Clarkson on the Clubsport GTi 40.

[clubsport]

Even Clarkson couldn't get hold of a CS-S! 

Review here;

http://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/clarkson/clarkson-review-2016-volkswagen-golf-gti-clubsport-edition-40/

[Hertsman]

Even Clarkson couldn't get hold of a CS-S! 

Review here;

http://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/clarkson/clarkson-review-2016-volkswagen-golf-gti-clubsport-edition-40/

Plenty of eulogising about his own GTI and the the R and safe to say he is a fan of the MK 7 performance stable

"Of course it’s not as good as the Golf R. That’s a remarkable car. A brilliant car."

This made me laugh as personally do not even bother unless know the person talking to knows their cars - tend to say a sporty Golf which is normally greeted with a mild recognition of what a Golf is and move on in conversation.

If said GTI then likely most would go wow, really? so the R is for the road and not conversations

"my standard GTI — chosen because I can’t be bothered to explain to people at parties what an R is"

[matchboy]

Interesting to hear Clarkson's views, not only for his opinion but also because he actually drives a GTI as a daily.  Think he sums it up well, and what most of us have thought about the Clubsport - unless you're a real GTI enthusiast with money to burn then what's the point, especially with the R being the better car.  I can see why people would want one, and I think it will hold its value marginally better than the other variants in the Golf range, but at the end of the day for the normal car buyer it's not a car that makes sense given the other cars available in the hot hatch range.

[douglaslad]

As a normal car buyer it makes perfect sense for me to own a Clubsport simply because it suits my needs and I do not regard it as a better or lesser car in the hot hatch range. The R is an excellent car with the advantage of the Haldex system and more horse power over the Clubsport as well as being the quicker car, however the Clubsport is the better handling and sounds that much better, is not as bland or understated as the R particularly interior wise and overall looks the sportier of the two.

[kitbag1984]

As a normal car buyer it makes perfect sense for me to own a Clubsport simply because it suits my needs and I do not regard it as a better or lesser car in the hot hatch range. The R is an excellent car with the advantage of the Haldex system and more horse power over the Clubsport as well as being the quicker car, however the Clubsport is the better handling and sounds that much better, is not as bland or understated as the R particularly interior wise and overall looks the sportier of the two.

Agreed. Both cars are great. To me CS is simply much more fun. More like a Gti as it should be. The R to me is more grown up. Heavier and better suited to the fleet car set.

[fredgroves]

An R as a fleet car? You mean for someone to have as a company car?

Only if you have stupid money to burn. You will get crucified on your P11D for that amount of CO2!

[scanesare]

I love watching Clarkson's shows and I'm eager for the GT premier this week but that's because he's a hilarious person to listen to talking about cars, more like a stand-up comedian, and not due to his deep appreciation or understanding of car tech or driving thrills. It's rather obvious after all these years that he does not know or understand better than the average Top Gear audience guy (even that is debatable), he has even admitted it a few times, and that's fine because it makes it even more amusing. Still remember the GTI vs 135i test where the BMW clearly bettered the Golf in every area but since it could not carry a nuclear head and then "tried to kill him in a straight line" the GTI was nominated the winner - epic!  ). That's the level of in-depth car analysis and seriousness (!) you can expect from him, and I hope he stays that way because not many can do that.

As a result, and as much as I am a fun of him, I couldn't have disagreed more with several of his reviews over the years. But then again, he is not the sort of serious car journalist with the ability to pick up all sorts of particularities on a chassis, take the car near its limits and give an accurate picture of what it feels like when driven there. There are other much more suitable people to follow on these matters. Which, for some of us, are infinitely more important than being able to dump all the throttle during a launch or in the wet (things that Clarkson loves among other silly stuff in general  )

[Hertsman]

An R as a fleet car? You mean for someone to have as a company car?

Only if you have stupid money to burn. You will get crucified on your P11D for that amount of CO2!

GTD is quite a common company car and obviously comparable to the R as from same stable.

GTD to R

£4 k approx more for R over GTD

C02 is 127 for GTD and 159 for the R which is quite remarkable for the R (if believe it  ) given a 1.6 Astra GTC is in 155 region (if memory serves me from colleague who selected one) as are 2.0 Ford Focus and Mondeo which are all seen as 'good' company cars - So all fall in the 28% BIK and all push £27-30 k in value

BMW are pretty good on the C02

Think the GTI is only just a smudge lower on C02

But the R is more comparable than think with other makes, and particularly those which you would consider company drives but are quite a way behind the VW, Audi and BMW on emissions.

Obviously you can go super green and cheap on company car, but if want a decent experience the GTD is a good compromise for a company driver but the R is not really a chasm apart and when compared to the Fords and Vauxhall where BIK is directly comparable and P11D value is not as far apart as expect, then R is also not the leap that think would be for what getting.

Of course economy is another thing, but if doing long runs even that's far more decent than expect or should be

[kitbag1984]

An R as a fleet car? You mean for someone to have as a company car?

Only if you have stupid money to burn. You will get crucified on your P11D for that amount of CO2!

Was basing this on the number of Rs that I see near me and the profile of driver. There must be a company here who has them as company vehicles. Have seen more than star are gti so assumed they must be fleet. Maybe Severn Trent?

[brettblade]

I love watching Clarkson's shows and I'm eager for the GT premier this week but that's because he's a hilarious person to listen to talking about cars, more like a stand-up comedian, and not due to his deep appreciation or understanding of car tech or driving thrills. It's rather obvious after all these years that he does not know or understand better than the average Top Gear audience guy (even that is debatable), he has even admitted it a few times, and that's fine because it makes it even more amusing. Still remember the GTI vs 135i test where the BMW clearly bettered the Golf in every area but since it could not carry a nuclear head and then "tried to kill him in a straight line" the GTI was nominated the winner - epic!  ). That's the level of in-depth car analysis and seriousness (!) you can expect from him, and I hope he stays that way because not many can do that.

As a result, and as much as I am a fun of him, I couldn't have disagreed more with several of his reviews over the years. But then again, he is not the sort of serious car journalist with the ability to pick up all sorts of particularities on a chassis, take the car near its limits and give an accurate picture of what it feels like when driven there. There are other much more suitable people to follow on these matters. Which, for some of us, are infinitely more important than being able to dump all the throttle during a launch or in the wet (things that Clarkson loves among other silly stuff in general  )

Agreed, it's entertainment rather than documentary/factual - and that's no bad thing!