Golf R Observations and Questions

[dave_r]

Interesting to see the prices people getting now, the discounts are flying hard and fast. Shouldn't be many people paying over $60k even with a bunch of options!

I wouldn't count on that... we've seen people change minor things a week or so before their build date and find themselves bumped from the production schedule. Whether it was because of their change or another reason is hard to know... but to be safe, don't leave it until the week before

I reckon this is what happened to me. Damn colour/option indecisions!

but I've now got my VIN and Engine number!

****er! I've sent my weekly update e-mail....

[halojump]

Hahaha Yeah same here!

I do, however have every Faith in German Engineering (Although a Certain 07' BMW X5 of ours has had its fair share of issues since the date of purchase), and I can't see a friday build being all to horrid, though the germans do enjoy a good ole chug of the amber stuff (so I have heard).

Funny story, I've had a German built Fiesta that had a few issues, The Bimmer is Mum's and that has had a few issues, and the only car that hasn't had any issues is the French built clio? and I thought they were built by mime artists....

Aren't the X5's made in the USA, along with the X3 and Z4?

[Prodigy]

So my car has reached "Checkpoint 8 Handover to Sales" which is step 15 of the 27 step VW process. I'm not 100% sure if "Checkpoint 8" is the exact step where the details become available, but I've now got my VIN and Engine number!

At the time the car went into production, it wasn't available, and even a week ago it wasn't available... but it is now

Great news mate, i reckon i'm still a good week away from getting my VIN details.

[Corey_R]

Aren't the X5's made in the USA, along with the X3 and Z4?

Yep, X5's are made in Spartanburg, South Carolina! Many people just hear the Spartanburg part and think of Wolfsburg and other 'burg' places in Germany. But yeah, the USA! Some are now made in Russia too, but I'm pretty sure that's only for special markets.

[dave_r]

Great news mate, i reckon i'm still a good week away from getting my VIN details.

Guess I'm the same as you mate. My "Handover to Production" is 14/09/10 and "Checkpoint 8 Handover to Sales" is 04/10/10 so exactly the same info as it was a week ago.

So still looking good for a build next monday. At least it hasn't been delayed again heh

Many people just hear the Spartanburg part and think of Wolfsburg and other 'burg' places in Germany.

Good sales tactic!

[SilvrFoxX]

Great news mate, i reckon i'm still a good week away from getting my VIN details.

So what has the experience been for time through the checkpoints

[Danny]

Aren't the X5's made in the USA, along with the X3 and Z4?

Yeah South Carolina, but the equipment and setup are all to BMW and therefore German standards I'd imagine.

[Darren]

Golf R 2.0

Hey there,

I enjoyed reading your post re your new R, with great interest.
My Golf R is on order for the last 3 months and I'm busily following the WW ship's voyage with my baby on board to Melbourn, early in November.

I've ordered similar to you: Rising Blue, 5 door, 6sp man, Sunroof, Sat Nav, Audio upgrade, MDI and Leather....But no ACC (following discussions with my mate who has it and wasnt impressed)...I hope I've done the right thing? But its too late now...

I look forward to reading the answers to your questions!

Safe Driving...

Did 150km on my R today and have a few questions. I've read the owners manual front to back but it hasn't answered all my questions.

-I've seen people talking about V3 maps for the RNS510, how do I know what version I have?
-I didn't get any DVD of the maps with the car, should I have?
-Am I right in thinking voice control isn't fitted to my car? Does it come with the Bluetooth option or something?
-The 'workaround' I found on youtube to allow DVD's to be played while the car is moving (press voice control button followed by tone button) doesn't work on my car. Is there any other workaround that will allow me to have the DVD running while driving? (for the passenger of course).
-I have seen people mention new firmware versions for the MDI and RNS, should I be doing this?
-Every online review says it has a 55L fuel tank, the manual says 60L, can anyone confirm?
-I think I read that the DSG clutched are designed to last the life of the engine and shouldn't need replacing. Does this mean you can use launch control as much as you like without wearing anything out?

Now for my observations...

Overall awesome. Comparing to my previous cars, an MY03 and MY08 WRX.
Handling of the Golf is far superior. ACC is the best option ever, the comfort option makes it very 'relaxed' to drive round town, while sport mode is great for when you want to attack a few corners, nowhere near as much body roll as the WRX and far more grip. To anyone considering the R I wouldn't bother getting it without ACC if you're serious about your driving.
The steering is quite heavy and is taking some getting used to. There have been a few occasions when I have used my 'muscle memory' from the WRX to turn into a familiar corner and ended up not turning in anywhere near enough. I live in a highrise and my parking is 7 levels underground, my arms are tired by the time I get out of the carpark with all the turning involved. No doubt I will get used to it.
The DSG is both the best and worst feature of the car. In manual mode it is incredible, gear changes are just so smooth and quick, I still get blown away going up through the gears from a standing start (haven't used launch control yet, running it in a bit first). But drive and sport mode let it down.
Drive mode changes up way too early, 6th gear at 45kmh? really? It feels like the engine is laboring the whole time. If you actually want to accelerate you have to put your foot down a long long way. On the other hand I was impressed with D when I was going down a long downhill in an 80 zone. I dabbed the brake and it dropped to 5th, still going too fast I braked again and it dropped to 4th, it then held 4th even after I took my foot off the brake which gave me the engine braking I wanted, I had thought it would go back to 6th after I stopped braking.
Sport mode is the total opposite of Drive... It just never changed up gear!! It wont go from 3rd to 4th until 65-70kmh, at which point it in doing near 4000rpm. It will only go to 4th if you're not touching either pedal, as soon as you touch either the brake or accelerator it drops back to 3rd!!
Basically I want a mode inbetween the two!! I want something that doesn't sound like I'm revving the engine the entire time, but will actually give me some power when I want it. I want 4th gear in a 50 zone and 5th gear in a 60 zone, unfortunately the only options the auto modes give you are 6th or 3rd in both.

[Prodigy]

Congrats with the pending arrival of your R and welcome to the non ACC club, we are few and far between.

[Lex200]

Golf R Fuel Tank capacity

I'm thoroughly enjoying my new Golf R.

However, I'm confused about the fuel tank capacity. I've read on this forum that it is 60L and the manual says 60L with an 8L reserve. The specifications on the VW website list it as 55L - the same as other Golf models.

When the fuel guage reaches the red section the Range indicates about 20km. The guage then falls rapidly. I recently drove it until Range was reading 5km. Filling it at that time took 52.5L.

How accurate is the Range reported by the car? Is there an 8L reserve after the range is zero? Is the capacity 55L or 60L?

I dislike refilling a car before its needed but hate running out of fuel.

Cheers
Lex

[Corey_R]

The information on the Australian specifications is a mistake as far as I'm aware. The German and UK sites say that it's a 60L tank. Your post would seem to prove this.

The "reserve" is part of the 60L. So effectively, when the car tells you that the range of 0km and you are "empty", you still have that 8L left in the tank.
This is why you have observed that you were able to put in 52.5L when there was only 5km left (~0.5L is probably the pipe up from the tank ).

Hope that helps

p.s. Welcome to the forums
p.p.s. I hate you because you already are filling up your Golf R and mine is still in the factory hehe

[Lex200]

Thanks - that helps.
Wil the range just stop at zero or does it show any indication of using the reserve?
Not sure if I'm brave enough to keep driving when the range is 0 or less and the guage registers empty!

PS I was lucky enough to find mine at a dealer in July when the original buyer who placed the order had his finance fall through. At least that's what the dealer told me! I had no choice about options, but very happy with what I have.

[Corey_R]

In my MKV GTI, the range just stops at 0, but the MFD turned yellow along the top and I don't think it would let me change from the "Please refuel" message. I got caught out travelling at night between Sydney and Brisbane and a few Petrol Stations in a row not having any 95 OR 98 (wtf!). I did about 30km with it like that and then put in about 52L. This was late 2008, so the memory is getting a bit foggy on the details...

I would assume the MK6 is similar, but with the change to the white MFD etc, I'm not sure how its changed in this regard.

[fredstar]

Golf R Exhaust note

I have driven the R and seen and heard a few on the street. To me the exhaust not just doesn't sound that great.

I have a MKV GTI and I think it has a little more of a growl and fart with changes which I love.

What do you guys think? I know everyone will say it doesn't compare to the R32 note, but how about compared to the GTI? Or what you think of its sound.

[fredstar]

That spreadsheet to calculate discount etc won't open on my Mac. Do I need something to open it?
Thanks