RE: Volkswagen Golf R: Review

[Betty Cumberdale]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Betty Cumberdale said:

20bhp down, FWD and still faster? Impressive stuff.

No, just basic physics.

Begs the question - from a performance perspective, whats the point of Haldex on the R? Would the car not have been faster if they made it FWD with a clever diff a la Focus RS?

[aka_kerrly]

Betty Cumberdale said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Betty Cumberdale said:

20bhp down, FWD and still faster? Impressive stuff.

No, just basic physics.

Begs the question - from a performance perspective, whats the point of Haldex on the R? Would the car not have been faster if they made it FWD with a clever diff a la Focus RS?

The Golf HAS clever diffS

[LuS1fer]

Clivey said:

greggy50 said:

To be honest EVO gave it a great review buy they seem to do that with every new car and then about 6 months later decide it is actually average at best...

Yes; I've noticed that too, which is a shame as you used to be able to trust their judgement.

Porter actually raised the last Fiesta ST from 3 stars to 3.5.... though of course he was a wit, not really a car tester.

[Msportman]

Awful review!

Really disappointed in this....thought it would be a little more promising.

For the money then Dan would a E90 M3 or coupe represent better value and performance per pound?

I was also thinking about an S3 or Golf R but now I'm doubting either.

[ORD]

Level 7 Boss said:

I don't particularly like the styling of this, despite generally quite liking Golfs.

PCP deals seem so competitive right now. I'm going to go finance when I get my next car, hopefully a 987 Cayman S.

Dont bother - according to Actus Reus and another chap, the Golf R is the better car in many ways that matter like, um, ipod connections and other important PHer things

"I gave up my Porsche to be a growed up and now have to pretend I like family hatchbacks."

[Actus Reus]

Yes, but you forgot the Porsche forum mantra 'if you need finance, you can't afford it' .

And be honest - PCM 2.1 is st.

[ORD]

Actus Reus said:

Yes, but you forgot the Porsche forum mantra 'if you need finance, you can't afford it' .

And be honest - PCM 2.1 is st.

Good point! I can't believe I missed that.

PCM is indeed bad, but I literally couldn't care less. I love my car for it's carlike abilities, rather than as a second home.

(Contrast my attitude to the family car, on which I want bells, whistles and Bose.)

[BBS-LM]

I came across one of them A45 today in black, looked great, and yes, they are bloody fast. Thats where my money would go?

[Escy]

aka_kerrly said:

Betty Cumberdale said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Betty Cumberdale said:

20bhp down, FWD and still faster? Impressive stuff.

No, just basic physics.

Begs the question - from a performance perspective, whats the point of Haldex on the R? Would the car not have been faster if they made it FWD with a clever diff a la Focus RS?

The Golf HAS clever diffS

Does it?

[6th Gear]

Ordered and arriving in August.

A remap will be on the cards shortly after - 360BHP.

[anonymous-user]

40 mpg! That's the funniest thing I've read this year.

[Clivey]

LuS1fer said:

Porter actually raised the last Fiesta ST from 3 stars to 3.5.... though of course he was a wit, not really a car tester.

Porter is the scriptwriter for Top Gear is he not? When I read a car review, I don't want "entertainment"; I want honesty. I wonder where the reality regarding this car is...with Dan Trent's review here, with the Evo review or somewhere in between.

[ukaskew]

I would guess the outright price (and closeness to numerous other fast Golf variants in price) is pretty irrelevant at the rate people have been hoovering these up on lease deals.

A few guys I know who normally own Clios are paying less a month to drive one of these than I was paying for a used 172 Clio Cup on a bank loan 10 years ago...put things in perspective.

[RSgeoff]

RenOHH said:

40 mpg! That's the funniest thing I've read this year.

Yeah, plus it's SUL only, therefore the running costs will be lot higher than the GTI.

[cheddar]

RobRain said:

I'm a happy R owner. Some of you may have seen my blue 3dr at the Silverstone Sunday Service recently. No particular beef with Dan's review - each to their own etc. (his wide divergence from Evo's opinion is a little odd, but again, perhaps Evo has an agenda).

However, after a couple of months driving mine I've found it's ticking most of my boxes. I've gone through the usual GTIs, Subarus, BMWs, Minis in my past (and a Scirocco R, but never a Golf) and the R feels almost like an amalgam of the best of each of them. In one car I've got a motorway cruiser sans pareil, with acceptable economy; it's got sensible amounts of space for passengers and stuff; it's not in-yer-face (which is what I prefer). Then when I'm in the mood, it's got heaps of power, plenty of torque, excellent handling. I have genuinely been laughing out loud on several Sunday morning jaunts. Having tested the GTi briefly, I know I bought the right one for me. The car has a wonderful "feel", whether I'm having a blast or a pootle.

