« Reply #14 on: 14 June 2016, 14:35 »
We've been here many times.
Think back to 2004/5 when VW launched the mk5 GTI.
It was keenly priced and well received by the press and VW sold bucket loads of them. They were everywhere.
Times move on and the world has moved on.
This is the era of the uber hatch. The GTI was never an uber hatch, just a quick FWD Golf & VW have for many years had a model above the GTI.
The finance guys look at the mk6 R retained values and probably base their long term figures on that. That car was a sales flop with its high price and stingy spec but was popular used due to its tuning potential.
The mk7 R is a different kettle of fish, it has 300PS yet can still average high 20's mpg in normal driving. It is cheaper than AMG A45's (considerably) and 135i's and costs the same to service as a normal Golf unlike the aforementioned uber hatches there which have expensive running costs, be it insurance, road tax or in the A45's case the servicing schedule.
The press love the R, and that alone will generate interest. There's no real alternative yet for similar money.
The S3 is along the same lines but looks too bland and anonymous unless you spec it in hideous yellow.
Did everyone therefore say the mk5 GTI was to be avoided as it was too common?
No, it's a Golf and Golfs are top ten selling cars so therefore they're not going to be rare.
R32's sold reasonably well (mostly to women when new in mk5 form going from my own observations) but were never going to be a leasing favourite due to running costs.
So we now have the R with its affordable real world price, discreet styling (preferred by professionals), lowish running costs (for a 300PS car) and rave press reviews.
Also added to the mix is the original plan of the R400 which was to be the rare range topper demoting the R to just another production Golf.
Yep, they're quite common and I enjoy seeing a few of them out on the roads just like I like seeing other performance VW's, I'll just give a thumbs up and think "good choice"
I've no idea why VWFS keep punting them onto the market in cheap lease deals either but there must be a bigger plan afoot with brand image and market share with company car drivers battling BMW and Mercedes.
By the time mk7 R's are parked up in every dodgy drive through with baseball cap toss pots at the helm the world will have moved on again and VW may not even be a fashionable brand by then or everyone will be lusting after Tiguans having decided they need a truck sized Golf to keep
I do agree R's have had a dodgy image due to the lease deals but if you want yours to stand out a bit from the company car financed middle management lease R's then just do what I always do and slap a different set of wheels on it. Instant distinction from the hordes, or even just by putting a bit of spec on yours if you're buying will distinguish it from the cheap leasers if that's important to you.
The R is having its moment and just like the phone in your pocket/handbag it's just a modern accessory toy in a throwaway society. Live for the moment and enjoy the fact that people that would really appreciate an R can actually afford one this time round.
Logged
‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten
