GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: mk7gti on 27 May 2014, 16:17
-
Jimble now you have had the R for a few months how are you finding it compared to the GTI? I'm curious...
-
He loves it? :)
-
Well... The power and traction of the R is something else compared to the GTI espescially in the wet, if you floor it from a standing start in the wet there is absolutely no drama what so ever, it just grips and goes! But thats to be expected really, i've been really thinking about which car i prefer recently and some might think i'm mad (particularly R owners) but i prefer the GTI :shocked:
I prefer almost everything about the GTI compared to the R, if your on the motorway there is very little between them when cruising, both very comfortable with DCC, both have plenty of torque in high gears, but imo round town the GTI is better suited, the 'nicer' car to drive? the R seems a little to highly strung for pottering sometimes if that makes sense? I feel i'm using the pudding stirrer a lot just to keep it quiet where having driven a manual mk7 GTI for a day never felt that way. I'm not saying the R is bad by any means it's just more suited to having it's head kicked in which it takes very very well!! :evil: but i don't drive that way very often so i prefer the GTI's slightly more sedate style.
I 100% prefer the GTI interior, obviously it's subjective but i don't like the gloss black dash, it should be the same carbon effect as the inserts in the passenger side and doors, although the seats in the R are comfortable i don't like the colour/design very much but thats been well documented, i think the white ambient lights go better with the brushed aluminium finish of the GTI steering wheel and the boot is way bigger in the GTI!
I like the aggressive styling of the R however apart from the colour (which is another story) it sometimes looks a little understated for what's underneath, i prefer the front of the GTI but the back of the R but in general i think the GTI takes it for me.
Imo if you're type of person that likes to drive very fast very often then the R is the perfect weapon for the VW lover, if your the type of person who likes to potter around in comfort but likes to get on it once in a blue moon but still wants something a bit special then the GTI PP is the one.
Just my 2p worth. :smiley:
-
Good comparison between the two that.I keep swaying between a Gti PP and the R.The Gti is the better looking and like you,most of the time I drive in a sedate way so the Gti is all the power I'll need.I once had a TT Quattro and it being 4 wheel drive used to eat tyres for fun suppose the R will too.
I have well into next year to decide so who knows which way I'll decide.
-
A great write up Jimble it's great to hear your honest opinion. With the next car always in mind the R is an obvious choice. Maybe a second GTI should be on the cards..
-
As above, a nice wee review with an honest opinion from someone who wasn't too big to admit it might have been a little wrong decision wise. I went through a very similar thing before ordering my GTI but I came to the conclusion if it was my only car, the R would be for me but I was in a fortunate position to have something else if I wanted to go FAST :laugh:
-
Yup, in hindsight the GTI is more than enough car for my personal uses, however as most on here know i found myself in a position and needed to make a decision pretty sharpish and at the time i think i got a little over excited about the prospect of owning the "Ultimate Golf", please don't get me wrong, the R is a truly epic car which in my opinion is only let down by one or two shortcomings, looking back it would've been nice to be able to test drive one before ordering but i didn't have that luxury, might ask my dealer how much it would cost to go back to a GTI? :-X ;D
-
Yup, in hindsight the GTI is more than enough car for my personal uses, however as most on here know i found myself in a position and needed to make a decision pretty sharpish and at the time i think i got a little over excited about the prospect of owning the "Ultimate Golf", please don't get me wrong, the R is a truly epic car which in my opinion is only let down by one or two shortcomings, looking back it would've been nice to be able to test drive one before ordering but i didn't have that luxury, might ask my dealer how much it would cost to go back to a GTI? :-X ;D
I'm in the opposite camp. I regret not having waited 6 months for the R to come out. The cost to trade up just now would be far too great yet in two years from now when I'm eyeing up my next car I doubt the R will be on my list.
-
This thread got me looking at videos on Youtube, this one highlights just how bad the R is on fuel when you open the taps! :o I'll never go that fast but if you skip from the beginning to end and see how much the needle moves in 45 seconds!! And it has a 5ltr bigger tank than the GTI....
http://youtu.be/qoarqn1mkc4 (http://youtu.be/qoarqn1mkc4)
-
Nice review Jimble mate and its refreshing that you've been honest and subjective regarding your R which is of course a fantastic car.
I guess we're all guilty of looking at the next best fastest piece of metal. That's what happens when your an enthusiast spending far too much time on these bloody forums. I can talk going from a 125i to the imminent arrival of my M135i this weekend.
I'm with you regarding the preference of the GTI looks to the R.... my ideal golf would be a 3 door GTI PPK carbon grey with the 19" wheels and the standard interior.
-
I'm waiting for the Golf R400 :laugh: lol But like Jimble, when you take a step back and look at what you need from a car, the GTI really ticks all the things I want in a car, hence why I bought it in the first place :embarrassed:
-
Great write up James, nice to read an honest and subjective review, without any 'fanboy' bias.
