Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[nigel]

VW built the R as the uber golf, a mechanically superior vehicle. I'm on my second GTI and have only taken the R for a test drive. If someone offered me an R would I take it? Yes. But equally if I am asked about the GTI I have to say its a great car and have been very happy with it. The R is top dog and as a GTI owner I am completely happy with that. Price and availability swayed my choice and I have no problem with the compromise

[Mr_Bob]

For that very reason I'm buying a Boxster S ..... I can be seen in it and I can track it unlike the R that I had on order that is really only suited to be seen in ....

Interesting that he 986 boxster s has exactly the same lap time round Nordschleife, (8min 23s)
The 987 S was 5sec faster (8min 18sec)
As a track car, that would make the R good value for money,
A reflash and some track tyres would probably close that 5sec gap and keep it under the price of 5yr old boxster s.

[Corey_R]

Given the R is a turbo and the 987 S isn't, the reflash alone would almost certainly make up that 5 seconds on a track as long as the Nurburgring. I know there are lots AND LOTS of corners, but there is also plenty of high speed areas and very hard acceleration zones where the additional 28% power and 32% torque from the R's flash will be very well utilised!

Whilst you could flash the Porsche too, the increases are only 5% power and 9% torque. But still, the purchase price difference is a killer for me

[team_v]

Pretty silly statement there. I actually chose our R as the main family car that the wife can drive the kids to school etc in, but also something I can enjoy being a car enthusiast as well. A nice compromise and certainly not a poser car at all.

Could have got a tiguan with a flash, saved 15-20k and got a bigger boot with the same performance figures and AWD system.

[Sharkie]

Interesting that he 986 boxster s has exactly the same lap time round Nordschleife, (8min 23s)
The 987 S was 5sec faster (8min 18sec)
As a track car, that would make the R good value for money,
A reflash and some track tyres would probably close that 5sec gap and keep it under the price of 5yr old boxster s.

No comparison there I'm afraid .... the R was driven by Hans Joachim Stuck, former Formula 1 driver and DTM driver and current VW test driver .... the Boxster by a motoring journalist ....

Look at the identically engined Cayman S's time of 8:11 when driven by Walter Roehrl, current test Porsche driver, for a lap time of equal standing as far as drivers go ....

Current direct injection Cayman S PDK now has that down to 8:06 as well ....

[runningmanz]

Could have got a tiguan with a flash, saved 15-20k and got a bigger boot with the same performance figures and AWD system.

Could have but not what we wanted. Neither myself or the Mrs wanted a bigger car than our current sedan and much prefer the compact sporty feel of the Golf R. We travel light when we go on trips which isn't that often anyway so luggage is not an issue and both our children are under 10 so no need for a large car. The R suits us just fine.

[Sharkie]

Pretty silly statement there. I actually chose our R as the main family car that the wife can drive the kids to school etc in, but also something I can enjoy being a car enthusiast as well. A nice compromise and certainly not a poser car at all.

Could have got a tiguan with a flash, saved 15-20k and got a bigger boot with the same performance figures and AWD system.

Exactly .... as a family car a Tiguan is a far better car than any Golf including a R and a lot cheaper with the same real world performance.... Paying more for something does not make it any better .... other factors come into play ....

And it is good that everybody is different .... its the whole reason the car industry exists .... otherwise we'd all be driving exactly the same cars.

What gets to me is the comments that one's choices bring out as ignoramusses who know very little actually try to justify their decisions.....

[Transporter]

Guys, please tell me that not all 68 pages are like these last 2 or 3 I've read.

[Big_Dave]

Where does $15k come in?
I thought a 147 tsi Tig retails for 42,890?
That makes a $7,000 diff, then you add the reflash adds another grand?
$6,000 difference for a car that doesnt handle anything like a R.

Admit it, they are built for completely different purposes and needs.

[Corey_R]

Guys, please tell me that not all 68 pages are like these last 2 or 3 I've read.

Yep, that's basically what this thread is like... but the personal insults only come out for some reason when people start up this stuff about Tiguans


This thread is bad enough when it's a bunch of GTI owners trying to convince the world that the GTI is better than the R (as opposed to the few such as AdamD who only state that it's better for them), but then when you add the soft roader crowd into the mix, it's just out of hand