GTI APR Stage 1 vs Scirocco R

[PGS_AUS]

I test drove a Scirocco (DSG) a little over a week ago and was actually surprised that some of the comments in Wheels/Motor regarding its poor rough road ride and handling seemed to be right. Found it quite "skittish" regardless of ACCC setting over broken/rough road. Now, while I didn't drive it back to back with a GTI (or R - both of which I had driven back to back previously) my recollection was that the GTI actually rode better over the same road test route.

Scirocco to me felt closer to the Golf R in tractability through the rev range with both feeling a little sluggish through the seat of the pants in the lower part of the rev range even compared to a stock GTI but more than making up for that as the revs grew.

[bwen]

Friend on this forum had a Golf MKVI GTI Stage 1 APR and I had a couple runs with him on a closed road with my stock Pirelli. He initially pulled at the start but at the top end the Pirelli picked up pretty quickly when the MKVI GTI Stage 1 ran out of puff. After tuning the EA113 + K04 you'll have plenty of power especially in a car like a Scirocco, with it's great lower centre of gravity, wider wheel base.

[Tobes_WIR35]

I realise this is a huge necro but anyway...

So after 5 years of enjoyment with my mk6 GTI I took deliver last weekend of a new white MY16 Scirocco R.

My GTI had APR stage 1 tune and Stage 1+2 APR intake. Not 100% sure but I'm guessing power was around the 200kW mark, torque in the high 300's... Stock suspension and brakes, always used top of the range tyres.

Straight line acceleration seems to me to be close, GTI may have been slightly quicker. Too close to call without timing it. GTI used to have lots of wheelspin through 1st and 2nd whereas Scirocco seems to get power down a lot better, so although the GTI had more power it may not be quicker. In any case both make me smile like a silly kid.

In gear acceleration, the Scirocco feels slightly faster and pulls harder in the higher revs.

Handling and cornering is the biggest difference. The Scirocco is markedly more sure-footed, by a substantial margin. There are a few corners on my way home from work that the GTI used to start scrubbing out at 60kmh, I took them at 80 in the Scirocco and I think it had another 10-20% left. Felt as safe as houses. Not even a hint of understeer or screeching of tyres.

The Scirocco sounds the business too. Much meatier note than the GTI.

Given I paid exactly the same price as I paid for my GTI Adidas 5 years ago, I think the Scirocco is great value. In terms of pricing it's similar to a GTI Performance but has better performance and handling, and in my subjective opinion I think the facelift Scirocco is a bloody schmick looking car - looks a lot more aggressive and unique compared to the Golf. I still love the Golf range but I am glad I went the Scirocco. If the GTI Clubsport came in 3 door I might have got that but it wasn't to be...