Golf 40th vs Golf R

[GeorgeMK1]

off topic, but why was the GTI ever called that in the first place - It was never a 'grand tourer' in the true sense of the word was it?

To my understanding GTI means grand turismo injection, at the time of the original mk1.

[SevenR]

yeah, thats what thought. seems strange to me to call a little 1970's golf a 'grand tourer'

[dempsey]

More of a grand tourer than a Suzuki swift that's for sure

[SevenR]

lol or a fiat 5oo

[xssiiv]

Golf 40th vs Golf R

Good to hear GeorgeMK1 they look stunning in person!

[ringo]

If I had the money, personally it's a no brainer for the GTI ED40. We just got one in our dealership 2 days ago and it looks absolutely stunning!!

The seats, the shifter boot, the red stitching on the seat belts (omgggg), the fantastic steering wheel, just the entire interior overall, the rear duckbill/spoiler, front splitter and all sorts of other little attributions. For me it's all about looks, as in Aus lets be honest you can buy a Ferrari and still be forced to drive the speed limit as the ford laser next to you. The GTI also has the more, authentic and pure feel to it. I don't know why I dislike the R so much, not even the leather interior or front DRLs interests me.

In terms of the fwd-awd debate going on here, I own an over-powered Honda crx race car, and I have left rwd and awd cars for dust at my track days and mountain runs.. it's all down to driver control I guess.

Agreed. If you're after the "uniqueness" and "special-looking" factor there is no competition against the rest of the Golf range, or even non-VAG manufacturers either. And it's not just different but very handsome and well-balanced as well. I was considering a couple of hot-hatches as well as a BMW saloon in the beginning of my next car search and the fact that if I looked out of my window at work, or at the supermarket's parking lot I would find almost all of those cars parked there at least once was just killing them for me. I guess I am in this period of my life that I wanted something standing out in a nice way, not Type-R "in-your-face" style but the kind of car you don't initially notice, but then immediately turn back to take a second look as it seems "different?"

Of course I wouldn't have gone for it it if were just a GTI underneath or if it didn't deliver that extra thrill during a spirited run as these were also high priorities but still, it was the first Golf that turned my head since a long time.

[Billecartz]

Agreed. If you're after the "uniqueness" and "special-looking" factor there is no competition against the rest of the Golf range, or even non-VAG manufacturers either. And it's not just different but very handsome and well-balanced as well. I was considering a couple of hot-hatches as well as a BMW saloon in the beginning of my next car search and the fact that if I looked out of my window at work, or at the supermarket's parking lot I would find almost all of those cars parked there at least once was just killing them for me. I guess I am in this period of my life that I wanted something standing out in a nice way, not Type-R "in-your-face" style but the kind of car you don't initially notice, but then immediately turn back to take a second look as it seems "different?

Of course I wouldn't have gone for it it if were just a GTI underneath or if it didn't deliver that extra thrill during a spirited run as these were also high priorities but still, it was the first Golf that turned my head since a long time.

I agree that this is a special model and is unique compared to other special edition models like the ED35 or Pirelli. I have bought one because it is the closest thing that VW has done since I bought my MK4 R32 new in 2004 which I still have. It has many bespoke components you don't see on any other model. I have always preferred the GTI to the R, thats why I have a MK7 GTI that I am trading. The appeal of the special ED40 looks combined with the R engine won me.

I don't buy a car for resale although it helps, I buy it because I like the package. I can easily afford to by an R, but it is a bit too conservative for me.

[ringo]

I agree that this is a special model and is unique compared to other special edition models like the ED35 or Pirelli. I have bought one because it is the closest thing that VW has done since I bought my MK4 R32 new in 2004 which I still have. It has many bespoke components you don't see on any other model. I have always preferred the GTI to the R, thats why I have a MK7 GTI that I am trading. The appeal of the special ED40 looks combined with the R engine won me.

I don't buy a car for resale although it helps, I buy it because I like the package. I can easily afford to by an R, but it is a bit too conservative for me.

