Golf R on Auto Express First Drive

[gizzywizzy]

Having seen the pics and read the write ups I cannot see what all you "R" fans are seeing.

Ok it has AWD but it's an ugly looker compared to the GTI which imo is just right.

A few more horses but a massive big price too!! definitely not for me I love my GTI too much.

[p3eps]

Having seen the pics and read the write ups I cannot see what all you "R" fans are seeing.

Ok it has AWD but it's an ugly looker compared to the GTI which imo is just right.

A few more horses but a massive big price too!! definitely not for me I love my GTI too much.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!  Personally I think the R is a much better looking car than the GTI - from the front anyway.  I think I'd rather have the GTI's exhaust setup, but the R has proper sideskirts instead of a couple of blobs of black plastic, and the front bumper looks better as it has definition at the bottom where as the GTI one just has a huge black area.  The grill is slightly TSI-ish... but I like the subtle look.

As for the Recaros, I have the money for them, I just refuse to spend it!  I'm having a hard enough time parting with £1700 for the leather, but its a must given the standard seats colour.

[AndyC]

Having seen the pics and read the write ups I cannot see what all you "R" fans are seeing.

Ok it has AWD but it's an ugly looker compared to the GTI which imo is just right.

A few more horses but a massive big price too!! definitely not for me I love my GTI too much.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!  Personally I think the R is a much better looking car than the GTI - from the front anyway.  I think I'd rather have the GTI's exhaust setup, but the R has proper sideskirts instead of a couple of blobs of black plastic, and the front bumper looks better as it has definition at the bottom where as the GTI one just has a huge black area.  The grill is slightly TSI-ish... but I like the subtle look.

As for the Recaros, I have the money for them, I just refuse to spend it!  I'm having a hard enough time parting with £1700 for the leather, but its a must given the standard seats colour.

I have noticed your corner cutting methods with the RCD510 to ebay special RNS510 idea in your signature.

[Tailpipe]

Glad I went back and paid extra for the leather... the standard seats look more horrid every time I see them.
Buckets are nice, but at over £3k they're a bit extravagent!

I had these bucket seats in my old Audi and found that the side bolsters got scraped every time you got in or out; so they tend to get battered very quickly. And, yes, they do severely restrict rear space. I really don't think they are better than the standard sports seats. So, all in all, I cannot understand why any sane person would lash out £3K on them.

I have all but decided to get a 5-door R now. DSG, ACC, Leather and Sat Nav are dead certs. What I can't decide is whether to have Rising Blue or Black. Just waiting for Car's review next week.

Thanks for the experience write up about the bucket seats. 

I would say im a sane person and i have lashed out £3000 on them.

Well, they certainly hug the body. I hope your bum isn't too big, otherwise you might find yourself wedged by the Recaros. What i will say in their favour is that they're surprisingly comfortable on long journeys.  Like Pe3eps, i have the money for them, but not the enthusiasm.

[FamilyDub]

I have the money for them, but not the enthusiasm.

^^^^ me too *








* Although I don't have the money, either 

[mac7]

Ok it has AWD but it's an ugly looker compared to the GTI which imo is just right.

Maybe the GTI is 'pretty' to keep the girls happy and the R is more aggressive to keep the men happy?

I'm considering a change to leather for the R, even though I'm not a fan, because the standard seats do look out of place in a car of that value. Incidentally the new UK pricelist suggests you can now only get the winter pack on the R by specifying leather or the Recaros.

[AndyC]

Glad I went back and paid extra for the leather... the standard seats look more horrid every time I see them.
Buckets are nice, but at over £3k they're a bit extravagent!

I had these bucket seats in my old Audi and found that the side bolsters got scraped every time you got in or out; so they tend to get battered very quickly. And, yes, they do severely restrict rear space. I really don't think they are better than the standard sports seats. So, all in all, I cannot understand why any sane person would lash out £3K on them.

I have all but decided to get a 5-door R now. DSG, ACC, Leather and Sat Nav are dead certs. What I can't decide is whether to have Rising Blue or Black. Just waiting for Car's review next week.

Thanks for the experience write up about the bucket seats. 

I would say im a sane person and i have lashed out £3000 on them.

Well, they certainly hug the body. I hope your bum isn't too big, otherwise you might find yourself wedged by the Recaros. What i will say in their favour is that they're surprisingly comfortable on long journeys.  Like Pe3eps, i have the money for them, but not the enthusiasm.

Fair coment, no I havent got a big bum at all.  

I ordered the recaros because last time I ordered the mk5 gti i didnt order the xenons and regretted it after.  
I dont want to do that again.

It is quite annoying when you get Recaros standard in a focus rs but not in the golf.

[Ess_Three]

Incidentally the new UK pricelist suggests you can now only get the winter pack on the R by specifying leather or the Recaros.

I noticed that...but its got to be a mistake surely?
With leather etc you get the heated seats anyway...Xenons you get the other gubbins...so the pricelist before last had it down at £225 for the Winter Pack.
For heated washer jets!
Hmm...

[Tailpipe]

I noticed that you can't get park assist with the R either. I don't particularly want it, but I don't see why it isn't available.

[SilverChariot]

I noticed that you can't get park assist with the R either. I don't particularly want it, but I don't see why it isn't available.

Correct - strange one that. It's available in Germany, but not in the UK.