RE: Volkswagen Golf R: Review
Discussion
Betty Cumberdale said:
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?
Thing is the Golf R and Cupra/ Cupra 280 have the same engine just slightly different mapping.Both should map to the same power/torque at Stage1,Stage2 etc
Comparing my APR Stage2+ MK2 Leon Cupra R with mechanical diff(CDL 265bhp engine) to a MK6 Golf R APR Stage2+ (Same CDL engine)the R is soooooooo much better on the road.. FWD just spins up like mad even with the diff and trying to ease the power in.
On the track however my LCR is a DREAM to drive.
Msportman said:
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.
Isn't an 18mpg hot rod a rather different proposition to something like an S3 or a Golf R? 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.
If you're going to go down the second-hand route then you'll have to consider the S4, and maybe for good measure test drive a 330d or similar just to ensure that you'd be missing out by 'only' having 240ish bhp? I'm car shopping at the moment and going through the same dilemmas, but it's a judgement call so you can't exactly expect the guys on a forum to make it for you.
hopper77 said:
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'
Sorry comments like this are just too much. It understeers on roundabouts? If it's anything like the last one, with ESC off, you'd have to be doing high-speed track work to get it understeer. With this one, it's got torque vectoring, so even with it on I really cannot imagine this happening on a public road. If you are getting understeer in a situation like that, it ain't the car. 
The Golf (not the R specifically) is praised globally as one of the best all rounders ever made.
The halo model takes that recipe and adds a supercar baiting turn of speed and 4WD all while delivering unheard of economy for the performance on offer.
The lukewarm review doesnt compute. What am I missing?
The halo model takes that recipe and adds a supercar baiting turn of speed and 4WD all while delivering unheard of economy for the performance on offer.
The lukewarm review doesnt compute. What am I missing?
The bottom line is this is a fantastic representation of a modern performance Hatch, with excellent build quality, interior, and performance, and a very fast car is most conditions that still returns over 35MPG in general driving. What that means though, is that it is also built to be safe and predictable, which is either something you appreciate in your day to day driving, or resent.
VW haven't tried to build an Elise, and also haven't tried to build an A45 AMG (look at the price difference), but have taken a more middle ground approach between building a quick, safe, well built hatch, without hitting a price point of £40k. For a strong spec it is probably going to run you to £35k max, which given the power, 4WD, and equipment levels at that price, is still what I think is reasonable value. Not reasonable value for 10 years ago, or 5 years ago, but good value for now.
I recon the BMW 135i will be more involving, as would a Megane 265, so there are alternatives out there, but that doesn't mean VW have built a bad car, it just has different aspects to it's appeal.
VW haven't tried to build an Elise, and also haven't tried to build an A45 AMG (look at the price difference), but have taken a more middle ground approach between building a quick, safe, well built hatch, without hitting a price point of £40k. For a strong spec it is probably going to run you to £35k max, which given the power, 4WD, and equipment levels at that price, is still what I think is reasonable value. Not reasonable value for 10 years ago, or 5 years ago, but good value for now.
I recon the BMW 135i will be more involving, as would a Megane 265, so there are alternatives out there, but that doesn't mean VW have built a bad car, it just has different aspects to it's appeal.
Surprised at this review, given others I have read.. Maybe more time behind the wheel will help with that?
Having had an test drive of the Golf R and an extended test drive of the S3 - I really liked them both. I was finally tempted by the Golf R purely because of those crazy lease deals on offer and Audi could not come remotely close to them.
For me it acts as in between car for two years, while I chose what I want and hope to have some fun. I can see why the interest levels in these are so high..
Having had an test drive of the Golf R and an extended test drive of the S3 - I really liked them both. I was finally tempted by the Golf R purely because of those crazy lease deals on offer and Audi could not come remotely close to them.
For me it acts as in between car for two years, while I chose what I want and hope to have some fun. I can see why the interest levels in these are so high..
scherzkeks said:
hopper77 said:
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'
Sorry comments like this are just too much. It understeers on roundabouts? If it's anything like the last one, with ESC off, you'd have to be doing high-speed track work to get it understeer. With this one, it's got torque vectoring, so even with it on I really cannot imagine this happening on a public road. If you are getting understeer in a situation like that, it ain't the car. scherzkeks said:
Sorry comments like this are just too much. It understeers on roundabouts? If it's anything like the last one, with ESC off, you'd have to be doing high-speed track work to get it understeer. With this one, it's got torque vectoring, so even with it on I really cannot imagine this happening on a public road. If you are getting understeer in a situation like that, it ain't the car.
