Golf R... Why buy a Golf GTI?

[clubsport]

I don't mind the front wheel spin potential from the GTi, you just drive to the conditions and consider your inputs to the throttle. This has been a  feature of Fwd hot hatches since the mk1 GTi.

I have the rwd angle covered with other cars, I have owned sports 4wd and driven quite a few others, for the most part it is point 'n squirt requiring little skill without much feedback, it gets a bit dull after a while.

Each to their own, but I quite like the fact you still have to drive a Fwd GTi well to get the most out of it.

[scanesare]

It is disappointing that the Mk7 GTD and GTI still suffer from tramping. I though the PP might have resolved the issue, but apparently not. I have had a few big moments where tramping nearly caused me to cause an accident.

I can only assume very bad roads and average tyres and rainy weather ? Most of my past cars were FWD and near or above 200bhp and since a couple of weeks living with the Clubsport which has even more power, yet I've never had a problem putting the power down and launching into roundabouts etc. If it was raining I'd just modulate the throttle more carefully and accelerate smoother to 2nd gear (something a lot of people forget when it comes to powerful FWDs) and no problems even with the Bridgestones which are merely adequate for the car's potential.

[Daz Auto]

I don't mind the front wheel spin potential from the GTi, you just drive to the conditions and consider your inputs to the throttle. This has been a  feature of Fwd hot hatches since the mk1 GTi.

I have the rwd angle covered with other cars, I have owned sports 4wd and driven quite a few others, for the most part it is point 'n squirt requiring little skill without much feedback, it gets a bit dull after a while.

Each to their own, but I quite like the fact you still have to drive a Fwd GTi well to get the most out of it.

The annoying thing is that I can get in my wife's 1.6L 105hp A3 - stop at a junction - see a gap - mash the accelerator - don't have to worry about the car tramping.

My wife also drives my car regulary. I doubt if she would try the above manoeuvre. But...

[Daz Auto]

I can only assume very bad roads and average tyres and rainy weather ? Most of my past cars were FWD and near or above 200bhp and since a couple of weeks living with the Clubsport which has even more power, yet I've never had a problem putting the power down and launching into roundabouts etc. If it was raining I'd just modulate the throttle more carefully and accelerate smoother to 2nd gear (something a lot of people forget when it comes to powerful FWDs) and no problems even with the Bridgestones which are merely adequate for the car's potential.

The first time was in the dry at traffic lights. I was turning right through on-coming traffic. The car hopped on the spot for a full second, until I backed off the accelerator. Luckily I still had room to go. I had never heard off or experienced tramping before. That was on the original Bridgestones. When the front tryes were done I gave away the rear tyres and got a full set of new tyres. Hated those Bridgestones.

The second time was at a very busy junction in the wet. I'm not sure which tyres were on the car. Initially the car slowly hopped across the road. Very unexpected and dangerous! This time I realised what was happening and started pumping (or modulating if you prefer) the accelerator looking for grip/acceleration.

Other times have been at traffic lights much to my embarrassment. Nothing worse that just sitting there while the Fiesta beside you takes off and the BMW behind probably thinks you're stalled

[Daz Auto]

Back on topic...

Thank you very much to everyone that has posted. After watching and reading some reviews I was conflicted about which car to buy next. The opinions of actual owners have helped me a lot. As I tend to keep my cars for around 6 years I want to try and make the best decision.

I don't need a GTD again - doing a lot less miles now. Though I agree with those who say it is the best looking.

I don't need a Golf R - for numerous reasons. Though 4WD would be nice for wet performance and no risk of tramping.

The GTI PP will (probably) be my next car. It will be a nice jump in performance for me. I'm sure I will learn to live with the standard alloys, the tartan seats and the lipstic on the front (No offence is meant to those who have those options - I'm just not a fan.)

[mjh_056]

Back on topic...

Thank you very much to everyone that has posted. After watching and reading some reviews I was conflicted about which car to buy next. The opinions of actual owners have helped me a lot. As I tend to keep my cars for around 6 years I want to try and make the best decision.

I don't need a GTD again - doing a lot less miles now. Though I agree with those who say it is the best looking.

I don't need a Golf R - for numerous reasons. Though 4WD would be nice for wet performance and no risk of tramping.

The GTI PP will (probably) be my next car. It will be a nice jump in performance for me. I'm sure I will learn to live with the standard alloys, the tartan seats and the lipstic on the front (No offence is meant to those who have those options - I'm just not a fan.)

