Golf R owners :)

[jdjd]

The R pisses all over the GTI, that comes from somebody who owned both,
 The decision to swap was forced on me by thiefs, but actually I'm glad to see the back of the gti

 That being said if your the type of person to moan about fuel consumption stick with the gti as the R drinks fuel like its going out of fashion

[mwad gti]

It is probably worth noting that around September last year, Top Gear magazine reveiled their Top Ten hot hatches.  The Golf GTi was thirs and the Golf R was ninth.

[dubber36]

It is probably worth noting that around September last year, Top Gear magazine reveiled their Top Ten hot hatches.  The Golf GTi was thirs and the Golf R was ninth.

I dare say price would have come into the equation somewhere.

[wigit]

the R is an awesome car, i remember taking one for a test and point to point it was incredible and really nicely balanced, where the R scores over the S3 was VW injected some steering feel into it so its not inert

the price of the R was always the hot topic of debate, i think if my pockets had been deep enough for a Golf R i would have stretched a little deeper and got a 1M

people get fixated with out and out performance, ring times etc, no doubt a R will batter my Ed35 off the line and round the twisties especially given changing gear involves using my left foot, for me the GTI is about how it makes you feel rather than outright ability

[RickS]

Having traded in a MK6 GTI [which I'd had from new and loved] for a new R last July I can tell you that if you can afford the extra get an R with DSG. It's an awesome piece of kit and I actually enjoy the slightly weightier feel which makes it feel really planted.
Performance is in a different league to the GTI - even without mods. [Which I've no intention of doing anyway] But it's not just the performance, you still have the practicality [Even though I daren't leave mine anywhere  ] and imo it looks better than a GTI.
As mentioned already, they are a bit thirsty, particularly if you have a heavy right foot, but also if you do a lot of town driving. So if you're a bit close on the finances be wary.

[topher]

If running costs aren't much of a factor, the R is better all round. To be fair the GTI isn't that much better on fuel anyway if you drive it properly!

[Ess_Three]

If running costs aren't much of a factor, the R is better all round. To be fair the GTI isn't that much better on fuel anyway if you drive it properly!

Better...how exactly?
Easier to drive quick? Yes.
Faster more often in more weather conditions? Yes.
Does that make it better? Not always.

The GTI makes the R feel heavy and un-chuckable.
The trade off is huge traction and a more planted feel.

Is the R more fun? Yes...if you want to go from A to B with little by way of effort...the GTI is, in my opinion, more fun at modest speeds.

At the end of the day...drive both, look at the price, and make a decision.
Both have pluses and minuses.

It's not as simple as an R being 'better'.

[Hurdy]

If running costs aren't much of a factor, the R is better all round. To be fair the GTI isn't that much better on fuel anyway if you drive it properly!

This is spot on. I've been in a modified Ed30 for the last few days and it is only a few mpg better than the R.

[dubber36]

Is the R more fun? Yes...if you want to go from A to B with little by way of effort...the GTI is, in my opinion, more fun at modest speeds.

But that's often the case with slower cars. I've had just as much fun, if not more in very low powered courtesy or rental cars. 

[RickS]

If running costs aren't much of a factor, the R is better all round. To be fair the GTI isn't that much better on fuel anyway if you drive it properly!

It is - I've had both and difference seems to be around 8 mpg for town driving [Not done anywhere near as much mileage in R as I had done in GTI when I traded, so might not be a fair comparison though]
On my commute home from work in summer in the R I was getting about 17mpg [all stop/start driving and engine not bedded in at that point]