Mk6 GTI is perfect, yet I am tempted by an R/Audi S3/TT

[MrGTIandRfan]

My Mk6 GTI is perfect - fast (with the mods I've done), reliable, refined, comfortable, luxurious (compared to anything I've owned previously) and is great for everyday commuting as well as weekend fun. The DSG is an amazing gearbox - I split my time about 85% driving in manual mode vs 15% driving in auto.

Yet I am still drawn to the idea of an R (I'm not MrGTIandRfan for nothing)/S3/TT.... plus it seems like everybody is getting into a GTI - not surprising because they are amazing value for money as an overall package.

So, what are the advantages/disadvantages for moving to manual versions of either of the following?

-2008+ Mk5 .:R32 (yes, a 'downgrade', but have found a perfect one with a manual gearbox.. and that noise, omg)
-2010+ Mk6 .:R

-2007+ Audi TT 2.0T FWD version
-2007+ Audi S3

I will probably at least throw a chip upgrade to any of the above, so consider mod potential.

[Corey_R]

You can find 229 pages of arguements back and forth on this topic in the R vs GTI thread here

[gjws]

I just sold a 2008 2.0 Turbo Audi TT, and purchased a MY12 GTI.

I would NEVER buy a TT again. I had no end of small problems with the damn thing:

Faulty rear brake lights earth. 3 times visit to the dealer. Known Issue.
Squeaking breaks. 6 weekly visit to the dealer to clean and scour. Known issue, Google it.
Heat shield around catalytic converter worked loose and required "Bending" after 6 months. Just what you want to hear from the dealer "We just bent your heat shield, it should be fine"
One of the dash vents broke for no apparent reason. Part was 6 weeks ex Germany and dash had to be removed to replace, car out of action for 2 days.
The back seats are unusable. Let me repeat that UNUSABLE! Why there are there I will never understand.
There is no usable storage in the car, the GTI is only a little better, but at least it is better.
Insurance was a killer. I'm over 30 with a rating 1 and was still over $1200 a year.
Tyres, Jesus the tyres! I had the 19" rims and it was $750 a rim to replace the things!
Stereo does not support modern phone such as iPhone 4.
Bluetooth does not support audio streaming.
There is more, it's just not jumping to the front of my mind right now, it's been blocked out!

And as you have pointed out yourself, the GTI is unbelievable value for money. When I got the TT I had to sacrifice DSG, Bi-Xenons and Sat Nav to get the car under $80K. And resale is a HUGE pain in the ass. I sold my car after 3 years, according to redbook it was worth around $45K-$50K. I had it advertised for $45K and got 2 calls! Ended up selling for $40K and I was lucky to get that, only 1 interested buyer. The problem is, selling at $45K you are in a really weird resale place, pay an extra couple of grand and you get a new GTI!

That's just my .02c but I would not recommend the TT to anyone.

[KRA21E]

Imo, stay away from the fwd as you may aswell stock with the gti. S3 is old, over priced, same as golf r but does look good, R32 is pure symphony to the ears, looks fantastic on the outside bit is a little dated on the inside, is missing some of the modern features of the mkvi and is slower than the golf r which leaves the golf r, new, fast, looks good, great inside...i might be biased though...

Enjoy!

[SilvrFoxX]

Imo, stay away from the fwd as you may aswell stock with the gti. S3 is old, over priced, same as golf r but does look good, R32 is pure symphony to the ears, looks fantastic on the outside bit is a little dated on the inside, is missing some of the modern features of the mkvi and is slower than the golf r which leaves the golf r, new, fast, looks good, great inside...i might be biased though...

Enjoy!

And comes in Rising Blue

[markwid]

I really like the clean, muscular look of mk4 R32. Would be tempted by this.

[SilvrFoxX]

But the pipes are in the wrong place.. the GTI boys will have just messed themselves though

[Candyman]

And comes in Rising Blue

Didn't they do a recall on all the RB's ?

[dyljoy]

Good point~

Didn't they do a recall on all the RB's ?

[SilvrFoxX]

Didn't they do a recall on all the RB's ?

Yes safety issues sadly, due to their outrageous good looks it was causing pedestrians to collide on the street, traffic to slow to view and general road rage as envy from non RB owners..

However all owners of Silver and White are safe as no one has noticed them yet and Black are considered dirt magnets so the greenies love them and try to plant moss on the panels as they are considered the slowest of all colours..

[mr gee]

I have a 2007 TT and a 2011 GTI

I do not have any problems with my TT other than the oil consumption.
Blue tooth pairs with Iphone4,
brake lights, I fixed by cleaning the contacts and using a compound on them to stop the oxidation.
noisy brakes, changed to Hawk HPS - cleaner as well.
the missus likes the car so much, she wants to keep it till goodness know when hahaha

Scirocco on order

[gjws]

I have a 2007 TT and a 2011 GTI

I do not have any problems with my TT other than the oil consumption.
Blue tooth pairs with Iphone4,
Scirocco on order

Pair with Bluetooth yes, but try plugging it in to the iPod adapter in the glove box, it won't charge it. And sorry, but I refuse to fix the brake lights on an $80K car, let them earn their money

[MrGTIandRfan]

I guess that knocks the TT off of the list...

[stephen8512]

dont get an R if u already have a MK6 GTI.

I have a Golf R myself and I maintain that the GTI is a better daily than the R and it feels more nimble. Plus I found it to be just a little bit more fun. The Golf R is quite bland in comparison

I would personally go back to the MK5 R32 out of all those options if you really wanted to change. Interior isn't "dated" as many here would tell you. In comparison to the MK6, yes, it does look a little "older" than the new boy but nothing to cry over. It still ****s on many others out there.

But the exterior shape of the MK5 is far more attractive than the MK6. I say this because it seems that all the cars coming out from VW now (and Audi too for that matter) are so homogenous. Look at the new Jetta, new Passat, new Polo and the MK6 Golf. Hell, even the EOS!. The front end is almost identical to one another and theres no sense of uniqueness. At least with the MK5 era, those cars above looked different to each other.

The R32 isn't a slouch either. Yes, it doesnt have that turbo rush and it's "not as fast" as the Golf R but remember it was the fastest Golf they had before they brought out the Golf R. It was more expensive than the Golf R from the dealers, plus the VR engine is no more so it'll become somewhat of a collectors item and will hold its value far better than the Golf R. Not only that, when giving it the beans on the highway or a tunnel, its a sound that the Golf R can never replicate no matter how hard it tries. Whack a catback on it and you're in aural heaven

Having said that though, it is quite a nose heavy car and it does drink petrol quite a bit. Daily driving with combination of city and highway, most are averaging around the 400-420km. I'll stress that this is an AVERAGE and this figure was what I got by asking at least 10 different R32 MK5 owners in person.

Modding any NA car will yield little results compared to what you pay. Its not as "bang for your buck" as a GTI or a Golf R due to the nature of the car. Turbos are made to be modded so simple bolt ons will yield quite good results.

Personally if you go from your MK6 Golf GTI to a Golf R, it will be sorta like upgrading from an iphone 3GS to an iphone 4 in that it wont FEEL like an upgrade as theyre essentially the same car, just with AWD, different engine, slightly bigger turbo and blue needles. And it will be heavier than your GTI as well. You're better off keeping the GTI IMO, and if u were to upgrade, get the R32 (downgrade if u like) or look at something else altogether.

my 2c

EDIT: You think everyones getting a Golf GTI? I see more Golf R's on the road than GTI's to be honest!

[Mi16 Man]

But the pipes are in the wrong place.. the GTI boys will have just messed themselves though

Pass me the Kleenex....