Buying a second hand Golf R

[Harpoon]

Hi,

I’m looking for a second hand golf R either 7 or 7.5 around MY16 or MY17 and wondering if there is anything I should be checking when inspecting any second hand Rs? Anything obvious to look out for that is specific to an R?

Also curious if there is much difference in drive/handling between a 7 and 7.5? I can see there’s some obvious interior changes but what about the handling and drivetrain?

Any advice appreciated!

[Grugly]

Hi,

I’m looking for a second hand golf R either 7 or 7.5 around MY16 or MY17 and wondering if there is anything I should be checking when inspecting any second hand Rs? Anything obvious to look out for that is specific to an R?

Also curious if there is much difference in drive/handling between a 7 and 7.5? I can see there’s some obvious interior changes but what about the handling and drivetrain?

Any advice appreciated!

Gearbox was changed from 7 to 7.5 - went from 6 gears to 7with dsg which also allowed a slight increase in kW.

Not enough to notice a major difference though.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[flat6]

Get a Mk7 and tune it, save 10k~ & call it a day..

[Kachingg]

The 7 speed gearbox is way better than the 6 speed and can handle more torque

Also the 7.5 has the digital dash and other 7.5 goodies

Personally i would go with the 7.5 but it is more expensive
So if cost is a issue the 7 would suit you better

[Dutch77]

The 7 speed can definitely handle more and came with a more sensibly mapped sport mode ex factory, but I think the general consensus otherwise was that it was a non-event - some reviews still refer to it as disappointing.

I'm assuming if OP is cross shopping with 7s that it would be more likely a 7.5 Grid would pop up on the radar in which case digital dash won't be there. Again it's not bad to have it, but I wouldn't miss it if I didn't have it - it's the decent centre screen that was a win for me (but is that all 7.5s I have no idea).

I also think the 7 has a cleaner front bar design and looks a bit tougher and I would also save the coin and go this way, even as someone who had a Mk7.5 R*.

(* I have been looking at Golfs as one option of a weekend car, and the Mk7 R was temporarily on the list - world's bizarrest cross shop exercise in progress).

[MAJAHO]

I test drove a 2015 R.
In the S2 it holds the gear till 5000rpm.
Is this normal in the 6 speed or an issue with the DSG?

[Transporter]

How hard did you accelerate? Did you just press the go pedal as fast as you could? If yes, then what I’d normally expect from the transmission.

[MAJAHO]

Normal acceleration keeping to 60kmh.
It stays in S2 at 60kmh, and seems to just hold there. This was for a 20min test drive.

We also have a 2018 Tiguan 162, and in S it definitely doesn't do that. DSG tuned differently perhaps?

[Passat R36]

S2 can go up to 90-100km/h

[MAJAHO]

Thanks.

The car I'm looking has 50k wtih full service history etc....anything else I should be looking for?

[crainger]

I test drove a 2015 R.
In the S2 it holds the gear till 5000rpm.
Is this normal in the 6 speed or an issue with the DSG?

My 6spd GTI does this in sports mode. Will hold S2 till just a smidge over 60km then shifts into 3rd under normal acceleration.

[Polo GTEye N9]

Thanks.

The car I'm looking has 50k wtih full service history etc....anything else I should be looking for?

I am looking too.

I was told one thing with MK7 Golf is to check the coolant level as the water pumps can leak.

Cheers Al

[DV52]

^^^ my suggestion - take a diagnostic cable (like VCDS, OBD11, or VCP) with you when you inspect the car. IMO there ain't no better comfort before handing over the cheque than having a scan-report (read "health report') for the car that says "no errors"!!

Of course, not every error on a scan report is serious, but an informed decision is always a correct decision!!!

Don
PS: if you don't own a diagnostic cable - try asking a forum colleague who does to accompany you. For the price of a few bottles of ale (wine?) - it's an inexpensive insurance exercise (IMHO)
PPS : If the car-yard/car-owner won't allow you to connect a diagnostic cable to the vehicle - be extremely cautious!!!

[Polo GTEye N9]

^^^ my suggestion - take a diagnostic cable (like VCDS, OBD11, or VCP) with you when you inspect the car. IMO there ain't no better comfort before handing over the cheque than having a scan-report (read "health report') for the car that says "no errors"!!

Of course, not every error on a scan report is serious, but an informed decision is always a correct decision!!!

Don
PS: if you don't own a diagnostic cable - try asking a forum colleague who does to accompany you. For the price of a few bottles of ale (wine?) - it's an inexpensive insurance exercise (IMHO)
PPS : If the car-yard/car-owner won't allow you to connect a diagnostic cable to the vehicle - be extremely cautious!!!

Sorry I should be whipped. I also would recommend you to connect a diagnostic cable to the vehicle. It should be standard practice with OBD11 cars, a health check done after a reasonable drive where torque was applied to the engine drive train.

Cheers Al