GTI Clubsport Launched - 2016

[JamesR27]

Same as you Brenbo. I am thinking exactly the same.

I was thinking GTI clubsport but the R is a great car. Things that put me off the clubsport is the black roof if standard looks great on white but not sure on other colours.

I also fancy a change from manual which would be great, but the manual is a great box to use so it is very difficult to decide.

Price aswell would be an option as the R is discountable but will the clubsport end up being more with no discount offers.

I still want to see a clubsport in silver though😀

[Aitchi]

I will be taking a keen interest into this purely because I'm a VW nut! Like everyone else on this site I love the Gti nd the R however for me a golf R has no history to it apart from being a faster less attractive version of the standard gti. A golf gti is a cult classic guys! That is its selling point the ORIGINAL hot hatch

[Watts]

As Exonian says, it does definitely look better in the flesh, than on press pics.  The question is whether the Golf R400 will see the light of day anytime soon, or will the Clubsport be the car to go for next year?

I thought it would be interesting to put forward the following questions to see how others felt:

1. Which car would you choose out of a Golf R or GTI Clubsport and why? 
2. If you went for the GTI Clubsport would you get DSG or Manual and why? 

I am toying with the idea of an Golf R at present, but the Clubsport does look tempting on the video link on this thread.  I am also toying with the idea of DSG as I have always had manual and fancied a change, but would like to know your thoughts on the matter before I delve in on my next car order.   

I would go for the CS. Not only does it look great (especially the wheels) but also reasonably subtle and would fit nicely in my current mid-life crisis It would have to be a red three door but not sure about the gearbox. To me, and no disrespect meant to R owners, the R is a bit serious. I can understand why people like them, Lapiz blue looks amazing, but to me the GTI is not only an icon but more importantly, it's fun.

[Exonian]

Yes, the GTI is the original hot hatch and much loved on this forum by all (or nearly all at least), however it doesn't avoid the fact that it was, for a good while, just a trim level with other more powerful Golfs in the range (mk4).
The R does have heritage going back to the 1989 Rallye Golf and tenuous links with the V6 Golfs up to and including the R32 models. What it doesn't have (yet) is an image of its own. The R400 will muddy the waters further.
So now we have the normal GTI, the pretty and characterful base GTI.
The PP GTI that drives a bit better in extremis and has better brakes.
The R which (rear end aside) looks like a base model to most people that don't see the design details that are a bit too subtle. Dull to look at and doesn't feel as manic as you'd expect a 300 Bhp Golf to be BUT is an amazingly accomplished drivers car. It's just so efficient you need to take a reality check at times.

Now we have a Clubsport coming. Looks wise it's a bit more Marmite than the normal GTI and performance wise it'll be like a Cupra - as fast as an R in the dry and a bit sharper but still subtle and polished. Most importantly - it looks a bit special.

The R400? That's still an enigma.
To get 400 PS out of a 2.0 four it's going to need some tricks. Electronics will play a big part but will it be user friendly on the roads? Great on a drag strip, no question but how much inertia will be needed to spin the turbo up to max torque?
What autobox will take the (assumed) 300 lb ft plus? My guess is you'd want an auto for a road car as it would be hard work with a manual unless they can coax decent torque and turbo response out of the engine at lower revs. At higher revs it's just going to be ballistic and licence losing.
Looks wise it will be a winner but it's going to be pricey too. And I'd expect VW to make it in smallish numbers so as not to dilute the rest of the sporty range too much. It's a halo model and two fingers up to their competitors. Possibly a good long term investment depending on how many they make and where the uber hatch market heads next.
Unless you do track days though, where can you use the R400 performance? More of a status symbol than a useable hot hatch.

My money would go on the Clubsport.
(Except that it won't!)

A pretty amazing choice of models to choose from really if you've got the ££££

[fredgroves]

Is it just me or is it that VW have made rather too many performance Golfs out of the Mk7?

Or alternatively, have they captured the market of the 50k car spenders looking to downsize whilst still having willy waving opportunities at the office/golf club?

By trickling out more and more its a good way of fuelling one-upmanship - with effectively very little cost to VW in making these "new" models.

