Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[adzy]

I just missed out on a dirt cheap Citroen Xsara VTS, which are a massively underrated car, for that kind of fun.

Banzai - stunning car. Looks great.

I've never driven on eof them?

same issue for me once i installed the wavetrac lsd..

Great mod that! But you would be smiling a little harder due to seeing 2 black lines on the tarmac

[Banzai]

As for the rain comment. It was in reference to last years Hot Tuner challenge at Eastern Creek when both the Golf R and GTI slaughtered the modified Elise around Eastern Creek at the hands of Warren Luff and Paul Morris. Whilst I'm not a fan of PM (who drove the Golfs... can't remember who piloted the Elise), I'm sure he could run rings around most of us non-racers

Paul Morris also drove the Elise. Owner and workshop weren't happy he was driving in boots rather than something more appropriate. Elise pedals are closer together than most cars so you have to be a bit careful about the shoes you wear or you unintentionally hit the brake and accelerator. That said, I have wide feet and just choose shoes that don't have very wide soles.

I believe that same Elise is back this year and it has been given more power. Last year it had between 250 and 300hp, this year it is closer to 400. A well sorted, well driven Elise on slicks with that sort of power is capable of lapping EC in less than 1.30. There is one with about 250hp that recorded 1.35 a few weeks ago. Cars that quick weigh a couple of hundred KG less than the one n the Tuner challenge

You are right when you say the Lotus is not the fastest thing in the wet but most people don't ralise that what makes a car fast in the dry works against it in the rain. The Elise/Exige is quite light and has relatively wide tyres which may be more prone to aquaplaning. It has a short wheelbase which really helps it turn in but has a low polar moment in loose conditions. ie you don't get much chance to catch itwhen the tail starts to go. Has only ever happened to me on the racetrack or skidpan, never on the road unless I intended it.

If you like shooting brakes, and I also love that style, look for pics of the E-type Jag from the movie Harold and Maude. Sadly it was destroyed at the end of the movie. A few corvettes have had SB conversions and Nissan/Datsun actually had a Shooting Brake option in the early design concepts for the 240Z. Then there is the Volvo P1800ES. Much better looking than the coupe. And last but not least the Chevy Nomad based on the 55 to 57 Bel-Air

http://www.joefuda.com/56%20Nomad%20RF.jpg

[Guy_H]

Paul Morris also drove the Elise. Owner and workshop weren't happy he was driving in boots rather than something more appropriate. Elise pedals are closer together than most cars so you have to be a bit careful about the shoes you wear or you unintentionally hit the brake and accelerator. That said, I have wide feet and just choose shoes that don't have very wide soles.

Actually owner (Jeff Morton?)wasn't happy with a lot of things that weekend, believe me, I had to stand next to him quite a bit.

Mind you, he had to eat his words when Paul Morris set most of the fastest times period (all cars - nothing in particular) & P.S. His shoes were not wide, we have photos of him & that's just a fairy tale. Mind you, if Luffy had have driven all the cars, no one apart from the Elise owner thinks the results would have changed. I'm pretty sure the owner of Simply Sports cars wasnt there for the whole event (Lee?) - but everyone else had to suck up the weather & deal with it.

Just thought you might like to know, there were a lot of people that were actually there on the days.

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How are the boys going to combat the compulsory wet event this year? That will be interesting. Mind you, it was polar opposites last years, those that were good in a straight line sucked on the track (generalisation). I know our cars relatively sucked on the motorkhana with their stiff setup.

Don't get me wrong, in my ultimate garage, an Elise would be right up there (I have driven Paul Stokell's on the track before) - they are close to a pure racecar - lovely.

[Banzai]

Hi Guy.
I've known Jeff for quite a few years so yes, I take his complaints with a grain of salt.

Since my last post I've worked out it isn't Jeff's car that is entering this year, it is a similarly modified Exige from Qld.

The way the weather in Sydney has been this year I reckon it is likely to be a wet contest again.

