Doesn't time fly.
I was about six months ago after digging around trying to get to the bottom of the model year spec changes and eagerly awaiting the ClubSport launch that I got an unexpected message from Evo1986 saying he'd just secured a few Golf R's and did I want one?
To cut a long story short I grabbed a white base spec last of the line MIB I (2015 MY) manual five door that was in stock & my Oct 2013 GTI PP 3 door was sent off to Cheltenham to find a new owner.
As it's autumn now, well, this is probably the best time of year to appreciate the 4wd traction so I thought it a bit overdue I did a running report.
Faults to date: zero (hope I haven't cursed it!)
Mileage to date: anyone care to guess? It's not very many!
Thoughts on the R:
Easiest place and most obvious place to start is to do a few comparisons on the outgoing GTI that was with me for about 20 months.
The R is in white and I'm perfectly happy with the colour. Maybe is doesn't look quite as good as the GTI looked in white as it lacks the subtle red highlights but I quite like the contrast with the shiny bits (wheels, mirrors, grille trim) and black accents.
The front grille is so much easier to clean having slats after so many years with GTI's and their honeycomb noses.
I had the initial choice of DSG in black or Lapis and the black was immediately discounted as my other car is black and looks a constant mess due to living on a building site. Lapis was tempting but with the reports on R Forum of poor finish and easy marking from the early adopters that put me right off. I do like the signature colour, especially when just cleaned but I've had bad experiences of mid blue cars in the past with swirly paint and stone chips.
White being non reflective is easy to live with and quite forgiving so an easy choice.
I don't love any of the R colours so to be honest would be happy with any of them, none of them really inspire me. Even Lapis looks dull as hell if not kept really clean - the first R I drove was a manual Lapis on a wet January day and it just didn't do it for me on that occasion, yet once I saw a clean one in spring it really jumped out at me and changed my mind on the colour. An ideal colour for those with plenty of time and elbow grease at their disposal!
DSG or manual. An easy one for me despite the R probably being THE ideal model for the twin clutch auto-box; I drive maybe half a dozen or more vehicles some weeks and all are manuals so I'd just not ever get the best out of a DSG.
I love the tech and I want to love DSG but...
The spec I had no choice in but as I don't generally keep cars for long nor spend long amounts of time in them then there's no point spending heaps of my own money on them unless they're really useful. If my boss was paying for them or I had a long commute then "yes please", I'd go to town on the options sheet.
I had basic nav in the GTI but don't miss it. I only used it a few times so hardly got my money out of it.
I also had the RVC in the GTI and sometimes I miss, it but not often if I'm really honest. The parking sensors kind of make it a bit redundant but then again I do have a three car length drive and then narrow garage to reverse into in the dark so the camera made that slightly easier but mirrors and parking sensors do a perfectly good enough job. Brighter reversing lights might make a difference too.
The one thing I also had in the GTI that didn't get used very often but was a very valuable tool on occasion was park assist. Thankfully it's not an option on the R so I can't miss it! For a cheap option this was the best money spent on the GTI even though it only got very occasional use.
Five doors? The GTI looked great as a 3 door. The press shots used a white three door and that was for good reason. The R looks a bit slab sided in 3 door unless 19" wheels are specced. Not that I had a choice with the cars presented. Anyway, to the point - my garage space is hideously narrow and the long doors of the 3 door made me contort very uncomfortably to get out of the car so the 5 door is a blessing. The GTI was ordered as a 3 door for good reason at the time but alas time moves on and there was little doubt my next car had to be a five door.
Not having nav I don't miss the larger MIB II screen so that's not a concern and as for the rest of the spec - much is made of (on a certain forum) about base (lease) spec R's and their likely value in years to come, but to be honest a base spec R is pretty well equipped as standard as German cars go and makes it half decent value for money (with a bit of discount) for the overall package when you consider the 300PS and 4wd on top of the amazing handling of the MQB chassis.
That's not to say the Golf hasn't become a lardy car and it does get caught out at times. Handling wise the GTI edges it at road speeds but the R has the traction. The GTI has the bottom end torque and the economy advantage and the R has what seems like a relentless surge of power as standard road spec family hatchback engines go.
Mods: First thing on there was a PedalBox. I really would struggle to live without one.
The standard Cadiz wheels needed spacers so they went straight on and made the car look loads better, however I've put a set of grey winter wheels on for the time being so might change wheel spec again next year. I'll see if I have any money first! Always a slight issue. There really aren't that many wheels that look better than factory options for the mk7 so it must be a pretty awkward shape to improve upon. The Pretorias look best with most colours but the mk7 doesn't ride as well on 19's without DCC as a mk6 did. My shattered fillings are the proof of that. To be honest, the best looking wheel I've seen for a mk7 R is the BBS XA which looks very much like a Pretoria so that says it all really. I do quite like the Cadiz style, they're unobtrusive enough and look good when the light hits them but they suit lighter shades of car best I think (red, white, silver).
This has to be the first car I've ever owned that I've been happy with the standard power. It felt a bit lethargic at town speeds until the PedalBox went on but now it just goes and goes. Maybe another 30-40 lb ft of torque in the mid range would be welcome, even if it was at the expense of a bit of top end power, but that's out of my hands.
So yeah, fractionally less than five months in and all has been good so far!
