GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Exonian on 20 June 2015, 16:24
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This was almost a thread titled "I wasn't expecting to be driving this a week ago" around about a month ago but alas life is never simple (for me at least!).
It was around about the time the Clubsport was released; which was basically the car I'd been waiting to see if it was going to be the replacement for my GTI next year and which basically, interior aside, totally underwhelmed me. Mostly I think it's the styling of the front bumper I really didn't like. The angles look all wrong and it's too fussy unlike the standard GTI which has a pretty and simple face that throws a nod back to the previous generation GTI's too.
There was a lot of consternation and interest on here about the huge 2016 model price rises and I'd been fishing around trying to find out a bit more info, asking some more clued up dealers, not least of all Evo1986 who is our long standing forum dealer insider who it pretty quick to let us know what's been released.
We'd all suspected the GTI/D was getting nav as standard but whether the winter pack and keyless was also included remained a mystery so we all sat and made jokes about the configurator.
So, what to replace my GTI with next year when the warranty and service deal runs out? Another GTI maybe? A GTD? An R? I like all of the models and all have some features which I find really good and some less so. The GTI is still be best all rounder, absolutely no doubt about it. I've spent a reasonable amount of time in all three models now and the GTI still has the best blend in my not so humble opinion.
Anyway, to cut a very long story short, just after all this MY2016 confusion I was sat half watching TV on a Saturday evening when my phone lit up with a message from Lee (Evo1986) saying he'd just secured a DSG R just off the boat and was I interested?
"What's the spec and how much?" was my basic reply whilst angling the phone away from wifey just in case she got that sinking feeling that I was about to flush another fortune down the toilet. "Standard spec andI'll let you know prices Monday when I get into the office"
All a bit surreal and I just spent the rest of the night chuckling to myself about how random that seemed!
So, Monday arrived and so did the ££££ to change, but to be honest I'm not a DSG person for no real reason other than the way I like to set a car up for a sharp corner and the fact I drive quite a few different vehicles in a week that are all manuals so an auto would confuse the hell out of me, I have enough trouble remembering there's no handbrake lever).
"How about a white five door manual R, standard spec?" comes the next message. That's when my ears really pricked up. No money wasted on optional extras; I'd have liked the Pretorias but they can be added later and the nav was a £750 'investment' on my GTI that I just didn't ever really use. Rear camera can be added later if I really miss it and you can't have park assist on an R anyway. Anything else I can live without as the standard spec is pretty good.
"Hold fire whilst I have a look at finances" was my reply and then I got to work.
That wasn't as easy as it might have been as I'd only moved house last summer so coffers had been well and truly drained and borrowing more money on top of the mortgage wasn't as simple as it might have been as moving house seems to have wrecked my credit rating or something as none of the cheap loan providers would give me their advertised rates. God knows why as I don't even have a credit card let alone much debt aside from a smallish mortgage. Anyway I finally managed to negotiate a palatable deal with a bank (credit to Lee, he has never once tried to sell me finance or any expensive add ons, I think he knows that forum dwellers are a bit more switched on in some areas than your average walk in punter and generally know exactly what they do and don't want from the outset).
The one proviso with the deal was that it was completed by the end of May which only gave me a few days and I was off to Cornwall for a long weekend before returning to 12 hour night shifts.
All a bit of a whirlwind and a million miles from a six month factory wait!!! Would I have even ever ordered an R from the factory anyway? Who knows!?
Thus ensued a bit of a rush and then a sudden halt.
It transpires that as I'd guessed - the car was a cancelled lease car and there had been a paperwork error along the line so the brakes had to go on for a couple weeks.
Anyway, on Friday I became the rather bemused owner of a five door Golf R which was a bit unexpected to say the least.
(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o560/Exonian22/Mobile%20Uploads/E5A025D8-FC6B-47E6-86E0-F0A28ACC48A5.jpg) (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/Exonian22/media/Mobile%20Uploads/E5A025D8-FC6B-47E6-86E0-F0A28ACC48A5.jpg.html)
(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o560/Exonian22/Mobile%20Uploads/F8D0AA44-C854-4E31-8D3D-AAB8660CCF98.jpg) (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/Exonian22/media/Mobile%20Uploads/F8D0AA44-C854-4E31-8D3D-AAB8660CCF98.jpg.html)
So a big thanks to Lee and Chris at Cheltenham VW (though I doubt my wife would thank Lee!) for an interesting experience to say the least, great guys to deal with & none of the corporate nonsense.
And to anyone who wants a really well looked after, sensibly driven and carefully run in white three door GTI PP with only a very low mileage, nav, camera and park assist then give Cheltenham VW a shout assuming they haven't sold it already. I don't think there's a single stonechip on the car and no scratches or dings, even the wheels and tyres are like new because I ran aftermarket wheels on it.
I'll give my thoughts on the R once I've spent a bit of time with it, which could be a while as I'm inundated with around the house jobs and family visits all weekend...
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Great thread, I had my mk3 scirocco from Cheltenham years back and they were great then too!
I'll be watching this with interest as I'll be amazed of the stock 18's stay on for long!?!?!
Don't forget the wowo forum discount if you're looking for some new detailing bits and bobs too.
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Haha, congratulations Mr Ex :laugh: Maybe a little earlier than anticipated but not that much of a surprise to some of us :wink:
Your new R looks stunning :cool: Still a sucker for a white car but why not when they look that good. Enjoy it and look forward to your musings in the days and weeks to come.
PS: There's always money for a new car if you want it enough :wink: :tongue:
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That looks fabulous - enjoy - Your here for a good time, not a long time
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Looks good that.
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Knew you'd fold! :grin:
I don't think you'll be disappointed. :afro:
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Andy Pandy got Randy! About time too!
CongRatulations.
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Andy Pandy got Randy! About time too!
CongRatulations.
Haha, I'd forgotten about your unique way with rhyming words/names :laugh:
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Exonian
Simply :cool: :cool: :cool:
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Apologies for the grammar and general bitty-ness of the first post, I was trying to write it bit by bit on the phone whilst hanging a gate! I'd been so busy I decided to do it piecemeal or I'd have had the car several weeks before I got to introduce the thing, going by the lack of time I've had lately to get online.
Great thread, I had my mk3 scirocco from Cheltenham years back and they were great then too!
I'll be watching this with interest as I'll be amazed of the stock 18's stay on for long!?!?!
Don't forget the wowo forum discount if you're looking for some new detailing bits and bobs too.
Thanks Neil, and yes, don't worry, I'd not forget wo-wo!
The wheels, hmmm, been giving that a lot of thought and might invest in spacers first. I quite like the Cadiz with the white paint but they're a bit lost in the arches with those big bumpers and side skirts, so at the very least spacers are needed. I have a few sets knocking about so will see if I have any that fit, or if not then I'll give DPM a shout when I get chance.
Haha, congratulations Mr Ex :laugh: Maybe a little earlier than anticipated but not that much of a surprise to some of us :wink:
Your new R looks stunning :cool: Still a sucker for a white car but why not when they look that good. Enjoy it and look forward to your musings in the days and weeks to come.
PS: There's always money for a new car if you want it enough :wink: :tongue:
Why thank you Mme B
I had to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get it so I hope it's worth it!
I was trying to keep very quiet about it to see people's reactions but left a few hints along the way.
And yes, another white one. Not that I had much choice in the matter - that was what they had in stock somewhat unexpectedly it seems.
Whilst wondering over the last few months what colour I'd have ordered, it was a little bit dependant on what model of car I ordered eventually as to what colour I'd have chosen; obviously if it's a short wait then I'd have been prepared to be flexible. Lee offered me black or blue in DSG or white manual with immediate availability so I jumped at the white one. A factory order I might have plumped for silver, but if not then I'd have gone white anyway. I was never a fan of Lapiz blue until recently as the first ones I saw were in winter and were grubby but now I've seen a few in the sunshine all I can say is "wow" as it really pops.
That looks fabulous - enjoy - Your here for a good time, not a long time
Thanks Eccie, I've been admiring your new car this week too but hadn't had time to get on the forum enough to pass many comments. Love your GTI and your garage and driveway even more!!!
Looks good that.
Thanks :smiley:
It was a beautiful sunny day when I collected it and it'll probably be the first and last photos I take of it for a while! :grin:
Andy Pandy got Randy! About time too!
CongRatulations.
Thanks AskeR I knew you'd appRove
(aside from the colouR, spec and geaRbox choices... ) :laugh:
Exonian
Simply :cool: :cool: :cool:
Thank you.
The GTI is going to be a mighty hard act to follow and I'll really miss it.
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Car looks fab, thought I was looking at pics of mine.
Just a question about wheel spacers,the rear wheels do look a bit lost,how much spacing would you recommend and would the wheel bolts need replacing.I was just thinking about spacers at rear the front look ok to me.
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10mm Trac+ should do it, I'll be going for H&R hubcentric with extended bolts. Might do 5mm on the front too which should be ok with the std bolts.
I've been considering this on the beetle too which would be the same set up.
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Thanks AndyG.
There's an American company called ECS who you might be familiar with that do a kit for MK7 Golfs which they call the "perfectly flush" kit. That has 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers from memory.
I'd go a bit more conservative myself though, 10 or 12 up front and 15 or 16 in the rear.
If you're just doing rears then I'd say 12 or 15mm.
You will need longer bolts. If you order from some companies they'll be included in the kit, H&R, Sparco etc tend to come with longer bolts.
If keeping standard wheels make sure you order Radius Seat bolts. Aftermarket wheels tend to use tapered bolts except some BBS wheels that are stamped VZ which are designed to take OEM bolts.
Edit: Neil posted up whilst I was busy poking the screen with my sausage fingers
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Andy:
I approve of your choice wholeheartedly. A seminal change! (Good play on your nom famille!)
The Cadiz look great, IMO. But if you wish to change and sell, keep me in mind as I would like to buy one as spare! I still have 4 pristine Monza Shadows from my Mk6 GTI!
But please don't go for 19". The ride does suffer with or without DCC. Again IMO.
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Congratulations :smiley: Another one buckled :grin: :grin:
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resistance was futile :whistle:
welcome to the club :grin:
after all you said about them lol
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after all you said about them lol
That was just to throw us off the scent :laugh:
resistance was futile :whistle:
Trekkie by any chance wigit? :grin:
He has been assimilated into the R collective :evil:
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Andy:
I approve of your choice wholeheartedly. A seminal change! (Good play on your nom famille!)
The Cadiz look great, IMO. But if you wish to change and sell, keep me in mind as I would like to buy one as spare! I still have 4 pristine Monza Shadows from my Mk6 GTI!
But please don't go for 19". The ride does suffer with or without DCC. Again IMO.
I can't believe you've still got Glen's old Shadows! :grin:
Get 'em advertised or keep them another 20 years and sell them to a collector!!!
I ran 19's on my last three GTIs Asker, I just drive around potholes!
Congratulations :smiley: Another one buckled :grin: :grin:
Yeah, my will is weak! :grin:
resistance was futile :whistle:
welcome to the club :grin:
after all you said about them lol
Thanks Mr W!
I'm still pleading innocence - I didn't choose to buy it, I was hoodwinked by the old donkey and carrot trick :evil: :grin: :grin:
I still stand by all I said, but I'm always up for an experiment.
I've maintained the R has come of age and is a great technical tour de force for performance/grip/price but still think the GTI is the better allrounder.
My thoughts and observations will be forthcoming once I get a spare half hour in front of a keyboard without wife/kids/work bullying me!
after all you said about them lol
That was just to throw us off the scent :laugh:
resistance was futile :whistle:
Trekkie by any chance wigit? :grin:
He has been assimilated into the R collective :evil:
If ya can't beat 'em...
It's you and Monkeyhanger that brainwashed me and the only way to get back at you both was to beat the queue! :laugh: :laugh:
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If ya can't beat 'em...
It's you and Monkeyhanger that brainwashed me and the only way to get back at you both was to beat the queue! :laugh: :laugh:
Haha, our evil plan worked (sort of) :evil:
You have definitely had the last laugh, jumping the very, very long queue. Still, we Brits are accustomed to queuing, just as well really, but even my legendary patience :whistle: is being well and truly tried this time.
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Good work! Car looks immense! :cool: Looking foward to your write up after you've done a few miles in it!
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If ya can't beat 'em...
It's you and Monkeyhanger that brainwashed me and the only way to get back at you both was to beat the queue! :laugh: :laugh:
Haha, our evil plan worked (sort of) :evil:
You have definitely had the last laugh, jumping the very, very long queue. Still, we Brits are accustomed to queuing, just as well really, but even my legendary patience :whistle: is being well and truly tried this time.
Time will tell. I might get radio screen envy!
:grin:
Good work! Car looks immense! :cool: Looking foward to your write up after you've done a few miles in it!
Thanks!
Picked it up last Friday and it's been sat in the garage ever since. Not had chance to use it. :sad:
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I do like the R in pure white!
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I do like the R in pure white!
I see a white R every day on my way to work, and must admit it looks great :cool:
Picked it up last Friday and it's been sat in the garage ever since. Not had chance to use it. :sad:
Mr Ex, how have you resisted driving it so far? :shocked: Or are you keeping it tucked away from the building dust at Chez Ex :whistle:
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I do like the R in pure white!
Thanks, me too! I like the black, white and bits of shiny theme.
I do miss the red GTI accents and wish the R had some exterior VW Motorsport blue going on but hey ho, electric Golfs are the future I guess :sad:
I do like the R in pure white!
I see a white R every day on my way to work, and must admit it looks great :cool:
Picked it up last Friday and it's been sat in the garage ever since. Not had chance to use it. :sad:
Mr Ex, how have you resisted driving it so far? :shocked: Or are you keeping it tucked away from the building dust at Chez Ex :whistle:
Yes, it is basically just that Mme B, plus the fact I've been a bit busy with family stuff over the weekend. No rest for the wicked! It means when I do get to drive it I shall have been rattling about in a 17 year old GTI/mobile skip for a while so it'll feel extra special!
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The "R" without all the stripes and red "jewellery" is so much more refined!
At the end of the day you know what engine sits under that bonnet and you know what badge sits on your tailgate!
Its an "R" go enjoy it! :smiley:
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if you fancy some blue highlights on the R
http://www.badgeskins.com/mk7.html
not cheap but great quality and well thought out so easy to apply
i've gone black to de bling
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The "R" without all the stripes and red "jewellery" is so much more refined!
At the end of the day you know what engine sits under that bonnet and you know what badge sits on your tailgate!
Its an "R" go enjoy it! :smiley:
True.
Very true.
I like the white, black and shiny theme going on but miss the little red details. I'm sentimental!
if you fancy some blue highlights on the R
http://www.badgeskins.com/mk7.html
not cheap but great quality and well thought out so easy to apply
i've gone black to de bling
Thanks Mr W.
I'd seen your posts with the badge skins and Neil's and quite like them.
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I quite like those blue R skins. As long as it's kept to small details it could be a good look. Mind you can't beat the monochrome theme. Any intentions to wrap the roof gloss black Mr Ex? One of my favourite looks on pure white GTI/GTD/R's, along with gloss black mirror caps and dark grey or black wheels :cool:
Just something for you to mull over..... :whistle:
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I love the look of a black wrapped roof but it's not something I'd do personally.
The mirrors I've been thinking about but I'll leave it a while until i'm getting bored!
Today I managed to fit some RGM sill protectors. Three went on perfectly and the third didn't go so well! Thankfully it was a rear door sill so not seen so often. When that 3M tape hits the paintwork it really grabs and if you're a couple mm out it punishes you!
And I've even managed a quick run out to pick my son up from work. All 30mph limit stuff in heavy traffic and all I can say is the DTE pedal box is earning its stripes again.
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The skins if you get the colour right are nice and subtle, i kid myseld it makes the R look more discreet but then think the drils and blue give the game away
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Andy:
What do you think of the Soundaktor?
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Andy:
What do you think of the Soundaktor?
Yes, do tell Mr Ex. Yet another thing that will be under consideration pending turning down or disconnection.
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i moved the wife's tonight as mine has been away and first thing i thought was mine was quiet and hers was like race car
its nice to hear the brake bobbins doing their stuff after a gentle work out though
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Andy:
What do you think of the Soundaktor?
On the motorway home it was completely unobtrusive.
When driving around town it is like a very loud very cheap child's toy trying to pretend it's a V8 to justify having four exhaust pipes.
Pretty nasty.
No wonder they didn't spec Dynaudio on the R for six months as the soundaktor would just drown it out and your £600 ish investment would be wasted.
I have two urgent jobs to attend to on mine:
Switch that horrible noise off and find an SD card so I can upload the radio station logos.
The R seems lower geared than the GTI too. Not sure if that's my imagination? The R gets around the initial slower turbo spool than the GTI by trying to stay above 2000rpm unlike the GTI that sat happily at just above idle in many gears. It makes the 7R feel quite responsive at town speeds compared to the 6R.
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spot on at the low speed :grin:
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Mine is fine not loud at all :smiley:
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Andy:
What do you think of the Soundaktor?
On the motorway home it was completely unobtrusive.
When driving around town it is like a very loud very cheap child's toy trying to pretend it's a V8 to justify having four exhaust pipes.
Pretty nasty.
No wonder they didn't spec Dynaudio on the R for six months as the soundaktor would just drown it out and your £600 ish investment would be wasted.
I have two urgent jobs to attend to on mine:
Switch that horrible noise off and find an SD card so I can upload the radio station logos.
The R seems lower geared than the GTI too. Not sure if that's my imagination? The R gets around the initial slower turbo spool than the GTI by trying to stay above 2000rpm unlike the GTI that sat happily at just above idle in many gears. It makes the 7R feel quite responsive at town speeds compared to the 6R.
I was taken back a little by how low the gearing is on the R (but assumed it was the same on the GTI too, coming from a long line of diesels) - Considering the torque it has, it feels like it could really benefit from a tall cruising gear. When it's happy sitting in 6th at 40mph (1550revs) on a 40mph road even up a slight incline, it does seem like it could handle a gear that would have it sat at 2400revs at 70mph / 2750revs at 80mph for better motorway fuel economy.
I'm happy with 30% on the Soundaktor - just enough to get a subtle enhancement when you're really pressing on - not enough to overpower the car's natural engine and exhaust noises.
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I'm happy with 30% on the Soundaktor - just enough to get a subtle enhancement when you're really pressing on - not enough to overpower the car's natural engine and exhaust noises.
Question about the R, When accelerating hard with window down, do you hear more exhaust or turbo intake noise?
My GTI seems to be mostly intake noise until around 4000 where the exhaust starts to pipe up a bit more.
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Mine is fine not loud at all :smiley:
It wasn't on my GTI unless in Sport. The R is very intrusive.
I'm happy with 30% on the Soundaktor - just enough to get a subtle enhancement when you're really pressing on - not enough to overpower the car's natural engine and exhaust noises.
I've just set mine at 40% and will see how it sounds when I take it to work later.
I tried to find the full rear brake light setting but got bogged down and don't have time to fiddle about this week.
Looks like I'll have to wade through a million pages of VCDS tweaks.
I don't think there's anything else I need to change on VCDS?
I'll take my cable to work this evening as a mate needs me to look at his R32 if I get chance to take a break.
If the soundaktor still pisses me off at 40% on the journey in I'll just switch it out.
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Andy:
Switch it off. You don't need a faker in your life! :laugh:
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I've just set mine at 40% and will see how it sounds when I take it to work later.
Let me know what you think of it at 40% please when you've had a chance to listen for a bit :smiley:
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The aircon blower drowned out both radio and any other noises on the way to work.
But a 4am finish and quiet roads gave me the opportunity to test the 40% soundaktor at various engine speeds.
All I can say is it's a thumbs up. The artificial noise blends into the general mechanical background notes and it sounds unobtrusive and plausible.
:cool:
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The aircon blower drowned out both radio and any other noises on the way to work.
But a 4am finish and quiet roads gave me the opportunity to test the 40% soundaktor at various engine speeds.
All I can say is it's a thumbs up. The artificial noise blends into the general mechanical background notes and it sounds unobtrusive and plausible.
:cool:
Nice sig M. Ex :cool:
Cheers for the feedback - keep it coming.
Time will tell but I'll probably give mine a couple weeks with the Sounaktor stock, then turn it down to 30/40% as seems to be the sweet spot. If still too obtrusive then the plug can be pulled. We'll see.
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The aircon blower drowned out both radio and any other noises on the way to work.
But a 4am finish and quiet roads gave me the opportunity to test the 40% soundaktor at various engine speeds.
All I can say is it's a thumbs up. The artificial noise blends into the general mechanical background notes and it sounds unobtrusive and plausible.
:cool:
I have had mine turned to ZERO as it was unbearable. The engine still sounds nice and sporty with a very lovable roar on acceleration, the overall refinement is in a different league and I can now hear the exhausts popping away rather nicely.
