Neil, if you want to drive a tuned R your not far from me, I'm away in Mexico on Monday for 10days but after that your welcome to test mine for 30min, I'm guessing you'll boot it once and take on a corner a good 10mph faster then you would have ever dared attempted in the gti and you'll see what I mean,
I had a stage 2 gti we were parted when it was stolen, but I wouldn't swap back now
Nothing wrong with the haldex just don't lose your bottle and let off like you can with front wheel drive and you won't have a problem, slow in fast out, golden rule
Yes it uses more fuel then a gti but your traveling faster, feels 100% more planted at 100mph + on the straights, quite simply a better car sorry folks but it is