Which is the best - GTI or R?

[clubsport]

VW really need a GTR model, an R with the GTi trim and aesthetics, they would have all bases covered then.

[vidman2]

Had a M7Gtipp for 13 months before trading it in for an R (both DSG).  My opinion is that the R is a far superior car, feels better finished, quieter, except in Sport/Race, smoother, faster and far better road holding - just grips, squats and goes, gives supreme confidence under any road conditions, on winters at the moment which helps.

But thats just the opinion of a pensioner who wanted a fast discrete car

[JoeGTI]

VW really need a GTR model, an R with the GTi trim and aesthetics, they would have all bases covered then.

I think the Facelift is going that way... the current colour coded side skirts are gone in favour of the GTI style slim black ones. Less chrome bits on the front too.

[Margy]

My car right now is an Audi A3 2008 1.4TFSI Sport with 18 inch S-line alloys so I am expecting the ride to be firmer on the GTI and R but not sure by how much.

I came from an Audi A3 Black edition (S-Line)1.8TFSi on 18s' to 19inch Santiagos with DCC on my Golf. Even in sport mode the 19s are a smoother ride. The chassis platform on the mark7 in my opinion has a lot to do with it. The Audi fidgeted around a lot more on poor roads than the Golf does. Also, because you're driving a GTi life will be much better all round!

[wigit]

I have been reevaluating my take on fast golfs in the last few months and the use of the term 'fast' to describe cars recently

First R was pretty much modded from day 1 and not my daily driver and trips in the wife's R were limited, I have now racked up 10K in the R estate as a daily and now have BMW

The standard R in theory ticks all the boxes as an allrounder but for me actually bores me senseless

The chassis can cope with more power and torque but for me in stock form is lacking in the mid range so things you will think you will get the legs on you do not, there is plenty of traction which in reality makes it easy to make swift progress

I have to admit whilst I love the cloth and alcantara from a seat choice it just lacks the sense of being special inside and just does not have the wow

I think if you plan to mod then a R with DSG is a great base as it starts to challenge you but for me remains a blunt tool given the limitations of the haldex and power transfer lacks some finesse

Is the R fast, well off the line it is and can do this whatever the weather

Does the R really communicate with you, well having had time to reflect and drive a rwd BMW I have to say no, what you get back actually feels very diluted and you could never truly tell what it was going to do on a damp track

A lot of GTI loving friends have been ditching their Rs for similar reasons as they have not truly loved it and been trading them on

The internet if numbers obsessed and this comes to my use when peoples only response to a car is 'its fast' which is something banded around in relation to the TT-RS, I am sure it is but you never hear about its handling or steering

So in terms of GTI v R I actually have a hankering for a PP GTI next so I can hustle it a bit and have to drive it a bit and probably have more fun as a result, for the same reason I thought the Fiesta ST was way more fun than a R

I think the term by Clubsport of GTI-R is an interesting one as there still remains something iconic and they way GTI interiors, even the leather has the red stitching to set it apart.

So what is best is of course subjective but less can sometimes be more and whilst the R is superb it is just a bit boring as its too easy and you do not really have to drive it and for me is a now a car for going to A to B rather than going for a drive from A to B.

Interesting thing when the M2 turned up was I thought the R would be the better daily and bar snow and ice I have to say its the other way round, what the M does is just gives you feedback all the time through the wheel which after a life of Golfs takes some getting used to and might not be every ones cup of tea but oddly because the feedback is there in the rain I actually prefer the M as you have to drive it and actually remember how to apply the throttle and whilst firmer the damper set up means it actually rides better than the R, but oddly its a car I do not know how quick it is or what the actually bhp is because it all seems a bit secondary.

So for me I think if you bagged a normal Clubsport you made a shrewd move on the Golf front and I will be looking at GTIs in 12 months as well as the R for daily humdrum

[drisser]

Interesting  points especially as you had or have the M2.. I am close to pulling my deposit partly because of terrible service from BMW FS.. So much so I settled the finance on my 330 d a couple of weeks ago. But also I think although the the CS isn't cheap, do I think the m2 is 50% better given the extra price ?  Not sure tbh. 

Also I think the gti styling is far better than the R and I do feel the regular clubsport sits in a nice middle ground - exclusive appeal, seems fun to drive, no compromises like the CSS.. Far less common than the R, etc etc.

Like the 330d for me is the sweet spot in the 3 series range, the CS I hope is the same in the golf range. 

[Raffe]

for the same reason I thought the Fiesta ST was way more fun than a R

We sold a '14 Fiesta ST-2 for the R and I would concur with this statement, the Fiesta is far more fun stock for stock - has a proper old school hot hatch feel about it and this comes from someone who has owned both a 205 1.9 GTi and Clio Williams 1.

Plan is to mod my R as I would agree it's far too grown up in standard form, and have also been caught out with the mid range feeling flat if you're not running up and down the gears.

But I absolutely love how accessible the power is 100% of the time, it's a great all rounder and I wish it could be my daily rather than my 320d.

[Daz Auto]

for the same reason I thought the Fiesta ST was way more fun than a R

We sold a '14 Fiesta ST-2 for the R and I would concur with this statement, the Fiesta is far more fun stock for stock - has a proper old school hot hatch feel about it and this comes from someone who has owned both a 205 1.9 GTi and Clio Williams 1.

... could that be why the GTI might be a better buy for some.

This review seems to think so - https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-reviews/2017-volkswagen-golf-gti-review

"2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI review: why this is the best fast Golf money can buy"

"The cheapest fast Golf you can buy is arguably the best, because it harks back to what the Golf GTI has always been about. It’s a shopping car that’s been given a fun amount of power, without being over the top."

[Daz Auto]

Another interesting review of the GTI - https://www.carthrottle.com/post/2017-vw-golf-gti-review-proof-that-big-horsepower-isnt-necessary/

"So really, what our GTI drive at the Mk7.5 launch in Majorca constituted was a refresher drive to remind us of the hot-ish Golf’s place in the world. And hot damn, does it hit a sweet spot.

Yes, there are hot hatches around with outputs over 300bhp, clever front differentials (VW’s own VAQ diff is available in the GTI as part of the Performance Pack) and even all-wheel drive, but the beauty of the GTI is that it feels awesome without all of that."

[iandjm]

VW really need a GTR model, an R with the GTi trim and aesthetics, they would have all bases covered then.

I think the Facelift is going that way... the current colour coded side skirts are gone in favour of the GTI style slim black ones. Less chrome bits on the front too.

Cheaper to build too...