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Is this what your looking for Ex http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=260248.345;wap2;wap2
Im on my phone so not sure it will link properly. But here's the coding:
STG09 (Central Electronics)> Access Authorisation: 31347 > Adaptation Channels> Channel (8 )-Leuchte27 NSL RC6-Lichtfunktion C27" > "Brake light on" set (default: nicht aktiv)
STG09 (Central Electronics)> Access Authorisation: 31347 > Adaptation Channels > Channel (10)-Leuchte27 NSL RC6-Dimming CD27" > on 100 Set(default: 0)
Auto coming home is also a good tweak.
http://vcds.greg-roberts.com/view-entries
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The aircon blower drowned out both radio and any other noises on the way to work.
But a 4am finish and quiet roads gave me the opportunity to test the 40% soundaktor at various engine speeds.
All I can say is it's a thumbs up. The artificial noise blends into the general mechanical background notes and it sounds unobtrusive and plausible.
:cool:
I have had mine turned to ZERO as it was unbearable. The engine still sounds nice and sporty with a very lovable roar on acceleration, the overall refinement is in a different league and I can now hear the exhausts popping away rather nicely.
I'll try it all if necessary - Full chat, Subdued and OFF :laugh:
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Is this what your looking for Ex http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=260248.345;wap2;wap2
Im on my phone so not sure it will link properly. But here's the coding:
STG09 (Central Electronics)> Access Authorisation: 31347 > Adaptation Channels> Channel (8 )-Leuchte27 NSL RC6-Lichtfunktion C27" > "Brake light on" set (default: nicht aktiv)
STG09 (Central Electronics)> Access Authorisation: 31347 > Adaptation Channels > Channel (10)-Leuchte27 NSL RC6-Dimming CD27" > on 100 Set(default: 0)
Auto coming home is also a good tweak.
http://vcds.greg-roberts.com/view-entries
Thanks P3, that saves me a heap of searching around.
I'd had a general nose through the sub menu drop down boxes (in German) yesterday but wasn't confident enough to try changing anything. I'll have a go at that at the weekend now I have the info to hand.
(very grateful thumbs up smiley)
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Andy:
Which make of tyres do you have on your R?
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Andy:
Which make of tyres do you have on your R?
I assumed everyone had worked out from my depressed silence on the subject that I have the predicted sh!testones.
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Andy:
Which make of tyres do you have on your R?
I assumed everyone had worked out from my depressed silence on the subject that I have the predicted sh!testones.
Rubbish rubber like mine. I really do dislike them.
When driving on rough tarmac, do you notice noise emanating mostly from the front foot wells and a bit more from the passenger side front foot well?
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I've hardly driven it to be honest Asker. Just been incredibly busy lately and have had zero time. Hence why I've not had chance to put much up on here about the car as it's been an interesting transition.
They're not as noisy as the Conti 3's on the GTI but not as quiet as the Conti 2's.
The 3's were 235/35/19 and the 2's were 225/40/18's though.
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I've hardly driven it to be honest Asker. Just been incredibly busy lately and have had zero time. Hence why I've not had chance to put much up on here about the car as it's been an interesting transition.
They're not as noisy as the Conti 3's on the GTI but not as quiet as the Conti 2's.
The 3's were 235/35/19 and the 2's were 225/40/18's though.
Thanks, Andy. Will await your review when you have a bit more time to try them out.
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Ok, being as I have ten minutes peace at last I'll give a few initial thoughts on the car compared to the GTI it replaced.
Firstly the GTI. What a great car.
I've said before and will repeat often: the mk7 R has come of age as far as VW R cars are concerned. And that means the poor ol' GTI sits in it's shadow a bit as far as hot hatch aficionados go which is a shame as the GTI totally outperforms what you'd expect from it looking merely at the stats.
When I first got the GTI with no miles on it I really doubted the increased torque having had modified GTIs in the past but as the engine loosened up and once the DTUK/DTE pedal box was on the car making the low end power really accessible and useable I really came to appreciate the engine. The power comes in low and peaks at useable RPM's and I'd swear it produces a fair bit more than the 230 bhp VW advertise (again, having come from modified cars you get a feel for these things without being really anal).
The VAQ diff and basic chassis are the same as the Leon Cupra that did the 'Ring in "sub 8" which in layman's terms means it's a good chassis and yet the ride is also pretty good by hot hatch standards.
Looks? The GTI is a pretty car. Especially in white. Yeah, opinions differ but only mine is right so I'll accept no arguments there :grin: :laugh: :kiss:
I went for a three door for several reasons. The first being that the original show car was a white three door and VW chose that spec for a reason. It looks good and VW put some pretty effective little styling cues in there on a 3 door with the roof and window lines that make a nod back to the mk1.
Secondly lighter weight and stiffer chassis as a hot hatch should be in purists terms.
And thirdly, I once owned a mk1 GTI in white and loved it (despite it being the most unreliable pile of crap I ever owned).
Factor in I'd expected my eldest son to bugger off to university when I put the order in so the car would at long last cease to be a family taxi. It was a car for me.
(http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o560/Exonian22/Mobile%20Uploads/DC7BDD62-C854-4B4A-B662-C6DD9155EB6C.jpg) (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/Exonian22/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DC7BDD62-C854-4B4A-B662-C6DD9155EB6C.jpg.html)
Alas things change over a short space of time and the three doors became a pain in the butt as my son decided instead of racking up debts he'd start at the bottom and work his way up and is now a trainee management accountant or some such thing so still living at home and therefore along with his brother still likes dad's taxi to take him everywhere even though he can drive himself if he could be bothered to... :roll eyes:
Thus the GTI is still the family car.
And as I was looking towards changing cars next year and doing my homework for forum research purposes Evo1986 dangled a carrot in front of me and the rest is history.
So, after a whole week of almost not using my shiny new R what do I think of it?
First impressions:
Looking at it it looks heavier than the GTI with it's skirts and big bumpers. You really need to look at a car in the flesh to notice these things properly. The R looks hefty. Purposeful and aggressive.
The wheels look way too far into the arches.
Yesterday I got some new spacers through the post.
Inside it's dark. Lots of black. I really like the GTI's tatan seats and the last R I had a close look at in the depths of winter didn't impress me with its standard interior but on a very bright sunny June day I climbed into my very own R and quite liked what I saw.
The Piano Black dash bits will be a nightmare to keep dusting, the light grey will probably get grubby no matter how careful I am, etc etc but I quite like how VW have managed to give the R a completely different feel to the GTI. Just like my colleague's R32 it has a familiar R feel. And there are little homages to the R32 when you look up close outside with the little bits of satin metal that you don't notice at first glance. The lower bumper bit looks a bit crap at first and then you spot the satin silver trim going around the VW badge and a little smile breaks out when you realise what the designers have done. Subtle. Typical VW.
My car is standard spec so I'll miss park assist three or four times a year.
I'll occasionally miss the nav (I'll load one on my phone) and the camera.
The ride is a lot more firm than the GTI. You can feel the back end and transmission on the motorway let alone back roads. It reminds me again of the R32. Surefooted but hefty feeling. Not chuckable like a GTI. It's just a matter of getting used to that, not a criticism as they're different beasts.
And the engine. That's the important bit.
Obviously I'm running it in so am taking it pretty easy. Not too much throttle and not too many revs for the first couple tankfuls.
Once the DTE pedal box was plugged in the engine seemed to come alive a bit like the GTI before it. The turbo spool can be made far more use of with delicate foot movements and it feels so much more responsive, especially at town speeds.
The engine isn't as responsive low down as the GTI but neither is it laggy like a mk6 R. But it always feels quite eager to pick up its skirts and get going. Again, it reminds me a bit of the R32. Quick, but a different sort of quick to a GTI.
The soundaktor I hated. Switched that down ASAP to 40% and I'm happy with it now.
And fuel economy. Driving my GTI back to where I originally collected it as a completely standard car it did 40mpg. That was the best I ever got out of it over a whole journey and I was really pleasantly surprised. Heavy traffic too, stop start on the motorway at times. And all that on 95 RON.
Driving the R home on the same route reversed (not in reverse gear!) : 29mpg and I'll assume with 97 RON fuel in the tank.
Food for thought!!
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
I love my R, now. I hated it for the first month or so due to the noisy, horrible, ridiculous Soundaktor which is now set at ZERO volume.
One more noise source remains, which is road roar, mainly due to the tyres and lack of sufficient sound proofing. This will be easily sorted with a specific R sound proofing kit and with (possibly) new Michelin PSS tyres when I get back from Athens. First the kit, then the tyres. Not a major concern.
I had a few Build Quality issues like: (a) not perfectly hanging doors (sorted by myself), (b) not centralised bonnet (Warranty and will be fixed end July by the Bodyshop) and (c) not centralised front grill (fixed by myself).
The R handles brilliantly, rides beautifully, grips the road like a leech (even with Bridgestones), does not rattle or creak, the Dynaudio is very good value, DCC and DSG are delightful, HBA is great fun, DNS has not missed a beat, etc., etc., but it is still noisy.
All-in-all, a great car and tremendous in Rental Red.
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
Don't get me wrong, I drove home after waving a sad farewell to my GTI, with a big smile on my face.
The R is great but you've got to really push it for it to be better than a GTI as a GTI is pretty darned fantastic in its blend of attributes. And I'm running it in so the last thing I'm going to do is really push it. And I won't granny it either.
Lets just say the two cars have a different feel, which is good.
And at the end of the day an extra 70 bhp and and another driven axle for a couple grand isn't to be sniffed at.
The GTI is pretty and nimble and the R is a latent beast (as mass produced shopping trolleys go).
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I love my R, now. I hated it for the first month or so due to the noisy, horrible, ridiculous Soundaktor which is now set at ZERO volume.
One more noise source remains, which is road roar, mainly due to the tyres and lack of sufficient sound proofing. This will be easily sorted with a specific R sound proofing kit and with (possibly) new Michelin PSS tyres when I get back from Athens. First the kit, then the tyres. Not a major concern.
I had a few Build Quality issues like: (a) not perfectly hanging doors (sorted by myself), (b) not centralised bonnet (Warranty and will be fixed end July by the Bodyshop) and (c) not centralised front grill (fixed by myself).
The R handles brilliantly, rides beautifully, grips the road like a leech (even with Bridgestones), does not rattle or creak, the Dynaudio is very good value, DCC and DSG are delightful, HBA is great fun, DNS has not missed a beat, etc., etc., but it is still noisy.
All-in-all, a great car and tremendous in Rental Red.
Asker, it's very good news that you are growing ever fonder of your R and are getting the annoying niggles ironed out, which have hampered your enjoyment of the car from the outset.
I do doubt that you are going to eliminate all road roar though even with a change tyres and added soundproofing (though I think these measures will reduce it some). Surely it's partly the nature of the beast, plus some questionable road surfaces. Warranty issues aside (which should, quite rightly be sorted out), are you sure you're not trying to turn it into a different car? Something you wish it was but it's not meant to be? And I'm not trying to be awkward when I say this. :smiley:
I'm not saying the R is perfect (how can I when I haven't yet got one), but it is what it is. Perhaps by changing this and that, there's a danger it becomes so subdued that you rip out it's very soul, so to speak. :undecided:
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
Don't get me wrong, I drove home after waving a sad farewell to my GTI, with a big smile on my face.
The R is great but you've got to really push it for it to be better than a GTI as a GTI is pretty darned fantastic in its blend of attributes. And I'm running it in so the last thing I'm going to do is really push it. And I won't granny it either.
Lets just say the two cars have a different feel, which is good.
And at the end of the day an extra 70 bhp and and another driven axle for a couple grand isn't to be sniffed at.
The GTI is pretty and nimble and the R is a latent beast (as mass produced shopping trolleys go).
Well it will certainly be interesting to hear how your feelings and thoughts on it develop as you progress further into ownership, especially after the initial run in period and you are able to push it further.
But I'm glad you say that the R has a different feel from the GTI. It should. It's also good to hear what a perfectly balanced all-rounder the GTI is.
I'm actually ever more keen to get mine now, looking forward to it being a different (latent) beast, which of course, coming from a Mk6 GTI, it should be. Perhaps it's a good thing I will have bypassed the Mk7 GTI, do not have that comparison to make, and can just take the R at face value? :undecided:
Keep your observations coming please :smiley:
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I love my R, now. I hated it for the first month or so due to the noisy, horrible, ridiculous Soundaktor which is now set at ZERO volume.
One more noise source remains, which is road roar, mainly due to the tyres and lack of sufficient sound proofing. This will be easily sorted with a specific R sound proofing kit and with (possibly) new Michelin PSS tyres when I get back from Athens. First the kit, then the tyres. Not a major concern.
I had a few Build Quality issues like: (a) not perfectly hanging doors (sorted by myself), (b) not centralised bonnet (Warranty and will be fixed end July by the Bodyshop) and (c) not centralised front grill (fixed by myself).
The R handles brilliantly, rides beautifully, grips the road like a leech (even with Bridgestones), does not rattle or creak, the Dynaudio is very good value, DCC and DSG are delightful, HBA is great fun, DNS has not missed a beat, etc., etc., but it is still noisy.
All-in-all, a great car and tremendous in Rental Red.
Asker, it's very good news that you are growing ever fonder of your R and are getting the annoying niggles ironed out, which have hampered your enjoyment of the car from the outset.
I do doubt that you are going to eliminate all road roar though even with a change tyres and added soundproofing (though I think these measures will reduce it some). Surely it's partly the nature of the beast, plus some questionable road surfaces. Warranty issues aside (which should, quite rightly be sorted out), are you sure you're not trying to turn it into a different car? Something you wish it was but it's not meant to be? And I'm not trying to be awkward when I say this. :smiley:
I'm not saying the R is perfect (how can I when I haven't yet got one), but it is what it is. Perhaps by changing this and that, there's a danger it becomes so subdued that you rip out it's very soul, so to speak. :undecided:
The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Is it like that on different road surfaces, or just particular ones? Different car I know, but on mine, even on 19s with relatively noisy tyres, I've never found road noise to be so intrusive as to drown out normal in-car conversation even with music playing simultaneously, EXCEPT on a couple of very recently resurfaced roads, where the noise is noticeably louder, but the noise is short lived so no issue.
Perhaps it is something more than just your tyres then. Your earlier suggestion of comparing it to one or two other R's on the same roads sounds like a worthwhile plan, and if it compares badly, and is vastly noisier, then to get it checked out.
But you do need to ditch your (slightly soiled) rubbish rubber and get some Michelin PSS on :wink: :kiss:
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Is it like that on different road surfaces, or just particular ones? Different car I know, but on mine, even on 19s with relatively noisy tyres, I've never found road noise to be so intrusive as to drown out normal in-car conversation even with music playing simultaneously, EXCEPT on a couple of very recently resurfaced roads, where the noise is noticeably louder, but the noise is short lived so no issue.
Perhaps it is something more than just your tyres then. Your earlier suggestion of comparing it to one or two other R's on the same roads sounds like a worthwhile plan, and if it compares badly, and is vastly noisier, then to get it checked out.
But you do need to ditch your (slightly soiled) rubbish rubber and get some Michelin PSS on :wink: :kiss:
Before I ditch the Bridgestones, I will try an R or two to assess the noise on these particular roads. If they are not as noisy with their Bridgestone tyres then it has to be a strut or something like that on my car that needs to be checked by VW. It is fun fiddling around! :kiss:
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Before I ditch the Bridgestones, I will try an R or two to assess the noise on these particular roads. If they are not as noisy with their Bridgestone tyres then it has to be a strut or something like that on my car that needs to be checked by VW. It is fun fiddling around! :kiss:
That's very true. We all love a bit of a fiddle here and there, so fiddle away my love. :wink: :kiss:
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Before I ditch the Bridgestones, I will try an R or two to assess the noise on these particular roads. If they are not as noisy with their Bridgestone tyres then it has to be a strut or something like that on my car that needs to be checked by VW. It is fun fiddling around! :kiss:
That's very true. We all love a bit of a fiddle here and there, so fiddle away my love. :wink: :kiss:
No chance of that yet as I am still in Athens for a couple more weeks.
Long queues at ATMs and many are running out of money. Thankfully, I took plenty of cash with me. But if that runs out and the ATMs are shut, then I'll take the first flight back or ring my UK bank and they can deliver some cash in an envelope! A bit worrying and surreal.
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No chance of that yet as I am still in Athens for a couple more weeks.
You'll just have to find something else to fiddle with in the meantime :tongue: :kiss:
Long queues at ATMs and many are running out of money. Thankfully, I took plenty of cash with me. But if that runs out and the ATMs are shut, then I'll take the first flight back or ring my UK bank and they can deliver some cash in an envelope! A bit worrying and surreal.
Very difficult times. Referendum soon.
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Who goes in an R for conversation? That's what cafés / bistros are for!
Seriously though maybe you've adjusted your doors too much to allow the noise in!
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Who goes in an R for conversation? That's what cafés / bistros are for!
Seriously though maybe you've adjusted your doors too much to allow the noise in!
Love your logic! LOL.
No, the doors are Bank Vault tight with no wind noise at speeds up to xxx mph. It is the road roar from the blooming tyres on our abundant rough road surfaces which is the only remaining problem. Many of my German friends comment on this also. Perhaps VW should select tyres when they drive on UK rough road surfaces.
Have bigger fish to fry today. ATMs in Athens are running out of money, the ECB will stop funding the Greek Banks after today, Capital controls will probably be introduced tomorrow, etc. I have plenty of cash to last me a few weeks, but I think I will have to give my Greek friends some of it so that they don't starve.
Rushing out shortly to find an operating ATM. What a 'mare!
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Who goes in an R for conversation? That's what cafés / bistros are for!
Seriously though maybe you've adjusted your doors too much to allow the noise in!
And here's the thing.
The R and all other hot hatches have quite wide tyres for obvious reasons of physics.
Wide tyres tend to make a bit of noise.
A hot hatch is based on a standard hatch - you get your 300 horses for £30k for that reason - economies of scale and all that.
A hot hatch is like a standard hatch with a few added ingredients; that's the beauty of them and why they're so popular in this overcrowded isle with lots of bendy roads. However, in order to behave like a fairly sporty car it won't have all the noise suppression of a limousine nor will it have the ride comfort levels. A fat bloke won't be able to compete on level terms with Mo Farrah despite all of the performance enhancing drugs the cows were fed before they became the fat bloke's beef burgers. Allegedly.
I've yet to decide whether my sh!testones are excessively noisy but in my limited (very limited) experience so far they seem ok considering what the R is all about. Lets put it this way - I wouldn't spec Dynaudio on an R unless I was going to be sat with the engine and air-con not running for long amounts of time, and I'd want better quality audio going into the system than crappy iPod quality or dodgy digital broadcasting (I think the nation was hoodwinked a little on that subject).
The R is designed with the PlayStation generation in mind, and with that it's designed to be a bit noisy so it can pretend to be something off a PlayStation game - particularly when you have DSG too and just have to steer it occasionally.
Exhaust noise seems to be all the rage so that's what manufacturers are giving us at the moment. I guess everything else on cars has to be dumbed down owing to EU and US legislation so your 300bhp is actually quite dull to drive compared to how VW could have made it if they'd have been allowed to so they try and overcompensate that by attempting to make it sound like a sporty and exciting drive whilst pootling about 99% of the time in a 40mph limit between sets of traffic lights.
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The road roar is unacceptable to the extent it affects conversation. It has to be addressed and will be addressed.
Who goes in an R for conversation? That's what cafés / bistros are for!
Seriously though maybe you've adjusted your doors too much to allow the noise in!
Love your logic! LOL.
No, the doors are Bank Vault tight with no wind noise at speeds up to xxx mph. No, the road roar is from the blooming tyres on rough road surfaces which seem abundant in the UK. Many of my German friends comment on this also. Perhaps VW should select tyres when they drive on UK rough road surfaces.
Having bigger fish to fry today. ATMs in Athens are running out of money, the ECB will stop funding the Greek Banks after today, Capital controls will probably be introduced tomorrow, etc. I have plenty of cash to last me a few weeks, but I think I will have to give my Greek friends some of it so that they don't starve.
Rushing out shortly to find an operating ATM. What a 'mare!
You certainly decided on an interesting time to visit your home from home. Never a dull moment there by the sounds of it.
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Loads of money left here in Corfu am1w. Sail your private yacht over and help yourself LoL
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Andy:
Tell me about it. Never a dull moment. Puts things in perspective. My rubber is a low priority now. Hunting for an ATM with cash in it now a priority. Have plenty of Euros (1500) for 3 weeks but need more, just in case.
At least the weather is super; not hot, not cold, just perfect day and night. Food fantastic and tastes so much better than in the UK.
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Loads of money left here in Corfu am1w. Sail your private yacht over and help yourself LoL
Thanks p3asa for the rescue attempt!
But, we have a problem: I don't have a yacht, let alone a private one. :cry:
Can you pop over in your private jet?
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Athens is probably a lovely place to visit and indulge in any remaining niceties but you wouldn't want to live there.
A bit like the R. Probably a lovely car for a long test drive but not something to live with for three years owing to noisy tyres and wonky panels.
:laugh: :laugh: :kiss:
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Athens is probably a lovely place to visit and indulge in any remaining niceties but you wouldn't want to live there.
A bit like the R. Probably a lovely car for a long test drive but not something to live with for three years owing to noisy tyres and wonky panels.
