Golf R 3 door/5 door speculation/information thread

[Sharkie]

I cannot fault the engine, overall engineering or fact that it is RWD which is #1 for me. Without question the 125 would be a great drivers car. I just can't get past the body style of the 1 series coupes. It doesn't do it for me at all. Otherwise I'd probably have bought a 135i already. The performance of those things is just sensational.

I quite like the shape, especially in that blue ... almost like the R blue ...

And ... when you drive it, you can't see what its like from the outside, you only enjoy the drive .... ...

I had a Z3 M-Coupe (the little breadvan, many years ago ... 2001) and frankly it was quite ugly from outside, but the drive at the time was awesome ... it was the quickest BMW you could buy in 2001 and that 3.2 straight six was brilliant.

Still saying if you want the best 3 door out there .... the 125i is way better than a GTI....

3dr rankings on price IMO ... (GTI does not make into my list)

125i => Golf R / S3 => 135i => Cayman

AND

then for a 5 dr, I see no purpose in a GTI either ... rather buy a Tiguan and get the GTI engine and AWD .... like a mini R ....

[Corey_R]

I quite like the shape, especially in that blue ... almost like the R blue ...

Yeah - you're not wrong there. Like if you _reaaaally_ need 5 doors you probably need more space than the Golf gives you anyway

[dave_r]

could just upgrade down the track

I wouldn't bother. If the car had given no issues over the time I had it and the missus was happy, it would become a hand-me-down and then I'd move on to something better. At that point I wouldn't be in the same situation I am in now where I have a set date before having to buy something new and could wait out any new release. ie RS3 or something like that.

I reckon I can get myself a 10-12% discount off RRP for a GTI so that puts me at about $10k better off. But still mighty annoyed at VWA for being so ignorant to a large number of current & potential customers.

I quite like the shape, especially in that blue ... almost like the R blue ...

Gather you're talking about Montego Blue? Yep, nice colour but...

And ... when you drive it, you can't see what its like from the outside, you only enjoy the drive .... ...

I understand but, I've tried hard to like the 1 series coupes but failed.

[MurphyTheElf]

I cannot fault the engine, overall engineering or fact that it is RWD which is #1 for me. Without question the 125 would be a great drivers car. I just can't get past the body style of the 1 series coupes. It doesn't do it for me at all. Otherwise I'd probably have bought a 135i already. The performance of those things is just sensational.

I'm with you - something about the front end especially is not quite right, IMO.

[Sharkie]

I'm with you - something about the front end especially is not quite right, IMO.

LOL, just shows how different people like different things .... I think its quite good looking .... whereas I think the 3 coupes are terrible ... would have a 1 coupe in a heartbeat if it came in a 5 seat model (don't care about the # of doors, just the # of seats)

[elisiX]

I'm perhaps one of the few who would rather 5DR over the 3. I am just not willing to wait until August or later for an R.

GTI is still 2 months and a week away (or thereabouts)... getting impatient.

With regard to the 125i... I think i'd be constantly wanting the 135i. However with the Golf, if I end up with the GTI I wont be kicking myself over not waiting for the R.

[G-rig]

Yeah - you're not wrong there. Like if you _reaaaally_ need 5 doors you probably need more space than the Golf gives you anyway

Not necessarily, but everyone is different. I've had coupes and can't be bothered moving my seat or getting out to let people in, as well as harder to load bigger stuff or kids in the back. So for me i will want a golf, not a tig etc as they aren't really high performance cars even though you can upgrade some stuff.

The Dealer reckons if you order a GTI now then it wont be here till July anyway.

With regard to the 125i... I think i'd be constantly wanting the 135i. However with the Golf, if I end up with the GTI I wont be kicking myself over not waiting for the R.

I agree, you'd always notice 135i around and wished you were in one (just like GTI drivers that really want an R/R32 etc).

[dave_r]

LOL, just shows how different people like different things .... I think its quite good looking .... whereas I think the 3 coupes are terrible ...