I am totally with you. Considering how many bespoke and unique components the Clubsport has (I'm sorry but this is the car's actual name regardless if VW OZ decided to remove it and re-badge it "40 years" as if it's a Rolling stones anniversary album) it will stand out for quite a few years to come, much more than previous ED against standard GTIs, because it simply is so clearly distinguishable from a GTI or R. Also, based on the story so far, it's rather safe to guess that the MK8 GTI will not have neither the 290bph or the aggressive looks of the Clubsport. VW are making very slow steps from each generation to the next so it will still be more powerful and meaner looking than the next-gen GTI.

The R engine and turbo was what sealed the deal for me. It has great potential and basically even a stage 1 map transforms it into a serious sports-car killer.

Funny that you say this about the R. I went to my dealership having had a great private offer for my last car and a pre-approved loan for the rest of the money from the bank thinking I'll get the R. Two test-drives later I wasn't too sure it was what I was after neither in the way it drove or (even worse) the looks. So I stalled the process and was aborting any VW options until I read about the Clubsport on a website. Useless dealer was fully aware that I like to push my cars and occasionally track them, yet never mentioned it. When I came back asking about it he said oh yes for a driver like you the Clubsport is the perfect car. Oh really? Please enlighten me...

[Billecartz]

I am totally with you. Considering how many bespoke and unique components the Clubsport has (I'm sorry but this is the car's actual name regardless if VW OZ decided to remove it and re-badge it "40 years" as if it's a Rolling stones anniversary album) it will stand out for quite a few years to come, much more than previous ED against standard GTIs, because it simply is so clearly distinguishable from a GTI or R. Also, based on the story so far, it's rather safe to guess that the MK8 GTI will not have neither the 290bph or the aggressive looks of the Clubsport. VW are making very slow steps from each generation to the next so it will still be more powerful and meaner looking than the next-gen GTI.

The R engine and turbo was what sealed the deal for me. It has great potential and basically even a stage 1 map transforms it into a serious sports-car killer.

Funny that you say this about the R. I went to my dealership having had a great private offer for my last car and a pre-approved loan for the rest of the money from the bank thinking I'll get the R. Two test-drives later I wasn't too sure it was what I was after neither in the way it drove or (even worse) the looks. So I stalled the process and was aborting any VW options until I read about the Clubsport on a website. Useless dealer was fully aware that I like to push my cars and occasionally track them, yet never mentioned it. When I came back asking about it he said oh yes for a driver like you the Clubsport is the perfect car. Oh really? Please enlighten me...

I did something similar. There was second hand Wolfsburg R wagon (blue) for sale at a Ford dealer for 55K and when I asked for a trade in he said I could actually get it for 53K. This car only had 9000km's on it an the guy that traded it was transferred back to the UK.

This happened on a Saturday and I knew it was really cheap as most other wagons are still 60K +, but I didn't love it. The fake carbon fibre look on the seats looks cheap to me and the package was just not special. So I made a half hearted call back to the dealer on the Tuesday morning and it had been sold on the Monday afternoon at 4pm.

I am strong believer in gut feel and it just wasn't there for the R, but as soon as I saw the ED40 I had no hesitation.

[ringo]

I did something similar. There was second hand Wolfsburg R wagon (blue) for sale at a Ford dealer for 55K and when I asked for a trade in he said I could actually get it for 53K. This car only had 9000km's on it an the guy that traded it was transferred back to the UK.

This happened on a Saturday and I knew it was really cheap as most other wagons are still 60K +, but I didn't love it. The fake carbon fibre look on the seats looks cheap to me and the package was just not special. So I made a half hearted call back to the dealer on the Tuesday morning and it had been sold on the Monday afternoon at 4pm.

I am strong believer in gut feel and it just wasn't there for the R, but as soon as I saw the ED40 I had no hesitation.

Yeah I can totally relate to the lack of the "gut feel". For me it was like "I know i have to like it but I don't get why". For the money it costed it should have looked way more special and unique than a 1.4 TSI R-Line with a quad-pipe exhaust and a few R badges, couldn't really believe that visually/aesthetically there was nothing else to it.

[Bassik]

Golf 40th vs Golf R

Weird you both say that because I kinda feel the opposite. The R looks nice IMO, you're right though sometimes on the road I see a R Line TSI and have to take a double take because I'm like was that an R?Gotta wait for it to pass to see the double exhaust.

I think for the interior is where the R lacks. There's no sporty highlights. You step in and just have these blue needles staring at you. The seats are particularly great as well but are growing on me.

Do you think that if there weren't to many R's on the road your opinions would change?

[ringo]

Weird you both say that because I kinda feel the opposite. The R looks nice IMO, you're right though sometimes on the road I see a R Line TSI and have to take a double take because I'm like was that an R?Gotta wait for it to pass to see the double exhaust.

I think for the interior is where the R lacks. There's no sporty highlights. You step in and just have these blue needles staring at you. The seats are particularly great as well but are growing on me.

Do you think that if there weren't to many R's on the road your opinions would change?

For me it's not so much that there are already quite a few R's out there (if a car feels right to me, I don't care if everybody else drives it as well) but that as a car it doesn't dare to differ as much as I would like it to from the standard Golf which to me looks no dramatic at all in its base form. For the performance it brings there should be the looks and the special sports details to match. "R" implies Race right? I see nothing of that in the car, way too conservative for my like. It even looks and feels less sporty than the S3 which isn't a true sports car at all, but rather a powerful hot-hatch set-up for fast Autobahn travels. Yet even that one has a sportier design than the R. A 300bhp / 40K+ eur Golf should be a car that stands at least out from its own range, not one that blends in with the crowd (I'd get a 335i if I needed that).

I wanted my next car to wake me up and shout at me "wanna take me for a fast ride?" whenever I'd not be in a great mood due to other reasons. It shouldn't/needn't be anything as excessive as huge spoilers, silly vents etc. as that's a bit tiring after the initial enthusiasm wears off. But the small touches that you don't easily find in the average car yet they are capable enough to draw your attention even years into ownership. A special steering wheel, sports seats (ok the Clubsport buckets in EU markets are more than I could ever hope for in the seats department, just wow...), little details of the interior and the body, stuff like that. At the same time I wanted the car to be live-able and "compatible" with a family and that's n even harder task. As I had written earlier, the Clubsport has got this balance just right, both in terms of design as well as comfort and refinement.

[Bassik]

I guess each to their own. I personally like the R look better externally. You're right it doesn't scream "wanna take me for a fast ride" it's more a "wanna take me on a date". The little touches (for me) I do love and think the R lacks heavily. But as my GF says the Clubsport looks like a w&nkrs car and she prefers the R much more. Oh yes I have this debate with her as well. Gotta keep both parties happy lol.

I think the S3 wins of refinement and features. To me it's not as mean looking as the R and most definitely doesn't stand out at all. I'll see an S3 on the road and be fooled as its a standard A3. Also Audi doesn't really have a trademark GTi it's just jumps from A3 to S3 however unless u count the RS3 as an R equivalent. But then could say the R400... I've got no idea. Personally I'd be buying an S3 if they weren't 10k more. I know it's not a true sports car but as mentioned I purely go for looks and features of a car as a priority, performance second than power, or on par.

Anyways could go on for ever, with this. It really is personal.



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[AdamD]

Personally I'd be buying an S3 if they weren't 10k more. I know it's not a true sports car but as mentioned I purely go for looks and features of a car as a priority, performance second than power, or on par.

When I did the numbers, the S3s (significantly) better spec more than made up for the price difference, and it was a no-brainer for me. Styling and features are a big thing for me too, along with refinement and quality, and in those areas there's a substantial gap between the Audi and the Golf. Don't get me wrong, the Golf is a great car and its interior is still a nice place to be, but to my eyes the Audi is a clearly more premium product. I've yet to find a car with a better interior, fit and finish for under $100k new.

[WhiteJames]

I did something similar. There was second hand Wolfsburg R wagon (blue) for sale at a Ford dealer for 55K and when I asked for a trade in he said I could actually get it for 53K. This car only had 9000km's on it an the guy that traded it was transferred back to the UK.

This happened on a Saturday and I knew it was really cheap as most other wagons are still 60K +, but I didn't love it. The fake carbon fibre look on the seats looks cheap to me and the package was just not special. So I made a half hearted call back to the dealer on the Tuesday morning and it had been sold on the Monday afternoon at 4pm.

This highlights my point exactly regarding private sale of existing vehicle. Golf R takes a short time to sell. Golf GTI (regardless of which type) takes a lot longer to sell. Not sure about the S3 re: time to sell.

WJ