I mean, look on here, some had a GTD, bought a GTI-PP, sold GTI bought an R, thinking of selling R for a Cup... looking for when an R400 is released...

[Jackie Treehorn]

Yes, the GTI is the original hot hatch and much loved on this forum by all (or nearly all at least), however it doesn't avoid the fact that it was, for a good while, just a trim level with other more powerful Golfs in the range (mk4).
The R does have heritage going back to the 1989 Rallye Golf and tenuous links with the V6 Golfs up to and including the R32 models. What it doesn't have (yet) is an image of its own. The R400 will muddy the waters further.

I think it would be a little hard on the GTi brand to blame a mid life crisis on the mk4. Some companies have one or a few howlers in the life cycle of cars.

Also I think as a more casual VW owner (with only a Mk1 and mk2 in my history), I see no connection with the R or R32 to other cars VW have done in the past.  if there is anything identifiable, I wasn't aware of any Rallye connection. If they wanted to identify it to an older model, then calling it Rallye would have helped. 

[wigit]

I have hankered long and hard over the GT4 for a while, no need to go mad on options, for me its a car where less is more, a few choice goodies and nav, few issues are the wife and the speed humps in my road and its a lot of wonga but probably will depreciate less than a GTI/R and would probably replace my R and i'd just rent something instead of the Polo like a CS or R

Love the CS and i get why people would have it over the R, other R owners don't on the whole

[Exonian]

Is it just me or is it that VW have made rather too many performance Golfs out of the Mk7?

Or alternatively, have they captured the market of the 50k car spenders looking to downsize whilst still having willy waving opportunities at the office/golf club?

By trickling out more and more its a good way of fuelling one-upmanship - with effectively very little cost to VW in making these "new" models.

I mean, look on here, some had a GTD, bought a GTI-PP, sold GTI bought an R, thinking of selling R for a Cup... looking for when an R400 is released...

No it's not just you.
Maybe I'm just getting old and too cynical but I think I can see what VW are doing.
They're just responding to the market as ever, and if there are a load of prestige manufacturers making uber hatches for social climbers that are pretending to have a social conscience as it's fashionable to, then VW have to follow that market (whilst pretending to lead it) in order to shift metal and keep up the image they want to portray in an apple-esque fashion.

All clever marketing and it gives enthusiasts a bit of choice so long as their pockets are deep.

Yes, the GTI is the original hot hatch and much loved on this forum by all (or nearly all at least), however it doesn't avoid the fact that it was, for a good while, just a trim level with other more powerful Golfs in the range (mk4).
The R does have heritage going back to the 1989 Rallye Golf and tenuous links with the V6 Golfs up to and including the R32 models. What it doesn't have (yet) is an image of its own. The R400 will muddy the waters further.

I think it would be a little hard on the GTi brand to blame a mid life crisis on the mk4. Some companies have one or a few howlers in the life cycle of cars.

Also I think as a more casual VW owner (with only a Mk1 and mk2 in my history), I see no connection with the R or R32 to other cars VW have done in the past.  if there is anything identifiable, I wasn't aware of any Rallye connection. If they wanted to identify it to an older model, then calling it Rallye would have helped. 

The mk3 was a turd as well.
No, you can't blame VW for the mk4 and at least they woke up when they realised SEAT were stealing all their sales and brought out the R32 then the mk5 GTI to redeem themselves.

I was going on more marketing direction showing that 4wd Golfs with more power than a GTI or even V6 engined Golfs aren't anything new, and the GTI isn't exactly something that has been hallowed in VW's mentality like they'd have you believed.
I can remember when VW were considering pulling the plug on the GTI altogether when hot hatches went out of fashion.

The GTI is always the one marketed on it's 'character' and whatever sits above it in the range seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. VW make these models because they can, and the fact they sell in any numbers dictates whether they will continue to make them or steer in a different direction. As I said up there somewhere - the R is a great car but it has no identity.

I'm forever being asked whether mine is a Diesel Golf and where it sits in the range. If people's eyes don't immediately glaze over I might tell them it's a 4wd 300BHP hatch and that just doesn't really compute with most people. With my GTI's it was always a case of "Ohh, I love your GTI, those are nice wheels too. I used to have a GTI once and loved it..."

