Golf R ownership - Page 1 - Car Buying

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

Hello.

I've been looking for a new car for a while whilst trying to sell my 335i and I know I want a hot hatch.

I had a deposit on a Cupra 290 but lost it due to the sale of the 335i falling through.

Budget is up to around 20k and I've been looking at mainly Focus STs and Leon Cupra 290s.

However a Golf R has popped up that I like the look of and in considering that as an option now.

I'll be doing mainly town driving with the occasional bit of motorway and mixed so I'm looking at DSGs.

Apart from the theft risk, what are they like to live with as a daily?
How expensive are they to run (mpg, servicing etc).

I expect it to be about the same as the Cupra but might be marginally better on fuel as it weighs less.

nunpuncher

3,644 posts

146 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

I owned (leased, so debatable statement) a Golf R and a Cupra 290.

No problems with either of them in terms of reliability. Servicing is about the same on both, my Golf was slightly cheaper to service and my VW dealer gave a better service with collection and drop off. My usage was similar to yours with mainly town driving and surprisingly the heavier Golf returned a higher average MPG (32 v 29).

Things I didn't like about the R. The seats are crap, the manual gearbox (100% get the DSG), low spec on early cars (mine was a 2015)
Things I didn't like about the Cupra. Axle tramp (my god this was awful and ruined the car for me), The dash was a sea of cheap looking black plastic, the exterior styling is too understated it really needs the side skirt option.

I'd happily have either again but the golf just edged it for me.

tyrrell

1,712 posts

229 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

I’ve had mine for 18 months total mileage is 17k has averaged 24.9 mpg has been totally faultless in that time. It’s had new front boots at 12k it’s a lease car so I rag the tits off it all the time biggrin

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

nunpuncher said:

I owned (leased, so debatable statement) a Golf R and a Cupra 290.

No problems with either of them in terms of reliability. Servicing is about the same on both, my Golf was slightly cheaper to service and my VW dealer gave a better service with collection and drop off. My usage was similar to yours with mainly town driving and surprisingly the heavier Golf returned a higher average MPG (32 v 29).

Things I didn't like about the R. The seats are crap, the manual gearbox (100% get the DSG), low spec on early cars (mine was a 2015)
Things I didn't like about the Cupra. Axle tramp (my god this was awful and ruined the car for me), The dash was a sea of cheap looking black plastic, the exterior styling is too understated it really needs the side skirt option.

I'd happily have either again but the golf just edged it for me.

Perfect response thanks.
I don't mind the look of the Leon as I quite like how understated it is (I'll be adding front lips, skirts, diffusers and spoiler extensions anyway)

I though the same about the Leon when I drove one, coming from a very high spec E90 it felt very very cheap.

What is crap about the R seats?
The Leon I was getting had the optional buckets which were amazing.

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

tyrrell said:

I’ve had mine for 18 months total mileage is 17k has averaged 24.9 mpg has been totally faultless in that time. It’s had new front boots at 12k it’s a lease car so I rag the tits off it all the time biggrin

That's good. What sort of driving is that?

Todd Bonzalez

2,581 posts

183 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

Go test drive a JCW before you decide smile

I just bought a Cooper S after comparing it with a bunch of other hatches and found it unbelievably charming and direct. It was by far the most visceral experience and I really loved the new 7 speed DSG box.
Not as out and out straight line fast but different level of fun for me.

ZX10R NIN

29,862 posts

146 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

tyrrell

1,712 posts

229 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

Mine is used in the town and open country roads so lots of heavy traffic followed by the chance to stretch its legs.

It’s only ever been fed on Shell V Power by the way.

STICKY3

262 posts

168 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

mines been good, apart from the 19inch pretoria wheels that buckle on the smallest of pot holes, £900 plus per wheel to replace,

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

Todd Bonzalez said:

Go test drive a JCW before you decide smile

I just bought a Cooper S after comparing it with a bunch of other hatches and found it unbelievably charming and direct. It was by far the most visceral experience and I really loved the new 7 speed DSG box.
Not as out and out straight line fast but different level of fun for me.

I'd love a cooper S but they are too small as we've got a 2wk old (today) baby.

Jefferson Steelflex

1,585 posts

120 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

I had the Golf R Estate on lease for 2 years from May 2016. Pound-for-pound, it was the best car i've ever had. Being the estate it was slightly more practical and was DSG-only, it was brutally fast, handled superbly and was faultless for the 15k miles I ran it for.

I must have driven like a vicar as I still had 4mm on the front tyres when it went back. I averaged about 26mpg from memory, and I had one service which cost me £240.

The only annoyance was the upgraded spec that was released in July 2016 or so, which included Nav and heated seats. I'd try and get one of these, but apart from that as standard is was perfect.

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

Not really interested in anything else except the ones I've mentioned.
Audi is a big no-no for starters and the BMWs don't do anything for me atm.

The only requirements I have is 5 door, golf/focus sized and non leather.

ZX10R NIN

29,862 posts

146 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

Fair enough in that case get the Golf.

Todd Bonzalez

2,581 posts

183 months

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Tuesday 15th January 2019

Dannbodge said:

I'd love a cooper S but they are too small as we've got a 2wk old (today) baby.

