Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[MaxMo]

Some great comments and observations guys. I also had to weigh up whether to go for the R or the Gti. As my wife actually drives the car more often than I do, the GTi took precedence. That, and the fact that most reviews I read at the time did not think the premium for the R was justified in up to 90% of regular driving experiences. At the end of the day there is no right or wrong answer - both are superb machines and your personal preferences will swing it. By the time we added on every conceivable option to the car, we actually paid almost as much as the R anyway!

[WhiteJames]

Motor Trend

MotorTrend.com is an North American website run by Angus MacKenzie, ex-Wheels Magazine Editor in Chief. MotorTrend.com does have good video reviews. They test out the American version of the Manual only Golf R with North American tuned suspension said to be fairly neutral for handling characteristics on the open roadway - which contrasts with the the Euro Version Golf R that seems to carry a greater amount of understeer at local AUS speed limits (maybe not at Germany Autobahn speeds). This article is not written by Aussie Angus, but they say:

The steering ratio is quicker than that of the GTI, the suspension a smidge firmer, and the brakes a touch larger. And that's not to mention the more aggressive bodywork or unique 18-inch alloys

Read more: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R First Test - Motor Trend. USA Golf R also has detuned motor like AUS hot-weather version. The ride height of the Golf R in the Motor Trend pics looks to be about 10mm higher than the euro/aus spec versions. I bet it's probably a bit softer than the euro spec Golf R.
Cheers.
WJ

[WhiteJames]

Motor Trend is a North American Magazine with a half decent website and an Australia Editor in Chief Ex-Wheels Mag Angus MacKenzie. Motor Trend now have a new youtube.com channel of their own callled Ignition. Carlos Lago spends a bit of time with the Golf R manual only transmission in the States.

See youtube video:

2012 Volkswagen Golf R: The Super GTI? - Ignition Episode 6 - YouTube

BTW ... Ray is looking for a new car ... either a fully loaded GTI with DCC or BMW 328i M-Sport to tie him over until the MK7 Golf R or Golf RS arrives.

Cheers.
WJ

[SilvrFoxX]

I miss Ray

[Candyman]

Gee, the R is rubbish isn't it.

[SilvrFoxX]

Overpriced and not worth the wait

[Rob_R]

Too heavy and less engaging.

[DoggieHowser]

****. 37 grand and he calls it overpriced?

And no LED tail lights for the US either, huh?

[Candyman]

I definately should have bought a GTI.

Or that Megane thing that won an award

[tonymy01]

The ride height and taillights make it look lame, and we can certainly disable stability control here with the 5 second button push of the traction control button, wonder if they can also or it is truley not allowed?

[Lucas_R]

"Ray" still hasn't bought a car? My god, talk about the ultimate tyre kicker......

[oshuyi]

Motor Trend is a North American Magazine with a half decent website and an Australia Editor in Chief Ex-Wheels Mag Angus MacKenzie. Motor Trend now have a new youtube.com channel of their own callled Ignition. Carlos Lago spends a bit of time with the Golf R manual only transmission in the States.

See youtube video:

2012 Volkswagen Golf R: The Super GTI? - Ignition Episode 6 - YouTube

BTW ... Ray is looking for a new car ... either a fully loaded GTI with DCC or BMW 328i M-Sport to tie him over until the MK7 Golf R or Golf RS arrives.

Cheers.
WJ

Wow, Ray still doesn't have access to the internet

[Ideo]

"Ray" still hasn't bought a car? My god, talk about the ultimate tyre kicker......

Yeah, but he has paid 4 different dealers $5000 for not ordering a car.

He's a philanthropist, our Ray.

[WhiteJames]

Positive Karma

For 37K on the road in the USA ... you're going to have to go without some extras like LED tail-lights, auto-head lights, DSG box, etc. Notice that the USA Golf R has suspension tuned for North American conditions ... 10mm higher ride height and less factory induced understeer to take into account lower speed limits.

Pity Volkswagen doesn't tune their chassis for local AUS conditions ... well only 2-3 out of every VW's made globally is sold in AUS. Hyundai has an AUS specific tune for their new Veloster (as did Opel with the Astra, Holden Captiva too) with 13% stiffer suspension ... just as I have done with my GTI adding 10-15% stiffer VW Driver Gear Sport Springs with DCC in an effort to tune the GTI to local conditions.

Ray's R32 let a sensor between the megatronics & DSG let go ... sensor itself was not too expensive to replace ... but it had to spend two days in McGrath Sutherland Volkswagen with half the interior and exhaust having to come out to reach the sensor ... $2200 later with the dealer's half-baked warranty on a 4.5 y.o. R32 covering 70% of the sensor repair cost. Ray has had his $1,000 return in a round-a-bout way ... talk about good Karma.

The new MK7 Golf R is not likely to see the Australia shores until May 2014 with special order end 2014 or most likely early 2015. The joys of owning a European MK5 Golf R32 with no more factory or half-baked dealer warranty is not a fun proposition when components start letting go ... sensors and electronics are the biggest issue for reliability imo. Parts may be cheap, but perhaps not labour, not when you have plenty of motor & driveline tightly packed into a smallish fast-hatchback. Volkswagen really do need a 5 year warranty in this day and age. The joys of owning a 5 + y.o. Euro Sport/Luxury Hatch. No thanks. It may be time to trade that R32 on something else?

Cheers.
WJ

[Candyman]

Stuck carriage return.