Value of Golf R Compared to others

[Fab_R]

You guys are barking up the wrong tree.

You would buy the focus because its everything that the Golf R/S3 is not.
Its hardcore, Adventurous, exciting and generally just bonkers. Along side it, the Golfs in standard trim are just plain boring.

If youre looking for luxury, comfort, prestige youre really barking up the wrong tree though. People dont buy these cars because theyre luxurious shopping trolleys.

If i was offered the keys to either a Golf or a Focus RS for the day i know id be chosing the Focus every time.

VW really dont have any product to compete with it. Renault and Ford really are the only companies that come to mind with the balls to release focused hot hatches like this onto the local market.

Very good point...

[Danny]

Very good point...

No, No, No, Does anyone read the OP??

Fab that was not the point I was trying to make. I am pretty sure I indentified the fact that there would be people who would go for the RS for its darth vader bodykit, its sheer power and that it is a Ford regardless of the price and whatever else is out there..

My point to this thread allow me to reiterate once more is that they are asking $67- 80k for these things. NOW, this is NOT to the normal XR5 what a stripped out M3 CSL is to the M3, or a GT3 RS to the Carrera Turbo. It is a XR5 Focus (soon to be runout model) with a loud Bodykit, LSD, Recaro's and some more horsies (and yes, the stock power figure of any turbo car is made redundant when we are talking APR upgrades, I never said you couldn't upgrade the RS).

In essence its more like what the Megane R26 was to the Megane 225, except Renault did not ask for double the price of the cooking model RS Megane.

Point I am tring to make REGARDLESS of peoples reasoning for buying it is that it's value is dubious for those who DO want one. It is a very very very expensive Focus to have when it comes only with basics (and isn't even that great around a track to justify omission of the mod con's you'd expect in a car of this price), and Ford fans should have the opportunity to have a car that is truly mad and not have to pay BMW 135i dollars for it.

[Tim]

when buying a car not everyone puts value for money at the top of their list of priorities. Personally when im shopping for something sometimes "I want it" is enough justification.

No doubt its expensive. But so was the mk4 R32 when it was released here. The drive away price on those things was touching 80k wasnt it?

[Corey_R]

The MKIV R32's RRP was $63,000
So assuming there was no "artificial mark up" due to them being a limited import, the car on roads would have been around $72k.

[Danny]

when buying a car not everyone puts value for money at the top of their list of priorities. Personally when im shopping for something sometimes "I want it" is enough justification.

Valid, and good luck to he or she who buys an RS for $75k just because they want it

[limmy]

driven: focus RS

here is my opinion on the focus RS, and this is coming from me - a keen vw fan. i've driven both the golf R and focus RS for a total of around 40km each.

i had a much bigger grin driving the focus compared to the golf - you actually feel the speed in the focus opposed to the golf.

changing between gears sounds very similar to the wrc spec cars with pops, bangs, bov, intake. very addictive exhaust. i can't fault it.

the power in the golf R is more linear - the focus has a little more lag around 3000rpm before it charges forward.

cornering ability is about the same imo. both are relatively flat but still with fair share of body roll.

i then started thinking...vw aus really needed to keep the golf R at 199kw/350nm to compete against the focus RS 224kw/440nm.

now i know you can chip the R to focus numbers...but you can also chip the focus to RS500 numbers too. i'm guessing it will help eliminate the lag at 3000revs plus maybe a CAI/downpipe in combination.

the revonuckle system coupled with the quaife does help torque steer - to the point it feels better than my mk5 gti which is a big call given the huge variance in power and torque. then again it still has torque steer.

edit: forgot the other thing...gearbox and shifter is slick. not quite, but almost as nice as a 997 GT3.

downsides:
steering is too light for my liking. not as good feedback like the GTI or R.
turning circle is seriously like a limo. you have to think twice before making a u turn.
build quality is still down from the good old golf.

decision:
if i were a single man, no wife or (future) kids...i would take the keys to the focus RS.
i am married, with a kid on the way...so i would take the golf R as its more practical.

if i had to rate them accordingly, golf R 8/10 focus RS 8.5/10.



with gloss black 19s and bonnet intakes.

