My Red Tornado Golf 7R: A Mini Review + Golf 7R vs BMW 330d M Sport

[JB GTI]

I have ordered Dynaudio.  Oops! missed it off my signature (rectified now).  I wouldn't be without it, and by all accounts a great improvement on the mk6 generation.

I think you may be right    Mine is bedding in nicely after a few weeks abuse and if anything I think it is better than the one in my Mk7 GTI. I might be biased though seeing as this is my fourth car with it in 

[Booth11]

Yours is a very well specced car.

Dynaudio sounds good but it is not quite as good overall as the BMW HK system. Probably once the speakers are run-in it will show improvement.

As I leased my car, I had to be careful with the options. The only option I miss is the big screen of the DNS Pro. I decided against keyless due to some of the security problems. Leather I did not want as my bony behind really damages the leather with two huge indentations! I was going to order a pano roof, but then my BW would have slipped. So I stuck with the original order.

It's a decent set of options, and not restricted by lease conditions as I'm buying outright.

In addition to Dynaudio, spec wise there were a few non negotiables such as DSG, 5 doors and leather (both easier with a child in the equation).  If 18" Pretorias had been available (as they are on the continent) they would have been my preference as I think they give optimum handling and ride.  However 19s it had to be and therefore DCC, to offset the harder ride.  I threw in a couple of cheap options - HBA and rear view camera just for the hell of it. 

Never tempted by the panoramic roof.  Not my style, I like a dark cabin, and has the potential to become a creaking, rattling future annoyance.

[am1w]

Mine is now currently BW17, i can see it being delayed again on a weekly basis until BW21 when it gets built, the day before BW22 starts. 

They don't know what to do with your order especially in the aftermath of your emails to them regarding your utter dislike of Bridgestone tyres.

Do they:
(1) Build it in Wolfsburg and give you Bridgestone tyres which are standard fitment from this factory.
(2) Build it in Slovakia and give you Continental tyres which are standard fitment from this factory .
Or, do they especially for you:
(3) Build it in Wolfsburg and give you Continental tyres which are not standard fitment from this factory.

[am1w]

Yours is a very well specced car.

Dynaudio sounds good but it is not quite as good overall as the BMW HK system. Probably once the speakers are run-in it will show improvement.

As I leased my car, I had to be careful with the options. The only option I miss is the big screen of the DNS Pro. I decided against keyless due to some of the security problems. Leather I did not want as my bony behind really damages the leather with two huge indentations! I was going to order a pano roof, but then my BW would have slipped. So I stuck with the original order.

It's a decent set of options, and not restricted by lease conditions as I'm buying outright.

In addition to Dynaudio, spec wise there were a few non negotiables such as DSG, 5 doors and leather (both easier with a child in the equation).  If 18" Pretorias had been available (as they are on the continent) they would have been my preference as I think they give optimum handling and ride.  However 19s it had to be and therefore DCC, to offset the harder ride.  I threw in a couple of cheap options - HBA and rear view camera just for the hell of it. 

Never tempted by the panoramic roof.  Not my style, I like a dark cabin, and has the potential to become a creaking, rattling future annoyance.

I agree about the creaking Pano Roof. That's what put me off. And it looks so ridiculous when it is opened. Picks up all the muck on the inside surface of the glass when it is open.

Voice control has never really worked in any car I have had; so I did not order it.

Rear Camera. Don't need it on a tiny car like a Golf. So did not spec it.

But had to have the Winter Pack. Wish I could have had a heated steering wheel.

HBA for the hell of it!

[Booth11]

I have ordered Dynaudio.  Oops! missed it off my signature (rectified now).  I wouldn't be without it, and by all accounts a great improvement on the mk6 generation.

I think you may be right    Mine is bedding in nicely after a few weeks abuse and if anything I think it is better than the one in my Mk7 GTI. I might be biased though seeing as this is my fourth car with it in 

You like it then 

It's a shame you can't burn them in them in as you might non car speakers/headphones (running them for a few hours a time over days).  After two and half years my mk6 speakers are now perfect.  It's a good excuse to drive the R for hours with the stereo on, not that you need one.  Might drown out the Soundkator too 

[Booth11]

I agree about the creaking Pano Roof. That's what put me off. And it looks so ridiculous when it is opened. Picks up all the muck on the inside surface of the glass when it is open.

Voice control has never really worked in any car I have had; so I did not order it.

Rear Camera. Don't need it on a tiny car like a Golf. So did not spec it.

But had to have the Winter Pack. Wish I could have had a heated steering wheel.

HBA for the hell of it!

Glad I didn't waste my money on a pano roof then, not that it was ever in the running.

Agree about the winter pack, a must with cloth. Heated seats standard with leather, and couldn't ever give them up, I like a cosy rear in the chilly months, it's my age.

Heated steering wheel would have been very nice and somewhere I did read a rumour about it being a possible future option?  Probably in the mk8!

[Booth11]

Well Asker, you've had your Tornado Red R a full 3 weeks now so the honeymoon period is over.    Some would already be thinking about their next car by now 

Assuming you've been driving your R, surely it's time for a mini update on your initial observations from those early rose-tinted spectacle days    I'm interested to see if and how your thoughts have changed.....??   

[am1w]

Well Asker, you've had your Tornado Red R a full 3 weeks now so the honeymoon period is over.    Some would already be thinking about their next car by now 
Assuming you've been driving your R, surely it's time for a mini update on your initial observations from those early rose-tinted spectacle days    I'm interested to see if and how your thoughts have changed.....??   

Thanks for chivvying me along. Unfortunately, I have been a bit poorly and have not really used the car as much as I would like. Hence there is no worthwhile update as yet.

So far, I am very pleased with my R. It's a good car, a very good car to drive and sit in, but unfortunately it is no BMW 330d M Sport. I really miss the Diesel Torque, the wonderful BMW iDrive and the Dynaudio does not sound as good as the Harman Kardon in the BMW. But these are early days and the Dynaudio Speakers need to be run-in so things might improve. I also hate the CD drive in the Glove Box.

But, the R is much more fun to drive and so much easier to park. However all round visibility is on par with the BMW. Ergonomically it is not as good as the BMW, a bit of a mess IMO, but this is because I am still not used to it and am mainly very irritated with the Touch Screen System.

I think it will take me a few more weeks/months to get the BMW out of my system. I now refuse to drive our other BMW in order to achieve this status as soon as is possible.

I am very glad I got the R for the lease price I did. As a value-for-money high quality object, it is absolutely brilliant and incomparable.

Sorry I cannot totally eulogise my R as yet.

[Booth11]

I'm sorry to hear you're still feeling poorly and haven't been able to enjoy your new car very much 

Honestly I wasn't trying to chivvy you along, was just keen to hear if you had any further observations, I know it's early days.  There's plenty of the "I'm loving it, it's the best car on the planet" comments to be found on forums but some considered objectivity is always welcome.  Definitely not looking for a eulogy if it's not deserving of one.

I suppose the R is always going to suffer by comparison with your 330d M Sport.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) I won't have that problem, coming from a lowly mk6 GTI.  I've never been tempted by BMW, saloons/coupes too big and barge like for my needs and, superficial as it sounds, the looks of the BMW hatchbacks are not for me.

I hope you will start feeling better soon and look forward to hearing your future thoughts on the R 

[charlie]

I wonder what the price comparison is between the Beemer and the 7r I know I could look it up. Hope you are feeling better soon asker I know it's no fun not being 100%. I saw a red r today and on a miserable wet day it did look nice. Rebecca the one thing I miss from my gti is the reversing camera