VW Golf 7 R -- Chipped -- 0 to 60 in 4 Seconds...
Discussion
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Pixelpeep7r said:
The Golf R - Motoring's very own Marmite.
The amusing thing here is people are confusing what they like for what other people should like.
We are all individuals.
one thing though..
not once have i seen anyone say 'its just a one series' to anyone saying how much they enjoy their 135i
Quite, and nobody is 'allowed' to like a VAG these days. The 135i hasn't met quite the same derision because: RWD and 6 cylinder. The archetypal core ingredients that roundabout drifting captains consider to be the only things worth having in a car.The amusing thing here is people are confusing what they like for what other people should like.
We are all individuals.
one thing though..
not once have i seen anyone say 'its just a one series' to anyone saying how much they enjoy their 135i
I bet if there was a PistonHeads RE: "VW's 300hp 4WD Golf concept" article 5 years ago. People would be like, yeah that's cool, hope it goes into production.
But now that it's here, it's been leased a lot and is consequently seen on the roads in reasonable numbers, it's a meh car. And anything popular these days is automatically despised by hipsters. iPhones, SUVs, VAGs (in white especially) to name but a few.
I would put money on quite a few R bashers, who've never driven one, would come unstuck trying to beat a well piloted one on tough B roads.
SidewaysSi said:
What does "beat" mean to you? If you mean race, I really couldn't give a crap if a Golf is faster than me or not. It really has very little to do with driving enjoyment.
Exactly. I know enough about various 4wd cars to feel that I don't want one. I prefer a car which might be ultimately slower but is more fun. It's quite laughable that given this thread title people are labelling those that chose something other than 'ordinary car goes sub 4 secs'. I'm sure it would destroy most things in the wet, matters not one jot to me. SidewaysSi said:
Pixelpeep7r said:
SidewaysSi said:
It really has very little to do with driving enjoyment.
for you.I enjoy having a car that can take four adults and luggage comfortably and reliably in all weathers that doesn't look like it's crashed into a branch of halfords that i don't have to fight (read 'driver involvement') at the slightest mention of a bend that is anything other than bone dry.
SidewaysSi said:
A Golf R is perfect.
exactly, it's why i chose one.nickfrog said:
More binary thinking pp7. Reasonable people can like the R but prefer a six pot RWD car for vastly different and more pragmatic/functional reasons than the ones you suggest. And if not, what does it matter to you ?
It matters for the same reason the opposite matters to you.Pixelpeep7r said:
nickfrog said:
More binary thinking pp7. Reasonable people can like the R but prefer a six pot RWD car for vastly different and more pragmatic/functional reasons than the ones you suggest. And if not, what does it matter to you ?
It matters for the same reason the opposite matters to you.4wd really doesn't make a car "all weather" btw. Tyres do. 4wd helps traction management not lat grip.
Pixelpeep7r said:
SidewaysSi said:
Pixelpeep7r said:
SidewaysSi said:
It really has very little to do with driving enjoyment.
for you.I enjoy having a car that can take four adults and luggage comfortably and reliably in all weathers that doesn't look like it's crashed into a branch of halfords that i don't have to fight (read 'driver involvement') at the slightest mention of a bend that is anything other than bone dry.
SidewaysSi said:
A Golf R is perfect.
exactly, it's why i chose one.On the other hand, sounds like typical owners defence. They're theoretically perfect, with issues in reality and often driven by those unaware of anything.
If your other car is something interesting and/or fast & you're not a kid on a cheapie lease deal, they have a bit of Emperor's reasonably ok clothes about them. Best thing since sliced bread according to VW marketing budget. Which is odd, as the sensible money would push the pretty much invisible S3 if you were a VAG marketing lost soul.
We can all make generalisations Duke. I could have lots of fun making them about the average Focus ST driver, but as I expect you chose the car because you like it, I am not going to attempt to offend you, as you are attempting to do to Golf R owners.
It's time to grow up and let this thread slide, it's doing nothing for PH, or the people who are commenting on it.
It's time to grow up and let this thread slide, it's doing nothing for PH, or the people who are commenting on it.
andrewparker said:
We can all make generalisations Duke. I could have lots of fun making them about the average Focus ST driver, but as I expect you chose the car because you like it, I am not going to attempt to offend you, as you are attempting to do to Golf R owners.
It's time to grow up and let this thread slide, it's doing nothing for PH, or the people who are commenting on it.
So could I, not going to defend the average ST driver for a single second. I suspect that by now they're in the hands of the more excitable. Almost glad that mine is somewhat lived in It's time to grow up and let this thread slide, it's doing nothing for PH, or the people who are commenting on it.
.I bought the car a long time ago now as I'm slowly but steadily moving up the cylinder count on the daily hack. Was tempted by both the R32 and 130i, but couldn't get on with the significant price difference.
I'd say the biggest problems here are at least some of the owners, the nefarious elements of society, plus an unhealthy dose of probably expected (but totally alien to me) unjustified devotion, which usually leads to almost blind defence.
Good car in many ways, and there's still an admittedly slim chance I might end up with one (good looking in a plain way, but too pricey and I can't get away from the issues from my POV), but the often unjustified fanaticism is something that will always grate for me.
Boring if we all like the same thing, but relentless fanboy is something I'll never get my head around.
The fanboy phenomenon is amusing, regardless of the product.
