Golf R Observations and Questions

[G-rig]

Just got back from two days of get away in Byron hinterland with the missus and the R. Sure was glad to have taken the R rather than the MKV GTI as it was bucketing down! (and the falkens on my GTI are pretty crappy...).

Loving how the R just gets more tightly adhered to the road when you give it throttle in the wet mid corner. In the GTI, I would often bascially coast through the corner in the wet as getting on the throttle can be a bit scary. Not so in the R!

Fair enough we don't have snow here but AWD does a bit more than you think in managing traction when you take off (especially with a heavy foot) and in wet conditions & over b-grade or bad roads. Agree with normal driving in Australia it's not necessary but helps in some conditions and on the track.

It's not worth trying pushing your luck in the wet just because you have AWD. It is a good safety feature but may create a false sense of security - once the car lets go you'll be sliding and no better off than anyone else.

I went for a spirited drive yesterday arvo which was the first time I've done so in the GTI and didn't feel that AWD was needed at all and the car was very capable (no slower than my mates WRX with the STI turbo and H&R suspension). The roads are all 80 speed limit with quite a few bends etc so not sure you'd get the speed up enough for the bigger turbo to go much faster than that anyway before hitting the brakes. The stage 1 GTI's power is instantaneous and very good throttle from whichever gear you're in. I could smell the brakes a lot though afterwards, and the R's would be well received albeit they are still only single piston (aren't they?).

The ACC in sport mode was good with the heavier steering too, but a non-ACC with coilovers/19" wheels may feel this effect also so not sure if i'd get it next time or not.

Am tossing up getting a bluefin for the R. GTI has been with APR but the news of APR stg1 for R not having the function of switchability via cruise control stick has been a rethink point. Plus it is much cheaper...

I found the stock R a bit underwhelming and the power was more linear than i expected. So a retune would definitely be on the cards and that is the main attraction of the R otherwise stock for stock it's really not that different than an R32.

Can the pirelli's switch maps etc using the cruise control? Does the R still have security lockout? May not be an issue if you go to an independent for servicing, warranty would be the only thing to consider but you'd be able to revert it to stock if there were any issues.

Have bluefin bought the tool to flash MK6 GTI's yet?

[Corey_R]

It's not worth trying pushing your luck in the wet just because you have AWD. It is a good safety feature but may create a false sense of security - once the car lets go you'll be sliding and no better off than anyone else.

I've heard multiple different "driving experts" (from tv/motorsports/magazines etc) over the years argue that with AWD, once the car lets go, you're in WORSE position than a 2WD car. Their reasoning is that in a 2WD car, usually one of the axles lets go first, and you've still got traction at the other end to use (if you're experienced), whereas with AWD, once it lets go, you're gooooone!

I found the stock R a bit underwhelming and the power was more linear than i expected. So a retune would definitely be on the cards and that is the main attraction of the R otherwise stock for stock it's really not that different than an R32.

Can the pirelli's switch maps etc using the cruise control? Does the R still have security lockout? May not be an issue if you go to an independent for servicing, warranty would be the only thing to consider but you'd be able to revert it to stock if there were any issues.

I've noticed that even the MY10 Audi S3 and TT-S do not allow switching right now. The reason given is that there are memory space issues on the particular ECU being used. So this may be VW's way of figuring out which customers have upgraded ECU's or not, preventing them from having the "security lock out" feature and switchable ECU's which they obviously can't detect

I was told that they are still working on a method of allowing the switching even with the confined memory, but that no promises can be made on release or if it's possible. (the source of all this is available at various public accessible places, but I wouldn't want people to complain... )

[G-rig]

I'm not too concerned either way, but i'm sure the tuner could flash it back to stock if there were any warranty issues.

I've heard multiple different "driving experts" (from tv/motorsports/magazines etc) over the years argue that with AWD, once the car lets go, you're in WORSE position than a 2WD car. Their reasoning is that in a 2WD car, usually one of the axles lets go first, and you've still got traction at the other end to use (if you're experienced), whereas with AWD, once it lets go, you're gooooone!

The GTI's went almost as well at the Mt Cotton skid pan day, and that was the MK5's before the MK6 EDL/XDL equipped GTI's were out, which would do even better.

The R is about getting the best, not needing AWD .

[sameatworld]

It's not worth trying pushing your luck in the wet just because you have AWD. It is a good safety feature but may create a false sense of security - once the car lets go you'll be sliding and no better off than anyone else.

