So many Golf Rs, such poor spec

[Jonno02]

PixelpeepS3 said:

my S3 'leather' seats are horrendous - zero support for driving on anything other than roman straight roads. I would gladly ditch the heated leather-ette for the old R seats...

Again, the alcantara cupra bucket seats are top notch. Zero movement when putting it hard into corners.

[Sheepshanks]

Driver101 said:

I'm surprised to see the value of the Golf staying as high given just how many of them there are. I know people are struggling to sell and getting very low offers as trade ins for their R. Prices on AutoTrader are too high in my opinion.

Bearing in mind the potential for them to have been abused, and to throw up a massive bill, it would be surprising if they didn't crash in price.

[born2bslow]

acme said:

You've hit the nail on the head, this just about sums it up, and nothing wrong in that at all

I always buy my cars but these lease deals have even got me thinking twice, why wouldn't you when they're potentially less than the depreciation?!

Mind me asking what your initial up front was, £180pm is insane?

Don't mind at all, upfront was £2400 plus £180 admin fee. It has been my first time leasing and it was just too tasty to pass up. Lets be honest most people who buy new either keep the car forever (so wouldn't lease) or change after 3 years anyhow, usually paying a similar monthly.

After Y3 I will have paid less than £10k including all fees...can't say fairer than that. OK so I won't have any equity to use on the next purchase but I'm damn sure I can find another deposit Might go with the estate next time, properly practical then.

[AJB88]

Jonno02 said:

The cupra has no heritage

Edited by Jonno02 on Tuesday 18th April 10:24

It does actually

[PixelpeepS3]

i paid £1200 up front & £303 (3x23) inc vat a month for 10k fully maintained with tyre cover for a 5 door R DSG in red

loved every minute of it - there were cheaper deals at the time but i seemed to keep missing the boat(s)

[finnie]

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.

I bought my R and it came with 18s on. Drove the car about 5 miles home and on the way picked up a set of 19s (original prets) Changed the wheels when I got home and was shocked by the difference in ride quality. Totally different and much harder....on the 18s! The prets have a far better ride. It must be the weight and the tyres. I have Uniroyals on with 38psi on by the way. I did notice when changing the wheels how light the 19s were though.

I do have the dynamic chasis control though.

Also out of interest I tested a new gtd at the weekend which was on 18s. Wont be buying one of those. Too noisy, too much vibration and the ride was awful.

However still thinking about changing so if anyone wants a Red Golf R registered june last year, 6000 miles with nav, dcc and winter pack then give me a shout

[talksthetorque]

finnie said:

However still thinking about changing so if anyone wants a Red Golf R registered june last year, 6000 miles with nav, dcc and winter pack then give me a shout

How much a month pal?

[anonymous-user]

Cheap VAG product that's why.

Horrible low rent interior and an awful dull drive, yes it piles the speed on, but with no drama / involvement or any glint of excitement.

300 bhp / 4wd / dull 4pot Turbo, point and press, Chav Chariot of choice, same as a white duel Audi A'x'.

But each to their own, we all like different things, if you just want some pub stats and a dull drive then go for it!

[talksthetorque]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Cheap VAG product that's why.

Horrible low rent interior and an awful dull drive, yes it piles the speed on, but with no drama / involvement or any glint of excitement.

300 bhp / 4wd / dull 4pot Turbo, point and press, Chav Chariot of choice, same as a white duel Audi A'x'.

But each to their own, we all like different things, if you just want some pub stats and a dull drive then go for it!

Let's hear some alternatives then.
I'll even give you a rough list price of 34k - rather than £250 a month or Carwow prices - for something that's entertaining to drive with tactile feedback that you can get two adults, two kids and a midsize dog in . Say a springer spaniel. Oh, and it's got to have a manufacturer's warranty for the next three years, be under two years old and have the high rent interior you desire.
Genuinely interested in to what my next car might be.

People who buy/lease these cars generally have some, all or even more of the above compromises to meet.

To have a bog standard family car that's also got a decent bit of poke for very little extra outlay is surely a bonus.

[JackReacher]

I like the Golf R, and particularly the estate version. I can see myself buying a used estate in a year or two.

But there is definitely an association with riffraff that does seem to taint the car slightly, encouraged by the cheap leasing deals. These deals attract car enthusiasts, but also plenty or morons who want the fastest thing on the road to impress their mates, usually wearing tight t-shirts, few tattoos on show, a bit of facial hair, have a "trade", but spend most of their time in the weights section of their gym. We all like a stereotype.

It wouldn't stop me buying one, the same plight has hit a lot of quick affordable cars over the years, Imprezas, Type-R's, ST's, Edition 30 Golf's etc. I guess some of the negativity stems from this.

[Emeye]

JackReacher said:

I like the Golf R, and particularly the estate version. I can see myself buying a used estate in a year or two.

But there is definitely an association with riffraff that does seem to taint the car slightly, encouraged by the cheap leasing deals. These deals attract car enthusiasts, but also plenty or morons who want the fastest thing on the road to impress their mates, usually wearing tight t-shirts, few tattoos on show, a bit of facial hair, have a "trade", but spend most of their time in the weights section of their gym. We all like a stereotype.

It wouldn't stop me buying one, the same plight has hit a lot of quick affordable cars over the years, Imprezas, Type-R's, ST's, Edition 30 Golf's etc. I guess some of the negativity stems from this.