:laugh: :laugh: :kiss:
You teasing tart! :kiss:
I love Athens and Greece.
My family is in the UK but all my closest friends are Greek and live in Athens. And I increasingly feel about Athens: 'Home is where the heart is'.
I will move to Athens in 3-4 years as I am sick and tired of the miserable weather in the UK, the morose attitude of the people, the horrible quality of food and the rip off nature of the country. And I am also ashamed to say that the latter has stood me in good stead. The British islanders sadly lack the generosity of spirit which the Greeks have in abundance.
The R is a wonderful car and there is nothing as good at its price point, and especially because I obtained one at the very best 1p lease for 3 years. If I did not care for the car, I would not try and address the road roar issue.
So both Athens and the R are right up there in my estimation.
ATMs in my area have run out of money for today. Will try again tomorrow, but if they are still dry, I am not too worried as I came with plenty of Euro trash cash. :laugh:
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I am sick and tired of the miserable weather in the UK, the morose attitude of the people, the horrible quality of food and the rip off nature of the country. And I am also ashamed to say that the latter has stood me in good stead. The British islanders sadly lack the generosity of spirit which the Greeks have in abundance.
The R is a wonderful car and there is nothing as good at its price point, and especially because I obtained one at the very best 1p lease for 3 years. If I did not care for the car, I would not try and address the road roar issue.
So both Athens and the R are right up there in my estimation.
ATMs in my area have run out of money for today. Will try again tomorrow, but if they are still dry, I am not too worried as I came with plenty of Euro trash cash. :laugh:
It's the miserable weather, poor quality food and rip off society that makes us UK islanders morose, lol. Seriously we are not all like that, well not all the time anyway! :undecided:
Good luck with your mission to source some extra cash funds. I think when you have an deep seated affinity with a country and it's people, you stick with them through good and bad times.
Your burgeoning R love affair aside (only cos you got it for pennies :tongue:), the R is a little short of hugs on here at the moment, but better a bit of honesty, than the blinkered rose-tinted specs approach. Between now and whenever mine shows up, I think I may lower my expectations of it, then, if it arrives with perfectly aligned doors and panels, untarnished paint and, I can actually hear the Dynaudio and the £££ I splashed out (wasted?) on it, I'll be pleasantly surprised. :grin: (until I see the tyres that is)
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if you fancy some blue highlights on the R
http://www.badgeskins.com/mk7.html
not cheap but great quality and well thought out so easy to apply
i've gone black to de bling
Liking the fender blades Andy!
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The R is a wonderful car and there is nothing as good at its price point, and especially because I obtained one at the very best 1p lease for 3 years. If I did not care for the car, I would not try and address the road roar issue.
Your burgeoning R love affair aside (only cos you got it for pennies :tongue:), the R is a little short of hugs on here at the moment, but better a bit of honesty, than the blinkered rose-tinted specs approach. Between now and whenever mine shows up, I think I may lower my expectations of it, then, if it arrives with perfectly aligned doors and panels, untarnished paint and, I can actually hear the Dynaudio and the £££ I splashed out (wasted?) on it, I'll be pleasantly surprised. :grin: (until I see the tyres that is)
The R is a grown up hot hatch with none of the wheel spin that FWD hot hatches suffer with or RWD ones. When I compared the GTI and the R, the R immediately felt a perfectly honed fast car without the histrionics on damp surfaces which even a GTI PP suffers with.
You will love your R. Give it a few hundred miles and everything will fall into place beautifully. Mine went completely on song after 200 miles. It is a terrific car and we should sue VW for foisting Bridgestones on us UK buyers. The Germans get Contis. Don't we deserve the same or even better?
The Dynaudio is definitely worth having, noisy car or not. The bass is terrific and so is the rest of the frequency range. It has wonderful headroom and never runs out of puff (within reason). I would be most unhappy without it.
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
I'm just a bit taken aback by how hard you have to milk it for it to actually feel quick. If you're not redlining it all the time (like you will in your test drive if the salesman will allow), it doesn't feel quick at all. I suppose it's the Jekyll and Hyde character of the car, but it seems like half of it's power is only accessible above 3500 revs and even then it only feels properly quick over 5000 revs.
Coming from a Diesel that seems a bit weird. I'm used to having all the torque and most of the power from 35% to 80% of the rev range and then seeing it tail off. I need to re-educate myself driving the R - i'm getting there. :wink:
When you tear away from a standstill, milking 1st, second and third (I sometimes do that on a stretch at the end of my mundane commute) the R is ridiculously quick. When You drop a few cogs to overtake something between 50 and 80mph, it doesn't feel any quicker than my DTUK'd GTD, I need to fight the urge to drop from 6th to 4th and go 6th to 3rd instead to be keeping the revs at a minimum of 4000revs when I want to feel a bit of self-induced whiplash.
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MH:
You have to get over low rev Diesel torque which is addictive. It takes a month or so to wean yourself off the juice of the devil. Enjoy the freedom of a higher revving engine running on the juice of the gods. The R is more car and less tractor! :evil: :tongue: :laugh:
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I will move to Athens in 3-4 years as I am sick and tired of the miserable weather in the UK, the morose attitude of the people, the horrible quality of food and the rip off nature of the country. And I am also ashamed to say that the latter has stood me in good stead. The British islanders sadly lack the generosity of spirit which the Greeks have in abundance.
Well the weather is a common denominator all over the country, but the morose attitude and lack of generosity of spirit is likely more abundant in London than many parts of the country - you'll generally find the northerners very friendly, but also more blunt and less willing to let someone take a lend of them.
Food is all relative - I went to Milan once to see Newcastle play in the Champions league (I have a long memory! :grin:) and ate my worst and most expensive italian meal there in a posh restaurant. The following day we went to a canteen style restaurant that was pennies and had some of the best italian food ever. The cost of living - again relative, London is expensive, Amsterdam and Paris are expensive. Over in Berlin though you can eat and drink very cheaply (relative to the fact it is a capital city of Europe) - value for money is ingrained into the German people, they don't like being ripped off.
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The R is a grown up hot hatch with none of the wheel spin that FWD hot hatches suffer with or RWD ones. When I compared the GTI and the R, the R immediately felt a perfectly honed fast car without the histrionics on damp surfaces which even a GTI PP suffers with.
You will love your R. Give it a few hundred miles and everything will fall into place beautifully. Mine went completely on song after 200 miles. It is a terrific car and we should sue VW for foisting Bridgestones on us UK buyers. The Germans get Contis. Don't we deserve the same or even better?
The Dynaudio is definitely worth having, noisy car or not. The bass is terrific and so is the rest of the frequency range. It has wonderful headroom and never runs out of puff (within reason). I would be most unhappy without it.
Maybe it's a slow burner (as opposed to an oil burner :laugh:) and takes a while to truly fall for the R. All will be revealed in time I guess??
The Germans stuff us on the tyre front, and take the best for themselves. They are not stupid. They probably think the good rubber is wasted on our dreadful roads. Of course, for that very reason we need it all the more. :whistle:
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Coming from a Diesel that seems a bit weird. I'm used to having all the torque and most of the power from 35% to 80% of the rev range and then seeing it tail off. I need to re-educate myself driving the R - i'm getting there. :wink:
Thank your lucky stars you didn't spec DSG as well :evil:
Fortunately I'm NOT coming from a diesel so maybe less of a learning curve for me??
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My usual rule of never buying a car with more bhp than lb ft of torque was broken when I got the R.
As a general rule of thumb if the car has more torque (as a number in lb ft) than bhp then it'll perform better at lower engine speeds.
The R feels more lethargic than the GTI under 2000 revs.
But it doesn't really like being at sub 2k.
It feels much like the GTI between 2k and 4k and above 4k it starts to show a clean pair of heels.
But as mine has bugger all miles I've not really been over 4k in mine and I'm going from a looser engine in a car I test drove ages ago.
Unless it has some very clever and very extensive trickery I'd be very surprised if the R400 felt anything but lethargic at UK legal road speeds, just as an aside to make myself feel better!!!
Surely that car would need quite a lot of revs dialled in to make it pick up its skirts?
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The Germans stuff us on the tyre front, and take the best for themselves. They are not stupid. They probably think the good rubber is wasted on our dreadful roads. Of course, for that very reason we need it all the more. :whistle:
The Germans seem to be stuffing everyone. So nothing has changed with them. :rolleyes:
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My usual rule of never buying a car with more bhp than lb ft of torque was broken when I got the R.
As a general rule of thumb if the car has more torque (as a number in lb ft) than bhp then it'll perform better at lower engine speeds.
The R feels more lethargic than the GTI under 2000 revs.
But it doesn't really like being at sub 2k.
It feels much like the GTI between 2k and 4k and above 4k it starts to show a clean pair of heels.
But as mine has bugger all miles I've not really been over 4k in mine and I'm going from a looser engine in a car I test drove ages ago.
Unless it has some very clever and very extensive trickery I'd be very surprised if the R400 felt anything but lethargic at UK legal road speeds, just as an aside to make myself feel better!!!
Surely that car would need quite a lot of revs dialled in to make it pick up its skirts?
What's with the super new low contrast sig? Are you embarrassed to admit you own an R :whistle:
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The Germans seem to be stuffing everyone. So nothing has changed with them. :rolleyes:
'Tis the nature of the beast :whistle:
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My usual rule of never buying a car with more bhp than lb ft of torque was broken when I got the R.
As a general rule of thumb if the car has more torque (as a number in lb ft) than bhp then it'll perform better at lower engine speeds.
The R feels more lethargic than the GTI under 2000 revs.
But it doesn't really like being at sub 2k.
It feels much like the GTI between 2k and 4k and above 4k it starts to show a clean pair of heels.
But as mine has bugger all miles I've not really been over 4k in mine and I'm going from a looser engine in a car I test drove ages ago.
Unless it has some very clever and very extensive trickery I'd be very surprised if the R400 felt anything but lethargic at UK legal road speeds, just as an aside to make myself feel better!!!
Surely that car would need quite a lot of revs dialled in to make it pick up its skirts?
What's with the super new low contrast sig? Are you embarrassed to admit you own an R :whistle:
Stealth Ms B
Thought I'd colour code it like Asker's (and a few others) then see if any sharp eyed compatriots stayed awake far enough into one of my posts to spot it...
:whistle:
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What's with the super new low contrast sig? Are you embarrassed to admit you own an R :whistle:
Stealth Ms B
Thought I'd colour code it like Asker's (and a few others) then see if any sharp eyed compatriots stayed awake far enough into one of my posts to spot it...
:whistle:
So Asker is setting new trends now! He's also doing a top job of talking up the R these days :smiley: Someone has too :tongue: :kiss:
I'm always riveted by your informative and knowledgeable posts, so of course I noticed stealth sig immediately :smiley:
But you know a white car can never be truly stealthy, don't you? :evil:
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Andy, you have bought a fridge with two cool boxes and two freezer compartments.
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Andy, you have bought a fridge with two cool boxes and two freezer compartments.
Not a fan of white goods on wheels then :laugh:
At least Mr Ex will always be cool :cool: (sorry :laugh:)
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Andy, you have bought a fridge with two cool boxes and two freezer compartments.
Not a fan of white goods on wheels then :laugh:
At least Mr Ex will always be cool :cool: (sorry :laugh:)
That's because my climate is always on auto...
... But that's a whole different thread...
:grin:
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Andy, you have bought a fridge with two cool boxes and two freezer compartments.
Not a fan of white goods on wheels then :laugh:
At least Mr Ex will always be cool :cool: (sorry :laugh:)
That's because my climate is always on auto...
... But that's a whole different thread...
:grin:
:grin: :grin: Been there, discussed that :laugh:
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A very candid and thoughtful write up Mr Ex. Doesn't sound like you are overly enamoured with your new car. Perhaps the GTI was your definitive Golf?
Does anyone on here like their R? :undecided: :sad:
I'm just a bit taken aback by how hard you have to milk it for it to actually feel quick. If you're not redlining it all the time (like you will in your test drive if the salesman will allow), it doesn't feel quick at all. I suppose it's the Jekyll and Hyde character of the car, but it seems like half of it's power is only accessible above 3500 revs and even then it only feels properly quick over 5000 revs.
Coming from a Diesel that seems a bit weird. I'm used to having all the torque and most of the power from 35% to 80% of the rev range and then seeing it tail off. I need to re-educate myself driving the R - i'm getting there. :wink:
When you tear away from a standstill, milking 1st, second and third (I sometimes do that on a stretch at the end of my mundane commute) the R is ridiculously quick. When You drop a few cogs to overtake something between 50 and 80mph, it doesn't feel any quicker than my DTUK'd GTD, I need to fight the urge to drop from 6th to 4th and go 6th to 3rd instead to be keeping the revs at a minimum of 4000revs when I want to feel a bit of self-induced whiplash.
I'd suggest popping over to see DTUK and trying a pedal box MH, it really improves the pickup feel of the R
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Andy, you have bought a fridge with two cool boxes and two freezer compartments.
Not a fan of white goods on wheels then :laugh:
At least Mr Ex will always be cool :cool: (sorry :laugh:)
That's because my climate is always on auto...
... But that's a whole different thread...
:grin:
:grin: :grin: Been there, discussed that :laugh:
Yeah, nothing worth getting your windows steamed up over :whistle:
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:grin: :grin: Been there, discussed that :laugh:
Yeah, nothing worth getting your windows steamed up over :whistle:
:rolleyes:
It's all just hot air :laugh:
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Only read the first page as this thread looks like its going to take some reading......
But congrats on the R purchase Andy. That a cracking looking motor and I'm sure a hell of a car also :smiley:
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Thanks Martin :cool:
It's a lovely car.
Don't worry about the other however many pages, it's just the usual off topic banter you'd expect from here and a few comments from me saying I can't give much of a review of it yet as I've hardly driven it. :grin:
I've ordered one of those phone holders you recommended a while back too :afro:
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i think it would look :wink: with a bit of BBS magic in the rimmage department
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i think it would look :wink: with a bit of BBS magic in the rimmage department
It's staying standard
It's staying standard
It's staying standard
It's staying standard
It's staying standard
If I keep repeating it to myself I'll believe myself...
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I'd suggest popping over to see DTUK and trying a pedal box MH, it really improves the pickup feel of the R
Never really wanted a pedal box - they look untidy (IMO) and squeezing the whole throttle response into the first half of the pedal travel doesn't appeal to me, because i'd want to push past 1/2 way and still have something left rather than giving it a hair trigger. If they could plug in as a discrete module that stays in the footwell, they'd look a little tidier. I just have to learn to milk it a bit more (I took a few more lessons in that department today! :evil:)
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I'd suggest popping over to see DTUK and trying a pedal box MH, it really improves the pickup feel of the R
Never really wanted a pedal box - they look untidy (IMO) and squeezing the whole throttle response into the first half of the pedal travel doesn't appeal to me, because i'd want to push past 1/2 way and still have something left rather than giving it a hair trigger. If they could plug in as a discrete module that stays in the footwell, they'd look a little tidier. I just have to learn to milk it a bit more (I took a few more lessons in that department today! :evil:)
They're totally invisible once fitted properly on a mk7
Depends what you want out of your response though I guess as they're multi way adjustable so you can still have full pedal travel if you set them up that way.
I'd rather have (for road use) more sensitive travel for less foot movement, so gaps in traffic can be taken advantage of without having to use too much pedal travel.
It's hard to put in writing.
I'd recommend anyone to at least try one.
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linear throttle response for me these days so these gizmos do nothing for me
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yeah, horses for courses I guess. Ever since I had my mk5 and mk6 GTI's I've hated the pedal travel and response after being spoilt with the Lightning reflexes of a REVO'd Polo GTI 1.8t many many moons ago.
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yeah, horses for courses I guess. Ever since I had my mk5 and mk6 GTI's I've hated the pedal travel and response after being spoilt with the Lightning reflexes of a REVO'd Polo GTI 1.8t many many moons ago.
I realise you don't like a bit of heel-toe action. A few ballet lessons should sort that out. :laugh:
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yeah, horses for courses I guess. Ever since I had my mk5 and mk6 GTI's I've hated the pedal travel and response after being spoilt with the Lightning reflexes of a REVO'd Polo GTI 1.8t many many moons ago.
I realise you don't like a bit of heel-toe action. A few ballet lessons should sort that out. :laugh:
Twinkle Toes, are you offering to give Mr Ex lessons? That I'd like to see :laugh:
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My short hairy legs dangling out of a tutu would be quite a sight to behold
:sick:
In other news: Today I got to use my 4wd!
Unfortunately it wasn't a tyre smokin' engine blazin' rip roarin' traffic light getaway.
It was having to park on a grass verge at a funeral of an ex-colleague of mine. The choice was either squeezing it into a small space in the car park, or reversing up a steep grass verge.
So I took the show off's option as it meant nobody was going to whack my doors.
As one does.
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I decided to take the R for a 4am run on Wednesday morning.
It's a route I've used regularly for quite a few years on a good combination of roads but mostly bendy, hilly dual carriageway.
It's about 40 miles or just over and gives me a direct comparison to other cars I've owned and teaches me strengths and weaknesses.
The first thing I noticed was the throttle seemed a bit jerky so I turned the PedalBox settings down a bit which smoothed out the response. I'm guessing from this that the R might have a fractionally more aggressive throttle map in the ECU.
With this PedalBox setting I found I could use a lightish throttle application to spool the turbo smoothly and ride the low end torque like a Diesel. I doubt you could quite replicate the same with a DSG as it would just flip between gears but it's very satisfying and really shows the dual personality of the engine.
Lazy lugger at below 3k and increasingly rabid above that.
I finally managed to get a whole trip to average more than 30 mpg on the MFD too. Bearing in mind the engine is tight still I'm quite happy with that.
As I'm finished doing 11 hour nights for a while and cutting back my hours a bit I had a little bit of time to get the station logos started on the radio. That gives the screen a splash of colour which I'm glad of.
I think if I'd had a car with nav specced I'd maybe regret not having the 6.5" screen but as my car just has the basic radio then I hardly look at the screen so don't give it much thought. If there's a bit of DAB text to read I glance that way but not often. I don't even have the camera screen in reverse now and don't miss it (so far). Mind you, with a factory order I'd spec the camera as it's cheap and impresses passengers no end.
Also, I've gradually introduced the car to a few friends now.
"What's an R? Is that better than a GTI? Is it a diesel?" Tend to be the general first questions.
Non petrolheads have no idea about the R 'brand'.
Looks wise, mixed opinions.
Bearing in mind my GTI was also white it gives a direct focus on the styling differences.
The women like the wheels less than the men so far. The guys seem to like the wheels as they're quite muscular but the girls say they look a bit agressive. Which is odd as the girls like the meaner looking 'face' of the car more than the boys so far.
Some prefer the GTI's looks and particularly the red flashes and unpainted plastic contrasts, and some say the five door R looks "more substantial" than the 3 door GTI. Though I wonder if the deeper bumpers and skirts subconsciously do that.
The only issue I've noticed so far is reverse gear can be a bit reluctant to go in and there is a fair bit of torque reaction on the overrun; in 4th gear it's most noticeable.
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Some very useful observations.. And good that you are now getting more time to notch up a few decent runs in and get to know the beast, so to speak. It definitely sounds like it has a split personality: caged animal sub 3k rpm; wild thing 3k plus. That's actually a massive attraction for me who will be using the R as a daily driver. I want it to be both those things. I'm not interested in a pedal box, prefer to have the power delivery proportionate to the press of the pedal.
I agree, the average Joe hasn't got a clue what an R is, but I'm certain not many on here give a toss about that, we know. Although, there are about three guys in my workplace who know their cars and have already booked 'a slot' for a run out in mine when it arrives (me driving of course) :rolleyes:
Interesting what you say about the differing way the looks of the R are perceived by boys and girls. I can sort of understand the reactions to the wheels. Perhaps men are more easily impressed by the apparent masculinity of the Cadiz over the Pretorias, which by contrast may look a bit too elegant or girly to some. Cadiz are not my favourite but only really because I've gone off most diamond cut alloys in general (I'm sick to death of them tbh) and wanted 19s anyway. It's fair to say they look great with certain colours, better than the Prets in those cases.
As for the rest of the car, it isn't as pretty or sporty looking as the GTI/GTD for sure, but I like the overall subdued intent of it, albeit with the overkill quad pipes. I agree the side skirts and deep bumpers add to the subtle menace. It perhaps could have been a tad more purposeful looking at the front like the Mk6 R but hey ho! And again the choice of colour plays a part - white and silver making the most of the styling contrasts, and at the other extreme, black being more stealth. Not forgetting Lapiz and TR which work brilliantly with the black accents.
Glad to hear you're managing to sort the station logos out and tart up the screen. Having seen those recent pics of the 6.5" new screen it looks ok, but I'm still glad I changed my mind and added the tech pack and thus the 8" screen. That should look super tarty! And remember, whatever you may have heard, size counts!! :grin:
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6.5”will be fine just not as good as the full 8”though :whistle:
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Nice write-up Andy. Always a pleasure to read your essays.
