Your VW journey is far from at its twilight Hertsman and maybe yours won’t be after all SR, although the current Juke isn’t a bad looking thing…
Once you’ve owned a hot hatch it’s surprising what little details keep you hooked in, some more obvious than others. Aside from power outputs that most of us barely explore, and external and internal trim embellishments, the more subtle things like damper rates and reassuring brakes do make a big difference to daily driving making the car feel more at one with you. The same for slightly firmer, bolstered sports seats. Then things like gearing and transmission responses. It all adds up as a package that VW seem good at getting right.
I’m sure nobody wants another update but here’s one anyway.
Sunday morning, on my own and up early, headed to the garage for a tape measure, looked at the car sat in front of it and immediately decided to go for a drive.
Reasons? It wasn’t raining for the first time in six months, it was daylight but still too early for the day trippers to clog everything up, and I just felt like it which isn’t often these days.
Engine fired up, radio down low, threaded through the estate and onto the main road. Vampire Weekend’s Capricorn starts playing, wistfully reminding me of a much missed Capricorn.
The car gently warming up, eventually free of built up areas, no traffic and because it’s windy no Lycra tossers pretending they’re on the Tour De France (I don’t mind proper cyclists but not these fair weather types with zero consideration). Picked up a bit of speed but still below the NSL, carried the speed through the bends and dodging potholes, reached the roundabout where the NSL finished, turned around and headed home. Probably only a quick 20 mile drive, all single carriageway winding road, and home again to fish the tape measure out of my toolbox before most of the world was out of bed.
Certainly no Evo Triangle in the company of mates in their supercars (I don’t have any of the latter!) but it was just nice having the roads to myself pondering the car itself.
My mind went back to a YouTube video I watched a few years ago when the mk8’s were just launched by a Mercedes AMG guy “Remove Before Race” where he did what I considered a fair and accurate assessment of the 8R unlike many vids I watched around the time. The car he used looked pretty much like mine so I decided to watch the vid again today.
His points were valid still, and it’s well worth a watch.
He mentioned that most of the R’s capabilities are really only apparent when you’re driving at 10/10ths and that is just so, but other things it does and they way it does them are still very endearing making the car a great daily.
I still miss the sharper looks of the Clubsport, and indeed its slightly more on edge dynamics (yet still remaining super-civilised) but the R has been a great companion through a biblically wet six months.
Sure footed, comfy(ish), and very well equipped it’s made easy work of some horrible driving conditions.
Talking of equipment, it’s time to reflect on spec choices.
11 months on from ordering and3 months into ownership these are my reflections.
Colour, white, no regrets. Gives a bit of contrast to the blue accents, doesn’t highlight swirls too badly, and Golfs look great in white.
No Performance Pack. Wasn’t available as an option, didn’t want the leather (beautiful as it looks) of the R20. Not bothered, haven’t had to suffer a cold bum at 5am, won’t ever use drift mode or derestricted top speed and therefore only missing the wing. I quite like the wing but also like the lower look of the standard hatch spoiler which then highlights the cow’s udder exhaust tips.
Speaking of exhausts, the Akrapovič was definitely off menu at order time. At £3.5k there’s no way I could justify that, I’m not a Caffeine & Machine type and unfortunately I’m from the sort of background where value for money does mean something. Plus I don’t think they look any better than the standard udders and doubt they sound very different in normal driving attached to a GPF.
Head Up Display, was a no from me.
I was expecting this to be the second coming years ago and eagerly awaited this to become available on normal people’s cars. Then I had it on a BMW and it didn’t impress me. Less ugly than the BMW dials but nowhere near as useful as I’d imagined.
Being as I like the design of the Golf dials I’d rather make the most of them by actually using them!
Park Assust. Had this in my 2013 GTI PP, used it twice in 18 months. Didn’t bother with it again despite being good value for money.
Harmon Kardon, can’t remember if this was available to order when my paperwork went in but wasn’t impressed with it in my BMW. Probably should have ticked the box if I could have but didn’t so I don’t have it. I only listen to music on low these days anyway so no great loss.
Heated seats, I ticked that box, used them twice in three months owing to a mild winter. Wouldn’t be fussed either way if ordering again. Definitely wouldn’t bother on a Clubsport as the alcantara never felt cold to the touch.
Rear camera is quite handy but not fussed whether I have it or not. As it happens I did tick the box.
19” alloys, bigger is always better when it comes to wheels! Could do with an extra 5mm offset to look perfect but happy enough with the Estorils as fitted.
Sunroof. Meh. Enjoyed it in 1987 but didn’t have climate control on my mk1 and mk2 Golfs!
Have I missed off any options(?)
Heated steering wheel thankfully standard fit. The best thing ever! 😁
The IQ lights are equally awesome.
Future plans? Those that have been here a long time might remember that I’d take delivery of a car then immediately start changing things on it. Alas I’m old and boring now and can’t be bothered. In fact I really like the car as is. No plans, just enjoy it while it lasts.
If a meteorite hit the car tomorrow would I get another? Hell yes!
Hopefully I’m not just repeating stuff I’ve typed dozens of times previously, I’m too lazy to reread, but you get the gist. I’ll sit in the corner and shut up now.