Take Apple for example - the IT pros I know who use Apple products are aware of the pros and cons; they will justify their decision to choose Apple but are aware of, and admit to, the shortcomings of their chosen brand.
The same applies, by and large, to Android.
The most blinkered fans of both are the non-technical people, in my experience, and they are the ones making the most absurd claims for their new piece of shiny-shiny, and rubbishing alternative views.
That would never apply to Golf ownership, of course.
Take Apple for example - the IT pros I know who use Apple products are aware of the pros and cons; they will justify their decision to choose Apple but are aware of, and admit to, the shortcomings of their chosen brand.
The same applies, by and large, to Android.
The most blinkered fans of both are the non-technical people, in my experience, and they are the ones making the most absurd claims for their new piece of shiny-shiny, and rubbishing alternative views.
That would never apply to Golf ownership, of course.
My views on the car are pretty level headed, they certainly don't stretch to total devotion. As I've said elsewhere, and on many occasions, there are elements of the car I love and bits I think could be greatly improved on, namely the sound and looks. But overall, and from a purely personal perspective, it is a near perfect "do everything" car. I'd concede that it does this by being very good at most things without really exceeding in any one area, and that for some people that aspect doesn't appeal, but it works for me because I need my car to be many different things.
Ultimately this conversation could go on forever, but I dearly hope it doesn't because it is one aspect of the ownership experience that is rather less enjoyable.
Ultimately this conversation could go on forever, but I dearly hope it doesn't because it is one aspect of the ownership experience that is rather less enjoyable.
I have a Golf R, which I'm about to give up for a Suzuki Swift Sport as me and my other half are putting our cars together so that we end up with the Swift and a 335d touring. These are all road cars, of course, and some of the arguments on this thread are getting very silly indeed in my opinion. I have a track MX5 Mk3 which is a different beast altogether.
I've owned a V10 M5, a Cayman S, a Focus ST estate and all sorts of other reasonable cars and I think I have a fair idea how to handle a car regardless of its driven wheels; the Golf R stands out as one that does most things pretty well but as another poster points out - not one thing amazingly well. If anything, when driving on the limit the Haldex in the R makes it rather less predictable. There are issues - the touch screen infotainment system is a real nuisance, the unnecessary quad exhausts and its reputation attract attention (I had mine debadged to try and reduce this issue), the blue "max power" interior lights to name a few. However, it's a sorted all round car that will satisfy a keen road driver and in wet conditions it is a very competent steer.. Don't expect it to be great on a track, but that's not what it's for. My 180bho MX5 will easily run faster lap times than the R on most circuits but that's not the point.
The RWD vs 4WD/Haldex arguments on the road are somewhat silly - nobody really hangs the rear out on a regular basis on the road. I would be more convinced if we were discussing FWD vs RWD - torque steer is a problem with high performance FWD cars and is a nuisance even on the road; with partial 4WD systems like those in the R they do eliminate those issues IMO.
Steve
I've owned a V10 M5, a Cayman S, a Focus ST estate and all sorts of other reasonable cars and I think I have a fair idea how to handle a car regardless of its driven wheels; the Golf R stands out as one that does most things pretty well but as another poster points out - not one thing amazingly well. If anything, when driving on the limit the Haldex in the R makes it rather less predictable. There are issues - the touch screen infotainment system is a real nuisance, the unnecessary quad exhausts and its reputation attract attention (I had mine debadged to try and reduce this issue), the blue "max power" interior lights to name a few. However, it's a sorted all round car that will satisfy a keen road driver and in wet conditions it is a very competent steer.. Don't expect it to be great on a track, but that's not what it's for. My 180bho MX5 will easily run faster lap times than the R on most circuits but that's not the point.
The RWD vs 4WD/Haldex arguments on the road are somewhat silly - nobody really hangs the rear out on a regular basis on the road. I would be more convinced if we were discussing FWD vs RWD - torque steer is a problem with high performance FWD cars and is a nuisance even on the road; with partial 4WD systems like those in the R they do eliminate those issues IMO.
Steve
DocSteve said:
I have a Golf R, which I'm about to give up for a Suzuki Swift Sport
My girlfriend had one of those - it was a great little car, properly good fun to hustle down a twisty road, the only fly in the ointment was the driving position which was slightly too high for my liking (I'm 5ft 9" so hardly a towering giant).Brilliant car.
DocSteve said:
The RWD vs 4WD/Haldex arguments on the road are somewhat silly - nobody really hangs the rear out on a regular basis on the road. I would be more convinced if we were discussing FWD vs RWD - torque steer is a problem with high performance FWD cars and is a nuisance even on the road; with partial 4WD systems like those in the R they do eliminate those issues IMO.
Steve
Steve. Nothing silly. People don't choose RWD to drift but for the many advantages abundantly documented in this thread:Steve
- better balance of lat grip
- good weight distribution
- uncorrupted steering
- lower polar moment of inertia as the engine is often behind the front axle, which brings massive handling / turn in benefits.
This may come at a packaging and wet traction penalty but for some that's a small price to pay. Besides, most RWD are set up to understeer or even push understeer under a gentle throttle opening (which is easily fixed with a bit of added front camber).
On the FWD, you have more of a point. But think Megane Cup that deploys 275ps without any trace of torque steer thanks to very sophisticated hub and a GKN diff as std. Since 2008.
All of which doesn't prevent the R from being a superb road car.
Edited by nickfrog on Sunday 3rd April 09:18
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff