Golf 40th vs Golf R

[ringo]

Just got off the phone from my dealer and we have agreed that when my car arrives I will be able to test drive both the R and CS. If I like the CS I take it home if I don't he has plenty of others that will jump in and take it.

So looks like in 2 weeks I'll finally be able to test drive both on same day unless I get to test drive before hand.


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Great news indeed, I can't think of a better way to see which car makes you happier. Just make sure to throw the CS around some bends as aggressively as the test-drive will allow, there is probably not that much to discover in city-traffic speeds!

[Bassik]

Yeah well I'm hoping I get to drive it solo. They've let me do that before, had a Golf GTi mk6 for about 45mins free to do what I wanted, Was pretty good I even did my shopping with it....lol


I'm in the outer metro areas so it shouldn't be to bad however it depends on what time of the day or if it's weekends. I also have a funny feeling that if there isn't a Golf R on the floor I wont be able to do both on same day.

[xssiiv]

https://youtu.be/duo6PjtGa4g

[Bassik]

https://youtu.be/duo6PjtGa4g

It's about time someone had a good review on it. Man that video even made me tingle down stairs. Great review... even the POV after it was intense. Pitty they compared it to a Type R, which I know is a great comparison but I wouldn't get such a ricey car, and we can't in OZ.

I'm never going to ever drive as hard as they did....

[ringo]

https://youtu.be/duo6PjtGa4g

This ^ is what a Clubsport is about. This is what you can't put in figures but only experience and appreciate during driving. The dynamics, the grip, the agility, and how much fun you can actually have with 290bhp on a lighter FWD Golf that's equipped and set up properly, on a good bit of twisty road.

Never had much doubt in that aspect, so the big news for me is the confirmation it's as drive-able and live-able on a daily basis as a GTI. In fact i'm buying this as our primary family driver so a Type-R or Megane RS where out of the question from the start and the R, as easy as it was to access its power, just a left a lot to be desired when upping the pace, at least for my like. During these solo weekend drives off the highway and the occasional track days it can't really get much better than it is in the Clubsport without sacrificing some of the practicality I think.

Pitty they compared it to a Type R, which I know is a great comparison but I wouldn't get such a ricey car, and we can't in OZ.

Pity? That's actually the nicest thing to hear because never before you were able to access Megane RS and Type-R performance in a car equally capable, comfortable and practical as a daily driver. This duality is in fact the Clubsport's biggest appeal. VW seems to have got the balance just perfect.

[Bassik]

Golf 40th vs Golf R

Pity? That's actually the nicest thing to hear because never before you were able to access Megane RS and Type-R performance in a car equally capable, comfortable and practical as a daily driver. This duality is in fact the Clubsport's biggest appeal. VW seems to have got the balance just perfect.

I don't mean as its a bad comparison, I mean purely for the basis of this thread and well the fact we don't even get an option here as the Type R hasn't even arrived.



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[ringo]

I don't mean as its a bad comparison, I mean purely for the basis of this thread and well the fact we don't even get an option here as the Type R hasn't even arrived.



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Ok I understand that, but you can be sure it's a great reference and one that has pretty much a unique interpretation regarding the car's performance

[Brian]

Pity? That's actually the nicest thing to hear because never before you were able to access Megane RS and Type-R performance in a car equally capable, comfortable and practical as a daily driver. This duality is in fact the Clubsport's biggest appeal. VW seems to have got the balance just perfect.

Having lived with the Megane RS for nearly 3 years, I believe you've hit the nail on the head! Jumping in to the GTI, you can decide to drive it like a Megane at 10/10ths by the seat of your pants or you can treat it like a base model golf and shop around town without the ever-present urge of the Megane to treat it like your on a track.

VW seems to have got the balance just perfect.

And for this, Ive found what I wanted! So much so that I have cancelled my Focus RS order, as I believe this GTI will meet all my requirements in utter refinement, OR treat it like the dude in the second video. Just the sound wants to make me go and drive.

[Bassik]

Just saw this to...