I am very happy with most things on my R now except one:
Road roar mainly due to the Bridgestones and also perhaps due to lack of effective noise proofing coupled with the ultra thin panels. But in the name of lightness one has to accept this. The boot floor for instance is so thin that it can be depressed with finger pressure. The panels in the foot wells are also very thin. A change of tyres should help a bit, I hope. Perhaps the less focused GTI and GTD are a bit better from a noise perspective.
Am glad you are bonding with the car. Does the missus like it?
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Some very useful observations.. And good that you are now getting more time to notch up a few decent runs in and get to know the beast, so to speak. It definitely sounds like it has a split personality: caged animal sub 3k rpm; wild thing 3k plus. That's actually a massive attraction for me who will be using the R as a daily driver. I want it to be both those things. I'm not interested in a pedal box, prefer to have the power delivery proportionate to the press of the pedal. You'll love the power delivery. Coming from a mk6 GTI it will be a huge increase all round but in a subdued controlled and typically VW way. You really really won't be disappointed Mme B. As for the pedal box, if you've lived with the mushy dead inch or so of travel on your mk5s and mk6 then you'll be familiar with the throttle action of the R and won't notice the difference aside from the pedal going back to the older non floor hinged style. The pedal box doesn't work quite that way contrary to a lot of opinion, you can set it up to do all sorts of things but for me getting rid of that dead bit of travel was essential. With the factory pedal it seems to do next to nothing for the first inch or so then gradually increases the throttle potentiometer/chip so in effect, even on an aggressive setting the pedal box keeps around about the same amount of useful pedal travel it just brings it into a more useable place and gives the car better reflexes. I'd hate to have to be the sales rep for the company as so many people can't get their heads around them! But alas I'm not, so all I'll say is if you're happy before then don't bother, but if you also find the responses too muted there is an option out there albeit at a price.
I agree, the average Joe hasn't got a clue what an R is, but I'm certain not many on here give a toss about that, we know. Although, there are about three guys in my workplace who know their cars and have already booked 'a slot' for a run out in mine when it arrives (me driving of course) :roll eyes: nobody seems in any doubt that it's a sporty car but they just don't seem familiar with the R brand and with the R Line trim available on nearly all VW's too it is very much uber stealth in identity. An enigma would be the best way to describe the R to those not clued up/obsessed like us lot
Interesting what you say about the differing way the looks of the R are perceived by boys and girls. I can sort of understand the reactions to the wheels. Perhaps men are more easily impressed by the apparent masculinity of the Cadiz over the Pretorias, which by contrast may look a bit too elegant or girly to some. Cadiz are not my favourite but only really because I've gone off most diamond cut alloys in general (I'm sick to death of them tbh) and wanted 19s anyway. It's fair to say they look great with certain colours, better than the Prets in those cases. The Cadiz are an homage to the Talladegas, just brought 'up to date' with the polished face that ALL manufacturers seem to be intent on using at the moment. I don't think the Prets look girly or pretty, they look more of a motorsport wheel like a company such as OZ would produce, and similar to ATS's range of lightweight track wheels. I'd have probably specced them on a factory order but thankfully was put out of my misery and spared the ridiculous wait.
The 19's look so much better in profile but were a pain in the butt on the GTI at times. I've still got my Rondells in the garage should I decide to go back to 19's at some point but I might even give myself a bit of a long term project to source a set of Pretorias as I like my cars to be a bit of a project. Who knows?!!
The only thing a long wait vs. a cancelled order gives you is the change to sit and think "what do I really want?" where as my offer was "what can I live without?"
I think a lot of it comes down to perception of money and what's at your disposal. I get no financial assistance from work for my car so it's very much a cost sensitive thing. If I used my car for work and got company car benefits of mileage allowance I'd probably look at different things. Everyone's situation is different and I think the tech pack is a great option. My thoughts on the radio screen were more along the lines of "I don't have nav so the small screen isn't of much consequence" where as if I had nav then it would be "the bigger the better" but alas I think it's very overpriced and I'd happily spend my bosses money on Pro nav but not my own!!!
As for the rest of the car, it isn't as pretty or sporty looking as the GTI/GTD for sure, but I like the overall subdued intent of it, albeit with the overkill quad pipes. I agree the side skirts and deep bumpers add to the subtle menace. It perhaps could have been a tad more purposeful looking at the front like the Mk6 R but hey ho! And again the choice of colour plays a part - white and silver making the most of the styling contrasts, and at the other extreme, black being more stealth. Not forgetting Lapiz and TR which work brilliantly with the black accents. I must admit I did initially roll my eyes when I saw the press shots of the R and its quad pipes. But in the flesh they look ok, they're not in yer face but do get noticed by people
Glad to hear you're managing to sort the station logos out and tart up the screen. Having seen those recent pics of the 6.5" new screen it looks ok, but I'm still glad I changed my mind and added the tech pack and thus the 8" screen. That should look super tarty! And remember, whatever you may have heard, size counts!! :grin: I shall live my life with constant screen envy!
Replied in blue Asker style!
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Nice write-up Andy. Always a pleasure to read your essays.
I am very happy with most things on my R now except one:
Road roar mainly due to the Bridgestones and also perhaps due to lack of effective noise proofing coupled with the ultra thin panels. But in the name of lightness one has to accept this. The boot floor for instance is so thin that it can be depressed with finger pressure. The panels in the foot wells are also very thin. A change of tyres should help a bit, I hope. Perhaps the less focused GTI and GTD are a bit better from a noise perspective.
Am glad you are bonding with the car. Does the missus like it?
My mad rantings don't you mean? :laugh:
Yes, the mk7 has crap panels, fully agreed.
The GTI/D don't have quite the same volume of piped in crap sounds unless you have the Sport and Sound in the GTD which is a better noise than the screen vibrator and quite amusing. I'd happily live with a GTD with S&S and if the R hadn't popped up as a cancelled rent boy order I may well have opted for a GTD so equipped next year.
Wifey hasn't even sat in the car yet. She has no interest in it and is happy to run about in our other ancient rattle box which in turn makes me happy :grin:
..............................................
I didn't get to finish writing my 'essay' earlier and stopped short of the interior.
I know there was a lot of disharmony about the seats in the R when it was released and expected to dislike the interior.
I'll ignore the VW leather options as all Golfs specced with leather will look very similar inside so will go purely on the standard cloth.
The GTI's tartan is something I'm pretty fond of and it's one of the bits I miss most about the car but I have to say I can't see what all the fuss was about with the R's standard seats. They're really quite nice in the flesh. Ok, they make the interior very black and I can see why they went with light grey side panels but I really like the interior. It doesn't have the character of the GTI inside but it's nice in a Germanic sort of way.
And I love the dials in the R.
10/10 to VW for the dials in the R.
The blue lighting highlights draw lots of positive comments from people. "Different" and they seem popular.
Shame VW cheaped out and didn't put the lights in the back doors or sills. The 3 door is much more harmonious in this respect with no painted metal on view in the back and nice little cup holders beside the seats.
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I love the R's seats and VW have got it just right IMO. If there is such a thing as premium looking cloth seats, this is it. I find leather uncomfortable and most of the VW leather is vinyl, except for the seat back and base. So perhaps 60% is Vienna Vinyl unfortunately. Same for the Carbon seats. The door cards are all vinyl.
Audi do it so much better.
I agree that VW have been skin flints in not lighting up the rear doors and sills. But one can't have everything on a volume hatch even though we are charged premium prices.
Love the blue dials, needles etc. Very sixties disco!
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Mr Ex, thanks for such a detailed post, a great read with some very helpful info, all much appreciated. :smiley:
As for the Asker stylee presentation - Asker had better watch out, you'll be doing Asker better than he does himself! Ahem, you know what I mean :laugh:
Your explanation of the pedal box is really useful. If you ever give up the night job! I'm sure, as you say, being indoctrinated with the Mk5 and Mk6 throttle response, I will be more than familiar with it, and coupled with the obvious improvement over my current drive, that should be enough to satisfy me, for a while anyway. And if, in time, I find myself wanting a more spontaneous response, and to lose the dead zone, there are options and I know who to ask.
Don't get me started on the R Line subject :angry:......but I like your description of the R being an enigma. It brings back a memory from my school days, when my parents attended a parent's evening. On their return home I asked what my form teacher had said and the reply was "she said you were an enigma!" We still joke about it. So maybe the R and I are destined for each other, lol.
See, I liked the original Tallegedas very much and I understand what VW were trying to do with the Cadiz, but in diamond cut form, some of the presence has got lost along the way. I don't think Pretorias are girly either or weak looking as some do, in fact I like them for the reasons you state, the similarity to a lightweight motorsport wheel.
The Pro Nav is ridiculously expensive for what it is and if it hadn't have come up at a reduced price via the tech pack, I wouldn't have bothered, especially with the new MiB II screen now on the scene, but I know I'll love it. Every now and then I'll post a seductive pic of it just to feed your envy.
As for the quad pipes, having seen them in the flesh, I like them a lot, and the R has to show off just a little bit, doesn't it!
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As for the Asker stylee presentation - Asker had better watch out, you'll be doing Asker better than he does himself! Ahem, you know what I mean :laugh:
Did you not know that Andy and I going to have a forum wedding with you as the matron of honour? Sorry to break the news in such a callous manner. I realise it is a bit of a shock! Hope Andy does not mind my rather sudden and surprising overtures. :tongue: :laugh: :shocked:
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As for the Asker stylee presentation - Asker had better watch out, you'll be doing Asker better than he does himself! Ahem, you know what I mean :laugh:
Did you not know that Andy and I going to have a forum wedding with you as the matron of honour? Sorry to break the news in such a callous manner. I realise it is a bit of a shock! Hope Andy does not mind my rather sudden and surprising overtures. :tongue: :laugh: :shocked:
WHAT!!! I'm devastated!! :cry: :cry: :cry: :grin: :grin: :grin: (not that much of a shock)
No! I must try to be magnanimous and give you both my blessing :kiss: I'm sure Andy (Mr Ex) has been waiting for your proposal with bated breath, er, I mean with trepidation. Now, Matron of Honour? Oh go on then, but can I please have a different title - Matron sounds so, well matronly, or even bit 'ooh, er missus' :laugh:
Now back to the interior....(of the R that is) :wink:
I'm looking forward to the blue dials, bored with red needles now. Shame about the lack of lighting strips in the rear doors and sills, same with the inclusion of some interior LED bulbs but not others. VW always just let themselves down with the penny pinching. Those thrifty little Germans....Bless!
I will be having the lovely black as Hell, Vienna Vinyl. Sticky in summer, rigid in winter, easy wipe clean, what's not to like, and I do like a dark cave cabin :laugh: But even the fake carbon nappa confection is too OTT for me. What is it with you blokes and carbon fibre trim?
Now will someone, maybe the rogue, killer Wolfsburg robot, please build my R, Pronto!!!
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Had a visitor from Denmark at work today, the company chief of Quality (i'm Quality manager at our site - the new job). He seems much more what i'm used to from a Quality professional, and is a bit of a car nut.
Someone had told him about my car and the first thing he did when he arrived (to discuss a forthcoming audit) was ask if it was true that I had a Golf R. When I said that I did, he insisted on seeing it during the morning break. So we went out to the car park for a look around and in it. At lunchtime he asked where the nearest place to buy a sandwich was - so I took him out in the car to the Tesco extra 1/2 a mile away, going the long way via a junction of the A1 and let it rip for the way back along the junction once the oil had warmed.
He had a look at the price in Denmark, about £90k including the environmental tax (although it does not show in the brochure, the pricelist has a 300ps 4-motion Golf, but they don't call it an R, must be badged up as one though). :shocked:
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most of the VW leather is vinyl, except for the seat back and base. So perhaps 60% is Vienna Vinyl unfortunately. Same for the Carbon seats. The door cards are all vinyl.
Audi do it so much better.
Audi use an abundance of pleather too. If your arse or back doesn't touch it, you can almost certainly count on it being pleather in all VAG cars that have "leather".
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As for the Asker stylee presentation - Asker had better watch out, you'll be doing Asker better than he does himself! Ahem, you know what I mean :laugh:
Did you not know that Andy and I going to have a forum wedding with you as the matron of honour? Sorry to break the news in such a callous manner. I realise it is a bit of a shock! Hope Andy does not mind my rather sudden and surprising overtures. :tongue: :laugh: :shocked:
It's neither sudden nor unexpected Asker, our long cyber engagement has been a fruitful one even after you cheated on us all with a BMW.
@ Matron B, I might be imagining it but I think there are now more LED's on the cabin than there were on my 2013/14 model. The vanity mirror lights are now LED's according to one of my colleagues. I've not looked to be honest but the warning sticker on the passenger sun visor is also different and is even more garish and hideous.
@ MH, good to see you've hit it off with the big cheese and a surprise to hear the R isn't an R in Denmark. How odd. Even more of an enigma in that trim but as you say, in the flesh it's probably badged up as an R.
In other news: I spent the afternoon sweating and straining and got my spacers fitted. The Cadiz now look 99.9% better.
I'm just out of the bath now and will give them a shakedown later.
No photos I'm afraid of either the car with spacers or of me just out of the bath.
I did attempt photos of the former but they came out crap. The latter looks generally crap so not worth photographing!! :grin:
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Andy:
We don't need wedding bells. A couple of Rs with the ting-a-ling-a-ling turbos would do us fine. Rebecca can do the confetti which I am sure she would have detailed to death before chucking them all over the place!
Rebecca:
Ooh, Matron! Don't be gutted. I just could not ask you to indulge in unholy matrimony as I don't know you long or well enough. But I do love your bandaging skills. Besides you don't yet belong to the R fraternity.
Matt:
Will the Danish pastry give you a rise so that you can buy some PSS rubber? You should have bought him a sandwich at least. Taking him to Tesco ,,,,,,, O dear, how cheap!
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Andy:
We don't need wedding bells. A couple of Rs with the ting-a-ling-a-ling turbos would do us fine. Rebecca can do the confetti which I am sure she would have detailed to death before chucking them all over the place!
Rebecca:
Ooh, Matron! Don't be gutted. I just could not ask you to indulge in unholy matrimony as I don't know you long or well enough. But I do love your bandaging skills. Besides you don't yet belong to the R fraternity.
Matt:
Will the Danish pastry give you a rise so that you can buy some PSS rubber? You should have bought him a sandwich at least. Taking him to Tesco ,,,,,,, O dear, how cheap!
He actually bought me a sandwich - joking that i'd probably just used 1/2 a gallon of fuel opening it up on the long route. He probably thinks he needs a pay rise and I need a pay cut as i'm driving that. :grin:
He has a company car - a Volvo V40 D5, and is about to change for something else. He's looking at a GTD or a BMW 330d. I told him to get the BMW unless he's allowed a tuning box on the GTD!
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Matt:
You even managed to wrestle a cheap sandwich out of him? Greece needs someone like you to set the economy on the right path.
Anyway, you gave him good advice to get the 330d but you should have told him to get the xDrive as he'd crash the sDrive on those icy Danish roads. Perhaps you want him dead and take his job!
I have been to Copenhagen a number of times on work. Nice people, ridiculously expensive and the food is sh!t. The city is not much to write about either.
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@ Matron B, I might be imagining it but I think there are now more LED's on the cabin than there were on my 2013/14 model. The vanity mirror lights are now LED's according to one of my colleagues. I've not looked to be honest but the warning sticker on the passenger sun visor is also different and is even more garish and hideous
Good they splashed out a few extra euros on vanity LEDs, whatever will they chuck in next? The sticker will be an assault on my senses at first but I suppose you get used to it.
Rebecca:
Ooh, Matron! Don't be gutted. I just could not ask you to indulge in unholy matrimony as I don't know you long or well enough. But I do love your bandaging skills.
Unholy matrimony! No thanks, it's not for me. Yes, you really should know someone first before you marry them. 23 years together with my man and no wedding bells, ringing turbos or well detailed confetti. I don't know him well enough yet :grin:
Rebecca:
Besides you don't yet belong to the R fraternity.
Is that a polite way of telling me to slink off back to the Mk6 section until I have my R and am worthy enough to be accepted into 'the hallowed R circle'. :tongue:
He actually bought me a sandwich - joking that i'd probably just used 1/2 a gallon of fuel opening it up on the long route. He probably thinks he needs a pay rise and I need a pay cut as i'm driving that. :grin:
The boss is a cheapskate! After being treated to a blast in your R, he could have at least pushed the boat out and bought you a fancy Waitrose sandwich :tongue: :laugh:
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Matt:
You even managed to wrestle a cheap sandwich out of him? Greece needs someone like you to set the economy on the right path.
Anyway, you gave him good advice to get the 330d but you should have told him to get the xDrive as he'd crash the sDrive on those icy Danish roads. Perhaps you want him dead and take his job!
I have been to Copenhagen a number of times on work. Nice people, ridiculously expensive and the food is sh!t. The city is not much to write about either.
He mentioned Xdrive as we'd seen a 330d Xdrive in the Tesco car park, saying that he couldn't have Xdrive as it would push him out of the CO2 band allowable for his company car. He said that due to the environmental tax (and being taxed heavily on everything else - 60% income tax for them!), you have to be rich to drive anything with more than 130g/CO2 out of your own pocket. The Danes are paid more twice as much as the UK workers doing the exact same job though.
The company is based in Holstebro, which I can imagine isn't any better than Copenhagen. I think I will be there in October for some training, so I will be able to see first hand.
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Matt:
You should advise him to get an AWD Passat which has a much nicer interior than the BMW, will meet his CO2 targets, be roomier and will be less likely to mount a roundabout! Or, maybe a GTD Hearse?
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Just in case anybody is still tuning in after xx pages of this thread:
I did a back to back drive of the R and a GTD yesterday which was quite interesting. Well, to me at least.
James75 (who you'd know from golfmk7.com if you use that forum) lives in the next village to me; I'd obviously told him about the car change once I'd picked the R up, and knew he'd be wanting to see the R ASAP as he's a great guy and really loves his cars (and T5 vans), particularly the tech.
James' car is an interesting comparison as his GTD is specced with lots of techie extras and is also a white five door.
Obviously I'd driven my GTI and the R back to back so it was interesting to hand the keys of the R to James and see what he thought. I think James was pretty impressed with the R and pretty much for the same reasons as me - it's pretty docile and very tractable at low speeds and then changes into something else altogether as the revs get higher up in the band.
There's no getting away from the fact that the GTD has the same torque peak as the R and at roughly similar RPM's where the torque plateau starts in both cars, with the R torque holding out longer but the GTD having higher gearing makes it an interesting comparison. The GTD gives a lazy V8 style slug of acceleration that's satisfying in its own way where as the R feels a bit like a greyhound in the stalls waiting to blast after the rabbit. I'd spent a good bit of time in GTD's previously and know how quick they can be at road speeds but driving them back to back the two cars' characters were very obvious in their differences.
And we won't mention the MPG difference at this point will we? :whistle:
I think part of the attraction of the mk7 R is it was introduced a bit like the mk5 GTI which in itself became pretty iconic in that it was put on the market at xxxx price demonstrating the £££ per bhp value.
You buy the R for the performance for the price and keeping the spec sensible makes it pretty decent value for money. Start loading it with extras and you're looking at a £40k car. You can buy a lot better performance car than a Golf when you get to those sort of levels. But buy them people do.
James' car has lane assist and all the other assists and Pro Nav and it's list price was probably pretty similar to the vanilla R.
An interesting dilemma at that cost point: sensible GTD loaded with toys to assist the driver and useful things like the speed limit displayed in the MFD (along with lane warnings flashing up), plus the big 8" screen. Or a slightly raucous R and a road map?
In other news: I made a bit of a balls up yesterday.
On Thursday I fitted the spacers. The car looks lots better, it's surprising what a few mm can do and the Cadiz fill the arches well and the car now has some shoulders.
Yesterday I took the car for a gentle run out to settle the new bolts into the hubs then came home and re-torqued them. All good.
So I popped the wheel cap covers back on and went inside for a cuppa.
D'oh!
Just as I got to the front door the penny dropped.
The VW nuts have hollow ends so you can hook the covers off.
The aftermarket bolts don't have hollow ends.
I now have covers that won't come off the bolts as there's no room to hook them out and the nut covers fill the nut holes so well there's not room to lever them off either. :rolleyes: :whistle:
Today's job is...
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If you damage the covers, they're only about 20p each in the dealers.
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Thanks Joe :afro:
I do have quite a collection of them though and will resort to using SEAT but caps that have a U shaped puller and are smaller.
I think my neighbours will have me certified soon suffering from an abnormal wheel obsession.
A few weeks ago I was swapping the wheels on the GTI back, then as soon as I had a couple hours the R was jacked up and the wheels came off and went straight back on but now poke out more. Then I was out re torquing them a couple days later, then I was out with the freshly washed nut caps.
Next day I'm out trying to get the caps off again and then as soon as I have chance the wheels will be removed again so I can clean the backs and seal them.
Do I need medical help?
:laugh:
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Another enlightening essay Mr Ex :cool: Very interesting read especially your spacers faux pas, lol!
