RE: Volkswagen Golf R: PH Fleet
Tuesday 11th August 2015
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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...
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?
Discussion
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....
Especially when "sold" at those lease deals....
Edited by GTEYE on Tuesday 11th August 12:45
Yes it is a really good car - no question. The problem is that there are so many good cars in this price range. When I looked I'm afraid I ended up in the camp that feels the Golf has no soul. So many other cars (although ultimately 'slower') were so much more fun to drive. However, for me the biggest problem is the looks. To most on-lookers the R is just another Golf.
monty quick said:
Yes it is a really good car - no question. The problem is that there are so many good cars in this price range. When I looked I'm afraid I ended up in the camp that feels the Golf has no soul. So many other cars (although ultimately 'slower') were so much more fun to drive. However, for me the biggest problem is the looks. To most on-lookers the R is just another Golf.
Some peoples problem, some peoples want. The fact is doesn't shout 'pull me over officer' like the Civic Type R as one example is a massive selling point.Tuning wise the Revo Stage 2 is getting some very impressive performance times and write ups.
i'm interested in long-term tests as they're an opportunity to get anoraky; to verify manufacturers' boasts and popular assumptions; and dig deep into the kind of detail missing from a typical one or two day road test.
CAR magazine memorably led with 'Lemon' after running a long-term Golf VR6, giving warts and all testimony to a remarkably unreliable car marketed under the slogan 'if only everything in life...'
Now, it's clear this R is no lemon. That it is, in fact, pretty much all you could expect from a hatchback. More. Maybe.
But I feel I've learned little after three reports. And surely the point is to poke and prod and ponder. And poke, and ponder some more until something is gleaned beyond common assumption and the obvious. (Have I missed the test fuel averages btw? surely a no-brainer to publish).
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I feel that when there's not a lot to say--as seems the case here--it is merely a prompt to ask more and better questions.
On another point: no reviewer is truly impartial. We are all coloured by subjectivity. So just be open about your preferences and prejudices and comment with confidence.
CAR magazine memorably led with 'Lemon' after running a long-term Golf VR6, giving warts and all testimony to a remarkably unreliable car marketed under the slogan 'if only everything in life...'
Now, it's clear this R is no lemon. That it is, in fact, pretty much all you could expect from a hatchback. More. Maybe.
But I feel I've learned little after three reports. And surely the point is to poke and prod and ponder. And poke, and ponder some more until something is gleaned beyond common assumption and the obvious. (Have I missed the test fuel averages btw? surely a no-brainer to publish).
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I feel that when there's not a lot to say--as seems the case here--it is merely a prompt to ask more and better questions.
On another point: no reviewer is truly impartial. We are all coloured by subjectivity. So just be open about your preferences and prejudices and comment with confidence.
Edited by Darsettian on Tuesday 11th August 14:16
So a month more with the car and all we have established is that there are two camps; those who like and those who dislike the R. Then it progresses slightly into justification to a degree for both points of views of which the author slightly agrees that the R could be better but praises it also...
Surely you could expand a bit more, maybe writing about a B-road blast you had or delving into the tuning market for the R or just anything really, or is the Golf just that boring that it doesn't warrant much else...
Surely you could expand a bit more, maybe writing about a B-road blast you had or delving into the tuning market for the R or just anything really, or is the Golf just that boring that it doesn't warrant much else...
Darsettian said:
i'm interested in long-term tests as they're an opportunity to get anoraky; to verify manufacturers' boasts and popular assumptions; and dig deep into the kind of detail missing from a typical one or two day road test.
CAR magazine memorably led with 'Lemon' after running a long-term Golf VR6, giving warts and all testimony to a remarkably unreliable car marketed under the slogan 'if only everything in life...'
Now, it's clear this R is no lemon. That it is, in fact, pretty much all you could expect from a hatchback. More. Maybe.
But I feel I've learned little after three reports. And surely the point is to poke and prod and ponder. And poke, and ponder some more until something is gleaned beyond common assumption and the obvious. (Have I missed the test fuel averages btw? surely a no-brainer to publish).
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I feel that when there's not a lot to say--as seems the case here--it is merely a prompt to ask more and better questions.
On another point: no reviewer is truly impartial. We are all coloured by subjectivity. So just be open about your preferences and prejudices and comment with confidence.
+1CAR magazine memorably led with 'Lemon' after running a long-term Golf VR6, giving warts and all testimony to a remarkably unreliable car marketed under the slogan 'if only everything in life...'
Now, it's clear this R is no lemon. That it is, in fact, pretty much all you could expect from a hatchback. More. Maybe.
But I feel I've learned little after three reports. And surely the point is to poke and prod and ponder. And poke, and ponder some more until something is gleaned beyond common assumption and the obvious. (Have I missed the test fuel averages btw? surely a no-brainer to publish).
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I feel that when there's not a lot to say--as seems the case here--it is merely a prompt to ask more and better questions.
On another point: no reviewer is truly impartial. We are all coloured by subjectivity. So just be open about your preferences and prejudices and comment with confidence.
Edited by Darsettian on Tuesday 11th August 14:16
The best running reports are written by actual owners. It seems to be something that eludes the 'modern-day' motoring press.
The R just seems one dimensional to me.
