some MK7 R advice needed

[chris1h]

Morning all,

Hope had a good Xmas!

I am in the market for a used mk7 R. Prices seems to be comign down to the 24k mark now and in reaching distance!!

However my knowledge on problems of them isn't 110%. Currently have mk6 GTI which I bought used and researched endlessly to find out about the tensioner and possible water pump problems.

My Question to you mk7 users/buyers is


1) Are there any major/minor problems, faults found with the R that should look for?
2) Any recalls (Ie buy one made after certain date)??
3) Whats everyone averaging MPG. Round the town around 30? Pressuming might be "tad" better than my mk6?

I was aware there was some "great" deal for leasing them in the early stages? but this was soon put to a stop. IS this going to mean a surge in supply on the used market possibly decreasing the value or whats your thoughts?


Thanks in advance! Your feedback could just persuade me 

[monkeyhanger]

Morning all,

Hope had a good Xmas!

I am in the market for a used mk7 R. Prices seems to be comign down to the 24k mark now and in reaching distance!!

However my knowledge on problems of them isn't 110%. Currently have mk6 GTI which I bought used and researched endlessly to find out about the tensioner and possible water pump problems.

My Question to you mk7 users/buyers is


1) Are there any major/minor problems, faults found with the R that should look for?
2) Any recalls (Ie buy one made after certain date)??
3) Whats everyone averaging MPG. Round the town around 30? Pressuming might be "tad" better than my mk6?

I was aware there was some "great" deal for leasing them in the early stages? but this was soon put to a stop. IS this going to mean a surge in supply on the used market possibly decreasing the value or whats your thoughts?


Thanks in advance! Your feedback could just persuade me 

Chris,

Not sure whether you're buying outright or bank loan or VW finance - if it's the latter, you might find that a well discounted brand new one has around the same monthlies as an early 2014 one that you might find for £24k, due to residuals and a lower % APR. As always with cars on finance, the sticker price isn't really what counts, it is the monthlies.

As far as i'm aware, the R has no recalls against it - i've not been asked to come in for any work on mine, although they could've done it on the sly when mine was in for other warranty work.

Mine had a new Turbo under warranty at 4k miles. It didn't catastrophically fail, it just stopped working a few times. I've had issues with my ACC sensor too, but that could've happened with any MK7 Golf as the unit is common to all.

Being a 7 VW Diesel miser for many years, switching to an R was a big deal for me, but I don't regret it at all - it is an amazing car when you give it a workout. Fuel costs right now help the switch - my GTD was running diesel at about £1.40 a litre when I first got it, but with the price drops as OPEC overproduce to try to bankrupt US Fracking operations, and Tesco Momentum 99 being about £1.05 a litre right now, the cost per mile for my 32mpg R right now isn't far off my 46mpg GTD that preceded it when fuel prices were higher.

For mpg - the R is much thirstier at motorway speeds than a GTD - the GTD is just ticking over at 2200rpm doing 80 in 6th, the R/GTI are doing 3100rpm. Doing town speeds (30-60mph) the R is surprisingly economical.

I get around 30mpg sat on the motorway doing 80, about 35mpg sticking to the limit on 40/50mph roads, and around 32mpg overall with Momentum or Shell V-power. Mine is a manual though - most R DSGers average 28mpg and previous experience with my Dad's DSG Golfs is that DSG is about 10% thirstier in real life driving, even if the official figures don't reflect that.

Traction is the main reason I changed to an R, I was sick of the GTD tranping all the time, not a murmur from the tyres in the R, except when pulling out from a side road in the wet, with your foot down. In a straight line from a wet standstill there's no drama at all.

[Booth11]

Hi Chris,

Has the R itch kicked in!   Seen anything to take your fancy yet?

1. Heard of a few with blown turbos but apart from that haven't heard about any other particular issues to be aware of. Others may know of some.  Obviously best to buy with a warranty to give you piece of mind.

2. No recalls that I'm aware of.

3. I would expect average mpg would be a tad worse than your Mk6.  It's a hard one to answer as everyone drives differently and it's subject to the kinds of journeys you do.  I would say round town more like 24-26 mpg is more realistic but depends on a few factors.