I love my GTI PP, like love it, but I'm with Craig in that a little part of me wishes I'd waited for the R. The prices are so similar on a monthly basis, and I get sh!te fuel consumption anyway (still averages 32) so that wouldn't have been an issue. And I'm going to need new tyres soon I reckon (11k miles done) so no difference there either.
I think once the Dynaudio becomes available on the R in November I'm going to seriously consider chopping the GTI in, should I be able to secure a similar monthly cost package. That speed is so very tempting :evil:
-
My only experience of the GTI PP is a 20 minute test drive and I was really torn between an R and a GTI.
I couldn't help think that the golf was geared up towards the GTI, then modified to be an R.
Don't get my wrong, the R is one of, if not the best cars I have ever driven and certainly the best I have ever owned.
Side note a 2010 Carrerra S couldn't get away from me yesterday. Happy with that.
-
It's only a daft little thing but i hate that the picture of the car in the 'CAR' menu is just a picture of a GT, whereas in the GTI/D it's an actual picture of a GTI! Why couldn't they have a picture of an R in the "Flagship" Golf?? :angry:
-
It's only a daft little thing but i hate that the picture of the car in the 'CAR' menu is just a picture of a GT, whereas in the GTI/D it's an actual picture of a GTI! Why couldn't they have a picture of an R in the "Flagship" Golf?? :angry:
:smiley: because they forgot? :tongue:
-
Whats the noise like of the R in comparison to the GTI from inside the cabin. Much of a difference out of interest?
-
Nice, honest write up Mr Jimble. Kinda sad to hear the R isn't totally to your liking after the GTI DSG debacle.
My absolute ideal would have been to spec the GTI with 4Motion like you can with non-flagship Audi's.
I'm still struggling to put all the power down on the front wheel drive GTI (non PP). This annoys me greatly. I WANT to be able to access all my power from the get go. So, from what James describes you need 4 wheel drive to do that to full effect, especially in damp conditions.
Don't get me wrong, I'm loving my GTI but I'd like to be able to access ALL it's power without the ESP cutting in.
-
It's only a daft little thing but i hate that the picture of the car in the 'CAR' menu is just a picture of a GT, whereas in the GTI/D it's an actual picture of a GTI! Why couldn't they have a picture of an R in the "Flagship" Golf?? :angry:
:smiley: because they forgot? :tongue:
Now that would not surprise me at all!! :rolleyes:
Whats the noise like of the R in comparison to the GTI from inside the cabin. Much of a difference out of interest?
In terms of road and wind noise etc they're pretty much the same tbh, even with the 19's compared to 18's on the GTI i was pleasantly surprised, the engine/exhaust/soundaktor on the other hand is considerably louder when in Race compared to sport in the GTI, comfort is nice and quiet as you'd expect though.
-
Hawaii: Bridgestone Tyres?
-
Bridgestones on the R too... :whistle:
-
How is the paintwork James? I'm hearing a few complaints about the lapis blue?
-
I've just ordered the R, glad I steered clear of the Lapiz Blue by the sounds of it. Jimble's comments seem fair, but the cost swung it for me as the R is only about £30 p/m more expensive than the GTI, if that, due to residuals.
Plus I would always be thinking "what if" for the sake of £30 and I've never had AWD before. No doubt the fuel costs will be s***e, but my Fiesta ST is supposed to do 47mpg combined and I'm only getting 37mpg on 60miles per day.
-
I've just ordered the R, glad I steered clear of the Lapiz Blue by the sounds of it. Jimble's comments seem fair, but the cost swung it for me as the R is only about £30 p/m more expensive than the GTI, if that, due to residuals.
Plus I would always be thinking "what if" for the sake of £30 and I've never had AWD before. No doubt the fuel costs will be s***e, but my Fiesta ST is supposed to do 47mpg combined and I'm only getting 37mpg on 60miles per day.
A sensible move.... nothing worse than buying a car and then getting buyers remorse for the sake of £30 PCM
-
Well... The power and traction of the R is something else compared to the GTI espescially in the wet, if you floor it from a standing start in the wet there is absolutely no drama what so ever, it just grips and goes! But thats to be expected really, i've been really thinking about which car i prefer recently and some might think i'm mad (particularly R owners) but i prefer the GTI :shocked:
I prefer almost everything about the GTI compared to the R, if your on the motorway there is very little between them when cruising, both very comfortable with DCC, both have plenty of torque in high gears, but imo round town the GTI is better suited, the 'nicer' car to drive? the R seems a little to highly strung for pottering sometimes if that makes sense? I feel i'm using the pudding stirrer a lot just to keep it quiet where having driven a manual mk7 GTI for a day never felt that way. I'm not saying the R is bad by any means it's just more suited to having it's head kicked in which it takes very very well!! :evil: but i don't drive that way very often so i prefer the GTI's slightly more sedate style.
if your the type of person who likes to potter around in comfort but likes to get on it once in a blue moon but still wants something a bit special then the GTI PP is the one.
