RE: Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet
Discussion
Hackney said:
RacerMike said:
Funny you should say that. I considered replacing my Mk5 GTI with 7R, so test drove one. 125% of the GTI for 500% of the money. Genuinely a great car, but the Mk5 feels so incredibly similar, I would have been paying £20k (after part/ex) to have Bluetooth Audio, Sat Nav and a bit more traction.
I ended up with a Gen 1 Cayman S (new vs old, but it was a genuine choice) which makes 295bhp feel like 295bhp, where the 7R made it feel like 240....
500% of the money?!!!!I ended up with a Gen 1 Cayman S (new vs old, but it was a genuine choice) which makes 295bhp feel like 295bhp, where the 7R made it feel like 240....
Didn't realise a Golf R was well north of £100k, those lease deals must be pretty immense.
Deadlysub said:
The choice in the current hot hatch market is great at the minute. I am taking the Munich corner and getting an M135i but I can understand why the Golf R is so popular and not just because of the decent lease deals.
That's far too reasonable a comment for one of these threads!A 4 cylinder golf with quad exhaust pipes :s looks completely awful, infact i'd go as far to say embarrassing, you just can't take it seriously. The old R's looked great with their twin ovals
I'm sure it's a capable car but for that exact reason I'd take the older generation, doubt there is much in them from a technical point of view
I'm sure it's a capable car but for that exact reason I'd take the older generation, doubt there is much in them from a technical point of view
Edited by shantybeater on Tuesday 12th May 18:57
I have always been a VAG fan and owned 2 Mk5 GTI's (New) in 2005 & 2007. The first was a normal GTI mapped to 240 bhp and an edition 30 mapped to 310mph and both were fantastic cars. Since then I have has all sorts of cars from Audi S/RS models to an Audi A8 diesel. I now drive a M135I Auto and recently drove a MK7 Golf GTD DSG and whilst I accept its no Golf R, it just felt ordinary and cheap compared to the BMW. Still a nice car though.
As ugly as the BMW is (which doesn't concern me) it has a real depth of engineering compared to the golf (although I haven't driven the R) This may be something to do with the engine & gearbox but it just feels considerably more expensive, even if the golf has better perceived quality in a lot of areas.
They may both be 'hot hatches' but they are both very different cars. The BMW challenges you on the limit & while I suspect the golf probably faster point to point, its probably a little sterile and easier to drive for the less experienced driver.
Both great cars in their own way.
As ugly as the BMW is (which doesn't concern me) it has a real depth of engineering compared to the golf (although I haven't driven the R) This may be something to do with the engine & gearbox but it just feels considerably more expensive, even if the golf has better perceived quality in a lot of areas.
They may both be 'hot hatches' but they are both very different cars. The BMW challenges you on the limit & while I suspect the golf probably faster point to point, its probably a little sterile and easier to drive for the less experienced driver.
Both great cars in their own way.
Edited by kmack on Tuesday 12th May 19:28
Best mpg so far for me is 29mpg (manual) which is only 3mpg or so better than my Boxster, despite it supposedly being 13mpg more economical. I think the traction is good and no complaints about the stability being intrusive - don't particularly like the brakes though. Surprised at people saying it doesn't feel like 300bhp - it does to me and I also own a 987.1 3.4S. I don't like the attention/ hassle it seems to attract on the motorway/ dual carriageways and agree quad exhausts is OTT but apart from that I have no other complaints.
I do like some of the styling (away from the silly one exhaust for every cylinder laugh). It is more focused in the damp for sure and would be the choice for me if the 135 didn't exist.thank BMW It does.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hint and sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. There is something utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As others have said you feel and know (and hear) it is 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hint and sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. There is something utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As others have said you feel and know (and hear) it is 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
Edited by Cups Renault on Tuesday 12th May 21:13
I do like some of the styling (away from the silly one exhaust for every cylinder laugh). It is more focused in the damp for sure and would be the choice for me if the 135 didn't exist.thank BMW It does.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hint and sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. There is something utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As others have said you feel and know (and hear) it is 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hint and sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. There is something utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As others have said you feel and know (and hear) it is 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
Edited by Cups Renault on Tuesday 12th May 23:38
I owned an m135i for almost 2 years and recently picked up a Golf R. Both cars manual 5 door with bog standard suspension.
Despite the differences in configuration they feel remarkably similar. The most notable difference in terms of drive is when pushing on on your average British b road. The golf is a lot better set up for this. The BMW just never settles with a wierd accumulated wallow type sensation like the damper rebound and spring rate aren't matched. I'm led to believe the adaptive suspension sorts this.
All in you can't really go wrong with either. However, if you really want hot hatch fun I recon you need to go down a size to a fiesta St, pug 208 gti etc. The bigger cars aren't really like hot hatched anymore.
Despite the differences in configuration they feel remarkably similar. The most notable difference in terms of drive is when pushing on on your average British b road. The golf is a lot better set up for this. The BMW just never settles with a wierd accumulated wallow type sensation like the damper rebound and spring rate aren't matched. I'm led to believe the adaptive suspension sorts this.