My R (DSG) mpg is pretty poor atm but that's mainly down to doing a lot of driving in a heavily congested city in last month, so it's dropped due to that but is starting to creep up again.  Prior to that it was 24/25 mpg average but only had it since Oct.  My average in the Mk6 was 29/30 mpg.  So I would take what you average in your current Mk6 and expect about 5 mpg less in an R.

There was a surge of cheap lease deals early in the R's life but I personally don't think this will have a significant effect on long term resale values.  I think it will hold it's value reasonably well. 

I really loved my Mk6 GTI, but the R is soo good (in all scenarios), I've honestly not given it a second thought since I made the change.  And as for the looks of the R, which get a bit of a bashing for being too bland, in the flesh it looks much more aggressive.  GTI looks sportier, R more menacing and purposeful IMO. 

Good luck with the search.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. 
 

[chris1h]

Morning all,

Hope had a good Xmas!

I am in the market for a used mk7 R. Prices seems to be comign down to the 24k mark now and in reaching distance!!

However my knowledge on problems of them isn't 110%. Currently have mk6 GTI which I bought used and researched endlessly to find out about the tensioner and possible water pump problems.

My Question to you mk7 users/buyers is


1) Are there any major/minor problems, faults found with the R that should look for?
2) Any recalls (Ie buy one made after certain date)??
3) Whats everyone averaging MPG. Round the town around 30? Pressuming might be "tad" better than my mk6?

I was aware there was some "great" deal for leasing them in the early stages? but this was soon put to a stop. IS this going to mean a surge in supply on the used market possibly decreasing the value or whats your thoughts?


Thanks in advance! Your feedback could just persuade me 

Chris,

Not sure whether you're buying outright or bank loan or VW finance - if it's the latter, you might find that a well discounted brand new one has around the same monthlies as an early 2014 one that you might find for £24k, due to residuals and a lower % APR. As always with cars on finance, the sticker price isn't really what counts, it is the monthlies.

As far as i'm aware, the R has no recalls against it - i've not been asked to come in for any work on mine, although they could've done it on the sly when mine was in for other warranty work.

Mine had a new Turbo under warranty at 4k miles. It didn't catastrophically fail, it just stopped working a few times. I've had issues with my ACC sensor too, but that could've happened with any MK7 Golf as the unit is common to all.

Being a 7 VW Diesel miser for many years, switching to an R was a big deal for me, but I don't regret it at all - it is an amazing car when you give it a workout. Fuel costs right now help the switch - my GTD was running diesel at about £1.40 a litre when I first got it, but with the price drops as OPEC overproduce to try to bankrupt US Fracking operations, and Tesco Momentum 99 being about £1.05 a litre right now, the cost per mile for my 32mpg R right now isn't far off my 46mpg GTD that preceded it when fuel prices were higher.

For mpg - the R is much thirstier at motorway speeds than a GTD - the GTD is just ticking over at 2200rpm doing 80 in 6th, the R/GTI are doing 3100rpm. Doing town speeds (30-60mph) the R is surprisingly economical.

I get around 30mpg sat on the motorway doing 80, about 35mpg sticking to the limit on 40/50mph roads, and around 32mpg overall with Momentum or Shell V-power. Mine is a manual though - most R DSGers average 28mpg and previous experience with my Dad's DSG Golfs is that DSG is about 10% thirstier in real life driving, even if the official figures don't reflect that.

Traction is the main reason I changed to an R, I was sick of the GTD tranping all the time, not a murmur from the tyres in the R, except when pulling out from a side road in the wet, with your foot down. In a straight line from a wet standstill there's no drama at all.

Interesting very interesting! I had a look at the price of them new but would be bog standard with absolute zero extras :\ I know beggers carnt be chooses and all that!  thanks for the response! I only ever put V power in so hopefully 30mpg around the town is achievable

[chris1h]

Hi Chris,

Has the R itch kicked in!   Seen anything to take your fancy yet?

1. Heard of a few with blown turbos but apart from that haven't heard about any other particular issues to be aware of. Others may know of some.  Obviously best to buy with a warranty to give you piece of mind.

2. No recalls that I'm aware of.

3. I would expect average mpg would be a tad worse than your Mk6.  It's a hard one to answer as everyone drives differently and it's subject to the kinds of journeys you do.  I would say round town more like 24-26 mpg is more realistic but depends on a few factors.

