Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[kane]

An open letter to ray:

Hello Ray, it's nice to finally talk to you.
1. Re your thinking a GTI is a executive choice. I have to say that in my workplace those selected into the executive team are not the young lads in accounts or IT that drive GTIs. No, far more taste must be displayed. We can't possibly have our execs running around in cars that scream "me too" or "try hard but must try harder"
2. "have to compare with a blue R32?". Again, blue is so last decade and even our tea lady thinks blue calipers are crass and belong only on HSV ironmongery vehicles. Also, I don't "have to" compare any car to those blunted up, nose heavy dinosaurs.
3. Our board has decreed that the golf R is superior in everyday to it's little GTI brother. The DNA is similar but the little one is "special needs" - needs generally provided by a run to your nearest tuning house with a cheque book and a fantasy.
4. Ray, your descision to relinquish your apparent order just weeks before delivery after waiting, what, some eight months reveals a foolishness not wanted within an organization such as ours. Either that or your finances fell through. Neither reason befits a character that we could consider for executive roles.
5. If your desire is to recind to the front wheel drive lesser sibling for that reason, then I understand that some feel (strangely) that front drive is superior. (quiet chuckle in board room) that religious belief is your right, but your loss
6. If you still feel strongly about a front wheel drive consider purchasing the Megane RS (possibly in you price range) and enjoy blowing away the GTIs you meet, but again, don't expect an executive roll

Sincerely

Whistler

Haha yeah I think it is very strange to wait 8 months and then give up a few weeks out because of wait time.......

[Mi16 Man]

.....but again, don't expect an executive roll........

It's only an executive "roll" if it has sesame seeds on it! Can Ray afford such finer things in life?

[SilvrFoxX]

OK guys I think you are going hard on WJ, I agree that there are some odd decisions and conflicting views in the way his and Ray's story has unfolded but really there is a bit of all our stories in there.

How many have traded up from an R32 ? How many have decided to move from the R? in Ray's case he has a perfectly sound car which cost a lot more than the R and he still enjoys. I liked my Subaru so much and although feels a little dated and boaty compared to the R have decided to keep it. There is nothing wrong with it, has low kays serviced well has a heap of options and although not worth a lot on the open market is worth a lot to me.

GTI v Golf R, to be fair this whole thread has been all about the to and fro of the owners emotional attachment to one or the other, the facts on paper can be used as the goal post but we all know that styling, expectations, experience and budget are not something you can graph.

Personally I have enjoyed WJs postings, don't agree with them all but that is what the forum is for.. unless you are Corey and always right and we must agree ( just taking the p!ss )

Keep posting WJ it is more interesting watching it all unravel than some of the drivel that gets put up

[Corey_R]

Good post SilvrFoxX. There are many truths in there!

[sabloke]

I couldn't agree more SilvrFoxX! Got to say I find WJ's posts informative and well written.
Going from R32 to R doesn't look like trading up at all, let's be honest here. Depending where you stand, it looks like trading sideways at best to me They're different cars with plusses and minusses that have been debated to death already.

I wonder what are the current R owners going to trade up to in a couple of years? An R with some cosmetic grey accents instead of current smokey black ones and European spec ECU map? Cuz that would be crazy cool y'all!

[Corey_R]

No idea what we'll be trading "up" to. But I can tell you what we certainly won't be trading "up" to. And that's a Renault
Cause we'd have to trade down for that

[triode12]

No idea what we'll be trading "up" to. But I can tell you what we certainly won't be trading "up" to. And that's a Renault
Cause we'd have to trade down for that

LOL! the new Clio Sport 200 I test drove had a puddle of water in the back seat well from being left out in the holding yard overnight. Not a good first impression.

I found it boring to drive too. It too was too refined even when I was revving it to redline. I think the trend amongst all manufacturers these days is for increased refinement. Pity.

The cars might handle better and go faster but you won't be able to enjoy the increased performance. The future doesn't bode well for the mk7 if this keeps up.

[Corey_R]

LOL! the new Clio Sport 200 I test drove had a puddle of water in the back seat well from being left out in the holding yard overnight. Not a good first impression.

Actually, wouldn't it be illegal to not have a puddle of water in the back seat well of a Clio? You know... truth in advertising laws and all that

[triode12]

Actually, wouldn't it be illegal to not have a puddle of water in the back seat well of a Clio? You know... truth in advertising laws and all that

O, you're terrible, Muriel!

[backdoc]

I couldn't agree more SilvrFoxX! Got to say I find WJ's posts informative and well written.
Going from R32 to R doesn't look like trading up at all, let's be honest here. Depending where you stand, it looks like trading sideways at best to me They're different cars with plusses and minusses that have been debated to death already.

I wonder what are the current R owners going to trade up to in a couple of years? An R with some cosmetic grey accents instead of current smokey black ones and European spec ECU map? Cuz that would be crazy cool y'all!

I must admit I am one of the few that didn't trade sideways. In the eyes of many, I traded down. I loved my R32. It wouldn't come close to beating an R on track, but for sheer driving joy, there was nothing better than having the windows down, sunroof open and giving it a good dose of throttle. It made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. For the day to day driving stuff, that's what I think the R32 did brilliantly, and where the R "lost me". It just didn't feel special enough, unless you were able to use those extra tenths it has on the GTI off public roads.

It used to bug me no end that in car reviews the jurnos always talked about how much better dynamically the GTI was over the R32. But I realised, it didn't matter what they thought. I was in love with my car and it made me feel good.

So as long as you love your car, it makes you smile when you walk towards it and it makes you look back after you've parked it, what does it matter if it is a GTI or an R or an old R32?

P.S: forum would be far more dull without WJ

[sabloke]

Don't know why are you bringing some other brand in discussion. I was raising a legitimate question about the future R...
Heck, I wouldn't buy a Renault car either. Not even a next model Renault Sport by the looks of it. The future Clio will be turbocharged, just like the R, so I'd say they can shove it somewhere... I'll be holding on to my current drive for a long time and, just like Ray, can't see any problems with that

[triode12]

Don't know why are you bringing some other brand in discussion. I was raising a legitimate question about the future R...
Heck, I wouldn't buy a Renault car either. Not even a next model Renault Sport by the looks of it. The future Clio will be turbocharged, just like the R, so I'd say they can shove it somewhere... I'll be holding on to my current drive for a long time and, just like Ray, can't see any problems with that

Actually turbocharging the Clio might actually redeem it! Would probably make it more fun to drive if they don't refine it too much again.

[sabloke]

Oh well, it that's what you want just go and buy a Mini. I'm afraid the current Clio is the last big engine in a small package, a true hot hatch in the spirit of the original GTI.

[triode12]

But the mini is a chick's car...oh wait...the Clio is too and so are our Golfs.

The original GTI didn't have a big engine.

[backdoc]

Don't know why are you bringing some other brand in discussion. I was raising a legitimate question about the future R...
Heck, I wouldn't buy a Renault car either. Not even a next model Renault Sport by the looks of it. The future Clio will be turbocharged, just like the R, so I'd say they can shove it somewhere... I'll be holding on to my current drive for a long time and, just like Ray, can't see any problems with that

Before I had the R32 I had a Clio Sport for 3 years and it was quite alot of fun. Got rid of it as lots of interior bits started to fall off!