Thoughts on the R

[Mk7-GTD]

Does driving with the ESP off allow left foot braking?

The whole point of left foot braking is to be able to keep the throttle applied it readiness to exit a corner whilst still trail braking through it. ESP works by applying the brakes to keep the car between the hedges. When it applies the brakes, it closes the throttle, so the fact that you are on the brakes, it thinks you shouldn't have the throttle open.

Launch control allows the throttle to be open when the car is held on the brakes, That works with the ESP off, so it might be worth a try.

Interesting thoughts. Something else to look into so that's for bringing it up. Things are starting to look a bit more promising for an R estate.

[Mk7-GTD]

This is a thread been following as it gets increasingly closer to ordering my next ride and only thing am certain of is time is not a good thing when selecting next car as rock solid turns to doubt and back again week by week.

Was rock solid on the R, the fun factor mentioned in this thread making it nailed on.

But fuel consumption and realities of driving my GTD where even in that there is not as many times as would like to  test its limits reel me back in to maybe look at other options.

So have even considered just getting a new GTD, its that good! but as mileage is markedly reduced these days then it may as well be a GTI if staying with the MK 7 as you get the performance and decent economy.

Did want 4WD drive though, so really wish they made a GT -DR.

There are two other cars that considering so its a small list and that is an A3 Sportback Quattro or the new VW Tiguan

The VW Tiguan R Line is a real looker, is on the MQB frame and has the internals of the Golf and the LCD Display of the TT and with DSG 4WD and the same engine unit as the GTD it has decent performance.

Being selecting that pretty blind though, much as did for the GTD as not released for ordering till April so doubt be many about to see and test drive.

Also have been faithful hatchback driver for many years, its my size of car, so there is a feeling that getting the slippers out by looking at an SUV?! The young lad in me really wants the R for all the excited reasons that read through in this thread. Great posts to read, absolutely no help at all with dilemma 

Have to have selection in by May to receive vehicle in time, so clock is ticking ...

GTI
R
A3 Sportback Quattro
Tiguan - R Line

Another thing to consider is the the Tiguan is going to get the fabulous 2.0 twin turbo TDi that is in the new Passat. My wife drove one a few weeks ago and she said it was brilliant, she loved it.

[Booth11]

Does driving with the ESP off allow left foot braking?

The whole point of left foot braking is to be able to keep the throttle applied it readiness to exit a corner whilst still trail braking through it. ESP works by applying the brakes to keep the car between the hedges. When it applies the brakes, it closes the throttle, so the fact that you are on the brakes, it thinks you shouldn't have the throttle open.

Launch control allows the throttle to be open when the car is held on the brakes, That works with the ESP off, so it might be worth a try.

Don't know.  Haven't tried driving with the ESP off (in the R) and using left foot braking.  But it seems logical that it might improve the delay in a standard car, as it allows for the throttle to remain open whilst still on the brake.

With ESP on, you have to be just off the brake before pressing down with your right foot on the throttle, some of that delay is removed with a pedal box, just as it is when braking with the right foot, but that's because the dead inch of pedal travel is removed anyway.  And with left foot braking some of it will be down to natural reaction times.

@ Mk7-GTD. I didn't get a chance to try the left foot braking with the pedal box switched off today as got stuck in the office all day in meetings but will try it when time permits. 

You could always take am R Estate DSG for a test drive and try it with the ESP off and see what the delay is like.  Might negate the need for a pedalbox.  But would you really want ESP off all the time?

[Booth11]

This is a thread been following as it gets increasingly closer to ordering my next ride and only thing am certain of is time is not a good thing when selecting next car as rock solid turns to doubt and back again week by week.

Was rock solid on the R, the fun factor mentioned in this thread making it nailed on.

But fuel consumption and realities of driving my GTD where even in that there is not as many times as would like to  test its limits reel me back in to maybe look at other options.

So have even considered just getting a new GTD, its that good! but as mileage is markedly reduced these days then it may as well be a GTI if staying with the MK 7 as you get the performance and decent economy.

Did want 4WD drive though, so really wish they made a GT -DR.

There are two other cars that considering so its a small list and that is an A3 Sportback Quattro or the new VW Tiguan

The VW Tiguan R Line is a real looker, is on the MQB frame and has the internals of the Golf and the LCD Display of the TT and with DSG 4WD and the same engine unit as the GTD it has decent performance.

Being selecting that pretty blind though, much as did for the GTD as not released for ordering till April so doubt be many about to see and test drive.

Also have been faithful hatchback driver for many years, its my size of car, so there is a feeling that getting the slippers out by looking at an SUV?! The young lad in me really wants the R for all the excited reasons that read through in this thread. Great posts to read, absolutely no help at all with dilemma 

Have to have selection in by May to receive vehicle in time, so clock is ticking ...

GTI
R
A3 Sportback Quattro
Tiguan - R Line

Sorry the thread is not helping with your dilemma.   If it's any consolation you are not alone in the doubts creeping in as time goes by, that's natural and can continue right up to delivery after you've ordered a car, lol.

