Golf 40th vs Golf R

[tigger73]

I have to admit however, VW OZ stresses a lot more the ED aspect, rather than it being the most driving-focused Golf of the range, as is the case in the rest of the world. Going as far as re-badging it "40 years" instead of "Clubsport" is a proof and quite a big surprise for me.

The problem here in Oz is we already have a car using the name "Clubsport" - Holden (GM) Commodore. I'm pretty sure the name would be trademarked or registered in some way so VW Oz had to come up with something different.

The OZ deletion of probably the most bespoke and attractive CS item: the Recaro bucket seats, and the super light-weight forged wheels plays down even more the car's sports character. I am not sure I would still go for it if I was buying in Australia, in fact I doubt it. So in the end I can't really blame some OZ buyers failing to see it as unique as it is in say a European market, and consequently failing to justify it over an R. I mean just this view is enough to make me jump in and drive it like a stole it:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]24260[/ATTACH]

I agree 100%. VW Oz looked at it and went we can't have it at the same price point as a Golf R and so pared back the options list to sit the Ed 40 between the GTI PP and the R. It is a pity as those seats are gorgeous and a decent wheel option would have really set the car off. In the end the marketing guys will pat themselves on the back as they'll sell out all the Oz spec Ed 40 GTI cars anyway . We just won't have quite as special 40th Edition cars running around as we could have

[xssiiv]

Golf 40th vs Golf R

Can't wait for mine to arrive hopefully this week, I'm coming from an RS3 so happy to give feedback once driven hard. I'll be replacing wheels and hopefully a few minor mods. 5 years ago I owned a 3 door Golf R which was completely modified and I even went to the extent of importing genuine VW buckets, if I didn't use the car everyday I would consider ordering them for the CS once available.

[Mattlock]

I agree 100%. VW Oz looked at it and went we can't have it at the same price point as a Golf R and so pared back the options list to sit the Ed 40 between the GTI PP and the R.

Yep. If they hadn't and they'd retained the manual gearbox as well, I almost certainly would have bought one over my R.



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[Bassik]

The problem here in Oz is we already have a car using the name "Clubsport" - Holden (GM) Commodore. I'm pretty sure the name would be trademarked or registered in some way so VW Oz had to come up with something different.

This I don't get. It's a Golf not a Clubsport in the GTi series. Why is that an issue? We have the Peugeot 305 GTi, and we used to have the Corolla GTi and the Suzuki. I'd be buying the genuine decal first thing and changing that 40 years sticker...

[WhiteJames]

My summations are based on mine and others experiences. It took almost 4 months to sell my MKV GTI and 6 months to sell my MK6 GTI. In that time, the guy that lives in my neighbourhood just took his R32 to the dealer and they had a private buyer waiting to take possession of this MKV R32 ... not advertising on carsales.com.au or anything. Exactly the same with his MK6 Golf R, he simply went to the Volkswagen dealer, made enquiries, dealer said they had a list of people looking for good condition Golf R. Basically, his MK6 Golf R was sold before he even traded it in for the new Golf 7 R with a great trade in price. Very unlikely this sort of thing happens with the Golf GTI. Not in my experience anyway.

Another issue is why I'd steer clear of Clubsport ED40 GTI is that the new lighter Golf 7 GTI is getting to the stage where there is too much torque and power for such a light car, compromising traction, even at speed. Personally, I think the lighter Golf 8 GTI should take a step back and go to 1.8 or 1.6 turbo motor to make a more rounded car.

WJ

[Brycem]

I am thinking of replacing my MY16 manual Gti with a CS manual as those who prefer manuals can finally have the tricky diff and bigger brakes. My dealer is getting one in red which I like. My Mk 6 Gti, Mk 7 R and Mk 7 Gti have all been white so it's probably time for a change. The naysayers tell me that red won't be good for resale. What are everyone's thoughts on resale bearing in mind that there will only be 90 all up in manual?

Thanks

[tigger73]

I am thinking of replacing my MY16 manual Gti with a CS manual as those who prefer manuals can finally have the tricky diff and bigger brakes. My dealer is getting one in red which I like. My Mk 6 Gti, Mk 7 R and Mk 7 Gti have all been white so it's probably time for a change. The naysayers tell me that red won't be good for resale. What are everyone's thoughts on resale bearing in mind that there will only be 90 all up in manual?

