With work and holidays I didn’t get round to writing this post for weeks and weeks but a few recent(ish) experiences of going straight from a Clubsport into a demo TCR and comparing the two, both white with black roofs to even it up, out of interest.
Only my own irrelevant thoughts really but it might be something other Clubsport owners have wondered.
I’d not thought about it too much myself but I was put on the spot in a dealership when asked which I preferred after moving straight from my car to the TCR. Good question!
Like comparing a pre FL GTI PP or R with the 7.5 equivalent it was a case of swings and roundabouts.
We both agreed the bespoke bodykit of the CS/CSS looked better. The rear diffuser of the TCR looks better as does the bigger gap between the tailpipes. The TCR diffuser looks a bit ungainly from some angles but has great presence. Same with the Ed40 rear spoiler I suppose.
Inside I found I much prefer the honeycomb door and dash trims of the CS to the more intricate TCR items, but the lack of ambient LED’s in the Ed40 doors is a bit rubbish. Having said that, I do a rural commute in darkness every day and the lack of reflection in the side windows is a good thing.
I was surprised how clear the digital dials were in the TCR. They look far better in the flesh than photos. The AID was better than I previously thought. In my friend’s company car 7.5 GTI I was less impressed but this time round I was more sold on it. Having said that, once I got back into the Ed40 though and looked at the analogue dials it has to be said I do prefer them. Like with watches, it’s a personal preference between digital and old skool. Swings and roundabouts.
The seats are nicer in the Ed40 (non buckets) to my eyes but I did actually quite like the TCR seats unexpectedly. They’re not as bright as photos would have you believe.
The TCR being DSG and my car being manual skews the driving side and as I’m unfamiliar with DSG I opted for a quick passenger ride or I’d be spending more time thinking about the gearbox than paying attention to engine/exhaust sound and feel. From the passenger seat I find I can pick up little details but obviously the interactivity is lost.
From the left hand seat there wasn’t a marked difference in engine feel, the exhaust initially seemed beefier in the TCR but when getting back in the CS it actually sounded quite similar.
All just seat of the pants stuff at normal road speeds.
Two big plus points of the TCR is the amount of standard spec now BUT the car has become very expensive so it’s all been paid for up front.
The other being the brakes - not so much performance and racy drill holes but the lack of rusty discolouration on the hubs!!
Oh, and the little open door logo projectors were sort of cool and naff at the same time, a nice touch and maybe something that’ll carry over to the mk8.
This will be the only controversial opinion, despite everyone saying how wonderful DCC is I didn’t rate it.
The car still thumps as the wheels hit irregularities, it’s no magic carpet like so many posts and magazine journo scribblings would have me believe. It might well be wonderful to many but it’s not something I’d find necessary unlike so many things I’ve read, despite the 19” wheels.
Yeah, it can be a bit knobbly but I find the standard suspension better damped (but not perfect) on the Ed40. The DCC is reactive which is a bit late when you’ve already made contact with an irregularity via your tyre. Other than that I thought the DCC felt a bit wobbly in normal. It’s part of a pack if you want 19’s so I’d end up with it specced anyway. Everyone else says it’s great so maybe it’s just me. I’m very fussy about suspension coming from many years of aftermarket kits as well as standard set ups. Personally I’d prefer slightly softer springs to cushion sharp irregularities but firmer dampers keeping spring oscillations in check. The French tend to be quite good at this when they put their mind to it.
So, which is better? The TCR probably, but only just.
