Author Topic: Golf GTI or the R  (Read 34379 times)

Offline SRGTD

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #50 on: 07 January 2018, 15:01 »
Great post Exonian, I was hoping you'd show up  :smiley:

+1 to a great post. Always enjoy reading your musings.
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl

Offline king monkey

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #51 on: 07 January 2018, 15:15 »
Exonian, that made a lot of sense. And it’s from ownership of the cars which we all know is very different to a test drive.
Current: Clubsport45, white, DCC.

Past: Mk5 gti blue graphite, mk6 gti carbon grey, mk6 gti edition 35 candy white, Mk7 pp gti tornado red, 2016 Audi S3 sportback, 2019 7.5 Golf R.

Offline I wanted a GTi

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #52 on: 07 January 2018, 18:02 »
+1 to that, and some considerable endurance displayed :laugh:

+2 to that.
5 door GTD in night blue collected 1/3/17

Offline P6GTD

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #53 on: 07 January 2018, 21:10 »
That’s what makes me check this forum every day...... more than once!
Thanks mate.
2019 5Dr Mk7.5 Performance DSG. Indium Grey with DCC (and TCR spoiler)

(Previously two Mk7 GTIs, Mk6 GTI and Mk6 GTD)

Offline CHB100

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #54 on: 07 January 2018, 23:44 »
That’s what makes me check this forum every day...... more than once!
Thanks mate.

I wonder if Exonian or any others have experienced the latest R with it’s sublime almost linear 7 Speed DSG. I also find it very odd that this chap whom is held in such regard doesn’t look to overtake come any straight yet tunes an R and insists and on manual gearboxes. Which are usually regarded for that purpose as in track driving and being in total control.
Not that there are some points in his script that brush with the facts. His leeengthy piece is his opinion at this point in his life.
Just bringing some balance, at my age and with a background of 50 years driving manual/Auto I think the DSG box one of the greatest automotive advancements. Everyone one will want one even Ex eventually.
Manuals are for 2 seater dropheads, like my Elan and Lotus 7 back in the 70s IMO of course, then I am getting on a bit.
BTW All Golfs are great.
« Last Edit: 07 January 2018, 23:50 by CHB100 »
Arrived 15/5/17 Mk 7.5 R Lapiz 5dr DSG, Prets, Pan Roof, DCC, Rear View Cam.
Our other car is a Mk7 GTI DSG 5dr Tungsten, Vienna, Rear View Cam, Park assist.

Offline scanesare

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #55 on: 08 January 2018, 00:38 »

I wonder if Exonian or any others have experienced the latest R with it’s sublime almost linear 7 Speed DSG. I also find it very odd that this chap whom is held in such regard doesn’t look to overtake come any straight yet tunes an R and insists and on manual gearboxes. Which are usually regarded for that purpose as in track driving and being in total control.
Not that there are some points in his script that brush with the facts. His leeengthy piece is his opinion at this point in his life.
Just bringing some balance, at my age and with a background of 50 years driving manual/Auto I think the DSG box one of the greatest automotive advancements. Everyone one will want one even Ex eventually.
Manuals are for 2 seater dropheads, like my Elan and Lotus 7 back in the 70s IMO of course, then I am getting on a bit.
BTW All Golfs are great.

Having extra power does not mean you are enforced to use it at every occasion (I went through my last 2 fuel tanks probably never surpassing 4K rpm in my tuned car) and as for "better control" it is in no way related with driving like a t**t all the time, I wonder how you created that relation to be honest.

Despite being a DSG fan, I have to admit there are moments (although rare) that a manual would have served me better, on the road and on the track. I chose the DSG (and will probably choose it again) for its superior performance for most of the time. This does not mean it's perfect though. I doubt the new DSG7 with all its "sublime-ness" is any different on that matter. It will still up-shift on its own near the limiter and it will still suffer from the typical DSG WTF moments with the right "speed-gear-throttle" combo esp. when driven in Manual.


By the way, great write-up from Exonian. The parts where he speaks about traction, grip, and some other technical facts and characteristics between the two cars, (any cars that share these or similar underpinnings) should be pinned at the start of every VAG car forum, for both certain owners' safety and the unpleasant process of re-explaining the basics every now and then.

Offline Exonian

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #56 on: 08 January 2018, 00:47 »
Thanks very much for the positive comments. I’m humbled. I really wasn’t expecting any especially as I threw in a load of tongue in cheek quips at all the models, and DSG gearboxes.  :whistle:

And thanks CHB for bringing the expected backlash. Someone had to be first.
I also had an earlier PM saying I was being anti DSG R.
As I said in my opening, my experiences are probably irrelevant to most people and just my own opinions with a lot of tongue in cheek comments thrown in to liven up a potentially dull post.

