Golf R... Why buy a Golf GTI?

[GTD1414]

I've also noticed that a few members on Audi sport forum are looking at/have ordered the new 190 2.0 TFSI over the 184 2.0 TDI. Both available in quattro..

Any reason for that? Is the 190 petrol significantly cheaper than the 184 oil burner?

I'm guessing that it probably is - isn't a GTI cheaper than a GTD?

The one thing I admire Audi (and BMW I think) is that AWD is just a tick box option - its not restricted to certain editions or engine or gearbox types.

Having said that though, its an arm and a leg, you loose a lot of boot space and it adds weight (although I have been told by a friend that in the R the extra rear weight actually settles the Mk7 over bumpy old UK roads)

I think its people again not doing enough annual mileage for a diesel/wanting the more quieter, refined petrol.

I don't really go on ASN as much as I used to, but take a bucket of popcorn with me when I do. 

Just looked at there is about £400 difference in price and quattro is now only available from Sport trim upwards.


 

[agreen7]

Short answer- when I ordered my company car the R wasn’t available or released so went with a GTI PP.

My GTI is on 76k in 26 months so have just ordered a new car and although I test drove an R for a few days and thus did back to backs with my GTI, I wasn’t blown away. It didn’t really feel much faster - the dials said it was faster - but it wasn’t the contrast I was expecting. Both were manual transmission cars so I would think the DSG might feel a bit quicker and it was dry when I had it though.

R is a cracking car and until this week I was about to order one but I prefer the GTI interior (it is what you spend the most time looking at after all) and it didn’t feel much different but would cost me a decent wedge more money in tax and contribution on my car scheme. I also had 2 days with a M140i which changed my mind - not that it is better, it is just different I suppose. I found the Rs strengths were the M140i’s weakness and vice versa. Might put a review up at some point incase anyone is interested in a GTI drivers opinion/comparison of the 3.

[Marcus P]

Totally agree with this,  after 2 years in a GTI PP I took an R for a test drive and was sadly underwhelmed. I was expecting more of a step up but was just too similar to justify the outlay/exclusivity/downgrade in looks (IMO). As this was my 2nd GTI on the bounce (ED30 previous) I couldnt have had 3 performance Golfs in a row anyhoo, variety being the spice of life and all. I ordered a shadow black Focus RS in Feb, should be arriving in Nov.
Ps would be interested in the review

[mcmaddy]

How would a remapped gtd go against a pp gti? Would the consensus still be gti?

[monkeyhanger]

Totally agree with this,  after 2 years in a GTI PP I took an R for a test drive and was sadly underwhelmed. I was expecting more of a step up but was just too similar to justify the outlay/exclusivity/downgrade in looks (IMO). As this was my 2nd GTI on the bounce (ED30 previous) I couldnt have had 3 performance Golfs in a row anyhoo, variety being the spice of life and all. I ordered a shadow black Focus RS in Feb, should be arriving in Nov.
Ps would be interested in the review

Were you allowed to really wind it up on the test drive? The R flexes most of its muscle above 5k revs. If I keep mine below 4k revs, it's barely quicker than a GTD driven hard. Sometimes you get an enthusiastic salesman (if you're accompanied on a test drive, and sometimes they sh!t themselves when you take it above 3k revs.

The RS will undoubtedly be a great drive and if Ford keep it a properly rare car, the residuals should be great, it is a lot thirstier than the R though (if that bothers you).

[monkeyhanger]

How would a remapped gtd go against a pp gti? Would the consensus still be gti?

Mine with the DTUK box was noticeably (but not hugely) quicker than a few GTIs and equal to a Focus ST (250ps) once moving - but a bit laggy off the line (if it isn't tramping on Bridgestones).

[Marcus P]

Totally agree with this,  after 2 years in a GTI PP I took an R for a test drive and was sadly underwhelmed. I was expecting more of a step up but was just too similar to justify the outlay/exclusivity/downgrade in looks (IMO). As this was my 2nd GTI on the bounce (ED30 previous) I couldnt have had 3 performance Golfs in a row anyhoo, variety being the spice of life and all. I ordered a shadow black Focus RS in Feb, should be arriving in Nov.
Ps would be interested in the review

Were you allowed to really wind it up on the test drive? The R flexes most of its muscle above 5k revs. If I keep mine below 4k revs, it's barely quicker than a GTD driven hard. Sometimes you get an enthusiastic salesman (if you're accompanied on a test drive, and sometimes they sh!t themselves when you take it above 3k revs.

The RS will undoubtedly be a great drive and if Ford keep it a properly rare car, the residuals should be great, it is a lot thirstier than the R though (if that bothers you).

I actually took 2 out, in the first one the salesman directed me to a quiet country lane and said "Give it the beans down here". I redlined it in the first 2 gears then dropped it into third and had massive clutch slip and zero acceleration! I tried again and got same result. Salesman did know what to say. His only response was "That's why you should buy new!" . We went back to the dealership and got another which was fine.
My thoughts summarised were that the Golf R is definately faster, (as you say it's noticeable in the higher revs). It also feels more planted and I felt like I was sitting lower, which were all plusses. There is no doubt it's an awesome car, the positives didn't outweigh the negatives for me coming from a GTI PP personally. I dare say I'll be in a Mk 8 or 9 Golf R though after having a change. 
Really looking good forward to the RS though, the test drive blew me away. Quite linear acceleration which didn't push you back in your seat as much as I expected and the interior isn't up to much but it just felt like the whole car has been engineered with fun in mind.

[Booth11]

R is a cracking car and until this week I was about to order one but I prefer the GTI interior (it is what you spend the most time looking at after all)

Do you spend most of your time looking at the interior?  Can honestly say I spend minimal amount of time looking at my car's interior.  Spend most of my time looking out of the window. 

[monkeyhanger]

R is a cracking car and until this week I was about to order one but I prefer the GTI interior (it is what you spend the most time looking at after all)

Do you spend most of your time looking at the interior?  Can honestly say I spend minimal amount of time looking at my car's interior.  Spend most of my time looking out of the window.

It's as much the feel as the look. Recent Vauxhall interiors look surprisingly good, the interior of a female colleague's Vauxhall Adam has an interior that is a match for the wife's Audi A1 (which isn't half as good as it thinks it is).

[monkeyhanger]

MarcusP: Clutch slip on 2 Rs during test drive? I presume that they were both DSGs? I say that because Manual Rs are rarer than rocking horse sh!te as dealer demos, I couldn't find a manual R in the whole North East to try when doing the rounds for test drives prior to ordering. I had to try a DSG R and a manual GTI to get the whole picture.

Maybe the DSG unit backs off a bit when being stretched to the limit, as a safety device?