Tuesday 11th August 2015

Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet

Why the fact James is stuck for things to say about the Golf R actually says much about the car

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It's been another effortless and uneventful month in the Golf R, as it continues to prove itself a very capable and easy to live with performance car. The only real point of note on this month's copy book is the slight electrical gremlin that seems to alternate between niggling at the stop-start technology and preventing the cruise control from working. Boringly, even those issues fix themselves without any intervention. Just don't get me started on the way that one of the buttons to control the radio makes a fractionally different click to the others.

OK, OK, so if I'm being totally honest there is little left to say about the uber-Golf that hasn't already been said ... and discussed at enormous length in the forums. So, in light of the fact that I'm a little stumped at things to say about the Golf this month I thought I'd try and get to the bottom of why everyone else can't shut up about them.

Certain cars seem to capture the mood of the moment and inspire pages and pages of comment on PH every time they are mentioned, the Golf R being the latest example. From announcement to first drive, fleet updates and even the arrival of an estate version it's always got people surprisingly fired up and divided into two opposing camps.

On the one hand, you've got the 'People's Front of Wolfsburg' who simply can't understand why a car with such undeniable pace, grip, build quality and all-round ability could be considered anything less than The Best Car In The World. And will aggressively promote this manifesto against anyone who dares suggest otherwise.

Then you have the 'Wolfsburg Popular People's Front' who, while willing to agree the car has all these attributes, also accuse it of lacking soul, feel and - ultimately - desirability. Many members of this faction believe that the true hero of the hot hatch arena hails from the small town of Munich and goes by the name of M135i.

As I've said though, whichever side of the line you fall the Golf R the one thing all seem to agree on is that it's worth talking about and passionate debate follows it everywhere. The car might be soulless at times but the discussions surrounding it are anything but. Leading me to the obvious conclusion - and this may come as a shock to some people - different people like different things. Shocking I know.

If you take a step back and look at the facts, this become obvious. The Golf R is the perfect car for someone who enjoys a fast, safe-feeling and very easy to drive performance car. The truth is, for a large amount of the time you spend on the road, most people would enjoy those attributes. However, the car really doesn't suit someone who demands more interaction or involvement. Neither is wrong, they're just different, and for the latter camp there are options, not least that deposed champion of the internet from Munich.

And me? Well, I'd like to think that I can remain impartial but I can't deny that a little more interaction would be nice. For example, it might be nice to be able to adjust the car on the throttle more readily, perhaps courtesy of some additional power. Now there is an idea. More on this next month...

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2015 Volkswagen Golf R
Run by: James
On fleet since: March 2015
Mileage: 8106
List price new: £32,220 (£36,055 as tested including £895 for 19-inch 'Pretoria' wheels, £1,765 for Discover Pro Nav, £815 for Dynamic Chassis Control dampers and £360 for Winter Pack).
Last month at a glance: Trying my best to get rid of the electrical demons and planning more power.

Previous updates:
All The Internet owns one, now PH has a Golf R!
Golf R great everyday; who'd have thought?
Track test for the Golf and it's fairly ace there too
Launch control on a Golf?

[GTEYE]

Whichever side of the fence you're on, its still a pretty impressive piece of kit. Golfs have always been fairly straight laced compared to the obvious rivals, but I don't have a problem with that,

Especially when "sold" at those lease deals....

Edited by GTEYE on Tuesday 11th August 12:45