LOl very true! I love the 3 series coupe and would grab a 335i in a heartbeat if I could justify spending that much right now!

[Lima]

Just means those of us that had our hearts set on a 3 door will choose a different brand.

Yeah, for sure, I agree and it's not having a go at those who prefer the 5 door, so I'm not sure why the quasi-animosity seems to exist.

I would have been quite happy to buy a Golf R if they were available, but no 3dr would have definitely sent me to the Audi dealer...

...which I did anyway, because I couldn't buy a Scirocco, haha.

[Lima]

Seems a bit rediculous to me that the "deal breaker" is adding extra functionality without affecting driveability.

I would understand if it was only DSG or something that actually affected the physical drivability of the vehicle but if its only aesthetic (doors, colour etc) then i don't really see the big issue.

Just my opinion though.

As noted, it's an aesthetic decision and when a similar product such as the S3 provides what is essentially the same car, and in 3 door, then I guess Volkswagen is prepared to lose those sales. To be fair, that won't be too many, so--if a single choice had to be made--you can see why it looks likely that they will put all their eggs in the 5dr option, which is the more all-round and popular option.

If the S3, 3dr GTI, 135i or other options weren't around, and for roughly similar money, then, yeah a 5 door R would make more sense for someone who prefers a three door layout. But other options do exist and so these buyers will just go elsewhere.

We went through the same deal waiting for the yes/no, will they/won't they crap with our GTI, in which we had a clear preference for a 3 door.

I just can't work out VW Australia's thinking sometimes. And I am sure there is perfectly rational reasoning behind it, but I'd love to hear the real reasons and not the pseudo-marketing bull**** that is generally used to wave annoying clients away.

[Lima]

Yeah - I agree that after the R, the GTI is the best option under $75k (where you then get 135i's etc). But don't wait too long to get the GTI, as I've been 'informed' that VW Australia are also considering removing the 3dr option from the GTI as well.

Groan!

I only hope this is a case of clearing the decks before the Scirocco R arrives, otherwise... to the decision makers at VW Aus.

[Glennb]

Well, my plans haven't changed
Still want a 5 door, will order a factory built R so that i get my corp discount, and my current car lease doesn't expire till November, so i have time on my hands.

So if you guys all bail on the R, maybe i'll be the first to get one after all
It will just be in about September or October is all.

[Corey_R]

I've had coupes and can't be bothered moving my seat or getting out to let people in

That's what the passenger is for - they can get out and pull the seat forward for the people in the back
Who wants to be stumbling out into traffic anyway

LOl very true! I love the 3 series coupe and would grab a 335i in a heartbeat if I could justify spending that much right now!

I'm with you there buddy!

As noted, it's an aesthetic decision and when a similar product such as the S3 provides what is essentially the same car, and in 3 door, then I guess Volkswagen is prepared to lose those sales.

Yeah - I too fail to understand why Volkswagen are so happy to push away current and possible future customers by not bringing in the 3 door model. If they've already got a 3 door GTI here, what possible part could there be on a 3 door R which they don't already have here and would raise the cost of supporting both models?

But to be clear, for me it's not JUST an aesthetic decision. If it were just aesthetics then I could possibly get over it. To me it's the closed in feeling I get in any 4 or 5 door car (whether a small hatchback or a large sedan/4WD) by having the B Pillar right beside my head and blocking my peripheral vision. 2 door or 3 door cars either move the B pillar back behind your head, or erase the B pillar completely!

[G-rig]

There is a red 3 door at my dealers - they do look pretty nice and the seats look cool with the plastic release on them.

If there was no chance of me having kids in the next 5 years then yeah, would prob get one. Otherwise could be a pita and prob have to sell it.

Should just break up and get one (or a 135i selfish mans car) although to me the 5dr looks almost as good and more practical, and it's not like they are a two seater/sports coupe anyway.

[tentacles1]

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/50001/2011-volkswagen-golf-r-australian-technical-details-revealed

A few more details here, nothing too specific however RVCS approval for the 3-door could be a promising sign.