Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[thezoneR32]

Seems to me from everything Ive read that you could own all three (R32 - GTI - R) and have 3 different driving experiences. This search for "The best" is obviously futile as they are all so different.

Someone should start a "R32 v GTI v R" thread.

[REXman]

Yeah the R would win that too

[Treza360]

Top Gear UK Magazine (July 2010) has a hot hatch mega shoot out to pick the best that included putting the new Polo GTI up against the MkVI Golf GTI up against the MkVI Scirocco R up against the MkVI Golf R (There was a Seat in there too). Eleven hatches all up. The Polo and Scirocco were in the bottom five and the both Golfs rated highly. The Golf R came up on top against the GTI but as has been said the comment seemed to be that ~90% of the time there's not much in it. In the end no VAG car won.

Discussion located here: Click Me For Link (yes there are other sections other than this one).

Cheers,
Trent

[WhiteJames]

Is WJ trading in his GTI for the Golf R?

The U.K. edition Top Gear article was a good read. Golf R with its balanced chassis making for an effortless & fluid drive experience was the pick for the STIG understandable. Haldex + EDL front electronic diff really improves the Golf R over the outgoing R32 model. The GTI the best all-rounder according to Top Gear – The GTI does require greater driver effort & skill to extract the best from it; whereas the Golf R makes a much easier job of it as a driver’s vehicle. As a grand-tourer, the Golf R takes the cake. For day to day urban commuting, the GTI is more responsive, useable & liveable.

The article written by James Wong from Autosavant, Singapore is the best article I have read so far on the Golf R –v- Golf GTI.

The Golf R From The Perspective Of A GTI Owner | Autosavant

Autosavant indicate that the Golf R has a tendency to drone at 100kph speeds where the turbo is not in boost (see comments section of the review). I noticed a bit of a deeper drone sound to the exhaust on my Golf R test drive. Alternatively, most GTI’s exhibit the exhaust scavenging sound around 2400rpm-2500rpm. Fuel consumption on the highway for the Golf R appears be much better than the old R32 model, but around town doesn’t look like there’d be much in it between R –v- R32 re: fuel use.

Me: I’d still prefer a Golf R with a GTI EA888 motor in it - not rushing out to trade the GTI in for a Golf R. Ideally: Like to have both – GTI for day to day city commuting & tightly wound mountain road climbs – Golf R for touring.

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

I didn't notice any drone in my test drive of the R. I did notice that comment when I read that article a few days ago, and it puzzled me. I know that the dealers over in Singapore a dodgy... there are lots of claims from people that many of the GTI and R's in Singapore are "pre-modded", even without being advertised as being so. I wonder whether this particular R had the "flap" either removed or locked in the open position, hence causing the drone he mentioned at 100kph?

[triode12]

I didn't notice any drone in my test drive of the R. I did notice that comment when I read that article a few days ago, and it puzzled me. I know that the dealers over in Singapore a dodgy... there are lots of claims from people that many of the GTI and R's in Singapore are "pre-modded", even without being advertised as being so. I wonder whether this particular R had the "flap" either removed or locked in the open position, hence causing the drone he mentioned at 100kph?

I too noticed a difference between the R I test drove in Singapore (in March) and the R I test drove here in Sydney recently. The one in Singapore had a louder exhaust (very noticable in the cabin) and felt more powerful with no lag in Drive or Sport modes (tuned perhaps).

The R I drove in Sg however was one from VW Sg (not a parallel importer). So if the R I test drove had been modded, it was with VW Singapore's "blessing".

VW Singapore has a previous working relationship with APR - the Limited Edition V50 Golf was released with an VW warrantied APR stg 1 tune.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/109040318411/vw-golf-gti-v50-released-in-asia

[REXman]

yeah none of the GOLF's I tested R/GTI droned at all. 200SX with black market exhaust - thats drone. The GOLFs couldnt be more "pleasant" to me.

[triode12]

Actually, I liked the sound of the exhaust with the flapper mod (if indeed that was done to the exhaust of the R that I test drove in Sg) - very aggressive sounding which complemented the (great) driving experience. It did however, bother my friends wife, a passenger in the backseat at the time who complained about it.

[Corey_R]

lol - that's not surprising... it can be amazing how much more "drone" there is in the rear seat of a Golf than there is in the front seat with aftermarket/modified exhausts!

