Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[hooba]

The cruise control, when decreased in single digits with separate prongs on the stalk, km/h reverts up to the 5th digit when going down to the zero digit (i.e. 85 – 84 – 83 – 82 – 81 - 80 – 85) – only a minor concern.

I've had a similar experience however today I tested your theory and wasn't able to replicate it. The prong on the stalk is sensitive, one quick press and it drops a km, however if you hold it for more than a fraction of a second it sets the cruise to the current speed of the car. I'd say what has happened is that you've cycled down from 85 quickly, and on the 6th press have accidentally held it for a fraction too long and set it at 85 which was the current speed of the car.

As for the Clio, it's tough to live with as a daily due especially in around town to the peaky nature of the engine. Great fun for short blasts, but not much fun when you just want to cruise and take it easy.

[G-rig]

I've had a similar experience however today I tested your theory and wasn't able to replicate it. The prong on the stalk is sensitive, one quick press and it drops a km, however if you hold it for more than a fraction of a second it sets the cruise to the current speed of the car. I'd say what has happened is that you've cycled down from 85 quickly, and on the 6th press have accidentally held it for a fraction too long and set it at 85 which was the current speed of the car.

The MK6 is a bit different. When cruise control is enabled, each + or - click increases or decreases by 1km respectively. The MK5 was more of a 'hold it down' approach without the set increments.

Forgot to mention that the auto wipers seem a bit erratic. Tend to be set off more often when it's obviously not raining, not sure if they have changed something since the MK5.

[hooba]

The MK6 is a bit different. When cruise control is enabled, each + or - click increases or decreases by 1km respectively.

Agreed, my testing on the MK6 today found that the - click is very time sensitive and will revert to current speed as the setting if held for a fraction too long.

[G-rig]

'set' and 'resume' still work as before, haven't experienced what you're describing yet (I don't think).

[rider007]

I thought I recognised that road James. So they've put a speed camera just over the border gate crossing as you drop down into Murwillumbah from QLD via Numinbah Valley?. Bastards, it's been a while since I've driven that stretch, I'll have to be a bit careful now. Problem is the bikes there on a weekend which have been causing a few accidents. Going down that windy road is a good test of the ABS, ESC and suspension especially after some heavy rain due to streams and water washing acroos the road and at floodways.

[aRedFastCar]

Great review if I understood half of what you said.Thats a compliment.I have a R32 (flashed and cold air) and wifey has a standard Pirelli GTi 5 door.Want the new R real bad after driving it.Point is the R32 is soooo good I NEVER want to get rid of it.The solution was obvious to me but not so to lovely spouse.Sell the GTi, buy the R for me and she inherits the R32.Everybody wins and I keep my beloved R32 in the stable.R is arriving 12th december 2010.Anyone wants a Black GTi Pireeli with 10,000km let me know.

[Dubya]

Drove an R (DSG) for the first time today. Bit of a beast.

Like most performance cars it's one that mostly rewards a decent jab of the throttle, without which, and around town, and when driven within its limits, as most cars are on the road, there's not sufficient difference between it and the GTI for mine. Didn't like the hesitation of the DSG from rest much either.

With an eye to more sustainable motoring, the GTI, weighing less, with 155kw and using just 7.2l/100 and providing at least an extra second or so of accelerative pleasure on the way to the legal speed limit is it for me . . . and at ~$10k less too (as I am not keen on the larger wheels, PDC, tinting or Xenons).

Call me a wowser but I felt lucky enough when Mrs Dubya canned the GT diesel we had on order (too neck snapping when the turbo cut in) and opted for the GTI - the R would just be a bridge too far! And it really is hard to get the benefit of these higher performance cars on the mostly city roads on which I drive with their relatively low and zealously enforced speed limits.

While I do like the idea of AWD, the weight penalty does impact performance and overall efficiency, especially around town where one is often taking off from rest.