My R (DSG) mpg is pretty poor atm but that's mainly down to doing a lot of driving in a heavily congested city in last month, so it's dropped due to that but is starting to creep up again.  Prior to that it was 24/25 mpg average but only had it since Oct.  My average in the Mk6 was 29/30 mpg.  So I would take what you average in your current Mk6 and expect about 5 mpg less in an R.

There was a surge of cheap lease deals early in the R's life but I personally don't think this will have a significant effect on long term resale values.  I think it will hold it's value reasonably well. 

I really loved my Mk6 GTI, but the R is soo good (in all scenarios), I've honestly not given it a second thought since I made the change.  And as for the looks of the R, which get a bit of a bashing for being too bland, in the flesh it looks much more aggressive.  GTI looks sportier, R more menacing and purposeful IMO. 

Good luck with the search.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. 

Bec, Certainly has kicked in. To be honest i looked at the mercedes E class saloon. You can pick a 14 plate one of them up for around the same money! but I think I would miss the power and there is just something about the "R" I keep coming back to!

I would be looking for a DSG and my miles would be similar to yours town wise at present for the MPG.At present I just dont know whether i would be better just hanging on till they come down further (If i went for the second hand option) as surely this 20% slup in sales is going to pick up eventually!

[Booth11]

Hi Chris,

Has the R itch kicked in!   Seen anything to take your fancy yet?

1. Heard of a few with blown turbos but apart from that haven't heard about any other particular issues to be aware of. Others may know of some.  Obviously best to buy with a warranty to give you piece of mind.

2. No recalls that I'm aware of.

3. I would expect average mpg would be a tad worse than your Mk6.  It's a hard one to answer as everyone drives differently and it's subject to the kinds of journeys you do.  I would say round town more like 24-26 mpg is more realistic but depends on a few factors.

My R (DSG) mpg is pretty poor atm but that's mainly down to doing a lot of driving in a heavily congested city in last month, so it's dropped due to that but is starting to creep up again.  Prior to that it was 24/25 mpg average but only had it since Oct.  My average in the Mk6 was 29/30 mpg.  So I would take what you average in your current Mk6 and expect about 5 mpg less in an R.

There was a surge of cheap lease deals early in the R's life but I personally don't think this will have a significant effect on long term resale values.  I think it will hold it's value reasonably well. 

I really loved my Mk6 GTI, but the R is soo good (in all scenarios), I've honestly not given it a second thought since I made the change.  And as for the looks of the R, which get a bit of a bashing for being too bland, in the flesh it looks much more aggressive.  GTI looks sportier, R more menacing and purposeful IMO. 

Good luck with the search.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. 

Bec, Certainly has kicked in. To be honest i looked at the mercedes E class saloon. You can pick a 14 plate one of them up for around the same money! but I think I would miss the power and there is just something about the "R" I keep coming back to!

I would be looking for a DSG and my miles would be similar to yours town wise at present for the MPG.At present I just dont know whether i would be better just hanging on till they come down further (If i went for the second hand option) as surely this 20% slup in sales is going to pick up eventually!

If you keep coming back to the R, that should tell you something ;-).

Hard to say when would be the best time, but I expect there'll be a few coming onto the used market in the nea future with people coming to the end of a 2 year ownership term (from new).

Tbh I really don't think you need a ton of extras but DSG is great call.  DSG in conjunction with the electric handbrake and Autohold makes for a perfectly seamless system.  I was a total e-handbrake sceptic, but happy to admit I was totally wrong. Works brilliantly. 

Apart from DSG, what sort of spec you got in mind?

[chris1h]

Hi Chris,

Has the R itch kicked in!   Seen anything to take your fancy yet?

1. Heard of a few with blown turbos but apart from that haven't heard about any other particular issues to be aware of. Others may know of some.  Obviously best to buy with a warranty to give you piece of mind.

2. No recalls that I'm aware of.

3. I would expect average mpg would be a tad worse than your Mk6.  It's a hard one to answer as everyone drives differently and it's subject to the kinds of journeys you do.  I would say round town more like 24-26 mpg is more realistic but depends on a few factors.

My R (DSG) mpg is pretty poor atm but that's mainly down to doing a lot of driving in a heavily congested city in last month, so it's dropped due to that but is starting to creep up again.  Prior to that it was 24/25 mpg average but only had it since Oct.  My average in the Mk6 was 29/30 mpg.  So I would take what you average in your current Mk6 and expect about 5 mpg less in an R.

