Cannot remember last time I checked my MPG, but then I do drive a Golf R so whats the point.
Depends what you want from a car I suppose. I commute to work in mine so MPG is relatively important to me. If I wasn't bothered about MPG I'd be flying around in a C63 or something loud and daft
I think Brenbo was making a point that the R isn’t great for economy and certainly wasn’t bought for economy in his case.
Like myself, he lives in the nether regions of the South West with roads that don’t really lend themselves to economy with hills and bends galore.
To me Golfs are about a blend of abilities and I do find economy quite important but as part of a balance between performance and driving dynamics too. The GTI engine’s forte is getting really good economy along with impressive performance, the R tips it a bit more the other way.
An R owner will generally accept the economy of that engine for what it is and not worry further about it.
Personally I do like to try and see what MPG I can achieve when I’m stuck on my local roads behind dawdling traffic, it gives me a target rather than getting stressed about lack of progress.
I then sit back and watch the ones that can’t handle being held up from their very important “places to be” who end up overtaking in stupid places only to be hitting the brakes almost right afterwards as they come up behind the next dawdling vehicle and its ensuing tailback.
Mind you, I try not to use the Ed40 for commuting anyway. I much prefer to use the family Diesel as it goes just as quickly on the crappy roads yet does 20mpg more.
I do often wonder why I bother keeping the Golf and should instead have something like an old C63 or a proper sports car for occasional use.
Trouble is the Golf GTI/R does 95% of what a sports car can do and still doubles up as a great looking and very useful family car. It just doesn’t have that 6 or 8 cylinder soundtrack...
EDIT: crossed with Brenbo who said pretty much the same thing!
