Author Topic: Going to look at a GTI…  (Read 7869 times)

Offline greencode

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #30 on: 05 March 2017, 09:21 »
I can confirm you will not find the cabin space too roomy compared to a Type-R.  I had 4x Type-R's prior to buying a GTI PP (2013) I felt like the cabin space was perfect and could not fault the car compared to my Type-R's.  I am now driving a Golf R so you can see I now like my Golfs.

Thanks for this. I think it's because I'm so used to the Type R now that anything else seems strange. Like throwing away that comfortable pair of shoes and getting a new pair and bedding them in ;-)

There's always plenty of helpful people on here prepared to share experiences, thoughts and opinions, good and bad. You certainly won't bore anyone to death! Also worth looking back a page or two as there has already been an R vs GTI thread recently and many of your questions may have already been covered.

Will do, really appreciate yours and everyone else's input.

Greencode, when you question whether a GTi or an R is better for your money?

I think that is down to you, coming from a Type R you may like the Fwd PP with the Vaq electronic diff, or feel like a change for a 4wd.

I have owned and driven fast compact 4wd cars and for me it all becomes a bit one dimensional. I also prefer the aesthetics of the GTi.
Personally I am not about to move to an R.

Others will have the opposite view which is good, the point being buy what you prefer rather than what you perceive as better for your money. 

Yeah, I did test drive a GTI a few months back when I was looking at a GTI or M135 but then stopped looking. When I'm ready I'll have a real world test drive of both and see what I fancy.

Offline Exonian

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #31 on: 05 March 2017, 10:09 »
I have a workmate who has a JDM Type R with fancy LSD and rock hard suspension.
If you're used to driving a CTR then the power delivery of the GTI will feel a bit funny as it's almost Diesel like (compared to the Honda as opposed to an actual Diesel) in that it does all its stuff low down in the rev range. In that respect the power delivery is very useable in day to day driving but you'll probably find yourself revving the engine far too high and thinking it's a bit flat rather than using the broad spread of torque to catapult you along.
Which is where the R comes in. The R does its best stuff above 4000rpm.
‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline greencode

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #32 on: 05 March 2017, 12:40 »
I have a workmate who has a JDM Type R with fancy LSD and rock hard suspension.
If you're used to driving a CTR then the power delivery of the GTI will feel a bit funny as it's almost Diesel like (compared to the Honda as opposed to an actual Diesel) in that it does all its stuff low down in the rev range. In that respect the power delivery is very useable in day to day driving but you'll probably find yourself revving the engine far too high and thinking it's a bit flat rather than using the broad spread of torque to catapult you along.
Which is where the R comes in. The R does its best stuff above 4000rpm.

That's the thing with Type R. The V-Tec doesn't kick in until around 7,000 revs and by that time you're generally going well above the speed limit!!

Offline Exonian

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #33 on: 05 March 2017, 13:17 »
I have a workmate who has a JDM Type R with fancy LSD and rock hard suspension.
If you're used to driving a CTR then the power delivery of the GTI will feel a bit funny as it's almost Diesel like (compared to the Honda as opposed to an actual Diesel) in that it does all its stuff low down in the rev range. In that respect the power delivery is very useable in day to day driving but you'll probably find yourself revving the engine far too high and thinking it's a bit flat rather than using the broad spread of torque to catapult you along.
Which is where the R comes in. The R does its best stuff above 4000rpm.

That's the thing with Type R. The V-Tec doesn't kick in until around 7,000 revs and by that time you're generally going well above the speed limit!!

I found much the same thing with the R, although it's an amazingly flexible engine, to get the best out of it you had to be using the full rev range and in which case the speed limits would be exceeded by quite an impressive amount very quickly.
I ended up adding a JB1 tuning box which gave the engine a lot more mid range torque and added a whole new dimension to the power delivery, but in effect I then drove the car like a Diesel riding on the torque and rarely used high revs due to the aforementioned speed limits so it kind of defeated the object of having such an engine...  :grin:

‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 

Offline greencode

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #34 on: 11 March 2017, 16:45 »
So, I went and had a test drive of both the GTI with performance pack and R - both in white and 3dr Around £19.5k for both (late 2014). TBH, loved them both! I thought my Type R as quick and accelerated well but blimey they were rapid!

The GTI had reverse camera and park assist whereas the R was basic spec.

View them here http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/dealer/Golf-GTI/GTD/R/GTE/2.0-TSI-R-300-PS/Northampton/3853633-606186679-47073.aspx?srcmdc=se_ce_re_ and http://usedcars.volkswagen.co.uk/dealer/Golf-GTI/GTD/R/GTE/2.0-TSI-GTI-230-PS/Northampton/3708607-606214246-47073.aspx?srcmdc=se_ce_re_

Umm, now I'm undecided. Wish I'd never tested both!!

Offline Zack

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #35 on: 11 March 2017, 16:50 »
R 4wd!

Offline greencode

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #36 on: 11 March 2017, 17:02 »
R 4wd!

I think it will be the R in the end. The pull was ridiculous and it looked and sounded great.

Based on insurance, tax and doing 5,000 miles a year it'd be around £275 cheaper than my Type R! The GTI would be a £470 cheaper.

Just wondering as well what are the service prices for the R? Did look at the fixed price service prices on the main VW site but it doesn't include the Golf R.

Offline Zack

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #37 on: 11 March 2017, 20:02 »
Phone a couple of dealers and ask, believe R is no different to other petrol cars, other than around 4 or 5 yrs the Haldex oil needs changing.

Offline I wanted a GTi

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #38 on: 11 March 2017, 20:43 »
Personally if it were me I would get a GTi but not necessarily that one.
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Offline drisser

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Re: Going to look at a GTI…
« Reply #39 on: 11 March 2017, 21:42 »

There will be less GTi's around than R's that's for sure.  I can see why people go for the R but there are just too many on the roads now for me.

When I went to see my CS today the sales guy told me they sell around 20 R's a month !!
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