RE: Abt boosts WLTP-approved VW Golf R to 350hp
Discussion
herebebeasties said:
Does anyone on here think black wheels with silver rims are a good idea aesthetically? Seems to be in vogue right now (esp. on AMG Mercs but also elsewhere, as here). Personally, I think they look vile, but am curious if anyone actually likes them.
Yes, I really like the look. So there we are, someone with an opinion not the same as yours!Petrolsmasher said:
Honestly what is the point, i dont get this car, its rapid but utterly uninvolving to drive and adding more power isent what it needs. Its too quick for the road as it is.
Wow, not bad, you got that in on the second post. For someone not interested you got in there pretty quick. Hammy98 said:
Whilst eminently more capable than the BMW in a point and squirt way, I personally felt you had to drive like an utter knob to have fun in it.
As someone who's had one for over four years now, I totally agree. It's very docile and subdued at slower speeds, to the point where you could be driving any VAG product. It's really comes alive when you drive it hard, but that equals speeds inappropriate in most situations. I think it's a great car, but I have more fun driving at sensible, socially acceptable speeds in my Up GTI. Toltec said:
herebebeasties said:
Does anyone on here think black wheels with silver rims are a good idea aesthetically? Seems to be in vogue right now (esp. on AMG Mercs but also elsewhere, as here). Personally, I think they look vile, but am curious if anyone actually likes them.
Makes it a bit less obvious when you kerb them I suppose. Countdown said:
How many people saying it’s “dull to drive” have actually DRIVEN it?
Me. Had one for a 12 month lease, was bored within six months.Augustus Windsock said:
Because of course our roads aren’t full of potholes, have minimal traffic on them, have no speed / average speed cameras on them, and there are no unmarked cop cars, allowing one to explore the handling limits on every drive.
I’d guess that for 95% of drivers 95% of the time it’s involving enough....
I think this sums it up pretty well. Most of my friends loved mine. It was exciting enough without being compromised as an all-rounder. I’d guess that for 95% of drivers 95% of the time it’s involving enough....
ghost83 said:
The golf drives well has a great chassis and has plenty of involvement!
Ppl say it’s dull because it’s literally good at everything it does
I think that is part of it in a way. It is so competent and accomplished that you have to be going really very fast to feel that involvement. In a road car, I think that puts off a lot of enthusiasts. They want their car to feel special all the time, not just when they're going a billion miles an hour.Ppl say it’s dull because it’s literally good at everything it does
I watched Love the Beast again the other day and Clarkson notes in his interview that it's a cars flaws that give it personality. The Golf R doesn't really have any flaws, which means it doesn't really have any personality.
kultsch88 said:
Had one for a year, sold it and bought a Megane 275 Cup-s because it left me a bit cold. Mégane is far more exciting but so much more compromised that I miss the Golf 90% of the time.
Interesting this. I swapped mine for a 265 and the Megane was definitely more compromised, but I rarely missed the Golf. The VW was superior when it came to infotainment, ride quality, practicality etc, but none of that made up for the way the Megane felt. The Recaros, styling, steering feel etc etc, all just made it feel like a much more special car. I guess it's all about how much you're willing to compromise though. As above, the Golf is special enough for most, which is probably why it's been such a success.I'd really like to try one with a few modifications. Not more power necessarily, as I don't know if it really needs it, but just a bit more theatre via some exhaust/induction tweaks, and slightly more focused suspension.
