GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Chins on 20 January 2010, 08:52
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A nice 6 page road test review of all three cars driven on UK roads.
The R doesnt do very well up against these two and comes an easy third. Autocar also place it behind the S3 in their choice of mega hatches.
It does sound remarkably like an S3 however. "A bland driving experience"
They like me question VW's pricing policy and how the R as its such a similar driving experience with a lesser cabin and badge can cost more.
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Shame that. :laugh:
Like the Mk5 R32, the Mk 6 R does not really seek to be the ultimate hot hatch.
I'm pretty sure the Megane 250 and Focus RS are a more involving to drive and have more "character" than the Golf R. Probably faster round the Top Gear test track too - but who cares? That's not what I'm after.
I simply want the ultimate Golf. I want a luxurious interior, 5 doors, 4WD and DSG. Something the other two don't offer.
I want something I can drive through city centres without being pointed at constantly by chavs and small chidren.
I want a Golf R.
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Just wait until there is a remap available for the R. It will put the other FWD lot rightfully in their place i imagine.
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Just reading this article now.
According to Sutcliffe: "you'd be bonkers not to specify DSG on your Golf R".
The test car had ACC, which Sutcliffe thinks is a waste of money and you should spend that on half the DSG system instead.
All in all, Sutcliffe was not impressed with the Golf R. Prefers the Scirocco R as driver's car.
The "Golf R vs Audi S3" sidebar article is telling.
It's a decent article - well worth a read for potential Golf R purchasers.
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They like me question VW's pricing policy and how the R as its such a similar driving experience with a lesser cabin and badge can cost more.
I'll pick up a copy of Autocar after work for a squiz!
As for saying the S3 has a better cabin than any Golf is a joke. I always sit in Audi's feeling like they're a backwards step considering their supposed to be the up-market version. Crap looking heating controls, naff Sat Nav in the S3 etc... The Golf GTI (having never neen in an R!) seems much more luxourious to me. Especially as you get things like auto wipers / lights, adjustable lumbar supports etc free with VW which are cost extras on an S3.
If Audi floats your boat, then buy an S3 just now as they're throwing mass discounts at them since the new A3 is due this year.
Shame the S3 is fugly!
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A3 is not until next year and S3 beyond that according to the enquiries Ive made.
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I wouldn't say the s3 is fugly. The front end is marginally questionnable due to the audi 'goatee' grille but that's about it.
Personally, I wouldn't want to buy a discounted S3 now because I'd feel totally sub standard and inferior when the RS3 comes out.
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As for saying the S3 has a better cabin than any Golf is a joke. I always sit in Audi's feeling like they're a backwards step considering their supposed to be the up-market version. Crap looking heating controls, naff Sat Nav in the S3 etc...
To be fair the S3 interior has a better finish on the lower plastics than the Golf and the leather is nicer but the design is a little dated, the detailing is a bit fussy and the armrest/handbrake interference would drive me batty.
Externally I don't like the latest DRL headlamps and the grey grille and rear diffuser look too cheap and plasticky. Cheaper than a Golf R I suppose, but not for me.
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A3 is not until next year and S3 beyond that according to the enquiries Ive made.
I got a full spec and price in Sept 2009 just before signing for my Golf R... and the dealer said then it would be late 2010 for the A3 with the S3 probably landing about the same time.
No matter when it comes - there is a new model on the horizon, and Audi are giving away stupid discounts. Nows the time to buy as you can get a new one for not much more than a 6 month old one and the wait was only about 6-8 weeks when I enquired for a factory build.
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I thought the whole premise of this artice was wide of the mark. Anyone who's properly interested in the R is unlikely to consider seriously either the Megane or (especially) the Focus - and vice versa.
I love discrete yet reasonably quick cars. To that end, my last car was a MkIV V6 4Motion (brilliant car), my current is a Saab 9-3 Aero (understated and underrated). I'd be laughed out of the work's car park if I turned up in something that looked as though a branch of Halfords had thrown up over it. The S3 comparison is more appropriate, but I can't bring myself to buy anything with an Audi (or BMW) badge on it.
