What is it about the R that is attractive and the moment apart from the price?
It has some extra power for gunning it up a slip road onto a motorway etc, but as its heavier and has 4WD surely its not that much more fun, unless you just like more power which always feels slow after a little while? Does it has a different suspension set up or a better rack software for feedback? Wouldn't it feel less nimble than a GTI PP on b roads? As I always find the more planted a car is the less rewarding they are, not sure, can someone explain? I looked at one but must have really missed its improvements apart from Power and obviously 4WD. I have read the 5 pages so far but most seem to only talk about the price and not what it offers over the GTI PP apart from more power.
I might look at getting one if it offers more than those 2 features.
The extra power is immense, my DTUK enabled GTD probably has a smidge more pull than a standard PP now (3rd gear and up), and the difference between that and the R is very noticeable.
Although the R is a bit porky on the weight, so is the PP. The PP weighs 31kg more than the standard GTI and is only 10PS up, the R is 94kg more than the PP, yet has 70ps on it. If the differences between the PP and the standard GTI are neglibible, it stands to reason that only around 30ps of the R's extra 70ps is diminished by the extra weight. A 265ps Cupra is probably the closest standard comparison to an R for weight:power.
The Cupra probably is more fun. As cars get more refined they do lose their fun factor - they feel a little less dangerous when they're pushed as hard as you dare on a public road. My 170TDI Scirocco felt sportier than my GTD, it was far less refined when you flung it around. Of the 0-62 advantage that the R has over the GTI or PP, probably around half of it is directly attributed to the grip of the 4WD system rather than the extra power.
I'm still in the dark over some of the finer points the R has over the GTI. For what I know:-
It has slightly nicer seat trim materials (but does lose that Tartan GTI character), the double (UU) day running lights, darker rear lenses, different manual gearstick (yet to see it in the flesh - i've seen 4 Rs and they're all DSG), the 4WD (that everyone knows about), the door strips have a subtly different pattern than GTI/GTD, under the black gloss, but the radio/central console surround is plain black gloss, the blue ambient light bits that are red on the GTI, the dials and needles are blue, the silver bits of the steering wheel are Nickel black on the R, 5mm lower suspension (didn't feel any harsher than the GTD), Chrome mirror caps, different front embellishments and around the exhaust pipes, black brake calipers.
I didn't look too closely, but am I right to assume the R has bigger brake discs than the GTI/GTD, same size as PP or bigger? Seems daft not to, considering the extra output and the fact the PP gets bigger discs. I can't see anything documented officially in the brochure alluding to bigger discs.
Saw a nearly new Lapiz R with standard wheels in Scotswood Benfield today while me and the missus were out and about - definitely made the right decision there, I liked it more than the White on Pretorias I saw in Benfield Scotswood road (just my preference, not a criticism), and the missus loves the colour too.
