Golf R - an alternative view

[Exonian]

Just like the alternative to the Queen's Christmas Speech on TV I've now got an alternative view on the Golf R from a mate of mine.

He's a manager at a leasing company so therefore gets to drive just about anything you can imagine, he's also a dyed in the wool VW enthusiast and owns a few old skool VW group cars, as does his brother from time to time.
He gets to use just about anything in stock so if he fancies a bit of fun then he will take an i8 home for the weekend, or if he needs to take a load to the tip then a Passat Estate comes home with him, you get the picture. I suppose it's an idyllic job for a car enthusiast like him but as he's been doing it for years and years he just kind of takes it all for granted and is very matter of fact about cars. The good news is that he will give a very honest opinion, and better news for the likes of us on here is that he will generally pick a VW over just about anything else they have in for his own personal use as "they're just better to drive".

So, a nice shiny white vanilla spec manual Golf R was delivered to their HQ just before Christmas and he was the first to blag the keys for it, pulling rank no doubt!
Due to various commitments, I didn't get to see him or the car whilst he had it but some of his thoughts made a refreshing change from the usual comments on the forums:

"very cool, love the blue interior details, love the fact it sounds like a V6 from inside. Has a typical emissions control flat spot going from 1st to 2nd which spoils it a bit.
I like it, it's very quick and grips amazingly well, it has an R feel over a GTI.
If it were my money it wouldn't be my choice - I like good MPG and the power is a bit pointless on UK roads"

Then he handed the keys back and went back to the Scirocco TDI he's had for the last few months.
"I have a real soft spot for that car, nearly doubles the MPG on the R, is quick enough, looks amazing and is great fun. If I needed 5 doors then I'd buy a GTD"

So there we have it...

[kalimon]

The GTD really is an incredible all rounder and would have been my choice if I did any kind of mileage.
That or an A3 184bhp S Line diesel.

[J400uk]

Yeah I like my GTD a lot and mainly got it for doing 25k miles a year in. But if I wasn't doing that mileage I think I would quite like an R (or S3)!

[monkeyhanger]

I found my Scirocco 170TDI far more fun than my GTD that came after. The Scirocco was rougher around the edges and less refined, but felt quicker. The R is more fun than them both, refined and ridiculously quick for a practical hatchback. Cheap fuel prices right now help blunt the fill up costs. I'd probably be less enthusiastic if Super was still 140p a litre.

[Restlessnative]

I like my GTD it's a jack of all trades.But i miss my M135i.I loved it's crazy power and the noise on start up would waken the dead even on the standard exhaust.The performance used to scare me sometimes.
The GTD doesn't excite you.It is not the kind of car to go out for a drive in just for the hell of it.
But you still feel good driving it.And it still looks pretty damn cool.

[mjh_056]

My 2 previous cars were Audi Quattro 170 BHP Quattro which think is same engine as the Scirocco and it did feel faster, the acceleration was nothing then go! The GTD is more refined in how delivers its power and the real sweet spot is in the mid range where you can floor it at 30-40 and it will just go.

Really loved the Quattro particularly the 4WD (Going from that to Bridgestones)

The S Line ride looked good but was in reality too hard and now the GTD has better tyres can say quite categorically  it is far the better car (though obviously both now on new chassis so this not really a like for like comparison)

My time to choose next change is coming fast and having a real dilemma, one day I am rock solid on moving to an R and the next day driving the GTD draws me back again with just how good an all round car it is.

In normal day to day situations the GTD has more than enough under the right foot to navigate those situations where decent performance is required. As said many times its no slouch.

So that logic your friend has stated from his experience is really rock solid the GTD is likely the very best car for British roads, you get pretty much the same car as the GTI and R but you get that MPG and decent enough performance.

My mileage was to be 18-20 k so GTD was no brainer when chose but role change and its now 9-11 k so its GTI or an R (will go look at BMW, Mercedes and Audi but more out of interest than any model really being competition)

Just one question, has the Scirocco been face lifted or is it now a new model completely? Saw a new one yesterday and looked really good.

So the mind says .. but the heart however screams R, Do it!

[J400uk]

Just one question, has the Scirocco been face lifted or is it now a new model completely? Saw a new one yesterday and looked really good.

Just a facelift, still sits on the old Golf Mk5/ Mk6 PQ35 platform and as such is starting to show its age somewhat.

MQB based replacement should appear at some point in the next couple of years.

[vidman2]

Had a mapped Octavia TDI PD 140 - to 180+ before my GTI and liked the diesel torque but went of the GTI for the power and better build quality, up'd to the R for the grip and power and have zero regrets.

Diesel is fine for high mileage and general driving but on the back roads and track there is nothing that comes close to the R for grip and cornering ability and the build quality is great.  I am a very happy R driver and well past pensionable age.

[wigit]

I've been driving both of ours of Christmas and racked up a fair few miles and have to admit the R with DSG for me is a hard act to beat as an allrounder, does not disgrace itself on track, loves an A or B road or if you want just potters along, yes the front bumper isn't the greatest and the world and my wife have them

At the moment the only thing I would replace it with is a more door R , i am hoping my trip to Geneva may enlighten me

[JB GTI]

I know the thread makes for a bit of light hearted debate but personally I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks of any car. I buy a car because it suits me. Nothing personal, just my opinion