To quote SS:
"you are never going to transform the R into a genuine white-knuckle ride" - Good.
"the R is entirely predictable and extremely mature in the way it handles" - Great. Me too.
"Even when you drive it as hard as you can, this car does absolutely nothing unpredictable" - For £30k+ I should bloody well hope not.
When facing a 40 mile trip home in the dark and rain after a hard shift, I want a car that's fast, comfortable, well equipped, beautifully built and sure footed, to get me home. If I surprise the odd Boxster or Scooby driver on the way, then so much the better.
I'm due to swap the Aero in about 18 months - the R is right at the top of my list.
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I thought the whole premise of this artice was wide of the mark. Anyone who's properly interested in the R is unlikely to consider seriously either the Megane or (especially) the Focus - and vice versa.
Totally agree with you there :wink:
I remember reading a simliar group test a long time ago - Golf MkV GTi vs Honda CTR vs Focus ST vs Megane R26 or something similar.
They went to Wales and thrashed the pants of all the cars and rated them on that basis. The GTi came about third.
The in the last paragraph it said the next morning they all had to drive back to London in the pouring rain and guess what :shocked: ... they all wanted to drive the GTi :laugh:
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Spotted a new magane on the road for the first time yesterday....... :sick: :sick:
Usually renaults are quite decent looking cars, but that new megane is ghastly imo!
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the last one was hardly a looker.
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the last one was hardly a looker.
true. but it was individual. the new one just looks like one of them cartoons where the head is far too big for the body.
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(http://img.worldcarfans.com/2008/11/medium/renault-megane-coupe.jpg)
I guess you're right. It now looks like any other eurobox
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The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.
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The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.
I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.
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I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.
I have not read the golf R article so this is simply a guess. But i did read the scirocco R one. The wheels imo have nothing to do with it VW had the 18s on hand for the scirocco if he thought they were too hard or bump steery with the 19s. In otherwords they think the 19s maybe a bit extreme. Im sure there are bigish differences in the way the scirocco and the golf drives and the feel as the 4WD heldex system has always altered the way the car feels at the helm, he simply prefers the two wheel drive layout of the scirocco, thats his choice.
I also wish people whould stop complaining about them using a poverty spec model thats the way it should be reviewed imo. Most cars will not be speced to the hilt, most these jounos have no clue whats standard or not, so to put 4K of options on a car can change the outcome but who ever orders them exact options! even if you manage to spot them all. Oh and don't for one minute think thats a same car you buy in a showroom, press models have a few tweeks here and there :wink: with every make, be it wheel arches full of sound damping, special dampers, less sound proofing the list goes on depending on the model. All makes are at it, its amazing how a car company that did not do this when rivals did use to get bad reviews and come last but when they started doing it (after hiring an ex ford prep guy :wink: )they start coming top. :wink: When you see what goes on it opens your eyes big time. Its all fixed.
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The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.
I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a review where someone says the Golf is better than the Scirocco?
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Can anyone point me in the direction of a review where someone says the Golf is better than the Scirocco?
I doubt it, since there hasn't been a direct comparison yet. It seems odd how they compare the Golf R to the Focus RS and Megane - even though its not the same type of car. They did compare the Scirocco to the other 2 and said the Roc was better. 2 totally different kettles of fish if you ask me. The Roc is meant to be the 'loose cannon' style car like the RS and Megane. The Golf is supposed to be the 'Wolf in sheeps clothing' with comfort and style at the top of its list.
Everything I've read about the Golf R (apart from Autocar) say its a great car, and better than a GTI - with the only drawback being its price tag. Everyone knows its £2-3k over priced, but you get what you pay for. Surely the Scirocco must be over priced too since its only £2k less with 1 less back seat, smaller boot and no 4wd?!!!
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Linky: http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/VW-Golf/246779/