GTI to an R... worth it?

[p3eps]

I think those cars will be very sought after and have great residuals. iDrive is fantastic now too - puts the VW system to shame.

I test drove an X5M a couple of weeks ago - and thought the iDrive was brilliant.  I still find the VW system easier to use because of the touch screen address entry rather than scrolling round to find a letter.
What really put me off was the fact that the £85,000 demonstrator I had shared the same dashboard, buttons and cheap seats with my wifes BMW120i Cabriolet.  Apart from embossing the 'M' logo in the headrests, the seats were identical!

[labbetts]

I think those cars will be very sought after and have great residuals. iDrive is fantastic now too - puts the VW system to shame.

I test drove an X5M a couple of weeks ago - and thought the iDrive was brilliant.  I still find the VW system easier to use because of the touch screen address entry rather than scrolling round to find a letter.

very good point - and full postcode entry save a lot of time

What really put me off was the fact that the £85,000 demonstrator I had shared the same dashboard, buttons and cheap seats with my wifes BMW120i Cabriolet.  Apart from embossing the 'M' logo in the headrests, the seats were identical!

I'd HATE to think what you'd lose on one of those, as well as the running costs. Absolute money pit IMO. My X5 was a cracking car, it just had shocking suspension (back breaking suspension) which was strange for a car like that. My GTI glides in comparison, and that's with the 18" Monzas on.

[JonnyG]

You'd need to drive an R to know.
In my short drive, they feel heavier and more reluctant to change direction - to be expected with 4WD.
No doubt that if your sense of 'fun' is going from A to B in all weathers as fast as possible, then an R will deliver...once you get used to how best to drive it...the problem I felt was that it didn't feel 'fun'.
It was very good...if anything, too good. To efficient...too well sorted, too easy...which meant the 'fun' came right at the edge of the grip envelope.

The last thing I want is something that pushes the speeds and limits even higher.

In my opinion, and it is purely an opinion, you have more fun at modest speeds in a GTI because it's not so good at putting the power down etc. You have to work at it, put some effort it...the R was uber quick and easy with minimum effort once you get used to the way to drive it to get the best from it (same as an S3/R32)

I think the final call will come down to how you want your fun delivered and what's important. 

That's a pretty good summary IMHO 

GTi - Lighter, nimbler and more "chuckable" through the bends - but ultimately only FWD grip

R - A heavier "planted" feel with stunning traction and acceleration in all conditions

Both great cars but quite different in their own ways   

[wigit]

summed up perfectly JonnyG and Ess_Three bost great cars in different ways

sometimes i think should i have gone R instead of Ed35 but having done 2k in the last two weeks in the Ed35 in France i can say i absolutely love it and loved what i've done to it

[Exonian]

Thanks for all the feedback, most enlightening and about what I thought everyone would say.
I'm going to sit back a while and have a think...

[Steve30]

Id have the R all day every day over GTI just 4wd alone nails it

[wigit]

good article in this months TG on hot hatches and the stig and where the VAG contingent

[Exonian]

The new S3 has left me underwhelmed (interior looks fantastic though if you can afford to load it up with all the extras shown) so that's off the shopping list! http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show-2012/new-296bhp-audi-s3-revealed
Nah, going to stick with the GTI I think and maybe do a few subtle mods. The RVCs seem to have come down in price to i may add one of those along with a DAB unit (might as well do the two together if the trim has to be removed to put the wiring in for camera and ariel), then wait to see what the mk3 Leon Cupra looks like.
Golf mk7 not doing it for me (famous last words!)

[Snoopy]

I noticed that with the rvc too I was thinking the same, maybe time to get Some add ons, some early Christmas presents maybe. 

[Ess_Three]

My sister rocked up today, other half in tow, in her new TT quattro, spent a while telling me how fantastic it was with it's 4WD, then invited me out to lunch.
Now, anyone with a hole in their ar$e could see 3 adults in a TT was never going to work.
So I tossed her the keys to my GTI.

A few miles later and we are getting comments like:
"It just wants to go doesn't it"
"Jeez...this thing really goes"
"Isn't the steering twitchy"
And on the way home "I have no idea how you keep this thing at 60"...if the truth be told, I don't....but that's another story.

Another Aldi driver receives enlightenment.