Golf R and Gti PP back to back test drive

[monkeyhanger]

I'm not sure why VW missed the opportunity (maybe it was intentional) to make the R a little more aggressive on the front end, doing something to compensate for the visuals lost when the fog lights were swapped out for the intakes through necessity. The red strip running through the lights on the GTI are the low point of the GTIs front end for me. It puzzles me why in this day and age of shared parts the GTD and the GTI didn't have the exact same lights, GTI red strip starting and ending in the grille. Not been a fan of the GTI wheels either - give me Monzas over the axe heads any day -the GTD got the best looking wheels on the Golf. I'd prefer one large central trapezoid exhaust outlet on the R, but they're probably saving stuff like that for the R420, which will likely have  brash looks to rival the Cupra's.

Some will love the "wolf in sheeps clothing" styling of the R (ignoring the back - by the time you notice that, the R has passed you) - used to love driving my boss' very plain looking Ford Granada Scorpio Cosworth for that very reason. If you want 2WD, more power than the GTI and very brash looks there's the Seat Leon available.

[carl1]

I got a GTI PP, i prefer the looks of the R bar quad exhaust's, sometimes i think the wheels on the GTI look $hit, to big of a area of shiny chrome, they look better when they're a bit dirty. I could easily of got the R but i don't use the full performance of the GTI 99.5% of the time and when i do it doesn't feel that quick really but it a great all round family car.
One thing that annoyed me about the R was it's ability not to hit 60mph (manual) in 2nd gear, i know this is old fashioned benchmark and hardly used in the real world but did VW deliberately do this to slow the 0-60 time of the manual R against the DSG ?

[ajmoir36]

ajmoir36:

How about an Up! for £2.50+VAT per month!!!! £93 inc VAT per month in real terms.
http://www.centralukvehicleleasing.co.uk/vehicle/choose_your_lease/53745/volkswagen/up/10_take_up_3dr.html

Haha brilliant I think I would like some horse power. But some days I do think Let's keep it cheap.

[am1w]

Must agree with monkeyhanger that the GTD has the best wheels. I dislike the 18" GTI alloys, the 19" R alloys and can just about tolerate the 18" R alloys. The 18" Monza Shadows are the best wheels for the GTI. I still have a set of 4 brand new unused ones all boxed and waiting to be sold!

I like these 18" Ronals:

[Booth11]

^^ not keen on them.  Neither do I like Austins and the Santiagos look too fussy.  In fact I'm beginning to really dislike most of VWs current crop of diamond cut alloys (Monza Shadows aside), they all look just a bit cheap and tacky imo.  And for that reason I'll spec Pretorias on my R. 

Monza Shadows still the best by far. 

As for the red stripe through the lights, I think this is the worst feature of the GTI and put me right off it. 

Just as well I prefer the 'sleeper' looks of the R 

[am1w]

Booth11:
I don't want to go above 18". Maybe I should put the Monza Shadows on the R? VWs Diamond Cut wheels are not the most aesthetically pleasing.
I agree, the red lipstick through the lights on the GTI is tacky.

[Ze german]

Jumping in on this topic I currently have a mk6 gti bought from rafi a member on this forum indirectly.
I was ready to trade it in for the new m3 saloon when I read the evo magazine review of the car of the year and they panned the m3 and raved about the golf mk7 R so have lined up a test drive for tomorrow at my local vw garage to see what all the fuss is about.

[am1w]

Jumping in on this topic I currently have a mk6 gti bought from rafi a member on this forum indirectly.
I was ready to trade it in for the new m3 saloon when I read the evo magazine review of the car of the year and they panned the m3 and raved about the golf mk7 R so have lined up a test drive for tomorrow at my local vw garage to see what all the fuss is about.

The M3 is a great car and so is the R. You owe it to yourself to drive both and make up your own mind. The two cars are at different price points. Then there is the C63 AMG which will also be available soon.
So much choice.

[ajmoir36]

When is the Ed40 due and what is it going to be?

[Booth11]

Booth11:
I don't want to go above 18". Maybe I should put the Monza Shadows on the R? VWs Diamond Cut wheels are not the most aesthetically pleasing.
I agree, the red lipstick through the lights on the GTI is tacky.

Much as I love monza shadows I'm not convinced they'll look right on a mk7.  I think they are better suited to the softer rounded curves of the mk5 and 6 and might not suit the sharper creases and angles of the mk7.  I could be wrong though 

When is the Ed40 due and what is it going to be?

Isn't the GTI Ed40 due in 2016?