Golf R Observations and Questions

[dave_r]

Mine are both equally disgracefully dirty right now.

Mine are usually always filthy as well, foot down people!

Or just ask nicely when you pick up the car and they give it to you for free.

Didn't even need to ask, both adapter cables were sitting in the console when I took delivery (didn't pay for MDI either )

Used car market is a pain, I recently sold an old Mazda. Took about 2mths on carsales - first caller did a no show, second caller bought it.

[Ideo]

I’m getting heaps of enquiries. Call up on a Tuesday or Wednesday, have a chat, arrange for them to inspect on a Saturday, agree on a time, wait around on Saturday, give them a call, then they say they have decided to buy a property instead. What? In the 4 days between calling me and now? And you didn’t think to let me know?

This has happened to me twice now and it’s just bloody rude.

[REXman]

Good luck with that Ideo.
I had to drop my 2006 MPS to $15k to move it.
Not much happening in the car market atm.

That's pretty cheap for that. How many KMs?

[police state]

Well I've had my R for 6 days and thought I'd quickly share my initial thoughts.

Spec: Rising Blue/DSG/Leather/MDI/Bluetooth/RVC (bought from dealer stock)

To state the bleedin obvious, I've had a lot of fun. I had a MKV GTI a while back and this thing really "growls" in comparison. I am missing the the manual gearbox I had in the GTI but I guess I will get used to the DSG and it will be a godsend in day to day traffic. I keep pulling back in manual mode to go from first to second like a normal manual

The DSG started off a little "glitchy" but seems to be getting better as I drive, saying that though, I had my first encounter with the car coming out of gear in drive today

The handling really is fantastic and I don't see a problem with the turning circle as some have reported here, but I have the standard 18" wheels, maybe that is the difference?

I had no choice with the options, but if I had, I would have had the Dynaudio and not the RVC. The interesting thing in hindsight is that the RVC is quite cool and the premium 8 sound is actually pretty good, but I have had the Dynaudio before, so I miss it just a little.

This may sound a little weird, but one of the most impressive features of this car is the ultra legible instrument cluster and display. Best I've ever had.

So in summary:

Pros: Great handling, brakes, instrument cluster, grunt, seats, great looking etc. etc. (long list)

Cons: Removing rear headrests to fold down back seat requires 3 hands and a screwdriver - really stupid!
My ipod skips sometimes at the beginning of tracks? (under investigation)

Plenty more time to discover....

oh...and thanks to Shakespeare for the feedback on the opti-coat

[Corey_R]

I keep pulling back in manual mode to go from first to second like a normal manual

It's not just you! VW have it the wrong way around. Whilst it may make sense to the majority of "general consumers of automatics", it's the opposite for a manual 1st to 2nd (as you noted), and the opposite of any sequential gearbox from a racecar or kart etc. I just can't get used to it... so I got some DSG paddle extensions so I don't have to get used to it!

This may sound a little weird, but one of the most impressive features of this car is the ultra legible instrument cluster and display. Best I've ever had.

Yeah I agree. The fact VW abandoned their long used "blue and red" theme for the instrument cluster and MFI for white on the MK6 was and still is a big cause of complaints for MKV and earlier owners. However, having owned a MKV Golf and a 9N3 Polo, it really is amazing how much clearer this instrument cluster and MFI is!

[Ryan_R]

Before I got my car, I setup the wheel on my gaming PC to also be the wrong way around so I could practice without too many ill effects. I stuffed it up plenty of times, but I'm pretty decent with it now (as long as I'm not focussing too much on the actual driving on twisty roads, where I just use Sport mode). Since my car can do 70kph in 2nd or 7th gear, it's usually not the end of the world if I get it wrong now and then

Now if you're really clever, you'll forget that you've gone from Manual mode back to D and then change up into Neutral! I would've liked to think you'd need to press the button in to switch into neutral.
The only other thing that sometimes catches me out is when I start the car, select D, and wonder why the MFD shows 'N' (for North)

[Big_Dave]

That's pretty cheap for that. How many KMs?

that's the Rub, 130,000
still cheap IMO.
$15k was the finance payout figure.