Certainly an R loaded with ALL the toys will be nudging £40k territory, which is madness for a shopping trolley Golf :shocked: I agree, you can buy a lot better performance for that price. But (as you know), with good discount, it is possible to get a fairly well specced R with much less of a hit to the pocket. I've got what I consider to be a reasonable set of options on mine (without going mad) but the discount of 12.5% made it a palatable proposition, coming down from £38k+ to sub £34k, so for that I get performance, practicality, and good design - all in one package. We just won't mention the mpg :laugh:
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Just in case anybody is still tuning in after xx pages of this thread:
I did a back to back drive of the R and a GTD yesterday which was quite interesting. Well, to me at least.
James75 (who you'd know from golfmk7.com if you use that forum) lives in the next village to me; I'd obviously told him about the car change once I'd picked the R up, and knew he'd be wanting to see the R ASAP as he's a great guy and really loves his cars (and T5 vans), particularly the tech.
James' car is an interesting comparison as his GTD is specced with lots of techie extras and is also a white five door.
Obviously I'd driven my GTI and the R back to back so it was interesting to hand the keys of the R to James and see what he thought. I think James was pretty impressed with the R and pretty much for the same reasons as me - it's pretty docile and very tractable at low speeds and then changes into something else altogether as the revs get higher up in the band.
There's no getting away from the fact that the GTD has the same torque peak as the R and at roughly similar RPM's where the torque plateau starts in both cars, with the R torque holding out longer but the GTD having higher gearing makes it an interesting comparison. The GTD gives a lazy V8 style slug of acceleration that's satisfying in its own way where as the R feels a bit like a greyhound in the stalls waiting to blast after the rabbit. I'd spent a good bit of time in GTD's previously and know how quick they can be at road speeds but driving them back to back the two cars' characters were very obvious in their differences.
And we won't mention the MPG difference at this point will we? :whistle:
I think part of the attraction of the mk7 R is it was introduced a bit like the mk5 GTI which in itself became pretty iconic in that it was put on the market at xxxx price demonstrating the £££ per bhp value.
You buy the R for the performance for the price and keeping the spec sensible makes it pretty decent value for money. Start loading it with extras and you're looking at a £40k car. You can buy a lot better performance car than a Golf when you get to those sort of levels. But buy them people do.
James' car has lane assist and all the other assists and Pro Nav and it's list price was probably pretty similar to the vanilla R.
An interesting dilemma at that cost point: sensible GTD loaded with toys to assist the driver and useful things like the speed limit displayed in the MFD (along with lane warnings flashing up), plus the big 8" screen. Or a slightly raucous R and a road map?
In other news: I made a bit of a balls up yesterday.
On Thursday I fitted the spacers. The car looks lots better, it's surprising what a few mm can do and the Cadiz fill the arches well and the car now has some shoulders.
Yesterday I took the car for a gentle run out to settle the new bolts into the hubs then came home and re-torqued them. All good.
So I popped the wheel cap covers back on and went inside for a cuppa.
D'oh!
Just as I got to the front door the penny dropped.
The VW nuts have hollow ends so you can hook the covers off.
The aftermarket bolts don't have hollow ends.
I now have covers that won't come off the bolts as there's no room to hook them out and the nut covers fill the nut holes so well there's not room to lever them off either. :rolleyes: :whistle:
Today's job is...
Yes it was me, I drove the R...
Of course I loved it, who wouldn't?
Just getting to the cost aspect. I managed to get a Lapiz Blue with a few options down to what I paid for my GTD via the ever interesting Drive the Deal.
With App Connect there's a valid argument that you can drop Sat Nav options and use an App although I have concerns that it isn't GPS and here in Devon, that could be a problem with signal strength. I would be less concerned about options in an R then I would in a GTD, the R is about the performance and if you can get a good price then i'd be happy with that.
Nonetheless I had some options on the R and I had it at around the 29k mark, that's tempting, 300bhp for that kind of money? You could argue that you should forget the options, it will be cheaper still. (https://www.drivethedeal.com/buy-a-new-car/VOLKSWAGEN/GOLF_HATCHBACK/2.0_TSI_R_5dr_63193.html?Capid=63193&type=discounted)
Around 28k.... The R is often portrayed as being expensive but seeing it like this, it looks like a bit of a bargain. It would make me question the GTI although that's still a great car.
I didn't get the best deal on my GTD - that was my fault and partly down to complexities of trying to sell a VW California Beach, in reality I was probably about £1500 shy of a great deal but I am still completely bowled over by my GTD. I did go option crazy to an extent, I was trying to avoid 'retrofit disease', I'd experienced this costly condition with my California and wanted a vehicle that was right for me from the off. I also wanted to try and future proof it a bit in readiness for a facelift or spec changes. But options are personal and they don't make the car suddenly better, just different :) Some of my options I do really like such as Dynamic Light Assist where you can leave high beams on and it blocks part of the beam pattern as to not dazzle oncoming drivers, that's clever, useful and works well. But options are options, I once had options described to me as taking a lot of money, going to the bottom of your garden and setting fire to it :)
So driving the R...
It's a short test drive, i can't give you a full review but there are some immediate differences between the R and GTD beyond the obvious power difference.
The R is far more tactile, the GTD is fast and it handles and steers fabulously but there is something about the R which feels less false or numb. I am not doing the GTD down but the R feels like a performance car, the steering is just more immediate. This probably won't come as a surprise but it is a much more involved experience. Being a petrol car it also drives differently, you're up to 6th quite quickly.
The most interesting about R is perhaps not how well it goes fast but how well it goes slow. It's completely calm driving round a town speeds, it almost unnerves, it's not shouty or angry, it's just a Golf. You kind of fear it's going to creep up on you and surprise and sure, it's there, the eagerness is never far away, but this is a completely normal Golf to drive at town speeds. Perhaps this is the genius of this gen of hyper Golf? It's what they term these days as an 'everything car'.
I did do a quick MPG test which is not particularly relevant but nonetheless on a stretch of road where from cold I can get the GTD up to around 45 - 50 mpg, it sat at around 32 - 35. Not actually that bad, my old T5 California would have done the same.
I prefer the seats Exonian's - the 'basic' seats to me in the R look the best, I like the styling details, they work far better in the metal. VW have cleverly not taken the Ciivic R approach of reversing into a branch of Halfords, see what bits attach themselves and driving off again. I like the over the top 4 exhaust outlets, it works because the rest of the car is so subtle.
I also like the darker LED rear lights and the double U front lights with LED indicator but I've remembered Retrofit Disease and I don't want to catch another dose of that :)
The question with the R as a daily driver for me, is how much do I want the additional expense of running compared to the times I would use the power and what it does, which is I guess why so many GTD's are sold. In reality there is no rational answer to this question because none of these cars are rational decisions, you buy them because they excite you, you want them and you want the experience. Why didn't a buy I Seat Leon with the same engine as my GTD, not because I think it is a poor car, but the GTD is a Golf and it has that heritage and that's an experience.
On a slightly different note we did discuss some VCDS mods. I've had a traffic sign recognition activated but it's not as exciting as it sounds and I do question how it is working but it is handy to have the speed limit sign displayed on the MFD.
Oh the spacers give the car a fantastic looks, a more squat hunkered down look, looks superb.
I do want to drive the R again, it feels amazing, hopefully once the 1000 mile mark has arrived we can go out again. There's no doubt with the Golf feel and refinement plus the amazing 300bhp performance VW have created a vehicle that is more than a match for more expensive German brethren.
James
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The most interesting about R is perhaps not how well it goes fast but how well it goes slow. It's completely calm driving round a town speeds, it almost unnerves, it's not shouty or angry, it's just a Golf. You kind of fear it's going to creep up on you and surprise and sure, it's there, the eagerness is never far away, but this is a completely normal Golf to drive at town speeds. Perhaps this is the genius of this gen of hyper Golf? It's what they term these days as an 'everything car'.
That's a pretty comprehensive read, wonder what your 'full review' would be like? :whistle: If I didn't already have an R on order, I probably would after reading your mini review, lol.
Much of what you say echoes my feeling and considerations towards the R and why I made it my next car choice. I'm not coming from a GTD, but from GTI, so the increased running costs are really negligible in the great scheme of things. But the comparison between the two is interesting and I expect there'll be a few on here whose ears are pricked.
I think the above passage is particularly pertinent. It's a given that once you get the R out on the open road, well, you know, but equally important to me is the car's behaviour round town/city and the day to day slog (mine will be a daily driver). It has to deliver at both ends of the driving spectrum, and everything in between. I will find out myself in a while but from this, it sounds like that's exactly what it does!
Thanks for posting! :cool:
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The most interesting about R is perhaps not how well it goes fast but how well it goes slow. It's completely calm driving round a town speeds, it almost unnerves, it's not shouty or angry, it's just a Golf. You kind of fear it's going to creep up on you and surprise and sure, it's there, the eagerness is never far away, but this is a completely normal Golf to drive at town speeds. Perhaps this is the genius of this gen of hyper Golf? It's what they term these days as an 'everything car'.
That's a pretty comprehensive read, wonder what your 'full review' would be like? :whistle: If I didn't already have an R on order, I probably would after reading your mini review, lol.
Much of what you say echoes my feeling and considerations towards the R and why I made it my next car choice. I'm not coming from a GTD, but from GTI, so the increased running costs are really negligible in the great scheme of things. But the comparison between the two is interesting and I expect there'll be a few on here whose ears are pricked.
I think the above passage is particularly pertinent. It's a given that once you get the R out on the open road, well, you know, but equally important to me is the car's behaviour round town/city and the day to day slog (mine will be a daily driver). It has to deliver at both ends of the driving spectrum, and everything in between. I will find out myself in a while but from this, it sounds like that's exactly what it does!
Thanks for posting! :cool:
No problem :)
It's quite straightforward to give a car more power, making it usable is another thing. We shouldn't be shocked that after spending billions car makers can extract 300bhp from a 2.0 petrol engine, the trump card for me in the Golf R was how good it is just to drive around in at normal speeds, plus, like all Golf's it does feel like a quality product. As i said, the motoring press seem to be using the phrase at the moment, 'Everything cars' and I think the R is that, plus it's a bit of a Q Car which for me as a man who is not in their 20's and doesn't listen to a lot of bass music, that's is important.
I didn't mentioned in the review that my prices were based on a manual. I'd love an R and I think after driving it, I understand exactly why people it would buy it, the engine noise on start up is almost enough. :)
If it was me....
Golf R Estate in Lapiz Blue :)
Just to be different.
James
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Great little review James :afro: as ever.
Your GTD would be a very attractive proposition as a part exchange car to a dealer so if you ever get the R urge... :laugh:
........................
I did my usual Sunday commute to drop my sons off this morning. First time in the R.
Rural roads all the way, B roads, through a bit of village and A road with 40 and 60 limits. Sunday drivers and club cyclists being the main obstacles usually.
My old smoker does 38 - 40 mpg on that route, my previous GTI did it in 35 - 38 and the R managed 32.
The R is no quicker than the GTI at 'sensible' speeds but it definitely feels like it's straining at the leash a bit.
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Oh and I'll add to that - those Bridgestones really are bloody noisy.
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Completely agree that the R is good at being slow - pottering around 30/40/50mph roads, it is capable of easily giving you 35mpg, but unlike the GTD, there's a very noticeable fuel penalty from 70mph to 80mph.
I did my sliproad/sign pass speed test in the R today, using a heavy right foot, but not taking it past 4000 revs before the upshift. Without wringing its neck on the revs, the R is no quicker than a GTD going flat out (both hit around 81/82mph when passing the sign. Really wring the R's neck it manages 98mph at the same point - that's one hell of a difference. It's that pick-up above 4000 revs that sets it apart. I suppose that's why the R has disappointed on my commute - there isn't much opportunity to wring its neck on the route.
I did have some fun in the R today, and it showed - 26mpg for a 40 mile round trip, vs 33mpg on my commute. It is good to scratch that itch and get the R, when you consider that to get the same power and more torque, you'll be looking at a 3.0 diesel lump, which would fall smack in the middle of the mpg differences between the R and the GTD - so you don't get that extra power for free, even in a diesel.
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Great little review James :afro: as ever.
Your GTD would be a very attractive proposition as a part exchange car to a dealer so if you ever get the R urge... :laugh:
........................
I did my usual Sunday commute to drop my sons off this morning. First time in the R.
Rural roads all the way, B roads, through a bit of village and A road with 40 and 60 limits. Sunday drivers and club cyclists being the main obstacles usually.
My old smoker does 38 - 40 mpg on that route, my previous GTI did it in 35 - 38 and the R managed 32.
The R is no quicker than the GTI at 'sensible' speeds but it definitely feels like it's straining at the leash a bit.
Thank you.
In a couple of years if I see a Golf R estate - hmmmm - :)
Having driven your petrol GTI as well as the R - one thing I will say is that once you get back in the GTD you the heavier diesel engine, both the GTI and R feel lighter in the nose.
Both the GTI and the R feel more agile.
I have to admit - I am regularly looking at the used Golf R's through the VW website :)
James
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It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.
Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.
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It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.
Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.
Patience is a virtue. I would always want a new one (discounted) with a wait, for the same price or less for a used one, especially if you're not slumming it in a proper crap-box in the meantime.
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It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.
Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.
Patience is a virtue. I would always want a new one (discounted) with a wait, for the same price or less for a used one, especially if you're not slumming it in a proper crap-box in the meantime.
Amen to that.
Rightly or wrongly, we (on here) all know what VW are like for lead-in times and even more so with the R, but some still have unrealistic expectations. I've waited 4 and 5 months for previous GTI's and no doubt this wait for the R will be (by the time it arrives), the lengthiest for any car I've ordered thus far, but at no point have I regretted opting for a new factory order and hopefully good things do come to those who wait!
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MH - have you ever considered shutting off the mpg info just for a while, just for the sheer hell of it :tongue: :evil: :laugh:
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Whilst not that important with a performance car it is nice to know that decent mpg can be achieved when in the mood.
My GTI has been doing 45mpg on the way to work (18 mile journey - 50/60 mph all the way) and about 34mpg on the way home due to traffic and not hanging about, giving an overall of 38mpg for the last month and that's with a tuning box - not bad for 280bhp.
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Whilst not that important with a performance car it is nice to know that decent mpg can be achieved when in the mood.
My GTI has been doing 45mpg on the way to work (18 mile journey - 50/60 mph all the way) and about 34mpg on the way home due to traffic and not hanging about, giving an overall of 38mpg for the last month and that's with a tuning box - not bad for 280bhp.
Is that actual (brim method) mpg, or indicated mpg? The tuning box makes the car over read, the car is using more fuel than it thinks it is at any given throttle opening. My stock GTD's MFD over read mpg by about 3%, but with the DTUK box on 3+1, it was more like 9%. The TDITuning box over read by 16% on its top setting. I'm sure if I slapped a DTUK box on my R, the MFD would have my 33mpg commute showing at 36mpg.
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MH - have you ever considered shutting off the mpg info just for a while, just for the sheer hell of it :tongue: :evil: :laugh:
Sorry, the R is doing as well as i'd hoped it would for mpg, but it still hurts more paying out £100 a month extra in fuel rather than £100 a month more, quietly slipping out of the bank account on the car repayment. It's the GTD mentality that is slowly being forgotten. :grin:
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MH - have you ever considered shutting off the mpg info just for a while, just for the sheer hell of it :tongue: :evil: :laugh:
Sorry, the R is doing as well as i'd hoped it would for mpg, but it still hurts more paying out £100 a month extra in fuel rather than £100 a month more, quietly slipping out of the bank account on the car repayment. It's the GTD mentality that is slowly being forgotten. :grin:
:grin: You can take the boy out of the GTD, but you can't take the GTD out of the boy :grin: Well not overnight anyway :smiley:
EDIT: I just realised how poorly worded my previous post was :embarrassed: I jokingly meant about you just getting in your R and not looking at the mpg display for the hell of it. Wasn't referring to you posting about mpg stats. Sorry!
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I would add as well - the silver mirrors looked really nice, wasn't a fan from pictures but the satin type finish works well. Having black mirrors myself, I am naturally biased towards the black mirrors.
MPG...
I drove around in a large VW California Beach - when you've lived with that....
James
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I would add as well - the silver mirrors looked really nice, wasn't fan from pictures but the finish works well. Having black mirrors myself, I am naturally biased towards the blacks.
MPG...
I drove around in a large VW California Beach - when you've lived with that....
James
Yeah, not sure if the silver mirrors and front lip are going to look a bit blingy. Quite prepared to swap for some black mirror caps if they do but will wait to see if I like them in the flesh first.
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No that's actual for a tank using one of the fuel apps, so I don't believe the indicated mpg is over reading by that much. feels about right based on each way plus other short journeys that make up my week.
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MH - have you ever considered shutting off the mpg info just for a while, just for the sheer hell of it :tongue: :evil: :laugh:
Sorry, the R is doing as well as i'd hoped it would for mpg, but it still hurts more paying out £100 a month extra in fuel rather than £100 a month more, quietly slipping out of the bank account on the car repayment. It's the GTD mentality that is slowly being forgotten. :grin:
This worries me as do genuinely love my GTD for its quality, style and ability to offer some fun with decent fuel economy and think my feelings might be the same when see more ££ coming out of my account to keep an R on the road.
Have to order my next vehicle by end of April 2016 latest so as much as still little time away am starting to ponder on what to choose.
Never driven an R but obviously have good experience of the car itself now and the many comments on here to R performance and 'fun' factor and so thinking was that the 300 BHP and 4WD would take my present experience to feeling pretty complete.
But definitely need to test drive now to see how much different the experience is in reality? Is it worth them extra ££ MH is mentioning above??
These are my options, and in order of thinking at moment.
R with DSG/DCC
S3 - Likely standard specification
GTI - DSG/DCC
GTD - DSG/DCC
Tiguan R - Only brief look, as wife keeps mentioning how nice one she saw was
Buy the present GTD off lease company depending on what price give me
Take my car allowance in cash and get MK6 GTI (know not as refined as MK7 etc. But saw a really stunning one in pure white at dealers recently at decent price and thought would be happy with that)
Not really considered BMW Honda or Mercedes but will do the garage wander anyway just in case something surprises me
Think got my GTD selection spot on last time around as MK7 were just coming out but think next vehicle choice is going to be a real dilemma of going all in and being damned to sensibility or putting that sensible head on and still ending up with a decent car and more ££ in bank.
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Mjh_056: It's a different way of driving (vs a highish output diesel) if you want to feel like you're driving with 300ps under your right foot, milking the car right to the red line.
I doubt you'll 100% have your mind up after a test drive - you might not have the opportunity to open it right up with the salesperson sitting next to you, and you certainly won't feel the pinch in your pocket to fill up twice as often if you're used to a diesel. :grin: It's a lot easier to be wowed on a test drive and not get a feeling of how it will be to live with every day. It is a great car, but so is a GTD with a DTUK box on.
I had a slightly less restrained drive home today, meaning that I drove like a bit of a b'stard. Tearing away from a stadstill at 2 traffic lights, shot past a Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo. He did well to 75mph, i'm sure he just came in a lane to see how it would go beyond 75. I took it up to a ton as soon as he moved over and drifted straight back down to 80 (there was nothing ahead of me).
I suppose mpg aside, that's the difference between the GTD and the R is - the GTD has lots of ingear grunt and it feels fastest accelerating between 50 and 80mph. The R is blazingly quick from a standstill and feels as quick going 70-100 as the GTD does going 50-80. You have to push the R a lot harder to get that buzz, be prepared to knock the R down maybe 3 gears when you want to make the most of what it has when overtaking.
It is quite a buzz letting loose in the R, but for some, will it be worth an extra grand on their fuel bill?
When you look at the 2.0TDI BiTurbo Passat 4-motion (240ps) as the R's closest TDI stablemate (yes it's a little heavier, so not an absolute comparison), it's 53.3mpg combined figure is smack between the R and the GTD, so getting a TDI close to an R's performance will always cost you, as will the 4WD system. Knowing what my GTD did vs published figures, i'd likely get 40mpg out of that Passat in the Summer and 36mpg in the Winter. So the R has 20% more power and is only 17% thirstier - just shows how much progress has been made in TSI fuel economy. The way the R can drive so smoothly at the low end, imagine what it could be capable of with cylinder deactivation tech, it would probably match the TDI.
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Mjh_056: It's a different way of driving (vs a highish output diesel) if you want to feel like you're driving with 300ps under your right foot, milking the car right to the red line.
I doubt you'll 100% have your mind up after a test drive - you might not have the opportunity to open it right up with the salesperson sitting next to you, and you certainly won't feel the pinch in your pocket to fill up twice as often if you're used to a diesel. :grin: It's a lot easier to be wowed on a test drive and not get a feeling of how it will be to live with every day. It is a great car, but so is a GTD with a DTUK box on.
I had a slightly less restrained drive home today, meaning that I drove like a bit of a b'stard. Tearing away from a stadstill at 2 traffic lights, shot past a Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo. He did well to 75mph, i'm sure he just came in a lane to see how it would go beyond 75. I took it up to a ton as soon as he moved over and drifted straight back down to 80 (there was nothing ahead of me).