My mileage dropped significantly from when got the GTD so its not needed for that now but still think its the best car of the three for combining everything you would need equally.

So nearly went for the GTI PP myself it really was the AWD that swung it in selecting the R.

To be honest there never has been a wrong decision on the performance Golfs, its just selecting what you value most at the extreme, performance or economy

So to select the one in the middle leaves you a really fine car that you would happily live 6 years with - I could easily go another three years on my GTD if did not have to exchange

Now chose the car, you now have the specification to choose, the next minefield 

If was choosing GTI for myself it would be CSG, and was little gutted it was not available on the R will start the ball rolling there

[daveyc79]

Only owned my mk7 gti since last Wednesday and coming from a mk2 focus rs the golf R seems like the logical choice but I chose the gti because I like the heritage, checked seats, prefered the looks and I decided i wanted something quiet and comfortable but quick yet I could fully use the power as when flooring the focus it was crazy fast yet you could hardly really use the power. A massive winner for the gti was the fact a lot of golf R's are being stolen which was something that spoilt owning the focus whereas the gti seems to get left alone in comparison

[buddfridge]

Only owned my mk7 gti since last Wednesday and coming from a mk2 focus rs the golf R seems like the logical choice but I chose the gti because I like the heritage, checked seats, prefered the looks and I decided i wanted something quiet and comfortable but quick yet I could fully use the power as when flooring the focus it was crazy fast yet you could hardly really use the power. A massive winner for the gti was the fact a lot of golf R's are being stolen which was something that spoilt owning the focus whereas the gti seems to get left alone in comparison
[/quot

You may want to consider a pedal box for the gti, it does transform the car if you like a relationship between pedal and throttle response.

[matchboy]

Nice, I'm rather surprised really to find out that the average forum misconception (or plain ignorance) about what the AWD is and how it works (especially Haldex impementations) that keeps the myths strong about better grip/handling is not strong here. By my experience in many forums this is not usually the case. Still remember an epic thread where someone was swearing he could feel his Haldex Quattro pulling him to the apex once he had overdone it, when everybody was trying to explain to him that was the XDS/ESC intervening and that in the described scenario it just wasn't mechanically or physically possible to get any benefits from the 4 wheels being driven (quite the opposite). Still not sure he's convinced as of today...

To a few Audi owners' defence, I have read some of the best arguments and technical discussions against the myth of AWD offering better handlind/cornering right in Audi forums. It's so much more important when that comes from actual owners.

And yet, of all the cars I've had over the years, the only ones that could get out of my road when it was icy and/or snow were quattro Audi's and the Golf R.  Which are both AWD.  All the FWD cars couldn't.  And I didn't even bother with the RWD cars    So, despite what you're saying, I'd have to side with the 'ignorant' members of this forum 

[mjh_056]

Nice, I'm rather surprised really to find out that the average forum misconception (or plain ignorance) about what the AWD is and how it works (especially Haldex impementations) that keeps the myths strong about better grip/handling is not strong here. By my experience in many forums this is not usually the case. Still remember an epic thread where someone was swearing he could feel his Haldex Quattro pulling him to the apex once he had overdone it, when everybody was trying to explain to him that was the XDS/ESC intervening and that in the described scenario it just wasn't mechanically or physically possible to get any benefits from the 4 wheels being driven (quite the opposite). Still not sure he's convinced as of today...

To a few Audi owners' defence, I have read some of the best arguments and technical discussions against the myth of AWD offering better handlind/cornering right in Audi forums. It's so much more important when that comes from actual owners.

And yet, of all the cars I've had over the years, the only ones that could get out of my road when it was icy and/or snow were quattro Audi's and the Golf R.  Which are both AWD.  All the FWD cars couldn't.  And I didn't even bother with the RWD cars    So, despite what you're saying, I'd have to side with the 'ignorant' members of this forum 

The AWD is definitely good at getting you moving where others struggle and in some cases fail

The AWD is however not much use when up and running on snow and you lock up, you skid as much and as far as anyone else and that's the real point that needs to be understood.

The AWD on standard tyres is not giving you anymore traction under braking and maneuvering than any other car.

My Quattro got me out of the company car park which was, and without exaggeration, due to the sloped nature, littered with discarded BMW's

So the getaway in wet and if we do have snow the ability to get moving are the definite plus factors