Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Sharkie]

Yeah i think it would help but you could also drop a GTI 30-40mm and that would be better again (or leave it stock vs spending money on modding a Tig).

True, but I've spent less than $40K on the Tig so far and now have a car that is far more capable than a stock 5dr GTI that costs $45K ....

[G-rig]

True, but I've spent less than $40K on the Tig so far and now have a car that is far more capable than a stock 5dr GTI that costs $45K ....

Sounds like you're happy with it which is the main thing. I also wasn't that impressed with the R vs my Stage 1 GTI.

You can get GTI's cheaper than that with the EOFYS.

[triode12]

Very comprehensive review WJ, sounds like you are mainly paying for the mid corner grip with the R. I test drove an R yesterday too, albeit a short spin not a good circuit test. The extra lag was quite apparent and the acceleration wasn't overwhelming as you suggested. There's no doubt that it's very balanced compared to the R32 and quite composed in nature leading me to believe it's still somewhat of a tourer. My APR GTI still felt quicker and more lively.

Big question is are you getting one? I agree with iBoost that the GTI is good enough around town and also like the styling with the 18" detroits. An R would be great just not sure if the extra spend gives you that many more thrills. If you track your car sure, would be worth it.

Purchased my GTI from Phil Fairhall and he's very good to deal with!

Greg, when did you feel the lag - in Drive and Sport Modes?

*I drove it for the second time yesterday too.

[G-rig]

Greg, when did you feel the lag - in Drive and Sport Modes?

*I drove it for the second time yesterday too.

I guess mainly in Drive mode.. Sports mode made it a bit more agressive and tend to think it went better in sports. Didn't rev it all out but find sports mode on the GTI a bit unuseable the way it holds it up top sometimes (like you're being a hoon), but good if you're driving around on light throttle and the down shifts on deceleration are nice.

[mooka]

This is a brilliant write up WJ - thanks.

I test drove a GTI a few months ago and was thrilled with the drive. I have now purchased the R, without driving it, expecting (and hoping) that it will deliver the goods - as it appears to from your review.
As far as the looks comparo, it really is horses for courses I suppose. I was lucky enough to be in Frankfurt last September at the Motor Show, and have loved how understated the R since then.

In reality I would be happy with either and am fortunate that my budget can stretch to the R.

[triode12]

I guess mainly in Drive mode.. Sports mode made it a bit more agressive and tend to think it went better in sports. Didn't rev it all out but find sports mode on the GTI a bit unuseable the way it holds it up top sometimes (like you're being a hoon), but good if you're driving around on light throttle and the down shifts on deceleration are nice.

There was a little bit of lag in Drive but not as much as a Pirelli in Drive (in Sport mode, the Pirelli is fine - no lag). I believe vw has done a good job of tuning the R.

Surprisingly, the car I drove yesterday didn't sound as aggressive in idle and low revs and it didn't accelerate as fast as the one in Sg as I remember it . All other aspects that I initially reported of the car remain the same.

Still louder than the stock MkV GTI but just slightly muted to what I remembered in Sg - the dealership in Sg might have deleted the resonator on their demo car - the loud throbbing in cabin now is now slightly muted - the car sound less aggressive in idle and low gears to the Sg example. In higher revs, the aural experience is the same in the AU car.

I suspect that they may also have chipped the Sg Demo too BUT, I wasn't able to do an exhaustive test yesterday due to double demerit points in force now so could not drive it like I did the one in Sg - max I could get up to was 90km/h. If the Sg example was truly chipped, then I now know what potential it has - for $800-1500 tune - you will have a truly great car (not that it isn't one already). I will (hopefully) be able to test it again on the track day this coming tuesday at Eastern Creek and I should be able to report with certainty then.

I also now had more time to check out the interior and exterior of the car as I wasn't with friends and I have to report that don't prefer it to the interior of my MkVs. Contrary to want people have said about the MKVI interior being improved, I feel that the interior (while it looks jazzed up a bit) showed obvious signs of the cost cutting.

Instead of dedicated LCDs for the climate control, CC display is now displayed on the RCD510. This will restrict you to only proprietary VW headunits that can display CC readouts.

