Golf R 3 door/5 door speculation/information thread

[Corey_R]

As I've said before: the front looks the same, the back looks the same, the top looks the same....

But from the most important point of view, the drivers seat, there are TWO BIG differences in how it looks.... and I'm not talking the rear doors. I'm talking that your peripheral vision is blocked by B Pillars beside your head, and the door trim ends so early my elbow is not even on the arm rest.

In a 3 door however, clear vision and door trim which extends past the side bolsters on the seat. Much more pleasing. And considering that is where you spend 95% of your time with your car (the other 5% caring for it and staring at it ), that is why I will not buy a 5 door.


... having said that, even I agree that it's a bit much to say door config is bone worthy and the other one isnt, lol

[elisiX]

I personally feel that all this discussion about 3/5 doors is nuts!

People will always have their preferences, and that's fine but surely the 5dr cannot be 'that' bad as an alternative.

The only thing that would piss me off is if I was going for the 3dr for budget reasons and going to 5 meant I lost an option I wanted.

[Corey_R]

Reasons against:
1) 5 door costs $2050 extra
2) It doesn't look as good (opinion varies)
3) It blocks peripheral vision due to B pillar placement
4) In some people issue 3 gives a 'closed in' feeling.
5) Door trim obviously shorter and reduces comfort

Reasons for:
A) More practical IF you regularly use the back seats

But for me, I'll never purchase the 5 door due to reasons 1, 3, 4 and 5. For me the positive reason of A is not relevant as I rarely have people in the back seat and won't have children either ever, or within the next 5 years.
The looks don't _reaaaally_ matter too much to me. It certainly isn't as bad as the 3 vs 5 door looks in the MKV (where the entire theme of the car was 'rounded shapes' which the 3 door rear windows were but the 5 door obviously weren't.

So really - the discussion isn't that nuts - there are perfectly valid reasons for this BESIDES 'looks'.

[R34]

Against popular belief I think 3 doors look odd on a sedan.
Porsche yes , GTR yes etc etc but when I see 3 doors on a sedan I think shame , poverty pack couldn't afford the extra doors
Just my humble opinion of course.
If people think their 3 door looks great good onya

[G-rig]

Reasons against:
1) 5 door costs $2050 extra
2) It doesn't look as good (opinion varies)
3) It blocks peripheral vision due to B pillar placement
4) In some people issue 3 gives a 'closed in' feeling.
5) Door trim obviously shorter and reduces comfort

Option 2-5 not really a worry for most people and you are the only one I've heard mention those points.

But you have to get what you want which is fair enough.

The arguement is fairly bonkers and hardly worth not buying the car if it's only avail in 5 doors (although the 3 door usually come out after so probably nothing to worry about).

The H&R Golf R looks great, the same stance i had on my 5dr.. The car can look a bit short with 2 doors as well.

[astro]

It would make sense if they are bringing in the scirocco as it would be the only golf-like coupe.


It's like the paint schemes though.
Why can't we have the same colours as germany if the car comes form the same factory?

I wouldn't want a scirocco because its not all wheels drive as this is the reason for wanting the Golf R and I would want the Golf R in 2 door.

[G-rig]

I wouldn't want a scirocco because its not all wheels drive as this is the reason for wanting the Golf R and I would want the Golf R in 2 door.

That's true, they are two totally different cars, but from a marketing point of view I suppose they look similar both being blue with two doors (at least the front end).

[team_v]

I wouldn't want a scirocco because its not all wheels drive as this is the reason for wanting the Golf R and I would want the Golf R in 2 door.

Buy an S3 then..............

[Corey_R]

The arguement is fairly bonkers and hardly worth not buying the car if it's only avail in 5 doors (although the 3 door usually come out after so probably nothing to worry about).

But it's really not bonkers. If you're happy paying $70k for something which isn't really what you want, then good luck to you. I on the other hand are NOT prepared to pay $70k for something which isn't really what I want. Go figure


Also - point 2 is what MOST of the discussion between 3 and 5 doors has been about So you can't claim that you've never heard that from anyone but me.

Point 5 is fact. Have a look, there is no possible way that you could say I'm wrong. If simply having a visual look isn't clear cut enough, then a tape measure would more than prove I'm correct.

Point 4 is possibly just me - but it's related to point 3

Point 3 isn't just an issue I have because other people I've talked to personally have mentiond the same thing... it's why some people love the fact that the the VW Eos, most BMW Coupes, Peugot CC's, and many many other 2 or 3 door coupes have NO B pillar at all.


So yeah - I can understand why people driving 5 door cars haven't noticed points 3 to 5, because you haven't experienced the superiority of the 2 or 3 door cars to even know what it is that you're missing out on

[team_v]

That's true, they are two totally different cars, but from a marketing point of view I suppose they look similar both being blue with two doors (at least the front end).

And to Joe Public who isn't an enthusiast, then there is almost no discenable difference, hence the reduction of complexity in their model lineup.

[Caillin]

I really don't think the "R" is aimed at Joe Public. It has, and always will be, aimed at the enthusiast.

[Tim]

I really don't think the "R" is aimed at Joe Public. It has, and always will be, aimed at the enthusiast.

I think the problem in Australia is that nothing VWA does it aimed at the enthusiast. Its about appealing to the common man to increase volume. I know a lot of people that have purchased the R32 in the past because it was the top of the range model. Not because it was the performance model.
It makes good business sense to sell more cars. Its just not very interesting.

Obviously VW cant target the enthusiast market specifically as that would financial suicide. It would be nice if they offered a little bit of choice though. Currently they have a huge range yes which may need to be kept "simplified". I do not think that offering 40 shades of beige is the answer though.

[Caillin]

While I agree with what your saying... I seriously doubt adding the 3 door to our lineup is going to hurt even one sale due to "complexity".

I can, however, assure you that at least one sale will be lost due to the decision.

[Corey_R]

Obviously VW cant target the enthusiast market specifically as that would financial suicide. It would be nice if they offered a little bit of choice though. Currently they have a huge range yes which may need to be kept "simplified". I do not think that offering 40 shades of beige is the answer though.

And that's right. I'd be willing to put money that the 77TDI sells less than the 3 door R32 did. The GTI 3 door is also admittedly VERY low volumes, much less in ratio to the 5 door than exists in the R32.

So whilst I hate to see any model go, if they do need to simplify, there are better ways than offering 40 shades of beige as you describe it


Looking at what they're doing, removing the 3 door Polo GTI, Golf GTI, and R - it's literally taking away every single car that I'd actually be interested in from VW.

[Tim]

While I agree with what your saying... I seriously doubt adding the 3 door to our lineup is going to hurt even one sale due to "complexity".

I can, however, assure you that at least one sale will be lost due to the decision.

Im on your side mate.
Personally I wouldnt consider a 5 door model at all. Thats not to say that people who prefer to have it shouldnt have the option. I just love my 3 doors.

Thats why i made the comment "40 shades of beige"
There is a lot to choose from but none of it is overly interesting to cool people like you and me