What do you prefer ? Golf R or Golf GTI
Discussion
I prefer the R.
I'm late in discovering the Golf R and I’ve never owned a VAG product before. In my teens and twenties I wanted a Golf GTi but couldn’t afford one and when I could, I skipped fulfilling that want and had a series of BMW’s, various 4x4’s and a very nice Porsche 911 (997.2 CS).
So why now? Downsizing – literally. I wanted something that was smallish, fun to drive, practical for my current needs, which, now the eldest is at Uni and the youngest in 6th Form means I don’t require a large car but still something we can all fit in on the very rare occasion we would go somewhere together, easy to fit in my garage and something that would not eat into funds allocated for an overseas house Project which has now become my priority.
I missed my Porsche – the only regrettable car sale I have made albeit the reasons still apply; I loved it but never felt 100% confident driving it and it was turning into a garage ornament as a result.
I enjoy cars but I do not track them, I do not sprint from 0-60 and I do not race others on the road. I simply enjoy my cars in a collection of brief moments; acceleration thrills on occasion and quick cornering when the whim takes me. As such, I do not require a focussed racing machine but rather one that is competent and makes me feel good whilst helping me to be safe at the same time; a car that flatters my average driving skills and can be a small Family car. Not a car that shouts “look at me” either.
To this end, I looked at the M135i. It was my “obvious” choice given my BMW History and a car I had read good things about here and everywhere. It was great to test drive and wasn’t hugely less thrilling than my 911 had been. I couldn’t get on with its appearance though. Furthermore, whilst I prefer RWD over FWD, I have a preference for AWD nowadays. So I looked at the A45 AMG. I never test drove it, I decided it wasn’t for me when I walked around it and sat in it. Yes, I place a lot of stock into aesthetics and not just driving experience; I have to enjoy both.
I read about the pending Focus RS but it is of the same ilk as Subaru, the Type R and the sporty Clio for me; too focussed in a racer sorta way either in looks, ability or indeed, both.
Which left me looking at VAG. Firstly the RS3 which was very attractive in every way but more than I was willing to purchase a car for right now. Then I fell upon the GTi and began to seriously consider fulfilling that ‘want’ I had for one in my younger days (I’m mid-forties now). It was whilst looking at that car that I ‘discovered’ the Mk7 R. A car I had not paid any attention to knowing much about previously. Now I was reading every review I could find and liking it more and more. It appeared to tick so many boxes for me.
So I looked for demo or low mileage examples to buy and found them not all that easy to find – so I abandoned the idea of waiting for one with the ‘right’ spec and went for a standard 5 door DSG one in red with a satnav. I bought it unseen and not driven. Something I have done in the past and not regretted.
It’s brilliant.
It is a little rocket that can play at being docile too for the meandering chores and commutes it journeys to and from. It doesn’t have that urgent surge the 911 had but it does feel a match for the chipped 335i and Z4M I once owned. Only with AWD it gives me a greater sense of confidence.
It isn’t the fastest car out there, not even the fastest I’ve owned but it does deliver the thrills I want from a car and is, more importantly, arguably the best-handling car I’ve had. And it can fit my Family in too – even those increasingly rare occasions when the eldest wants to tag along too.
It won’t feel as comfortable as the air-suspension equipped 4x4’s I’ve had of late for the long haul trips but they too are a rare thing and it feels comfortable enough. It won’t hold as much luggage but it will accept what I need to throw into it. It isn’t as precise or well-made as the 911 but it is a nice place to sit and doesn’t feel lacking.
It also isn’t the most fun car I’ve owned to date – that accolade still goes to the Z4M Roadster – but it is fun. I think it would be unfair to claim it is a jack of all trades and master of none – something I seem to be describing here – since it is to my mind rather a master at being a capable all-rounder in a compact package. A car for many and varied occasions. A car to enjoy.
Heck...I started typing and appear to have waffled on a bit!
But yeah, prefer the R. 
I'm late in discovering the Golf R and I’ve never owned a VAG product before. In my teens and twenties I wanted a Golf GTi but couldn’t afford one and when I could, I skipped fulfilling that want and had a series of BMW’s, various 4x4’s and a very nice Porsche 911 (997.2 CS).
So why now? Downsizing – literally. I wanted something that was smallish, fun to drive, practical for my current needs, which, now the eldest is at Uni and the youngest in 6th Form means I don’t require a large car but still something we can all fit in on the very rare occasion we would go somewhere together, easy to fit in my garage and something that would not eat into funds allocated for an overseas house Project which has now become my priority.
I missed my Porsche – the only regrettable car sale I have made albeit the reasons still apply; I loved it but never felt 100% confident driving it and it was turning into a garage ornament as a result.