Still not liking the white MFD of the MKVIs the amber MFD and odo/taco readouts are much classier - the one in the R I drove yesterday might also have had a defective one because, no matter how much I pressed OK or the other buttons, it wouldn't register the selection.

The R no longer has racing pedals with the R emblem on them but now share the same pedals as the GTI. I didn't notice it in the Sg one - probably because I was too blown away with the drive experience.

The latch on the glove compartment is also now not chromed metal but rubberised plastic - even my GT has the classier chromed metal latch. The door pockets are now smaller and cannot fit a UBD and there is no longer a dedicated fuel door button (the door locking button now does double duty) - not a deal breaker but if one didn't know, it may be a cause of embarrasment esp at a busy servo.

The VW emblem on the front and back are now coated in a really shiny cheap looking chrome finish found on cheap plastic items. The MKV's emblems are of a higher quality - check them out side by side if you don't believe me.

VW have also deleted the front and rear valances. This may or may not be a good thing. If you scrape or damage the bottom of your front bar now - you may have to change the whole bar instead of just the lip as with the MkVs. So they have saved cost in manufacturing here. This also means that after market companies will have to find alternate means of dressing up the MkVIs. There may be less choice than the MkV had or more expensive as may have to change the whole front or rear bar for a different look instead of just bolting on a valance.

There is more but gtg. will update later.

[entice]

great write up.

thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

the debate of one Vs the other.. IMO, whichever is fine.
I dont think i'll ever exploit the capabilities of either to their fullest so either, really, is overkill..
especially for day to day driving.

and coming from a 200+ atwKW STi in the past, I can tell you never really got to use the full potential of that either.

[MkVIGTI]

Interested to get a test drive of the R to get a feel. However, I do like the red stitchings of my GTI better compared to the the grey ones in the R though.

[G-rig]

It's easy to get carried away with the hype of a new release.

No rush either, better to take your time and weigh everything up.

[WhiteJames]

Pictures of the Golf R

See WJ Suspension thread for pics of the Golf R:

WHITE JAMES: Suspension & Wheel Reviews - Page 13 - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

Page number 13.

WHITE JAMES: Suspension & Wheel Reviews - Page 2 - VW GTI MKVI Forum / VW Golf MKVI Forum / VW R20 Forum / VW GTI Forum - Golfmk6.com

Page number 2.

Cheers
WJ

[Corey_R]

Thanks for the links to the pictures WhiteJames. Great to see they've got a few 3 doors in the lot! They look fantastic

[bwen]

It's easy to get carried away with the hype of a new release.

No rush either, better to take your time and weigh everything up.

I think so too. I agree the R is a lovely car but there is quite a bit of hype around it so I don't think we should count out the MK6 GTI as it is still a cracking drive

[hooba]

.... Have embarrased a few Stg 2 GTI's now already as off the line my Tig has a clear advantage ..... in gear to my amazement I've found no real difference either (love p!$$ing off smug GTI drivers....) ...

so a Tiguan is like a GTI for grown-ups

Does anybody else take as much delight to witness such a delightful contradiction in the same sentence?

[Maverick]

Does anybody else take as much delight to witness such a delightful contradiction in the same sentence?

LOL! I still want to see him take a corner like a GTI!

[booya]

I reckon the R should have a more GTI-like front as it does look very ho-hum, almost overly discrete with the R logo and grey expanse. The GTI looks more flamboyant up front.
The back of the R wins because of the LEDs which I'm sure are gorgeous at night. I still prefer the wider GTI mufflers compared to the rocket ship look of the twin centred mufflers of the R.
Wheels and colours of the R are a huge let-down IMO. I would only consider the blue and even then its not as nice as the carbon steel. I'm sure they'll start bringing it out with the carbon steel later but till then only the blue is worth getting.
Would be great if the R could win the new prestige sports car medal next year (over the 135i)!! Then you'd have Golf medals everywhere!!
I suppose if you have the money to burn, by all means get the R, apart from its looks its a better car than the GTI in many aspects.
I had to call it quits at the 55K mark cause at the end of the day, it is one hell of an expensive hatchback for the 65-70K mark on road.