There was a surge of cheap lease deals early in the R's life but I personally don't think this will have a significant effect on long term resale values.  I think it will hold it's value reasonably well. 

I really loved my Mk6 GTI, but the R is soo good (in all scenarios), I've honestly not given it a second thought since I made the change.  And as for the looks of the R, which get a bit of a bashing for being too bland, in the flesh it looks much more aggressive.  GTI looks sportier, R more menacing and purposeful IMO. 

Good luck with the search.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. 

Bec, Certainly has kicked in. To be honest i looked at the mercedes E class saloon. You can pick a 14 plate one of them up for around the same money! but I think I would miss the power and there is just something about the "R" I keep coming back to!

I would be looking for a DSG and my miles would be similar to yours town wise at present for the MPG.At present I just dont know whether i would be better just hanging on till they come down further (If i went for the second hand option) as surely this 20% slup in sales is going to pick up eventually!

If you keep coming back to the R, that should tell you something ;-).

Hard to say when would be the best time, but I expect there'll be a few coming onto the used market in the nea future with people coming to the end of a 2 year ownership term (from new).

Tbh I really don't think you need a ton of extras but DSG is great call.  DSG in conjunction with the electric handbrake and Autohold makes for a perfectly seamless system.  I was a total e-handbrake sceptic, but happy to admit I was totally wrong. Works brilliantly. 

Apart from DSG, what sort of spec you got in mind?

Bec, Well thats the thing. Whatever I can afford!
I was lucky as my mk6 came with pretty much everything under the sun bar xenons and nav. Xenons being standard on the mk7 so no problem there. Would want DSG as a must as a manual in city traffic really takes the p*ss, probably the 19" alloys, leather would be nice, and the nav isn't standard is it?

Also the adaptive chassis control.... I have that at present but obviously not something standard on the R. When you put the R in "race" mode I believe it opens the valves and sounds louder. If no ACC are they open all the time or what or are the exhuasts tammed down? If this was the case it would have to have ACC...  

[monkeyhanger]

Morning all,

Hope had a good Xmas!

I am in the market for a used mk7 R. Prices seems to be comign down to the 24k mark now and in reaching distance!!

However my knowledge on problems of them isn't 110%. Currently have mk6 GTI which I bought used and researched endlessly to find out about the tensioner and possible water pump problems.

My Question to you mk7 users/buyers is


1) Are there any major/minor problems, faults found with the R that should look for?
2) Any recalls (Ie buy one made after certain date)??
3) Whats everyone averaging MPG. Round the town around 30? Pressuming might be "tad" better than my mk6?

I was aware there was some "great" deal for leasing them in the early stages? but this was soon put to a stop. IS this going to mean a surge in supply on the used market possibly decreasing the value or whats your thoughts?


Thanks in advance! Your feedback could just persuade me 

Chris,

Not sure whether you're buying outright or bank loan or VW finance - if it's the latter, you might find that a well discounted brand new one has around the same monthlies as an early 2014 one that you might find for £24k, due to residuals and a lower % APR. As always with cars on finance, the sticker price isn't really what counts, it is the monthlies.

As far as i'm aware, the R has no recalls against it - i've not been asked to come in for any work on mine, although they could've done it on the sly when mine was in for other warranty work.

Mine had a new Turbo under warranty at 4k miles. It didn't catastrophically fail, it just stopped working a few times. I've had issues with my ACC sensor too, but that could've happened with any MK7 Golf as the unit is common to all.

Being a 7 VW Diesel miser for many years, switching to an R was a big deal for me, but I don't regret it at all - it is an amazing car when you give it a workout. Fuel costs right now help the switch - my GTD was running diesel at about £1.40 a litre when I first got it, but with the price drops as OPEC overproduce to try to bankrupt US Fracking operations, and Tesco Momentum 99 being about £1.05 a litre right now, the cost per mile for my 32mpg R right now isn't far off my 46mpg GTD that preceded it when fuel prices were higher.

For mpg - the R is much thirstier at motorway speeds than a GTD - the GTD is just ticking over at 2200rpm doing 80 in 6th, the R/GTI are doing 3100rpm. Doing town speeds (30-60mph) the R is surprisingly economical.

