RE: VW Golf R vs. its own hype
Discussion
I think the Golf R is the best hatch all-round, extremely fast, frugal, well built etc. However, I think some owners think that the car is actually better than it is. It is competent.
The price now does seem to be irrelevant (with the leases) but for someone who would like to buy one outright it would be financial madness. How many owners will actually buy their car after the lease end?
There is room for all types of car. However, for me I want a hot hatch that cannot be mistaken for the bog standard version. Unfortunately, as good as they may be, Golfs, BMWs, Mercs and Audis are too bland for top money. If we actually look at the price for a moment and forget about leasing, a decent spec car cost £34k plus. I see R's on Autotrader for £36K plus. Who is going to buy one? The next generation Golf, 0-60 3.5 secs? 170 mph, but will still look the same.
long live the Golf, otherwise we would have nothing to talk about!
The price now does seem to be irrelevant (with the leases) but for someone who would like to buy one outright it would be financial madness. How many owners will actually buy their car after the lease end?
There is room for all types of car. However, for me I want a hot hatch that cannot be mistaken for the bog standard version. Unfortunately, as good as they may be, Golfs, BMWs, Mercs and Audis are too bland for top money. If we actually look at the price for a moment and forget about leasing, a decent spec car cost £34k plus. I see R's on Autotrader for £36K plus. Who is going to buy one? The next generation Golf, 0-60 3.5 secs? 170 mph, but will still look the same.
long live the Golf, otherwise we would have nothing to talk about!
MDUBZ said:
... and the understatedness has left many a 3 series driving sales rep bemused as it powers past.
I always find comments like this odd? How do you know what the other person is thinking? Are you just having a race with yourself and like to pretend someone else was racing you? Having driven the Golf R, it's a great car.
Second choice over my M135i. Just couldn't bring myself to drive a four cylinder car.
The R has been very successful, units wise, due to the bargain basement lease specials that VW has been putting on the road. Good news for those people who would have otherwise been driving a 1.6d.
Second choice over my M135i. Just couldn't bring myself to drive a four cylinder car.
The R has been very successful, units wise, due to the bargain basement lease specials that VW has been putting on the road. Good news for those people who would have otherwise been driving a 1.6d.
wormus said:
Gregmitchell said:
Reason being?
The people who can afford to spend £30k on a car don't want a Golf. Weirdly, I can see plenty buying a new Focus.EricE said:
I understand the appeal for people who lease/finance their car. I'd rather buy an 8V Audi S3 for my money.
Almost identical car but even more understated for the same price or (even cheaper where I live!) than the Golf.
I agree.Almost identical car but even more understated for the same price or (even cheaper where I live!) than the Golf.
I am the sort who prefers to find a mint used bargain. When RS3 models can be found at 1/3 price with low miles I'd be very tempted. I am old school though, as I like owning things rather than renting forever. If they won't drop enough I'll be looking at other types of car instead. There are lots of fun things out there vying for attention. But if renting a golf r is your best bet, enjoy.
andrewparker said:
wormus said:
Gregmitchell said:
Reason being?
The people who can afford to spend £30k on a car don't want a Golf. Weirdly, I can see plenty buying a new Focus.Coolbanana said:
I've owned several fast BMW's, a Porsche 911 and far more luxurious, higher-end vehicles but the R is proving to me to be a very much-enjoyed all-rounder that makes me want to drive it as much as any car I've had before.
Arriving very late in the game to VAG-ownership and unaware of what was going on in the lease-marketplace, I bought mine; outright. Based upon nostalgia from my teen years of long ago for the original GTI, Reviews and hype alone.
I reserved my hard-earned money this time around for a more sound financial investment in Property and went for a base-spec R thinking it seemed to have all the bits I actually use on a day-to-day basis - and I was right.
I like my toys but I can do without many that are simply extras and not really used much when I want to.
So the R is to me a bit of an eye-opener and somewhat of a revelation. You'd think VAG products were rubbish reading some folks comments on PH but, for me, the opposite is surely true if this little Golf is anything to go by. It is well put together and feels like a premium brand product. It is ergonomically functional, neat and tidy. It is a genuinely quick car and handles itself better in the wet than any vehicle I've owned previously.