I enjoy cars but I do not track them, I do not sprint from 0-60 and I do not race others on the road. I simply enjoy my cars in a collection of brief moments; acceleration thrills on occasion and quick cornering when the whim takes me. As such, I do not require a focussed racing machine but rather one that is competent and makes me feel good whilst helping me to be safe at the same time; a car that flatters my average driving skills and can be a small Family car. Not a car that shouts “look at me” either.
To this end, I looked at the M135i. It was my “obvious” choice given my BMW History and a car I had read good things about here and everywhere. It was great to test drive and wasn’t hugely less thrilling than my 911 had been. I couldn’t get on with its appearance though. Furthermore, whilst I prefer RWD over FWD, I have a preference for AWD nowadays. So I looked at the A45 AMG. I never test drove it, I decided it wasn’t for me when I walked around it and sat in it. Yes, I place a lot of stock into aesthetics and not just driving experience; I have to enjoy both.
I read about the pending Focus RS but it is of the same ilk as Subaru, the Type R and the sporty Clio for me; too focussed in a racer sorta way either in looks, ability or indeed, both.
Which left me looking at VAG. Firstly the RS3 which was very attractive in every way but more than I was willing to purchase a car for right now. Then I fell upon the GTi and began to seriously consider fulfilling that ‘want’ I had for one in my younger days (I’m mid-forties now). It was whilst looking at that car that I ‘discovered’ the Mk7 R. A car I had not paid any attention to knowing much about previously. Now I was reading every review I could find and liking it more and more. It appeared to tick so many boxes for me.
So I looked for demo or low mileage examples to buy and found them not all that easy to find – so I abandoned the idea of waiting for one with the ‘right’ spec and went for a standard 5 door DSG one in red with a satnav. I bought it unseen and not driven. Something I have done in the past and not regretted.
It’s brilliant.
It is a little rocket that can play at being docile too for the meandering chores and commutes it journeys to and from. It doesn’t have that urgent surge the 911 had but it does feel a match for the chipped 335i and Z4M I once owned. Only with AWD it gives me a greater sense of confidence.
It isn’t the fastest car out there, not even the fastest I’ve owned but it does deliver the thrills I want from a car and is, more importantly, arguably the best-handling car I’ve had. And it can fit my Family in too – even those increasingly rare occasions when the eldest wants to tag along too.
It won’t feel as comfortable as the air-suspension equipped 4x4’s I’ve had of late for the long haul trips but they too are a rare thing and it feels comfortable enough. It won’t hold as much luggage but it will accept what I need to throw into it. It isn’t as precise or well-made as the 911 but it is a nice place to sit and doesn’t feel lacking.
It also isn’t the most fun car I’ve owned to date – that accolade still goes to the Z4M Roadster – but it is fun. I think it would be unfair to claim it is a jack of all trades and master of none – something I seem to be describing here – since it is to my mind rather a master at being a capable all-rounder in a compact package. A car for many and varied occasions. A car to enjoy.
Heck...I started typing and appear to have waffled on a bit!
But yeah, prefer the R. I was extremely sceptical having owned both GTI and R Golfs in the past and always preferring the GTI cars. But the simple fact for me is that the R has never felt like a more powerful GTI until the MK7. It always felt burdened by the extra weight, the 4Motion system never felt quite right and as a result they've always felt quite numb. The MQB chassis and the revisions to the haldex system have changed all that. The front end feels precise, it goes where you want it to, it very rarely understeers, the harder you drive it the better it gets, the more alive it feels. The engine is ballistic and only really loses out at the top end to its more powerful rivals. I made the mistake 18 months ago of going sensible and replacing my GTI with a GTD, but I've got an R coming early next year. I'm been lucky enough to drive me friends on a number of occasions and have had an extended loan from VW, and each time it has impressed me enormously.
If the question had been, do you prefer the looks of the GTI I'd have agreed, the R is way too subtle.
If the question had been, do you prefer the looks of the GTI I'd have agreed, the R is way too subtle.
If looks are your thing the latest GTI is the winner as was the last one which I owned and it was great. But GTI's have limits. They are FWD for a start, the horse power available is no match for an R. In a two litre engine there is one class above the GTI and that is the R and the S3 which higher tuned and AWD
To me if you like cars like these you WILL want a faster car than a GTI eventually. The R is the next along but it doesn't look as good strangely. If you are not so concerned on looks the M135i is the one to own. It makes sense if you want an uber fast hatchback for a reasonable price. I parted with a Porsche Boxster S which the M135i leaves behind to 60! Its a mental car and although not huge inside it is practical enough.
I test drove the R when buying the M135i. Having owned two previous GTI's which were awesome it was the obvious thing to look at.
My conclusion was:
1) While very fast as it was AWD it lacked any emotion and its soundtrack was fairly muted to what I was used to in the Porsche. It is a 2 litre 4 pot which no matter how tuned up are no match for six pots - turbo charged or nat aspirated. Just drive them side by side and you will see.