I suppose mpg aside, that's the difference between the GTD and the R is - the GTD has lots of ingear grunt and it feels fastest accelerating between 50 and 80mph. The R is blazingly quick from a standstill and feels as quick going 70-100 as the GTD does going 50-80. You have to push the R a lot harder to get that buzz, be prepared to knock the R down maybe 3 gears when you want to make the most of what it has when overtaking.
It is quite a buzz letting loose in the R, but for some, will it be worth an extra grand on their fuel bill?
When you look at the 2.0TDI BiTurbo Passat 4-motion (240ps) as the R's closest TDI stablemate (yes it's a little heavier, so not an absolute comparison), it's 53.3mpg combined figure is smack between the R and the GTD, so getting a TDI close to an R's performance will always cost you, as will the 4WD system. Knowing what my GTD did vs published figures, i'd likely get 40mpg out of that Passat in the Summer and 36mpg in the Winter. So the R has 20% more power and is only 17% thirstier - just shows how much progress has been made in TSI fuel economy. The way the R can drive so smoothly at the low end, imagine what it could be capable of with cylinder deactivation tech, it would probably match the TDI.
The beauty of the GTD is that in town its so smooth in power delivery, so you effortlessly drive about, my previous 170BHP power delivery was nothing on the pedal, then go, far less refined but gave you a sense of the power in normal driving.
Its not a slouch off the line but you do have to put foot into it to get it up to speed.
The GTD as you say really comes into its own when on the move, if want to make a move, or lose someone there is a real surge that just propels you away
The 4WD is a draw though because as much as far better now replaced the Bridgestone's you still find yourself compensating your pull away to negate wheel spin and in winter it did really frustrate on the wetter days. Never had this in my Quattro at all but that is the only thing miss, the GTD is superior across the board otherwise.
However its that £1000 a year in additional fuel resonates though as something to really consider?
Shame they not produced a GTD-R with the 4WD
As stand now, the R is still just shading it as its different and for the reasons you state in being blazingly quick off the line, but decision is a lot closer than thought would be, and think that's testament to the GTD really as though you know it compromises on levels GTI and R can give when they pushed it still does everything so very well and far cheaper.
Will obviously keep reading the forum and especially R owners to see if long term satisfaction remains for everyone especially those who switched models to give most informed comparison of whether was worth it.
Thanks for response MH :)
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Shame they not produced a GTD-R with the 4WD
Give it time :whistle:
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I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.
In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD
It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'
Will there even be a GTD MK8? Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?
I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.
A GTD R would be interesting though.
James
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@mjh_056
Why a Standard S3 but a DSG R?
Reason I ask is I'd agree that of all the models in the range the DSG possibly suits the R engine the best but if you're prepared to compromise the DSG on the S3 then I'd suggest having a go in a manual R.
With a DSG it's just *snick* *snick* *snick* with the changes and you loose that lovely turbo spool you get with a manual where you can feel the torque build that is soooooo satisfying when you see an overtaking opportunity and want to gradually build up for the move before blasting past using all the revs. With a DSG all you get is *snick* and a "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"
On a more serious note, what sort of miles do you do?
I'm probably the worst person to give any feedback for your choices as I don't get a company car allowance so tend to buy with different criteria in mind and I also run an old banger to take the knocks and do the dump trips that I'd just not want to do in my newer car. The way I look upon it is I work rubbish hours in a not particularly well paid job, but I enjoy my job and work with a great bunch of people (in general) so am not looking for a high flying career and being a billy no mates. The way I think of it is if I had a proper hobby it'd cost money and I'd still need a car anyway so I just combine the two and bankrupt myself every few years... :laugh:
Of your options I'm not sure what I'd go for. Depending on how itchy my feet were for a new car too.
The option of keeping the GTD and buying a mk6 GTI is a non starter for me. The mk7 GTD is a great car and can do all a mk6 GTI can do. Having owned two mk6 GTIs and spent a lot of miles in a mk6 GTD or three I can honestly say the GTD is the better day to day car in mk6 guise unless you modify the engine. Then I'd still pick the GTD and modify that engine. So basically, bearing in mind what you already have, I'd keep my mk7 GTD and modify that engine giving it a whole new lease of life. Especially with a DSG with good spec like yours - the manual GTD can run out of revs a bit quickly when modified but the DSG can just *snick* into the next gear very quickly in Sport mode on the days you have horns growing out of your head.
Have a good drive or two in both manual and DSG R's. I my short tenure so far I must admit I do get a bit of a wicked grin on my face when I practice the above mentioned turbo spool as I know what lurks beneath my right foot. I can't (or at least won't as I'm running it in) use 300PS very often but I sure know it's there and the car reminds me as it's pretty eager to go chasing after the hare all the time.
However the mk7 GTI is a pretty amazing car in PP spec. The brakes are great and it feels a lot more light footed than the R. With the 6.5" nav it comes with a pretty comprehensive spec too so if you can get one at a good price then it might be worth going with the tech pack if you can't live without your 8"er or just spending a bit on the 19" alloys being as you want DCC anyway. The GTI is pretty cheap to run as it's better than the R on fuel and runs on 95RON.
They're all pretty great cars for what they are and on different days you'd wish you were in a different model.
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with DSG all you get is a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"
Some of us like a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!" :tongue:
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with DSG all you get is a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"
Some of us like a *snick* and "Blaaaaaaaaaart!" :tongue:
Yeah, we're all different.
It's just that mjh mentioned a standard S3 which means he's open to a manual under certain conditions, and I'm guessing that's down to budget ceiling. So I was just saying don't discount something off hand until you've given it a fair go.
Playstation vs. tactile.
I can't be arsed with DSG vs. manual debates. It's just like GTI vs R vs GTD, on any given day you'd have preferred to be in one rather than another, and on another day...
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I can't be arsed with DSG vs. manual debates. It's just like GTI vs R vs GTD, on any given day you'd have preferred to be in one rather than another, and on another day...
Me neither, just teasing. I couldn't care less what people choose: DSG; manual; GTI; GTD; R.....and so on. Just get whatever suits you most of the time or as you suggest elsewhere get 2, or even 3 cars that all do different things. I used to know a guy that did that with women, several on the go at any one time. He had one for looks, one for intelligence, one for cooking skills, and one for..... :wink:
He's still single so far as I know :grin:
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I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.
In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD
It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'
Will there even be a GTD MK8? Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?
I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.
A GTD R would be interesting though.
James
I wouldn't bother taking anything a dealer says as most know very little about what's coming and usually even less what they actually sell!
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I had a dealer say to me they expected the bi turbo diesel from the Passat to appear in the GTD or a version of, I realise that's dealer talk, but nonetheless, interesting.
In it's present form the Golf performance would have to be re jigged to accommodate a GTD R, one of the greatest threats and rivals to the current GTI is the GTD
It's speculation of course but I wonder what the Golf Mk8 GTD will have in terms of bhp, surely it's going to be 200bhp+ - then some people feel the current quoted bhp for the Mk7 GTD is 'conservative'
Will there even be a GTD MK8? Will they manage to turn the GTE into a performance Golf?
I wonder if the Golf R400 and Golf Clubsport aren't little hints about the next gen of the GTI and the R and where they will sit power wise, a toe in the water so to speak.
A GTD R would be interesting though.
James
I wouldn't bother taking anything a dealer says as most know very little about what's coming and usually even less what they actually sell!
Or the options you choose.... :)
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Shame they not produced a GTD-R with the 4WD
Give it time :whistle:
With the BiTurbo and 4WD comes extra thirst. You might pick an R over a GTD to scratch an itch (like I did) and pay the fuel penalty, but if someone offered me a 240PS GTD with 4WD that was good for a real 40mpg, losing 60ps and only saving £500 a year in fuel over a regular R might not be a hugely convincing argument to get a GTD R. Make that 270PS and a decent torque advantage over the petrol R then I might be convinced enough to go for one. Even with all that rationale in mind, I bet a 240PS GTD R will sell.
Just got in from work and stretched the R's legs tonight leaving work a little later and missing the Doxford Park traffic. It really felt looser today, like it held it's speed better with your foot off the accelerator, and felt a bit more responsive mid-gear acceleration (or maybe i'm just dropping that extra gear?).
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Not wanting to reignite the DSG vs Manual arguments, but I have absolutely no regrets with the manual.
The gearbox feels smoother and sharper to change than that on my GTD, quick changes from a standstill are a piece of cake, as is dropping 6th to 3rd sat at 45mph and then hoofing it to 80.
If your budget has constraints, no need to discount the notion of driving a Manual R and save yourself £1450 by thinking you are missing out on something, although already being in a DSG GTD suggests to me you are a fan of the technology.
Despite the official figures stating the contrary, I do think that DSG is significantly thirstier than a manual, my dad's GTD is a lot harder to crack 50mpg in than my manual one ever was.
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Off topic. Sorry Andy. Hope you don't mind.
Hello from Bankless Greece, rapidly becoming a Hell on Earth.
Getting things in perspective, all our car issues are very first world minor problems and of no significant consequence in the grand scheme of things. DSG or Manual, DCC or not, 18" or 19" Wheels, 5.8" or 6.5" or 8" Sat Navs or not, Bridgestone tyre changes, Diesel or Petrol, mpg levels, FWD or 4WD, Leather or Cloth, Red or White or Blue or Black, etc. One has to smile.
The problems here in Greece have brought me down to earth with a huge bang and are really grounding. Things get worse on an hourly basis. It is not nice at all and is now quite stressful even though I have plenty of cash and can draw more than the 60 Euros if I wish because I have a foreign bank card. Unfortunately, many ATMs are running out of money rapidly plus there is not enough money to pay the salaries of Public Sector Workers who account for 50% of the employed. Shocking number.
Our first world problems are so much easier to solve and much more 'fun'. Quite boring (relatively) UK with no real serious problems has much in its favour and I appreciate it hugely. I miss it a bit, even with the really bad food quality, excessive prices, morose people and the lousy and changeable weather, because it is safe.
Carry on!
And pray for the poor Greek people. They don't deserve this.
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Hello from Bankless Greece, rapidly becoming a Hell on Earth.
Getting things in perspective, all our car issues are very first world minor problems and of no significant consequence in the grand scheme of things. DSG or Manual, DCC or not, 18" or 19" Wheels, 5.8" or 6.5" or 8" Sat Navs or not, Bridgestone tyre changes, Diesel or Petrol, mpg levels, FWD or 4WD, Leather or Cloth, Red or White or Blue or Black, etc. One has to smile.
The problems here in Greece have brought me down to earth with a huge bang and are really grounding. Things get worse on an hourly basis. It is not nice at all and is now quite stressful.
Our first world problems are so much easier to solve and much more 'fun'. Quite boring (relatively) UK with no real serious problems has much in its favour and I appreciate it hugely. I miss it a bit, even with the really bad food quality, excessive prices, morose people and the lousy and changeable weather, because it is safe.
Carry on!
Hello from dull but remarkably sunny UK,
I imagine witnessing and experiencing the events of the last few days in Greece, first hand, really have put things very much into perspective! We all get hung up on the mundanities, trivialities and minutiae of our lives until something bigger comes along to shake us from our reverie. It's the way life is! And for the most part we should be grateful that we can do just that, including deliberating over the relatively insignificant finer points of cars details of cars tyre grip, mpg performance, DSG v manual etc, etc. A good thing to stop every now and then and appreciate that we have that luxury and remember that many others don't.
Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Manual = Greek Economy, desperately clunking away!
DSG = Slick German Economy, but with an injection of fun!
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Manual = Greek Economy, desperately clunking away!
DSG = Slick German Economy, but with an injection of fun!
Everyone knows that manual is more fun! :tongue:
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Manual = Greek Economy, desperately clunking away!
DSG = Slick German Economy, but with an injection of fun!
Everyone knows that manual is more fun! :tongue:
Obviously not that much fun if you have to go home and play Need for Speed on your PS4 :tongue: :laugh:
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Manual = Greek Economy, desperately clunking away!
DSG = Slick German Economy, but with an injection of fun!
Everyone knows that manual is more fun! :tongue:
Obviously not that much fun if you have to go home and play Need for Speed on your PS4 :tongue: :laugh:
DSG flappy paddles = shoulder buttons on your PS4/XB1 joypad. Prefer to do things the PC way (you can't beat a bit of old school Star Wars Battlefronts II). :whistle:
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DSG flappy paddles = shoulder buttons on your PS4/XB1 joypad. Prefer to do things the PC way (you can't beat a bit of old school Star Wars Battlefronts II). :whistle:
Actually I agree the DSG flappy paddles are uncannily like the PS3/4 controller shoulder buttons, i.e, rubbish and not much bigger. I am sourcing some suitable extensions for the R.
Forget video games! Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
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I'm a dsg flappy paddle play station convert, just which the paddles were as nice as the audi offering
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I'm a dsg flappy paddle play station convert, just which the paddles were as nice as the audi offering
Have you stuck paddle extensions on wigit? I like flappy paddles and use them a lot, but I wish the oem ones were bigger and steering column mounted so they didn't turn with the wheel. But I guess you can't have it all ; )
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Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
ROTJ was the first one I saw at the cinema first time around (I was 7!), enjoyed it so much that when the lights went up, me and my mates ducked down after everyone had cleared and sat in the next showing. :evil:
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Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
ROTJ was the first one I saw at the cinema first time around (I was 7!), enjoyed it so much that when the lights went up, me and my mates ducked down after everyone had cleared and sat in the next showing. :evil:
Haha, good man, or should I say, good boy!
Most of my 'date' was spent in the seemingly endless cinema queue which snaked round most of Halifax!! But it was worth it in the end!!! All subsequent dates have been a let down :grin:
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Hello from Bankless Greece, rapidly becoming a Hell on Earth.
Getting things in perspective, all our car issues are very first world minor problems and of no significant consequence in the grand scheme of things. DSG or Manual, DCC or not, 18" or 19" Wheels, 5.8" or 6.5" or 8" Sat Navs or not, Bridgestone tyre changes, Diesel or Petrol, mpg levels, FWD or 4WD, Leather or Cloth, Red or White or Blue or Black, etc. One has to smile.
The problems here in Greece have brought me down to earth with a huge bang and are really grounding. Things get worse on an hourly basis. It is not nice at all and is now quite stressful.
Our first world problems are so much easier to solve and much more 'fun'. Quite boring (relatively) UK with no real serious problems has much in its favour and I appreciate it hugely. I miss it a bit, even with the really bad food quality, excessive prices, morose people and the lousy and changeable weather, because it is safe.
Carry on!
Hello from dull but remarkably sunny UK,
I imagine witnessing and experiencing the events of the last few days in Greece, first hand, really have put things very much into perspective! We all get hung up on the mundanities, trivialities and minutiae of our lives until something bigger comes along to shake us from our reverie. It's the way life is! And for the most part we should be grateful that we can do just that, including deliberating over the relatively insignificant finer points of cars details of cars tyre grip, mpg performance, DSG v manual etc, etc. A good thing to stop every now and then and appreciate that we have that luxury and remember that many others don't.
Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Was using the paddles 50% at start that is now down to 10-15%.
The DSG is just too damn good in day to day driving in combination with the auto hold and absolutely no way would go back to manual unless had to.
Think its testament to how good the transmission is as its seamless, with no delays or jolts.
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Was using the paddles 50% at start that is now down to 10-15%.
The DSG is just too damn good in day to day driving in combination with the auto hold and absolutely no way would go back to manual unless had to.
Think its testament to how good the transmission is as its seamless, with no delays or jolts.
I found this when with my first DSG GTI (a MK5). Used the paddles a lot at first and after a while I became lazy and complacent just because it was so good. But when I got my current DSG I decided to really mix it up and make much more use of the paddles. I'm glad I did - I'd forgotten how much fun paddles can be and now I probably use it 60 auto/40 paddles split. I tend to use the paddles most when I'm on my own with no passengers to complain about the 'flinging around' :laugh:
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@mjh_056
Why a Standard S3 but a DSG R?
Reason I ask is I'd agree that of all the models in the range the DSG possibly suits the R engine the best but if you're prepared to compromise the DSG on the S3 then I'd suggest having a go in a manual R.
With a DSG it's just *snick* *snick* *snick* with the changes and you loose that lovely turbo spool you get with a manual where you can feel the torque build that is soooooo satisfying when you see an overtaking opportunity and want to gradually build up for the move before blasting past using all the revs. With a DSG all you get is *snick* and a "Blaaaaaaaaaart!"
On a more serious note, what sort of miles do you do?
I'm probably the worst person to give any feedback for your choices as I don't get a company car allowance so tend to buy with different criteria in mind and I also run an old banger to take the knocks and do the dump trips that I'd just not want to do in my newer car. The way I look upon it is I work rubbish hours in a not particularly well paid job, but I enjoy my job and work with a great bunch of people (in general) so am not looking for a high flying career and being a billy no mates. The way I think of it is if I had a proper hobby it'd cost money and I'd still need a car anyway so I just combine the two and bankrupt myself every few years... :laugh:
Of your options I'm not sure what I'd go for. Depending on how itchy my feet were for a new car too.
The option of keeping the GTD and buying a mk6 GTI is a non starter for me. The mk7 GTD is a great car and can do all a mk6 GTI can do. Having owned two mk6 GTIs and spent a lot of miles in a mk6 GTD or three I can honestly say the GTD is the better day to day car in mk6 guise unless you modify the engine. Then I'd still pick the GTD and modify that engine. So basically, bearing in mind what you already have, I'd keep my mk7 GTD and modify that engine giving it a whole new lease of life. Especially with a DSG with good spec like yours - the manual GTD can run out of revs a bit quickly when modified but the DSG can just *snick* into the next gear very quickly in Sport mode on the days you have horns growing out of your head.
Have a good drive or two in both manual and DSG R's. I my short tenure so far I must admit I do get a bit of a wicked grin on my face when I practice the above mentioned turbo spool as I know what lurks beneath my right foot. I can't (or at least won't as I'm running it in) use 300PS very often but I sure know it's there and the car reminds me as it's pretty eager to go chasing after the hare all the time.
However the mk7 GTI is a pretty amazing car in PP spec. The brakes are great and it feels a lot more light footed than the R. With the 6.5" nav it comes with a pretty comprehensive spec too so if you can get one at a good price then it might be worth going with the tech pack if you can't live without your 8"er or just spending a bit on the 19" alloys being as you want DCC anyway. The GTI is pretty cheap to run as it's better than the R on fuel and runs on 95RON.
They're all pretty great cars for what they are and on different days you'd wish you were in a different model.
I am a bit of a DSG convert, never had before and love it for the day to day driving as it makes it effortless but you make good points on that maybe you get the best experience of an R in manual?! so you added another dilemma as if the DSG in some way replicates my GTD day to day experience mostly then is it worth the jump to an R?
Did mean an S3 in auto too by way, just no other added toys.
My mileage was to be 15-18k a year hence the GTD but is down to about 10k at moment due to role change. Nature of beast as roles do change and locations have to get to change to. At 10k would definitely gone GTI.
Can see what say on MK6 and hence down my list of choices it just the example that saw was a beauty to look at.
Keeping GTD is only an option really if the price they offer it to me is really competitive.
Company car is great and I do get a decent package to choose from but redundancies do happen know of some this year at my place so its good to know that could just hand car back and not be sitting on heavy repayments and that is main reason not taken the ££ and bought/leased privately.
Company car is not all freebie by the way you do get the BIK tax and depending on what go for it can be quite sizeable.
As said previously, the 4WD is a draw too as it is really what stops the GTD being the complete car when it scrambles away in the wet
The only thing really certain of this time is must test drive an R in manual and DSG. Think know what get with GTI and be happy to just select that but R has too many unknowns that can only make judgement on by taking out.
Fortunately the lease company can arrange weekend test drives so be sorting that moment can.
Choices still are
R
S3
GTI
GTD
Another GTD
Or buy my present GTD
If pushed me today for decision heart would rule head and it would be an R
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Shame they not produced a GTD-R with the 4WD
Give it time :whistle:
With the BiTurbo and 4WD comes extra thirst. You might pick an R over a GTD to scratch an itch (like I did) and pay the fuel penalty, but if someone offered me a 240PS GTD with 4WD that was good for a real 40mpg, losing 60ps and only saving £500 a year in fuel over a regular R might not be a hugely convincing argument to get a GTD R. Make that 270PS and a decent torque advantage over the petrol R then I might be convinced enough to go for one. Even with all that rationale in mind, I bet a 240PS GTD R will sell.
Just got in from work and stretched the R's legs tonight leaving work a little later and missing the Doxford Park traffic. It really felt looser today, like it held it's speed better with your foot off the accelerator, and felt a bit more responsive mid-gear acceleration (or maybe i'm just dropping that extra gear?).
That feeling 'looser' resonated as my GTD is far more responsive now got some miles on it and sure that applies across the ranges. Not just a feeling its definitely more responsive and seamless.
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Now! DSG or manual?? Discuss :grin:
Was using the paddles 50% at start that is now down to 10-15%.
The DSG is just too damn good in day to day driving in combination with the auto hold and absolutely no way would go back to manual unless had to.
Think its testament to how good the transmission is as its seamless, with no delays or jolts.
I found this when with my first DSG GTI (a MK5). Used the paddles a lot at first and after a while I became lazy and complacent just because it was so good. But when I got my current DSG I decided to really mix it up and make much more use of the paddles. I'm glad I did - I'd forgotten how much fun paddles can be and now I probably use it 60 auto/40 paddles split. I tend to use the paddles most when I'm on my own with no passengers to complain about the 'flinging around' :laugh:
That 15% is times tend to have a little fun but do tend to have passengers quite a bit and that's where DSG in auto is a beauty as makes driving so effortless.
Looking at R next time but will see if manual makes a difference to experience, though if did go DSG would likely look to use paddles more in an R.
Have a track day soon driving a Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 360 so will be practicing my paddles more then :)
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Have a track day soon driving a Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 360 so will be practicing my paddles more then :)
The playstation miniscule Golf flappy paddles are going to feel pretty lacking after those!
Enjoy :smiley:
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I think you're doomed to DSG now mjh! Sounds like you're a full convert already. Skip the manual test drive!
Maybe I'll go DSG when I get my beige Skoda Rapid (next car). 1.2 TSI or 1.6 TDI?
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Forget video games! Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
You had dates at toddler group? Wow! Early starter!
Manual = Greek Economy, desperately clunking away!
DSG = Slick German Economy, but with an injection of fun!
Manual = Greek Economy, anarchic and unpredictable but has spirit
DSG = Slick German Economy, efficient but soulless
Asker, here's hoping you're not too busy rioting and looting.
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Forget video games! Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
You had dates at toddler group? Wow! Early starter!
Well not quite toddler! I was 10 (yep I'm very old). I think I told my parents there was "a whole group of us" going to see the film when it was actually just me and a boy called Paul. I doubt they would have agreed to that!
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Maybe I'll go DSG when I get my beige Skoda Rapid (next car). 1.2 TSI or 1.6 TDI?
I think you should, because the manual gear knob is absolutely massive on the, very inappropriately entitled, Rapid, in order to accomodate the extra large print lettering necessary for it target clientele :tongue:
1.2? Whoa! Steady on Mr Ex!!!
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Forget video games! Old Skool is the original Star Wars movie which I expect you are far too young to remember. I have very fond memories of seeing it when it was first released at the pics, as it was my first ever date with a boy. Loved Star Wars ever since :cool:
You had dates at toddler group? Wow! Early starter!
Well not quite toddler! I was 10 (yep I'm very old). I think I told my parents there was "a whole group of us" going to see the film when it was actually just me and a boy called Paul. I doubt they would have agreed to that!
Ooooh ya devious little devil!
You're only my age so just a spring chicken yet!
Maybe I'll go DSG when I get my beige Skoda Rapid (next car). 1.2 TSI or 1.6 TDI?
I think you should, because the manual gear knob is absolutely massive on the, very inappropriately entitled, Rapid, in order to accomodate the extra large print lettering necessary for it target clientele :tongue:
1.2? Whoa! Steady on Mr Ex!!!
A nice 1.2 TSI to dawdle around in and make myself of use to all the imminent R400's about to be released on cheap leases - they can use me as a mobile chicane! :cool:
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You're only my age so just a spring chicken yet!
Aw, thanks for lying so sweetly.
Unlike you, I'm not quite ready for a Skoda 'Vapid ' just yet. :tongue: If I see a little beige car being tossed from pavement to pavement by menacing R400's, I'll know it's you. :laugh:
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I'm a dsg flappy paddle play station convert, just which the paddles were as nice as the audi offering
Have you stuck paddle extensions on wigit? I like flappy paddles and use them a lot, but I wish the oem ones were bigger and steering column mounted so they didn't turn with the wheel. But I guess you can't have it all ; )
Have you seen these ??
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpscglkmgkf.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpscglkmgkf.jpg.html)
They were on a S3 Saloon I saw just before my R arrived and did have an idle thought of whether they would fit the R ?? :smug:
Did no more about it though.
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I'm a dsg flappy paddle play station convert, just which the paddles were as nice as the audi offering
Have you stuck paddle extensions on wigit? I like flappy paddles and use them a lot, but I wish the oem ones were bigger and steering column mounted so they didn't turn with the wheel. But I guess you can't have it all ; )
Have you seen these ??
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpscglkmgkf.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpscglkmgkf.jpg.html)
They were on a S3 Saloon I saw just before my R arrived and did have an idle thought of whether they would fit the R ?? :smug:
Did no more about it though.
I was considering some from an American supplier, that I originally looked at for my current car but never got round to getting. They were pricy at about £100. They were mainly silver as I dislike carbon effect ones, which are everywhere.
BUT, these S3 ones are MUCH more my kind of thing. I think they'd look fantastic on an R whilst still keeping the oem look. Wonder where they might be sourced from?? Apart from 'borrowing' them from an S3 saloon. Any ideas?
Thanks :smiley:
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I dread to think how much the Audi dealers would charge !!
Might be worth a look on German eBay though. Meanwhile I might go lurking on the Audi-sport.net site to see if any of them have cottoned on to them and bought a set and spilled the beans on price and part no's.
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I dread to think how much the Audi dealers would charge !!
Might be worth a look on German eBay though. Meanwhile I might go lurking on the Audi-sport.net site to see if any of them have cottoned on to them and bought a set and spilled the beans on price and part no's.
Can't beat a bit of lurking!
These?
Black Matt/chrome -. €89 (£64) plus shipping to Europe
http://www.cars-equipment.com/www/en/shop/shift-paddles-3/oem-8v0951523xha-audi-rs-flat-bottom/
Or black gloss/chrome - €99 (£71) plus shipping to Europe
http://www.cars-equipment.com/www/en/shop/shift-paddles-3/oem-8v0951523inz-audi-rs-flat-bottom/
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I dread to think how much the Audi dealers would charge !!
Might be worth a look on German eBay though. Meanwhile I might go lurking on the Audi-sport.net site to see if any of them have cottoned on to them and bought a set and spilled the beans on price and part no's.
Can't beat a bit of lurking!
These?
Black Matt/chrome -. €89 (£64) plus shipping to Europe
http://www.cars-equipment.com/www/en/shop/shift-paddles-3/oem-8v0951523xha-audi-rs-flat-bottom/
Or black gloss/chrome - €99 (£71) plus shipping to Europe
http://www.cars-equipment.com/www/en/shop/shift-paddles-3/oem-8v0951523inz-audi-rs-flat-bottom/
Good find !! They look like the very ones. However my lurking has revealed that they were MY2015 and they have been changed to these for MY2016
Think I prefer the MY2015 ones. How hard are they to change ??
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg.html)
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Good find !! They look like the very ones. However my lurking has revealed that they were MY2015 and they have been changed the these for MY2016
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg.html)
Great lurking :smiley: I wondered if they'd been superseded, as they are described as 2012.
Now I'm a bit torn. What I'd really love is a combination of the two. The new shape (maybe a bit deeper) with the black/chrome combo!!! Ah well got another 2+ months to mull it over :laugh:
Which do you prefer JB? I think the 2016 ones just edge it.
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Good find !! They look like the very ones. However my lurking has revealed that they were MY2015 and they have been changed the these for MY2016
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg.html)
Great lurking :smiley: I wondered if they'd been superseded, as they are described as 2012.
Now I'm a bit torn. What I'd really love is a combination of the two. The new shape (maybe a bit deeper) with the black/chrome combo!!! Ah well got another 2+ months to mull it over :laugh:
Which do you prefer JB?
The older Black/Chrome ones for me. Must admit I am quite tempted now :smug:
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Good find !! They look like the very ones. However my lurking has revealed that they were MY2015 and they have been changed the these for MY2016
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/Jlb01/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/Jlb01/media/image.jpg1_zpsesa0wsrt.jpg.html)
Great lurking :smiley: I wondered if they'd been superseded, as they are described as 2012.
Now I'm a bit torn. What I'd really love is a combination of the two. The new shape (maybe a bit deeper) with the black/chrome combo!!! Ah well got another 2+ months to mull it over :laugh:
Which do you prefer JB?
The older Black Gloss/Chrome ones for me as they will match the Gloss Black trim on the R steering wheel. Must admit I am quite tempted now :smug: :whistle:
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The older Black Gloss/Chrome ones for me as they will match the Gloss Black trim on the R steering wheel. Must admit I am quite tempted now :smug: :whistle:
I will have to wait till I get the car and then see what I think would suit it best. The older style look like they would be better ergonomically, might give better 'purchase' for changing up/down, as they are that bit taller. No idea how easy to fit, look like they just plug into some connector, presumably behind a bit of trim somewhere. Wonder if they'd need coding?
I'd forgotten about the black gloss trim on the R steering wheel. I can see what you mean now. Just had to dig out a pic to remind myself. The standard ones now look even more pathetic. They'll have to go :whistle: I'm very tempted too! All these bits and bobs on my shopping list, but no car to stick them on, lol.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/19508636216_e4d4581398_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/vHURSQ) (https://flic.kr/p/vHURSQ)
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Didn't think about coding. This is now probably in the wrong place but do any of the VCDS bods know if coding would be required and has anyone done this mod before and know how to change the paddles ??
Thanks in advance :smiley:
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Didn't think about coding. This is now probably in the wrong place but do any of the VCDS bods know if coding would be required and has anyone done this mod before and know how to change the paddles ??
Thanks in advance :smiley:
Yeah not sure but interested to find out too. This is a bit more than just sticking on a couple of paddle extensions but actually fitting replacement ones. Should be easy enough I would have of thought, just a case of trim removal at back of steering wheel, plugging them in and securing them, and maybe a bit of coding? Course, I could be wrong!
Sorry about the thread hijack Mr Ex. Maybe we need an R tech sub section :grin: :grin: :grin:
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Eww, you've tainted it with DSG'ness! I'm disowning the thread now! :laugh:
It's probably run its course well and truly and in truth I was expecting about half a dozen replies a couple of weeks ago making a bit of fun of me and that was that. I'd hardly expected xx amount of pages so it's bound to go off topic several times over.
So in the true spirit of the forum - lets keep it off topic!
I'd expect the paddles not to need any VCDS as paddles are paddles(?) and I can't see there being any sensitivity variances as surely they're just on/off switches? I'd hazard a guess that they're mounted on a metal ring that slips over the steering column and has a wiring loom attached to them. If so they'd be a direct and easy fit once the steering wheel was removed.
We need someone with access to parts schematics (which I used to have but no longer do). Maybe start another thread to hook in someone with a current version of the schematics to show the differences between an A3 and a Golf steering column trim parts?
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Eww, you've tainted it with DSG'ness! I'm disowning the thread now! :laugh:
It's probably run its course well and truly and in truth I was expecting about half a dozen replies a couple of weeks ago making a bit of fun of me and that was that. I'd hardly expected xx amount of pages so it's bound to go off topic several times over.
So in the true spirit of the forum - lets keep it off topic!
I'd expect the paddles not to need any VCDS as paddles are paddles(?) and I can't see there being any sensitivity variances as surely they're just on/off switches? I'd hazard a guess that they're mounted on a metal ring that slips over the steering column and has a wiring loom attached to them. If so they'd be a direct and easy fit once the steering wheel was removed.
We need someone with access to parts schematics (which I used to have but no longer do). Maybe start another thread to hook in someone with a current version of the schematics to show the differences between an A3 and a Golf steering column trim parts?
Haha, I knew you'd take the thread hijack in good humour :smiley:
You weren't seriously expecting just a few sarky replies Mr Ex. You are worth much more than that as your very own mega thread testifies :laugh:
I'm sure JB GTI can start a new 'DSG (oops, there I said the dirty word) Paddles mod thread. Better that he does it as he actually has a MK7 variant in his possession!!!
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Eww, you've tainted it with DSG'ness! I'm disowning the thread now! :laugh:
It's probably run its course well and truly and in truth I was expecting about half a dozen replies a couple of weeks ago making a bit of fun of me and that was that. I'd hardly expected xx amount of pages so it's bound to go off topic several times over.
So in the true spirit of the forum - lets keep it off topic!
I'd expect the paddles not to need any VCDS as paddles are paddles(?) and I can't see there being any sensitivity variances as surely they're just on/off switches? I'd hazard a guess that they're mounted on a metal ring that slips over the steering column and has a wiring loom attached to them. If so they'd be a direct and easy fit once the steering wheel was removed.
We need someone with access to parts schematics (which I used to have but no longer do). Maybe start another thread to hook in someone with a current version of the schematics to show the differences between an A3 and a Golf steering column trim parts?
Haha, I knew you'd take the thread hijack in good humour :smiley:
You weren't seriously expecting just a few sarky replies Mr Ex. You are worth much more than that as your very own mega thread testifies :laugh:
I'm sure JB GTI can start a new 'DSG (oops, there I said the dirty word) Paddles mod thread. Better that he does it as he actually has a MK7 variant in his possession!!!
Point taken !!
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Eww, you've tainted it with DSG'ness! I'm disowning the thread now! :laugh:
It's probably run its course well and truly and in truth I was expecting about half a dozen replies a couple of weeks ago making a bit of fun of me and that was that. I'd hardly expected xx amount of pages so it's bound to go off topic several times over.
So in the true spirit of the forum - lets keep it off topic!
I'd expect the paddles not to need any VCDS as paddles are paddles(?) and I can't see there being any sensitivity variances as surely they're just on/off switches? I'd hazard a guess that they're mounted on a metal ring that slips over the steering column and has a wiring loom attached to them. If so they'd be a direct and easy fit once the steering wheel was removed.
We need someone with access to parts schematics (which I used to have but no longer do). Maybe start another thread to hook in someone with a current version of the schematics to show the differences between an A3 and a Golf steering column trim parts?
Haha, I knew you'd take the thread hijack in good humour :smiley:
You weren't seriously expecting just a few sarky replies Mr Ex. You are worth much more than that as your very own mega thread testifies :laugh:
I'm sure JB GTI can start a new 'DSG (oops, there I said the dirty word) Paddles mod thread. Better that he does it as he actually has a MK7 variant in his possession!!!
Point taken !!
:grin:
Let's face it JB, you're much more likely to get to carry out this mod before I am, and when you've done it, you can teach me everything you know :smiley: :smiley:
You can have your mega thread back now Mr Ex :kiss:
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Time flies when you're having fun.
It's 12 months I've had the R now.
It's now had its first service and I can happily report that it didn't need to go back to the dealer once during its first year. I've probably cursed it now by saying that and I did have a random front radar error message pop up on screen the other day but I'll put that down to the torrential rain a few minutes beforehand (despite the fact I was stopped) touch wood.
To celebrate its first birthday it has acquired its first stone chip this past week.
Grrrrrrr.
Considering I've hardly used it this last week I'm not sure whether it happened in the dealership (it was raining when I collected it) or as a result of some comedy road resurfacing near the dealership. The local council seems to have decided that throwing some gravel in the rough direction of the ground is an acceptable way of their contractors repairing roads, no doubt at huge cost. I suppose you don't get potholes in loose gravel so that's one tick box on the council's list :rolleyes:
Can you sue the council for damage resulting from crap "repairs"?
Anyway, twelve months in, what do I think of the car?
Pretty amazing really.
On the one hand it's a Golf and does just what a normal Golf does.
And on the other hand it's a 4wd 300PS sports model that has incredible traction and poise.
If Superman kept his Clark Kent outfit on he'd be a Golf R.
As to the future, I'm being asked to do a training job soon, I think, which will mean lots of miles on the road potentially. It'll be a drop in salary with a business mileage allowance which won't be a lot. Therefore I'll have to consider something that requires fuelling from the black pump. A GTD would be the front running option if that's the case unless I can minimise travel and get work to hire cars in when I need one.
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Time flies when you're having fun.
It's 12 months I've had the R now.
It's now had its first service and I can happily report that it didn't need to go back to the dealer once during its first year. I've probably cursed it now by saying that and I did have a random front radar error message pop up on screen the other day but I'll put that down to the torrential rain a few minutes beforehand (despite the fact I was stopped) touch wood.
To celebrate its first birthday it has acquired its first stone chip this past week.
Grrrrrrr.
Considering I've hardly used it this last week I'm not sure whether it happened in the dealership (it was raining when I collected it) or as a result of some comedy road resurfacing near the dealership. The local council seems to have decided that throwing some gravel in the rough direction of the ground is an acceptable way of their contractors repairing roads, no doubt at huge cost. I suppose you don't get potholes in loose gravel so that's one tick box on the council's list :rolleyes:
Can you sue the council for damage resulting from crap "repairs"?
Anyway, twelve months in, what do I think of the car?
Pretty amazing really.
On the one hand it's a Golf and does just what a normal Golf does.
And on the other hand it's a 4wd 300PS sports model that has incredible traction and poise.
If Superman kept his Clark Kent outfit on he'd be a Golf R.
As to the future, I'm being asked to do a training job soon, I think, which will mean lots of miles on the road potentially. It'll be a drop in salary with a business mileage allowance which won't be a lot. Therefore I'll have to consider something that requires fuelling from the black pump. A GTD would be the front running option if that's the case unless I can minimise travel and get work to hire cars in when I need one.
Its pretty much everyone fault here that have now selected the R for next car as change up from my GTD and your Clark Kent comments and general happiness with the R in this post does nothing to dim my anticipation, really cannot wait to get the R and experience all what everyone is enjoying myself! patience is being tested :)
However, understand your dilemma in reverse as wanted the GTI when MK7 came out but due to high mileage it really had to be the GTD and for first year it was a great choice at 50 + MPG on longer runs but second year, role change and mileage dropper right off, some weeks barely leave my own town, and hence can select the R
The GTD is the perfect long mileage cruiser, it eats up the miles in great comfort and with great economy, Manchester and back with no refuelling! and with the later specification (Sootchuckers is my perfect GTD) the package is more than decent in looks options and performance, and it is no slouch, though obviously no patch on the R, you will miss that and the noises the R makes.
If the R was not such an attractive proposition and must have to find out for myself, would take another GTD in a heartbeat and still little sadness that be changing over.
Really testing out my GTD at moment so can see how clear the differences are with the R in reality when get it, so can help those with GTD moving up to R in future
Not sure there is anyone who has gone from R to GTD though? to give a view to what to expect
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12 months before you got a stone chip! You did very well there, I picked one up on the way home from the garage.
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Its pretty much everyone fault here that have now selected the R for next car as change up from my GTD and your Clark Kent comments and general happiness with the R in this post does nothing to dim my anticipation, really cannot wait to get the R and experience all what everyone is enjoying myself! patience is being tested :)
However, understand your dilemma in reverse as wanted the GTI when MK7 came out but due to high mileage it really had to be the GTD and for first year it was a great choice at 50 + MPG on longer runs but second year, role change and mileage dropper right off, some weeks barely leave my own town, and hence can select the R
The GTD is the perfect long mileage cruiser, it eats up the miles in great comfort and with great economy, Manchester and back with no refuelling! and with the later specification (Sootchuckers is my perfect GTD) the package is more than decent in looks options and performance, and it is no slouch, though obviously no patch on the R, you will miss that and the noises the R makes.
If the R was not such an attractive proposition and must have to find out for myself, would take another GTD in a heartbeat and still little sadness that be changing over.
Really testing out my GTD at moment so can see how clear the differences are with the R in reality when get it, so can help those with GTD moving up to R in future
Not sure there is anyone who has gone from R to GTD though? to give a view to what to expect
As you're going DSG to DSG you'll notice different things with the R.
Firstly off the line you'll find the R much more eager to rev and obviously the gear change points will be different. I've not driven an R in DSG but spent a bit of time in a DSG GTD which was a mixed experience for me. I'd think the DSG was the ideal gearbox for the R if you do much town mileage as the lower gears are indeed quite low and you have to use the box quite a bit in a manual.
The R is pretty electric off the line if you're in the mood but you do have to re-train yourself a bit coming from a Diesel where you spend most of the time sub 4000rpm. The R really wakes up above 3500 rpm so you'll find motorway driving much the same feel but you'll notice the R builds the revs up a lot more quickly when you hit the gas.
I doubt many, if any, have gone from R to GTD but I know a few people who run both on leases.
12 months before you got a stone chip! You did very well there, I picked one up on the way home from the garage.
It hurts all the more knowing it survived this long!
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Happy Birthday to your R!
When I first saw this thread had a new post by you, I thought you were telling us the R was going. Well, maybe you are. but not just this minute.
Seems you've been living a charmed life - a year without any stone chip. :shocked: :smiley: I've got a few very minor ones but nothing to keep me awake st night.
I really like the Clark Kent analogy, so true. I kinda like to think of the R as Clark just as he's ripping open his shirt to reveal the 'S' but ('R' in this case).
Now, will the GTD be a manual or is that a very stupid question?
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thanks for the birthday wishes Fraulein B!
I'm sitting tight with both job and car at the moment.
I'm not sure whether I'd opt for manual or DSG to be honest. No preference either way unless I took the company car option in which case due to tax (co2) reasons I'd only be able to go for a manual.
I'd want to live with a GTD for a few days first before making my mind up.
