Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Corey_R]

It's the same thing

[MkVIGTI]

Pretty happy with my Dynaudio atm. Dunno if I should add a sub. The thing I don't like is the space it takes up in the boot and also the non-integrated look. I assume we can't use the stock amp to power the sub either?

[fung9420]

Very good write up helping those to consider Gti/R.

IMO, i like the Red little details on the GTI rather than the R. GTI with the black R wheels will be perfect.

Much appreciate

[WhiteJames]

Golf R - Review by TMR

This is another Golf R review by The Motor Report (TMR):

2010 Volkswagen Golf R Review Australia Page 1 of 2 | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

TMR's observations seem to be similar to what has been gleaned from my short test drive in the Golf R.

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

They're also still yet to perform a "proper road test" though

[REXman]

This is another Golf R review by The Motor Report (TMR):

2010 Volkswagen Golf R Review Australia Page 1 of 2 | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

TMR's observations seem to be similar to what has been gleaned from my short test drive in the Golf R.

Cheers.
WJ

Wow I just read that. Seemed like they loved it.

[Corey_R]

Boys boys boys... it's a beautiful Saturday morning (at least here in Syd-a-ney), so I've decided to just delete 26 posts on this car audio stuff, since this isn't the thread nor the forum for it, and I thought this was a better way than handing out an infraction to two of you for "Exccessive Pointless Posts" (you two know who). I'm not going to PM people, if anyone feels I deleted a post that was worthwhile, PM me and I may undelete it.

Now lets get back to the R vs GTI topic

[dave_r]

Boys boys boys... it's a beautiful Saturday morning (at least here in Syd-a-ney)

Seems to be the same down here in Melbourne also, just wish I had a car nice enough to enjoy it

[Edra]

as posted by wj
It’s disappointing that Volkswagen have detuned the Golf GTI EA888 motor, making it feel less alive & linear than the previous MKV GTI (and Golf R) – 95 RON may have something to do with this. The new Golf GTI EA888 motor appears to be a motor than has the ability to be seriously tuned for large gains in power, judging by its mid-range punch on the Mark 6 GTI. The older EA113 VW developed motor in the Golf R feels like it’s at the end of its development cycle (which it is). Expect big gains in the forthcoming Mark 7 Golf R if it receives the new Mark 6 GTI EA888 motor.



Nice write up, many words, however the above paragraph is among other sections of this review, pure speculation.
Audi engineers deemed the 888 engine unfit for use in High RPM, High PS applications, and refused its use on the 8p s3 due to the reciprocating mass of the cam chain at high RPMs... and other reliability issues above a certain engine speed. The 888 does a great job of performing efficiently at its intended output, but VAG's early research told them not to use it for out and out performance. Sorry but those poor fools at VAG have stuck the 113 in the s3 for 2010 again..........drop em an email will you.

[benjmin]

Dave....trust me the wait will be worth it! i have had my R for 2 days now (5 door dsg,leather,satnav & 19' wheels) and done about 200kms.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!!!!
As others have said, the dsg in auto mode is quick to slip into 6th and just strolls along, but put it in sports or manually shift and this thing just rips and goes.
What really puts the icing on the cake is that wonderfull exhuast note.
I have heard others go on about the R32s sound but boy does the Rs exhuast note sound so so good.
Anyway lets hope you get your ride soon

[REXman]

Dave....trust me the wait will be worth it! i have had my R for 2 days now (5 door dsg,leather,satnav & 19' wheels) and done about 200kms.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!!!!
As others have said, the dsg in auto mode is quick to slip into 6th and just strolls along, but put it in sports or manually shift and this thing just rips and goes.
What really puts the icing on the cake is that wonderfull exhuast note.
I have heard others go on about the R32s sound but boy does the Rs exhuast note sound so so good.
Anyway lets hope you get your ride soon

Thats awesome. I am stilll hanging out for a long time on forums, just jabbering on about the car and not actually enjoying one!! You are a lucky man!! PICS!!