2) The interiors and sat nav/sound system were in the 20-30k bracket I was used to in my GTI's but just didn't cut it in Audi S3, BMW M135i and A45 land. It felt cheaper. The sound system was poor for the money.
3) It looked more low key than my Red GTI which used to turn heads it was gorgeous. It was like the more grown up GTI nobody would notice on the road.
My conclusion was to buy a white M135i with red leathers. It is BMW standard in all ways. I sounds amazing as it is a straight 6 with 320bhp on tap. Unlike the R it has all the toys and the build quality you expect at this price. AND it is not expensive to run at all for a 300+ bph car.
Sure it is not as good looking but for the money it is the best car I could have bought.
Give the M135i a look too! The R to me is just a GTI with more horses.
To me if you like cars like these you WILL want a faster car than a GTI eventually. The R is the next along but it doesn't look as good strangely. If you are not so concerned on looks the M135i is the one to own. It makes sense if you want an uber fast hatchback for a reasonable price. I parted with a Porsche Boxster S which the M135i leaves behind to 60! Its a mental car and although not huge inside it is practical enough.
I test drove the R when buying the M135i. Having owned two previous GTI's which were awesome it was the obvious thing to look at.
My conclusion was:
1) While very fast as it was AWD it lacked any emotion and its soundtrack was fairly muted to what I was used to in the Porsche. It is a 2 litre 4 pot which no matter how tuned up are no match for six pots - turbo charged or nat aspirated. Just drive them side by side and you will see.
2) The interiors and sat nav/sound system were in the 20-30k bracket I was used to in my GTI's but just didn't cut it in Audi S3, BMW M135i and A45 land. It felt cheaper. The sound system was poor for the money.
3) It looked more low key than my Red GTI which used to turn heads it was gorgeous. It was like the more grown up GTI nobody would notice on the road.
My conclusion was to buy a white M135i with red leathers. It is BMW standard in all ways. I sounds amazing as it is a straight 6 with 320bhp on tap. Unlike the R it has all the toys and the build quality you expect at this price. AND it is not expensive to run at all for a 300+ bph car.
Sure it is not as good looking but for the money it is the best car I could have bought.
Give the M135i a look too! The R to me is just a GTI with more horses.
I have a GTI, it replaced an r32 and the R was a serious option. My GTI is a 63 plate and the R was just about to be released when I got it. As well as a waiting list for any R, I was able to find a GTI in stock at a dealer with a huge discount.
Being honest, on balance I prefer the looks of the GTI, the quad exhaust tips and the chrome mirrors are a bit 'Barry' for my liking.
Being honest, on balance I prefer the looks of the GTI, the quad exhaust tips and the chrome mirrors are a bit 'Barry' for my liking.
Own an R, test drove a Gti. Ignoring the R's engine advantage it has a noticably nicer chassis. It's steering, balance and feedback are all better than the GTI. If you like driving the Gti is a good choice but the R is just plain better and you can't see the exhausts from the inside.
For the dashboard squeezers, l've been in the A45, 135 and S3. Not much to separate them to my mind, the S3 in particular just seems to be made of identical materials just rearranged into a different design.
For the dashboard squeezers, l've been in the A45, 135 and S3. Not much to separate them to my mind, the S3 in particular just seems to be made of identical materials just rearranged into a different design.
bigfreq said:
2) The interiors and sat nav/sound system were in the 20-30k bracket I was used to in my GTI's but just didn't cut it in Audi S3, BMW M135i and A45 land. It felt cheaper. The sound system was poor for the money.
Thing is though, with those 3 and the R, they're all like a beef and horseradish sandwich that has some kick but the only difference is what bread you choose to wrap it in. So with that in mind, it'd be the ham sandwich GTI for me.And the standard stereo is always deliberately s
te to encourage people to pay extra for the upgrade packages.A bit off topic...
..but I owned an R32 Mark 5 for 8 years. I bought me an R and I was planning to run both. After just five months I realised that as much as I loved to R32 (and I really did) the R was such a fantastic car I was unlikely to get in the R32. (only possible shortfall is the V6 noise missing)
The R is an all round accomplished performer. It's actually hard to imagine anything else even coming close pound for pound. (I'm thinking about this from the inside of the car looking out, maybe the Gti might look better, but holy crap on a cracker the R really shifts)
..but I owned an R32 Mark 5 for 8 years. I bought me an R and I was planning to run both. After just five months I realised that as much as I loved to R32 (and I really did) the R was such a fantastic car I was unlikely to get in the R32. (only possible shortfall is the V6 noise missing
)The R is an all round accomplished performer. It's actually hard to imagine anything else even coming close pound for pound. (I'm thinking about this from the inside of the car looking out, maybe the Gti might look better, but holy crap on a cracker the R really shifts)
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