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Its pretty much everyone fault here that have now selected the R for next car as change up from my GTD and your Clark Kent comments and general happiness with the R in this post does nothing to dim my anticipation, really cannot wait to get the R and experience all what everyone is enjoying myself! patience is being tested :)
However, understand your dilemma in reverse as wanted the GTI when MK7 came out but due to high mileage it really had to be the GTD and for first year it was a great choice at 50 + MPG on longer runs but second year, role change and mileage dropper right off, some weeks barely leave my own town, and hence can select the R
The GTD is the perfect long mileage cruiser, it eats up the miles in great comfort and with great economy, Manchester and back with no refuelling! and with the later specification (Sootchuckers is my perfect GTD) the package is more than decent in looks options and performance, and it is no slouch, though obviously no patch on the R, you will miss that and the noises the R makes.
If the R was not such an attractive proposition and must have to find out for myself, would take another GTD in a heartbeat and still little sadness that be changing over.
Really testing out my GTD at moment so can see how clear the differences are with the R in reality when get it, so can help those with GTD moving up to R in future
Not sure there is anyone who has gone from R to GTD though? to give a view to what to expect
As you're going DSG to DSG you'll notice different things with the R.
Firstly off the line you'll find the R much more eager to rev and obviously the gear change points will be different. I've not driven an R in DSG but spent a bit of time in a DSG GTD which was a mixed experience for me. I'd think the DSG was the ideal gearbox for the R if you do much town mileage as the lower gears are indeed quite low and you have to use the box quite a bit in a manual.
The R is pretty electric off the line if you're in the mood but you do have to re-train yourself a bit coming from a Diesel where you spend most of the time sub 4000rpm. The R really wakes up above 3500 rpm so you'll find motorway driving much the same feel but you'll notice the R builds the revs up a lot more quickly when you hit the gas.
I doubt many, if any, have gone from R to GTD but I know a few people who run both on leases.
12 months before you got a stone chip! You did very well there, I picked one up on the way home from the garage.
It hurts all the more knowing it survived this long!
Thanks for the response Sir
Been away this week and that involved some long distance travel along M and A roads and even some ACC and when on a Motorway in particular more than happy to settle on a decent speed and let the miles effortlessly rack up.
Going and Return were both 54 MPG which support that
Though expect the fuel consumption to obviously take a hit the R will be driven the same way on Motorways and hope with the DCC the miles will be eaten up in the same comfort and effortless manner.
The DSG was a must anyway but what you describe is something that would want to avoid and thats multiple manual gear changes as move around locally in the day to day traffic at same speeds as everyone else.
Again its something that grown to love in that with auto hold general traffic and particularly at the peak times are stress free in having to manage the car.
But not moved to the R just to imitate my GTD, the ability to get off the line quicker and more so in the wet was a major attraction as was the times where conditions allow for the stretching of the R's legs.
The GTD is no slouch particularly when you already up and running as the mid range punch is impressive but there is definitely a build up to the delivery from low speed and hence a slight delay before you get away in manner was hoping. So electric off the line is the experience hoping for and even if choose not to use it the knowing its there is imagine quite satisfying regardless.
So I am hoping for a lot of similarities in the day to day to my GTD, as that ease and comfort of drive is a prime requirement, with the added expectation of having a wolf added to the sheep clothing for when moment takes.
Much is preconception based on my own GTD experience and also from narrative here, but will not finitely be able to judge until change the cars over.
Would say a few months yet sadly, but having just come off a very satisfying long haul with GTD definitely mixed feelings and if not had to change would likely have not.
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The R will tick all your boxes mjh.
The fuel economy will be a very noticeable difference but other than that it's a mix of familiarity of feel and looks with masses of added traction and a very willing engine.
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The R will tick all your boxes mjh.
The fuel economy will be a very noticeable difference but other than that it's a mix of familiarity of feel and looks with masses of added traction and a very willing engine.
The fuel still worries me haha, but have agreed with myself that we will see how it goes for three years and if really an issue and not a good enough trade off that will seek more sensibility again. But for next three years its going with heart over head which is something many of us do not do often enough really.
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Sorry to get involved here but I've taken the plunge. Ordered a 5 door Dsg in limestone grey on a 2 year lease via select car leasing.
I thought about PCP and speccing it up but for me at the moment it wasn't worth it.
I went in today to vw Birmingham and I was offered a new Dsg r line tiguan for 296pcm with 3.5k buy in. Looks good a massive upgrade on the existing Tiguan but the itch needed scratching and the r won out.
Roll on sept.
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Sorry to get involved here but I've taken the plunge. Ordered a 5 door Dsg in limestone grey on a 2 year lease via select car leasing.
I thought about PCP and speccing it up but for me at the moment it wasn't worth it.
I went in today to vw Birmingham and I was offered a new Dsg r line tiguan for 296pcm with 3.5k buy in. Looks good a massive upgrade on the existing Tiguan but the itch needed scratching and the r won out.
Roll on sept.
It's an itch worth scratching.
Great colour choice. :cool:
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Sorry to get involved here but I've taken the plunge. Ordered a 5 door Dsg in limestone grey on a 2 year lease via select car leasing.
I thought about PCP and speccing it up but for me at the moment it wasn't worth it.
I went in today to vw Birmingham and I was offered a new Dsg r line tiguan for 296pcm with 3.5k buy in. Looks good a massive upgrade on the existing Tiguan but the itch needed scratching and the r won out.
Roll on sept.
Don't apologise! The thread had long since run its course in reality so it's nice to see mjh and yourself joining the growing number on here who are moving on to their (at least) second MK7, and the R is a great way of doing just that.
Leasing is the perfect way of getting an R with some of the deals around.
I was going through the figures with a colleague of mine yesterday who was looking at leasing a GTD through a salary sacrifice lease via work.
A vanilla plus metallic GTD fully maintained and insured worked out to around £9200 on that scheme over two years. I got him figures from CVL proving that even allowing for him having to pay for a service and his own insurance he could get an R for possibly a grand less. I can't remember the exact figures offhand.
With the MY17 spec improvements factored in you'd not really need to add any options now to get a very affordable 300 PS hatch for a couple years worth of fun motoring.
R's look really good in Limestone too. Very discreet and classy.
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Sorry to get involved here but I've taken the plunge. Ordered a 5 door Dsg in limestone grey on a 2 year lease via select car leasing.
I thought about PCP and speccing it up but for me at the moment it wasn't worth it.
I went in today to vw Birmingham and I was offered a new Dsg r line tiguan for 296pcm with 3.5k buy in. Looks good a massive upgrade on the existing Tiguan but the itch needed scratching and the r won out.
Roll on sept.
It's an itch worth scratching.
Great colour choice. :cool:
When coming from a very capable version such as the GTD with the more than decent economy its not the easiest of decisions to jump the the GTI to the R and something really went back and forth on more than wanted to but heart did rule head in the end and can always revert to something more sensible next time round, or I maybe hooked also!
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Sorry to get involved here but I've taken the plunge. Ordered a 5 door Dsg in limestone grey on a 2 year lease via select car leasing.
I thought about PCP and speccing it up but for me at the moment it wasn't worth it.
I went in today to vw Birmingham and I was offered a new Dsg r line tiguan for 296pcm with 3.5k buy in. Looks good a massive upgrade on the existing Tiguan but the itch needed scratching and the r won out.
Roll on sept.
It's an itch worth scratching.
Great colour choice. :cool:
When coming from a very capable version such as the GTD with the more than decent economy its not the easiest of decisions to jump the the GTI to the R and something really went back and forth on more than wanted to but heart did rule head in the end and can always revert to something more sensible next time round, or I maybe hooked also!
As did I.
Question, the lease company have said they set the car up for annual service (10k or 12 months). Therefore I would need to pay for 2 services. They offer maintained (included in the price I have set out above) includes tyres etc considering a residential development is going to take place behind my office car park I'm counting that I will get atleast one flat as has happened on the GTD.
Is it worth paying the extra 16quid a month or should i go with no maintenance.
I'm now toying with dropping keyless too bringing the figures down by another 11 a month.
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Is keyless not standard now or is it just winter pack and nav?
Personally I don't find it the hardest thing in the world to fish a key out of my pocket to use the ignition but others will disagree.
Id go for dropping the keyless and taking the service pack from the savings for sure.
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Is keyless not standard now or is it just winter pack and nav?
Personally I don't find it the hardest thing in the world to fish a key out of my pocket to use the ignition but others will disagree.
Id go for dropping the keyless and taking the service pack from the savings for sure.
The keyless is still a cost option and its just the winter pack and navigation that have been added. You do pay an extra £500 on cost price for these 'free' additions. I had already ordered prior to wk 22 so just left my order as is and actually do get free navigation now as had passed on it originally.
Its slightly different for me as on company lease and have so much credit to spend with the added extra being that insurance is covered also so I could afford to be a bit more liberal on options. Do pay BIK though so there is some juggling in head to be done about whats best.
This is going to cost me a lot more personally than the GTD but if not do it now would never do it and so getting out of system and being more liberal
I think private 2 year lease would be my preferred as know could cover that in any circumstance and I would remove all the nice to have options such as keyless as do cope quite well without it now and basically because I can is the only reason selected keyless.
So think on personal lease you think slightly different and reduce all the additional costs where can and still be left with 2 years of enjoying a great car. Also now with the wk 22 changes you do get the aforementioned navigation and winter pack thrown in on base price.
The two options that became must have for me were DCC and Pretoria the rest could live without. I would probably have dropped both on a 2 year personal lease.
Its horses for courses really, and everyone has different limits, so its just remembering the base car is pretty damn good and then seeing how much you are stretching for the nice to haves.
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Its horses for courses really, and everyone has different limits, so its just remembering the base car is pretty damn good and then seeing how much you are stretching for the nice to haves.
Summed up in a nutshell :afro:
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When coming from a very capable version such as the GTD with the more than decent economy its not the easiest of decisions
The mpg might come as a bit of a shock to the system coming from a GTD, but hopefully the other capabilities of the car will negate this to some degree.
but heart did rule head in the end and can always revert to something more sensible next time round, or I maybe hooked also!
That's what I told myself when going for the R. At the time I thought what the hell, I'll most likely go back to a GTI next time around. Now?.....not a chance!
Either way, good to have a heart over head decision now and then. :smiley:
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When coming from a very capable version such as the GTD with the more than decent economy its not the easiest of decisions
The mpg might come as a bit of a shock to the system coming from a GTD, but hopefully the other capabilities of the car will negate this to some degree.
but heart did rule head in the end and can always revert to something more sensible next time round, or I maybe hooked also!
That's what I told myself when going for the R. At the time I thought what the hell, I'll most likely go back to a GTI next time around. Now?.....not a chance!
Either way, good to have a heart over head decision now and then. :smiley:
Mileage pretty much dictated previous car choices of 2 diesel Quattro and the GTD but in first year of the GTD it halved and more via a role change. So economy has become a nice to have opposed to critical
Previously ran a MY02 Bora that was a petrol (and oil) guzzler and imagine the R will not be too far from that in economy but as mileage was relatively low it was never really an issue.
My expectation is one extra tank a month (£50)
Sensible in most things, the workplace dictates it "as you have to manage the risk" is what here a lot :rolleyes: and the home to in keeping the family budget balanced, but we all have to have something to show for the hard work and the R will be my 3 year indulgence especially as went for a few of the nice options to.
Biggest thing missed from the Quattro was the get away, its not the GTD strength particularly in the wet and the R will give me that and more, so that alone might have me permanently hooked like yourself. Can see how much it adds to your day, makes the work effort worth it.
Still have that waiting period, so forum is keeping me going haha,
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Biggest thing missed from the Quattro was the get away, its not the GTD strength particularly in the wet...
+1
Changing the tyres on my GTD made a big difference to front end traction. Most people don't like the original bridgestones. Though even with better tyres, traction in the wet can still be an issue.
I'm looking again at the Golf R running cost. I blame you lot...
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Biggest thing missed from the Quattro was the get away, its not the GTD strength particularly in the wet...
+1
Changing the tyres on my GTD made a big difference to front end traction. Most people don't like the original bridgestones. Though even with better tyres, traction in the wet can still be an issue.
I'm looking again at the Golf R running cost. I blame you lot...
You might be pleasantly surprised at the cost of an R vs GTI/GTD - you'll get most of the extra cost back in better GFV. running costs depends a lot on your mileage and how you do your miles. If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier), there's not a huge amount in it. If you do the kind of journeys that would stretch a GTD's legs, you're talking 55mpg vs 33mpg in the R - the difference really opens up.
The R is epic, how planted it is - no more static wheelspin, and it is ridiculously quick above 5000rpm. My commute is 20 miles each way with most of that done doing 70-80mph on dual carriageways. The R delivers 33/34mpg at the moment running on Tesco Momentum 99, with a fairly heavy right foot to get up to the desired speed. I've applied for a job that's a 48 mile each way commute (had my interview Thurs), if I get that, there's no way i'll be taking the R to work unless I get a car share going. I'll maybe get 35mpg, but 65-70 in the missus' A1 1.6TDI is a no brainer, as I won't be paying £20 a day in fuel to get to work as well as heaping 20k miles on a car almost twice the retail of the Audi. We'll swap and I get to drive the R on a weekend.
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You could always do 65 in the R to work! :grin: :grin: :grin:
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
The DSG factor? I usually get 33mpg going to work and back on my 20 mile commute. The other night, thanks to Beyonce's gig in Sunderland and the big sink hole on the A1 near the Angel of the North, it took me an hour and a half to do my 35 minute commute as the A19 was completely clogged, and the R still did 29mpg. In the GTD that would've been 55mpg on a good day and about 36mpg with Beyonce traffic. I'm not a gentle driver - I get up to speed with hard acceleration, but like to maintain momentum intelligently whenever possible, so i'm semi-economical.
The missus had the R for a few days earlier in the week and got 30mpg for her 9 mile commute.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
The DSG factor? I usually get 33mpg going to work and back on my 20 mile commute. The other night, thanks to Beyonce's gig in Sunderland and the big sink hole on the A1 near the Angel of the North, it took me an hour and a half to do my 35 minute commute as the A19 was completely clogged, and the R still did 29mpg. In the GTD that would've been 55mpg on a good day and about 36mpg with Beyonce traffic. I'm not a gentle driver - I get up to speed with hard acceleration, but like to maintain momentum intelligently whenever possible, so i'm semi-economical.
The missus had the R for a few days earlier in the week and got 30mpg for her 9 mile commute.
No not DSG factor. More the perception of what urban driving is. I'm talking about around town driving rather than a commute of around 20 miles. In my definition of congested town driving, getting anywhere from 18 up to 25mpg seems more realistic.
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My manual R is showing long term average of around 27-28mpg.
It doesn't get much town use and isn't driven particularly hard. It spends a lot of its life in 40mph limits cruising along or NSL dual carriageways that again tend to be driven on in a gingerly manner due to very early morning use with lots of wildlife on the roads and drowsy truck drivers weaving about. Oh, and being wary of sneaky, bored custodians of law and order. :whistle:
My mk7 GTI did around 5mpg more in the same usage and the 150 GT TDI I had for a day the other week did high 40's in the same driving.
The R does my shortish work commute (in light traffic) at 22-25mpg and the GTI did it 5mpg better. The 150 TDI got stuck in a traffic jam and still showed a journey MPG of 36mpg.
I think there was something wrong with that TDI though as it drove like a turd.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
The DSG factor? I usually get 33mpg going to work and back on my 20 mile commute. The other night, thanks to Beyonce's gig in Sunderland and the big sink hole on the A1 near the Angel of the North, it took me an hour and a half to do my 35 minute commute as the A19 was completely clogged, and the R still did 29mpg. In the GTD that would've been 55mpg on a good day and about 36mpg with Beyonce traffic. I'm not a gentle driver - I get up to speed with hard acceleration, but like to maintain momentum intelligently whenever possible, so i'm semi-economical.
The missus had the R for a few days earlier in the week and got 30mpg for her 9 mile commute.
No not DSG factor. More the perception of what urban driving is. I'm talking about around town driving rather than a commute of around 20 miles. In my definition of congested town driving, getting anywhere from 18 up to 25mpg seems more realistic.
I'd class the wife's driving as urban (which is why I mentioned it) - 9 miles takes her at least 30 mins going home, crawling around a ring of industrial parks on the edge of Newcastle, usually 40 mins and she still did 29mpg going home in the 2 days she had it, which probably translates to around 26mpg with a DSG driven the same way (10% penalty in real driving). I find that theres a much higher % penalty for heavy traffic driving with the GTD than the R. Whether crawling or working at speed, a petrol engine is pretty consistent in it's mpg, the diesels aren't that economical unless sat in a high gear.
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I'd class the wife's driving as urban (which is why I mentioned it) - 9 miles takes her at least 30 mins going home, crawling around a ring of industrial parks on the edge of Newcastle, usually 40 mins and she still did 29mpg going home in the 2 days she had it, which probably translates to around 26mpg with a DSG driven the same way (10% penalty in real driving). I find that theres a much higher % penalty for heavy traffic driving with the GTD than the R. Whether crawling or working at speed, a petrol engine is pretty consistent in it's mpg, the diesels aren't that economical unless sat in a high gear.
Of course it's difficult to compare different commutes as there are many variables, but I have a daily commute of just under 8 miles which takes in crawling city traffic to begin with then out onto rural roads, and back into and across the city in crawling traffic to reach final work destination. Journey takes approx between 50 mins to 1 hour, depending on the level of traffic. Car generally returns mpg between 18 and 22 for this daily journey, but it has been as low as 14mpg on some ocassions.
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Wow - an hour to do 8 miles, well that is pretty extreme - you'd probably be lucky to scrape 25mpg in a GTD in those conditions. My mate has an 8 mile commute and is too lazy to bike it when the weather is nice, so he took up a lazy solution to cycling and got one of those V-tech electric bikes.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
Totally agree booth, the numbers don't stack up, not many get 30 mpg. ppl should just get the car they desire, and don't base it on other people's man maths :whistle:
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Wow - an hour to do 8 miles, well that is pretty extreme - you'd probably be lucky to scrape 25mpg in a GTD in those conditions. My mate has an 8 mile commute and is too lazy to bike it when the weather is nice, so he took up a lazy solution to cycling and got one of those V-tech electric bikes.
I could bike it (normal bike) if it was a straightforward commute but it involves first driving daughter to school in a rural village, then driving back into the city to work (the hour commute time quoted is just the driving time). Plus I need to have car most days for work site visits, so cycling is a no go.
But I'm not complaining, wouldn't swap the R for all the mpg in the world.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
Totally agree booth, the numbers don't stack up, not many get 30 mpg. ppl should just get the car they desire, and don't base it on other people's man maths :whistle:
Absolutely.
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If you do less than 10k miles on urban driving you might only see 40mpg in the GTD, compared to 30mpg in the R (manual - DSG is about 10% thirstier)
Obviously it's dependent on what level of town/city congestion and style of driving, but even so, I think 30mpg on urban (town) driving in an R is an extremely optimistic figure that many do not achieve.
Totally agree booth, the numbers don't stack up, not many get 30 mpg. ppl should just get the car they desire, and don't base it on other people's man maths :whistle:
Just demonstrating that diesels take a bigger hammering vs their potential than petrols when in slow moving traffic frequently (and that's without any DPF worries for a TDI that never gets to stretch it's legs). 50 mins for an 8 mile commute with a DSG box and Booth's mpg is no surprise. I'd be looking at 30mpg on my old 10mile commute as the car will be running 1/2 the journey on the warm-up. It's quite easy to predict mpg if you know their length of commute (distance and time), level of congestion, whether it's a DSG or manual and you assume they don't drive like someone about to lose their license.
There are lots of factors - congestion, driving style, length of journey, manual or DSG that will affect the mpg - Booth's circumstances seem to be the perfect combination low mpg extreme, the high mpg extreme would be someone on a 30 mile commute who does a constant 60mph all the way there on clear roads. On my way to work, my 33mpg commute for 20 miles takes 25-30 mins and falls towards the best you'll see as the roads are pretty quiet. On the way home it gets a lot busier and it's a 45-50 min commute, but the mpg doesn't drop hugely - 31mpg.
The average mpg for Manual drivers does seem to be consistently higher than those with DSG, this is something i've also seen when comparing my MK5 Golf/Scirocco 170TDIs to my Dad's 170TDI Golf, and same story with my MK7 GTD vs my Dad's DSG version when i've been driving either.
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Booth's circumstances seem to be the perfect combination low mpg extreme, the high mpg extreme would be someone on a 30 mile commute who does a constant 60mph all the way there on clear roads. On my way to work, my 33mpg commute for 20 miles takes 25-30 mins and falls towards the best you'll see as the roads are pretty quiet. On the way home it gets a lot busier and it's a 45-50 min commute, but the mpg doesn't drop hugely - 31mpg.
Because there are extremes (you and I possibly towards opposing ends of the spectrum), IMO far more sensible to state an average mpg somewhere between the two, to anyone considering an R and looking at the numbers. Better and more realistic than giving a worse or best case scenario as being the norm.