Thanks

Manuals are a bit more of a known quantity in the second-hand car compared to a DSG. But you're also talking about a smaller market so you may have to wait until the right buyer come along.

[Brycem]

I've had no difficulty in selling manuals previously. It's the colour people are suggesting could be problematic but I'm hoping that will be offset by the fact that there will only be 90 manuals sold here so if someone wants a used manual Clubsport there won't be many to choose from (in contrast with normal gtis and Rs). Thoughts?

[WhiteJames]

A decade to a decade and a half ago the mainstream models for private buyers were Commodore S/SV6 and Falcon XR6. Volkswagen is slowly becoming a mainstream model just like the sport Falcodores have been. The Golf 7 is now a top 10 seller in terms of overall number of sales in AUS. Especially is you take away Falcodore fleet sales.

In other words: The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the modern Commodore S/XR6 and the Golf R the XR8/SS imo. Over 20% of Golf sales are GTI's apparently. Lots of them out there now and this will only increase once Holden and Ford close shop in AUS imo. If you want to know what a Manual Transmission will do for resale & ease of selling, think back to Manual SV6/SS or manual XR6/XR8!

WJ

[Brycem]

I came to Australia in 2009. 4 cylinder hot hatches are my thing. I know nothing of the behemoths produced by the dinosaurs.

I'll answer my own question. 90 Clubsport manuals total. My one will be red. When I sell in 2 years there won't be many for sale. If a buyer wants a manual Clubsport he will not be in a position to be too fussy about colour.

[SevenR]

i saw a red LE40 in the showroom a few days ago - i quite like the red - the grey on those might be a bit too dark otherwise that would be my first choice.

[xssiiv]

Golf 40th vs Golf R

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/volkswagen-motorsport-schalensitze-gti-clubsport-recaro-golf/491560873-223-4885

A set of Clubsport Recaro's on eBay

[tigger73]

Massive pity that VWA didn't include the Recaros in the Ed40 locally. Such nice seats.

Especially when you compare them to what we ended up with....

These seats with the Alacantra wrapped steering wheel - you would just want to drive the wheels off it!

[ringo]

Another issue is why I'd steer clear of Clubsport ED40 GTI is that the new lighter Golf 7 GTI is getting to the stage where there is too much torque and power for such a light car, compromising traction, even at speed. Personally, I think the lighter Golf 8 GTI should take a step back and go to 1.8 or 1.6 turbo motor to make a more rounded car. WJ

Seems you are basing this on FWD experiences 10-15 years ago. Those cars couldn't even handle 200bhp without torque steer and understeer issues but thankfully things have moved on a great deal and such behaviours are no more the case with todays's top FWD performance hatches. I can assure you after having driven a couple of them that you would struggle to tell for sure the car was FWD without knowing.

In what regards the MQB top FWD variants in particular, there is no lack of drive-ability at all, the lsd is working wonders and is actually offering additional anti-yaw characteristics compared to a traditional mechanical lsd and the chassis handles the added power no problem. If one thing could be told for the MK7 GTI is that it has a slightly lighter rear end, but the Clubsport addresses precisely this issue with its aerodynamics and suspension mods on the rear axle. Reports are that there is significantly more rear-end grip especially at higher speeds and a much more planted behaviour all around.

In fact, I put as much as 340Nm down quite easily on my last merely 1,200 kg tuned car which was even based on the much older and far less advanced PQ24 platform. I tracked the car, drove it hard on the road and never had an issue with the car being uncontrollable despite the nearly 40% increased power and torque compared to stock.

We're long past the times that manufacturers had to increase stability by adding weight, thank God for that. An optimized weight distribution and axle geometry, a focused chassis, an advanced e-lsd and a good set of tyres and you can be putting those 300bhp down under practically every situation.

[Tobes_WIR35]

For what it's worth I spent ages tossing up between Golf R and ED40/Clubsport and end up buying a Scirocco R because I felt it was better value than both of them, plus I preferred 2 doors, and the new facelifted Scirocco looks pretty mint in my opinion (and a bit more exclusive, don't see many around). That said both the Golf R and the ED40 are both excellent and very attractive cars