All in you can't really go wrong with either. However, if you really want hot hatch fun I recon you need to go down a size to a fiesta St, pug 208 gti etc. The bigger cars aren't really like hot hatched anymore.
thespannerman said:
As other members have been saying... Looks better in red with the more normal wheels IMO
Couldn't care about speed, times, cornering etc. I'd still take an M135i! The 'R' just seems too 'chavvy' for me!
I'd take the GTI Golf (preferably the Performance Pack one) or the Seat Leon FR over the Golf R from the same reason.Couldn't care about speed, times, cornering etc. I'd still take an M135i! The 'R' just seems too 'chavvy' for me!
Or even better spend the money on a second hand 981 Cayman or Boxster.
Crafty_ said:
Why is the M135i in the pictures (and presumably the upcoming articles) a pre-LCI model ? bit pointless using one of those, given you can't buy one new.
I wondered that too. I do like these and considered one before I ended up at the BMW dealer. Straight 6 noise and rwd won hands down for me.
I've come from a mk5 gti to an m135. Rear wheel drive and 6 pot noise is lovely plus it's so much faster (gti was chipped to 240). However I think the gti had nicer steering and the interior was very nice (leather) and wouldn't be surprised if mk7 had better quality interior than BMW. those 4 pipes on golf look awful, that aside the golf is smarter looking though BMW looks don't bother me - they're ok (bog standard 1 series looks terrible though).
Crafty_ said:
Why is the M135i in the pictures (and presumably the upcoming articles) a pre-LCI model ? bit pointless using one of those, given you can't buy one new.
We tried to get one of the facelift ones but BMW is between the UK press launch and the cars going out on loans for roadtests so we recruited a willing M135i driving PHer bring his car along. Much obliged to you Rex!Cheers,
Dan
nunpuncher said:
All in you can't really go wrong with either. However, if you really want hot hatch fun I recon you need to go down a size to a fiesta St, pug 208 gti etc. The bigger cars aren't really like hot hatched anymore.
Agreed. Neither the Golf nor the M135i is a sports car and those who buy them are generally thinking about other things too, like carrying luggage around. For me it was the arrival of my daughter and I chose the Golf partly because it would be easier to get the pushchair and all the other crap into the boot. Not very PH and quite dull, but this is why these cars exist. A smaller car wouldn't do it (moved up from an Ibiza) and a bigger car would be a pair to park on the street in London.As for the comments regarding it not feeling like 300 bhp, b
ks. My other car's a 225 TT mk1 (girly car for the sunshine). It's remapped and the Golf's st off a shovel in comparison. By the way, you're not the same nunpuncher who used to used to go to Dogma in Edinburgh are you? If so, I believe we've met once or twice.
I do like some of the styling (away from the silly one exhaust for every cylinder laugh). It is more focused in the damp for sure and would be the choice for me if the 135 didn't thankBMW It does.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hhintaand sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. The comments s something for utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As other have said you feel and know (and hear) there are 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
People have been far too quick to slap BMW for styling (I do really like the bread van hhintaand sharp side angles) but have most often failed to recognise that they have been brave enough to do something utterly distinct in this category of cars. The comments s something for utterly brilliant about big engine small(er) car. Ok it will never be a pug with an mi16 but that sound and sheer grunt is so much more intoxicating than a blown four pot.
And it flies. As other have said you feel and know (and hear) there are 300+ (in most cases 340 out of the factory). evo and other titles seemed mighty quick to jump the four pot bandwagon and advertising gravy train in extolling the virtues of the new wave of four potters. Whilst forgetting for example the healthy advantage the 135 had over the S3 on the evo track. Be interesting to see what the R does head to head on that basis. Especially as the 135i is the GT (dont laugh!) of the hot hatch sector. It also can tickle 40 mpgon a steady motorway run. Glad the R is so competant and would genuinely consider one but the alternative is hearing that glorious noise on cold start up.
Tomatogti said:
I've come from a mk5 gti to an m135. Rear wheel drive and 6 pot noise is lovely plus it's so much faster (gti was chipped to 240). However I think the gti had nicer steering and the interior was very nice (leather) and wouldn't be surprised if mk7 had better quality interior than BMW. those 4 pipes on golf look awful, that aside the golf is smarter looking though BMW looks don't bother me - they're ok (bog standard 1 series looks terrible though).
I'd say the quality of the BMW interior is actually better by way of a few very small things.The piano trim especially on the steering wheel feels flimsy. The bmw alu trim is solid although the fit on my handles was awful. a mix of piano black, carbon and the odd bit of silver in the golf is less cohesive and lastly the seats in the BMW are miles better.
Its like you can tell the BMW is the cheapest car in its family where more expensive parts have filtered down. Where as with the golf its more evident its one of the manufacturers more expensive models where they have built upon cheaper materials.
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