Re : PH Carbituary | Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7)
Discussion
David87 said:
eftiem64 said:
Dull as ditchwater. Surely you only had one if you couldn’t afford an S3?
Not at all. Besides, they’re essentially the same really.
I remember the Audi TTS I had...it was quick and lovely to live with for sure, but as something to just jump in and drive for the fun of it...absolutely not.
Understeer was its middle name and the steering felt like it wasn't connected to the wheels. I presume from the love that the Golf R gets though...that it is a different kettle of fish in fairness.
NGK210 said:
pagc1 said:
I bought an ex-car pool, company lease, car supermarket vendor car - 4-door back in March '19 with just 4k on the clock and less than 8 months old. What could go wrong? I have had front shock absorbers, engine mounts and a new gearbox! replaced already, (under warranty, thank goodness). It's now a great car but clearly not unbreakable. I'm glad I didn't contemplate any ECU 'upgrade' . . .
It seems as if your car has been regularly red-lined when the gearbox oil was cold and yumped over speed bumps. Are you sure the “car pool” didn’t belong to a city-based police force?The key point is don’t mix up reliability with abuse, any car will suffer if abused. I personally wouldn’t buy a used Golf R for that reason - or actually any of its rivals.
I always wanted one as a sensible addition to the fleet. SWMBO was having none of it so when the Zed went it was replaced by an equally (compared to the Golf R) theft magnet M2C.
A recent drive from Geneva to Val D'Isere makes me even more inclined to get a Golf R. On 18's and a decent set of winters I'd imagine there isn't any where it wouldn't be able to get to come Ski season.
A recent drive from Geneva to Val D'Isere makes me even more inclined to get a Golf R. On 18's and a decent set of winters I'd imagine there isn't any where it wouldn't be able to get to come Ski season.
Msportman said:
The TCR is a nice package...why didn’t you buy??
I’ve been thru countless GTI’s and other marques and when you’re nudging 300bhp and over 4WD is the way to go as a daily in the UK. I got fed up of spinning wheels pulling out of junctions in the wet the torque just overwhelms the front.
My GTI’s were all great in the dry and circuit and out of the two cars the AWD platform clinched it for me back in 2016 when I bought mine.
Now it’s 400bhp+ having AWD is a must on a everyday basis and it ballistic for a Golf.
Another factor is that it seems most manufacturers are churning out 5 door only which doesn’t look nearly as nice as 3 door. Luckily mines 3 door in Oryx white and fairly rare compared to all of the 5 door Golfs.
FWD with a proper mechanical lsd makes huge difference over these electronic so called diffsI’ve been thru countless GTI’s and other marques and when you’re nudging 300bhp and over 4WD is the way to go as a daily in the UK. I got fed up of spinning wheels pulling out of junctions in the wet the torque just overwhelms the front.
My GTI’s were all great in the dry and circuit and out of the two cars the AWD platform clinched it for me back in 2016 when I bought mine.
Now it’s 400bhp+ having AWD is a must on a everyday basis and it ballistic for a Golf.
Another factor is that it seems most manufacturers are churning out 5 door only which doesn’t look nearly as nice as 3 door. Luckily mines 3 door in Oryx white and fairly rare compared to all of the 5 door Golfs.
Edited by Msportman on Saturday 11th January 10:40
Olivera said:
pangster79 said:
however, i wouldn't say it was the last word on a good driving experience or engagement.. *everything* is over assisted - the steering is mega light (even in race mode) and the brakes are hyper sensitive.. I can honestly say I generally prefer driving my MCS over the R.. a generally far more 'connected' driving experience..
That's my own experience with a Mk7.5 Golf GTI DSG - highly competent, refined, handles well. However, from a driving experience perspective it offers very little. At no point have I ever thought I must take it out just for an enjoyable drive.If you gave me an empty B road and the choice between a Golf GTI/R or a £750 Mk1 MX5, I'd choose the latter.
A golf R might be fast and practical but it is a damn dull drive and a poor man’s S3. Similarly lifeless steering, blunt handling and characterless highly stressed engine.
An M140i might be slower in extreme conditions, say 10% of the time but in all respects is a far more rewarding and entertaining drive all the time with better steering, handling and you can’t beat the sweet six. It’s a great car to live with and has better tech. I drove all, and Was left totally underwhelmed by the VAG products. In my book therefore, the BMW’s passing is far more worthy of mourning than the uninspiring VAG products. But of course that’s just my point of view.
Water Fairy said:
Msportman said:
The TCR is a nice package...why didn’t you buy??
I’ve been thru countless GTI’s and other marques and when you’re nudging 300bhp and over 4WD is the way to go as a daily in the UK. I got fed up of spinning wheels pulling out of junctions in the wet the torque just overwhelms the front.
My GTI’s were all great in the dry and circuit and out of the two cars the AWD platform clinched it for me back in 2016 when I bought mine.
Now it’s 400bhp+ having AWD is a must on a everyday basis and it ballistic for a Golf.
Another factor is that it seems most manufacturers are churning out 5 door only which doesn’t look nearly as nice as 3 door. Luckily mines 3 door in Oryx white and fairly rare compared to all of the 5 door Golfs.
FWD with a proper mechanical lsd makes huge difference over these electronic so called diffsI’ve been thru countless GTI’s and other marques and when you’re nudging 300bhp and over 4WD is the way to go as a daily in the UK. I got fed up of spinning wheels pulling out of junctions in the wet the torque just overwhelms the front.
My GTI’s were all great in the dry and circuit and out of the two cars the AWD platform clinched it for me back in 2016 when I bought mine.
