A question for Jimble...

[mk7gti]

Jimble now you have had the R for a few months how are you finding it compared to the GTI? I'm curious...

[2014GTi]

He loves it?

[Jimble]

Well... The power and traction of the R is something else compared to the GTI espescially in the wet, if you floor it from a standing start in the wet there is absolutely no drama what so ever, it just grips and goes! But thats to be expected really, i've been really thinking about which car i prefer recently and some might think i'm mad (particularly R owners) but i prefer the GTI

I prefer almost everything about the GTI compared to the R, if your on the motorway there is very little between them when cruising, both very comfortable with DCC, both have plenty of torque in high gears, but imo round town the GTI is better suited, the 'nicer' car to drive? the R seems a little to highly strung for pottering sometimes if that makes sense? I feel i'm using the pudding stirrer a lot just to keep it quiet where having driven a manual mk7 GTI for a day never felt that way. I'm not saying the R is bad by any means it's just more suited to having it's head kicked in which it takes very very well!! but i don't drive that way very often so i prefer the GTI's slightly more sedate style.
I 100% prefer the GTI interior, obviously it's subjective but i don't like the gloss black dash, it should be the same carbon effect as the inserts in the passenger side and doors, although the seats in the R are comfortable i don't like the colour/design very much but thats been well documented, i think the white ambient lights go better with the brushed aluminium finish of the GTI steering wheel and the boot is way bigger in the GTI!
I like the aggressive styling of the R however apart from the colour (which is another story) it sometimes looks a little understated for what's underneath, i prefer the front of the GTI but the back of the R but in general i think the GTI takes it for me.

Imo if you're type of person that likes to drive very fast very often then the R is the perfect weapon for the VW lover, if your the type of person who likes to potter around in comfort but likes to get on it once in a blue moon but still wants something a bit special then the GTI PP is the one.

Just my 2p worth.

[AndyG]

Good comparison between the two that.I keep swaying between a Gti PP and the R.The Gti is the better looking and like you,most of the time I drive in a sedate way so the Gti is all the power I'll need.I once had a TT Quattro and it being 4 wheel drive used to eat tyres for fun suppose the R will too.
I have well into next year to decide so who knows which way I'll decide.

[mk7gti]

A great write up Jimble it's great to hear your honest opinion. With the next car always in mind the R is an obvious choice. Maybe a second GTI should be on the cards..

[scoobyc]

As above, a nice wee review with an honest opinion from someone who wasn't too big to admit it might have been a little wrong decision wise. I went through a very similar thing before ordering my GTI but I came to the conclusion if it was my only car, the R would be for me but I was in a fortunate position to have something else if I wanted to go FAST

[Jimble]

Yup, in hindsight the GTI is more than enough car for my personal uses, however as most on here know i found myself in a position and needed to make a decision pretty sharpish and at the time i think i got a little over excited about the prospect of owning the "Ultimate Golf", please don't get me wrong, the R is a truly epic car which in my opinion is only let down by one or two shortcomings, looking back it would've been nice to be able to test drive one before ordering but i didn't have that luxury, might ask my dealer how much it would cost to go back to a GTI?

[CraigW]

Yup, in hindsight the GTI is more than enough car for my personal uses, however as most on here know i found myself in a position and needed to make a decision pretty sharpish and at the time i think i got a little over excited about the prospect of owning the "Ultimate Golf", please don't get me wrong, the R is a truly epic car which in my opinion is only let down by one or two shortcomings, looking back it would've been nice to be able to test drive one before ordering but i didn't have that luxury, might ask my dealer how much it would cost to go back to a GTI?

I'm in the opposite camp. I regret not having waited 6 months for the R to come out. The cost to trade up just now would be far too great yet in two years from now when I'm eyeing up my next car I doubt the R will be on my list.

[Jimble]

This thread got me looking at videos on Youtube, this one highlights just how bad the R is on fuel when you open the taps!   I'll never go that fast but if you skip from the beginning to end and see how much the needle moves in 45 seconds!! And it has a 5ltr bigger tank than the GTI....


http://youtu.be/qoarqn1mkc4

[MAW73]

Nice review Jimble mate and its refreshing that you've been honest and subjective regarding your R which is of course a fantastic car.

I guess we're all guilty of looking at the next best fastest piece of metal. That's what happens when your an enthusiast spending far too much time on these bloody forums. I can talk going from a 125i to the imminent arrival of my M135i this weekend.

I'm with you regarding the preference of the GTI looks to the R.... my ideal golf would be a 3 door GTI PPK carbon grey with the 19" wheels and the standard interior.