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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: candywhite12 on 13 August 2017, 16:56

Title: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: candywhite12 on 13 August 2017, 16:56
Been a proud owner of the GTI mk6 for 7 years (DSG), sold it and now looking to get an R (also DSG).  Doing around 15k miles/year.  Any help with how the 2 compare maintenance-wise would be great.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: Gaz W on 13 August 2017, 19:39
No difference, only exception being Haldex service due every 40k miles on Golf R due to 4MOTION.

Service schedule/pricing/regime otherwise is exactly the same!

Brake/tyre wear is going to be much the same it all comes down to driving style, use of the car etc rather than one being more expensive than the other!
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: Finglonga on 13 August 2017, 20:11
Apart from above, Fuel is the biggest, the R requires Super, the GTI doesn't.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: candywhite12 on 13 August 2017, 20:19
No difference, only exception being Haldex service due every 40k miles on Golf R due to 4MOTION.

Service schedule/pricing/regime otherwise is exactly the same!

Brake/tyre wear is going to be much the same it all comes down to driving style, use of the car etc rather than one being more expensive than the other!

haldex service has to do with 4motion then, i take it the R will still need the dsg service as well?
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: Gaz W on 13 August 2017, 20:24
No difference, only exception being Haldex service due every 40k miles on Golf R due to 4MOTION.

Service schedule/pricing/regime otherwise is exactly the same!

Brake/tyre wear is going to be much the same it all comes down to driving style, use of the car etc rather than one being more expensive than the other!

haldex service has to do with 4motion then, i take it the R will still need the dsg service as well?

Correct yes only the R has 4MOTION so requires haldex service, GTI does not have a haldex so is not serviceable, however worth noting I didn't mention previously he GTI performance has a differential which is serviceable (every 3 years) and is in some respects similar to a haldex system.

There are a number of variants of DSG gearbox e.g. 6SP/7SP and yes some require servicing both on R and GTI. 7SP generally are filled for life and not serviceable, majority of 6SP are serviceable interval is every 40K miles however there are a couple of exceptions where 6SP are filled for life and not serviceable so worth checking your gearbox code with local dealer.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: Booth11 on 13 August 2017, 20:33
I came from a mk6 GTI to a 7R.  Fuel is the main regular difference in cost, and I used 98/99 RON in the mk6 too so make a fair comparison.  Overall, over the same journeys, the R returns about about 4-5mpg less than the GTI did over the long term. Had it 2 years nearly.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: Bullfinch on 17 August 2017, 07:52
What's the difference in insurance costs between the two (UK market)?  I assume the R is in a much higher insurance group than the GTi.  Also what about VED (car tax)?  Is the R is one of the uber-expensive groups £500 per year?
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: brettblade on 17 August 2017, 09:09
What's the difference in insurance costs between the two (UK market)?  I assume the R is in a much higher insurance group than the GTi.  Also what about VED (car tax)?  Is the R is one of the uber-expensive groups £500 per year?

It may be in a higher insurance group, but I found the real world difference only to be £20-30 for me.  Interestingly, the GTI, R and S3 were all much of a muchness with only £60 or so separating the cheapest from the most expensive while the Leon Cupra was about £350 more!
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: SRGTD on 17 August 2017, 09:17
What's the difference in insurance costs between the two (UK market)?  I assume the R is in a much higher insurance group than the GTi.  Also what about VED (car tax)?  Is the R is one of the uber-expensive groups £500 per year?

Insurance groups; from Parkers - http://www.parkers.co.uk/car-insurance/insurance-groups/
Golf R; group 34. GTI (performance pack and non performance pack models); group 29

Insurers use so many factors in calculating premiums these days, the difference in insurance groups isn't really an indication of any likely difference in premium. To see what the difference is in £'s terms, suggest you get a quote for both the GTI and R.

The VED for the R depends on the CO2 emissions and the manufacturers list price (not the price you pay after discounts) of the car including options (CO2 figures below for VW brochure).

If list price is £40k or less;
Manual gearbox (CO2 180 g/km); first year £800, subsequent years; standard rate of £140 per year.
DSG gearbox (CO2 160 g/km); first year £500, subsequent years; standard rate of £140 per year.

If the list price is over £40k; the VED in the first 5 years the standard rate is paid (so years 2-6) increases by 310 per year.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-excise-duty/vehicle-excise-duty
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: vidman2 on 17 August 2017, 16:13
When I moved from a M& GTipp to my R my insurance went up by £10 pa but MPG went down by 4mpg on same type of journeys.  Much prefer the R for its planted feeling and its get up and go.

Servicing costs were the same for a 3 year package.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: JoeGTI on 17 August 2017, 21:23
I've found the R to be easier on tyres - strangely enough. I still have the originals on mine. 26k kms (16k miles). There's still a bit of life left in the fronts and loads on the rears. I had the fronts on the GTI replaced a lot sooner than this. I expect it is due to the more even weight and power distribution in the R. I rarely, if ever, lose any traction whereas the GTI suffered from a lot of wheelspin.

Other than that, fuel is the biggest differentiator. I only average 27-29mpg in the R. The GTI was probably 33-35 average.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: dubber36 on 18 August 2017, 12:45
I used to be quite bothered by fuel consumption and running costs, but have just changed my B7 Passat for an Amarok. The Passat would do 55mpg, whereas the Amarok is doing 35ish. Loaded up and towing the caravan it does 21mpg. The thing is, yes it's more money, but it's my only real vice. I love driving the truck. The same week as buying it, we swapped my wifes Mk6 Golf for a Mk7 1.6TDI with a view to using that as the 'family car', but it hasn't worked out like that and the truck takes us everywhere.

I would get the car that you want, and if running a new .:R might stretch the finances, buy a used one. The lower depreciation will pay for a hell of a lot of fuel.
Title: Re: GTI vs R running/maintenance costs
Post by: wigit on 18 August 2017, 21:37
R is not much more thirstier than my Ed35 was

VW servicing pack is good value anyway

Only thing I have found the R eat is rear pads and disks (wife's lasted 20K) mine are in better shape

We run winters and summers on our but having checked the tyres the rears are 1mm less than the fronts on the Estate and 5 Door and similar depths on the Bridgestones so down to about 4mm on the fronts after about 14K

Interesting feature in this weeks Autocar about the ideal drivers car which has the 7/7.5 GTI in it and talks about balance, which I totally get

I had a look at three 7.5Rs outside a dealership and I think the standard trim looks so much better with the alcantara and liked the detailing on the front

Very much of the same view of life too short so I do not read too much in the fuel costs, where the R is sublime is covering ground very quickly and effictively without taxing the driver too much and being under the radar