Can't make up my mind: R or GTI? Please help.

[SilverChariot]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

[Booski]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

+1

[Snoopy]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqepCssCPT0

[SilverChariot]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqepCssCPT0

LOL! Nice one! But seriously...

[Tailpipe]

Spec for spec, you're talking about an extra 7-8k for the R over the GTI.

What car did you have previously?  That'll give us an idea of how you might perceive the GTI vs the R.

Personally, I reckon the GTI is great for London, especially with ACC smoothing out the crap roads and speedbumps.  The GTI is fast enough for London's tighter roads.  If you do get bored, then there is always the cheap and quick option of chipping it to circs 270bhp! 

I had an original VR6 in 1992 Which I loved. Then went for a Z3 which was a mistake I put right by getting the last M3 which was very good. For some mad reason I bought a Lexus IS250 which was the biggest mistake of my life. Now driving an Audi A2 which I is cute but too small and underpowered. Though I drive a lot in London, the wife and I love to drive across Europe in the Summer. So pace and comfort are important as handling.

Have to admit that R is really amazing. I think it is being reviewed very soon.

Thanks for all the comments guys.

[Ess_Three]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

You reckon?
If it's just an S3 in a Golf body it'll be dull as dishwater to drive (but quick) and about as appealling as a dose of the clap.

I really don't know how people are confortable ordering a car without ever driving it...it could be great...on the other hand...

[SilverChariot]

You reckon?
If it's just an S3 in a Golf body it'll be dull as dishwater to drive (but quick) and about as appealling as a dose of the clap.

Possibly.

I really don't know how people are confortable ordering a car without ever driving it...it could be great...on the other hand...

Crazy - I know. But, I like the looks. It's what I want. I don't drive round at 10/10ths anyway, so if it's as good as an S3 that's fine by me. With DSG it's not going to be a boy racer machine. More an exclusive grand tourer...

[Tailpipe]

No ones driven the R yet so whos to say its not a dog?

True - I guess I'll be the first to find out whether it is or not.
Me bets you £5 it's the dog's and not a dog.

You reckon?
If it's just an S3 in a Golf body it'll be dull as dishwater to drive (but quick) and about as appealling as a dose of the clap.

I really don't know how people are confortable ordering a car without ever driving it...it could be great...on the other hand...

I certainly wouldn't place an order for an R until I've read a road-test from a magazine I trust, like Car or Autocar. That said, I think the R will be spectacular based on what journalists have already written about the Scirocco R and latest Golf GTI. I mean, VW would have to truly f***-*p, for it not to be excellent.

Whatever it's like, I don't think the R will be just an S3 in a Golf body. The AWD system is new for a start and so is is the ACC/ XDS set-up. Add a classier cabin, better steering and improved ergonomics and I think you've got the ingredients for a spectacular machine.

It is only the price value equation that's got me all worked-up.

[FamilyDub]

If it's just an S3 in a Golf body it'll be dull as dishwater to drive (but quick)

^^^^I would agree with that. Fast Audi's are accused of being a bit uninvolving and it would be a shame for the R to go the same way. I don't think it will though.

The biggest sticking point for me would be the fact that the engine isnt a V6 in the R - THAT is the thing I really envy when I see a MKV .:R32, not the AWD.

So for me, I think a re-mapped MKVI GTi would be enough, after all, my pretty poverty-spec R that I configured was £33k, which is bordering on ridiculous! 

[Ess_Three]

Whatever it's like, I don't think the R will be just an S3 in a Golf body. The AWD system is new for a start and so is is the ACC/ XDS set-up.

AWD system new?
I don't think so...its the same as the S3.

ACC may be new, but it's not as advanced as Audi's Magnetic Ride...which has the same effect....and that's been available on the TTs / S3s for years.

And you shouldn't / don't need XDS with 4WD...if you do, then there is a serious problem with the 4WD set-up.

So tell me again...how does the Golf AWD system differ from Gen 2 Haldex driven off an 02M gearbox, from the same engine...as used in the Audi S3?

Add a classier cabin, better steering and improved ergonomics and I think you've got the ingredients for a spectacular machine.

The ingredients, yes. We'll have to see if the finished article adds up. I hope so...I hope it's not another rock-solid, numb, S3.