It's a tough one.  I guess a test drive in all your shortlisted cars is a must.  The R is a brilliant car, made better with a pedalbox, for me (like you a hatchback faithful) it is the consummate performer across the board but with the added, well....performance.  But there's no getting away from the fuel consumption - it's a thirsty car, but that said my average mpg in a Mk6 GTI was on the lower side, combination of driving style and living in a woefully congested city.  So it's not as bad for some as for others but it is not going to come close to a GTD.  Monkeyhanger came from a GTD to an R though and seems quite content.

So perhaps the GTI PP might be a good shout for you.  Still bags of fun, ton of heritage, all the practical  attributes of he R but a better return on fuel, but of course lacking the 4WD.   Of the others on your list I like the A3 Sportback.  The Tiguan?  Not my cup of tea at all.  Not much bigger than a Golf inside, I find them quite pointless but then I'm afraid I am firmly rooted in performance hatch territory.  But it might suit you, need to try and find one to test drive.

The thing with the R though is it satisfies the "young lad" part of you but also satisfies the grown up part of you.  I'm not sure there are actually that many cars out there that a) do that, and b ) do it with such finesse.

[monkeyhanger]

Mpg isnt a massive loss on the R right now, i'm doing 32mpg (nice open uncongested roads and a momentum preservation driving style with later braking all help, as does a manual box). In the middle of winter I was lucky to get 44mpg on the commute and fuel is very low in price right now. If we were back up to £1.40 a litre I might be regreting it right now, but GTD mpg only really gets good on longer journeys and in the Summer. If mpg considerations took me away from the R, i'd rather have a GTD with DTUK box than a GTI.

[Mk7-GTD]

@ Mk7-GTD. I didn't get a chance to try the left foot braking with the pedal box switched off today as got stuck in the office all day in meetings but will try it when time permits. 

You could always take am R Estate DSG for a test drive and try it with the ESP off and see what the delay is like.  Might negate the need for a pedalbox.  But would you really want ESP off all the time?

No problem, thanks for doing what you have done already. I think what I might do is get a pedal box and try it on a DSG R or even my wife's GTi if the Mk6 and Mk7 have the same box.

My wife has been nagging(wanting) me to change the order for the GTD estate to a 3 door GTD and get either a Passat R line twin turbo TDi or an R estate and then get the Clubsport and share all the cars but keep the Clubsport for weekend fun so it keeps the mileage low. Her reasoning is that the Clubsport will hold its value really well.

[kalimon]

@ Mk7-GTD. I didn't get a chance to try the left foot braking with the pedal box switched off today as got stuck in the office all day in meetings but will try it when time permits. 

You could always take am R Estate DSG for a test drive and try it with the ESP off and see what the delay is like.  Might negate the need for a pedalbox.  But would you really want ESP off all the time?

No problem, thanks for doing what you have done already. I think what I might do is get a pedal box and try it on a DSG R or even my wife's GTi if the Mk6 and Mk7 have the same box.

My wife has been nagging(wanting) me to change the order for the GTD estate to a 3 door GTD and get either a Passat R line twin turbo TDi or an R estate and then get the Clubsport and share all the cars but keep the Clubsport for weekend fun so it keeps the mileage low. Her reasoning is that the Clubsport will hold its value really well.

Do you want an estate for a particular reason or do you just prefer the look of them ( each to their own) ?

[phazer]

Another thing to consider is the the Tiguan is going to get the fabulous 2.0 twin turbo TDi that is in the new Passat. My wife drove one a few weeks ago and she said it was brilliant, she loved it.

I think you'd be well advised to drive a bi-turbo before deciding. I have the 180 bi Turbo in my T5.1 and it drives great such a tractable/useable engine 

[Mk7-GTD]

@ Mk7-GTD. I didn't get a chance to try the left foot braking with the pedal box switched off today as got stuck in the office all day in meetings but will try it when time permits. 

You could always take am R Estate DSG for a test drive and try it with the ESP off and see what the delay is like.  Might negate the need for a pedalbox.  But would you really want ESP off all the time?

No problem, thanks for doing what you have done already. I think what I might do is get a pedal box and try it on a DSG R or even my wife's GTi if the Mk6 and Mk7 have the same box.

My wife has been nagging(wanting) me to change the order for the GTD estate to a 3 door GTD and get either a Passat R line twin turbo TDi or an R estate and then get the Clubsport and share all the cars but keep the Clubsport for weekend fun so it keeps the mileage low. Her reasoning is that the Clubsport will hold its value really well.

Do you want an estate for a particular reason or do you just prefer the look of them ( each to their own) ?

Yes I need an estate quite a bit but I also like estate cars. In my Volvo years I had an 850T5-R estate and 3 V70 R's

[kalimon]

I love Audi estate cars and the odd Volvo but the Golf just doesn't look right for me