[WhiteJames]

What context? Grip Levels? Golf R -v- Gofl GTI

Perhaps the Golf R –v- Golf GTI review should be put within a certain context. The best way to do this is to rehash my final comments to Gerald Slaven Volkswagen, Canberra - Sales Manager Phil Fairhall:

“Phil. I’m not concerned with the extra speed or the raw acceleration of the new Golf R. It would not concern me if the Golf R had the same motor as the GTI and was half a second slower to 100kph. I like this vehicle for its new generation AWD feeling and its fine chassis balance front to rear making for a very fluid handling & drive experience. It also rides a lot better than I expected. Not concerned with features like launch control as I’d never use them. Really enjoyed the more balance chassis feeling over the front heavy Golf GTI, which makes a tourist drive a greater pleasure.”

Basically looking for a vehicle with performance consummate with a Ford XR6 or Holden SV6 six cylinder with the fuel economy similar to a Toyota Corolla. Not considering any performance tuning on the ECU or motor and certainly not looking to be the fastest to 100kph. The vehicle will be used for a combination of some city use, and frequent longer distance trips from Sydney to Canberra & Sydney to Queensland with a combination of freeway – highway – B-grade roadway – tourist - routes. Not interested in doing any track days or heading out to the drag strip.


My preference for the low end punch & usability of the Mark 6 GTI - Tiguan - EA888 motor mated to the AWD drive train & chassis balance of the Golf R is a clear indication of the strengths and weaknesses of each vehicle within the above context. In other words: I rate them as about even. Not looking to race this vehicle, but rather drive the vehicle. Perhaps this has been overlooked by readers of this review – faster is not necessarily better when it comes to my purchase decision – driveability – handling – ride - is certainly an important factor that I place a great weight on when choosing a new vehicle. Outright acceleration is only one aspect of the total drive experience.


The comments made about the Volkswagen Tiguan 125TSI are valid in that the Tiguan is the best value AWD Volkswagen on the market due to: its AWD system – EA888 motor – price. There will also be another VAG competitor with this type of drive-train combination in early 2012; albeit in a hatchback variant: The Audi A3 Quattro (AWD).


The Audi should not have a KO4 turbo or associated lag that comes with a larger turbo, which will aid usability & driveability. No big brakes either – these are not likely to be missed as my old MKV GTI vehicle’s brake pads were only half done prior to sale at 3.5 years / 47,000km. Not missing the EA113 belt driven motor with the cam follower & fuel metering issues - EA113 motor is likely to be seen for the last time in the Golf R prior to being put to rest ... period. The Audi A3 Quattro AWD will offer the same or a similar chassis balance to the Golf R – making for a nice fluid drive and high grip levels. Alternatively: Not sure I’d buy an Audi as my workmates would expect to me shout at the pub all the time – it’s that brand image thing I guess.


Grip Levels:


Having covered 3,500km in 3.5 weeks in the new Mark 6 Golf GTI with 95% of driving on highway – freeway – B-grade country roadways – tourist routes – mountain climbs – in all types of weather conditions, not once have I seen the stability ESC light flash up on the dash display. Even on the tight damp 15kph corners ascending up the Macquarie Pass of Kangaroo Valley, NSW. Of course, running in the GTI, I have not gone out of my way to provoke wheel slip – but I have driven off the beaten track in damp / wet / foggy conditions with warning signs indicating ‘caution – black ice on roadway’. Some of the B-grade mountain passes had 20kph corners with 100kph speed limits coupled with damp roadway conditions.


