Autocar Golf R vs Megane and RS

[JonnyG]

I thought the whole premise of this artice was wide of the mark. Anyone who's properly interested in the R is unlikely to consider seriously either the Megane or (especially) the Focus - and vice versa.

Totally agree with you there  

I remember reading a simliar group test a long time ago - Golf MkV GTi vs Honda CTR vs Focus ST vs Megane R26 or something similar.

They went to Wales and thrashed the pants of all the cars and rated them on that basis.  The GTi came about third.

The in the last paragraph it said the next morning they all had to drive back to London in the pouring rain and guess what       ... they all wanted to drive the GTi   

[R32UK]

Spotted a new magane on the road for the first time yesterday....... 


Usually renaults are quite decent looking cars, but that new megane is ghastly imo!

[A7 UFO]

the last one was hardly a looker.

[R32UK]

the last one was hardly a looker.

true. but it was individual. the new one just looks like one of them cartoons where the head is far too big for the body.

[A7 UFO]

I guess you're right.  It now looks like any other eurobox

[Tailpipe]

The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.

[SilverChariot]

The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.

I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.

[Snoopy]

I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.

I have not read the golf R article so this is simply a guess. But i did read the scirocco R one. The wheels imo have nothing to do with it VW had the 18s on hand for the scirocco if he thought they were too hard or bump steery with the 19s. In otherwords they think the 19s maybe a bit extreme. Im sure there are bigish differences in the way the scirocco and the golf drives and the feel as the 4WD heldex system has always altered the way the car feels at the helm, he simply prefers the two wheel drive layout of the scirocco, thats his choice.
I also wish people whould stop complaining about them using a poverty spec model thats the way it should be reviewed imo. Most cars will not be speced to the hilt, most these jounos have no clue whats standard or not, so to put 4K of options on a car can change the outcome but who ever orders them exact options! even if you manage to spot them all. Oh and don't for one minute think thats a same car you buy in a showroom, press models have a few tweeks here and there with every make, be it wheel arches full of sound damping, special dampers, less sound proofing the list goes on depending on the model. All makes are  at it, its amazing how a car company that did not do this when rivals did use to get bad reviews and come last but when they started doing it (after hiring an ex ford prep guy )they start coming top. When you see what goes on it opens your eyes big time. Its all fixed.

[Chins]

The Autocar article really dents Steve Sutcliffe's reputation IMHO. There is no way that the Scirocco R is a better car than the R. The R is faster, more capable, built to a higher standard, with better ergonomics and so on. The R is simply more desirable. Both Car and Autocar carried pictures of the R on their front covers, the popularity of the Golf R thread on the Autocar forum should leave no one in any doubt that the Golf R is a much anticipated and highly desirable car. So dissing it for not being something it never set out to be is an utter waste of time. No one considering a Golf R is considering the Focus RS or Megane. Yes, the price is outrageous. We all agree on that. But the R remains a fine automobile that is definitely a step up from the GTI in terms of outright pace.

I agree that there is inconsistency between the Scirocco R and Golf R Autocar reviews. However, before pointing the finger at Sutcliffe, this could be due to the Scirocco R being DSG with 19"s. The Golf R was poverty-spec manual with 18"s. Sutcliffe is clearly a fan of DSG.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a review where someone says the Golf is better than the Scirocco?

[p3eps]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a review where someone says the Golf is better than the Scirocco?

I doubt it, since there hasn't been a direct comparison yet.  It seems odd how they compare the Golf R to the Focus RS and Megane - even though its not the same type of car.  They did compare the Scirocco to the other 2 and said the Roc was better.  2 totally different kettles of fish if you ask me.  The Roc is meant to be the 'loose cannon' style car like the RS and Megane.  The Golf is supposed to be the 'Wolf in sheeps clothing' with comfort and style at the top of its list.

Everything I've read about the Golf R (apart from Autocar) say its a great car, and better than a GTI - with the only drawback being its price tag.  Everyone knows its £2-3k over priced, but you get what you pay for.  Surely the Scirocco must be over priced too since its only £2k less with 1 less back seat, smaller boot and no 4wd?!!!