In defence of the Golf R!

[am1w]

I thought long and hard before posting this on the GTi forum.

On Wednesday I saw the White Golf R DSG 3 Door with Gloss 19" Tally wheels SteveP drove.

It really looked the business. The standard seats looked wonderful, the massive twin exhausts were eye openers for their size and they looked even more fabulous by being in close proximity to each other, the LED driving lights set in the bumper were eye candy and the even lower ride height made the whole car look very, very, fast and menacing. Next to it my GTi looked frumpy. The overall effect was of a higher priced premium model.

I really, really, loved it and wish I had one. No doubt. In fact, I saw him drive past me at one stage and I can say this in all honesty, everyone on the street looked at it and turned around as it went by. This does not happen to my GTi, possibly because it is red and 5 door but most probably because it looks a bit ordinary. I have seen 3 door and 5 door white GTis, but a White R shod with Gloss Black 19" Tally wheels is something else! Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.

PS: Negatives - Very tiny boot and really lousy fuel economy for town driving.

[p3eps]

really lousy fuel economy for town driving.

I guess it depends what you're used to!
I get better fuel economy in my R than I did in my GTI ED30... and thats only 1400 on the clock so far, and driving like a looney half the time!!

[am1w]

... and thats only 1400 on the clock so far, and driving like a looney half the time!!

It's not the looney driving that kills the mpg, but the incredible London Traffic jams where your average mph is approx 5! Nose to bumper for 5 miles out of an 8 mile journey helps one lose the will to live!

But at least thank me for saying such nice but honest things about your make and model!

[PenguinGTI]

See to be honest... the R is a great car.

It's and Edition 30 with 4wd instead of all the Ed30 sparkly bits.

But I wanted a GTI... so I bought the GTI. Nothing wrong with an R though

[herbie911]

The downside buying an R other than fuel economy is if the weather go pearshape this winter, you can not use snow as an excuse for not turning up for work!

[sundaydriver]

Ive got to agree with amw1, the R is a really nice car and if i had the choice of a GTI or R when i was buying nearly a year ago i would have defo bought the R.

The only thing that put's me off slightly is the price.

But im happy with my GTI and who know's maybe in 12 months or so might look at buying one.

[Steve30]

It is a very nice car , and I would love to have one but its the price=35k for decent spec

[Hartside]

I haven't seen one "in the metal" yet but there's no doubting it's a good looking motor. I'm pushing the boat out for the GTI and just couldn't justify the extra expense of an "R"

[FroGTI]

I would like the R's 4WD for the extra traction it gives and the extra power (if I didn't have a remap), but I honestly prefer the looks of the GTI. If you get the right colour/wheel combination, I think it looks racy and classy, whereas the R 'only' looks racy.

[p3eps]

But at least thank me for saying such nice but honest things about your make and model!

Thanks 

I spend most of my daily driving at 10mph stuck in traffic - but then its only 15-20 minutes each way.
I get about 20 miles extra in a tank than I did in my ED30.  I'll need to try a motorway drive though and see how that pans out.