Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[mfl]

thanks for the responses, so it doesn't matter the road conditions or which track its as REXman says, close but the difference is always there.

[AdamD]

Not having driven a R, can I ask this as a question/s
* if the smaller turbo on the GTI spools quicker, then in the heavy traffic, won't the GTI accelerate faster than the R in the 100m sprints between red lights or is it bugger all difference ?

As a GTI driver (so - declaring any potential bias right up front), I'd say the difference under these circumstances is quite perceptible, and I find the GTI preferable. I find the GTI feels "goey" where the R feels relatively more docile and weighty - especially on a part throttle. And I have driven them back to back, in traffic.

Having said that, the R will still get away faster if you jump on it. A GTI's turbo may spool up faster, but under a heavy throttle it will wheelspin strongly, almost immediately, and there goes your launch. With an R, there goes your lunch.

[Fab_R]

Having said that, the R will still get away faster if you jump on it. A GTI's turbo may spool up faster, but under a heavy throttle it will wheelspin strongly, almost immediately, and there goes your launch. With an R, there goes your lunch.

I like that, made me laugh....very true Adam

[Transporter]

I'd like to refresh the discussion as the thread is getting too long and some people would like to know the difference between the GTI and R in everyday driving.

As Golf R is AWD its ability to maintain the traction and to keep you on the road in the right direction when the road conditions suddenly change is superior to the GTI and any other 2WD car. Classic example is; when the both left wheels would be driving on unsealed gravelly side of the road at higher speed, for what ever reason.

The AWD is greatly enhancing active safety of every car in any weather conditions.

[REXman]

I found the GTI to be really well balanced. On a test drive I just punched 1st gear 'round a corner, and it suprisingly it stepped out almost like a RWD does, and stayed smooth and held line with the (smooth) wheel spin.

Also the Power seems to be more punchy in the GTI in the low- mid range, where the R is more peaky (which I much prefer). But it made the GTI easier to throw around at low speeds.

Also when I launched the GTI using LC, it made this big crunk sound like the CV joints or the front DIFF are about to rip through the floor.

[hooba]

If you plant your right foot, it will break traction and understeer if the road is slippery enough (oil on the road from old falcadores etc)

Not necessarily, having driven the R I can confirm that it is quite possible to get a nice little bit of oversteer happening. You do have to work it hard to get it though.

[SilvrFoxX]

Not having driven a R, can I ask this as a question/s
* if the smaller turbo on the GTI spools quicker, then in the heavy traffic, won't the GTI accelerate faster than the R in the 100m sprints between red lights or is it bugger all difference ?
* in wet greasy road conditions won't the AWD on the R give you more traction than the GTI (without being stupid of course)?
the only thing I miss on from my Liberty was its handling on wet/greasy roads (although it had no hp to speak off).

Heh.. I am still experiencing the whole Liberty handling.. and no performance.. It is still a great drive though..

As a GTI driver (so - declaring any potential bias right up front), I'd say the difference under these circumstances is quite perceptible, and I find the GTI preferable. I find the GTI feels "goey" where the R feels relatively more docile and weighty - especially on a part throttle. And I have driven them back to back, in traffic.

Having said that, the R will still get away faster if you jump on it. A GTI's turbo may spool up faster, but under a heavy throttle it will wheelspin strongly, almost immediately, and there goes your launch. With an R, there goes your lunch.

I think this is what I liked most about the R when test driving the 2 variants, the R has more of a GT feel and because of that I felt the ride more relaxed in traffic. The GTI is like a terrier on speed, it wants to go all the time where the R cruises and when you want it to transform you drop the loud pedal.

For all the to and fro about which is better for what reasons.. I still believe it is fundamentally about the ride and feel of each.. if you want the package that combines all the things you want in a car the R does a better all round job. The GTI tends to lean toward tradition and what the classic GTI stood for and I think does a stella job

[G-rig]

I found the GTI to be really well balanced. On a test drive I just punched 1st gear 'round a corner, and it suprisingly it stepped out almost like a RWD does, and stayed smooth and held line with the (smooth) wheel spin.

Also the Power seems to be more punchy in the GTI in the low- mid range, where the R is more peaky (which I much prefer). But it made the GTI easier to throw around at low speeds.