Fair point. However, I certainly wasn't trying my luck in the wet I don't think. Was still keeping strictly under the speed limit and also strictly in my lane Plus the missus gets car sick pretty easily, hence SMOOTH driving is essential Accelerating out of corners, I just noticed that it was much easier to keep the R in my lane. Almost super naturally so. In the tuned GTI, this was a bit more difficult and certainly required "more skill" The MKVI will I'm sure be much easier thanks to the EDL and XDL. Not saying that the R is more fun, more that it amazes me at the moment. This initial awe probably will wear out over time

I went for a spirited drive yesterday arvo which was the first time I've done so in the GTI and didn't feel that AWD was needed at all and the car was very capable (no slower than my mates WRX with the STI turbo and H&R suspension). The roads are all 80 speed limit with quite a few bends etc so not sure you'd get the speed up enough for the bigger turbo to go much faster than that anyway before hitting the brakes. The stage 1 GTI's power is instantaneous and very good throttle from whichever gear you're in. I could smell the brakes a lot though afterwards, and the R's would be well received albeit they are still only single piston (aren't they?).

stg1 GTI is a formidabble weapon! My mate EWT just got his baby chipped and is loving it. Agree about the bigger turbo not adding much more benefit. Pretty sure that around these bends the new clio sport will shame most cars with hair dryers
No problem with brakes yet. I like checking the big brakes out before getting in the R. They look HUGE, esp coz i have SMALL (18"s) wheels

I found the stock R a bit underwhelming and the power was more linear than i expected. So a retune would definitely be on the cards and that is the main attraction of the R otherwise stock for stock it's really not that different than an R32.

Especially when it's only 800 odd dollars! I'm just happy to have an R. Whether it's the R32 or the R. GTR would be even better!

May not be an issue if you go to an independent for servicing, warranty would be the only thing to consider but you'd be able to revert it to stock if there were any issues.

Adam at VA garage is really close to my place so feel a bit more 'safer' in regards to going bluefin than just doing it completely solo. He seems to know lots about VW and great fun to talk to about VWs. Would still miss going up to Bris to see Mike who has been great with my MKV. If he was much closer than I might be more tempted to spend 700 odd more... unless Guy gives me a big discount!

[Fab_R]

[QUOTE=G-rig;533732]

Would be interesting to see how many of your posts are attacking them or having a go at Coreying lol.

Nothing wrong with being a happy customer which there are many.

+1

[G-rig]

Fair point. However, I certainly wasn't trying my luck in the wet I don't think. Was still keeping strictly under the speed limit and also strictly in my lane Plus the missus gets car sick pretty easily, hence SMOOTH driving is essential Accelerating out of corners, I just noticed that it was much easier to keep the R in my lane. Almost super naturally so. In the tuned GTI, this was a bit more difficult and certainly required "more skill" The MKVI will I'm sure be much easier thanks to the EDL and XDL. Not saying that the R is more fun, more that it amazes me at the moment. This initial awe probably will wear out over time

All good points, wasn't saying you were & agree that AWD helps smooth powering out of corners.

As WJ has said, EDL/XDL is bridging the gap from FWD and AWD and works pretty well.

No problem with brakes yet. I like checking the big brakes out before getting in the R. They look HUGE, esp coz i have SMALL (18"s) wheels

Assume they are the same as the R32 brakes, which are pretty good and miss not having them on the GTI. You'd have to be a dedicated track goer to upgrade them however they are still great for the odd track day without getting much brake fade after 5 laps of QR.

Adam at VA garage is really close to my place so feel a bit more 'safer' in regards to going bluefin than just doing it completely solo. He seems to know lots about VW and great fun to talk to about VWs. Would still miss going up to Bris to see Mike who has been great with my MKV. If he was much closer than I might be more tempted to spend 700 odd more... unless Guy gives me a big discount!

Agree, good to go with who you are comfortable with and who is relatively convenient. I've taken my past few cars to Mike Weber for servicing and installation of mods etc, and is great to deal with. Very handy to where i'm located too which is a bonus.

Bit over going to the dealers, last time i got them to look into a rattle behind the centre dash. Get it back and the rattle is still there and they have lightly scratched the trim.. will have to hit them up for a new one as it's not good enough. Waste of time and i may as well have done it myself.

[dave_r]

I personally like the R32's blue better, but blue is my favourite colour, so I'd have gone with Rising Blue almost no matter what!

I agree, prefer the R32 blue over the R but alas i love blue cars (this would be my 3rd out of the last 4 i owned) hence why i went blue again.

I'm the same as you guys. Love blue, had 3 of them but I can't pull the trigger this time. Wish they brought it out in R32 blue, so white it is. It will be my 3rd white car so guess I like appliances too hehe. (Thanks for the photos too, confirms my choice against it)

Oh no, I promoted 3M and Ventureshield in this post... are you going to accuse me of something in relation to that as well?

Can I get box of post it notes?

[HPSOV]

Ok I'm pretty sure I am about to win a stupid award for this question....

How do I lower the headrests on the front seats?
When I got the car from the dealer they were both raised, I decided to try them lowered today. The manual refers to a little 'lever' which should be on the plastic surround where the metal from the headrest inserts into the seats (same as every other car I've ever owned). But neither seat has one... what am I missing...

[AdamD]

How do I lower the headrests on the front seats?

There should be a round button on the side of the headrest:



Press it, and move the headrest up and down?

[HPSOV]

Off to the garage I go.....

Yep, that worked, thanks!