Only thing miss about my A3 is the quattro when pulling away in wet much as Jimble describes. Outside of that there is no change in experience in moving to the GTD for rest of drive.
With regards rest of comments I think what you state is pretty much the way most of us drive for a large % of the time. Town and Motorways of which you tend to either move about quite sedately with the traffic or cruise along at speed.
The GTD with DCC and DSG and even the reduced power opposed to a GTI does this superbly and this refinement over the previous surge used to have to manage in the 170BHP Audi is something grown to appreciate not miss.
Not in class of the GTI and then the R for power but you can still push the GTD when there is need and opportunity to and particularly in mid range there is lots to play with - Basically the car fits your 80-90% driving patterns has plenty to offer still when push on.
My next car is in 2016 and already pencilled in a GTI PP because as much as I love the thought of the R power coupled with the 4WD much like Jimble the opportunity to really use it to its capability over what would be sacrificing would not balance out and now having had a GTD for 6 months just having that additional BHP would for me make the GTI the perfect car.
Think something that might stir the pot for me is if a GTD R if ever made.
Given you moved from GTI to R then nobody can accuse you of having an agenda in fact probably the best placed to offer these thoughts.
-
Good to have an honest, objective review Jimble and to admit, in retrospect, the R was perhaps an impulsive choice.
Like RobS23GTI, I would always be wondering 'what if' if I didn't so go for the R, so I'm still set on it for next year. At that point I'll have been in golf gti's for last 10 years, so even if it's a heart over head decision, it has to be done. Suspect after an R I'll end up back in a GTI PP or equivalent.
Black pearl would be my choice but what are the issues with the Lapis Blue Jimble?
-
.
-
The issues with the Blue paint that most have had is dealer inflicted damage ie swirls and scratches, mine had it's fair share of swirls but the main annoyance i have is that it marks far too easy for a VW which as we know have a reputation for being quite hard and yet it's very difficult to correct with a machine polisher!? Even being a tiny bit too heavy with a microfibre will cause scratches. It's a stunning colour when polished and waxed it really is but i've never had a car that you need to be sooo careful with, i'm not sure whether it's just the shade of it that shows the marks more than other colours or an actual issue with the clearcoat? Bird poop is an absolute nightmare with the Lapiz, they seem to target it! :sick:
I think if i'd gone straight from the mk6 GTI to the R i might feel differently about the interior design as the mk6 as much as i loved that car was quite plain inside, but having had the mk7 GTI it just a bit more exciting especially when you open the door at night! The blue lights in the R doors are the centrepiece in the R and are very cool but the whole thing looks nice when you open a GTI door at night.
-
I personally would argue the R isn't their flagship model. It's their current top end model yes, but flagship, no. I would have thought more time and money goes into getting the GTI right due it's heritage, and it will be the one everyone associates with a "hot" hatch as the R is really at the next level with an A45.
When the GTI first came out, I remember there being online reviews of a GTI against an A45, M135i, and they all said it's slow in comparison. It's because it's not a direct competitor.
If you spoke to a non car enthusiast, and you said you had a Golf R, they might not necessarily know that's the super performance one. If you said a GTI, everyone would know you've got yourself a nice quick hatch.
And to show you why I think the GTI is their flagship, have they done an advert like this for an R or a GTD. Nope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufYZKfM37_4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufYZKfM37_4)
-
i get where you are coming from Jimble, one thing that winds me up on the R is the turning circle around town, also given the bigger turbo it is a bit more laggy around down so the mid range comes in later and not as forgiving, harks back to the old 8v/16v debate and K03/K04 debate, dsg masks this so pottering at low speeds has been painless
i think if you aren't going to tinker then its an interesting debate, mines not a daily driver so when i drive it it does tend to get driven
mines been running a map for a few weeks now and it just puts the power down whenever without intervention which is why i'd go for the R everytime
0-62 in 4.9s does get a bit boring though as its just so easy
-
The turning circle? How's it different to the GTI?
-
The turning circle? How's it different to the GTI?
when i had a GTI on loan i cannot remember the turning circle being so sh!te compared to a mk5/6
-
Interesting, I can't say I've ever noticed and I've come from a MK5 and a 6.
-
Completely agree, even when turning into parking spaces it feels like you could do with another 1/4 turn, it is poor compared to the GTI and i've no idea why?
-
Wigit, the turning circle in my R is really good, no worse than any other small hatchback?
Also, there is no lag in mine at all.
-
Completely agree, even when turning into parking spaces it feels like you could do with another 1/4 turn, it is poor compared to the GTI and i've no idea why?
now i know i'm not going mad
Completely agree, even when turning into parking spaces it feels like you could do with another 1/4 turn, it is poor compared to the GTI and i've no idea why?
look at the power delivery on a R compared to a GTI and you will see what i mean, depends how you like your power and torque delivery
-
I wonder if it's something to do with the electronic steering software? It only becomes apparent at very low speeds, normal driving like round sharpish bends seems fine just parking and manouvering really.