Golf R Observations and Questions

[HPSOV]

Please use both key fobs.
1) After using pressing the unlock button on one key 100,000 times, it will auto lock itself. Some safety mechanism apparently. Using both resets this count.
2) Battery drains if you don't use the fob.

I was advised about this by a VW mechanic during a Barloworld Owners Workshop.

Sounds like rubbish to me....
I think you will find that if you press unlock on a fob a certain number of times (unknown but assume it would be around the 10 mark), without it being within range of the car it will disable the fob. This is to prevent people pinching keys from a handbag at the shops then walking through the carpark pressing unlock till they see a car flash and unlock.
(And 100,000? Even if you used your key 10 times a day thats 27 years.... Should be no issue using just one key).

[shakespeare]

I observed this morning that a stock R cannot beat a Suzuki 1000 from a standstill hehe. We both had a good laugh about it at the next set of lights though.

LOL I've tried this too, though was a CB900 definitely makes the drive to work more interesting and enjoyable

Almost at 5000kms and the motor is really starting to loosen up and feel awesome, sounds deeper and louder now too!

Couple of little rattles but nothing too annoying yet, will take that up with VW at the 7,500km service.

[SilvrFoxX]

Gents,

Many thanks for all that feedback, made for an excellent read..

[DDTW]

Sounds like rubbish to me....
I think you will find that if you press unlock on a fob a certain number of times (unknown but assume it would be around the 10 mark), without it being within range of the car it will disable the fob. This is to prevent people pinching keys from a handbag at the shops then walking through the carpark pressing unlock till they see a car flash and unlock.
(And 100,000? Even if you used your key 10 times a day thats 27 years.... Should be no issue using just one key).

Your comment about the 10 presses makes more sense. I must have misunderstood. Sorry!

[DDTW]

Most of the "wows" I got from others who viewed my R were about the Recaros. To me, the seats complete the interior and gives it a special touch. The microfibre trim on them ensures that the seats don't get too hot in summer and cold in winter.

For me, they are very comfy and I have no regrets getting them.

When ordering the car, I was deciding betwen the Recaros ($5,300) OR Leather + Satnav ($5,800). I just couldn't justify spending $2,500 on satnav and ended up buying a $196 Navman MY60T instead

[Bod]

Bockey, great news.
Another Brisbane R.
What side of town you live?
Download pics when you can.
I got mine from Austral also.

Didn't you guys find Austral a pain ?

I've been in there twice, and both times ended up going across to Highway Auto in Springwood because I was getting such appaling service from them there ?

(sorry know its off topic, but had to ask )

Bod

[bwen]

Didn't you guys find Austral a pain ?

I've been in there twice, and both times ended up going across to Highway Auto in Springwood because I was getting such appaling service from them there ?

(sorry know its off topic, but had to ask )

Bod

Ditto, I walked in and they gave me little to no help with what I was after. They didn't think I was serious about buying a car and some 'mid twenties kid looking to test drive a GTI'. I called up highway auto at springwood and they drove a GTI to my house and let me test drive it in my neighbourhood.

I don't think I'll be going back to Austral anytime soon.

[dave_r]

LOL I've tried this too, though was a CB900 definitely makes the drive to work more interesting and enjoyable

Sure does and what fun would it be if you only ran things you knew you could beat?

Mine has plenty of rattles and creaks, though not constant. Have lost interest plus dealer monkeys usually do more harm than good when removing interior panels! I'm at 5k as well and will probably do a service after a track day in May which should line up around 7500-8000kms anyway.

[Fab_R]

Sure does and what fun would it be if you only ran things you knew you could beat?

Mine has plenty of rattles and creaks, though not constant. Have lost interest plus dealer monkeys usually do more harm than good when removing interior panels! I'm at 5k as well and will probably do a service after a track day in May which should line up around 7500-8000kms anyway.

They wont change oil at the dealer....Was told that they must keep the run in oil until 15k is up....
I tried to have mine changed at ~ 7k....They would not do it.

[dave_r]

It's had hard 5000kms, no sure I want to leave it another 10 the way I drive! Will worry about it when the time comes!

[Corey_R]

I got Derek at European Autotech to change mine with the Liqui Moly TOP TEC 4200 | 5W-30

It's ~$80 a bottle depending where you get it and is engineered and designed in Germany and comes highly recommended by several respected mechanically minded people around here, so that was good enough for me. I picked up another bottle at the same time so I could do another oil change later.

[NiNo_LoCo]

I got Derek at European Autotech to change mine with the Liqui Moly TOP TEC 4200 | 5W-30

It's ~$80 a bottle depending where you get it and is engineered and designed in Germany and comes highly recommended by several respected mechanically minded people around here, so that was good enough for me. I picked up another bottle at the same time so I could do another oil change later.

This wont affect warranty at all?
Or at the 15k service can you just give the VW mechanics the bottle you purchased so they can use that rather then their (VW) generic one? have nfi what VW use for service.

[Corey_R]

The Liqui Moly product I linked to complies with the VAG 504/507 oil requirements that the R requires, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.

And yes, I intend to ask my dealership to use the oil I provide

I'm not sure what they use either. I know VW "officially" use a specific Castrol oil which is only available via dealerships, but then I know of several dealerships that don't use that oil for servicing and use another 504/507 oil instead.

[Sir_GTI]

My First service (15000km), they had on the report that they used MOBIL 1 5w30.....

[REXman]

I observed this morning that a stock R cannot beat a Suzuki 1000 from a standstill hehe. We both had a good laugh about it at the next set of lights though.

HAHAHAH yeah that would have been fun trying!

I'll give you my take so far.

maybe Pros first.

Build quality has been great, best made car short of a BMW for the coin.
Has put a smile on my face the more I drive it.
Exhaust has gotten louder and now sounds great.
DSG was a great choice in the end, as auto in Sydney with the option for a blast here and there is great.(was skeptical being a proficient manual driver)
I like the factory settings of DSG. Simple to me; D is for fuel economy, S isn't, M is for everything in-between.
Steering wheel is awesome.
The car sounds great in S.
Handling has been such a surprise for a porker, great in the corners and has surprised a few people I have taken for a wrap!
This was a big hitter for me- the insurance.

Cons

Turning circle is terrible.
Launch control is ALMOST a gimmick giving only a 3000rpm take off (soft). I wouldn't call it Launch control, I'd call it Takeoff Control.
DSG has ****ed up more than a few times (not enough for me to completely crack it as it always does it {slip} at lower speed below 60km/h)
Bluetooth mucks around when the iPhone is connected to the MDI sometimes.
Petrol economy is a bit over rated.

I would though, wait, choose and buy it all over again.

I have kept up with my mates GTR (R33) through some twisties - (not straight line though!), and shook up a new MY11 STI, all whilst doing it in the lap of (reasonably) affordable luxury.

Best package on the market you can get for $60 odd grand.

Forgot to add a MAJOR con.

- you can have too much in the way of your windows being down.. if you do infact decide to use the windows in the way they were intended, the car sounds like it's sonic booming on the inside. I don't know how VW missed that.

It's crazy bad to the point where my mate in the back reckons he nearly ****ed his ears when we were on the freeway part of the road leading to the harbour bridge.

I really can't see how you could miss that, or design it better when so many cheaper affordable cars don't do it.

I call it my Rs 'GTI rattle', it is in my book.

The 325CI doesn't do it with ANY combination of windows and sunroof up or down.

Neither did all the rexies, pulsar, corolla, skyline, SS ute..

It's so ****en annoying I don't how I forgot to mention it.