So i went back to the dealer with the 2 R's

[mac7]

if I've spent £34k I want people to know I've spent £34k. Not £12k!!!

I don't. They're less likely to want to nick it if they think it's a £12K 1.4.

[devito]

Sorry guys,even from the front it looks like the new polo i had as a courtesy car ,although i suspect it will look better in the flesh and sus blocks taken out. However what ever you do to it , it will never look as good as the GTI. I realise its a faster more powerfull, better handling car but there are many many cars that are ,and as an overall package the GTI is hard to beat.

[JJH]

if I've spent £34k I want people to know I've spent £34k. Not £12k!!!

[p3eps]

my last car was an RS4 which when I told people I got blank looks....
When I get my golf R I expect the same blank looks...

Since my ED30 got written off in March, people at work etc have been saying to me for the last 6 months (one the insurance was sorted) 'What car are you getting?' - to which I replied 'A Golf R'.  Blank looks - although understandable since it didn't really exist at the time.
Even when you tell them its the new version or replacement for the R32, they still look pretty blank.
Unless you're a car enthusiast, you probably won't know.  The word GTI makes it obvious, as most people know a GTI is a high end sports model - whether its a Pug 205, a Nissan Almera, or a Golf!  GTI says Sport.  R doesn't!

Thats the way I like it.  I want to be able to park my £35k Golf R in a car park in amoungst a heap of other cars and it not stand out.  I'm glad its only subtley different from a GT or something.  The pic of the silver one makes me happy with my choice.  It accents the black bits, and will look better with the black wheels I think.  Its all about personal taste.  I prefer the R from the front and sides to the GTI - although I do like the GTI's placement of the rear pipes better.
If I'd wanted a car that stands out and screams 'I'm fast', then I'd have bought a Focus RS.  To be fair, the GTI hardly stands out either - its just the highly recognisable Monza style wheels that gice it away.

Its always been the case that those with a GTI are going to think they're car is better... but thats just life.  If I'd bought a GTI a few months ago, I'd be a bit p1ssed off that VW have taken out a better model, and I'd probably slag it off too!
It IS overpriced... theres no denying that.  But if you want something a little different, then you have to be prepared to pay it.

[A7 UFO]

I spose when someone asks you what car do you own, and you reply "a Golf R", then thats gonna get alot of Blank looks

Unless a golf fan was asking you, who would really say "I drive a Golf R" if asked what you drove? 

[SilverChariot]

I spose when someone asks you what car do you own, and you reply "a Golf R", then thats gonna get alot of Blank looks

Unless a golf fan was asking you, who would really say "I drive a Golf R" if asked what you drove? 

When I had the R32s, I just said "I drive a Golf". If they enquired further, I told them it was a 3.2 V6 with 4WD. They usually didn't believe me.

[Snoopy]

Thats the way I like it.  I want to be able to park my £35k Golf R in a car park in amoungst a heap of other cars and it not stand out.  I'm glad its only subtley different from a GT or something.  The pic of the silver one makes me happy with my choice.  It accents the black bits, and will look better with the black wheels I think.  Its all about personal taste.

Tea leafs will know what it is, and the black wheel choice will make it stick way out. If you wanted it to blend in imo you should have gone for silver wheels black shouts out.

[Tailpipe]

I agree, black wheels are likely to attract tea leaves. With the standard silver wheels, the Golf R is totally discreet.

It's funny a lot of people have said that they prefer the exhaust placement on the GTI to the R. I do too. It seems more 'mature'. Central mounted tailpipes look very boy racer. This car doesn't need to try so hard. Only Ferrari, Porsche and the Lexus FL-A seem to be able to get away with central exhausts. VW put spread exhausts on the Scirocco R, which look great.

[mac7]

VW put spread exhausts on the Scirocco R, which look great.

I prefer the wide spaced exhausts on the GTI and Scirocco too. I read that originally the GTI was designed to have the twin exhaust on one side, like the GTD and the R would have the GTI exhausts, but marketing wanted the central exhaust to help identify the R as a replacement for the R32.

[Graeme1978]

Guess I'll get shot when I say this but.... but in the silver it looks like a GTD or even a GT. In terms of looks, my preference is still the GTI.

I'm not sure how you draw that conclusion?  The only difference between a GTI and GTD from the front is the trim on the grill.  One being silver and the other red.  They have the same lights/fogs/bumper/honeycomb grill etc.