Which is the best - GTI or R?

[DorsetDC]

For those who, like me, have had the pleasure of owning both, which is the best for everyday use?  I love my R, the performance and handling are outstanding, but the wonderful Dorset roads leave a lot to be desired in terms of smoothness, especially when on 19" wheels.  For 75% of the time I drive around the town so my old  GTI PP on 18" wheels gave a more comfortable ride, especially when carrying passengers.  The reason for this question, I visited my local dealer yesterday to pick up my wife's car and was offered a relatively good deal for a trade in for the revised model. 

[Bungleaio]

I don't think there is a best, they are both pretty much the same.

[kalimon]

Maybe the GTI clubsport is the best all rounder.
GTI looks with a bit more power if needed. No four wheel drive but a lighter, nimbler car.
Or maybe I'm wrong

[Exonian]

Maybe the GTI clubsport is the best all rounder.
GTI looks with a bit more power if needed. No four wheel drive but a lighter, nimbler car.
Or maybe I'm wrong

No I think you're right.
Just a shame it's a bit ugly from the front. Too many angles going on.
From the driver's seat I'd imagine it was by far one of the best cars out there that VW have ever made.


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For some reason I think my R rode better than any of the GTI's I've driven in that although it felt a bit more hefty it didn't crash over sharp ridges in the road which every GTI (and GTD for that matter) seemed to do.

If you're 'on it' then obviously the superior traction and top end power of the R trumps the GTI hands down. Looks wise it's 50/50 with the R looking lower and meaner in a discreet sort of way and the pre FL GTI looks a bit prettier, especially in lighter colours with the red accents giving it a bit of contrast.
I'm not overly sold on the looks of the FL cars in any of the pics I've seen, or vids for that matter. The frontal styling has just got a bit too busy for me. I can understand why VW did this and I don't dislike it, but I'm just not sold on it, preferring the simplicity of the earlier mk7's. The rear of the FL cars looks a bit better.

My R was quite a thirsty beast, but probably no worse than my mk5 GTI and my mk7 GTI one of the most frugal petrol engine's I've ever owned. The easy going and very flexible power delivery of the GTI made it feel a bit flat at times where the R comes alive over 4000rpm. So I guess it depends on how often you use over 4000rpm because there ain't much between them below that point.

Inside? The GTI has a bit more panache to its styling but the dials in the pre FL R are absolutely lovely. I also found the seats in the R (non leather) to be amongst the most comfortable I've ever sat on/in. Being as it's basically exactly the same seat as a GTI/D then it must be the nice alcantara bolsters that are so grippy.


Ask the same question on the R forum and prepare for the incredulous comments about how the two names should never even be mentioned in the same breath!! 
(and they'd be absolutely right if you lived somewhere with no speed limits)

[TweedsideR]

I've recently changed over from a GTi PP to an R. I always thought the GTi was a great car to drive, but it made me a bit nervous if I had to accelerate quickly to get out of a side road into traffic, especially in the wet, because wheelspin could get me into a lot of trouble. Discretion was always the better part of valour.
With the R that is simply not an issue, it just gets away from a standing start with no drama and was superbly controllable  in the recent snow. In simple terms the R gives you much more confidence that the car will do what you want it to when you want it to.
I'm still in the mythical "running in" period below 1000 miles so I haven't really given it full wellie, but it does feel a bit quicker than the GTi when overtaking on country roads. The R seats  immediately felt more comfortable, but the turning circle is horrible compared to the GTi.
So it's swings and roundabouts and will depend a lot on your typical journeys and your own driving style.

[p3asa]

I may have read your question wrong but it looks like the only thing you aren't keen on in the R is the 19" wheels.

Can you not just change them to 18"

Problem sorted 

I agree with Tweedside and its one of the reasons I went from GTD --> R. Apart from always promising myself one 
The wheels spinning and not even just from a standing start but when you are rolling is pretty bad.
My wife has the GTI and while it feels slightly lighter it still does it.
Heaven knows what the Clubsport & S are like.

[Exonian]

I may have read your question wrong but it looks like the only thing you aren't keen on in the R is the 19" wheels.

Can you not just change them to 18"

Problem sorted 

I agree with Tweedside and its one of the reasons I went from GTD --> R. Apart from always promising myself one 
The wheels spinning and not even just from a standing start but when you are rolling is pretty bad.
My wife has the GTI and while it feels slightly lighter it still does it.
Heaven knows what the Clubsport & S are like.

You can't beat a bit of childish wheelspin!! 

[kalimon]

Only suffered wheel spin once in my GTI and that was my own fault for driving like a tit.

Maybe calm your driving style and you'll save your tyres and not feel the need for all wheel drive 😀

[p3asa]

You can't beat a bit of childish wheelspin!! 

No you can't.    But when the Nissan Micra sitting next to you zooms into that roundabout gap and you don't move an inch, it all becomes very embarrassing 

[mattwilko92]

I chose the GTI over the R for these reasons:-
(all in my opinion of course)

• Styling - I prefer the GTI styling to the R, i find it less 'in your face' (chrome mirrors, quad exhuasts)
• My Mrs uses my GTI every day for work and i use it evenings and weekends (i have a company car) So the GTI works extremely well for this
• Insurance - The insurance is a lot lower for me on the GTI (Im 24)
• Security - It seems a lot of R's are going missing off peoples drives, which i'd rather not happen. Not saying my GTI won't go missing, but it seems more common with the R's
• Running costs - My GTI is a keeper and i think overall the running costs will be less. Factoring in fuel, servicing, insurance, tax.