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

[GolfAtom]

MrGTIandRfan - I guess if you want a car for your daily commute and weekend adrenalin rush than the GTI or R or even the upcoming Scirroco would fit your needs perfectly. However, if you are after a driver's car than I suggest you test drive an Mx-5, it's sublime handling will have you addicted but if you like out-dragging other cars also than I suggest you look elsewhere. The TT with it's unique looks is attractive to a lot of the opposite sex. There are also some used Porsche Boxsters which may fall into your price range.

gjws - Sorry to hear about your misadventure with the TT, but apart from the bits'n'pieces not agreeing with you, how was the car's performance and handling? With the expensive tyres I suspect it has great grip but poor wear. I test drove a Porsche Cayman once and it's handling limit was so high, I didn't even have to brake when I came up to a corner, I just turned the wheel and it followed! With such cars you will never explore it's full potential on public roads.

[SilvrFoxX]

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!

This is so the wrong thread.. needs to be in the GTI v R thread

[Corey_R]

This is so the wrong thread.. needs to be in the GTI v R thread

What's the diff?
The first reply to this thread was from me...

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

[SilvrFoxX]

What's the diff?
The first reply to this thread was from me...

Meh.. true..

[elephino]

If you didn't already have the GTI, it might be a different story but having the GTI, I think you're better off sticking with it.

TT quality is variable, as above comments have basically noted.
If you want an S3, wait a little while for the new one (at least to be previewed) and prices will drop.
The step up to the R from the GTI isn't huge in price but it's not huge in other areas either. Significant but not large - and as mentioned, a really long thread exists on the differences.

If you were coming at it from something other than the MKVI GTI, I'd suggest the R.

[Corey_R]

I've owned a MKV Golf GTI and I now own a MK6 Golf R.
I've also driven a few MK6 Golf GTI's a few times.

I can honestly say that there is NO WAY that I'd sell a MKV or MK6 Golf GTI to buy a Golf R, unless the MKV Golf GTI was so old that had to or wanted to get a new car.

I can also honestly say that if the MK6 Golf GTI was available in Rising Blue, that I would have bought that instead of the Golf R. AWD is great for ****s and giggles from the traffic lights, but other than that, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages for me (pun DEFINITELY intended). Take away the AWD, and the differences between a GTI and R are not that big. Don't lecture me on this, I know the differences as well as anyone else on here since I've detailed them numerous times in several threads.

You need to figure out what matters to you. Drag racing? Circuit racing? Everyday road driving?
Being AWD, the R will be better for standing start acceleration, i.e. Drag Racing. Both the GTI and R are as capable as each other in circuit racing once you change the brakes and suspension and upgrade the power - one has AWD but has a weight disadvantage, one is FWD but has a weight advantage - but even in the wet around Eastern Creek, the difference is small. Everyday road driving, I'd say that unmodified, the GTI wins here. The R feel sluggish and slow due to it's added weight and lack of low down torque due to the K03...


But again, there is a few hundred pages of this info from numerous people in the GTI vs R thread, which is what this thread was always going to turn into. Even S3 and TT being in the title doesn't change that. At a very simple level, S3 = R. TT = GTI. TT-S = R.

[Ideo]

Get a secondhand Porsche Boxster S.

[SilvrFoxX]

Who would dare lecture you Corey..?

. Take away the AWD, and the differences between a GTI and R are not that big.

.

You then would get a 35

You need to figure out what matters to you. Drag racing? Circuit racing? Everyday road driving?
Being AWD, the R will be better for standing start acceleration, i.e. Drag Racing. Both the GTI and R are as capable as each other in circuit racing once you change the brakes and suspension and upgrade the power - one has AWD but has a weight disadvantage, one is FWD but has a weight advantage - but even in the wet around Eastern Creek, the difference is small. Everyday road driving, I'd say that unmodified, the GTI wins here. The R feel sluggish and slow due to it's added weight and lack of low down torque due to the K03...
.

This is the only statement that I get frustrated, you list all the hero reasons for and against AWD but leave out the most important being safety and second the driving experience. Neither have track , performance or race associated with them. As for sluggish, only whne making a comparison to the flighty drive of the GTI, if again that is your preferred driving experience. For mine, and I have no doubt others the AWD experience of being heavier and planted is just fine in acceleration.

I have mentioned this before that my R is now bedding in and I have learnt to drive it so don't experience or should I say notice any sluggishness to which you refer.

[Ideo]

It's the epic turbo lag that does it.

I tend to be able to count to 400 and twenty billion before the lag stops.

My god. The lag. The sheer horror of the lag.

[Corey_R]

@SilvrFoxX, I haven't driven the Ed 35, so I'm not sure whether I'd get that or not. Whilst Ideo exaggerates a lot, anyone who thinks that there is no difference in driving characterists between the K03 and K04 has no credibility. The facts are, call it lag, or call it something else, there is a large difference between the 2.0L Turbo VW engines with the K03 and K04 in respect to where the torque and power is. The K03 has the K04 trumped for torque down low; the K04 has the K03 trumped for power up high.

As for safety. Safety comes from ESP (and all its subsystems, including ABS) and the driver not being an idiot. AWD is only an improvement where acceleration outpaces grip. AWD adds weight, which everything else being equal, means longer braking distances and lower cornering speeds. So this is where I get back to the "driver not being an idiot comment" - if it's raining badly, what are you trying to accelerate like a race driver for anyway? And if you're not trying to accelerate like a race driver, then your AWD advantage has just gone, and now you're just carrying around weight.

We're talking public roads here, not snow, ice, dirt or gravel. I just don't believe AWD is useful, except for traffic lights GP. The R has done nothing to change my opinion in that.

[SilvrFoxX]

OK WJ.. I believe you

[Finance_Analyst]

Go a BMW 135i.... Best of both worlds (even if it is a BMW!!!)

[Candyman]

I sold my MKV GTI to get our R

A remarkable improvement in all areas. More responsive, better finished, more planted, no stupid lift off wheelspin. better intake and exhaust note ....

Over a MKVI GTI, have only had a few days in one but in wet weather on my commutes, prefer the R (road markings, ruts, bumps etc).

Minor things like styling add to the win. The other standard items can be optioned up on a GTI.

Would never go back to a FWD GTI.

[MrGTIandRfan]

I think I'll wait until the Scirocco comes out and consider selling and moving to an R/S3.

What I am after is a car with decent handling and power, yet comes with a decent interior.


My opinion on the others:

R32 - tempting, but checked out the example I was keen on and unless I can get it for a bargain price (rims scraped, needs a good detailing), it's not worth the hassle of switching as my GTI is overall in better condition and the only missing features are xenons, 4motion and the VR6 engine note. What I lose by downgrading will be a better looking interior, touchscreen radio, weight, power.

TT - variable quality, despite what seems like good bang for buck.

[easeup]

What I am after is a car with decent handling and power, yet comes with a decent interior.

Man... just go sit in your GTI and be satisfied.