« Reply #5 on: 22 June 2019, 17:10 »
I think it patently obvious anyone with a CSS wouldn’t swap it for anything else in the Golf range full stop. The only exceptions I can quickly think of are a sudden change in circumstances requiring more seating or a finance deal finishing on the CSS. Even the latter I’d think you’d find a way around it to keep the car.
Maybe swapping a regular 265PS CS40 for a TCR once the warranty is up on the former and/or a PCP deal coming to an end, or maybe a requirement for DSG if you have a manual Ed40. Something along those lines.
A CSS is a very different beast. Incomparable to any other Golf despite sharing a lot of components.
The TCR has a purpose of its own. As above, it offers more than a regular GTI but isn’t an R.
Many people, self included, love the understated looks, all round utter competence and sheer blistering speed of the R, but there will always be others that want a bit more driver involvement and less conservative looks with similar performance. The basic ingredients are there in the VAG parts bin and for what it is I think VW have done a great job with the TCR.
Having seen one in the flesh at Exeter VW recently sporting all the signature bits (pure grey, Reifnitz, decals) I think it actually looks better in the flesh than in any photo, as does the CS40.
A CSS it ain’t. It’s just different.

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‘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