No, it's not rear-wheel drive. Sorry - I know quite a lot of PHers can't get past that, but that really is your problem. (Ditto anyone who's even thinking "it's only a Golf"). I've tried all configurations of driven wheels (even a four-track laying vehicle in the past) and each has their merits. It's only got 4 cylinders. Oh well. It's not a BMW 135i or an A45, great cars both, though both to my eye have had too close a run-in with the ugly stick. But I don't think VW will have any problem selling them in sensible numbers. And I think there's a chunk of people out there who like the blend VW have created.

Ended up being a bit defensive there. Take it all with a pinch of salt, but if you're test driving the A45 or 135 or S3, don't discount the R - it merits comparison with them and stands up quite nicely.

Well written Rob.

These are great all rounders, spacious, practical, economical in a way that 300bhp EVO's and Impreza's can only dream of, nicely built, full of thoughtful touches and understated.

Golf R's have always been a little more GT than outright sports cars, capable and quick but not edgy, they won't suit the hardcore brigade and might become a little boring with familiarity but there's no denying their all round competence and cross country pace.

£29,900 seems good value, I'd buy one.

[hopper77]

I have just taken delivery of a new S3 sportback, which is effectively the same underpinnings in a nicer package. So far it puts a smile on my face everytime I take it out. It reminds me of randomly my first car which was a polo coupe S (yes showing my age), but it is a giggle to drive. However it does understeer on roundabouts and doesn'

[hopper77]

Doesn't like changing directions to vigorously.

[hondansx]

cheddar said:

RobRain said:

I'm a happy R owner. Some of you may have seen my blue 3dr at the Silverstone Sunday Service recently. No particular beef with Dan's review - each to their own etc. (his wide divergence from Evo's opinion is a little odd, but again, perhaps Evo has an agenda).

However, after a couple of months driving mine I've found it's ticking most of my boxes. I've gone through the usual GTIs, Subarus, BMWs, Minis in my past (and a Scirocco R, but never a Golf) and the R feels almost like an amalgam of the best of each of them. In one car I've got a motorway cruiser sans pareil, with acceptable economy; it's got sensible amounts of space for passengers and stuff; it's not in-yer-face (which is what I prefer). Then when I'm in the mood, it's got heaps of power, plenty of torque, excellent handling. I have genuinely been laughing out loud on several Sunday morning jaunts. Having tested the GTi briefly, I know I bought the right one for me. The car has a wonderful "feel", whether I'm having a blast or a pootle.

No, it's not rear-wheel drive. Sorry - I know quite a lot of PHers can't get past that, but that really is your problem. (Ditto anyone who's even thinking "it's only a Golf"). I've tried all configurations of driven wheels (even a four-track laying vehicle in the past) and each has their merits. It's only got 4 cylinders. Oh well. It's not a BMW 135i or an A45, great cars both, though both to my eye have had too close a run-in with the ugly stick. But I don't think VW will have any problem selling them in sensible numbers. And I think there's a chunk of people out there who like the blend VW have created.

Ended up being a bit defensive there. Take it all with a pinch of salt, but if you're test driving the A45 or 135 or S3, don't discount the R - it merits comparison with them and stands up quite nicely.

Well written Rob.

These are great all rounders, spacious, practical, economical in a way that 300bhp EVO's and Impreza's can only dream of, nicely built, full of thoughtful touches and understated.

Golf R's have always been a little more GT than outright sports cars, capable and quick but not edgy, they won't suit the hardcore brigade and might become a little boring with familiarity but there's no denying their all round competence and cross country pace.

£29,900 seems good value, I'd buy one.

What irritates me about the 'hardcore brigade' is that they seem to think buying a RWD sportscar bestows them with the driving ability of Chris Harris. The fact that they can be driven on their lockstops is all rather academic if you don't use the car to its full capability.

To the likes of that pyscho who thinks his BMW 520i is the Ultimate Driving Machine, i imagine Golf R drivers - in reality - have just as much fun driving their cars as you do, whilst not having to deal with the day-t-day compromises that besets sports car owners. That is, after all, the ethos of the hot hatch.

[W124]

The limits are so high on these things that, as conceded, it'll take an extended test to find them. There might be one at Millbrook this year, I'll see if I can crash it. I suspect that, like the Clio RS, you need to be really, really moving for the car's abilities to become interesting. As an only car, all year, I can't think of a better choice really. It makes the GTI seem really expensive.

[WokkaWokka]

I've just taken delivery of an S3. Yeah it's fast and it's really nice inside,coming from an A6 too it's easy to park. Fuel will be good once I stop hooning it to within an inch of its life around North Yorkshire, got 30mpg on the first tank and 25 on the last. It could be a bit more involving but to be honest I bought it to commute approx 90 miles a day so it's a 300bhp (give or take) commuting car that transports me in comfort and can tear across a county pretty effectively.

I might get a 911 or Cayman next because they truly deliver on the feel side of things but for now I'm happy with the S3 as it's delivering on all bases and that's what driving is about.

The Golf looks nice but the Audi pipped it for me.

P.s. Launch control is good fun too.

Edited by WokkaWokka on Wednesday 7th May 22:36