Golf R Observations and Questions

[dave_r]

Has anyone mentioned just how farken awesome these things are hehe? Im sitting at work not concentrating because i want to go out for a fang!

Not sure if the long wait made me more crazy but everything about the car just feels better than all the test drives I had. Must be cos its a 3 door and the demos were 5

But damn that DSG. I thought D was for normal and S for stupid. But my left hand keeps clicking the down paddle 2-3 times regardless of where the shifter is!

[runningmanz]

@ Stephen Gratz, nice pics! Can't wait for as full report!

@ Dave_r I am here at work not concentrating dreaming about my R and I don't even have it yet lol! Can't imagine once I get it how distracting it will be hehehe!

[Big_Dave]

Niiiiiice,
I think the black on white looks really special.
Turns an otherwise nondescript colour into a really aggressive combo.
Well done!

Here's a silly question, is the high beam light the one on the inside of the cluster????

[team_v]

Niiiiiice,
I think the black on white looks really special.
Turns an otherwise nondescript colour into a really aggressive combo.
Well done!

Here's a silly question, is the high beam light the one on the inside of the cluster????

It should be the one on the inside yes.

[Fab_R]

Im still distracted and i got mine in June.......It will not wear off!!!

[DDTW]

Im still distracted and i got mine in June.......It will not wear off!!!

That's because you keep upgrading it!!! =)

[Fab_R]

That's because you keep upgrading it!!! =)

Um yeah probably has something to do with it, APR IC next and thats it...promise.

[weewilly]

just had a pre-delivery look at the black,(photo's been posted). all in order but did notice something, I may be nit picking, your thoughts please....
Regarding the passenger side leather seat, the leather on the seat itself isn't taught. It looks as though its been sat on for weeks. The driver side in contrast is taught, no ripples. also as the driver side door closes, you can c it shift up and engage into the mech. I don't expect to see that movement, its a 2 door so the doors are quite long. wondering if this is a weight issue, or just alignment. once again feedback is appreciated.

[team_v]

just had a pre-delivery look at the black,(photo's been posted). all in order but did notice something, I may be nit picking, your thoughts please....
Regarding the passenger side leather seat, the leather on the seat itself isn't taught. It looks as though its been sat on for weeks. The driver side in contrast is taught, no ripples. also as the driver side door closes, you can c it shift up and engage into the mech. I don't expect to see that movement, its a 2 door so the doors are quite long. wondering if this is a weight issue, or just alignment. once again feedback is appreciated.

From memory there is a screw at the hinge that can be used to adjust door height.
It is entirely likely that the car dor has sunk slightly during it's trip to Aus.

I would also be making sure the dealership runs a full wheel alignment before you drive it away.

[shakespeare]

just had a pre-delivery look at the black,(photo's been posted). all in order but did notice something, I may be nit picking, your thoughts please....
Regarding the passenger side leather seat, the leather on the seat itself isn't taught. It looks as though its been sat on for weeks. The driver side in contrast is taught, no ripples. also as the driver side door closes, you can c it shift up and engage into the mech. I don't expect to see that movement, its a 2 door so the doors are quite long. wondering if this is a weight issue, or just alignment. once again feedback is appreciated.

Interesting, the leather on my seats is tight for both sides. (see pic)



Had my R for a week now and thought I'd share some of my early findings, only done 280kms though!

Overall it is a very enjoyable car to drive, from daily driving in traffic, to throwing around corners, to traffic light sprints to rubbish suburban roads it feels and drives exceptionally well. I initially thought the 19's were going to cause me some ride issues but with ACC in either Normal or Comfort there is little or no harshness.

So far the roads have been dry but the grip levels are very good, though had found that pushed a little hard into a corner it will probably understeer a little earlier than my Mazda 6MPS, then again my entry speed may have been quicker than I would have normally done so as the R is so quiet and smooth you don't really realise how quick you are going sometimes!

Freeway driving is great and exceptionally quiet (again compared to the Mazda, though is also quieter than our 2006 Jetta TFSI) My fuel cosumption has been on the high side (14L/100km measured from filling up, though is similar to the MFD) but this is to be expected as I am wanting to hear the growl and upshift noises all the time, which I may add don't sound like an R32 but again compared to the MPS the R has a much nicer sound.

