RE: VW Golf R: PH Fleet
Discussion
ash reynolds said:
Couldn't agree more, well said. Arguably Porsche have been doing this in their own discipline for years and it hasn't hurt them either.
As you said, they've never claimed it's one thing when it's clearly the other. They were clear about what they designing and what the target market would be and they nailed it.
If you want ultimate competence, buy the Golf. But competence isn't remotely fun. You can go very fast in it and scare yourself silly, possibly lose your license, but you have to ask yourself, at the other end, "did I actually enjoy that?" My answer was "no". And it looks utterly tedious, which doesn't help. Mind you, if you REALLY have to go as fast as possible cross country with all weather grip, an Evo X's chassis sAs you said, they've never claimed it's one thing when it's clearly the other. They were clear about what they designing and what the target market would be and they nailed it.
ts on the Golf from a very great height.....when it's working!Not sure I fully agree with the idea that the R doesn't have a presence. Yes, from the back it looks a bit tame however from the front it's an impressive looking beast.
I saw one pootling along the M4 between J12 and J13 last week and it absolutely looks an intimidating car from the front.
I saw one pootling along the M4 between J12 and J13 last week and it absolutely looks an intimidating car from the front.
neil1jnr said:
aarondbs said:
The red one does look nice. A work colleague has one in white, well a GTD DSG one anyway, and the interior is a nice place.
No, your work colleague doesn't have one then! Come on, that's the type of thing you read on the thread 'stupid things what non pistonheads say' 
Him: Yeh, these are well quick aint they, my mates got exactly the same one.
Me: Really? - yeh, it does seem rather rapid.
Him: Do you have the petrol or the diesel one?
me: What?
Him: Mates is diesel, which one is yours?
Me: --Slaps forehead--
Still enjoying mine after 8k and 8 months.
Large part of that enjoyment is down to unplugging the awful soundaktor thing and unplugging the exhaust valves so all 4 tailpipes are open 100% of the time. Then the noise factor is more like it.
Spotify via Bluetooth works fine on the iPhone too.
Large part of that enjoyment is down to unplugging the awful soundaktor thing and unplugging the exhaust valves so all 4 tailpipes are open 100% of the time. Then the noise factor is more like it.
Spotify via Bluetooth works fine on the iPhone too.
Ali_T said:
ash reynolds said:
Couldn't agree more, well said. Arguably Porsche have been doing this in their own discipline for years and it hasn't hurt them either.
As you said, they've never claimed it's one thing when it's clearly the other. They were clear about what they designing and what the target market would be and they nailed it.
If you want ultimate competence, buy the Golf. But competence isn't remotely fun. You can go very fast in it and scare yourself silly, possibly lose your license, but you have to ask yourself, at the other end, "did I actually enjoy that?" My answer was "no". And it looks utterly tedious, which doesn't help. Mind you, if you REALLY have to go as fast as possible cross country with all weather grip, an Evo X's chassis sAs you said, they've never claimed it's one thing when it's clearly the other. They were clear about what they designing and what the target market would be and they nailed it.
ts on the Golf from a very great height.....when it's working!You're talking about 9/10ths hooning on a B road there. How many Golf drivers go beyond 7/10ths? Not many. And that has always been where the Golf falls short, because, quite franky, that kind of driving was not part of it's mandate. Plus of course the obvious Rally car vs Hatchback apples vs oranges thing.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no VAG / Apple / Skinny jeaned fan boy, but I do like my Golfs
I don't like the R personally, not my cup of. Prefer the older stuff.
Predictable responses from both sides of the fence on this thread.
Every car in the world is a compromise.
I bought an EP3 type-R and i compromised comfort and day to day usability for its hooning capabilities.
It didn't take me long to work out that during a single car ownership that car only spends 1/10th of its time being driven hard and where it is in its element.
I chose the R because of the 9/10ths of the time i want a relaxing, no fuss, no apologising to the passengers for the legroom/ride/exhaust drone etc driving experience.
for the rare time i am driving it just for sts and giggles to me the excitement lays in
a) how quickly you can leave others standing at the red light GP (especially in damp/wet conditions)
and
b) getting gradually braver with the traction control off round wet roundabouts and pulling out of t-junctions
I would also like to echo, 'since when did bad handling become a plus point for other makes and models when comparing with the Golf R'
Every car in the world is a compromise.
