Golf R Observations and Questions

[DDTW]

My mum had an RX-8 (proof it's girly?) and it hardly drank any oil. My MkV GTI used more oil. I was shocked by how little it used.

Was your mom's manual or auto? The engine with the autobox has been detuned to a measly 180bhp or something like that.....

My mate's manual drinks like mad!!!! Really inefficient combustion chamber design with high emissions too....not to mention the lack of torque...

[AdamD]

So for those who have NOT ordered the factory bluetooth...and who has the RNS unit, question

[snip]

The button that says "PHONE" on the RNS unit mutes the song currently playing on the RNS unit, but I was wondering, is there any way of getting the song to mute via the steering wheel controls? (i was thinking perhaps the button with the phone handset icon, in between the < and > buttons)?

I can't comment on whether this functionality is possible via VCDS, but I can confirm that my LED RNS w/o Bluetooth works exactly as yours - and the phone button on the steering wheel does nothing. Quite annoying and I'd love to be able to reprogram it to make it mute the stereo - assuming it's possible.

[DDTW]

You don't even need an R to outdo the POS RX8 in the list. The mkV GTI will run rings around the RX8 (I know because I was considering the RX8 before I bought my GTI besides the RX8 drinks oil like we do water). And the SLK350 - now that is a girly/gay car. The 135i is heavy and clumsy in comparison to the R. The A5 is a family sedan - boring characterless looking car.

Hehe the SLK owner IS a girl. A5 is a two door 4 seat coupe and i reckon it looks awesome with the DRLs.

[triode12]

My mum had an RX-8 (proof it's girly?) and it hardly drank any oil. My MkV GTI used more oil. I was shocked by how little it used.

If you read my post carefully, I didn't say that the RX8 was a girl's car. I called it a POS.

Perhaps your mum's car was a fluke. RX8 engines are known to drink oil and petrol.
The gearshift was very notchy on the one I test drove and there was no torque under 6000RPM. Excellent handling though.

[REXman]

If you read my post carefully, I didn't say that the RX8 was a girl's car. I called it a POS.

Perhaps your mum's car was a fluke. RX8 engines are known to drink oil and petrol.
The gearshift was very notchy on the one I test drove and there was no torque under 6000RPM. Excellent handling though.

My experiences have been RX-8's use some oil, no where near what the RX-7 rotors did though.

RX-8s are a sweet ride. When they came out I thought they looked the goods, and the interior for the time blew me away. Actually its interior is still awesome. POS is not right, they are a good car. The gearshift on them is great. And handling is awesome. And ofcourse they are a rear wheel drive.

Agreed they have no torque but its not supposed to be a big power car (eg XR6T) , it is more like the golfs, in that its more of a handler and stylish build car.

They sounds **** stock though cause they are so quite from factory.

[stephen8512]

@stephen
I retrofitted the RNS510 and premium bluetooth in my car. I changed the microphone button on my steering wheel to enable voice-control, and then found that I preffered having it as mute button for the radio, so I changed it back via VCDS - I imagine it's basically the same proceedure in the Golf R.

Thanks mate.

But the microphone button isn't a mute button though? It chimes when you press it and the RNS unit comes with a menu of all the voice control words you can say to it, but its not a dedicated mute button

You think it might be possible to VAGCOM the phone button on the steering wheel to make that into the mute button? seeing as how the PHONE button on the RNS unit is already a mute button (for those that dont have bluetooth)

[Pepe]

My experiences have been RX-8's use some oil, no where near what the RX-7 rotors did though.

RX-8s are a sweet ride. When they came out I thought they looked the goods, and the interior for the time blew me away. Actually its interior is still awesome. POS is not right, they are a good car. The gearshift on them is great. And handling is awesome. And ofcourse they are a rear wheel drive.

Agreed they have no torque but its not supposed to be a big power car (eg XR6T) , it is more like the golfs, in that its more of a handler and stylish build car.

They sounds **** stock though cause they are so quite from factory.

Yeah, I agree... the RX-8 is a fun car. I pre-ordered one way back in 2003 and picked up my Black Luxury pack on the day of release. Handling was fantastic, 50/50 weight distribution in them, RWD, the interior felt like you were sitting in a fighter plane cockpit, lovely short throw gear shift, revs to 9000+ RPM, awesome. My god it got some attention too, a LOT more than I have ever gotten in the R, even after 2 years (when I moved OS and sold it).

But, best I ever got on a perfect run between Canberra-Sydney was 9.9L/100km, average around town was at least 15, closer to 20 if you got at all excited with it. Resale sucked big time too, even only 2 years after release.

Even so, when looking around for a new car last year, the RX-8 was on the "to be considered" list... especially as I thought the R would be a long wait list. In the end, just wasn't enough enough room in the RX-8, whereas the R is fantastic even for a tall guy like me.

[BezzyR]

Thanks mate.

But the microphone button isn't a mute button though? It chimes when you press it and the RNS unit comes with a menu of all the voice control words you can say to it, but its not a dedicated mute button

You think it might be possible to VAGCOM the phone button on the steering wheel to make that into the mute button? seeing as how the PHONE button on the RNS unit is already a mute button (for those that dont have bluetooth)

That button on my R mutes and also pauses the cd and SD card as well.. Perrrrfect

[Ryan_R]

^What he said. Change the programming - and the button becomes a pause/mute button only - no chimes or menus or voices.

[SilvrFoxX]

Excuse my ignorance but are you guys saying that if you don't have bluetooth the controls on the steering wheel control the stereo, or not

[REXman]

Took the R to my mates 'track last night. He's got a GTR. Just wanted to say the R did very well keeping up and the boys, were pretty impressed with it, and tbh so was I. It's been years since I have driven a car that hard but it was so good.

I don't about the stock tyres though, every turn, after a while the tyres just start making that coarse "I'm too hot" noise and push a little bit wide.

The DSG made the drive so good though, and the 4motion allowed you to come into the corner aggressive and the back end would then catch you and help pull line.

This thing chipped with some suspension, will definitely break some hearts. I'm loving the R now, officially.

[Corey_R]

Excuse my ignorance but are you guys saying that if you don't have bluetooth the controls on the steering wheel control the stereo, or not

One of the boys (sorry, can't be bothered looking who now) used to have a Golf where there was no RNS510 and no bluetooth (therefore no voice control or phone), so when he pressed the mic button it muted (and paused where applicable) whatever was playing on the stereo. Now he has a new Golf with RNS510 and/or bluetooth, the mic button issues voice commands etc. He'd prefer it was a mute button again.

That's all that's being discussed...

Took the R to my mates 'track last night. He's got a GTR. Just wanted to say the R did very well keeping up and the boys, were pretty impressed with it, and tbh so was I. It's been years since I have driven a car that hard but it was so good.

I don't about the stock tyres though, every turn, after a while the tyres just start making that coarse "I'm too hot" noise and push a little bit wide.

The DSG made the drive so good though, and the 4motion allowed you to come into the corner aggressive and the back end would then catch you and help pull line.

This thing chipped with some suspension, will definitely break some hearts. I'm loving the R now, officially.

Awesome news man!

[dave_r]

What was the cost and shipping cost?
How is it installed and how long did it take you?

What he said. Though if it is an electronic interceptor, surely it could be fixed by VCDS or APR tune?

[Fab_R]

What he said. Though if it is an electronic interceptor, surely it could be fixed by VCDS or APR tune?

i will send you an sms old mate...

[dave_r]

Hehe ok, we gotta catch up too. You busy tomorrow?