Anyone test drive an R and GTi and still choose the GTi

[whit6402]

'Mr Savage', I am assuming from your reply that you would have the R out of the two?

I am still a bit unnerved by the mpg quotes, which are varied to say the least reading across forums and reviews. If I could guarantee 28-30 I would take it but read of some between 20-25. I am a little more at ease following the advice about the drone being lessened by selecting normal mode, as the noise was also a real concern with the wife and kids in mind.

Honestly, I wouldn't consider the R just to get more performance.. I would be happy with the GTi and am still tempted with sticking to the GTi. It's literally just the thought that I could save so much money by choosing the R, which is wacky .

[Misterp]

With the way vw solutions are operating anyone would think that the r isn't the top of the range.

[Jimble]

If it's literally only the finances that you are considering then go for the R mate, my GTI was a DSG and did very similar MPG to my manual R, the quoted figures from VW are way off and apart from some hypermiler manual GTI drivers on here you'll get nowhere near them! The main differences between the two cars are:

Appearance (obviously) which do you prefer?
Interior, which do you prefer? Sedate (boring?) R, or interesting GTI?
Performance, general daily driving is very similar but when pushing on the R has the edge with it's AWD.
Economy, not a great deal between DSG GTI and manual R in my experience.
Comfort, again is very similar but i'd still reccommend DCC.

[Mr Savage]

'Mr Savage', I am assuming from your reply that you would have the R out of the two?

I am still a bit unnerved by the mpg quotes, which are varied to say the least reading across forums and reviews. If I could guarantee 28-30 I would take it but read of some between 20-25. I am a little more at ease following the advice about the drone being lessened by selecting normal mode, as the noise was also a real concern with the wife and kids in mind.

Honestly, I wouldn't consider the R just to get more performance.. I would be happy with the GTi and am still tempted with sticking to the GTi. It's literally just the thought that I could save so much money by choosing the R, which is wacky .

I wouldn't say I prefer the R over the GTI. It's difficult to separate the two in my opinion. Even though the R is very planted I still love the way the GTI handles in the corners with the Limited Slip Diff, intact it feels more fun to drive for me.

If I bought again would I consider the R? Probably and i'd probably be in the same boat as you are now too. But with everything summed up i'd still probably buy the GTI.

When the R400 comes out though, that's a whole different story

Oh and Jimbles right. My GTI averages 30MPG and that's even driving 'normally' around town to work and back. I have seen 56MPG once on the trip computer but that was a long motorway run with 50 average speed cameras for miles so I can see how VW got it's figures. But driving the car and enjoying the power? Yeah expect 28. Thrashing it then expect somewhere down 22. With the R then expect a little less, not a huge amount less but a little. I think from a spirited run in one I saw somewhere around the 19MPG mark.

[whit6402]

Yes,  must sayy I am edging more to sticking to the GTi, personally think it looks a little nicer and the spec gives it a definite edge... I'm fancying the DSG. That MPG is still a concern and hoping if I go GTi that I can improve on 30mpg as 75% of my work commute is m/way. Cheers guys.

[Exonian]

Blimey, if you can get an R for less than a GTI then I can't believe the GTI gets so much as a second's consideration!

I've always been a bit old fashioned and saved all my overtime payments and ad hoc work stuff to buy my cars out of my own money.
But nowadays if you can lease or whatever for that sort of cash for an uber hatch like an R then that's where the future lies! It'd probably work out even cheaper £££ wise over a few years than running a second hand older hot hatch.

Ok, the fact I normally buy cars the old fashioned way is partly because I tend to lightly modify them (or have in the past) counts against leasing and I've also never driven a mk7 R
(Wasn't keen on the turbo response on the earlier K04 Cars, but hell, for less or even the same £££ a month as a GTI... I know where I'd be signing (probably)

[valvebounce]

I'm fancying the DSG. That MPG is still a concern and hoping if I go GTi that I can improve on 30mpg as 75% of my work commute is m/way.

Dsg is brilliant..I regularly get 37-40 mpg on motorway trips, 33mpg on short urban commute (mk5 gti never bettered 27mpg on same journey)

[Mr Savage]

Your'll definitely get more than 30 on motorways mate in the GTI. I get around 40 on mix trips involving motorways. Yes DSG is amazing.

[monkeyhanger]

I'm absolutely baffled by VW Solutions....just checked their finance site and it's £60 cheaper a month for me to have an R than a GTI. I feel well, ripped off? :/

The GTI and GTD GFVs have softened when you look at the latest solutions figures, the R seems to be extremely generous.

GTD = 53.5% (was 56% when I ordered mine last March)
GTI = 49.2% (it was 51% in March 2013)
R = 60.5%

The R's GFV is amazing, beating the likes of an S3, the new TT or Porsche Cayman by a margin. I've been looking at an S3 for next time - maybe placing an order when my GTD is 2 years old (next Sept). Audi garages seem to be very cautious with their GFVs - I was quoted £17.5k (56%) at 3 years, but was told by the dealer the actual value offered in p/x was far more likely to be around £3k more (66% retained RRP). Seems VW are wearing their heart on their sleeves and Audi are not. That discretionary extra £3k p/x price  does allow them the potential to twist your arm up your back when it comes to trying to get additional discounts.

Right now, with figures like that it seems that picking an R over a GTI makes perfect sense when the R can be had for £34 a month less on solutions (with an extra £357 down as deposit = £10 a month), meaning £24 a month net (£864 over the term) cheaper, subsidising the extra thirst of the R. Leasing over 2 years of £250 or so a month makes even more sense (£302 a month in reality if on a 6+23 plan).

I still prefer the S3, but only for the noticeably superior interior - the R could do with some special seats to raise the interior up a bit.

[whit6402]

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the views and comments, much appreciated, informative and very interesting [and genuinely unbiased, which was great].

I am afraid I am walking the dark side and have decided to go for the R . Going back to the dealer I initially sourced the GTi with, they have provided a couple of R options... Limestone Grey DSG 3dr or Lpaiz Blue manual 3dr and for the sake of the DSG I think I will be going grey .

Will keep an eye on the GTi forum for sure though.

Cheers