BTW, has anyone worked out the cause of the oil consumption problems on MkIV GTIs? When I got my APR kit fitted I was warned about it. The only time the car has used any oil was at a Marulan "training" day. As much as I'd like to try the car on a proper track this issue stops me.

[Ideo]

I've never driven on eof them?

Great mod that! But you would be smiling a little harder due to seeing 2 black lines on the tarmac

It's basically the same as GTi-6 only with a less lift-off oversteer rear end and only 5 speed. Same engine though. Can be picked up dirt cheap - about half the price as a GTI-6 but with less Kms on the clock and newer

[Guy_H]

Hi Guy.

BTW, has anyone worked out the cause of the oil consumption problems on MkIV GTIs? When I got my APR kit fitted I was warned about it. The only time the car has used any oil was at a Marulan "training" day. As much as I'd like to try the car on a proper track this issue stops me.

Hey banzai, this is fixable, but not easy or cheap to do it properly (unfortunately) - give us a call - its a 2 stage issue.

1/ - annoying smoke & oil consumption.
2/ - blown engine from oil starvation.

Cheers

[SilvrFoxX]

Can we please get back on topic .. Golf R is better than a GTI in any configuration on any day of the week..

[triode12]

As per Guy_H's post, the fact that one has to undertake an expensive overhaul of the EA888 engine to solve it's oil consumption issue makes the Golf R a better proposition any day over the GTI esp if you intend on tracking the car. However, this wouldn't apply to the new 35 GTI which has the same EA113 engine (non-oil guzzling) as the R.

[sabloke]

Sure thing the R is better than the GTI. Better at burning more fuel, at pushing the scale a further 150 kg and at lining dealer's pockets with more dough due to higher maintenance costs. Any day of the week and in any configuration. How's that for being on topic FoxXy? You serious?

[SilvrFoxX]

No just want to get the rivalry up and running Again

But only GTI drivers want an R Not the other way round

[Mi16 Man]

As per Guy_H's post, the fact that one has to undertake an expensive overhaul of the EA888 engine to solve it's oil consumption issue makes the Golf R a better proposition any day over the GTI esp if you intend on tracking the car. However, this wouldn't apply to the new 35 GTI which has the same EA113 engine (non-oil guzzling) as the R.

But just think about all that oil you can buy by saving money by buying a car which is 99% of an R! Hehe

Was watching a maniac in an R yesterday in Canberra. Every green light he would put the boot in followed by a huge cloud of soot. Meanwhile, Grandpa here in his GTI (driving client around) would be right behind him at the next set of lights with fuel consumption of 7.2l!

[WhiteJames]

If I had to buy again; I'd be looking more towards a Megane RS250 over the Golf R. Otherwise perhaps a Polo GTI. Golf GTI & Golf R are still good. Just looking for greater driver involvement.

[sabloke]

No just want to get the rivalry up and running Again

But only GTI drivers want an R Not the other way round

ha ha, wouldn't that be something? buying the most expensive Golf there is only to lust for best one? no one will admit to that

[SilvrFoxX]

But just think about all that oil you can buy
by saving money by buying a car which is 99% of an R! Hehe

Was watching a maniac in an R yesterday in Canberra. Every green light he would put the boot in followed by a huge cloud of soot. Meanwhile, Grandpa here in his GTI (driving client around) would be right behind him at the next set of lights with fuel consumption of 7.2l!

The reason the GTI is cheaper is cause it is only half the car the R is and owners of the R don't buy them to gloat about fuel economy

If that was the reason then they would buy a diesel

You get an R cause it comes in rising blue

[Ideo]

Sure thing the R is better than the GTI. Better at burning more fuel, at pushing the scale a further 150 kg and at lining dealer's pockets with more dough due to higher maintenance costs. Any day of the week and in any configuration. How's that for being on topic FoxXy? You serious?

Better at using much less oil as well.

As for fuel concumption, pfft who cares? Fleet card and if I cared about that I would have got a diesel.