Funny - all the wannabees at my gym mainly drive Merc A-class AMGs (A180ds with an AMG pack) or Siroccos, and all think they have a right to park in the disabled spots because they or their cars are special for some reason. Could be they are mentally disabled?

The Golf Gti does have a much better image than the R - I had 2 Mk5 Gtis, though I almost ended up with a cheap lease R - for the money it was a no brainer.

Oh, and I much do prefer crappy old cars - and I'm not just saying that.

[seadragon]

GK said:

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.

haha totally, jealous I think. Of course people would take the R over the GTI, if they were being honest.

My R estate paid off in full (with 20% discount from Carwow) and you cant really accuse the R of being for show-offs since most reviews seem to slate the apparent boring looks anyway. I don't want it showy like the RS or Type R. The estate has loads of space and a flat loading bay. It's understated, practical and fun.

The discount gave me a chance to spec it up a little. mine is on the Cadiz and they look fine, I prefer them anyway. Many varying opinions on the wheels. ETTO.

Edited by seadragon on Wednesday 19th April 13:55

Edited by seadragon on Wednesday 19th April 13:59

[Derwins Revenge]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Cheap VAG product that's why.

Horrible low rent interior and an awful dull drive, yes it piles the speed on, but with no drama / involvement or any glint of excitement.

300 bhp / 4wd / dull 4pot Turbo, point and press, Chav Chariot of choice, same as a white duel Audi A'x'.

But each to their own, we all like different things, if you just want some pub stats and a dull drive then go for it!

Um, bingo? Or do I need a parrot?

[chrisb92]

Jonno02 said:

I don't understand the whole "The R has no heritage, so I pay nearly as much for a 70hp less GTI because pestige." The golf R is better. It is. It doesn't matter than the GTI has history, or that's it's a pure-breed etc. The golf R is better than the GTI.

And I have a cupra 290 black, so this isn't an AWD compared to FWD argument. The cupra has no heritage, but it will leave a GTI for dead. That's all that matters with a car like this. If you want heritage, buy an old GTI, the new ones are devoid of any of the features of the 'heritage' owners drone on about. It reeks of "I don't have an R, so I'm going to justify myself constantly why I didn't WANT one." It's as bad as the shed owners that drive about in a 2002 leaky car because "New cars have no personality and I hate them."

The GTI is a great car. It's lovely. But it's a step down from the R. At one point the GTI had no heritage. It smells a lot of people just wanting to go against the grain because the R was so astronomically popular with the lease deals. I would have either another cupra, gti, gtd or an R, they're all great; but some more than others.

Edited by Jonno02 on Tuesday 18th April 10:24

Utter bks. I just got rid of a MK6 Gti and I prefer it to my friends MK6 Golf R. His R was DSG, mine GTi was manual. The Gti was much more fun and felt a lot lighter.

I'd take a GTi clubsport over the R any day of the week and would also prefer a GTi PP over an R. If i wanted the 300 bhp and 4wd I'd by an S3. I'd also take any form of GTi over a Seat Leon.

[PixelpeepS3]

chrisb92 said:

If i wanted the 300 bhp and 4wd I'd by an S3.

the R is a better car in almost every way. in my opinion. (2014 plate 7R for two years then straight into a 2017 S3)

[chrisb92]

PixelpeepS3 said:

chrisb92 said:

If i wanted the 300 bhp and 4wd I'd by an S3.

the R is a better car in almost every way. in my opinion. (2014 plate 7R for two years then straight into a 2017 S3)

I've not driven either, so I'm interested as to why you say that? There's a few reasons I'd chose the S3 without driving.

1. Interior quality is a step up in the Audi
2. B&O speakers
3. No touch screen. I absolutely hated that on my GTi and love he dial on my A3.

Surely they drive pretty similar? And I prefer the look of the A3 over the Golf.

[Doofus]

seadragon said:

GK said:

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.

haha totally, jealous I think. Of course people would take the R over the GTI, if they were being honest.

I don't agree. But what else would you expect?

I paid £36.5k cash for my GTI, brand new. That would have bought me an R, and some options. I considered both, and chose the GTI.

[seadragon]

Doofus said:

seadragon said:

GK said:

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.

haha totally, jealous I think. Of course people would take the R over the GTI, if they were being honest.

I don't agree. But what else would you expect?

I paid £36.5k cash for my GTI, brand new. That would have bought me an R, and some options. I considered both, and chose the GTI.

Fair play to you, glad you enjoy your GTI. I am a VW guy and owned a few, modern and classic incl a 56 splittie, so dont want to upset any other enthusiast too much .

I got my R estate brand new with 7k worth of extras for 31,800k (for cash too).

Edited by seadragon on Wednesday 19th April 19:40

[Doofus]

seadragon said:

Fair play to you, glad you enjoy it your GTI I got my R estate with 7k worth of extras for 31,800k (for cash too).

Yeah. That's it, you see? R's are too cheap.



PS. I've had the Golf for nearly three years now, and I have no desire to change it. I came to it from a string of three BMW 6's, and a Mercedes CLS. I am Now considering an Aston Martin or a Bentley, but I won't be getting rid of the Golf

[ashleyman]

Doofus said:

Yeah. That's it, you see? R's are too cheap.



PS. I've had the Golf for nearly three years now, and I have no desire to change it. I came to it from a string of three BMW 6's, and a Mercedes CLS. I am Now considering an Aston Martin or a Bentley, but I won't be getting rid of the Golf

You must be one of those typical chav owners people are always talking about.