Ok, so it is "bland". I'll concede that, but maybe I am too, so we are perfect for one another. If by "bland" we mean it doesn't scream 'Race Car, Boy Racer, Yobbo Mobile, Chav Chariot' then it certainly fits. It does, after all, only look 'slightly sporty'. While I appreciate cars like the Civic Type R, Subaru and Focus RS are good in their own way, they aren't for me on appearance alone. I'm not sure I would have wanted those looks on my driveway as a teenager either. Too Halfords I would have thought, even back then. Too 'trying too hard to be in your face sporty'. The AMG A45 falls into this category with its wing too.
I guess then, I like "bland". Others will like the RS etc and good for them - if they enjoy their choice as much as I enjoy mine, we're all happy.
"Soul". Hmmm. A tougher one. "Soul" often means different things to different people too. Quirks that can to some be annoying can be evidence of soul to others. Does the Golf R have soul then? To me...actually yes.
It's character isn't in the same vein as my BMW Z4M's was. That car was a hooligan; a lairy barnstormer. No, the Golf R's character to me is found in its willingness to be everything - to behave sedately and, dare I say, mundane, one minute but thrilling the next. Thrilling, of course, can only be soulful to some when it is forcing you to fight it, to be keeping you on the edge of your seat and challenging your skill-set. That's nice. Thrilling for me is demonstrating how accomplished the car is - making me nod to the Engineer's who made it and smiling at how good it is as I take a corner really, really fast.
Less skill and therefore less challenging, the latter. But then I'm not a car racer. I have never been to a Track and, truth be told, I have no ambition to either. Just not my thing. I do like to go around corners really quickly and accelerate quickly too. Simple likes. The Golf R provides those in all weathers, with aplomb and puts a smile on my face whilst doing so.
Cracking post.Arriving very late in the game to VAG-ownership and unaware of what was going on in the lease-marketplace, I bought mine; outright. Based upon nostalgia from my teen years of long ago for the original GTI, Reviews and hype alone.
I reserved my hard-earned money this time around for a more sound financial investment in Property and went for a base-spec R thinking it seemed to have all the bits I actually use on a day-to-day basis - and I was right.
I like my toys but I can do without many that are simply extras and not really used much when I want to.
So the R is to me a bit of an eye-opener and somewhat of a revelation. You'd think VAG products were rubbish reading some folks comments on PH but, for me, the opposite is surely true if this little Golf is anything to go by. It is well put together and feels like a premium brand product. It is ergonomically functional, neat and tidy. It is a genuinely quick car and handles itself better in the wet than any vehicle I've owned previously.
Ok, so it is "bland". I'll concede that, but maybe I am too, so we are perfect for one another. If by "bland" we mean it doesn't scream 'Race Car, Boy Racer, Yobbo Mobile, Chav Chariot' then it certainly fits. It does, after all, only look 'slightly sporty'. While I appreciate cars like the Civic Type R, Subaru and Focus RS are good in their own way, they aren't for me on appearance alone. I'm not sure I would have wanted those looks on my driveway as a teenager either. Too Halfords I would have thought, even back then. Too 'trying too hard to be in your face sporty'. The AMG A45 falls into this category with its wing too.
I guess then, I like "bland". Others will like the RS etc and good for them - if they enjoy their choice as much as I enjoy mine, we're all happy.
"Soul". Hmmm. A tougher one. "Soul" often means different things to different people too. Quirks that can to some be annoying can be evidence of soul to others. Does the Golf R have soul then? To me...actually yes.
It's character isn't in the same vein as my BMW Z4M's was. That car was a hooligan; a lairy barnstormer. No, the Golf R's character to me is found in its willingness to be everything - to behave sedately and, dare I say, mundane, one minute but thrilling the next. Thrilling, of course, can only be soulful to some when it is forcing you to fight it, to be keeping you on the edge of your seat and challenging your skill-set. That's nice. Thrilling for me is demonstrating how accomplished the car is - making me nod to the Engineer's who made it and smiling at how good it is as I take a corner really, really fast.
Less skill and therefore less challenging, the latter. But then I'm not a car racer. I have never been to a Track and, truth be told, I have no ambition to either. Just not my thing. I do like to go around corners really quickly and accelerate quickly too. Simple likes. The Golf R provides those in all weathers, with aplomb and puts a smile on my face whilst doing so.
Edited by Coolbanana on Tuesday 22 December 18:11
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