[sandandsalt]

R is not expensive and drive alot better than the front wheel ford.
Even if you include an APR or other tune. Rm is way ahead. Agree it should have been a 5 pot but will have to wait 2012 for the a3 rs.
TT rs is now dsg.
r is great value, recaros,gps,dcc,2 door,black19",dsg,plus add,apr tune 1 or 2 stage, IC, exhaust miltek when it arrives,air carbino, Still in front and car with ????
250Kw. Drivable.
Sure the optional suff is not cheap but just do it and enjoy.
Compare a TTRS 150k for a shoe horn with manual 250kw.

Great feedback. RS is rawer in stance and finish.

You would buy it in white. I still see alot for sale ,when I went to buy /deposit on one the dealer out west all gone!

[hooba]

downsides:
steering is too light for my liking. not as good feedback like the GTI or R.
turning circle is seriously like a limo. you have to think twice before making a u turn.
build quality is still down from the good old golf.

decision:
if i were a single man, no wife or (future) kids...i would take the keys to the focus RS.
i am married, with a kid on the way...so i would take the golf R as its more practical.

if i had to rate them accordingly, golf R 8/10 focus RS 8.5/10.

Limmy, I've said this before, this is an Internet forum. You’ve got no business what so ever coming in here quoting facts from reputable sources and actual experience. I’m only interested in your opinion, based on an anecdote that is at least once removed from your personal experience. Ideally, I need you to tell some story about your Uncle’s friend who was supposedly a tire scientist at Bell Labs secret Transportation Division if you want to have any credibility in my eyes. If your story sounds vaguely like a conspiracy, that’s how I’ll know you’re not lying.

Nice write up.

[MickeyTDi]

I dont think the RS is a direct competitor of the R i think its more the xr5 turbo which goes for around 37K (alot cheaper than the R). Mazda 3 MPS which has got its balls somewhere from hell cause the thing is nuts and cause its a 4 wheel drive itll probz have similar handling to the R (just a guess) and then you have stuff like the renault megane rs cup? I spose at the end of the day its how YOU use the car and what you want

[REXman]

I dont think the RS is a direct competitor of the R i think its more the xr5 turbo which goes for around 37K (alot cheaper than the R). Mazda 3 MPS which has got its balls somewhere from hell cause the thing is nuts and cause its a 4 wheel drive itll probz have similar handling to the R (just a guess) and then you have stuff like the renault megane rs cup? I spose at the end of the day its how YOU use the car and what you want

Hey, I think you mean the Mazda 6 MPS is AWD. The M3 MPS is FWD.

Anyway, about the competitors.

I went to the motor show today. Saw the Megane 250 and the Focus in person. Had a sit in them.

Impressions..

Focus:

Pros- Awesome looking from the outside/tough, Exhausts look nice and big, Solid street cred, rims look good as well. Love the seats, AWESOME gearbox and shift feel (though I couldnt find 4th on this one)

Cons- till you close the boot lid and the spoiler on top of the boot flings and moves like its going to come off. Everything inside is cheap ass, and more nasty even than the current 3G WRX's.. a bit "mitsu mirage" aka 90's.
Seats: I liked them, but I like the R/S3/RS4 ones a lot better


Subjective/personal opinions-
Its a Ford for $60K. The interior will look dated the day you drive out of the showroom.
Although there is a lot of hype about numbers being limited, and the car being "rare" which I agree, it just maybe. It still can be bought, in any colour you want, which is saying something about demand reality.
A fully optioned Focus RS is around $67000r.r.p driveaway, compared with $78000r.r.p for a fully optioned R. Id take the R. Even if It meant giving up the Seats, or sunroof etc to match the price. If I wanted all out performance, Id get the STI for $67000, that comes with really nice recaros also, but an adjustable AWD system and nicer interior, Sat Nav, Sunroof. Looks the part as well, and back up performance.