Now it’s 400bhp+ having AWD is a must on a everyday basis and it ballistic for a Golf.
Another factor is that it seems most manufacturers are churning out 5 door only which doesn’t look nearly as nice as 3 door. Luckily mines 3 door in Oryx white and fairly rare compared to all of the 5 door Golfs.
Edited by Msportman on Saturday 11th January 10:40
I drove the XDS (non PP) back to back with the VAQ (PP) equipped car and I genuinely believe that anyone who doesn't buy the PP when choosing between the two drives like a pensioner or is simply an idiot.
Edited by Baldchap on Sunday 12th January 11:18
eftiem64 said:
A golf R might be fast and practical but it is a damn dull drive and a poor man’s S3
This point of view really interests me. When you added the few options to the Golf R that the S3 came with as standard they were literally within pounds of each other. They’re also very very different to drive, despite the obvious mechanical similarities (but you’d know that having driven both). I also much prefer the looks of the Golf over the semi-estate car body shape of the Sportback. They were even available on some very attractive lease deals. Sounds like you’re attaching the vanity element that most people associate with Audi’s to the S3 when in reality it was very similarly priced and worse to drive. Stunning all-rounder that could do the mundane stuff, the motorway miles and then explode over the right back-road.
What really set it apart were the silly cheap lease deals - you could drive one for 20k miles, 2 years for c. £5k, an absolute no-brainer.
This has meant that 1 in 5 golfs sold/leased was an R, and thus the legacy will be a vast pool of cars for the second hand buyer for years to come.
What really set it apart were the silly cheap lease deals - you could drive one for 20k miles, 2 years for c. £5k, an absolute no-brainer.
This has meant that 1 in 5 golfs sold/leased was an R, and thus the legacy will be a vast pool of cars for the second hand buyer for years to come.
andrewparker said:
eftiem64 said:
A golf R might be fast and practical but it is a damn dull drive and a poor man’s S3
This point of view really interests me. When you added the few options to the Golf R that the S3 came with as standard they were literally within pounds of each other. They’re also very very different to drive, despite the obvious mechanical similarities (but you’d know that having driven both). I also much prefer the looks of the Golf over the semi-estate car body shape of the Sportback. They were even available on some very attractive lease deals. Sounds like you’re attaching the vanity element that most people associate with Audi’s to the S3 when in reality it was very similarly priced and worse to drive. I always sort of 'got' the R thing (particularly the estate version) but I've never really understood the point of the Audi version - other than perhaps pretentiousness over unpretentiousness. And driving a car that looks like it's having a childish tantrum, if one is prone to anthropomorphism.
PS - also no interest in owning either, just curious...and would like my biases confirmed!
It really comes down to the vagueness of the steering and the bouncy ride. It’s set up very differently to the Golf R offering very little feedback which makes it feel far less involving to drive. There’s some numbness to the Golf’s steering, but it’s far sharper than the S3s and it just feels more eager in general.
Read any direct comparison between the two cars and you’ll find the same outcome, the Golf is the better drive, the Audi is the more grown up car and a nicer place to sit.
I’ve found with all MQB cars that you have to press on the get the best out of them (to their detriment really), but in this respect the Golf R comes alive and the S3 never feels anything but safe, secure, and very normal.
Read any direct comparison between the two cars and you’ll find the same outcome, the Golf is the better drive, the Audi is the more grown up car and a nicer place to sit.
I’ve found with all MQB cars that you have to press on the get the best out of them (to their detriment really), but in this respect the Golf R comes alive and the S3 never feels anything but safe, secure, and very normal.
Olivera said:
That's my own experience with a Mk7.5 Golf GTI DSG - highly competent, refined, handles well. However, from a driving experience perspective it offers very little. At no point have I ever thought I must take it out just for an enjoyable drive.
If you gave me an empty B road and the choice between a Golf GTI/R or a £750 Mk1 MX5, I'd choose the latter.
Having owned a couple of Mk1 MX5 and a Mk7 R I'd say I was qualified to comment.If you gave me an empty B road and the choice between a Golf GTI/R or a £750 Mk1 MX5, I'd choose the latter.
The Mk7 R is actually a key I enjoy picking up the keys too, especially if the roads are clear and especially when the conditions are wet.
A Caterham would be a completely different story, fun on a different level.
andrewparker said:
It really comes down to the vagueness of the steering and the bouncy ride. It’s set up very differently to the Golf R offering very little feedback which makes it feel far less involving to drive. There’s some numbness to the Golf’s steering, but it’s far sharper than the S3s and it just feels more eager in general.
Read any direct comparison between the two cars and you’ll find the same outcome, the Golf is the better drive, the Audi is the more grown up car and a nicer place to sit.
I’ve found with all MQB cars that you have to press on the get the best out of them (to their detriment really), but in this respect the Golf R comes alive and the S3 never feels anything but safe, secure, and very normal.
Thanks for that!Read any direct comparison between the two cars and you’ll find the same outcome, the Golf is the better drive, the Audi is the more grown up car and a nicer place to sit.
I’ve found with all MQB cars that you have to press on the get the best out of them (to their detriment really), but in this respect the Golf R comes alive and the S3 never feels anything but safe, secure, and very normal.
I knew someone who had the 1st gen, prettier S3 and he said much the same - lovely quality (back then!) as well as very fast and capable, yet utterly uninspiring to drive. He didn't keep it long.
Actually, I found that 'pressing on' - 'alive' thing with 911s - a bit ordinary (but in this case, highly competent with a decent ride) at sensible speeds and they only feel 'together' when you really push them hard. Given their fundamental capabilities, that has obvious drawbacks...
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