Golf R -v- Golf GTI

**SilvrFoxX** · 05-12-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by WhiteJames

Some of the Golf R guys are complaining I've been giving the Polo GTI too much attention.
Cheers
WJ

not so much as complaining as confused.. this is a Glf V Golf thread.. not a Polo v Golf thread..but appreciate your posts none the less..

**sh|tbmxrider** · 06-12-2010, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by WhiteJames

Some of the Golf R guys are complaining I've been giving the Polo GTI too much attention. Here's a local review from drive.com.au of the Golf R against the hero hatches:

White heat: Focus RS v WRX STI v Golf R

Volkswagen Golf R review | hot-hatches

If the Golf R ain't hard enough when compared against a Focus RS or STI ... Nothing a set of aftermarket coilovers and aftermarket adjustable sway bars wouldn't fix.

Cheers
WJ

Ahh, but then you aren't comparing stock v. stock...

**G-rig** · 06-12-2010, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by sh|tbmxrider

Ahh, but then you aren't comparing stock v. stock...

Good point, but only matters if you're not going to do any mods.

**GTI Go Karter** · 06-12-2010, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Fab_R

I have just come from the car after running a test for the 0-100 times and im absolutly impressed with the time achieved:
Half a tank of fuel, & 20 degrees C outside.

With more of a colder morning this will surley improve again.

Bang for buck, its pretty good....

Could a GTi achieve this with even a stage III???

A GTI could not achieve that, but the GTI is not about drag times. It's about fun and very quick corner speeds and very fast switch back's, corner to corner. I test drove the S3 just to see what the Golf R would be like back in 2009. I then test drove the Golf R and I was shocked of the amount of understeer in both cars. I then test drove the GTI thinking it would be the same or even worse, but to my surprise, there was zero understeer. Let me say it again, ZERO understeer. Man, when you come deep into a corner and that rear end steps out like an AWD car and pulls you out ready for the next corner, at lighting speed, it's amazing! I dare anyone to go out there and test drive a MK6 GTI, its unreal. When I was doing my car shopping, I was very, very picky. It's fine to have oversteer, throw it into a corner and catch it on the other side of the corner, but understeer sucks. If your a drivers man and you want fun you go for vw GTI or bmw M3. If you your person that just want to beat other quick cars off the lights to the next set of lights get or live where it snows get a vw golf r / evo 10 / subaru sti. Have a look at motorsport F1 / V8' ****cars lol i like that bit or DTM all rear wheel drive , BTCC/mini challenge Front wheel drive . and awd are in rally dirt and snow and since we drive on tarmac on streets there is no fun with them at all besides launching of the lights .

**SilvrFoxX** · 06-12-2010, 07:05 PM

All fair comments, however I think fab _R was not saying that his mod was a complete whitewash of the GTI merely that the time that has been achieved was amazing and that the GTI with a much more ambitious chip and engine uplift wouldn't.

I will let the R owners submit their respective thoughts but if you have read the thread in its entirety you will find your views align with whitejames somewhat.. so I look forward to the subsequent posts

**WhiteJames** · 06-12-2010, 08:15 PM

I could buy a Golf R ... add a set of KW V3 or KW Comfort coilover suspension ... plus a small set of H&R solid adjustable sway bars or KW/Eibach sway bars (same product) ... and have change to go on a holiday compared to the price of a Focus RS, STI or EVO.

Straight from the factory floor, the STI and EVO appear to be sharper instruments with less inherent understeer. Adding a set of street coilovers and aftermarket sway bars will yield a marginal improvement in the STI, RS and EVO due to their more focussed chasiss tune.

The Golf R is factory tuned to be a softer Grand Tourer type of vehicle with greater bias towards understeer. Greater benefits can be had by fitting coilovers and sway bars on the Golf R as the factory chassis tune is softer than the EVO, STI or RS from the outset. In other words: you’re getting more value by fitting a sports coilover suspension to a Golf R than the other three makes of vehicle in terms of improvement in handling.

Cheers
WJ

**REXman** · 06-12-2010, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by WhiteJames

I could buy a Golf R ... add a set of KW V3 or KW Comfort coilover suspension ... plus a small set of H&R solid adjustable sway bars or KW/Eibach sway bars (same product) ... and have change to go on a holiday compared to the price of a Focus RS, STI or EVO.

Really? A holiday to where exactly, the local park? My Golf R costs $68300 rrp driveway. A Focus RS is $59990 plus on roads. I don't think there is a holiday that involves leaving home for that.

agree with the STI and EVO though, man they have gotten pricey!

When the came out, a arc was about $12k cheaper, but you missed out on engine internals (such as forged pistons), gearbox, turbo size, suspension etc..

Now the difference is around $30k!!! And the differences are the aesthetics, gearbox and brakes!!

3G WRX and STI:
-same turbo (different housing for fitment)
-same fuel pump
-same pistons (right down to the part numbers) [no more forgies in the STI?!? Couldn't believe it either]
-extremely similar suspension settings (rear rates are the same)
- and the WRX has gained double synchros on the first 3 gears now.. The last point obviously its not the same as the six speed by no means, but people have happily run 350hp at the wheels on the 3G wry with no issues..

IT'S a classic case of making the halo model a money maker, off the image of the car from the 90s and 00s.

The EVO I don't know anything about as I never bought any of them so hence never got into those, all I can say is they don't look the part any more to me.

Also agree Golf R is soft tourer to a point, particularly when comparing it's handling characteristics to a STI/EVO.

**RichoR2** · 06-12-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by SilvrFoxX

All fair comments, however I think fab _R was not saying that his mod was a complete whitewash of the GTI merely that the time that has been achieved was amazing and that the GTI with a much more ambitious chip and engine uplift wouldn't.

I will let the R owners submit their respective thoughts but if you have read the thread in its entirety you will find your views align with whitejames somewhat.. so I look forward to the subsequent posts

Well, I'd love to post something as definitive as these conclusions drawn from owning a car versus test driving another, but my poor little snow lovin R has left me crying in the corner wishing for understeer relief. It's suddenly a crowded corner too, what with all the Rex and Evo drivers in here too...

Oh hang on, I did own a MkGTI for 4 years. And now I own an R. Hmm...