I get around 30mpg sat on the motorway doing 80, about 35mpg sticking to the limit on 40/50mph roads, and around 32mpg overall with Momentum or Shell V-power. Mine is a manual though - most R DSGers average 28mpg and previous experience with my Dad's DSG Golfs is that DSG is about 10% thirstier in real life driving, even if the official figures don't reflect that.

Traction is the main reason I changed to an R, I was sick of the GTD tranping all the time, not a murmur from the tyres in the R, except when pulling out from a side road in the wet, with your foot down. In a straight line from a wet standstill there's no drama at all.

Interesting very interesting! I had a look at the price of them new but would be bog standard with absolute zero extras :\ I know beggers carnt be chooses and all that!  thanks for the response! I only ever put V power in so hopefully 30mpg around the town is achievable

No shame in a "low spec" R - the standard spec is very generous and it has pretty much everything i'd be after. Not a fan of the VW cheapo leather that is a bit cheap in every way but the price. Apart from metallic paint (Lapiz) 19" Prets is all I wanted to add as I have quite a dislike for the standard Cadiz. Can't understand why Lapiz is now more expensive than standard metallic - VW opportunism there given its popularity for the R. In fact they now only have one "free" colour - glossy black.

[Booth11]

If you keep coming back to the R, that should tell you something ;-).

Hard to say when would be the best time, but I expect there'll be a few coming onto the used market in the nea future with people coming to the end of a 2 year ownership term (from new).

Tbh I really don't think you need a ton of extras but DSG is great call.  DSG in conjunction with the electric handbrake and Autohold makes for a perfectly seamless system.  I was a total e-handbrake sceptic, but happy to admit I was totally wrong. Works brilliantly. 

Apart from DSG, what sort of spec you got in mind?

Bec, Well thats the thing. Whatever I can afford!
I was lucky as my mk6 came with pretty much everything under the sun bar xenons and nav. Xenons being standard on the mk7 so no problem there. Would want DSG as a must as a manual in city traffic really takes the p*ss, probably the 19" alloys, leather would be nice, and the nav isn't standard is it?

Also the adaptive chassis control.... I have that at present but obviously not something standard on the R. When you put the R in "race" mode I believe it opens the valves and sounds louder. If no ACC are they open all the time or what or are the exhuasts tammed down? If this was the case it would have to have ACC...  

No, Chris, nav isn't standard. Neither are any of the other things on your list, lol!  That's the trouble coming from a Mk6 with all the trimmings! 

The Vienna leather is alright.  At first it seemed cheaper than the leather in the mk6 but now I think it's as good and I rather like it.  It's not the best quality leather, my mates BMW's leather is better, but it's not as terrible as Monkeyhanger might have you believe, haha.  But the 'premium' Carbon/Nappa leather is pretty tacky and plasticky looking IMO and I have seen it in the flesh and hated it!

You probably know this already but be aware that Adaptive Chassis Control is called DCC Dynamic Chassis Control on the Mk7, and ACC on the Mk7 is Adaptive Cruise Control.  Confusing, haha. 

Chris I think you've got the wrong end of the stick about DCC.  Yes, when the R is in Race mode or when the DSG stick is in Sport, all 4 flaps are open and it is louder (though some of that is the fake soundaktor sound).  But that's nothing at all to do with DCC (formerly ACC).  DCC is merely the ability to adjust the dampers and steering response to give you varying degrees of stiff, med or sport suspension and changes in steering feedback.  There is no relationship at all between DCC and the exhaust flaps opening, so a non DCC car won't be lacking in any way with respect to that.

I've got 19's and DCC and can honestly say that I reckon the standard suspension/steering set up on a non DCC would be absolutely fine. DCC is the one thing I could easily do without if the budget hadn't permitted it.  Also worth considering an R on 18's (better ride) without DCC IMO.  Only reason I went for 19's on mine is I wasn't keen on the Cadiz.

[monkeyhanger]

Booth: The leather isn't terrible, it is terrible at the pricepoint VW push it at. Worth every penny of £800 and not a penny more. 

I'd say anyone coming from a MK5/6/Scirocco without DCC would be massively surprised by how good the standard ride on the MK7 is. Quite happy to be on 19"ers without DCC (at least take a test drive before committing £800 to it).