[shakespeare]

Well I've had my R for 6 days and thought I'd quickly share my initial thoughts.

Spec: Rising Blue/DSG/Leather/MDI/Bluetooth/RVC (bought from dealer stock)

To state the bleedin obvious, I've had a lot of fun. I had a MKV GTI a while back and this thing really "growls" in comparison. I am missing the the manual gearbox I had in the GTI but I guess I will get used to the DSG and it will be a godsend in day to day traffic. I keep pulling back in manual mode to go from first to second like a normal manual

The DSG started off a little "glitchy" but seems to be getting better as I drive, saying that though, I had my first encounter with the car coming out of gear in drive today

The handling really is fantastic and I don't see a problem with the turning circle as some have reported here, but I have the standard 18" wheels, maybe that is the difference?

I had no choice with the options, but if I had, I would have had the Dynaudio and not the RVC. The interesting thing in hindsight is that the RVC is quite cool and the premium 8 sound is actually pretty good, but I have had the Dynaudio before, so I miss it just a little.

This may sound a little weird, but one of the most impressive features of this car is the ultra legible instrument cluster and display. Best I've ever had.

So in summary:

Pros: Great handling, brakes, instrument cluster, grunt, seats, great looking etc. etc. (long list)

Cons: Removing rear headrests to fold down back seat requires 3 hands and a screwdriver - really stupid!
My ipod skips sometimes at the beginning of tracks? (under investigation)

Plenty more time to discover....

oh...and thanks to Shakespeare for the feedback on the opti-coat

You're welcome mate I find with the rear seats putting the fronts forward helps to fold them without removing headrests, though I'm not overly tall (5' 10") so the driver's side doesn't have to go forward very far!

Good to hear you're enjoying your new ride, look forward to catching up at a meet soon!

that's the Rub, 130,000
still cheap IMO.
$15k was the finance payout figure.

That's pretty good mate, I'd be happy with that and a good price for the next buyer too!

[REXman]

that's the Rub, 130,000
still cheap IMO.
$15k was the finance payout figure.

Yeah your right, I would have thought closer to $20K for that but not all is lost. Other thing is when a new generation comes out and you have the "older" (pfft 5 years) model with a stack of KMs on it, this crazy drop happens.

Happened to me to all but one or two car's. At least your rid of it now and driving a nice car. And you didnt get smashed on it. I reckon my 4 month old R with 4000km's on it and a 12 month wait time, that rrp's for $68500 mind you, is probably worth $58-$60K already if not less!!

But then again a new M3 costs around $170K on road and you know what..? 1-1.5 years old and BOOM, its $130K..

What blows my mind is the resale of little ****ty cars like barinas and Corollas.. Its Friggin crazy!

We bought my GF as her first car a P.O.S. Barina for $9K. She clocked about 55,000kms on it, owned it for nearly 3 years.. and sold it for $6.5K!!

My sister bought a 2004 corolla as a Demo in 2004 for $19000. In 2011 when the thing is on its last legs - 90000kms.. still worth $11000!?!?

Buy a WRX for $40K - 3 years its worth $28K (which is very good in the sporty market), Commodores just kill me - 3 year old clubsport for 30% of the RRP is just ridiculous.

Dont get me started on resales!! the better the car, the worse the resale - why? because the buyers who buy a nice car "usually" have the money to buy a new one. Where the market in the little ****ty cars - everyones strapped - buyers AND sellers!!

[Big_Dave]

But then again a new M3 costs around $170K on road and you know what..? 1-1.5 years old and BOOM, its $130K..

!

Saw one yesterday, one with the folding roof. love those quad exhausts.

NOW that's a mod I would like to do to the R = quad exhausts.
I think i saw one of the german tuners do one, had a totally new rear diffuser.
i think that would make the r look sooooo good, IMHO.

Cause lets be honest, what are other drivers going to be seeing a lot of?

Your Rear!



Drive Hard or Drive Home!