I bought an EP3 type-R and i compromised comfort and day to day usability for its hooning capabilities.
It didn't take me long to work out that during a single car ownership that car only spends 1/10th of its time being driven hard and where it is in its element.
I chose the R because of the 9/10ths of the time i want a relaxing, no fuss, no apologising to the passengers for the legroom/ride/exhaust drone etc driving experience.
for the rare time i am driving it just for s
ts and giggles to me the excitement lays in a) how quickly you can leave others standing at the red light GP (especially in damp/wet conditions)
and
b) getting gradually braver with the traction control off round wet roundabouts and pulling out of t-junctions
I would also like to echo, 'since when did bad handling become a plus point for other makes and models when comparing with the Golf R'
Pixelpeep7r said:
Predictable responses from both sides of the fence on this thread.
I would also like to echo, 'since when did bad handling become a plus point for other makes and models when comparing with the Golf R'
Exactly. Cars are becoming more and more competent, that is just the way of it. You cant complain that a car doesn't have soul just because you can drive it flat out everywhere with no drama!I would also like to echo, 'since when did bad handling become a plus point for other makes and models when comparing with the Golf R'
That is most cars now unfortunately. All the 'fun' has been dialed out, they are a clinical tool built by computers.. with an element of artificial fun dialed back in by humans (if your lucky)
Edited by Matthew Clarke on Thursday 2nd April 16:28
Marwood79 said:
Yes but can you tell me how to make it play my downloaded Spotify audio from the Spotify app from my LG G2 via bluetooth connection WITHOUT muting the sound every 5 seconds?
Lovely car besides - now had mine 4 months and not a blemish (bar the above)
R
I have LG G2 with Spotify and it has only just started doing this occasionally. Before it was perfectly fine. Strange.....Lovely car besides - now had mine 4 months and not a blemish (bar the above)
R
I wonder if the car has had an update (can it do this by itself???) as i notice Spotify track info pulling through now when it didnt before, which coincided with the muting.
Ali_T said:
marcgti6 said:
Nice cars but what is it with VAG and awful wheels? Those standard fit 18s are really bad.
So you pay extra for an upgrade, of course! Same with the lousy standard seat trim, the centre sections of which feel like they're made from recycled school trousers, but you can always pay £2k extra for leather....The 18" wheel looks cheap and I expect after a few years the lacquer will fail and those cut surfaces will corrode and they'll look even worse.
The 19s look much better and are painted, but are 19" so more expensive tyres, less ride comfort.
So whatever you do its a compromise, unless you go aftermarket.
Agreed on the interior too - the seat cloth is the same as a mk3 cavalier Sri from 25 years ago. The dash console etc is piano black and grey, just like my old astra which has been slagged off here on numerous occasions.
The leather option is £1700, apparently much of it is actually vinyl, not even coated leather.
So you need to put £2600 down on options to start with, which brings to me to
The article said:
Similarly to the BMW M135i in fact, whose £30K glory the Golf has rather usurped
Well, not really. You can get a M135 for £25k, add £295 to heat the leather seats, they are on 18s that aren't naff. A golf is going to cost £28-29k with wheels & leather.MrBarry123 said:
Not sure I fully agree with the idea that the R doesn't have a presence. Yes, from the back it looks a bit tame however from the front it's an impressive looking beast.
I've done this before, but its almost the same as a 1.2 shopping trolley one. I don't see how its "impressive"..
Ali_T said:
If you want ultimate competence, buy the Golf. But competence isn't remotely fun. You can go very fast in it and scare yourself silly, possibly lose your license, but you have to ask yourself, at the other end, "did I actually enjoy that?" My answer was "no". And it looks utterly tedious, which doesn't help.
Again, agreed. When I drove the R I wasn't expecting much but even so I found it disappointing. 280lb/ft ? it feels like 200, if that, no "seat of the pants" feel, you just sit there watching the speedo needle whizzing round and feel the soft thud of the DSG changing gear. The steering was horribly light and somewhat vague and the steering wheel is too low. Ultimately, golfs are fridges - for the most part they work very well and do the job they were purchased for, but neither are remotely interesting or exciting.
A mate maintains that golfs are for people who don't care about driving, they just want to get from A to B. I think he's right.
Far as the "legendary" reliability, looking at VWROC several owners have had DSG failures, a couple of engines have gone pop and of course the early ones had turbo failure. VW still have problems with cam chain tensioners too apparently.