Interior comfort levels are very high and the quality is awesome, the RNS510 with bluetooth and MDI is sensational to use, quite intuitive and the bluetooth works incredibly well with my blackberry and the voice clarity is top notch! The electric drivers seat is actually very handy particularly with fine adjustments and the lack of memory is not such an issue as my wife and I are similarly sized and she doesn't drive it that often (prefers the Jetta) The boot size is probably a touch small (again have the Jetta for big stuff) but with some camping chairs, Esky, Picnic bag and kids bits (scooters/skateboards etc) the boot was choc-a-bloc full last weekend!

Happy with the DSG, big improvement from the Mk V, though the "how quickly can I shift to 6th" mode bothers me a little, it's not that bad and I've found that the Sport mode is actually a lot of fun and is not too frantic so I tend to shift to this if I have some road that can be enjoyed, or alternatively use the paddles which are great but I can sometimes get confused which is which under some tight cornering, if I was going to track it alot then would opt for the larger paddles.

Anway enough of me talking about it, to summarise it is more than I expected and so far has not dissapointed me in any aspect!

For: Quality, well built, great all round drive, comfort levels
Against: Fuel conscious DSG, boot space, need more time to drive it

[SteveK]

Um yeah probably has something to do with it, APR IC next and thats it...promise.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. You'll just keep going til the funds run out Fabs.

Hey guys, just joined the forum and my VWR arrives on Dec 9th, birthday time. woohoo.

Anyway, went for a spin in a friends new VWR yesterday and noted some things:

Hill-Start Assist is a great feature if a little disconcerting in a manual. Taking your foot off the brake and expecting it to roll back and it doesn't. It gives you that feeling you've missed something in the process.

Turning circle is huge for a small car. My Monaro would turn on a dime compared to this. Lots of 3-point turns in my local area where my car would do it easily. Will have to get used to that.

I stalled it 3 times. Yes, 3 times. I'm so used to my Monaro engaging the clutch even at idle that I just tried to drive the same way. There's no real feel to the clutch engaging. Granted it was only a quick 30 minute drive of a NEW car.

It's deceptively quick. In the Monaro you can hear the revs and hear the speed. It's a different car. What felt like 50kmh in the R was actually 80kmh. It is REALLY deceptive.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the car, it's just a totally different feel to the type of cars I'm used to. It'll be nice only having to fill up a lot less often than once every 4 days.

In saying that, I really LOVE it. I'm really going to enjoy driving it and I think a stage I will be all I'd need for it just to give it a little more low down torque. Nothing crazy like Fab who needs to get to the speed limit before anyone else. You are ONLY getting to the speed limit aren't you Fabs?

[Fab_R]

Hey StevO - Welcome mate...Bout time you joined...

Some interesting observations of the manual.

No doubt its going to take a little time to get used to it compared to your Munro.

Yes, only to the speed limit, promise

[SilvrFoxX]

just had a pre-delivery look at the black,(photo's been posted). all in order but did notice something, I may be nit picking, your thoughts please....
Regarding the passenger side leather seat, the leather on the seat itself isn't taught. It looks as though its been sat on for weeks. The driver side in contrast is taught, no ripples. also as the driver side door closes, you can c it shift up and engage into the mech. I don't expect to see that movement, its a 2 door so the doors are quite long. wondering if this is a weight issue, or just alignment. once again feedback is appreciated.

Mate thats why you get the cloth seats..

Jokes aside be as picky as you need to be.. it is a new car and your expectations need to be met.. if the passenger seat looks sus hit em hard

[Capercat]

In my manual Golf R I have been averaging 10 liters per 100km, which has been about 50/50 city and highway driving and this includes giving the car a quick squirt here and there.
For comparison I was getting about 9 liters per 100km in my Golf GTI, driving the same routes which was also a manual.

That is excellent, my MK4 golf 2.0 averages 12L/100kms

[Corey_R]

Here's a silly question, is the high beam light the one on the inside of the cluster????

It should be the one on the inside yes.

Actually, the high beam is the same light as the normal beam. That's why they're "Bi-Xenons". The inside light is actually the turning signal.


Image courtesy of http://www.ausmotive.com