In contrast: my old Mark V GTI with 5-6K spent on improving the suspension & wheel/tyre combination to provide the best possible grip that the MKV GTI could deliver (upgraded suspension is a good form of traction control) on std power. The old MKV GTI would have had ESC cutting in countless times over these drives in these types of conditions. The Mark 6 GTI is way superior in this regard. The addition of the EDL (slow-speed) and XDS (higher speeds) electronic differential has put the Mark 6 GTI into another league over the old Mark 5 GTI for public roadway driving, esp. when the weather turns sour. The driver can feel the electronic EDL/XDS diff working its magic more so in the dry in tight corners & the electronic diff wizardry does not eliminate the FWD bum-dragger feel of the Golf GTI. This is important to note this when considering my earlier remarks when I say that grip levels between the Mark 6 GTI and Golf R for public roadway use are much closer than they were for the older MKV GTI and Golf R32 models. In terms of driveline feel & chassis balance: the Golf R wins hands down.


Well informed debate is encouraged.


Cheers
WJ

[WhiteJames]

The Golf R -v- Golf GTI horsepower debate + 19" Wheels

I’ll go out on a limb and say that purchasing a Golf R purely for enhanced grip levels, appears, from this short test drive, to be a fool’s paradise. You’d want the Golf R primarily for it better balanced chassis and not its revvy motor or outright acceleration.

I think the statement below by Edra elaborates on the statement I made above about wanting the Golf R for its improved chassis balance:

... was considering buying a Golf R yesterday because i felt it might let me feel more physics and stuff than my current golf at track days but whilst sitting at Barloworld being jerked around by the sales staff for 4 1\2 hours, I remembered back to a dyno day recently and recall some stage 2+ 8p Audi s3's making around 176 kw at the wheels, with : full turbo back exhaust, Autotech fuel pump, intake, FMIC. and a few other bits n pieces and the appropriate tune for all the above. Which is a fair whack of power at the fly wheel considering power loss through the haldex. pretty good for a small turbo like a k04.


At the same dyno day i saw a guys Pirelli and another mk 5 Gti which i had'nt seen before pull out 198 kw and 208 kw at the wheels....... WTF.. given they both weigh over 120 kg less than the R and have over 25 KW at the wheels more than the R, correct me if i'm wrong but theyre going to suck the doors off my R at phillip island due to power to weight ratio and power loss through drivetrain, even if i go through the whole, intake, exhaust, fuel, tune blah.Obviously with AWD ill get off the start line quickly but what about the mid corner battle. for $69,800 Au out the door is the R going to be competitive as a track car ?against the likes of these others, or is it just a waste of money.? That guys pirelli with 198 kw at the wheels, seriously thats more power at the wheels than a b7 Audi RS4, much more. and a power to weight ratio that destroys it.

There's no doubting its a sexy car sitting on black 19s, it looks dead sexy, but is it going to be a track weapon. I really like the black 19s on the Golf R but i would've thought VW made it so they did'nt buffet and scrape during slightly vigorous cornering, these are after all the official 19s for the car, or is it possible that the dealer being new to all this had neglected to set the car up correctly to have the 19 s over the 18s before sending it out for numerous test drive's ?does anyone else's Golf R have a 19s that rub during cornering ?

In respect to the 19” Golf R 235mm tyres rubbing on the guards. The vehicle I checked was not a vehicle that I test drove from Gerald Slaven Volkswagen, Camberra. This vehicle from another dealership appeared to be brand spanking new having not turned a wheel. The missing top inner front fender screws may of been discarded by Volkswagen from the factory as any rubbing on a used vehicle usually leaves some rubber residue. The tyre rubbing against the fender may also occur against the metal tab that holds the screw.

Cheers
WJ

[emack]

Interesting point

[triode12]

Dave....trust me the wait will be worth it! i have had my R for 2 days now (5 door dsg,leather,satnav & 19' wheels) and done about 200kms.
ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!!!!
As others have said, the dsg in auto mode is quick to slip into 6th and just strolls along, but put it in sports or manually shift and this thing just rips and goes.
What really puts the icing on the cake is that wonderfull exhuast note.
I have heard others go on about the R32s sound but boy does the Rs exhuast note sound so so good.
Anyway lets hope you get your ride soon

All you need is a Stg 1 tune and it'll be perfect. [disclaimer for the pedants amongst us : nothing is ever perfect - it is just a figure of speech]