I was taken to task about being negative about those getting a fuel allowance. That’s not correct. Maybe I came across wrong. I was just stating my opinion that if someone is paying for your fuel you won’t necessarily have the same attitude as a private motorist on a tight budget. Everyone’s circumstances are different and some will happily trade extra cost for extra performance (myself included). It’s a simple fact of science that to get 300 PS out of a 2.0 engine it’s going to take more fuel than getting 230 PS. Those that want a trade off between running costs and a still perfectly good handling and decently quick, very well equipped car have the option of a GTI.
To CHB:
I’m not anti DSG.
I enjoy the control a manual gearbox gives me and I don’t give a toss about a few seconds here and there. I don’t race super cars on the public roads.
7 gears are ridiculously excessive for a high torque engine in a country with a 70mph speed limit.
I don’t overtake cars randomly unless they’re dawdling or driving erratically. Chances are you overtake one car doing 58 mph on a NSL 60 stretch and a quarter of a mile later you’ll be on your brakes slowing for another 58 mph car. I save my motoring kicks for late at night and very early in the morning when everyone else is in bed (shift worker) and choose to just run with the herd to save stress, wear and tear and fuel during the heavy traffic hours. Yeah, I’m getting old.
Why did I modify my R? Because I felt it lacked a bit of mid range torque. Once modified I rarely took it over 4000 rpm as beyond that it was generally in licence losing territory. How much power and how many gears do you really need in the UK?
I have always tuned my turbo cars (current one excepted) to give me more mid range torque for a smoother and more flexible drive so I can cover ground without resorting to a full on aerobic excercise with the controls.

I’d say the opposite. DSG for track where you’re in PlayStation mode wanting nanosecond gear changes going sequentially up and down the box one gear at a time, and manual for a road car that doesn’t sit in traffic jams all day long. Manual allows block changes for smooth progress and clutch dumps to get you out of unexpected trouble. I’d rather rely on myself and not just electronic nanny systems. A mixture of both is lovely!

If anyone wants to sponsor me to use a DSG for a fortnight I’ll happily use it, immerse myself in it, write up a full report and put my money where my mouth is next time I buy a car.
Convert me to DSG if it’s really that good and I’ll happily shell out another £1400 next time I change my car. 
:tongue:

One last point from a long paragraph I deleted from my post during editing.
When I sold my GTI PP I didn’t particularly miss it when I switched to the R.
When I sold the R I immediately regretted it hugely. That car really got under my skin and I didn’t realise it until it was gone.

I think that’ll do from me in this thread.
Thanks again for all the feedback, positive comments and arse kickings.   :smiley:
‘25 8.5R, ‘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 mcmaddy

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #57 on: 08 January 2018, 07:00 »
Just to add fuel to CHBs fire, I had a dsg box previously and won't be in a hurry to get another one. It was lazy changing down gears and generally always in the wrong gear at open junctions and open roundabouts.
TCR, Pure Grey, DCC, Dynaudio and Climate Screen.

Offline dubber36

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #58 on: 08 January 2018, 07:43 »

I also had an earlier PM saying I was being anti DSG R.


Seriously? Someone got upset because your preferences are different to theirs?

I'm assuming they were upset as whatever they had to say, they didn't want anyone else to know and possibly come across on the forum as a tw@
Red Mk6 gone replaced with a white Mk7 which has gone too. Green Mk2 here to stay.

Offline Sootchucker

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Re: Golf GTI or the R
« Reply #59 on: 08 January 2018, 07:52 »
Whilst the DSG vs Manual is a little bit off topic (from the OP's post), it does quite surprise me how protective each camp gets. As with everything in life there are pro's and con's to everything and each one of us is different. Personally, I love my DSG box. Sure it's only a lowly GTD, so not in the same league as an R or a GTI PP, but for my circumstances, at my time of life, it makes sense for me.

I'm getting old (mid fifties), had manual cars all my life (and still drive manuals as all our work's pool cars are manuals), but was converted to DSG 3 car's ago with my Scirocco. Where I live in the NW of England, the motorways are always stuffed, and my commute to work is always start / stop with town center traffic lights, queuing traffic etc. For me at my time of life, a DSG car is just a much more relaxed and less stressful way to travel, coupled with the narrow torque and power curve of the diesel engine, it suits the GTD engine perhaps much better than it's bigger petrol engined brothers.

Looking at the description Exonian used, he lives in a beautiful part of the country, and maybe his roads and journeys better suit him having a manual box. In any case it's his decision and his money so what's it got to do with anyone else anyway ? We are all different and having choice is good, and to say that one type of gearbox technology is better than another is meaningless unless you take the drivers circumstances, journeys, road types etc also into consideration. 
« Last Edit: 08 January 2018, 07:54 by Sootchucker »
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