Nice unbias opinions mate, they are both great cars in their own right. It's nice to have the best and i can't argue with that, and the R is much better value/performance than the R32. I think you could push either car harder than what is legal, but people pushing them past that should be on the track, and doesn't prove that much pushing a car in the wet as it's still a fair bit slower than dry speeds and builds up a false sense of security IMHO.

Also when I launched the GTI using LC, it made this big crunk sound like the CV joints or the front DIFF are about to rip through the floor.

I haven't bothered using LC more than once, don't see point around town but good to test it.

[Pepe]

To chip in one on the side of the GTI, I'll bet the GTI doesn't set off car alarms in carparks like my R seems to have developed a habit of doing in one particular car park!

Also, definitely agree with SilvrFoxX, the R is definitely a nice cruiser, even around the city. Now that its loosened up (~4500km or so), it's actually becoming pretty nice around the city, no longer anaemic like it was when I first got it

[BezzyR]

To chip in one on the side of the GTI, I'll bet the GTI doesn't set off car alarms in carparks like my R seems to have developed a habit of doing in one particular car park!

Also, definitely agree with SilvrFoxX, the R is definitely a nice cruiser, even around the city. Now that its loosened up (~4500km or so), it's actually becoming pretty nice around the city, no longer anaemic like it was when I first got it

Hi, what do you mean exactly by your last paragraph?

[triode12]

I think this is what I liked most about the R when test driving the 2 variants, the R has more of a GT feel and because of that I felt the ride more relaxed in traffic. The GTI is like a terrier on speed, it wants to go all the time where the R cruises and when you want it to transform you drop the loud pedal.

For all the to and fro about which is better for what reasons.. I still believe it is fundamentally about the ride and feel of each.. if you want the package that combines all the things you want in a car the R does a better all round job. The GTI tends to lean toward tradition and what the classic GTI stood for and I think does a stella job

Really? Very interesting.
I found it to be the exact opposite. I found the R to more the terrier while the GTI to be too sedate. With the R (like my Pirelli), it as if it wants me to gun it all the time -closer to the GTI in terms of tradition. The GTI on the other hand is a bit of a bore IMO - more GT like.

[G-rig]

Really? Very interesting.
I found it to be the exact opposite. I found the R to more the terrier while the GTI to be too sedate. With the R (like my Pirelli), it as if it wants me to gun it all the time -closer to the GTI in terms of tradition. The GTI on the other hand is a bit of a bore IMO - more GT like.

A stage 1 retune fixes that and the GTI really comes alive. I've set it back to stock a few times and is more sedate.

[AdamD]

I found the R to more the terrier while the GTI to be too sedate. With the R (like my Pirelli), it as if it wants me to gun it all the time -closer to the GTI in terms of tradition. The GTI on the other hand is a bit of a bore IMO - more GT like.

I'm not entirely sure what the tradition of the GTI is supposed to be, and I've not driven a MkI to get to the bottom of the car's characteristics myself. But to be honest I can't imagine either of today's models pays more than lip service to it - both the GTI and the R are reasonably heavy and luxurious hatchbacks. Wouldn't something like, say, a RenaultSport Clio be closer to the mark?

I wanted to gun the R all the time because it felt too sedate off-boost!

At any rate, I personally think the lighter, FWD, less laggy low-boost turbo is closer in spirit to the original light, N/A FWD GTIs of old. Not that any of that is in the least bit important to me.

[triode12]

I'm not entirely sure what the tradition of the GTI is supposed to be, and I've not driven a MkI to get to the bottom of the car's characteristics myself. But to be honest I can't imagine either of today's models pays more than lip service to it - both the GTI and the R are reasonably heavy and luxurious hatchbacks. Wouldn't something like, say, a RenaultSport Clio be closer to the mark?

I wanted to gun the R all the time because it felt too sedate off-boost!

At any rate, I personally think the lighter, FWD, less laggy low-boost turbo is closer in spirit to the original light, N/A FWD GTIs of old. Not that any of that is in the least bit important to me.

In the words of another, a Stg 1 tune will take care of that.

[AdamD]

In the words of another, a Stg 1 tune will take care of that.

Absolutely. I feel sorry for you guys with Stage 1 Rs... keeping that license will require more patience than I've got!