Megane RS250:

Pros- Pleasantly suprised, Nice shape!, rims are nice, good power and torque from the motor, Interior is nice, and much more upmarket than the Focus RS, with at least some leather around the cabin (and not everything being a light grey and hard plastic like the RS),daytime running lights, Seats are supportive/nice, can be had in leather If requested, option to pick the seatbelt colour(black or yellow), Good build quality

Cons- The dash is still kinda ugly, no sat nav or GPS options,

Subjective/personal opinions-
it looks really sleek in real life and in black, maybe silver with tints would look great for a long time I think as its the most futuristic looking of all the hatches at the moment.

The dash needs a freshen up as it look again a bit poorely designed, and reminds me of an older car with its extremely simple set up. Still, a much nicer place to sit than the RS.. oh,
and its all for $49K driveway with the Recaros..

Conclusion:
The Golf R, has outpaced the RS around the track, and the Golf R has a better build than the Megane. I also prefer the VW brand of the 3 hatches.

So for me without any hesitation I can say that the Golf R is the best value (though not the best price), as its satisfies everything I want from the car.

[Converted]

From just looking at the 3 of them, it does not surprise me that Ford feels Mitsu'ish plastic as the exterior reflects this, raw - straight out of the rally tracks like the Evos. The Renault, to me, looks really sporty and race'y but yet the design seems dis-jointed and lacks the refinement and class of the R (clean, simple and less fuss). No surprise here as well if the R has the best interior (built quality and comfort).

[dave_r]

My last Ford experience had me fuming so much, I was ready to drive it through the doncaster dealers showroom because their after sales service so as useful as VW's delivery times hehe. But I'd still happily take the keys to an RS for a day/weekend, they'd be a blast to punt around IMO. Some people have been waiting for the RS to hit our shores a long time, and they'll pay anything Ford says to get one. Same goes for lots of other makes/models. It's a good thing IMO, giving us more choices.

Yes the OP was about the $ value but we've got a massive thread on the value of an R over the GTI so it isn't much different. Everyone's perceived value of an item is different, but they're wrong and I'm right

[MickeyTDi]

yeah sorry REXman i meant AWD (slightly embarrassing :S) and you have brought up some really solid points but i agree with dave how its about personal opinion and what YOU want in the car

[Prodigy]

I'm going to go and checkout the RS in person tomorrow, had a quick look through the dealership window today at a couple on the showroom floor so will go when it's open for a closer look.

What i can't understand though is that they had a sticker price on the windscreen of $79990, how can that be, seeing there is only the one spec available and looking at carsales.com other dealers are advertising them for less than $67k driveaway...

Edit - Just noticed thats a pic of the car i'm talking about on the 1st page.

[Big_Dave]

Ok Guys,
Here is something to ponder.
I noticed while trollong the interweb that the new price of a Golf R in the UK is from 30,345 pounds ( all prices I am quoting are base and before on roads and delivery costs).
I then noticed some comparable prices for other marques.
Such as:-

Audi S3 31,045
Nissan 370Z 28,345
Subaru STI 32,995
Evo X fq-300 25,499
Evo X fq-330 30,999
Focus RS 27,895

Now, once one does a little currency conversion, the Golf r converts to AUD$49,025. And that with transport costs etc.
This means that VW Aus are selling this model at a HUGE discount to the UK market, and this is at today exchange rates, if you look a couple of months ago it would have been even worse.

When you see the price increase the other distributors are putting on their vehicles It makes the Golf R THE BEST VALUE globally of any sports hatch.

Look at the Nissan 370 z, these are $75,000 here.

And boy what a premium you are paying for your Focus RS. The equivalent cost in Aussie dollars in the UK is $45,081.

Wow, How lucky are we R owners.

Drive Hard or Drive Home