GTi Performance or Golf R? UK

GTi Performance or Golf R? UK

Author
Discussion

tim0e

Original Poster:

18 posts

1 month

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
In the UK a 2019 R and GTI performance are the same price, I assume the GTI has more things standard but which one would you chose?

Belle427

9,064 posts

234 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
A regular question, for me I'd lean towards the R only because of the extra grip when needed but most say the Gti is more fun and a better buy.

tim0e

Original Poster:

18 posts

1 month

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
Im not a car guy but what does more fun mean? Does it mean FWD is less safe than AWD?

OoopsVoss

479 posts

11 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
Don't know what fun means - but the pricing could be due to multiple factors:

Supply - there are appear to be a lot of R's available and less GTI Performance Packs (although this does move about), Autotrader suggests its 4 Rs for every GTI PP!.

There is anecdotal evidence that theft risk / insurance costs are an issue on an R - maybe.

I'm not sure the GTI is better spec'd TBH (I had a 2019 GTi PP previously). I had to throw a decent amount of cost options at mine to make it "nice", paint, wheels, seats and media upgrades all cost. To be fair, over the 3.5 years I had it from new, I only lost about 27% on it - so amazing value (not sure the market is that buoyant these days).


gsl67

17 posts

66 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
I've had 3 MK7 Golfs, 2 Rs and a GTi (non-pp) (not back to back). My brother has a PP GTi. My GTi lasted about 4 months before I got back into an R. I just didn't enjoy going back to FWD, coming from an M240i at the time. Running costs are very similar, expect 3-5MPG of difference roughly, insurance may be a bit higher on the R. For the same money, the R is a no brainer for me, all weather traction and noticeably quicker with a slightly louder noise. The VAQ diff does make corners in the GTi maybe a bit more enjoyable, though.

tim0e

Original Poster:

18 posts

1 month

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
gsl67 said:
I've had 3 MK7 Golfs, 2 Rs and a GTi (non-pp) (not back to back). My brother has a PP GTi. My GTi lasted about 4 months before I got back into an R. I just didn't enjoy going back to FWD, coming from an M240i at the time. Running costs are very similar, expect 3-5MPG of difference roughly, insurance may be a bit higher on the R. For the same money, the R is a no brainer for me, all weather traction and noticeably quicker with a slightly louder noise. The VAQ diff does make corners in the GTi maybe a bit more enjoyable, though.
I expected the GTI to be better on fuel but my current car is “boring a200” which I average 30mpg so fuel could be a improvement on the R or similar, and insurance for R at 25 is 1500 I think the GTI was about 1300 maybe

tim0e

Original Poster:

18 posts

1 month

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
OoopsVoss said:
Don't know what fun means - but the pricing could be due to multiple factors:

Supply - there are appear to be a lot of R's available and less GTI Performance Packs (although this does move about), Autotrader suggests its 4 Rs for every GTI PP!.

There is anecdotal evidence that theft risk / insurance costs are an issue on an R - maybe.

I'm not sure the GTI is better spec'd TBH (I had a 2019 GTi PP previously). I had to throw a decent amount of cost options at mine to make it "nice", paint, wheels, seats and media upgrades all cost. To be fair, over the 3.5 years I had it from new, I only lost about 27% on it - so amazing value (not sure the market is that buoyant these days).
My issue with the GTI is finding the right spec where with the GolfR my only preferred option is Lapis Blue and possibly Spielbergs but isn’t important, But GTI I like the brescia and Atlantic blue but these on auto trader with right mileage is £500 or more above the R frown, but personally the exterior looks better on the GTI, the grille and red ascents finish it off

zedx19

2,778 posts

141 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
Everyone has different views and thoughts, drive them both back to back and you know which you'll prefer. Personally, I drove 2 Golf Rs and found them boring, I then drove a GTi and loved it, felt more involved in the driving experience, the GTi felt more lively. Had a GTi for 3 years, still love it.

All you're going to get on here is people saying which car they prefer, you'll only know by driving them and making your own decision. If you're just interested in going fast and don't know whats fun in a car, go for a Golf R or the A35 you having been getting insurance quotes on.

OoopsVoss

479 posts

11 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
tim0e said:
My issue with the GTI is finding the right spec where with the GolfR my only preferred option is Lapis Blue and possibly Spielbergs but isn’t important, But GTI I like the brescia and Atlantic blue but these on auto trader with right mileage is £500 or more above the R frown, but personally the exterior looks better on the GTI, the grille and red ascents finish it off
Mine was Atlantic Blue (the darker one), with bigger wheels and the Alcantara seats (so more like the CS one's not the tartan). Really liked it, idea for town driving / commuting. Interesting like the poster above, I changed it into a new M240. Ideal commuter, but obviously its new, 4wd, has another 130bhp etc so not a fair comparison. That will probably go for a M2 CS, I've been that impressed with it.

tim0e

Original Poster:

18 posts

1 month

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
OoopsVoss said:
tim0e said:
My issue with the GTI is finding the right spec where with the GolfR my only preferred option is Lapis Blue and possibly Spielbergs but isn’t important, But GTI I like the brescia and Atlantic blue but these on auto trader with right mileage is £500 or more above the R frown, but personally the exterior looks better on the GTI, the grille and red ascents finish it off
Mine was Atlantic Blue (the darker one), with bigger wheels and the Alcantara seats (so more like the CS one's not the tartan). Really liked it, idea for town driving / commuting. Interesting like the poster above, I changed it into a new M240. Ideal commuter, but obviously its new, 4wd, has another 130bhp etc so not a fair comparison. That will probably go for a M2 CS, I've been that impressed with it.
Nice car, and lol I wanted them seats too but forgot the name, that’s literally my dream spec for the GTI haven’t seen one come up yet been a month too

gsl67

17 posts

66 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
tim0e said:
I expected the GTI to be better on fuel but my current car is “boring a200” which I average 30mpg so fuel could be a improvement on the R or similar, and insurance for R at 25 is 1500 I think the GTI was about 1300 maybe
My long term average on the R is 32, the GTI would sit at about 35-36. My commute is easy and I usually sit at 70-75, but I do use the performance regularly. The R's gears are shorter so if you travel at 80+ often you might notice a bigger difference in the manual. The fuel tank on the R is also 5 litres bigger so range is more or less the same. I'm a similar age, I got the R to just under 4 figures this year, the GTi was about 700.

Either car will be a nice upgrade, but considering the tyres, brakes and servicing items costs are more or less identical, it's very easy for me to justify getting the R over the GTi. Probably best thing to do is test drive both and see what you like best. I was sold on the AWD of the R immediately when full throttle on a greasy roundabout led to absolutely no wheelspin, compared to my FWD car at the time that spun through 3rd gear.

garypotter

1,540 posts

151 months

Wednesday 8th May
quotequote all
for me the GTi the r always looks so vanilla