That said, I don't think the improvement, especially in terms of efficiency, that the R represents over the R32 can be easily overstated.

[AlpineM3E92]

Drove an R (DSG) for the first time today. Bit of a beast.

Like most performance cars it's one that mostly rewards a decent jab of the throttle, without which, and around town, and when driven within its limits, as most cars are on the road, there's not sufficient difference between it and the GTI for mine. Didn't like the hesitation of the DSG from rest much either.

With an eye to more sustainable motoring, the GTI, weighing less, with 155kw and using just 7.2l/100 and providing at least an extra second or so of accelerative pleasure on the way to the legal speed limit is it for me . . . and at ~$10k less too (as I am not keen on the larger wheels, PDC, tinting or Xenons).

Call me a wowser but I felt lucky enough when Mrs Dubya canned the GT diesel we had on order (too neck snapping when the turbo cut in) and opted for the GTI - the R would just be a bridge too far! And it really is hard to get the benefit of these higher performance cars on the mostly city roads on which I drive with their relatively low and zealously enforced speed limits.

While I do like the idea of AWD, the weight penalty does impact performance and overall efficiency, especially around town where one is often taking off from rest.

Dub I think you are pretty right re the slightly baulky feeling off the mark, having owned a MKV GTI, MKV R32 and a currently a TTS all with DSG I concurr. That is one of the key reasons we have this time opted for the manual in the R, hey... cheaper and less sensitive off the mark.

PDC is awesome, saves those embarrasing moments with low lying logs in carparks and also a safety benefit with small people and children, the xenons are best, once you have driven at night with them you won't want anything else ever.

As you say though, if you have jumped from a GTD up to a GTI you have to stop somewhere otherwise before you know it you will be buying an R8

[AlpineM3E92]

Great review if I understood half of what you said.Thats a compliment.I have a R32 (flashed and cold air) and wifey has a standard Pirelli GTi 5 door.Want the new R real bad after driving it.Point is the R32 is soooo good I NEVER want to get rid of it.The solution was obvious to me but not so to lovely spouse.Sell the GTi, buy the R for me and she inherits the R32.Everybody wins and I keep my beloved R32 in the stable.R is arriving 12th december 2010.Anyone wants a Black GTi Pireeli with 10,000km let me know.

aRFC, decisions decisions.

Have you seen the Pirelli for sale in Canberra at the moment on carsales $50k (yellow, hmmmm) nav and sensors never registered with only 93kms on the odometer

perhaps a bit of local Canberra competition (black is much better and that will impact many buyers decisions anyways)

good luck with the sale (do you want to buy a black TTS instead I know someone who is selling one at the moment).

[Dubya]

Dub I think you are pretty right re the slightly baulky feeling off the mark, having owned a MKV GTI, MKV R32 and a currently a TTS all with DSG I concurr. That is one of the key reasons we have this time opted for the manual in the R, hey... cheaper and less sensitive off the mark.

And it is also satisfying using clutch and gear shift together to change gears as smoothly as possible, although I did enjoy the pronounced blat from the R's exhaust as it up-changed under full throttle . . . just reached 60km/h too quickly to enjoy it for long . . . on a winding country road it would be much better. I wonder if the manual does that too.

PDC is awesome, saves those embarrasing moments with low lying logs in carparks and also a safety benefit with small people and children, the xenons are best, once you have driven at night with them you won't want anything else ever.

I am a big fan of the RVC which at $500 I think should be mandatory on Golfs that already have the large format display fitted. On the other hand the beeps of PDC would take some getting used to for me. For now I am happy to remain in blissful ignorance of the benefits of Xenons!

As you say though, if you have jumped from a GTD up to a GTI you have to stop somewhere otherwise before you know it you will be buying an R8

Were money to cease to be an object I'd consider joining the R8 (R10?) queue but for now it's all about bang for buck and fuel efficiency plays on my mind too albeit for environmental rather than fiscal reasons.