Probably the Golf then smile

Interior felt much nicer place to be to me.

gazza5

845 posts

126 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

Had the golf r estate (7.5) on lease for 18 months.

Overall a good car tbh, my car history is nothing to shout about, but I am not blown away by so called german amazing dash etc.

DSG gearbox can be a bit clunky around town, but for the performance its a bit of a bargain.

Issues I have had are the windows creaking, fixed with gummifledge stuff, but keep having to reapply, trim around gearstick in the hot weather popped up and will not go down (1st world problems eh!).

I don't see what all the fuss is about, I don't think the materials for dash etc are much different to what i had in my previous car (vauxhall astra).

My mpg is around 32 (average) but there has been some very long journeys (between 38 - 40 mpg on these, got 41 mpg in the summer to germany - this went down when hit the autobahn) - the 7th gear really helps with MPG.

Car is very jekyl and hyde, but I would ditch bridgestone tyres if these are on the car - they are crap, noisy and if it wasn't a lease I would have replaced them after the 1st month. Horrible tyres.

Big GT

2,009 posts

113 months

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[news]

Tuesday 15th January 2019

What I would look out for with Golf R is the condition of what's for sale. Shop around

So many leased car which generally less well cared for so there will be a great diversity of less well looked after stuff.

Thing to be weary of (not mechanical)
History
Mismatched tyres
Cheap tyres (usually company lease)
Interior where and tear especially on drivers bolster
External marks and scratches.
Base spec / Flat colour - most likely leased.
If the car is loaded with options most likely will be a private buyer with more duty or care.

Dannbodge

Original Poster

2,321 posts

142 months

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Wednesday 16th January 2019

gazza5 said:

Had the golf r estate (7.5) on lease for 18 months.

Overall a good car tbh, my car history is nothing to shout about, but I am not away by so called german amazing dash etc.

DSG gearbox can be a bit clunky around town, but for the performance its a bit of a bargain.

Issues I have had are the windows creaking, fixed with gummifledge stuff, but keep having to reapply, trim around gearstick in the hot weather popped up and will not go down (1st world problems eh!).

I don't see what all the fuss is about, I don't think the materials for dash etc are much different to what i had in my previous car (vauxhall astra).

My mpg is around 32 (average) but there has been some very long journeys (between 38 - 40 mpg on these, got 41 mpg in the summer to germany - this went down when hit the autobahn) - the 7th gear really helps with MPG.

Car is very jekyl and hyde, but I would ditch bridgestone tyres if these are on the car - they are crap, noisy and if it wasn't a lease I would have replaced them after the 1st month. Horrible tyres.

Thanks that's some good info.

Big GT said:

What I would look out for with Golf R is the condition of what's for sale. Shop around

So many leased car which generally less well cared for so there will be a great diversity of less well looked after stuff.

Thing to be weary of (not mechanical)
History
Mismatched tyres
Cheap tyres (usually company lease)
Interior where and tear especially on drivers bolster
External marks and scratches.
Base spec / Flat colour - most likely leased.
If the car is loaded with options most likely will be a private buyer with more duty or care.

Thanks I will bear that in mind.
I'm semi driven by the car too, I want certain colours and options, I especially want the optional 19s

I'm hopefully going to go an look at/drive a Golf tomorrow.

The Leon seems to have better kit as standard with the larger screen and bits, so I'll see what the smaller one in the golf is like.

I've had several golfs as hire cars and never had any issue with the interior and quite enjoyed driving them round the lanes in Devon.

dieselgrunt

738 posts

185 months

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[news]

Wednesday 16th January 2019

make sure on the test drive you push that gear stick down if it's a dsg.

Garemberg

456 posts

110 months

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[news]

Wednesday 16th January 2019

I have a 290 Cupra black, it's a great car, the bucket seats are amazing, (heated also) but prone to splitting on the bolsters which is a well known issue.

The manual is fine, the clutch is vague at times and reports of slipping at 19k from other owners.

the axle tramp can be a bit much but you just adapt your driving personally I think the front diff does a good job for such a powerful FWD car.

I have never used the stupid G meter or lap counter the andriod and apple play connectivity is great.

As you have identified both the R and the Cupra are prone to theft as I have experienced.

nunpuncher

3,644 posts

146 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 16th January 2019

Big GT said:

What I would look out for with Golf R is the condition of what's for sale. Shop around

So many leased car which generally less well cared for so there will be a great diversity of less well looked after stuff.

Thing to be weary of (not mechanical)
History
Mismatched tyres
Cheap tyres (usually company lease)
Interior where and tear especially on drivers bolster
External marks and scratches.
Base spec / Flat colour - most likely leased.
If the car is loaded with options most likely will be a private buyer with more duty or care.

How have you concluded that leased cars are generally less well cared for? Is it purely assumption?

When you lease a car you are legally obligated to have it serviced on time by an authorised dealer and only OE parts can be used for any repairs. Owners also get charged, often heavily, for any damage so I doubt very much that anyone leasing a car goes out of their way to neglect the car.

Strikes me that it would be easier to neglect the upkeep of the car if you hadn't signed a legally binding contract claiming responsibility for such.