Golf R 3 door/5 door speculation/information thread

[OEM G60]

Hopefully not a re-post, another review of the R;

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos-10...f-R-iMOTOR.htm

[Pauly]

I think I'll wait for the Scirocco R, would be a bit more unique/fun..

Unfortunately no confirmation if that is coming to Australia.

VW Australia do want it, however it will need to be priced below the R (as it does not have AWD and has less power).

Or they are going to have to fully option the car up with all the options, and price it above the Golf R.

[schoona]

Unfortunately no confirmation if that is coming to Australia.

VW Australia do want it, however it will need to be priced below the R (as it does not have AWD and has less power).

Or they are going to have to fully option the car up with all the options, and price it above the Golf R.

I thinks he might know this....

[G-rig]

Well i'm assuming it will make it here one way or the other eventually. Imagine it may be the same price as the Golf R, not worth it if its any more.

Anyway, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE .

[WhiteJames]

On past reviews, we have noted the cost cutting measures between 05 - 06 - 07 MKV GTI's. Everything from VW badge quality going from metal to plastic, sill strip thickness, metal -v- plastic injector/manifold housing, gloss on the steering wheel centre, etc.

Yeah, my 06/07 MKV GTI seats had leather everywhere ... was suprised that the MK6 GTI had the cloth on the innner side of the front seats. I find that the leather in the GTI/R is a bit 'plastic' feeling. Didn't option them on this new GTI. Would love the centre console and side armrests in leather though, so much so, think about having mine retrimmed in leather & sticking with the cloth seats.

Statements such as this below has me thinking 'go for the added comfort of the GTI ride/handling mix for a daily driver' :

The trade-off for that involvement is a car that's slightly less comforting a day-to-day driver than the GTI. Where the GTI has a generously power assisted steering rack, the R's turn-in feels heavy at low speeds, and where the GTI's setup is indulgently supple, the R feels just on the wrong side of firm. That's at both low speeds and high too; the post-Christmas pothole frenzy has caused its share of 'ouch' moments in the R, and on the motorway its tendency to bounce can grate. As can the mild-yet-constant boom from the engine when you just fancy some quiet.

Cheers
WJ

[graeme86]

....and save themselves money at the same time.

Here is another German roadtest:

http://www.sportauto-online.de/einze...g-1747655.html

[G-rig]

That is to prevent the annoyance of the leather squeeking as it rubs off the centre console. Only Volkswagen would think of that.

My bloody passenger seat belt still rubs on the leather when someone sits in the seat so all this is bull**** anyway.

[WhiteJames]

....and save themselves money at the same time.

Here is another German roadtest:

http://www.sportauto-online.de/einze...g-1747655.html

Recent remarks of too many observations and not enough of the 'cold hard facts' had me going through this German Auto-Sport online article of the Golf R in as much detail and my limited German would allow. Additionally, I looked up Auto-Sport's Mark 6 GTI review as a comparison against the Golf R, forget abou the Megane & Focus for now.

German article states:

Slalom Course:
R - 68.2
GTI - 68.0

0-100kph:
R - 6.0
GTI - 6.9

Hockemheim Lap Time:
R - 1.17
GTI - 1.19.8 (Michelin Exalto) or 1.19.6 (Bridgestone RE050).

*note: GTI had ESC/XDL interference around the track, reducing its time.
*(Audi S3 on Conti CS3 18/225/40 lap time of 1.17.5 or 0.5 sec slower than the Golf R on 19/8/235/35 Dunlop Sport Maxx GT tyres).

Kilo per horsepower:
R - 5.7kg/PS
GTI - 6.62kg/PS

Weight:
R - 1532kg
GTI - 1391kg

(141kg diff with the larger diameter 19" wheels).
The subjective (instead of making observations):

Based on stats I've seen so far, I know that the GTI can do better than 6.9sec 0-100kph of 6.9 sec. Reports range of 6.3 secs to 6.9 secs, with average so far being @ 6.5 secs. In other words, about 0.5 secs slower than the Golf R. This is also consistent with the earlier Euro/UK reviews indicating that on the road, the Renault Megane Cup and Focus are faster instruments. Suspicions? This does arouse my suspicions that maybe Volkswagen are presenting the Golf R in the best possible light against the GTI, which may have a degree of conservatism added into it acceleration times.

Both Golf R and GTI were rated at 4/5 stars.

If only this article was in English.

Still cannot manage to use the 'Advanced Post' section of this website?

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

Sorry - my German is probably far worse than yours, but they say that the GTI (in manual) managed a 7.2 second 0 to 100, compared to the Golf R, also manual, which they did in 6 seconds. So both of these times are exactly 0.3 off VW's claimed time. Leading me to think that maybe the track temp was just too cold or something like that.

7,2 Sekunden für den Sprint auf Landstraßentempo wie im handgeschalteten GTI. Da kann der R nur müde lächeln. Er spritzt in 6,0 Sekunden aus dem Stand auf Tempo 100.

You can't really look up a previous article and compare to that. It was obviously made on a different day, very likely a completely different time of year, it may have been a different driver, weather conditions can differ and the location can also have an effect. Specifically in this case, they comment on the weather being great in the older MK6 GTI article. But for the R article, obviously the conditions aren't the same since they can only manage a time 0.3 seconds slower in the GTI....

[WhiteJames]

^Valid points on the variables relating to acceleration times. Too many variables to consider, but .... Earlier suspicions were aroused when looking at the Audi S3 400m acceleration times of @ 14.0 sec from reviews I've read in the past, which may suggest that on the road, the new Audi S3 aka Golf R may not add up to more than the sum of it's improvements over the lesser GTI. Consistent with this article I have found when comparing the GTI -v Golf R (Audi S3):

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/v.../verdict/58949

The above review summarises by saying:

The fastest Golf isn’t necessarily the best. We’d save ourselves a few quid and go for the GTI. It does most of what the R does, and it’ll cost you way less.

This lead me to check out Top Gear's short & succinct view on the Audi S3:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/audi/s3

And then over to wheels review on the Audi S3 for another perspective on the ride/handling mix of the Audi S3, which is stated to ride, not a lot, but a little firmer than the new Golf R.

http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/Road_Tes...eels&pagenum=2

Audi S3 ride from Wheels Mag Online:

Speaking of which, the biggest expense for an S3 owner will probably be the physio bills. Audi’s brittle suspension has been the target of many an autobahn-less nation, and the S3 is 25mm lower than an A3, has double anti-roll bars and more rigid suspension mountings, and its independent rear is tuned for stiffness supreme. Large 18-inch rims and grippy Michelin 225/40s do nothing to cushion the blows.

A dip in the road created by recent torrential rain sent the car clean into the air, and we crabbed sideways over dips and divots. To Audi’s credit, the steering never gave a shudder and the car was absolutely superb on the flat stuff, but the state of Sydney roads would rattle the most flexible of spines.

Audi S3 sits 25mm lower than lesser A3's as does the Golf R compared to lesser Golf's.

Agree that the best way to compare is to drive them back to back, should Volkswagen have some early press vehicles prior to release as Liam as suggested.

Cheers
WJ