Author Topic: You don’t fancy an 8R?  (Read 34739 times)

Offline Exonian

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #170 on: 28 April 2022, 14:41 »
Replying to a few things raised here in no particular order:

I’d imagine if one owned a CS40 (or CSS) with buckets there would be no comparable model in the VW stable of models launched since 2016 to offer anything like the immersive driving experience unless stretching to a Porsche or similar. It’s not often VW group gets everything about a car so right and we have a few years yet until the Ed50 breaks cover. Maybe a special Anni 8R? How much does VW still love the R brand?



I actually really liked the TCR seats. They look much nicer in person and grip you well in medium cornering. You’d need buckets for an improvement dynamically IMO.


The mk8 heating controls aren’t as bad as people think. They’re easy to live with if you use climate control correctly.

If it was me ordering a company car it would be a 77kwh Cupra Born e-boost or Megane E-Tech.
Bugger waiting 18 months for a Golf even if you’d have a similar wait for a crappy Focus. Stuff that.
I’d rather pay no tax and waft around smugly with the ability to use the tax savings on a second hand fun ICE car.

The standard stereo in the mk8 isn’t terrible. I’ve owned a TCR with Dynaudio and a 135 with HK and find the standard mk8 system liveable. Mind you I don’t crank up the volume too much these days!


‘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 Dervy

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #171 on: 29 April 2022, 07:03 »
A while back Exonian suggested I pen my thoughts on ownership of my new RS3 carbon black saloon, I gave my initial thoughts after a 1 hour test drive. I have now owned the car for almost 2 months, so I'll just give my thoughts on living with it.

IMHO the car looks fantastic, purposeful, distinctive with a hint of aggression, yet it isn't too full on as to embarrass the driver. My golf R attracted plenty of attention in the 5 years I owned it, but this is on another level (possibly because there are so few around - i haven't seen any). The interior is smart and comfortable and a generally nice place to be, the plastics vary between very good in the higher areas to 1980"s hyundai pony lower down. The standard nappa leather on the seats is definitely nicer than the vienna leather on my last 3 golfs and the seats are very comfortable, but arguably less grippy than those of my golfs. There is no lumber support unless you buy the Vorsprung with electric seats. MMI is great, digital dash fantastic (if over configurable), rear camera is excellent and B & O sound system is ok. Is the the interior what you'd expect of a £60kcar?........hmm!

On the road the car is planted with great steering feel and, once you build up your confidence in the car, it is incredible on the twisties without a hint of the audi understeer of old. Motorway cruising is a joy, but there can be be a bit of road noise on less than perfect roads. I notice this more than I did with my R, it could be the P-Zeros that the RS3 came with. The DSG is a joy once you are out of town, but clunkier and more jerky than my golfs were during town driving. The engine sound and performance are on another level and a quick jab on the loud pedal when you are at 2500rpm takes you to wharp factor 3! You can use E5 or E10 fuel including 95 ron, i tend to use Tesco Momentum as I did on my R and a decent run sees me getting 36 -37 mpg - similar to the R.

I've gone on enough now. suffice to say I love the car and whilst it could hardly be described as "great value" it seems reasonable for the performance one tap and its ease of use as a daily driver particularly when some mainstream cars are now £45k plus. The world has gone mad.

Offline Exonian

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #172 on: 29 April 2022, 12:41 »
Thanks for posting up Dervy and I enjoyed reading your thoughts and impressions.

One thing missing - PHOTO!  :grin:

I saw a bright green 22 plate Sportback last week parked up outside of a B&B and it made me smile. A mad colour for a mad car!
The prices have gotten a little silly but that goes for everything, as you suggest.

It’s one of very few cars right now that actually appeal to me. Mind you I have a totally focussed shortlist of things that a car must have and there are increasingly few options that fall into scope now.

‘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 Dervy

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #173 on: 29 April 2022, 13:08 »
Not the best pictures - or location :grin:






Offline Dervy

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #174 on: 29 April 2022, 13:19 »
not the greatest pictures......or location :grin:










Offline Exonian

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #175 on: 29 April 2022, 13:21 »
Thanks Dervy, it looks amazing.
Definitely the colour scheme I’d go for  :cool:
‘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 Dervy

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #176 on: 29 April 2022, 13:21 »
As you can see, my computer skills are limited, hence the duplication and strange angles - sorry

Offline Dervy

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #177 on: 29 April 2022, 13:24 »
I still laugh when "RS3" appears in the offside headlight when unlocking the car. I tell myself its childish, but can't stop myself showing it to everyone :laugh:

Offline Exonian

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #178 on: 29 April 2022, 14:19 »
I just thought you were being arty  :laugh:

Small details like the headlamp graphics can make a big difference to the overall ownership experience. Details like that can make cars feel extra-special. It’s nice to see the accountants didn’t get their way at design stage!!
‘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 fredgroves

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Re: You don’t fancy an 8R?
« Reply #179 on: 29 April 2022, 20:52 »
A while back Exonian suggested I pen my thoughts on ownership of my new RS3 carbon black saloon, I gave my initial thoughts after a 1 hour test drive. I have now owned the car for almost 2 months, so I'll just give my thoughts on living with it.

IMHO the car looks fantastic, purposeful, distinctive with a hint of aggression, yet it isn't too full on as to embarrass the driver. My golf R attracted plenty of attention in the 5 years I owned it, but this is on another level (possibly because there are so few around - i haven't seen any). The interior is smart and comfortable and a generally nice place to be, the plastics vary between very good in the higher areas to 1980"s hyundai pony lower down. The standard nappa leather on the seats is definitely nicer than the vienna leather on my last 3 golfs and the seats are very comfortable, but arguably less grippy than those of my golfs. There is no lumber support unless you buy the Vorsprung with electric seats. MMI is great, digital dash fantastic (if over configurable), rear camera is excellent and B & O sound system is ok. Is the the interior what you'd expect of a £60kcar?........hmm!

On the road the car is planted with great steering feel and, once you build up your confidence in the car, it is incredible on the twisties without a hint of the audi understeer of old. Motorway cruising is a joy, but there can be be a bit of road noise on less than perfect roads. I notice this more than I did with my R, it could be the P-Zeros that the RS3 came with. The DSG is a joy once you are out of town, but clunkier and more jerky than my golfs were during town driving. The engine sound and performance are on another level and a quick jab on the loud pedal when you are at 2500rpm takes you to wharp factor 3! You can use E5 or E10 fuel including 95 ron, i tend to use Tesco Momentum as I did on my R and a decent run sees me getting 36 -37 mpg - similar to the R.

I've gone on enough now. suffice to say I love the car and whilst it could hardly be described as "great value" it seems reasonable for the performance one tap and its ease of use as a daily driver particularly when some mainstream cars are now £45k plus. The world has gone mad.

Tbh in many ways you are describing in those words all of the current VAG stable....

Does look lovely though and I bet it goes like Billy stink!
Current: Mk8 GTI DSG, Adelaides, DCC, HUD, HK, Winter Pack, Rear Camera.. Aka "HMS Weasel"

Gone: 2017 Mk7.5 GTD,manual, NavPro
Gone: 2014 Mk7 GTD, manual, NavPro, DCC