As long as we buy GTI's in decent numbers then VW will happily make them.

[Exonian]

I have hankered long and hard over the GT4 for a while, no need to go mad on options, for me its a car where less is more, a few choice goodies and nav, few issues are the wife and the speed humps in my road and its a lot of wonga but probably will depreciate less than a GTI/R and would probably replace my R and i'd just rent something instead of the Polo like a CS or R

Love the CS and i get why people would have it over the R, other R owners don't on the whole

Probably because they're tied into a business lease or feel they're far too important to have something as lowly as a GTI badge when BMW, Ford, Honda, Audi, Mercedes et al are bringing out uber hatches and they feel a bit under pressure in the works car park to have something as lowly as "not top of the range"
For others it's a traction issue, particularly if you're going to modify the car.
And for others still, the staid looks of the R are more suited to their professional image than a slightly boy racer Clubsport.
I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are owners.

As for the the GT4 - you only live once Mr W.

[JoeGTI]

Is it just me or is it that VW have made rather too many performance Golfs out of the Mk7?

Or alternatively, have they captured the market of the 50k car spenders looking to downsize whilst still having willy waving opportunities at the office/golf club?

By trickling out more and more its a good way of fuelling one-upmanship - with effectively very little cost to VW in making these "new" models.

I mean, look on here, some had a GTD, bought a GTI-PP, sold GTI bought an R, thinking of selling R for a Cup... looking for when an R400 is released...

No it's not just you.
Maybe I'm just getting old and too cynical but I think I can see what VW are doing.
They're just responding to the market as ever, and if there are a load of prestige manufacturers making uber hatches for social climbers that are pretending to have a social conscience as it's fashionable to, then VW have to follow that market (whilst pretending to lead it) in order to shift metal and keep up the image they want to portray in an apple-esque fashion.

All clever marketing and it gives enthusiasts a bit of choice so long as their pockets are deep.

Yes, the GTI is the original hot hatch and much loved on this forum by all (or nearly all at least), however it doesn't avoid the fact that it was, for a good while, just a trim level with other more powerful Golfs in the range (mk4).
The R does have heritage going back to the 1989 Rallye Golf and tenuous links with the V6 Golfs up to and including the R32 models. What it doesn't have (yet) is an image of its own. The R400 will muddy the waters further.

I think it would be a little hard on the GTi brand to blame a mid life crisis on the mk4. Some companies have one or a few howlers in the life cycle of cars.

Also I think as a more casual VW owner (with only a Mk1 and mk2 in my history), I see no connection with the R or R32 to other cars VW have done in the past.  if there is anything identifiable, I wasn't aware of any Rallye connection. If they wanted to identify it to an older model, then calling it Rallye would have helped. 

The mk3 was a turd as well.
No, you can't blame VW for the mk4 and at least they woke up when they realised SEAT were stealing all their sales and brought out the R32 then the mk5 GTI to redeem themselves.

I was going on more marketing direction showing that 4wd Golfs with more power than a GTI or even V6 engined Golfs aren't anything new, and the GTI isn't exactly something that has been hallowed in VW's mentality like they'd have you believed.
I can remember when VW were considering pulling the plug on the GTI altogether when hot hatches went out of fashion.

The GTI is always the one marketed on it's 'character' and whatever sits above it in the range seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. VW make these models because they can, and the fact they sell in any numbers dictates whether they will continue to make them or steer in a different direction. As I said up there somewhere - the R is a great car but it has no identity.

I'm forever being asked whether mine is a Diesel Golf and where it sits in the range. If people's eyes don't immediately glaze over I might tell them it's a 4wd 300BHP hatch and that just doesn't really compute with most people. With my GTI's it was always a case of "Ohh, I love your GTI, those are nice wheels too. I used to have a GTI once and loved it..."

As long as we buy GTI's in decent numbers then VW will happily make them.

Funny, ever since I got the R a few weeks ago I've had so many people ask me about it and I notice a lot of rubber-neckers trying to get a 2nd glance. I think it's the colour though. The Lapiz blue is very striking looking, tends to stick out in a sea of greys. My GTI was white and really didn't attract any attention.