Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Corey_R]

After having my weekly coffee with neighbour Ray – Ray tells a bit more about his thoughts on the new Golf R:

Ray says that if he had not been an owner of a Mark 5 Golf R32 – he would jump right into a Golf R without reservation. Being an owner of an R32 makes his purchase decision complex. The Golf R motor feels more powerful, faster & smoother in the way it delivers its herbs, and offers crisper throttle inputs in contrast to the older R32 that seems rougher & coarser in power delivery.

Handling: The Golf R in DCC - SPORT mode felt to have improved damping over his R32, but exhibited more roll around corners and felt softer overall with the chassis leaning to a greater degree in corners. Ray’s older R32 showed to be bouncy over bumps with less compression & rebound damping, but sat flatter in corners with a tighter chassis offering a more direct connection from driver to vehicle when changing direction.

Ray says that understeer between the Golf R and R32 was neither here or there around the tight twisties. The Golf R dampers in SPORT mode did reduce body roll; but aftermarket sway bars are generally the best item for reducing body roll at the expense of reducing the independence of each wheel – so it was understandable that Ray come to this conclusion that his R32 felt stiffer than the Golf R when leaning into corners.

Ray preferred the turbo power delivery of the Golf R, but the handling of his R32, which also has an aftermarket Haldex Controller in addition to aftermarket H&R sway bars with front set on soft and rear set on hard to dial out as much understeer as possible. Ray didn’t notice to any great degree the improved weight distribution & absence of 35kgs up front in the Golf R on the slower speed tight 2nd and 3rd gear corners in comparison to his Golf R32. Much of a muchness he says, although the route comprised mainly of slow speed corners.

Ray has looked at the Audi’s and discarded them on the value proposition. The new GTI is a distant proposition, mainly because it’s a different drive to both the R32 and Golf R.

Next test drive on the cards for neighbour Ray is the new HSV Clubsport Commodore. Perhaps a Black HSV Clubsport with only about a 1-2 month delay from order to delivery if not already in stock, as opposed to the 6-8 month delay on the Golf’s.

Cheers
WJ

I've a suggestion WJ. Does Ray still have the OEM parts for the R32?
Why doesn't he put back the OEM suspension, remove the Haldex controller, and then install them on the R?

I know that the haldex is newer in the R, but maybe the aftermarket controller can be upgraded or traded in for the latest version?

We've already established that the MK6 chassis is tighter than the MKV's. The haldex controller will also make a good difference. I'm sure that modified, the R will simply kill the R32 due to the reduction in weight, better haldex, and better chassis.

[G-rig]

Thanks for the advice Triode.

I enjoy driving my cars every time I jump in them, not sitting on here trying to.be a prick.

[dave_r]

After having my weekly coffee with neighbour Ray – Ray tells a bit more about his thoughts on the new Golf R:

I gotta ask, does Ray exist or is this whole thread about your imaginary friend? If it is the latter, then that's an awesome effort to reach 37 pages

How much fun do you want anyway, I can think of other things to do. The truth is you get used to whatever car anyway, but a few mods make the car more fun.

Not true IMO. If you buy a dud and you're stuck with it, you'll hate it. I loathed the 18mths I was stuck with my last XR6T due to it being a 2yr lease!

You better hope you don't feel the same way with your gf/spouse, she probably won't take it lightly.

ROFL

[WhiteJames]

Ray does exist ... lol. Here is a pic of his ride. Find the H&R and Haldex stickers and there's $5 in it for you.

Suspension Review: KW V3 -v- Neuspeed Sports/Koni FSD - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

Ray will sell his R32 with H&R bars and Haldex installed. I know he has discarded the sway bars - they are with East Coast Suspensions, Taren Point. Not sure about the Haldex controller. Ray's R32 may be up for sale in the near future at the Prestige Auctions in Sydney - Nov 07 build with only 30,000km on the odo. Tried to talk him into putting a Supercharger in the R32, but it's time for a change he says.

The Haldex in the Golf R is much better than the aftermarket Haldex for the R32. No need for the older Haldex unit.

H&R have released new versions of sway bars for the Golf R - they now come in large size and small size for the Golf R. Not sure if the older R32 H&R bars from the R32 will fit the Golf R.

After the Golf R drive, I think Ray is looking for something that drives a bit different. Golf R is fast and knowing Ray, he would probably go the whole Stage III hog on it, but it fails to excite him. His previous ride to the R32 was a Black Monaro that was HDT enhanced with 330kW motor, body kit & wheels, Harrop 7K BBK, short ratio LSD diff, racing clutch, and aftermarket suspension upgrade ... geniune 12 sec machine. He may revert back to Holden's HSV for a enhaned drive experience at the detriment of the el-cheapo interior. The HSV with LPG is pushing almost 2 tonne in weight.

Cheers
WJ

[simonm]

Ray does exist ... lol. Here is a pic of his ride. Find the H&R and Haldex stickers and there's $5 in it for you.

You mean the ones under the R32 badge on the hatch?

[Corey_R]

His previous ride to the R32 was a Black Monaro that was HDT enhanced with 330kW motor, body kit & wheels, Harrop 7K BBK, short ratio LSD diff, racing clutch, and aftermarket suspension upgrade ... geniune 12 sec machine. He may revert back to Holden's HSV for a enhaned drive experience at the detriment of the el-cheapo interior. The HSV with LPG is pushing almost 2 tonne in weight.

I'd much prefer the 315kW of the APR Stage III R at 1500kg of weight
In DSG it's a better than 12 second machine...

[G-rig]

Not true IMO. If you buy a dud and you're stuck with it, you'll hate it. I loathed the 18mths I was stuck with my last XR6T due to it being a 2yr lease!

Cool.. Fords are **** as you already know LOL.

[WhiteJames]

As mentioned earlier:

After the short & sharp hill-climb RNP drive of the Golf GTI and Golf R, both with DCC (a must have on the GTI) - my values moved in favour of the GTI by 80% to 20% for the Golf R. Although it's worth mentioning that the short drive route would naturally favour a lighter & more agile vehicle.

In respect to the fuelling of the Golf R, it feels very much like the MKV GTI, rather than a beefed up version of the Mark 6 GTI. From Golf R to Golf GTI is like going from carburator to fuel injection or old style fuel injection that varies fuel metering every 500rpm as opposed to a modern fuel injection system that can vary fuel metering every 50rpm. This relates to engine feel/turbo responsiveness & general economy, rather than outright power (NSACAR's make heaps of power and run carbies) - Golf R and MKV GTI seem to be more one dimensinal in it's fuel delivery - which does feel more linear in delivery.

After visiting the Sydney Motor Show, my values have changed again:

Golf GTI: 50%
Polo GTI: 40%
Golf R : 10%

Polo is a bit cramped in the rear passenger seats and luggage compartment and I'm told it has torsen beam rear suspension (as does Civic Type R, Megane, Clio), as opposed to the GTI/R mutilink sub-frame rear suspension that should generally cope better on unsettling features around mid-corner. Mid corner bumps are in abundance in NSW so multilink rear suspension should prove it's worth in this regard. Torsen beam suspension imo is not fully independent suspension, but does add rigidity to the chassis. The Golf R at the AIMS wins my vote for best looking hatchback.

Cheers
WJ

[WhiteJames]

More on Polo GTI:

First drive: Volkswagen Polo GTI

Article sums up XDS in a nushell:

It works in conjunction with the car's traction control and electronic stability control program and together the system certainly helps but doesn't remove the need for a smart right foot.

Cheers
WJ

[Pepe]

Sorry, this thread is about Polos now?