Golf R 3 door/5 door speculation/information thread

[G-rig]

VW probably can't help if people have been hyping it up for 2 years making it feel a lot longer than it is .

I still think they are holding out a bit too long, don't know if it's to get a few more GTI sales first, but shouldnt be far off.

[ddre78]

it is you that is not being reasonable, not VW Australia.

We will just have to agree to disagree on that.

Keeping in mind this isn't the first new car that ive bought. Also, my contact that is now at VW, over the past 30 years has been at, Subaru, Ford, Audi, Nissan, Renault, Jeep. I don't remember this sort of behavior with other makes but maybe I have a bad memory.

Not quite sure you understand the business of importing and selling a product if you think VW are still contemplating the spec and price at this late stage. Anyway, I accept your view and enjoy the debate.

Time will tell.

[Corey_R]

We will just have to agree to disagree.

This doesn't have anything to do with whether you've bought cars before, or whether your dealer has worked at 20 companies. It's whether companies should release the price significantly before you can purchase the product.

I don't know of many companies that release the spec and price of their products and then say "but you can't buy it for 2 months". Sure, some electronics and computer companies do this. They call it a "paper launch". The media and customers hassle the crap out of the companies when they do a paper launch. It's beyond me why you'd want car companies to start doing that too when it's already an extremely unpopular in other industries!

[alebonau]

We will just have to agree to disagree.

This doesn't have anything to do with whether you've bought cars before, or whether your dealer has worked at 20 companies. It's whether companies should release the price significantly before you can purchase the product.

I don't know of many companies that release the spec and price of their products and then say "but you can't buy it for 2 months". Sure, some electronics and computer companies do this. They call it a "paper launch". The media and customers hassle the crap out of the companies when they do a paper launch. It's beyond me why you'd want car companies to start doing that too when it's already an extremely unpopular in other industries!

hehe its done to generate interest. so there is an instant demand on release ! sometimes even a guaranteed sales period with pre orders ! it can also act as a blocker for competitor product and quite effective during the pre launch period.

[graeme86]

How can they NOT know the spec when the cars are already here (and therefore their pricepoint)???

[ddre78]

Agree 100% on the paper launch issue. However, we arnt talking about a $300 CPU. We are talking about a car that will cost $60k, some of us need time to sort out our finances/plan for the future.

Ive been told as others have, that pricing wont be out until early to mid June. I expect the press cars to go out in the next week if they arnt starting to already. How many local reviews do you read that don't include pricing in the review. Not many. With any luck they will release pricing with the press cars so it can be published. Otherwise you have a review saying "its a great car, if it comes in under $55k. If not, its a ripoff look elsewhere. Sorry we cant give you a conclusion because we don't know what it costs." "These are great seats, but we don't know if the customer cars will have them available." Rinse and repeat.

[WhiteJames]

Below is a Dutch review with English subtitles available. Looks like the Golf R, like the R32, is quick to shift into top gear for the sake of economy. Also blunts the everyday driving experience around town, esp when looking to jump into that elusive shrinking gap in the neighbouring lane.

YouTube - Volkswagen Golf R

The second link is the entire Japanese 400m test runs, which includes a few Subaru STI's and a couple of Mitsubishi Lancer EVO's. The Audi TT-RS also seems difficult to launch with it clearly evident that it bogs down after initial launch.

YouTube - Best MOTORing 2010-05 - 400m Battle 1/3

My GTI is sitting at Port Kembla atm. Although I lament not driving the Golf R or being able to conduct a short back to back run re: Golf R -v- GTI. I'm still keen on the GTI for its attractive price, leaner weight, agility, XDS, DCC, economy, looks and fun factor. The Golf R should have better resale value & be easier to sell down the track. My neighbour who owns an MKV R32 is of the opinion that the Golf R is not a step far enough ahead over the MKV R32; He's looking at downgrading to a fully kitted (or thereabouts) GTI pending a test drive in the Golf R - Audi A5 Coupe (diesel & 2.0 TSI) - Golf GTI.

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

Below is a Dutch review with English subtitles available. Looks like the Golf R, like the R32, is quick to shift into top gear for the sake of economy. Also blunts the everyday driving experience around town, esp when looking to jump into that elusive shrinking gap in the neighbouring lane.

All DSG equipped Golf's do that. My MKV GTI did, and the MK6 GTI's I've test driven do.
If you have an APR ECU on it though, there's enough torque that it doesn't dull the driving experience any. Plus, if the gap is really that small that the car can't get into it even with a 6 to 3rd kickdown, then you probably shouldn't be moving into it

[Brendan_A]

You can see it has some turbo lag in those vids.

[WhiteJames]

All DSG equipped Golf's do that. My MKV GTI did, and the MK6 GTI's I've test driven do.

I disagree. I've driven plenty of MKV GTI and MKV R32 versions with DSG. At carpark speeds: The GTI sits in 2nd gear when the R32 is in 4th gear - one of the first things I noticed on the R32. It's also a common complaint I here all the time from my neighbour - 6th gear at ridiculously low speeds, so much so, he tends to use the paddles quite often in city traffic, keeping the R32 in 4th gear around 60kph, instead of 6th as 'Drive' does. Guys on the R_Forum.co.uk are saying the same thing with member reviews re: Dutch video. The V6 of the R32 is very responsive down low, compared to any GTI and most probably the Golf R with turbo lag under 2,000rpm. That's part of the reason I've suggested to my neighbour to keep the R32 as his driving is predominately metropolitan where low end response comes in handy most of the time, rather than change to a less linear turbo with some lag down low.

On a side note for those cosidering DCC or STD suspension - my neighbour's R32 with H&R sway bars on stock springs & dampers rides similar to my GTI with KW V3 on almost full soft - KW V3 kit offers more control & slightly more rebound rate. Not sure I'd stick in the Sachs coilovers, not until they sort out their spring issue re: WJ Suspension Thread.

If you have an APR ECU on it though, there's enough torque that it doesn't dull the driving experience any.

Each to their own on 'chipping' up the ECU. I'm not planning on any aftermarket ECU returne, whether it be on a GTI or Golf R - so stock for stock the GTI would be more liveable around town.

Opportunity cost of spending another 10K-15K for the Golf R has me thinking of a Moto Guzzi Sports Cruiser. As with cars, looking for a fun & liveable package in a bike rather than outright speed of something more hard core (think Ducati 1198S). Still a bit annoyed that my dealer wants full rrp + labour to fit a set of mudflaps on the GTI ($294).

Cheers.
WJ