So many Golf Rs, such poor spec

[GK]

Hi all, is there anyone else here looking for a decent Golf R? There are hundreds for sale and the vast majority of them completely basic spec! One of the most frustrating used car searches I've ever had. I'm wondering who buys a top of the range car without even sat nav as an option?! I'm guessing most of these cars are ex-lease. Fine if you're desperate to own one I suppose. The ones that do have extras seem to sell like hotcakes. I spotted one online last week with sat nav and the 19" option alloys in silver (rare colour). Just went to the dealership without phoning since the ad was still online. When I got there it was sold and the salesmen said it was unbelievable the amount of people they'd had enquiring about it.

Anyone experienced this frustration?! Open to ideas of alternative cars. The M235i seems decent.

[Pulse00]

Simple. They are all ex lease cars.

[Nickp82]

I would have to have the 19s if I bought one so agree with you there but Sat Nav would not be a must when Waze etc are more effective anyway.

As an alternative I recommend a Leon Cupra , I am very happy with my 290.

[talksthetorque]

The full price of the options go on to the lease price, they are not factored in to any residuals.
Would you rent something for two years and pay full price for it?
Have you looked at new ones and done the maths to see how much more it would be to buy a new one?
Better finance figures than used, your choice of options, nobody trumped in the seats etc.

[damiank250]

Got a black 64 plate r 24k mileage 3 door
Manual with 19s , sat nav and rear camera , looking to change !

[Emeye]

The basic VW sat nav is shocking - I have it in my Passat Alltrack (a lease a car that did come with a decent spec) - best to find a Golf R with App Connect enabled which allows Apple Carplay and Android Auto to work with your smart phone - Apple Maps and Google Maps are much better than the VW Discovery Nav. App Connect was a £100 option new, but £215ish to have activated if you have the correct headunit in your used VW.

If the Golf has 18s, buy some 19s.

[Olivera]

Pulse00 said:

Simple. They are all ex lease cars.

Yup, Golf '£300 per month' Rs.

[Joratk]

Buy an M235i and don't look back

[Helicopter123]

GK said:

Hi all, is there anyone else here looking for a decent Golf R? There are hundreds for sale and the vast majority of them completely basic spec! One of the most frustrating used car searches I've ever had. I'm wondering who buys a top of the range car without even sat nav as an option?! I'm guessing most of these cars are ex-lease. Fine if you're desperate to own one I suppose. The ones that do have extras seem to sell like hotcakes. I spotted one online last week with sat nav and the 19" option alloys in silver (rare colour). Just went to the dealership without phoning since the ad was still online. When I got there it was sold and the salesmen said it was unbelievable the amount of people they'd had enquiring about it.

Anyone experienced this frustration?! Open to ideas of alternative cars. The M235i seems decent.

OP will surely be better off new if looking for a specific spec. Discounts and cheap finance will make minimal difference in the monthly payments.

Hard to criticise original "owners" as the lease deals left the R cheaper than a 1.6 tdi SE.

[Crafty_]

They need leather and the 19s imho, the stock wheel is horrid and the seats look horribly cheap.

[AJB88]

Going to have this problem with 7R and Cupra 290.

[MuscleSaloon]

Crafty_ said:

They need leather and the 19s imho, the stock wheel is horrid and the seats look horribly cheap.

I really love the cloth and alcantara .. but think fail when I see one on the 18" Cadiz wheels !

[Doofus]

By comparison, GTis are often very well specced. GTis are bought by people with class, who can afford them. Rs are leased by show-offs, who can't

[talksthetorque]

I was speccing mine as standard for my lease, (which didn't happen due to a slow broker)

Why would I need 19" wheels on an estate?

I don't go to Macdonalds to try and impress teenagers.
I sometimes park near kerbs, as ( possibly more relevantly) so does my OH.
I have no need to compensate for anything.

It's a golf. You can put any bling you like on it, the old guy down the road with the 1.2tsi will still think it's the same as his.


Op. As others have said, upgrade to the full phone connectivity on the best standard one you can find, and use apple/google maps if navy is the only must.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Doofus said:

By comparison, GTis are often very well specced. GTis are bought by people with class, who can afford them. Rs are leased by show-offs, who can't

...or by people who find the standard spec just the ticket?

[Robertos88]

....or you could look at the S3. They tend to have the options you want.

[Crafty_]

talksthetorque said:

I was speccing mine as standard for my lease, (which didn't happen due to a slow broker)

Why would I need 19" wheels on an estate?

I don't go to Macdonalds to try and impress teenagers.
I sometimes park near kerbs, as ( possibly more relevantly) so does my OH.
I have no need to compensate for anything.

It's a golf. You can put any bling you like on it, the old guy down the road with the 1.2tsi will still think it's the same as his.


Op. As others have said, upgrade to the full phone connectivity on the best standard one you can find, and use apple/google maps if navy is the only must.

Purely because the 18" wheel is ghastly, it looks like a cheapo halfords wheel.

The 19" is a much nicer design, although I totally agree that 19" is a bit daft, it'll be better on 17s or 18s.

[GK]

5bowler said:

Try and work out which options are a must to you I'd say, I've had inbuilt navigation and some systems/manufacturers are better than others. I don't feel it's a necessity as google maps is always on hand. The only thing I'd say is if the navigation unit has better audio than the standard unit then this would be on my list.

Personally if I was finding a Golf R my specification would have to be at least with a sunroof (opens up the dark interior and for the exhaust parps) plus the optional 19's as the standard wheels don't do it for me, not sure on how they alter the ride quality and the cost of tyres is something to think.

Depending on budget this would be my ideal Golf R - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

As a BMW fan, I would recommend looking at the 135i/235i as the 6 cylinder and RWD is a different experience, I like the Golf R for being a great point to point car though. I personally would go for the car you want not what others want you to have/drive and stick at the search one will eventually pop up. It's unfortunately a waiting game on the secondhand market.

That's a cracking car! Perfect. Very tempting but unfortunately over my budget of about £23k. I'm definitely looking to try the 1 or 2 series at some point. Straight six is an itch I've yet to scratch. Previous car was an Audi S5 (V8) - maybe not the best drivers car but the engine noise was superb.

I didn't realise the phone connectivity app was something that could be easily added. That's made me think differently about the standard cars as there are plenty of cheap ones with low miles in good condition. I would have to buy the 19s though. Not a fan of the standard wheels at all.

[GK]

Doofus said:

By comparison, GTis are often very well specced. GTis are bought by people with class, who can afford them. Rs are leased by show-offs, who can't

Spot the GTi owner.

[GK]

Emeye said:

The basic VW sat nav is shocking - I have it in my Passat Alltrack (a lease a car that did come with a decent spec) - best to find a Golf R with App Connect enabled which allows Apple Carplay and Android Auto to work with your smart phone - Apple Maps and Google Maps are much better than the VW Discovery Nav. App Connect was a £100 option new, but £215ish to have activated if you have the correct headunit in your used VW.

If the Golf has 18s, buy some 19s.

I have it in my current diesel R Line and I agree it's not great at all, but (and call me a snob) I'd prefer having that in the car than using my phone. Feels like I've got a more complete/versatile car if that makes sense! But if I can use my maps through the screen, I'd agree, that's ideal.