It's got the S in there as well. But still a smallish review of the standard CS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L6TxrZCFqg

[ringo]

Just saw this to...

It's got the S in there as well. But still a smallish review of the standard CS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L6TxrZCFqg

Yeah I had seen that one. Not much apart from a couple of generic statements for any focused car. Also, whenever I hear "but then the R has 4 wheel-drive" as if that alone makes a car better I classify the review as conducted by "super-market trolley experts". You can't judge a driver's car "by the kilo" (300 vs 290bhp, 4 vs 2wheel). You might at least say that the R's performance will be more accessible to the average driver for the occasional flooring without sweating, whereas the Clubsport packs higher driving rewards that are a bit harder to unlock. That is some info both types of buyers could find positive for their own priorities and requirements.

Funniest thing though is right after the R mentioning, he says: "but for this, there is the Clubsport S". So? The S is built upon the Clubsport to a very large extent, reuses most suspension components, is still FWD (FWD is not an "issue" all of the sudden?) and it has more power (but hardly more than the R) and selected suspension improvements. Power to weight on both the Clubsport and the S is better than in the R so nothing new here other than the tighter handling. In fact, Dan Prosser that drove both said the S only felt different right at the limit on circuit, and it sounds very reasonable given the similarities between them. I guess a Nurburgring record is so hard to ignore that even the journos that are not so much into driving involvement, suddenly change their minds and become very excited!

When it comes to performance cars, it's better to stick with mags and reviewers that actually focus on the driving, rather than summing all the features from a catalog and deducing a mean score. EVO, Car, Top Gear usually do a good job at that. You can see how much more ink is spent on how any car goes around a corner and connects you with the road, instead of repeating the manufacturer's published figures.

[Bassik]

Yeah I had seen that one. Not much apart from a couple of generic statements for any focused car. Also, whenever I hear "but then the R has 4 wheel-drive" as if that alone makes a car better I classify the review as conducted by "super-market trolley experts". You can't judge a driver's car "by the kilo" (300 vs 290bhp, 4 vs 2wheel). You might at least say that the R's performance will be more accessible to the average driver for the occasional flooring without sweating, whereas the Clubsport packs higher driving rewards that are a bit harder to unlock. That is some info both types of buyers could find positive for their own priorities and requirements.

Funniest thing though is right after the R mentioning, he says: "but for this, there is the Clubsport S". So? The S is built upon the Clubsport to a very large extent, reuses most suspension components, is still FWD (FWD is not an "issue" all of the sudden?) and it has more power (but hardly more than the R) and selected suspension improvements. Power to weight on both the Clubsport and the S is better than in the R so nothing new here other than the tighter handling. In fact, Dan Prosser that drove both said the S only felt different right at the limit on circuit, and it sounds very reasonable given the similarities between them. I guess a Nurburgring record is so hard to ignore that even the journos that are not so much into driving involvement, suddenly change their minds and become very excited!

When it comes to performance cars, it's better to stick with mags and reviewers that actually focus on the driving, rather than summing all the features from a catalog and deducing a mean score. EVO, Car, Top Gear usually do a good job at that. You can see how much more ink is spent on how any car goes around a corner and connects you with the road, instead of repeating the manufacturer's published figures.

Yeah your not wrong there, I can't stand it when you speak to someone that knows nothing. I actually went into the dealership again today (coz they told me a 40th is here come check it out) in hopes they would let me test drive, but no it's up in the glass windows so no luck getting it down. They mention things in comparison to the R and it's straight out of the box comments like, "It's got over boost function" and "the R is 4WD" Like I didn't know this already. I even correct them on things/features they have no idea on.

So took another PP and R for a test drive coz "the PP is the same with more power". If I'd have to base it on that along then the R is more fitted for me. I say this because the PP lacks the power and in comparison to my MK6 tuned it's a no brainer. I honestly got back in my car and felt it was better. Or maybe that's just comfortably for me.

