Who is liking their new Golf R?

[sumo69]

I don't have the adjustable suspension and I am finding the ride with the 18's more than acceptable - firm but not jarring.

David

[jamiehamy]

Jazzer said:

jamiehamy said:

Ride is very firm and makes life for any passenger less than comfortable - the types of road around me do need something with some more spring travel ....

Do you have the adjustable chassis?

I find normal perfectly acceptable, comfort is fine too of course.

Even sport mode is not unbearable.

I find the R more comfortable than my F10 M5, really!!

I will clarify - the car is very comfortable, but just calling out that when you're tramping on across undulating roads, the car doesn't soak up those bumps/undulations as well as other cars, to the point that sometimes you have to back off as the car is getting flung about a bit.

My comparisons over the same roads are my Corrado (standard height, Bilsteins and ARB), a Macan and my old 944 - all these cars take undulations in their stride, soaking them up at high speed. The Golf doesn't do that. IT's not a complaint, jsut an observation. I'e driven the same roads on many cars and know the Golf is not as refined a high speed cruiser but - it's not a cruiser.

Maybe the roads across the west of Scotland are just not as smooth as elsewhere....

[Cyb3rDud3]

I've had mine for about 7k miles now. Had a bit of a wobble around 2k miles where I wasn't certain, but refound my love for it for what it is....

Since two weeks now I've got it at Stage 1 tuned, and wow just wow Superb little car with so much power...

[jamiehamy]

It's absolutely tremendous, the power delivery is seamless right to the red line, to the point that I occasionally forget to shift up, because the engine doesn't sound or feel like it needs to change.

I'd love to know what the Haldex is doing - my friends Macan has a diagram showing where the power was going which was intresting. Can the setup be changed in anyway to change the bias?

[rigster2]

Unfortunately I'm not overly into it as a driving experience.

Nothing like as involving as a Megane

Disappointed with the plough understeer.

However, it is as I kinda thought it would be, fast, competent, planted and seems high quality.

Think it will be safe round the Ring.

Great everyday, do it all car. Just not getting me out of bed on a Sunday that's all.

[SuperchargedVR6]

jamiehamy said:

It's agreat car, but agree with Greig - built quality leaves a lot to be desired.

There are copious amounts of cheap plastic trim around the front bumper and rear skirt that will not stand the test of time, the boot handle, despite being standard VW fare for years feels weak and plastic. Boot is tiny! INterior isn't really that special, especially compared to the likes of the Mk4 R32 which really looks good and feels solid. Having some from a B5 S4, maybe nohting modern will feel solid tho.

On the driving side, it's a rocket ship and fun to drive, but not very involving. Very understeery unless you power out of every corner, but then you end up driving much faster than you wanted. It does suffer from lag, which is probably not surprising I suppose, but takes a while to get used to. Suspension is pretty solid and makes driving over typical Scottish roads with passangers rather amusing. You can cover ground at some speed tho and you simply do not get a sensation of speed in this thing. I wish it was a 5 speed - absolutely no need for 6 speeds in a car like this, esp not given that 6th is hardly a cruising ratio.

It most certainly worth the money we're paying, and partner is enjoying having it, but I'm quite content with my Corrado and don't feel too hard done by. I would never purchase one tho, but then, I'd never purchase any new or nearly new car.

I think I'm jsut old school.

VW's have been very noticeably built down to a price since the MK5. The MK4 R32 had a lovely interior with the aluminium bits and a nicely laid out and sculpted dash. MK5 onwards is very low rent in terms of design and quality.

Back in the 80s I couldn't perceive a quality difference between an Audi 80 and a Passat. Now they are very different. Same basic platform sharing as back then, but Audi have resolutely stuck to their guns with interior quality and when you're sat in the bloody things for longer than you ought to be, thanks to over crowding in the east / south east, it's worth paying the extra for.

I've owned every iteration of Golf up the Mark 5. The 6 and 7 just don't interest me, for the reasons you mention. Technically, I love them. The TSFI engine is a masterpiece. 280lbft torque from 1800rpm and held to 6000rpm. Who needs diesel? OK, VW's mpg figures are as ever horse shat, but who cares wit that much grunt. But the cars overall, meh. Move on, next please.

As for the understeer, do MK7s have the same swiss cheese console bushes as the MK5 GTI? A white line anti-lift kit and thicker rear ARB transformed those cars. I'm sure the MK7 is equally responsive to mods, oh but you're leasing? Bad luck. Understeer for you for the whole term then, he he

Keep the Corrado. Best VW ever made. Properly built by hand! Only now just starting to rust. MK5s rusted after a few years. Cost cutting cheap skates. Why do they get such loyalty?

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Friday 19th September 12:42

[normal bloke]

Just had mine (in DogCock Red) delivered today (ordered early June). Gosh, it's quick.
Is it any quicker/slower in the different modes or just more/less noisy?
Also, has anyone else lost the will to live trying to work out how to use it by consulting the manual?

[SausageBap]

I've had my R for a little over 6 months and 8k, I think its fantastic, it's such a good all rounder. I do a 30 mile each way commute every day, 10 of those on B roads the rest on motorway and dual carriage way. Show it the open B road and I don't think there's an awful lot that would keep up with it, however it's just as happy in 6th gear cruising along the m road.

I have the standard setup on 18's and the ride is excellent, soaks up the rough roads no problem and never any complaints from passengers. I haven't noticed the understeer previously mentioned. It's also great as a family car, I took it on holiday packed with 2 young kids buggy and all for a week away.

I've noticed the rear boot spoiler has started to come away from the boot lid on both sides which I'll get looked at when it goes in for a service. The cabin is functional but not luxurious, leather would have been nice.

Overall, its a very quick functional car, in black it gets very little attention which I like (even the exhausts are now black ) and I'm averaging 32 mpg.

[sumo69]

I must be doing something wrong as my first 750 miles are averaging 23mpg!

I can put that down to 2 reasons:

1) a week doing the school run crawling along a 5 mph for 45 mins twice a day!

2) taking it for a hoon around Thruxton yesterday which has bedded it in nicely - consumption was below 10mpg!! Its a little too soft and rolling for a track car, but the engine grunt, grip, traction and surprisingly the brakes were better than expected and I was fast enough to keep an M235i honest.

I did notice understeer if you lifted off the throttle through corners, so adjusted to be slower in and accelerate as hitting the Apex which seemed to sort the issues, though uprated bushes and ARB's would probably help.

David

[Gio G]

I am also averaging 23MPG, however mostly school runs at the moment, long drive to Herefordshire saw around 29MPG, still has around 1300 miles on it at the moment, so probably still tight..

I did hate the car momentarily when I could not find the postcode selection button on the Sat Nav, but got over that. Is there a way to move the mode from normal to race, by using the steering wheel?

G

[jamiehamy]

Gio G said:

I am also averaging 23MPG, however mostly school runs at the moment, long drive to Herefordshire saw around 29MPG, still has around 1300 miles on it at the moment, so probably still tight..

I did hate the car momentarily when I could not find the postcode selection button on the Sat Nav, but got over that. Is there a way to move the mode from normal to race, by using the steering wheel?

G

I don't think so Gio, sadly. Means when I drive, I always get caught putting it into Race mode...lol Similarly, to compeletly switch off the traction control is a very obvious move...

[Diamond Dave]

Six weeks and 1500 miles so far. What is there not to like! Build quality on mine is fine, no issues so far. Performance especially in the mid-range is brilliant. It feels quicker than my old 997C2!! Surprised by comments on turbo-lag cos I can't feel any on mine and no understeer to speak off. Its important to balance the car before entering the corner and I find I apply the power fractionally earlier than in my previous 2WD Gti. It just seems to grip, grip grip. Discover Pro nav is superb. Love the cruise control too, very very clever!
In my view a seriously quick, very practical and usable daily driver. Well done VW!!

[Blown2CV]

I just got back from a week in Ibiza and now I'm out of hols. I am off today though, it's a lovely day where I live and I'm bodding about doing errands in the R and it's cheering me up no end!

I've noticed a slight bubbling on the 'up/down' button next to OK on the steering wheel though. Also I get a weird whistling which I'm sure is just the turbo but I guess I can just get VW to check it.

[simo1863]

Just taken a weekend demo in possibly the dullest colour imaginable;


3dr DSG with nav, leather and heated seats. Like it, feels a bit special compared to the S3 I recently drove (yeah I know they are very similar beneath the skin). Would still probably go for the A45 given the choice of stupidly quick AWD hatchbacks but it is a lot more expensive I suppose

[ziggy328]

I looked at the R as tremendous value - then I drove the stupidly expensive A45. Yes it is stupid money for a hatchback - but I went for it anyway on a pretty decent lease deal with MB. I can only imagine what it will be like after I get past the 1000 miles running in period

[fatboy b]

ziggy328 said:

I looked at the R as tremendous value - then I drove the stupidly expensive A45. Yes it is stupid money for a hatchback - but I went for it anyway on a pretty decent lease deal with MB. I can only imagine what it will be like after I get past the 1000 miles running in period

How do you find the stick-on screen? Looks bloody awful, but then the whole car does imo.

[ziggy328]

Stick on screen is a bit crap to be fair. I think your comment regarding the whole car though is a bit harsh.

[fatboy b]

ziggy328 said:

Stick on screen is a bit crap to be fair. I think your comment regarding the whole car though is a bit harsh.

Just too many creases down the side for me, but that's the same for all Mercs at this time.

The interior is very low-rent, and for me (6'2") the bit above the driver's door is too low for getting in and out. I hired an A180d, and kept hitting my head. Just no need. The screen, as said, is just plain crap. The steering column controls are awful. And why the fk do they do that wierd thing with the brake pedal to aid hill starts??

ETA, just speced one up. I still prefer my Jag any day over an A45.

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 26th September 21:33

[ziggy328]

fatboy b said:

ziggy328 said:

Stick on screen is a bit crap to be fair. I think your comment regarding the whole car though is a bit harsh.

Just too many creases down the side for me, but that's the same for all Mercs at this time.

The interior is very low-rent, and for me (6'2") the bit above the driver's door is too low for getting in and out. I hired an A180d, and kept hitting my head. Just no need. The screen, as said, is just plain crap. The steering column controls are awful. And why the fk do they do that wierd thing with the brake pedal to aid hill starts??

ETA, just speced one up. I still prefer my Jag any day over an A45.

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 26th September 21:33

But thry aren't comparable. A45 vs a Jag never in a million, car one before the A45 was an XKR-S was it better than the A45, probably, but it was a £100K car, was it better everywhere, nope. A45 would leave it for dead on the twisty's

PS Not my fault or MB's that you are a tall

[ecain63]

A45 interior is in no way low rent? Your A180 may have been but the A45 is a mile ahead. The Golf R interior is not exactly plush is it? The screen in the A45 is a bit marmite, but so is the car..... and that was the point of it. For well off kids who wanted to waste more money than was necessary.

Dull but fast - Golf R. ASBO / OTT, marmite looks and fast - A45.

I love my A45!