If you want the car to be FQ, then surely have it involve you as a sports car should. All one seems to be doing with this car is accelerating quickly and risking losing a license whilst getting bored.
Yes yes, it has a hatch and can seat four, but so can a boggo 1.6.
I just don't get the point of having a car like this. I imagine there will be plenty pre-owned examples in the forecourts because their owners got bored with them...
If you want the car to be FQ, then surely have it involve you as a sports car should. All one seems to be doing with this car is accelerating quickly and risking losing a license whilst getting bored.
Yes yes, it has a hatch and can seat four, but so can a boggo 1.6.
I just don't get the point of having a car like this. I imagine there will be plenty pre-owned examples in the forecourts because their owners got bored with them...
Edited by chelme on Tuesday 11th August 15:54
I've been running a Golf R for 6 months now and couldn't agree more with this article.
As mentioned "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."
I like to think of it as the floyd Mayweather of cars. Technically fantastic, dynamically brilliant, but ultimately not as entertaining as a wild brute like Tyson (Civic Type-R?).
By no means by this do I mean that it's boring, as shown in this RS3 vs Golf R track face off video, it's a hugely engaging and capable road and track tool. I just mean that with such aggressive and fierce competition from cars like the Type-R and Megane RS 265 Trophy, the R can seem tame in comparison.
As mentioned "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."
I like to think of it as the floyd Mayweather of cars. Technically fantastic, dynamically brilliant, but ultimately not as entertaining as a wild brute like Tyson (Civic Type-R?).
By no means by this do I mean that it's boring, as shown in this RS3 vs Golf R track face off video, it's a hugely engaging and capable road and track tool. I just mean that with such aggressive and fierce competition from cars like the Type-R and Megane RS 265 Trophy, the R can seem tame in comparison.
Another "long term test" article that makes me wonder why on earth do car importers/manufacturers lend these cars out for weeks or even months on end to YouTube or other interweb people (and some magazines) who hardly write or talk about the car itself. And if they do, it doesn't lift itself above anything other than it does a good job.
PH, Car magazine all do the same. Another recent example is Shmee; he covered a brand new BMW X6 M on Youtube which he was already driving for weeks whithout anyone knowing about it. (well covered, he showed the WWW how it looks, in a few months time we'll be probably hearing that it's quite a quick car).
PH, Car magazine all do the same. Another recent example is Shmee; he covered a brand new BMW X6 M on Youtube which he was already driving for weeks whithout anyone knowing about it. (well covered, he showed the WWW how it looks, in a few months time we'll be probably hearing that it's quite a quick car).
I'm so truly tired of reading Golf R articles and forum posts now. It might possibly be a great car but I have been bored so near to death now that it has actually put me off the car entirely. Can't stand the sight of them anymore.
And this article is no different, it offers no new opinion or anything other than total waffle and space-wasting.
It's reached the point now that I'd rather read a detailed 50 page analysis about wiping baby sick off a car seat than another "wow, look how good the Golf R is" or "Golf R vs. some-incomparable-and-pointless-even-making-the-comparison car" article.
And this article is no different, it offers no new opinion or anything other than total waffle and space-wasting.
It's reached the point now that I'd rather read a detailed 50 page analysis about wiping baby sick off a car seat than another "wow, look how good the Golf R is" or "Golf R vs. some-incomparable-and-pointless-even-making-the-comparison car" article.
CerberusRogue said:
I'm so truly tired of reading Golf R articles and forum posts now. It might possibly be a great car but I have been bored so near to death now that it has actually put me off the car entirely. Can't stand the sight of them anymore.
And this article is no different, it offers no new opinion or anything other than total waffle and space-wasting.
It's reached the point now that I'd rather read a detailed 50 page analysis about wiping baby sick off a car seat than another "wow, look how good the Golf R is" or "Golf R vs. some-incomparable-and-pointless-even-making-the-comparison car" article.
I don't get it. How have you accidentally read all these articles and forum posts? I mean, I can understand if someone accidentally glances at an image or something but surely it's as simple as not reading or just not clicking the link?And this article is no different, it offers no new opinion or anything other than total waffle and space-wasting.
It's reached the point now that I'd rather read a detailed 50 page analysis about wiping baby sick off a car seat than another "wow, look how good the Golf R is" or "Golf R vs. some-incomparable-and-pointless-even-making-the-comparison car" article.
nunpuncher said:
I don't get it. How have you accidentally read all these articles and forum posts? I mean, I can understand if someone accidentally glances at an image or something but surely it's as simple as not reading or just not clicking the link?
Fair point. I'll change "reading" to "seeing". I read many at the start when the car was released as I was interested, and then got sick of it as the torrent continued. However, they are still being written, appearing in the PH RSS feeds and on the main page. Not just PH either, all the car sites are at it.My point still stands though, this article is pointless.
CerberusRogue said:
Fair point. I'll change "reading" to "seeing". I read many at the start when the car was released as I was interested, and then got sick of it as the torrent continued. However, they are still being written, appearing in the PH RSS feeds and on the main page. Not just PH either, all the car sites are at it.
My point still stands though, this article is pointless.
...and you are still voluntarily clicking on them, and reading them.My point still stands though, this article is pointless.
I largely agree, but not enough to complain - if I did, I wouldn't be reading!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff