Golf R Line

[monkeyhanger]

JB-GTI: Exactly like that. If you could get Haldex and 300PS on a Scirocco R, i'd possibly get the Scirocco to get that colour.

R-line Golf diluting the R? Not a care on my part, front end on, my current GTD looks better than an R, i'm not buying the R for it's sporting looks. It's mainly traction and a little more poke that i'm after (maybe it would have been cheaper to keep the GTD, keep the DTUK box and just get a set of 4 Michelin PS3s or SS).

[Booth11]

JB-GTI: Exactly like that. If you could get Haldex and 300PS on a Scirocco R, i'd possibly get the Scirocco to get that colour.

R-line Golf diluting the R? Not a care on my part, front end on, my current GTD looks better than an R, i'm not buying the R for it's sporting looks. It's mainly traction and a little more poke that i'm after (maybe it would have been cheaper to keep the GTD, keep the DTUK box and just get a set of 4 Michelin PS3s or SS).

The R doesn't have sporting looks   

I was referring more to diluting the identity of the R rather than its look.  I'm not buying the R for looks either.  I'm not that shallow, thanks 

[monkeyhanger]

We've all just got to let VW do what they do - sell cars. Audi have done S-line for years, VW doing the same with the R-line is not unexpected.

If they can sell far more "ordinary" Golfs by making them look more sporting than they really are then they'll be all over it. They're just bypassing the Halfords makeover by doing it themselves from the off and charging more for it.

Ironic considering all those old adverts with the crying VWs that have been subjected to the Halfords boy-racer treatment. 

[Booth11]

Oh I know why vw are doing it, doesn't mean you have to like it though 

Maybe Halfords will be p!ssed off sales of their plastic bits of tat (sorry, I mean 'quality' body kits) will take a hit 

As dubber said earlier in this thread, the educated will know a real R when they see one and if not, who cares, I know what I'm driving and why I'm driving it.

[matchboy]

As dubber said earlier in this thread, the educated will know a real R when they see one and if not, who cares, I know what I'm driving and why I'm driving it.

This exactly.  At the end of the day who cares what other people think of your car, whatever it is - it's what the owner thinks that's important!  One of my mum & dad's neighbours said to me the other day "new car, bit of a step down isn't it (from the GTI PP)" - clearly a moron as it isn't (and I couldn't help in true childish fashion retorting with 0-60 times  ), but I didn't let it bother me as I couldn't care less what a random thinks of my car!

I do think it's a shame VW are diluting the R brand, but they're in the business of selling cars, that's life.  Until the Golf R-line is quicker than the R I won't be losing any sleep over it 

[drisser]

TBH that would really annoy me if someone said that having swapped a GTI for an R !

2 ways to look at it though - on one hand, shows the strength and broad appeal of the GTI brand, on the other hand the R brand is less well known and no doubt will be for a long time - just the way some like it.  I suspect some people who have an R golf like the fact that only those in the "know" understand it but no doubt some will see that as a downside..

[monkeyhanger]

Matchboy: What do the neighbours drive? Would you look a fool for saying "it's still better than yours!  " or would you have looked a bit foolish saying that to an RS6 owner? 

[matchboy]

TBH that would really annoy me if someone said that having swapped a GTI for an R !

2 ways to look at it though - on one hand, shows the strength and broad appeal of the GTI brand, on the other hand the R brand is less well known and no doubt will be for a long time - just the way some like it.  I suspect some people who have an R golf like the fact that only those in the "know" understand it but no doubt some will see that as a downside..

  Which is why I made the 0-60 comment to him; and then he shut up  (He's a douche anyway!)

The GTI is far more recognisable and always will be - the lay man doesn't know what an R is, but they do know what a GTI is - so no point letting it irritate.  It's a bit like when someone says 'all BMW's look the same' - unless you know the difference between the variants then you can understand these sorts of comments.  And I like the understated nature of it - if I didn't I'd have bought a Focus RS 

[matchboy]

Matchboy: What do the neighbours drive? Would you look a fool for saying "it's still better than yours!  " or would you have looked a bit foolish saying that to an RS6 owner? 

He drives a 1.6 Astra - so I could turn up on a bicycle and I'd still be able to say 'this is better than yours' 

[CraigW]

That's the problem with the R as I see it. It's so understated that it doesn't raise any eyebrows or draw any attention. Some will see that as a good thing but for me personally if i'm paying £30k plus for a hot hatch I would want it to stand out from the crowd, not as brash as the new Focus RS or Civic Type R but something that is more aggressive and says to others that this car means business.

The Mk6 R stands out from the crowd where the MK7 does not. Perhaps VW will rectify this when there's a mid-life facelift.