Does your GTI or R attract the wrong attention

[SilvrFoxX]

Was wondering if anyone has experienced negative attention or behavior towards thier respective GTI or R. Having a nice ride can cause some to damage it, single you out for a bit of road rage, traffic light Grand prixs etc etc. Some times Mr Plod will pick on you cause you have something special.

I havn't seen anyone talk too much about it so I am hoping because the R is a sleeper that I can leave it anywhere and not worry to much about it.

[Angryman]

As a traffic copper for near on 15 years it never ceases to amaze me that people still use the old, I gotz a noice ride so da popo pixz on meh!

Let me give you the hot tip champ. Unless you drive like a complete knob you won't get noticed by the police. Over the years I've owned a rex. A rally spec evo5 and now the r and not once have I been pulled over just because of the car.

As for the rest. I park the R anywhere and unless someone knows what it is, it doesn't get a second look.

The best way to attract attention is to crack laps through a cbd or nightclub area on a Friday night and give it the herbs at every intersection ...god knows why 19 year olds think this is cool

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[SilvrFoxX]

As a traffic copper for near on 15 years it never ceases to amaze me that people still use the old, I gotz a noice ride so da popo pixz on meh!

Let me give you the hot tip champ. Unless you drive like a complete knob you won't get noticed by the police. Over the years I've owned a rex. A rally spec evo5 and now the r and not once have I been pulled over just because of the car.

As for the rest. I park the R anywhere and unless someone knows what it is, it doesn't get a second look.

The best way to attract attention is to crack laps through a cbd or nightclub area on a Friday night and give it the herbs at every intersection ...god knows why 19 year olds think this is cool

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Well as I am about to hit 45 I doubt I will fall into those catagories which you kindly have articulated, I was surprised at the comments about police it was but a question not an indictment. Your comment about leaving it anywhere is truly encouraging as I am about to change jobs and will have to leave it.

Thanks for the feedback

[Transporter]

I think it also depends where you live.

[7R]

As a traffic copper for near on 15 years it never ceases to amaze me that people still use the old, I gotz a noice ride so da popo pixz on meh!

Let me give you the hot tip champ. Unless you drive like a complete knob you won't get noticed by the police. Over the years I've owned a rex. A rally spec evo5 and now the r and not once have I been pulled over just because of the car.

As for the rest. I park the R anywhere and unless someone knows what it is, it doesn't get a second look.

The best way to attract attention is to crack laps through a cbd or nightclub area on a Friday night and give it the herbs at every intersection ...god knows why 19 year olds think this is cool

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

+1
Always the driver or the driving, rarely the car. That being said I drove past a traffic stop in Bankstown last weekend where the offending driver was in a brand new Lambo. We dont see many of them around these parts (I still live in the area) so it was probably an invite for a stop...

[Corey_R]

I can't get any attention from others at the traffic lights even when I WANT IT! Damn R

But seriously... other drivers just have NO IDEA about the R it seems. One of the things that I are constantly having to watch for is when overtaking someone. The R (especially at Stage II+) just accelerates so rapidly from any speed, and I'm constantly getting people almost turn into me because they don't bother look and just move, not expecting that little hatchback in their mirror to have moved.

When I first got my R, I did come out of the shops to find two girls taking photos of it... not sure what that was about. Another time a BMW 760 driver got out of his car at the shops and then did a walk around the R. But really, that's the only attention I've seen it receive.

[brimway]

As a traffic copper for near on 15 years it never ceases to amaze me that people still use the old, I gotz a noice ride so da popo pixz on meh!

Let me give you the hot tip champ. Unless you drive like a complete knob you won't get noticed by the police. Over the years I've owned a rex. A rally spec evo5 and now the r and not once have I been pulled over just because of the car.

As for the rest. I park the R anywhere and unless someone knows what it is, it doesn't get a second look.

