Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[team_v]

I have recently driven the GTI and R back to back so I could determine the worth of spending the extra ( and it is not $10K after negotiations) and I must say the GTI was most impressive, I then ran with the R and OMG it is definitely a different animal in so many respects apart from options and bling. I could write a page on why the R is a better option but where it all comes undone is fit for purpose and personal financial circumstances.

Both are fantastic units and if I couldnt spring the readies the GTI would have done just fine.. but if the inner self wants that little bit more on all levels then you really cant go past the R

Get an 08-09 S3 then or a Tiguan + APR................

[bwen]

Interesting thread. I'm currently looking at replacing my modified 3 MPS with a GTI + APR Stage 1 flash but the R is just sitting there in the back of my mind...

I'm thinking that traction would be nice for a change but I'm wondering if it's worth the $10k premium.

Why the change from a MPS3 to a GTI/R? Personally I think the MPS is a much better 'hot hatch' than the MKVI GTI as it does what it's suppose to; quick and ballistic FWD with power on tap. The MKVI GTI is much more refined, more tame and less of a 'hot hatch' and more of a 'luxury hatch'. TBE bolt ons on the MPS3 and you have an extremely fun car to drive.

Golf R is a perfect little car in my opinion if you're upgrading from the MP3, just are you willing to spend the extra money for that AWD system? The R runs nearly the exact same k04 turbo as the MPS3 so in power delivery you should pretty much see the same curve besides for the fact that the MPS has an extra 300cc in capacity over the R

[danielb]

Get an 08-09 S3 then or a Tiguan + APR................

Hahaha.. give it a rest!

[team_v]

Hahaha.. give it a rest!

Why?
He said he wants the R but it doesn't fit with his price range or purpose.
These 2 vehicles offer the same/similar experience for a better price point and fill a greater purpose.

[triode12]

Why the change from a MPS3 to a GTI/R? Personally I think the MPS is a much better 'hot hatch' than the MKVI GTI as it does what it's suppose to; quick and ballistic FWD with power on tap. The MKVI GTI is much more refined, more tame and less of a 'hot hatch' and more of a 'luxury hatch'. TBE bolt ons on the MPS3 and you have an extremely fun car to drive.

Golf R is a perfect little car in my opinion if you're upgrading from the MP3, just are you willing to spend the extra money for that AWD system? The R runs nearly the exact same k04 turbo as the MPS3 so in power delivery you should pretty much see the same curve besides for the fact that the MPS has an extra 300cc in capacity over the R

At last, someone else thinks so too!

[G-rig]

Depends if you want a refined brand/car or not - otherwise keep the MPS.

[SilvrFoxX]

Why?
He said he wants the R but it doesn't fit with his price range or purpose.
These 2 vehicles offer the same/similar experience for a better price point and fill a greater purpose.

I apologise for my poor sentence construct if you believed I meant I got the GTI.. I bought the R

[Dan_3MPS]

Why the change from a MPS3 to a GTI/R? Personally I think the MPS is a much better 'hot hatch' than the MKVI GTI as it does what it's suppose to; quick and ballistic FWD with power on tap. The MKVI GTI is much more refined, more tame and less of a 'hot hatch' and more of a 'luxury hatch'. TBE bolt ons on the MPS3 and you have an extremely fun car to drive.

Golf R is a perfect little car in my opinion if you're upgrading from the MP3, just are you willing to spend the extra money for that AWD system? The R runs nearly the exact same k04 turbo as the MPS3 so in power delivery you should pretty much see the same curve besides for the fact that the MPS has an extra 300cc in capacity over the R

The refinement is exactly what I'm after. Don't get me wrong, the MPS is simply ballistic (especially on a roll) and has been great fun to own, but mine as modded as it is now and driving it as a daily isn't doing it for me, and is becoming tiresome.

It's also beginning to show it's age a bit with various rattles and clunks, the turbo was replaced at 30,000km etc. In short it has been a very fun car to own, but I'm over it, over Mazda and over the lack of aftermarket support for the platform. I'm also concerned about owning it outside of warranty so want to changeover.

I test drove the GTI on Saturday, and did notice the obvious lack of shove compared to the MPS, but the GTI just did everything else so much better. To put it in perspective and benchmark the GTI I drove the new MPS later that afternoon, and it was very similar to mine and not close to the GTI in all aspects except outright grunt where it obviously excels.

I'm also a reasonably tall guy and the Golf is great in terms of seating position, having more room for the driver than the Mazda.

Given that I like everything about the GTI other than the lack of power, but a quick drive to Guy_H and $1700 later you can sort that out to get stock MPS power levels anyway it seems like an easy choice to me. It looks like I can't justify the added expense of the R, which is a shame.

Plenty of ex-MPS people are coming over to VW for the Golf GTI and R as a 3 MPS replacement and the R36 as a 6 MPS replacement, but some are downsizing/upsizing. Mazda lost any follow on market for the 6 MPS when they killed it off and for the 3 MPS when they let Hello Kitty get busy with Astroboy behind the bike sheds to give birth to the abortion that is the GenII 3 MPS...

[danielb]

Why?
He said he wants the R but it doesn't fit with his price range or purpose.
These 2 vehicles offer the same/similar experience for a better price point and fill a greater purpose.

But it isn't a Golf is it?

[bwen]

Plenty of ex-MPS people are coming over to VW for the Golf GTI and R as a 3 MPS replacement and the R36 as a 6 MPS replacement, but some are downsizing/upsizing. Mazda lost any follow on market for the 6 MPS when they killed it off and for the 3 MPS when they let Hello Kitty get busy with Astroboy behind the bike sheds to give birth to the abortion that is the GenII 3 MPS...

Whole heartedly agree right there, the 2nd generation MPS3 are an abomination... the earlier models looked much tougher and easier on the eyes.

There is plenty of talk on the golfmkv.com forums about GTI vs MPS3 in races from dig and from roll. The general consensus is that:-

-> stock GTI vs stock MPS: MPS will win
-> stage 1 GTI vs stock MPS: pretty even, MPS will probably just take it
-> stage 2 GTI vs stock MPS: GTI will pull a car length or two
-> stage 2 GTI vs bolt-on MPS: MPS will inch out, but probably even if it was a stage 2+ GTI.

So hopefully if you do jump to the VW camp and spend a bit of money on a ECU remap you probably shouldn't miss the great power delivery that the MPS offers. If you weren't looking at brand new you could always look at a GTI Pirelli which has the same engine configuration as the Golf R except FWD which might keep you a bit closer to the MPS