I agree on the lack of personality but clarkson like me prefers the gti and he bought the same as I did, the gti requires a lot more pedalling than the R and on normal dry days when the 4wd is uncoupled the gti pp happily stays with them, I love my gti pp but it’s coming upto 4yr old next March and it’s getting replaced but by what I rly don’t know as it literally does everything well! And I’m not sure why other daily driver will do what this does as well as it does
I bought a 2018 Golf R estate last year for my partner and she's racking up the miles and loves it. To be honest I don't find it uninvolving to drive, but it's a Golf not a sports car, it has to cover many bases. It tends to be the first set of keys we reach for now - it's small enough to be easy to use in town, refined enough for long journeys (actually it's a brilliant mini-GT), subtle, relatively economical, more than fast enough, comfortable, etc etc. I have come to really enjoy using the car, and I was initially sceptical. The contrived sound app in race mode is the only thing that annoys me, so I suppose if a lack of obvious flaws and an high level of ability equals boring, then it's a very boring car.
I agree that if I was a younger man, and I wanted a hot-hatch as my sole transport, I'd probably choose something a bit more sharp, like the Honda, but the Golf's range of abilities really are quite exceptional. Wouldn't both with a remap, more than fast enough as standard.
I agree that if I was a younger man, and I wanted a hot-hatch as my sole transport, I'd probably choose something a bit more sharp, like the Honda, but the Golf's range of abilities really are quite exceptional. Wouldn't both with a remap, more than fast enough as standard.
herebebeasties said:
Does anyone on here think black wheels with silver rims are a good idea aesthetically? Seems to be in vogue right now (esp. on AMG Mercs but also elsewhere, as here). Personally, I think they look vile, but am curious if anyone actually likes them.
They're awful:
EDIT: at least Porsche have now realised this too:
I personally wouldn’t want to explore the limits of a Golf R on the road. Getting feedback from the steering as to what the car is doing has all the communication potential of six miles of string and two yoghurt pots.
Like I said, if you are coming from a background of Euroboxes then it probably seems great.
The Megane has great steering and curiously the S1 and S3 seems a lot better too.
Like I said, if you are coming from a background of Euroboxes then it probably seems great.
The Megane has great steering and curiously the S1 and S3 seems a lot better too.
ghost83 said:
I agree on the lack of personality but clarkson like me prefers the gti and he bought the same as I did, the gti requires a lot more pedalling than the R and on normal dry days when the 4wd is uncoupled the gti pp happily stays with them, I love my gti pp but it’s coming upto 4yr old next March and it’s getting replaced but by what I rly don’t know as it literally does everything well! And I’m not sure why other daily driver will do what this does as well as it does
I would really like to try a GTI, particularly the Ed40, which is a bit closer to the R in terms of power (and is the best looker in my viewer). I think a manual Ed40 might be the sweet spot in the Golf range. seawise said:
I bought a 2018 Golf R estate last year for my partner and she's racking up the miles and loves it. To be honest I don't find it uninvolving to drive, but it's a Golf not a sports car, it has to cover many bases. It tends to be the first set of keys we reach for now - it's small enough to be easy to use in town, refined enough for long journeys (actually it's a brilliant mini-GT), subtle, relatively economical, more than fast enough, comfortable, etc etc. I have come to really enjoy using the car, and I was initially sceptical. The contrived sound app in race mode is the only thing that annoys me, so I suppose if a lack of obvious flaws and an high level of ability equals boring, then it's a very boring car.
I agree that if I was a younger man, and I wanted a hot-hatch as my sole transport, I'd probably choose something a bit more sharp, like the Honda, but the Golf's range of abilities really are quite exceptional. Wouldn't both with a remap, more than fast enough as standard.
I wouldn't disagree with any of that to be honest. As a "do everything" car, the R is very, very good. The problem is, with being good at everything, I think it means that it never feels great when it comes to giving those last few tenths in raw enjoyment. It all depends how much you're willing to compromise I think. For me, slightly less "livability" is worth it for something that feels a bit more special. I'm no doubt in the minority though, which is why the R has been such a hit (helped by leasing deals obviously).I agree that if I was a younger man, and I wanted a hot-hatch as my sole transport, I'd probably choose something a bit more sharp, like the Honda, but the Golf's range of abilities really are quite exceptional. Wouldn't both with a remap, more than fast enough as standard.
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