Golf R or GTI at roughly the same price. which one?

[chrisworton]

So this is my first look at anything VW, never touched one before in my life. I'm speccing up a new car through various broker sites and using the VW configurator i've come back with the the following cars at similar monthly figures through PCP.

Now personally i think the GTI is the better looking car and has more options but the R is an R! Which one would you go for?

Golf GTI 5 Door Manual: £345 per month
- Pure White
- 19" Santiago Alloys
- Parking Pack
- Lane Assist and light assist
- Net App Connect

And according to the VW spec i get winter pack and keyless entry as standard



Golf R 5 Door Manual: £360 per month
- Dynamic Chassis Control
- Lane Assist and light assist
- Keyless entry
- Net App Connect

So what do you think? Would it be worth the bump down in specs (and looks IMO) for 4motion and the performance increase?

[JBirchy]

Tough choice! Think I'd go for the R purely because it has dynamic chassis. It's an option I can't live without.

If the GTI had it too, that would be the one I'd choose based on the better standard options. Not sure I'd go for the 19" wheels without DCC.

Probably doesn't help really!

[chrisworton]

DCC on the GTI comes out at £362 per month which makes it a pretty much identical price to the R. is DCC noticable? i had a similar thing in my BMW m135i and it wasnt really that noticable. however in the BMW there was no comfort mode, the comfort was the standard setup really.

[JBirchy]

Yes I think it's very noticeable. It adds the comfort mode to it, and I leave it in that pretty much all the time. Ride is exceptional in comfort mode.

If I had the choice between those 2 specs, both of which having the DCC, I'd choose the GTI.

[dubber36]

I think an .:R really needs to have prets, so for that reason I'd choose the GTI... or wait for the car you really want.

[m19ads]

As much as I love both I went for the GTI as for me they still seem a little more special to look at than the R ( very much personal feeling).  The biggest reason for me going GTI was the extra boot space as we have gone from a Touran to the Golf! Still needs to be practical for us as a family of 4!

[kalimon]

If you are going for the Santiagos on the GTI you'll probably want DCC, or sack DCC and get the Austins which I much prefer to the Santiagos anyway. Much less fussy imo
It's the same old story though, if you were buying this car outright, your decision would be far simpler

[AndyG]

Even at standard spec these cars are pretty good,the Gti is prettier for sure.Most on here with R's used to have Gti's previously so wouldn't discourage anyone choosing either.
For me it's the R's extra traction,it's effortless setting off from a standstill with no wheel spin or drama and it's very quick.I know I'm being shallow here but I also love the blue dials and 4 exhausts.
Have a proper test drive in both and I'd recommend trying a DSG as well you might like it.
Let us know how you get on.

[Bungleaio]

How many miles are you doing? The R is thirstier than the GTI. The R is supposed to be run on super unleaded too.

[chrisworton]

Thanks for the replies, fiddling with the finance quotes i think £360 per month for the GTI but with DCC is the way im going to go. Its going to be my main car but my past few cars have been a JCW mini and an m135i so even the R will probably be better than both of those for fuel!

For people who have tried both, what's the exhaust and engine note like in the GTI vs the R? My current Mini JCW sounds brilliant with many an exhaust pop and burble so i was hoping to still go for something with a bit of character.