I blame you lot...

[James75]

The most interesting about R is perhaps not how well it goes fast but how well it goes slow.  It's completely calm driving round a town speeds, it almost unnerves, it's not shouty or angry, it's just a Golf.  You kind of fear it's going to creep up on you and surprise and sure, it's there, the eagerness is never far away, but this is a completely normal Golf to drive at town speeds.  Perhaps this is the genius of this gen of hyper Golf?  It's what they term these days as an 'everything car'.   

That's a pretty comprehensive read, wonder what your 'full review' would be like?    If I didn't already have an R on order, I probably would after reading your mini review, lol.

Much of what you say echoes my feeling and considerations towards the R and why I made it my next car choice.  I'm not coming from a GTD, but from GTI, so the increased running costs are really negligible in the great scheme of things.  But the comparison between the two is interesting and I expect there'll be a few on here whose ears are pricked.

I think the above passage is particularly pertinent.  It's a given that once you get the R out on the open road, well, you know, but equally important to me is the car's behaviour round town/city and the day to day slog (mine will be a daily driver).  It has to deliver at both ends of the driving spectrum, and everything in between.  I will find out myself in a while but from this, it sounds like that's exactly what it does!

Thanks  for posting!   

No problem

It's quite straightforward to give a car more power, making it usable is another thing.  We shouldn't be shocked that after spending billions car makers can extract 300bhp from a 2.0 petrol engine, the trump card for me in the Golf R was how good it is just to drive around in at normal speeds, plus, like all Golf's it does feel like a quality product.  As i said, the motoring press seem to be using the phrase at the moment, 'Everything cars' and I think the R is that, plus it's a bit of a Q Car which for me as a man who is not in their 20's and doesn't listen to a lot of bass music, that's is important.

I didn't mentioned in the review that my prices were based on a manual.  I'd love an R and I think after driving it, I understand exactly why people it would buy it, the engine noise on start up is almost enough.

If it was me....


Golf R Estate in Lapiz Blue


Just to be different.

James

[Exonian]

Great little review James as ever.

Your GTD would be a very attractive proposition as a part exchange car to a dealer so if you ever get the R urge...   


........................

I did my usual Sunday commute to drop my sons off this morning. First time in the R.
Rural roads all the way, B roads, through a bit of village and A road with 40 and 60 limits. Sunday drivers and club cyclists being the main obstacles usually.
My old smoker does 38 - 40 mpg on that route, my previous GTI did it in 35 - 38 and the R managed 32.

The R is no quicker than the GTI at 'sensible' speeds but it definitely feels like it's straining at the leash a bit.

[Exonian]

Oh and I'll add to that - those Bridgestones really are bloody noisy.

[monkeyhanger]

Completely agree that the R is good at being slow - pottering around 30/40/50mph roads, it is capable of easily giving you 35mpg, but unlike the GTD, there's a very noticeable fuel penalty from 70mph to 80mph.

I did my sliproad/sign pass speed test in the R today, using a heavy right foot, but not taking it past 4000 revs before the upshift. Without wringing its neck on the revs, the R is no quicker than a GTD going flat out (both hit around 81/82mph when passing the sign. Really wring the R's neck it manages 98mph at the same point - that's one hell of a difference. It's that pick-up above 4000 revs that sets it apart. I suppose that's why the R has disappointed on my commute - there isn't much opportunity to wring its neck on the route.

I did have some fun in the R today, and it showed - 26mpg for a 40 mile round trip, vs 33mpg on my commute. It is good to scratch that itch and get the R, when you consider that to get the same power and more torque, you'll be looking at a 3.0 diesel lump, which would fall smack in the middle of the mpg differences between the R and the GTD - so you don't get that extra power for free, even in a diesel.

[James75]

Great little review James as ever.

Your GTD would be a very attractive proposition as a part exchange car to a dealer so if you ever get the R urge...   


........................

I did my usual Sunday commute to drop my sons off this morning. First time in the R.
Rural roads all the way, B roads, through a bit of village and A road with 40 and 60 limits. Sunday drivers and club cyclists being the main obstacles usually.
My old smoker does 38 - 40 mpg on that route, my previous GTI did it in 35 - 38 and the R managed 32.

The R is no quicker than the GTI at 'sensible' speeds but it definitely feels like it's straining at the leash a bit.

Thank you.

In a couple of years if I see a Golf R estate - hmmmm -

Having driven your petrol GTI as well as the R - one thing I will say is that once you get back in the GTD you the heavier diesel engine, both the GTI and R feel lighter in the nose.

Both the GTI and the R feel more agile.


I have to admit - I am regularly looking at the used Golf R's through the VW website

James

[Exonian]

It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.

Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.

[monkeyhanger]

It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.

Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.

Patience is a virtue. I would always want a new one (discounted) with a wait, for the same price or less for a used one, especially if you're not slumming it in a proper crap-box in the meantime.

[Booth11]

It's a hard call between a used one that can be had quickly and a healthy part ex negotiation or a discounted new car and another six months worth of depreciation on your car.

Unless a cancelled lease pops up in the meantime if spec isn't an issue.

Patience is a virtue. I would always want a new one (discounted) with a wait, for the same price or less for a used one, especially if you're not slumming it in a proper crap-box in the meantime.

Amen to that.

Rightly or wrongly, we (on here) all know what VW are like for lead-in times and even more so with the R, but some still have unrealistic expectations.  I've waited 4 and 5 months for previous GTI's and no doubt this wait for the R will be (by the time it arrives), the lengthiest for any car I've ordered thus far, but at no point have I regretted opting for a new factory order and hopefully good things do come to those who wait!

[Booth11]

MH - have you ever considered shutting off the mpg info just for a while, just for the sheer hell of it      

[RobS23GTI]

Whilst not that important with a performance car it is nice to know that decent mpg can be achieved when in the mood.
My GTI has been doing 45mpg on the way to work (18 mile journey - 50/60 mph all the way) and about 34mpg on the way home due to traffic and not hanging about, giving an overall of 38mpg for the last month and that's with a tuning box - not bad for 280bhp.