Golf R Observations and Questions

[dave_r]

Well... the number of different shades that we've seen the Golf R's blue in, seems to suggest the opposite, that it DOES have that broad range of colour.

Sure does, and I dislike 90% of them LOL. We'll always find something to argue about hey

[Prodigy]

Wondering if anyone has heard or seen any signs of an official Golf R brochure as yet. I'm keen to get hold of one.

[Corey_R]

Not for Australia.
There's one of the German and UK Volkswagen sites though.

[REXman]

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!

You are right sort of. In a 4Wd though the threshold before it let's go though is much higher. And with RWD, what happens is if you lose it (the tail) you have the opportunity to catch it and correct your line by giving some oppy lock etc. FWD had buckleys on either of these 2 formats. But with advances in fwd tech (bought on by it's cost effectiveness to manufacture) they do quite well.

But in the wet, the last place you want to be is a tight corner with FWD. Understeer all the way into the gutter or worse.

Please refer to rally cars for grip (awd). And f1 cars (rwd).

But as I mentioned Fwd does very well in some circumstances and in some conditions.

[Fab_R]

You are right sort of. In a 4Wd though the threshold before it let's go though is much higher. And with RWD, what happens is if you lose it (the tail) you have the opportunity to catch it and correct your line by giving some oppy lock etc. FWD had buckleys on either of these 2 formats. But with advances in fwd tech (bought on by it's cost effectiveness to manufacture) they do quite well.

in the wet, the last place you want to be is a tight corner with FWD. Understeer all the way into the gutter or worse.

Please refer to rally cars for grip (awd). And f1 cars (rwd).

But as I mentioned Fwd does very well in some circumstances and in some conditions.

Good description REXman but doesn't ESP change the landscape again as far as control is concerned in AWD cars.
In the case of a car having AWD + ESP?
ESP will control and attempt to correct any loss of traction.

[AdamD]

But in the wet, the last place you want to be is a tight corner with FWD. Understeer all the way into the gutter or worse.

but doesn't ESP change the landscape again as far as control is concerned in AWD cars.

FWIW, I think that generalising about FWD v RWD vs AWD without additional detail and context is misleading. I wrote this post a while ago which sums up my 2c on the subject, if you're interested:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f112...tml#post456577

From that post: Remember too, the driving wheels really only have an impact on vehicle handling when power is applied, or when using engine/compression braking (ignoring the weight issues of an AWD setup).

[OilBurna]

also depends on your 4wd setup ie primary rear or front bias.

[Prodigy]

I just read the review on the R in the latest Motor Magazine, they put it head to head against the Lancer Evo X and it faired very well. They said there not much in it especially in a straight line with the R doing a time of 5.37 sec 0 - 100 km/h compared to the Evo's 5.30 sec.

[REXman]

I just read the review on the R in the latest Motor Magazine, they put it head to head against the Lancer Evo X and it faired very well. They said there not much in it especially in a straight line with the R doing a time of 5.37 sec 0 - 100 km/h compared to the Evo's 5.30 sec.

I bought that mag just for the R review. I can't believe how much golf's have changed!!

Who would think you can get a car that is built like a car worth twice as much, and you get comparable performance to an EVO. Amazing car for the money. now if we can hurry and get mine delivered!!! I can't read anymore about it!! They did say the Evo had had the performance edge, which is fine as far as the times show it's close. 5.37 vs 5.30 and 13.65 vs 13.56. But like the GTI, it is a different league when it comes to buil quality and design. And it's cheaper by a bit too. 74990 vs 63500 (tested). Can't say I would buy a nap car for that much unless it had the letters GTR in the name.

[REXman]

Also as for 4wd vs rwd vs fwd,

I think of it like this. Picture a shopping trolley. A rwd in comparison will be PUSHING it from the rear around the isles. A fwd will be pulling it from the front. Awd will be doing both. Obviously the PULLING method is the most difficult out of the three.

Also, when launching, a fwd is again the weakest here as the car naturally lifts the nose and plants on the rears, hence why fwd spin so much, they do not contact the tyres to the road as well as the alternatives.

But having driven GTI myself as well as a type r and jap SSS, I can vouch for these cars being still really good. Its Just they don't touch the rwd and awd's.