Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[sabloke]

Not sure the Renault Sport cars have terrible resale value to be honest. Just looked at 5 years old 182 clios and they sell for around $15k. That's not bad at all considering new it did cost $35k. A GTI of same age sells for $20k but was $40k new, so what is the big deal? You lose a couple of grand more maybe on a Clio RS than on a GTI over 5 year, maybe. Not a deal breaker for me.

[walbjj]

well i was tracking the prices of the 182 cup and 197 as i was in the market, but have since turned to the polo gti and golf gti. the same 182 and 197 cars have been for sale for close to 12 months. im just saying that although its listed at 15k, they wont get that if they plan on realistically selling those cars. $12k is more likely

[Fab_R]

I have just come from the car after running a test for the 0-100 times and im absolutly impressed with the time achieved:
Half a tank of fuel, & 20 degrees C outside.

With more of a colder morning this will surley improve again.



Bang for buck, its pretty good....

Could a GTi achieve this with even a stage III???

[AdamD]

Bang for buck, its pretty good....

That's insanely good. That was supercar performance a decade ago. Damn, it's borderline supercar performance today. Congrats mate.

Could a GTi achieve this with even a stage III???

Not a hope in hell. But then to get that kind of acceleration from a 2wd car, you need huge power, huge grip, low weight, and a lot of talent!

[G-rig]

Great time, good for traffic light GP's .

[REXman]

Great time, good for traffic light GP's .

GREAT for traffic light GP's!! And awesome for smile-on-your-face, cant-wait-till-I-drive-my-car-again type stuff.

Awesome results mate. Wish you were in SYD to give us a sample, or at least so I could hear this thing!

[RichoR2]

If it wasn't for the red light, I'd say that Econovan on your left had you beat... that time is amazing Fab, you must laugh out loud a lot.

[WhiteJames]

What do my local service managers think?

Chatting with my local Volkswagen service managers - the issue of performance tuning came up. In the past, they have had mild to wild Golf GTI’s in for service re: power increases. It was interesting to hear that out of all the tricked-up MKV Golf’s they have had through the workshop, they both rated my old MKV Golf GTI ride fitted with 18” huff wheels , KW V3 coilover suspension, & small H&R solid adjustable sway bars the best drive – and that was with the KW coilovers on almost full soft settings. When I questioned them as to why? They indicated that it handled very well with plenty of grip/traction and a nice balanced chassis and looked the goods – No mention of lack of power of the stock motor in my old MKV GTI.

On the topic of Dynamic Chassis Control – I commented to the service guys that it does take DCC a small amount of time to figure out & react to what is going on underneath the Golf – perhaps 0.25 secs. One of the service managers reckons it’s more like up to 1 second in many cases. The Koni FSD struts and later the KW coilover suspension I ran on the MKV GTI did react faster than DCC on big hits as they have a mechanical valve that reacts instantly to changes in pressure/flow.

In some respects, I do miss the Koni/KW type of ride/handling mix. DCC is still the choice for convenience & active adjustment. Not sure what I will do if I keep the GTI longer term in regards to replacement dampers – Maybe OE - DCC items; maybe standard Koni Red strut dampers, could be KW Comfort coilovers that are rebound adjustable so you can turn them up as they wear down or perhaps a set of HPA KW SHS coilovers that now available for the Mark 6 Golf.

Another issue gleaned is the repair of scuffed & scratched Detroit 18” wheels. With a polished surface, clear coat and black painted apertures & inner wheel – the Detroit wheels appears to be a beatch to repair & repaint imo. Hard to match one wheel to 3 other wheels when repairing. Service guys are saying that you’d want to repair all four wheels at once to maintain consistency of colour & quality.

Thinking of maybe getting a set of silver BBS CH 18” or OEM Volkswagen Motorsport 18” anthracite colour wheels for daily use and put the Detroit wheels in storage until it’s time to sell the GTI. I reckon that the BBS or OE VW Motorsport would be easier to repair as they have consistent colour and texture right throughout the wheel. About half the $700 per wheel cost of the BBS or OE VW M/Sport could be re-couped when it comes time to sell if they are in reasonably good condition. The aftermarket wheels are also a bit lighter than the Detroit’s - but not by much. Detroit’s are 28-29lbs, the BBS CH @ 25lbs and the OE VW M/Sport weights are stated to range from 22.5lbs – 23lbs – 27lbs depending on whom you’re asking(?). The Detroit wheels are very strong, having had them out on the rougher country roadways. Not really concerned with super lightweight cast or forged alloy wheels like OZ Racing or Rays/Volks etc. It’s either BBS or OEM atm.

Seeing the White Golf R at the local dealership that Ray and I used in the second review drive and a White Polo GTI in the same dealer lot – I’m leaning more towards the Polo GTI atm.

Cheers
WJ

[dave_r]

Chatting with my local Volkswagen service managers - the issue of performance tuning came up. In the past, they have had mild to wild Golf GTI’s in for service re: power increases.
<snip>
They indicated that it handled very well with plenty of grip/traction and a nice balanced chassis and looked the goods – No mention of lack of power of the stock motor in my old MKV GTI.

So all these customers don't mind their service manager testing the vehicle while in for service to a point that would afford them the luxury of being able to tell all that?

As for the DCC stuff, I did the usual run to the missus place twice today over a few rubbish railway crossings. Funnily enough DCC in the normal mode and 19's felt far more comfortable than her Polo with sports pack. However quick or slow it reacts, it's doing a damn good job of making a firm yet comfortable ride!

[Fab_R]

If it wasn't for the red light, I'd say that Econovan on your left had you beat... that time is amazing Fab, you must laugh out loud a lot.

Thanks RichoR2, i do, funny about that. Brings a big smile to my face.

[team_v]

So all these customers don't mind their service manager testing the vehicle while in for service to a point that would afford them the luxury of being able to tell all that?

As for the DCC stuff, I did the usual run to the missus place twice today over a few rubbish railway crossings. Funnily enough DCC in the normal mode and 19's felt far more comfortable than her Polo with sports pack. However quick or slow it reacts, it's doing a damn good job of making a firm yet comfortable ride!

Quality assurance?
I assume they have to test the cars around the block to make sure that everything is in working order and to make sure there are no unusual noises.

[dave_r]

I assume they have to test the cars around the block to make sure that everything is in working order and to make sure there are no unusual noises.

Get ya hand off it, how hard are they going if they're able to tell a noticable difference in grip levels?

[team_v]

Get ya hand off it, how hard are they going if they're able to tell a noticable difference in grip levels?

I don't know.
I was just offering an opinion as to why they may have been driving the cars.

I didn't say it was right for them to be testing them to such a level of performance.

[dave_r]

I didn't say it was right for them to be testing them to such a level of performance.

Oh ok, no worries then

[team_v]

Oh ok, no worries then

That is why i am going to lock mine in stock mode if it ever needs to go to a dealership for something.