[WhiteJames]

Golf R -v- Golf GTI ; and the STIG

Also read somewhere else that the Golf R exhaust drones a bit when at highway speeds - one of the UK reports I think. Really enjoyed reading this post by AdamD - seems to be objective in his views on each ride:

(Yet) Another R Opinion, from a MkVI GTI driver

I called by my dealership today, and my salesman threw me the keys to their demo R (silver 5dr DSG, black 19s, ACC). I figured I'd post my observations, particularly with regard to some recent points of contention on the forums, and from the perspective of (yet another) new MkVI GTI owner.

I didn't notice any difference between the GTI and the R with respect to the DSG clutch/1st gear engagement delay on take-off, and I was paying close attention. Both are excellent in this regard, when compared to my recollections of the MkV GTI. There is a minor hesitation, but it's minimised when you're harder on the throttle (which, incidentally, speeds up the shifts on both cars).

The exhaust note (at suburban speeds) is just right - meaty and properly sporty, without drawing too much attention. As much as I love the exhaust in my GTI, the R really improves on it.

The brake feel and performance is quite different: the pedal feel is firmer and without the initial soft sponginess in the travel I've noticed on my car. The brake strength is also excellent - amazingly confidence inspiring. I see the brakes as one of the best points of difference between the GTI and the R.

The ride, even on the 19s, is impressive. In Comfort mode it rides more comfortably than my non-ACC GTI on 17s, and in Normal mode it is certainly no worse. There's less firmness transmitted over short sharp bumps, and less bodyroll on power turn-in. Interestingly, pitch under brakes felt about the same.

Power on-boost is about what I'd expect. Strong, without being scary or laugh-out-loud fast. A stage 1, on the other hand, may well have me in fits of laughter.

Now to the few negatives. The lag is significant. One of the best attributes of the GTI is its eagerness just about anywhere in the rev range, even from a standstill on a light throttle. This is missing from the R, and when you're cruising at a fixed speed off-boost, the car feels much more docile. During (relatively) normal acceleration this R was fairly revvy even in drive, so it felt fine once above 25km/h or so - it may be that the standard shift points for the R are intentionally more aggressive (to suit the car's characteristics and also the target owner's preferences), but I can't really draw any conclusions about that from a demo that is almost certainly thrashed day in day out.

The R also feels less playful in slow, tight and darty corners than the GTI. It's certainly fast, and I believe it understeers less too, but I couldn't get the back end to move much at all, despite provocation, under heavy braking or under power. It's hugely impressive, and that handling performance is very accessible; I'm not sure it's any more fun.

And that, for me, is really the crux of the matter. The R is fast and addictive when you're having a go, but is just that little bit less than I'd hoped for when you're not. For this reason it's tempting to push harder than you otherwise might in a GTI. I walked away feeling I'd be bound to lose points pretty quickly if I bought an R, whereas I'm always smiling under the limit in my car.

I think the R is well priced in comparison to a GTI (and I think both are relative bargains for what they offer). What I don't think is that the R can be simply classified as better or offering more of everything - it's a different car, that suits different driving conditions and driving styles. I wouldn't say it's the automatic choice for a GTI buyer with more cash. I would say it's a fantastic car and I loved driving it. I wouldn't say I'd choose it over a GTI for all drives, but for some I would, no question.

(From what I've read, the APR stage 1 flash for the R may well reduce lag and improve driveability below 2500rpm. If this is the case, I'd say it's a must-have for anyone who does regular suburban commuting, even if it added nothing to the top end - and it clearly does.)

Here's some Top Gear Footage of the Hot Hatch Shootout at Harewood Hillclimb course: Golf R -v- Golf GTI.

See links:

[WhiteJames]

Harewood Hillclimb : Golf R -v- Golf GTI

Here's some Top Gear Footage of the Hot Hatch Shootout at Harewood Hillclimb course: Golf R -v- Golf GTI.

See links:

Stig hillclimb: VW Golf R - BBC Top Gear

Stig hillclimb: VW Golf GTi - BBC Top Gear

Cheers
WJ

[Maz]

Thanks for the links WJ. I'd love to see Top Gear put both the GTI and the R around their track.

[WhiteJames]

Sirocco R

Better not forget the Sirocco R:

Stig hillclimb: VW Scirocco R - BBC Top Gear

Looks like the EDL/XDS limits some forward motion around the apex on the Sirocco R with the inside front wheel being braked to a degree. Sirocco R clocked 0.25 second slower than Golf R on this hillclimb.

Cheers.
WJ

[ConR]

man can that stig drive!

[G-rig]

Cool vids WJ.