Golf R Observations and Questions

[Corey_R]

I got Derek at European Autotech to change mine with the Liqui Moly TOP TEC 4200 | 5W-30

It's ~$80 a bottle depending where you get it and is engineered and designed in Germany and comes highly recommended by several respected mechanically minded people around here, so that was good enough for me. I picked up another bottle at the same time so I could do another oil change later.

[NiNo_LoCo]

I got Derek at European Autotech to change mine with the Liqui Moly TOP TEC 4200 | 5W-30

It's ~$80 a bottle depending where you get it and is engineered and designed in Germany and comes highly recommended by several respected mechanically minded people around here, so that was good enough for me. I picked up another bottle at the same time so I could do another oil change later.

This wont affect warranty at all?
Or at the 15k service can you just give the VW mechanics the bottle you purchased so they can use that rather then their (VW) generic one? have nfi what VW use for service.

[Corey_R]

The Liqui Moly product I linked to complies with the VAG 504/507 oil requirements that the R requires, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.

And yes, I intend to ask my dealership to use the oil I provide

I'm not sure what they use either. I know VW "officially" use a specific Castrol oil which is only available via dealerships, but then I know of several dealerships that don't use that oil for servicing and use another 504/507 oil instead.

[Sir_GTI]

My First service (15000km), they had on the report that they used MOBIL 1 5w30.....

[REXman]

I observed this morning that a stock R cannot beat a Suzuki 1000 from a standstill hehe. We both had a good laugh about it at the next set of lights though.

HAHAHAH yeah that would have been fun trying!

I'll give you my take so far.

maybe Pros first.

Build quality has been great, best made car short of a BMW for the coin.
Has put a smile on my face the more I drive it.
Exhaust has gotten louder and now sounds great.
DSG was a great choice in the end, as auto in Sydney with the option for a blast here and there is great.(was skeptical being a proficient manual driver)
I like the factory settings of DSG. Simple to me; D is for fuel economy, S isn't, M is for everything in-between.
Steering wheel is awesome.
The car sounds great in S.
Handling has been such a surprise for a porker, great in the corners and has surprised a few people I have taken for a wrap!
This was a big hitter for me- the insurance.

Cons

Turning circle is terrible.
Launch control is ALMOST a gimmick giving only a 3000rpm take off (soft). I wouldn't call it Launch control, I'd call it Takeoff Control.
DSG has ****ed up more than a few times (not enough for me to completely crack it as it always does it {slip} at lower speed below 60km/h)
Bluetooth mucks around when the iPhone is connected to the MDI sometimes.
Petrol economy is a bit over rated.

I would though, wait, choose and buy it all over again.

I have kept up with my mates GTR (R33) through some twisties - (not straight line though!), and shook up a new MY11 STI, all whilst doing it in the lap of (reasonably) affordable luxury.

Best package on the market you can get for $60 odd grand.

Forgot to add a MAJOR con.

- you can have too much in the way of your windows being down.. if you do infact decide to use the windows in the way they were intended, the car sounds like it's sonic booming on the inside. I don't know how VW missed that.

It's crazy bad to the point where my mate in the back reckons he nearly ****ed his ears when we were on the freeway part of the road leading to the harbour bridge.

I really can't see how you could miss that, or design it better when so many cheaper affordable cars don't do it.

I call it my Rs 'GTI rattle', it is in my book.

The 325CI doesn't do it with ANY combination of windows and sunroof up or down.

Neither did all the rexies, pulsar, corolla, skyline, SS ute..

It's so ****en annoying I don't how I forgot to mention it.

[Pepe]

HAHAHAH yeah that would have been fun trying!



Forgot to add a MAJOR con.

- you can have too much in the way of your windows being down.. if you do infact decide to use the windows in the way they were intended, the car sounds like it's sonic booming on the inside. I don't know how VW missed that.

It's crazy bad to the point where my mate in the back reckons he nearly ****ed his ears when we were on the freeway part of the road leading to the harbour bridge.

I really can't see how you could miss that, or design it better when so many cheaper affordable cars don't do it.

I call it my Rs 'GTI rattle', it is in my book.

The 325CI doesn't do it with ANY combination of windows and sunroof up or down.

Neither did all the rexies, pulsar, corolla, skyline, SS ute..

It's so ****en annoying I don't how I forgot to mention it.

It's not actually uncommon... I know Mazda2s and Mazda3s do it as well. It's to do with air pressure both inside and out. If you adjust how far open your windows actually are, you should be able to find a point where it's not an issue.

[Glennb]

Just checked it out on my car and with all windows down (and combinations of part open), it's actually pretty good. Front only there is a bit of noise but no cavitation. With rear windows only down, cavitation is really bad.

It's bad on the Tiguan though with just front windows down.

[zhifchik]

After months of test drives, downloading reviews, revising specs, lease negotiations etc I hopefully take delivery of my MY11 Rising Blue, DSG, 5Dr, 19" Blacks this Tuesday.

Are there any last essential questions I should ask, purchases I should make or anything I should do before I drive away?

I have already spoken to Canberra VW centre and intend on having all my servicing done there. No issues with the Canberra VW dealers, they are all great, it's just that I want Peter and his team who live and breathe performance VW/Audi to give it their loving care.

[dave_r]

I don't have any issues with windows all the way down and sunroof open, maybe the issue is only on the 5 doors? I don't think I've ever gone anywhere without at least a window open or the sunroof at least cracked open.

[Big_Dave]

Does anyone know if you can buy the detergent additive, put in the windscreen resevoir, from the dealer?
the sales guy said to just add water when needed and they would add when servicing, but wh are having a bit of wet weather and I dont want to have to wait till then.