Five-star Car

[Tailpipe]

I don't know where Car magazine stands in the overall pecking order of automotive journals, but having read it since 1981, I love it and trust it. Anyway, one of the bits i love is its GBU section - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Every car gets a star rating, but very few get the full five stars. Among those that do are the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ferrari California, Ferrari 599, assorted Porsche 911s, BMW M3, and Audi R8 all of which cost well north of £60,000 and many more than £100,000. There are only two cars that gets five stars costing less than £30,000. one is the Scirocco R and the other: our beloved Golf GTI.

What's interesting is that both cars are preferred to equivalent Audis, Fords, Mazda's and other hot hatches. When testing the Scirocco R versus the Focus RS, and other competitors, the only thing that came close to it in all round appeal was the GTI. This tells me that the GTI is a truly amazing automobile. You all knew that already, but if the cooking GTI comes so close to being the very best, how good will the Golf R be?

[Jay]

... how good will the Golf R be?

Excellent. It's a Folkswagen 

[mac7]

but if the cooking GTI comes so close to being the very best, how good will the Golf R be?

Good question. Audi managed to make the same platform feel somehow boring to drive with the S3. I'm hoping VW have better test drivers and chassis engineers!

[mds69]

which cost well north of £60,000 and many more than £100,000. There are only two cars that gets five stars costing less than £30,000. one is the Scirocco R and the other: our beloved Golf GTI.

Remember reading the reviews of the GTI and GTD a while ago and I thought they marked the Mk6 down to 4 stars on performance and somehow gave it an overall of 4 stars (despite getting 5 stars for the other categories) - GTD was 4 stars all round I think which seemed fair in comparison (even though the review was laughably badly edited!).

Anyway, crap way of comparing cars!

[boardlord]

When we orgered our car we test drove the Focus RS before and after the golf. The returned to VW to sign the paperwork  The Blue oval doesn't even come close.. IMHO

[keelaw]

When we orgered our car we test drove the Focus RS before and after the golf. The returned to VW to sign the paperwork  The Blue oval doesn't even come close.. IMHO

what were the key reasons in your opinion?

[boardlord]

We've had an Escort Cos & Focus RS . . . loved em both, chose a CTR over a Focus ST last time out (07) ST was Bland CTR engine fantastic but no where near as good as the 05 CTR we had. New RS seemed un-refined, over the top styling ( Had Cossie when I was 23  ) not what I want at 32 LOL. Seats are cool but no good for long distance. Poor salesman, bad finance offer, seemed very skitish when pushed.
Fell in love with the refinement of the GTI straight away, being 6'3" the scirocco was too small. head on roof with seat right down. Felt like I needed to tilt my neck to see out of the winscreen. Thought the DSG was awesome. Done 600 miles and am dead sure we made the right choice. A mate has a EVO 9 FQ320 and apart from off the lights above 60 mph he can't loose me. Superb car can't praise it enough. Looking forward to th MK7 will order the minute the order book is open.   

Ben

[keelaw]

cheers Ben - high praise indeed!


what are your thoughts on the GTI engine though?  I thought it was fairly rorty, but having owned an Accord Type R, I do miss the semi-touring car nature of the VTEC engine.  Can't argue with refinement though, GTI is leagues ahead.  For the engine note reason, I'm tempted to get a miltek exhaust or similiar to improve the engine note 

[Rolfe]

Mmm, in my world, VTEC doesn't mean what I think you guys mean....   

Rolfe.

[boardlord]

 Ahhh Keelaw ATR..... Had a Red 'T' reg absolutely loved it 'apart' from the 20 mpg I used to get LOL....  I think the engines note is fairly lame. And I would say that you would struggle to find a car engine that sounds as good as the ATR, the sound of the 2.2 in the VTEC will sing in my ears forever. I would definately be interested in an exhaust but have heard that the Milltek is not that much different to the standard. I/We (this is the only time the misses gets included when she has to pay for 1/2 of things) are gonna wait till there is some more offerings about. Will order the VWR air filter soon and book it into VW for the VWR chip.(Am told it is the Bluefin programme) but £165 more.... but I'm led to belive this way the manufacturers warrenty stays in touch.  Still thinking of 8500 RPM and snatching 4th what an engine.....Mmmmmmmmmmm

Ben

Rolfe are you between 3-7 and thinking of your toys?