The best way to attract attention is to crack laps through a cbd or nightclub area on a Friday night and give it the herbs at every intersection ...god knows why 19 year olds think this is cool

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

The area I live in houses a major police station from which several highway patrol cars operate. I have never been looked at let alone stopped. Thankfully, most of the incidents that I see where a cop has intercepted a driver in my local area, the car is usually a clapped out piece of crap that should be pulled over.

[entice]

I disagree.

I have owned several cars over the years.
One was a 2003 STI. The one that came out with the ridiculously huge rear spoiler. This car was for all intents and purposes, standard.
At the time it was a new thing, and outrageously different visually from the others, and yes it attracted a lot of attention. I also lived less than 500m away from the local TMU in Brunswick,Vic. I can tell you that I had been pulled over at least 3 times pulling into my street as the TMU cars were just pulling out of their driveway. 2 of those 3 times was so that teh 3 officers on board could take a look at this car and see what it was and ask me a few questions about the car. nice guys. But really, I shouldn't have been pulled over.

the third time was a police officer that wanted to see if the car had any modifications and ping me for unroadworthy or for non compliance issues. Sadly for him, the modifications were ADR approved APS equipment.

Lastly, I was also pulled over on a freeway/slip lane for changing 2 lanes in the one time. I admit I know it's illegal now. (i was entering from an on-ramp, no traffic, midday). He spotted me from over 100m away sped up and pulled me over. Now I'm not usually a smart arse, but I was on my way to work and was in no way speeding, being offensive etc.. But when he opens up by saying that had he of followed me he would have booked me for speeding, and that these cars are over-represented in fatality statistics and that I shouldn't be driving it...I turned into a defensive smartarse - "not today you wouldnt have caught me speeding.... Needless to say, I ended up reporting him for harassment. These were the only demerit points I have ever lost in 19 years of driving.

Now I'm not supporting the reporting of our fellow constabulary, but when I am in no way speeding, and am being judged based on the vehicle I am driving, I do take offence.

WRT the golf, I think just the colour of teh brake calipers attract attention.. the rest is as it should be...

[DDTW]

1) Got invited to a traffic lights GP by a Legacy GT.
2) Stopped by a cop for a breath test. I've never been pulled over before this when driving an Odyssey lol...
3) Clio RS 200 revving his engine off when I crawled pass him at a red light.
4) Traffic lights GP with an MKV GTI.
5) Countless head turns from MKV GTI/R32 and MKVI GTI drivers
6) Head nods from several other R owners

[Banzai]

One of the reasons I bought the Golf GTI is because it looks like just another fairly bland hatchback and therefore unlikely to attract unwanted attention while parked.

[jrgti]

Not a problem for me so far for the 7 months I've had it. Although I choose the parking spots very carefully such as next to expensive cars or kerb/pillar if possible. I drive the car everyday and everywhere so it is usually parked in public car parks. All I can do is just try my best to lower the chances of somebody else's car scratching it.
However, it never has been a head turner or drawn unwanted attention. I've only had "wanted" attention...

[SilvrFoxX]

All good news.. thanks guys, interesting to hear all the different perspectives though the thread is the R is a sleeper

[R36FTW]

I'm only new to VW, but from an objective point of view, I never consciously noticed them, and if I did happen to see one, never looked or thought twice about them.

[zbeasty]

I've had a couple of occasions when HWP have actually screwed their heads around when sitting in traffic to get a better look at my car but haven't been pulled. I think most HWP actually have respect for and know the decent cars on the road and would just want to look at a nice car. Most GTI/R32 owners know that the R is a little different and have a look...just like I look at GTI's/R32's. Definitely a stealth bomber with the DP and tune and have had to hit the brakes on a number of occasions because I've accelerated harder than people have expected. Actually had some fun with a C55 AMG yesterday who thought he was all that. Sat on my butt on the freeway when I had a few cars in front of me. He didn't expect the gap to increase as much as it did when the lane cleared

[Corey_R]

and have had to hit the brakes on a number of occasions because I've accelerated harder than people have expected.

Yeah - I'm glad I'm not the only one who's mentioned this!