Economically, given the number being nicked in West Mids I would be surprised if insurance premiums aren't already on the rise. It will be interesting to see what happens with residuals too once the cars on cheap leases make their way on to the used market.
Overall its underwhelming, but thats what golfs do well.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
VW's new ad campaign right there!
To be fair, that is precisely why so many people buy them, because they are indeed consummate all rounders. No one has ever suggested a Golf is an Exige through the corners or an M5 in a straight line. It's only the well seasoned VAG haters that try and make them out to be more than they are, just so they can bash them down again.
It's also amusing how a rival car's flaws suddenly become 'drama', 'fun' and 'soul' when it comes to making a comparison to a 'safe and boring' Golf
I agree totally.To be fair, that is precisely why so many people buy them, because they are indeed consummate all rounders. No one has ever suggested a Golf is an Exige through the corners or an M5 in a straight line. It's only the well seasoned VAG haters that try and make them out to be more than they are, just so they can bash them down again.
It's also amusing how a rival car's flaws suddenly become 'drama', 'fun' and 'soul' when it comes to making a comparison to a 'safe and boring' Golf
If you had to have one car :
For a daily
Bit of fun at the weekend but you don't do track days
Impress the neighbours
Can play with Porsche's and other sub exotics
Blast the diesel rep into the weeds
Suits a push-on driving style
Safe in bad weather inc snow
Trips to the dump
School run
Pick up the mother in law in comfort and has 5 doors
Go to a mates wedding and arrive in style
Go to a school reunion and look successful ( shallow I know but we would all do it )
Not to expensive to run
Will keep its value well
Looks good on the driveway
Has tuning potential
Has a positive image
Well the Golf 7R does all of these in one package, any extremes of the above list and you need a second car.
I have a Mk6R and it does all of these things withe ease.
I am waiting on the Golf 7R Estate before I upgrade.
I'm sure this doesn't apply to any PH forumites, but these cars certainly seem to be falling into the wrong hands thanks to the lease deals. Certainly where I live they all seem to be driven far too quickly by young yobs. I've had Golfs all my life, but they do seem to be getting a bad image these days.
loose cannon said:
Are they not popping turbo's and filling the engine with swarf with standard boost along with s3's so my vw techie m8 tells me
Or is just the odd couple of hundred doing it ?
I've not heard or read anything to support this so it's news to me. If it's that prolific maybe he could share some specific info with you? I'd be keen to know what's going on if there's an issue.Or is just the odd couple of hundred doing it ?
Just google it plenty of info on the net
http://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=478...
http://m.autoevolution.com/2014-audi-s3-golf-r-and...
http://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=478...
http://m.autoevolution.com/2014-audi-s3-golf-r-and...
Edited by loose cannon on Thursday 2nd April 18:31
ash reynolds said:
I've not heard or read anything to support this so it's news to me. If it's that prolific maybe he could share some specific info with you? I'd be keen to know what's going on if there's an issue.
There were major issues last year. Not sure if they've solved them now. S3 and Golf R engines were popping turbos, sometimes within sight of the dealership if the Rforum is to be believed. Then again, so were A45 AMGs. SuperchargedVR6 said:
Plus of course the obvious Rally car vs Hatchback apples vs oranges thing.
But the Evo X and the '09-'13 WRX STI were designed to be daily drivers. I know I used both mine every day. The STI was more comfortable than the Evo but the Evo was no hardship. Even the STI was a better steer than the Golf and that had bushings made from chewing gum out of the factory. This will be the point when the Golf hipsters mutter about superior plastics, resale value and other such mundane nonsense into their lease deals, but I never once worried about the plastics in the rally specials, or in the Alfa for that matter. Each to their own, though. I just find omnicompetent cars boring. Then again, the people that like them don't understand cars being flawed. Everything has to be perfect. To use an analogy over most people's heads, it's Dream Theater vs Van Halen. One is technically perfect, the other is rough and ready and a bit past it. I'd still rather see the latter in concert than the former because I'll overlook the flaws because I'm having way more fun.The R seems, to me, more like a GTI than the GTI is. A get from A to B quickly car that most people will feel safe in. But the engine was a big let down after the R32. I know it's faster, but where's the theatre and drama? Yes, yes, it's all down to EU emissions etc, but I really miss the days of the R32 and 147 GTA. Things were far more ridiculous, in a good way, back then.
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