RE: Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet

RE: Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet

Tuesday 12th May 2015

Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet

There are over 400 comments on the first story - what now for the Golf R?



Much though it would be great to detail countless stories of fantastic adventures with the Golf R, it's been a fairly tame month for KX15PWV. A busy one, sure, but filled with the more mundane journeys rather than seat-of-the-pants hoons.

#BreakTheInternet
#BreakTheInternet
So it's been used to attend weddings (a good way to make yourself feel old), to move house (an exemplary way to make yourself feel old), plus endless trips to the office and airports. It was at Bruntingthorpe with a BMW M135i recently as well but there's more to follow on that very soon...

Unsurprisingly the Golf has proved superb at day-to-day stuff. It's been interesting to notice the reaction also, how the R fits in everywhere and still attracts attention. Taking it to the same people and places where the Leon Cupra didn't elicit any response, the Golf was received with "Ooh, nice Golf" and "You are very lucky, aren't you?". The latter was a from a friend and not exactly those words but you get the picture - a Golf still resonates as desirable with a lot of people and will explain its popularity to an extent. My hot hatch choice remains the Renaultsport Megane but the Golf evidently still has that classless appeal that its rivals don't.

What else is good? The deceptive speed and stellar refinement probably register as both pros and cons. It requires so little effort to reach great speed, meaning ground can be covered very quickly but also without the driver realising quite how rapid it was. At motorway speeds in particular the speedo can typically be reading 15mph more than expected. Where the Leon always felt fast, the Golf masks its performance just a little more. Again it's personal preference as to whether this appeals, but I would enjoy just a little more excitement from a hot hatch.

"Now where's the launch control?"
"Now where's the launch control?"
With just over 3,000 miles, the Golf's fuel economy is still quite a way from the official claims. My most recent effort yielded 35mpg at an average of 40mph across 40 miles or so. Room for improvement with both driver and car!

Where it's tough to fault the Golf is from inside. Yes, it's a predictable observation but it does all the phone, media and navigation tasks exceedingly well. Especially having come from the Leon, the improved graphics and speed in particular are noticeable. On fairly routine drives they are very welcome, I have to say.

So yes, not the most PHey of months for the Golf R. We aim to resolve the situation very soon! There will be more on that BMW comparison in the next couple of weeks and we probably should do a proper track day as well. Until then it will probably continue being a talented and fast Golf, while attracting plenty of debate on the Internet. Can we beat 461 comments this time? Watch this space.


FACT SHEET
Car:
 2015 Volkswagen Golf R
Run by: Matt, or James when there's fun stuff
On fleet since: March 2015
Mileage: 3,222
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: Golf R does A-B with an A*

Previous updates:
All The Internet owns one, now PH has a Golf R!







Photos: James Arbuckle

Author
Discussion

Driver Rider

Original Poster:

604 posts

196 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I have a mk5 GTI these Golf R cars look impressive on paper but don't know that it'll excite me anymore than my current car. I'm sure it'll impress with grip and pace but don't know if it'll get under my skin.....BMW m135i may just do it for me straight six(whilst we can still but them), rear wheel drive(whilst BMW still build small rear wheel drive cars) mean for me it's a case of job done.

I may have to organise a test drive.....

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Never mind this rubbish - I need more articles on that Polestar Volvo, gimme gimme!

RacerMike

4,192 posts

210 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Driver Rider said:
I have a mk5 GTI these Golf R cars look impressive on paper but don't know that it'll excite me anymore than my current car. I'm sure it'll impress with grip and pace but don't know if it'll get under my skin.....BMW m135i may just do it for me straight six(whilst we can still but them), rear wheel drive(whilst BMW still build small rear wheel drive cars) mean for me it's a case of job done.

I may have to organise a test drive.....
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....

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Weddings & moving house making you feel old?!?
Pah! No sympathy.

Just wait until family & finance reduce you to driving an old Volvo (and your colleague next to you in the office was born the year you went to uni...).

The Golf R sounds nice - just need to sell a child or two.

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
P.S. It looks great in red.

AdamBingley

15 posts

143 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
The only negative for the Golf R is its straight line performance, it just doesnt feel 300HP and at rolling speeds feels more like 230HP.

Theres very little in it between an R and a GTI PP when rolling between 40-80.

FYI i own an R so im not just gassing.

rob.e

2,861 posts

277 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Matt's article said:
Especially having come from the Leon, the improved graphics and speed in particular are noticeable.
Yep, improved graphics 'cos it's fitted with the Discover PRO system with the 8" screen where the Leon you guys recently tested had the regular nav system with "only" a 6.5 inch screen. Both are optional on the golf i think? Leon has the base nav system as stardard fitment but you can have the bigger unit as a cost option.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
This comment will really upset a few on here smile

'a Golf still resonates as desirable with a lot of people'

Liamboults

7 posts

106 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I must say it also looks cracking in red!

