Today I test drove a TCR.
How did you find it compared with your R? (I've not driven an R).
Honestly I’m a bit confused. I love a gti, especially a special Ed so it reminded me massively of my ed35. Real sense of purpose. It terms of the drive it felt very similar in lots of ways to the R bit nowhere as quick. That’s not a negative but just an observation. It reacquainted me with my old friend, wheel spin. I quite enjoyed that bit!
Definitely lighter and the front turns in far sharper. It wasn’t a long drive and I had to go down back roads as it was rush hour (if that exists anymore). Tbf the dealer said I could come back again to have another go. Hmmmm
Interesting that you found it slower.
Against a stop watch it probably is but I found the TCR had better throttle response than my R and a more even spread of torque.
Admittedly my 2015 R was a manual and second gear always felt far too low, plus it could bog down off the line on occasion.
Depends on what sort of roads the test drive was on and how hard you drove it I guess.
I can’t say I’ve ever really got anything overly positive out of a test drive in all my years as I’m too busy processing information in my head to get a true feel for the car.
I’d say do one of two things. Either get another test drive on more open sweeping roads where the TCR comes into its own or if you don’t regularly drive on roads like that then chalk the test drive down to experience and appreciate the R for all its positives. It’s still quite new so will last you a good few years until the mk8 looks less... err...