro version of wrx now IMO (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Corey_R]

WRX's are 3 door?

Anyway - my issue (besides looks, which are a personal thing) with the 5 door GTI/R is that the wheelbase is the same as the 3 door - so the front doors are too short on the 5 door. The B-Pillar is in my peripheral vision, and the door trim finishes too early - I can't stand it.

[AdamD]

There's something about that side-on angle of the 5-door that just looks odd in my opinion... and to be honest, I think it's primarily the wheel/tyre combo - the tyres look undersized for the rims in profile. That same trait is emphasised in many of VWs advertising shots for the GTI. The scalloped side skirts don't do much for the look from that angle either.

Once again, my opinion only - your mileage may vary.

The R, in 3 door, on the other hand... fantastic in profile. The gently curving lower window line is a great styling feature. Makes the 5 door look like a box.

And now I'll refrain from bashing the styling of the car I've ordered.

[G-rig]

WRX's are 3 door?

Anyway - my issue (besides looks, which are a personal thing) with the 5 door GTI/R is that the wheelbase is the same as the 3 door - so the front doors are too short on the 5 door. The B-Pillar is in my peripheral vision, and the door trim finishes too early - I can't stand it.

My point was that thew new R's are being hyped up a fair bit, when they are really AWD GTI's being 4 pot turbos.. However that's what people have been waiting for so should be good either way.

I dont have any issues with the B-pillar, just have to do a quick look over your shoulder. If anything the C-pillar is worse.

There's something about that side-on angle of the 5-door that just looks odd in my opinion... and to be honest, I think it's primarily the wheel/tyre combo - the tyres look undersized for the rims in profile. That same trait is emphasised in many of VWs advertising shots for the GTI. The scalloped side skirts don't do much for the look from that angle either.

I agree, can't really compare the two as they aren't similar enough. Would be nice to have side on pics of the R in 3 and 5 door. Those tack on sideskirts are are fairly ****ty on the GTI and the 17" denvers do look undersized compared to the MK5. I'd definitely order 18" Detroits which would fix that, as well as aftermarket sideskirts.

[elisiX]

I love the way the subtle body kit on the R changes the car's side profile in 5DR

[G-rig]

Nothing wrong with that!!

[sandandsalt]

Ordered the R last August 09 as a second car to r 36 or even a replacement car.
No word on delivery as yet.

[sandandsalt]

Most likely will tune with apr but not at the north side. concerned of the dsg and the tune and increased Nm of stage two.only going by the gti results and the tts output.
Requested a three door.

[Corey_R]

I agree, can't really compare the two as they aren't similar enough. Would be nice to have side on pics of the R in 3 and 5 door. Those tack on sideskirts are are fairly ****ty on the GTI and the 17" denvers do look undersized compared to the MK5. I'd definitely order 18" Detroits which would fix that, as well as aftermarket sideskirts.

Those are the 18" Detroits in that photo!!!!!

I love the way the subtle body kit on the R changes the car's side profile in 5DR

Yeah - the R definitely looks better than the GTI - but I still don't like the 5 dr. The b-pillar is way too far forward, and all the complexity of the lines/shapes added by the rear door spoils the simple elegance and rear window sweep of the 3dr.

Put it this way... At this point I'd be happy to have the 3dr as a 'no cost option' and only for 'custom orders'. I.e. I don't even care about saving the $2047.50 ($1500 + LCT + Stamp Duty) which you'd normally have by going for the 3 door - I just want a 3 door!

[G-rig]

maybe you're used to looking at the 3dr..

Anyway personal choice as mentioned, neither one is better or worse.