Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Starlooker]

It's amazing how much thinking is involved in picking the right options for a new car. My 2 major struggles in my considerations are recaros and 19" rims. Recaros are great to look at, but not sure if it's as great to live with. I'm also quite sold on the black 19" rims as I'm getting the R in white, I have driven the R with 18"s, the ride is about spot on. Not sure about the 19"s tho, hope they are not too rough. Or if they are, hopefully ACC will help to tone it down a bit.

[dave_r]

It's amazing how much thinking is involved in picking the right options for a new car. My 2 major struggles in my considerations are recaros and 19" rims. Recaros are great to look at, but not sure if it's as great to live with. I'm also quite sold on the black 19" rims as I'm getting the R in white, I have driven the R with 18"s, the ride is about spot on. Not sure about the 19"s tho, hope they are not too rough. Or if they are, hopefully ACC will help to tone it down a bit.

We're talking serious cash here, so don't want to be second guessing. I had the same concern with the 19's particularly after reading reports from the O/S crowd who already got their cars. ACC was an easy tick box and I don't think it is that expensive overall for what it provides.

[G-rig]

We're talking serious cash here, so don't want to be second guessing. I had the same concern with the 19's particularly after reading reports from the O/S crowd who already got their cars. ACC was an easy tick box and I don't think it is that expensive overall for what it provides.

It was the same with getting 18" on the GTI, a lot of people said the ride was apparently too harsh without it.

Hard do decide about a lot of the options these days. ACC makes it a bit hard if you want to lower the car though, but apparently the ride is fine with 18" and no ACC on the R, just not sure about 19".

[dave_r]

ACC makes it a bit hard if you want to lower the car though, but apparently the ride is fine with 18" and no ACC on the R, just not sure about 19".

I'd never mod a daily driver like these in that regard so ACC is fine. 18's without were fine to me. I've added it as just in case for the 19's and truth be told, I wanted more buttons to play with LOL

[shakespeare]

Not sure about the Golf's ride but the R I tested had 18's and no ACC, the ride was firm but reasonably compliant and only noticably on some very dodgy roads. I lowered my MPS on Cusco Coilovers which were hard as rock, but man was the handling sweet. So for me I ordered 19's with ACC as at times I thought my old bones would need some respite from the hard ride on 19's and others I'd want to firm up the ride a bit.

[elisiX]

My GTI on 18's without ACC is perfectly comfortable and compliant.

If you hit a nasty pot hole (which has happened once or twice - moved house new road and was unfamiliar), there's a thud but the car doesn't lose its cool.

If I had my time again i'd option ACC for the novelty but also to stiffen it up further for days on good roads when having a little fun.

[pologti18t]

The Audi S3 Recaros don't have side airbags either.

Also, side airbags in a "Motorsports seat" typical defeats the purpose. You get them because they're lightweight. You get them because they're more supportive and don't allow you to move to the left or right and be "out of the seat". So therefore a side airbag in theory should be useless with motorsports seats! But then again, using them without a harness is also a compromised solution...

Its a road car.... rather have the added protection of a side airbag than a saving of a few kgs in a 1500kg car.
The danger in a side impact is whacking your head on the b pillar etc and getting irreversible brain damage.

As I said... Renault offer similar recaros on the Clio for far less ($2500) and include side airbags. Makes the VW versions seem a bit of a rip off

[Corey_R]

The danger in a side impact is whacking your head on the b pillar etc and getting irreversible brain damage.

Sorry to inform you, but side airbags DO NOT protect the head. That is covered by curtain airbags, which are still present in the Golf regardless of the seats that you option.

Side airbags are to protect the torso, which SHOULD be protected by the motorsports seats. The picture you posted are of budget recaro seats which are clearly inferior to even the standard Golf seats. They probably need side airbags....

[G-rig]

I'd never mod a daily driver like these in that regard so ACC is fine. 18's without were fine to me. I've added it as just in case for the 19's and truth be told, I wanted more buttons to play with LOL

More buttons is good. Probably a good call if you don't want to lower the car.. but what was with the APR talk before retuning a daily is ok ..?

[R U Serious]

It's amazing how much thinking is involved in picking the right options for a new car. My 2 major struggles in my considerations are recaros and 19" rims. Recaros are great to look at, but not sure if it's as great to live with. I'm also quite sold on the black 19" rims as I'm getting the R in white, I have driven the R with 18"s, the ride is about spot on. Not sure about the 19"s tho, hope they are not too rough. Or if they are, hopefully ACC will help to tone it down a bit.

You did the right thing ticking ACC, it seems subtle at first but when you get used to it there is a marked difference between Comfort and normal, particularly for speed humps and roads with ripples in the bitumen. I have silver 19" with ACC and these do give a firmer ride that the 18" and also make the steering heavier . Drove my mates Golf R on 18's with no ACC and it rides a treat, better than mine in normal and on 19's. Love the look of 19's but 18's drive better. 19's and ACC go hand in hand.

cheers

[G-rig]

That's interesting that the steering is heavier with 19".

I have ACC & 18" on the GTI and sports mode makes the steering heavier to start with.

Different 18" wheels and no ACC sound like the solution (ie after market wheels as the 18" R wheels look too small, and i'd get an ET45 as well for a bit of a tougher look).

[dave_r]

The picture you posted are of budget recaro seats which are clearly inferior to even the standard Golf seats. They probably need side airbags....

LOL I was going to say how ugly are those things and besides its a renault. French rubbish. (IMO, just in case we have another Nissan Fanboy like the R thread)

More buttons is good. Probably a good call if you don't want to lower the car.. but what was with the APR talk before retuning a daily is ok ..?

I think it handles exceptionally well as is so no incentive to muck around with a winning formula. But more power is always welcome, the chassis is easily capable of harnessing the APR upgrade and still being a good daily.

You did the right thing ticking ACC.....

Interesting comments. Do you find the steering heavier in comfort mode also? The 19's are slightly wider so I guess it makes sense to feel a bit of a difference?

[G-rig]

Interesting comments. Do you find the steering heavier in comfort mode also? The 19's are slightly wider so I guess it makes sense to feel a bit of a difference?

Being a tad heavier in the standard/comfort mode wouldn't be much to worry about, as WJ believes the standard steering is a bit light but IMO sports mode steering is too heavy for speeds less than 80km/hr.

I think it handles exceptionally well as is so no incentive to muck around with a winning formula. But more power is always welcome, the chassis is easily capable of harnessing the APR upgrade and still being a good daily.

Agreed, however the R32 did benefit a lot from coilovers and sway bars. Even though the MK6 is a stiffer you get used to things like body roll and handling. My MK6 feels a lot less sloppy than my R32 felt with stock suspension.

[Guy_H]

Still a tough decision!

Mind you, the GTI is the only one that currently has an engine in it!

More build pics at ozVolks Australian VW Enthusiast Forum

[Corey_R]

Well, the Golf R is on top of the Golf GTI, so clearly the R is superior

Thanks for the link and pics Guy