Golf R Observations and Questions

[Corey_R]

The old Polo GTI, with Stage 1, is a very eager little car. So much more responsive than the R. Yesterday I had a MKV GTI owner test drive it, and he described the power delivery as "unexpected". It makes the Golf GTI seem sluggish too. "Unexpected" is really a great way to describe the old Polo GTI. It's way better than you'd expect given it's position in the family tree, its price, and other cars on the market for the price.

1.8L 20v 4 cylinder (yes, 5 valves per cylinder) K03 Turbo'd Audi motor with 152kW and 328Nm in a car weighing only 1190kg. So whilst it's 28kW down it's only 2Nm down, yet the power and torque is there so much earlier. 300kg lighter makes a big diff too.

But as I said, the Golf R is a better car in every other way. And I'm sure that after a Stage II upgrade, the Golf R will be just as eager as well

[AdamD]

Has anyone else who has a Mk V or even Mk VI GTI upgraded to an R felt this or driven both back to back (I could read the GTI v R thread but that's too long) and do you feel it's a DSG thing, lag or both?

I wrote this post after test-driving the R (back to back with my own GTI).

In my opinion, there's definitely more lag in the R below ~2,200rpm, and it does give the car a more docile feel around town. This isn't to say the GTI is lag-free mind you, but the K04 does take more revs to spool up.

I don't think there's any real difference in the DSG shift programming; if anything, the R shifted up later / down earlier and more aggressively. However, I put this down to the fact the R was no doubt a well-thrashed demo.

[SilvrFoxX]

The old Polo GTI, with Stage 1, is a very eager little car. So much more responsive than the R. Yesterday I had a MKV GTI owner test drive it, and he described the power delivery as "unexpected". It makes the Golf GTI seem sluggish too. "Unexpected" is really a great way to describe the old Polo GTI. It's way better than you'd expect given it's position in the family tree, its price, and other cars on the market for the price.

1.8L 20v 4 cylinder (yes, 5 valves per cylinder) K03 Turbo'd Audi motor with 152kW and 328Nm in a car weighing only 1190kg. So whilst it's 28kW down it's only 2Nm down, yet the power and torque is there so much earlier. 300kg lighter makes a big diff too.

But as I said, the Golf R is a better car in every other way. And I'm sure that after a Stage II upgrade, the Golf R will be just as eager as well

Must admit I am not a fan of "eager" potentially wy the R had more appeal to me than the GTI. I like a lazy drive but when asked the car should come to life. If V8s where not so thirsty it would have been on the shopping list for that very reason. Anyway I have to wait until I get mine and drive it for a while to see if my opinion holds.

Looking forward to your thoughts on the stage 1

[Corey_R]

I'll probably skip Stage I and go straight to Stage II(+?)...

[Prodigy]

I don't really notice this much as I tend to drive it manually most times unless caught in traffic and then I do notice it, however might consider the Stage 1 upgrade from APR soon.

Any idea where in Perth you can get a APR tune done? Low down lag is beginning to annoy me so considering a tune later in the new year once she's run in properly.

[Golf_R]

Any idea where in Perth you can get a APR tune done? Low down lag is beginning to annoy me so considering a tune later in the new year once she's run in properly.

According to the ARP website (APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW Porsche and Skoda Vehicles.) the only authorised WA dealer is

Quattro Motors
135 Burswood Road Victoria Park
WA 6100
[t] 08 9361 7111
[f] 08 9361 1952
[e] quattro@quattro.net.au

hope this helps.

[weewilly]

I'll probably skip Stage I and go straight to Stage II(+?)...

I'm curious, can't be cost of mode and really the R's in Oz are below factory specs so it would appear stage 1 should be done if not before, certainly at the same time of carb/intake/exhaust modes.

[Corey_R]

I'm not really sure what the "can't be the cost of mode" part means, but....

Stage I is ECU only.
Stage II is ECU and at least the downpipe/cat.
The "+" in either Stage I or II is the fuel pump. (Therefore there is no + in MK6 GTI stages, but there still is for MK6 R's)
The "optional" or "recommended" parts in Stage I and II are the intake and intercooler, and of course, the "catback" (to make the complete turbo back exhaust package) for the Stage II.

Therefore, to answer your question, Stage II includes a different ECU mapping to take advantage of the downpipe/hi-flow cat and therefore "replaces" the Stage I ECU. If you get them done at the same time, you can just go straight to the Stage II (or II+) ECU. You still need to pay for the cost of the Stage I ECU though. The Stage II ECU is included "for free" in the cost of the APR downpipe, but is additional if you get a different manufacturers downpipe. Other ECU vendors usually charge additional for their "Stage II" ECU's over the Stage I ECU's as well.

Hope that sums it up.

[Fab_R]

Good "in a nutshell" description, could not have have explained it better myself...

[Prodigy]

According to the ARP website (APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW Porsche and Skoda Vehicles.) the only authorised WA dealer is

Quattro Motors
135 Burswood Road Victoria Park
WA 6100
[t] 08 9361 7111
[f] 08 9361 1952
[e] quattro@quattro.net.au

hope this helps.

Thanks for that mate.

For a stage 1 tune would you need to notify you insurance company of the modification?

[Corey_R]

Some insurance companies don't care whether you have it or not (NRMA for example), but other insurance companies do care. In fact, some care so much that they will no longer insure you. I would recommend that you did run it by your insurance company, because I could imagine nothing worse than having an accident and the repairs or write-off payment being denied due to "undocumented aftermarket ECU discovered during investigation".

I've never heard of this happening, but then I've heard of insurance companies denying payouts due to the installation of aftermarket car stereos which weren't documented on the policy!

[triode12]

I'll probably skip Stage I and go straight to Stage II(+?)...

I don't think it is necessary. Stage 1 should be enough to banish the lag.

[triode12]

The old Polo GTI, with Stage 1, is a very eager little car. So much more responsive than the R. Yesterday I had a MKV GTI owner test drive it, and he described the power delivery as "unexpected". It makes the Golf GTI seem sluggish too. "Unexpected" is really a great way to describe the old Polo GTI. It's way better than you'd expect given it's position in the family tree, its price, and other cars on the market for the price.

1.8L 20v 4 cylinder (yes, 5 valves per cylinder) K03 Turbo'd Audi motor with 152kW and 328Nm in a car weighing only 1190kg. So whilst it's 28kW down it's only 2Nm down, yet the power and torque is there so much earlier. 300kg lighter makes a big diff too.

But as I said, the Golf R is a better car in every other way. And I'm sure that after a Stage II upgrade, the Golf R will be just as eager as well

I do vaguely remember saying (about a year or so ago) that the Polo GTI was more fun to drive than even the MKV GTI. It is no surprise, it is more fun to drive than the mkVI GTI and stock R.

[runningmanz]

Another Golf R review I found. 3.5/5 overall rating are you kidding??

Volkswagen Golf R

Looks familiar tho. Is it a rehash of an old article from somewhere else? Doesn't make sense I mean 3.5/5 for safety?? Cmon...

Is he avin a laff???

[BezzyR]

I don't think it is necessary. Stage 1 should be enough to banish the lag.

Ive had the stage I done and the lag is still there, not as prevalent, but definately still there... There is a big difference as others have mentioned between D and S modes in the dsg. Starting to use manual mode a bit more as I find S doesnt change until 7k rpm when going harder, I like to shorter shift through the gears a bit quicker.. Awesome car so far... luvvn it.