Golf R... Why buy a Golf GTI?

[monkeyhanger]

I think the GTD is the best looking of the bunch - best standard wheels, no lipstick in the front light lenses. I'd rather have a boxed GTD than a standard GTI. There seems far more resilience in the GTDs lump for stretching it further than stock than either the GTI or Rs engine.

[The ANT]

I wouldn't buy a gtd for several reasons, petrol engines are nicer to drive, the red stripe would be a must, gtd is what the driver used to be, its almost a gti, but not quite. The only thing I like more about the gtd is the exhaust exit is how the gti always was, but now with a pipe either side, there is no reason for that

[JoeGTI]

I wouldn't buy a gtd for several reasons, petrol engines are nicer to drive, the red stripe would be a must, gtd is what the driver used to be, its almost a gti, but not quite. The only thing I like more about the gtd is the exhaust exit is how the gti always was, but now with a pipe either side, there is no reason for that

I'd be the same. I had a MK6 GTD and it was a nice, very capable car but I had no love for it. Hated the diesel clatter especially on cold mornings. I was parking in an underground carpark at the time so that amplified it! It wasn't even particularly economical to compensate.

The rear end of the MK7 GTD is very plain... VW made no effort at all with the rear valence or the exhausts (pea shooters). It could be a 1.6 blue motion... I'm not a huge fan of the GTI wheelbarrow exhaust setup either but at least it's different.

[Jackie Treehorn]

You don't need a cheap Lease deal or GFV to make a car right for you, you also don't need much BHP to go fast either.  Some of the best Hot Hatch cars, and still the best over the last 10 years have way less BHP than the Golf R or the Civic or the Focus for that matter.  Its about how they perform as a whole, compared to 0-60/0-100 times.

If you want/need/desire 4WD and 300BHP then the R ticks the box its a perfect car for this, and better than the other options in the Audi range, or other manufactures at that price point.

In 2014 (and the same now )I wanted a VAQ diff, as light a car as possible, manual, I also didn't want the brakes biased LSD system in the R, not a fan of using brakes to go forward.  So a 3 door Golf GTI PP manual was the right choice FOR ME. 

If you are thinking of getting a R or GTI no amount of PCP equations or GFV figures will make a car make sense, other wise we will all just drive cars on the cheapest monthlys. No amount of people on a forum will help either. If people want the R its great news, go and get the car you want im sure you would love it to bits its a great car, others have different interests and ideas of what works for them...

[BigD]

I preferred the looks of the GTI. I wasn't even looking for a golf and saw a white one in the showroom. Loved the white with red accents and tartan seats.

[vidman2]

Having had a PP for 2 years and my R for 1 year my personal opinion is that the R is a much better car in every way except the look of the car.  The front of the PP with its Red stripe and fog light bumper is much better looking than the Rs grey accent and ugly black grills - required for the extra cooling the R needs, the colour of the R needs to be carefully chosen in my opinion or it can look really ugly.  Interior colour is a personal thing but I like both standard colourways equally.

On the road the 4 wheel drive R feels much more solid and planted - it is heavier - and saying goodbye to the PPs front tramp on a spirited getaway is a blessing.  The extra grip round corners inspires so much more confidence in the R.

Finally my R was over 15 seconds a lap faster round Bedford under the same sort of weather conditions than my PP-

[kalimon]

I wouldn't buy a gtd for several reasons, petrol engines are nicer to drive, the red stripe would be a must, gtd is what the driver used to be, its almost a gti, but not quite. The only thing I like more about the gtd is the exhaust exit is how the gti always was, but now with a pipe either side, there is no reason for that

The exhaust positioning is one of my favourite things on the GTI. Very distinctive and sets it apart from the GTD which could very well be a lesser model from the rear.
Regarding wheels, the first thing everybody commented on when I took delivery of my car was how fantastic the Austin alloys looked.
Each to their own

[mjh_056]

In November my GTD will be replaced with an R and hopping over the GTI

One of my frustrations with the GTD was the getaway and though improved with better tyres, the winter is closing in again and feathering my acceleration off the line was something wanted to avoid this time around.

Looked at another GTD or a GTI and then the R and it really was down to the 4 Motion which swayed it for me and for better getaways as once up and running my GTD is more than stable and accelerates really really well in the mid range and imagine that translates to the GTI equally.

Of course once made that decision there is the increased power that makes it a true hot hatch.

The GTD and GTI are great cars and would definitely been happy if had to select either as quite sad to see the GTD go if honest but the R ticked a big box for me in getaway traction and sealed the deal

[mjh_056]

You don't need a cheap Lease deal or GFV to make a car right for you, you also don't need much BHP to go fast either.  Some of the best Hot Hatch cars, and still the best over the last 10 years have way less BHP than the Golf R or the Civic or the Focus for that matter.  Its about how they perform as a whole, compared to 0-60/0-100 times.

If you want/need/desire 4WD and 300BHP then the R ticks the box its a perfect car for this, and better than the other options in the Audi range, or other manufactures at that price point.

In 2014 (and the same now )I wanted a VAQ diff, as light a car as possible, manual, I also didn't want the brakes biased LSD system in the R, not a fan of using brakes to go forward.  So a 3 door Golf GTI PP manual was the right choice FOR ME. 

If you are thinking of getting a R or GTI no amount of PCP equations or GFV figures will make a car make sense, other wise we will all just drive anything that was the on the cheapest monthly. No amount of people on a forum will help either. If people want the R its great news, go and get the car you want im sure you would love it to bits, others have different interests and ideas of what works for them...

My two previous cars were 170 BHP Quattro and it was fine for me and if 4Motion was even an option on the GTD I would have likely selected it, truly.

Have real 5 door need now and really dislike the Sportsback and have really loved my GTD so when weighed up what missed most was the 4WD and the car really like is the MK7 it left me with the R being my only real choice and just taking the extra BHP and seeing how much a difference it makes to me, so its sort of an experiment to.

If VW introduce a GTD - Bi Turbo 4 Motion next time out imagine be straight onto that

Its horses for courses, and its staying with a Golf and wanting 4 WD that was my decider

[davewilliams000]

I think the GTD is the best looking of the bunch - best standard wheels, no lipstick in the front light lenses.

Obviously I'm a bit biased, but agree with this. I don't particularly like either of the wheel options for the GTI (I would choose santiagos over austins if I had to), and not a fan of the single exhaust pipes either side. If I could afford the petrol and/or didn't have such a long commute then I'd pick an R over a GTI, especially since they've recently been given parity spec wise (nav now standard, etc)

Hated the diesel clatter especially on cold mornings. I was parking in an underground carpark at the time so that amplified it! It wasn't even particularly economical to compensate. The rear end of the MK7 GTD is very plain... VW made no effort at all with the rear valence or the exhausts (pea shooters). It could be a 1.6 blue motion...

Diesel clatter is barely noticeable to me with the soundaktor on normal, especially compared to my previous Mk7 fiesta 1.4TDCI which made a right racket. Also I kind of like that the GTD is understated a bit looks wise ... attracts less attention.