All and all it's so true that you need to test drive before you buy unless your a super driver and have had dozens of cars then I understand. However for me (and this is what I told the salesman) when I bought my Polo GTi, I was on this forum for ages doing the same thing comparing the Polo to the Golf and the votes were pretty even. Of course the pricing was different but I was told you'd have so much more fun in a Polo then a Golf so I actually bought one, not having driven it. Fast track 6 months later I sold it and got a Golf only because everyday I got into it I just kept saying to myself "I should have gotten a Golf". So I did and have never looked back. I really do not want to go through that same regret again. By all accounts the Polo was a zipper, fast little hatch and I had more fun with it then the Golf but over-all the Golf was just more refined and fitting to me. I don't track cars, I don't thrash them, I don't drive like a crazy feen (although the GF would argue that) and I don't believe in crazy mods. As I think it was mentioned here somewhere, I want my car to bring a smile to my face when it's the last thing I see before I lock it up for the night.

[Mattlock]

As I think it was mentioned here somewhere, I want my car to bring a smile to my face when it's the last thing I see before I lock it up for the night.

Nailed it!


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[WhiteJames]

Would I trade my Golf 7 GTI Manual Trans for the GTI ED40 Clubsport? No!

It would be easier and cheaper to add the following to my standard GTI:

Torque Sensing LSD
DCC compatible coilover suspension.
Bigger & lighter front end brakes.

For example:

Quaife LSD adding grip, DCC plug-n'play KW coilovers improving handling & lowering the GTI for extra negative camber for better tyre grip & Alcon two piece aluminium front brakes for supreme stopping power.

I'd still be 15K in front of a GTI ED40 Clubsport purchase after trade-in. No need for extra power of the ED40 GTI as my GTI would most likely be 40kg + lighter than a ED40 Clubsport, making my standard GTI the more agile of the two.

It would add some real edge to my current GTI.

This way I have money up my sleeve for the new and improved Golf 8 GTI/R.

Each to their own.

WJ

[wasabiz]

Don't the 40th ed. share Turbo and Intercooler from the R? instead of using the usual IS20 turbo from the GTI/PP models. But then again, that would still be a simple replacement of the existing one on the car. Something that had been on my mind lately, upgrade to a faster car or modify current car.

[ringo]

Would I trade my Golf 7 GTI Manual Trans for the GTI ED40 Clubsport? No!

It would be easier and cheaper to add the following to my standard GTI:

Torque Sensing LSD
DCC compatible coilover suspension.
Bigger & lighter front end brakes.

For example:

Quaife LSD adding grip, DCC plug-n'play KW coilovers improving handling & lowering the GTI for extra negative camber for better tyre grip & Alcon two piece aluminium front brakes for supreme stopping power.

I'd still be 15K in front of a GTI ED40 Clubsport purchase after trade-in. No need for extra power of the ED40 GTI as my GTI would most likely be 40kg + lighter than a ED40 Clubsport, making my standard GTI the more agile of the two.

It would add some real edge to my current GTI.

This way I have money up my sleeve for the new and improved Golf 8 GTI/R.

Each to their own.

WJ

Comparing a new car against a car you already own is rather irrelevant though, totally different story. Yes, you would get close to Clubsport performance with enough suspension and engine upgrades, not sure where you found the 40kg (anything thrown out a GTI can be thrown a Clubsport as well) but I can assure you they won't make up for a 70bhp deficit on full-throttle (220/290). Let alone the bigger tuning potential (or the fact the extra bhp can be extracted much more safely) of a Clubsport due to the bigger turbo. These engines go to 350bhp and 450+Nm without even an upgraded exhaust...

And in the end, come resale time a GTI will sell as a standard GTI. There will be no Clubsport body, no Recaro bucket seats, none of that unique party stuff that set the Clubsport apart.

This doesn't mean you should trade-in the GTI for a CS (not sure who asked that question anyway), but they will always remain quite different cars, and in my estimation this will reflect to a different level of appeal and resale values. It's much different than previous GTI ED that you could not tell them apart from the standard GTIs. This time VW made indeed a different looking car.