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
AdamBingley said:
The only negative for the Golf R is its straight line performance, it just doesnt feel 300HP and at rolling speeds feels more like 230HP.

Theres very little in it between an R and a GTI PP when rolling between 40-80.

FYI i own an R so im not just gassing.
If I were to look at the mk7 Golfs I would 100% be interested in the GTI performance pack over this, I know on paper it might seem like madness, but it just seems to be a cooler car to my mind, even if it loses out in the performance stakes.

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
That fuel economy is pretty bad. As I say about twice a day, I am not persuaded that 4 cyl turbo engines are substantially more fuel efficient than NA 6 pots.

AdamBingley

15 posts

143 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Axionknight said:
If I were to look at the mk7 Golfs I would 100% be interested in the GTI performance pack over this, I know on paper it might seem like madness, but it just seems to be a cooler car to my mind, even if it loses out in the performance stakes.
I know what you mean, maybe if there wasn't so much cheap lease deals the R would be more desirable. (I don't lease).

The performance gap's "feels" too small, there's no comparison in any weather other than dry though if I'm honest, especially on the twisty's.


I think the 300HP is fine I just think it needed more Torque for a bigger shove when rolling.


Timwin1911

3 posts

106 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I've had a Golf 7R for a couple of months now and I found myself nodding along as I read the article - exactly how I find the car - effortless progress and I always get a surprise when I look down at speedo to find I'm going about 20mph more than I thought! DSG gearbox a bit frustrating sometimes when it changes up in manual mode. A bit more drama in the gear shift would be nice too. I quite like the exhaust note fakery but could understand why people wouldn't. Still miss the noise and gearshift on my IS F though. I used to have a mk 5 R32 also and you can tell the mk 7 car is lighter and more powerful - especially at higher speeds, the front end is really good too. Fit and finish are a massive improvement on the mk 5 too.

AdamBingley

15 posts

143 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Timwin1911 said:
I've had a Golf 7R for a couple of months now and I found myself nodding along as I read the article - exactly how I find the car - effortless progress and I always get a surprise when I look down at speedo to find I'm going about 20mph more than I thought! DSG gearbox a bit frustrating sometimes when it changes up in manual mode. A bit more drama in the gear shift would be nice too. I quite like the exhaust note fakery but could understand why people wouldn't. Still miss the noise and gearshift on my IS F though. I used to have a mk 5 R32 also and you can tell the mk 7 car is lighter and more powerful - especially at higher speeds, the front end is really good too. Fit and finish are a massive improvement on the mk 5 too.
git and finish from a mk 5's absolutely night and day.. i find it at least 30% better than my 2013 scirocco GT and that was pretty well equip.

Hackney

6,811 posts

207 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
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?!!!!
Didn't realise a Golf R was well north of £100k, those lease deals must be pretty immense.

thespannerman

234 posts

122 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
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!

AdamBingley

15 posts

143 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
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!
if the R's too chavvy what the hell is a focus RS, Type R any VXR and Subaru etc...

CS400

145 posts

110 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
"Much though it would be great to detail countless stories of fantastic adventures with the Golf R, it's been a fairly tame month for KX15PWV. A busy one, sure, but filled with the more mundane journeys rather than seat-of-the-pants hoons."

I am afraid that is all you get with the Golf R, its too lifeless to feel any fun! biggrintongue out

lewisf182

2,084 posts

187 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Pretty sure I see more Golf R's than GTD's or GTI's these days, which for me would be a massive draw back as they just don't look that special in any way shape or form. And from the outside at least they sound pretty pants after hearing one accelerate. M135i all day long for me, RWD and 6 cylinder which we won't see in the next generation of 1 series I reckon.

Carlique

1,630 posts

163 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I for one am actually getting bang on VW's consumption figures (manual transmission) which is obviously really pleasing. I do however have a stint of my daily commute limited to 50mph due to average speed cameras so the figures I'm getting probably are'nt a true indicator for all.

I also find myself nodding along with some of the comments in the article, often i'll look down at the speedo and I'll be doing 90+ whilst it feels like I'm going 75ish. For me I'm a big fan of that. It's a comfortable cruiser when it wants to be, and a hooligan also when prodded.

Also just to add, the front bumper sensor really did save my bacon the other day. Long story short, my view was blocked from the dust of workmen on the street drilling/cutting into concrete. This also caused the car infront to slam on their brakes which I did'nt see. All of a sudden the car slams on the anchors and I came to an immediate stop. Without the Golfs safety systems I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have reacted in time.