(Again)
Dave Hedgehog said:
is it a hatch anymore thou? the current golf / focus etc are bloody massive, the S3 sportback is as big as the RS2
On one hand, it's frustrating from an enthusiast's point of view that cars are getting larger because, at least on the crumbling cart tracks we call roads, it means they're not as exploitable. Plus you need more power etc. etc. to get the same performance, the weight works against you and so on.Then you take a good look at a car from the 80's / '90s and you remember why cars are now so bloated. Firstly, especially if you're tall, you feel like you're sitting on, rather than in the car, then you see things like this (1997 A4):
scherzkeks said:
Exactly. Too complicated for some, I suppose. 
Are you saying, that Golf R doesn't understeer? Madness i would say, madness! Of course it will understeer it was made by VAG. Engine is little bit wrong place (cos of the 4wd) and in generally they just doesn't make cars which have a great turn in. I supposed they make cars for autobahns and highways, not for b-road blasting. And in general, they make cars which are very safe and predictable to drive but not that exciting.Edited by LasseV on Thursday 8th May 11:46
Bash Brannigan said:
If you're going to go down the second-hand route then you'll have to consider the S4
For me a year old S4 would just be too tempting over this Golf, granted everyone seems to have different reasons/needs and its obviously going to sell otherwise they wouldn't have made itSomeone also asked why this car is getting a luke warm reception and I think its mostly (if not all) down badge snobbery, I admit that I cant get my head around a £30k Volkswagen Golf but show me the Audi equivalent and I'm not that surprised as its price just because it has four rings on its grill.
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.
I don't like the looks of the R compared with the GTI.PCP deals seem so competitive right now. I'm going to go finance when I get my next car, hopefully a 987 Cayman S.
To me the R is just a 4x4 GTi PP+, not the seperate model the R32 was.
Sadly I just can't see past the styling on the Mk7 Golf, after loving the shape of the Mk5 and Mk6, the Mk7 just looks horrible and bloated to me from the front, and at the back it's just a generic VAG shape, looking awfully similar to the A3 and Leon. I'm sure it's a lovely thing to own (Golfs generally are), but to look at? It's a blob, with the interior plastic quality varied to befit a Volkswagen.
Other random observations:
It has a 4 cylinder engine. No harm in that (for most people), but why the f
k has it got 4 tailpipes? Does it really need 1 tailpipe per cylinder? If it had an engine with the correct compliment of cylinders I could see the point, but for a 4 banger? No VAG, let's not be silly now.
Again on the cylinder count, the R models used to be a bit special because of that lovely VR6 engine up front. Putting just another generic 4 cylinder in loses a lot of the appeal for me. Plus it appears this new one gets through just as much fuel as the old R32, so what's the point?
Again on the engine, the power output from a 2 litre concerns me, not because it isn't possible for a highly blown 2 litre to be reliable (ask Mitsubishi), I'm not sure if it's possible for VAG to achieve that however, with their dubious history of over stressed petrol engines (TSI I'm looking in your direction here).
It also would have been nice for them to differentiate it from the S3 a little bit more (a proper engine would be perfrect for that), but as it is, these two seem awfully similar to me. That's VAG for you I guess....
In short it looks a very impressive car, but would I have one? Not a chance. Too dull, not enough cylinders and too many driven wheels. I suspect I'd be off to see BMW about an M235i if I'm honest, I don't need a hatchback, and for me RWD with a diff sounds far more appealing. In fact I'm still not sure of the appeal of 4wd, slower in a straight line, and you only get the benefit of increased traction when putting the power down, however I'm sure the Haldex defence league will be along shortly to show me the error of my ways.
Other random observations:
It has a 4 cylinder engine. No harm in that (for most people), but why the f
k has it got 4 tailpipes? Does it really need 1 tailpipe per cylinder? If it had an engine with the correct compliment of cylinders I could see the point, but for a 4 banger? No VAG, let's not be silly now. Again on the cylinder count, the R models used to be a bit special because of that lovely VR6 engine up front. Putting just another generic 4 cylinder in loses a lot of the appeal for me. Plus it appears this new one gets through just as much fuel as the old R32, so what's the point?
Again on the engine, the power output from a 2 litre concerns me, not because it isn't possible for a highly blown 2 litre to be reliable (ask Mitsubishi), I'm not sure if it's possible for VAG to achieve that however, with their dubious history of over stressed petrol engines (TSI I'm looking in your direction here).
It also would have been nice for them to differentiate it from the S3 a little bit more (a proper engine would be perfrect for that), but as it is, these two seem awfully similar to me. That's VAG for you I guess....
In short it looks a very impressive car, but would I have one? Not a chance. Too dull, not enough cylinders and too many driven wheels. I suspect I'd be off to see BMW about an M235i if I'm honest, I don't need a hatchback, and for me RWD with a diff sounds far more appealing. In fact I'm still not sure of the appeal of 4wd, slower in a straight line, and you only get the benefit of increased traction when putting the power down, however I'm sure the Haldex defence league will be along shortly to show me the error of my ways.
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