Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Glennb]

So WJ have you placed your order for an R yet or are you still struggling with the arguement

lol, i gave up reading WJ's posts after the very first one!

[SilvrFoxX]

naaa. it is a good read.. the interesting bit is watching the ebb and flow of his internal struggle with his love of his current GTI and the obvious lust for the R..

[WhiteJames]

Ray’s thoughts after driving Golf R in contrast to his current MKV Golf R32 with Haldex Controller, H&R adjustable sway bars & fancy Pioneer SATNAV/stereo:

1. Biggest problem for Ray is that he is an owner of a MKV R32.
2. Second problem is a 6 month wait for a Golf R to arrive. Ray wants a fully loaded R or GTI straight off the lot (or boat) and is not prepared to wait.
3. Golf R, while offering more poke in terms of power supply, drove pretty much the same as his R32 on this drive – in his opinion. Vehicle dynamics in the lower speed corners were uncannily similar, as was the feel of the controls. The Golf R loses some weight, which is an advantage and has option of DCC; the R32 has H&R aftermarket sway bars & aftermarket Haldex controller improving the drive experience of this older model Golf.
4. He is paying a 30K premium over a 3 year old 30,000km R32 which a fantastic & fault free car in its own right. Ray hasn’t convinced himself that the 30K premium can be justified for the Golf R - given that R and R32 are so similar in drive experience on this short snaking route.
5. Base price of the Golf R is cheaper than R32; but options are more expensive – option for option Golf R turned out to me more expensive than his R32. Add in a super premium SATNAV/audio system on the Golf R and his pricing is looking to be @ 75K (Ray’s figures).
6. Golf R at 70-75K has caused him to take a second look at test drive of the Audi A5 Coupe, which can be had for about 80K. This may offer something different in terms of drive and ownership experience.
7. Golf GTI still on the cards for something different and that will allow him to personalise his ride. His 80K price limit includes any mods that takes the price up to 80K – in the case of the GTI it could be 20K worth of upgrades to his heart desire. Not that he’s likely to use the full extent of the mods’ – it’s more of a hobby for him than anything else (expensive hobby nonetheless).
8. Ray tells me no-sale on the Golf R atm.



WJ:

I was 50:50 Golf R –v- Golf GTI prior to release & drive of Golf R.
This changed to 60:40 in favour of GTI after first test drive on faster flowing roadways in Canberra.
It is now 80:20 in favour of the GTI after the second low speed winding road hill climb test run South of Sydney.
It’s GTI for now – well until the new Mark 7 GTI hits the showroom floor.
No sale on the Golf R for WJ.


Cheers
WJ

[Corey_R]

5. Base price of the Golf R is cheaper than R32; but options are more expensive – option for option Golf R turned out to me more expensive than his R32. Add in a super premium SATNAV/audio system on the Golf R and his pricing is looking to be @ 75K (Ray’s figures).

The options for the Golf R are the same cost as the options on the Golf R32. Most changed by $10 so they were a multiple of $100 instead of being a "$x90" figure. There are also new options on the R which weren't on the R32... but the costs are the same. At least according to the price lists I have from early 2008... (i've also got the 2006 and 2007 lists... but there on a DVD somewhere)

[SilvrFoxX]

Ray’s thoughts after driving Golf R in contrast to his current MKV Golf R32 with Haldex Controller, H&R adjustable sway bars & fancy Pioneer SATNAV/stereo:

2. Second problem is a 6 month wait for a Golf R to arrive. Ray wants a fully loaded R or GTI straight off the lot (or boat) and is not prepared to wait.
3. Golf R, while offering more poke in terms of power supply, drove pretty much the same as his R32 on this drive – in his opinion. Vehicle dynamics in the lower speed corners were uncannily similar, as was the feel of the controls. The Golf R loses some weight, which is an advantage and has option of DCC; the R32 has H&R aftermarket sway bars & aftermarket Haldex controller improving the drive experience of this older model Golf.
4. He is paying a 30K premium over a 3 year old 30,000km R32 which a fantastic & fault free car in its own right. Ray hasn’t convinced himself that the 30K premium can be justified for the Golf R - given that R and R32 are so similar in drive experience on this short snaking route.
5. Base price of the Golf R is cheaper than R32; but options are more expensive – option for option Golf R turned out to me more expensive than his R32. Add in a super premium SATNAV/audio system on the Golf R and his pricing is looking to be @ 75K (Ray’s figures).
6. Golf R at 70-75K has caused him to take a second look at test drive of the Audi A5 Coupe, which can be had for about 80K. This may offer something different in terms of drive and ownership experience.
7. Golf GTI still on the cards for something different and that will allow him to personalise his ride. His 80K price limit includes any mods that takes the price up to 80K – in the case of the GTI it could be 20K worth of upgrades to his heart desire. Not that he’s likely to use the full extent of the mods’ – it’s more of a hobby for him than anything else (expensive hobby nonetheless).
8. Ray tells me no-sale on the Golf R atm.

I have to say this logic to justify an 80k Audi is a reach.. the reality is the R is in the mid 50s drive away and the GTI in the mid 40s.. I agree wholeheartedly that to justify moving away from a sweet R32 or tricked mkvi gti is a tough call.

If neither of you had quality rides right now and the R was on the table your readies would be out and the GTI debate wouldn't exist

[Corey_R]

I have to say this logic to justify an 80k Audi is a reach

A VERY BIG REACH. The Audi A5 at $68,814 RRP (without onroads or taxes) is only 132kW/320Nm, 8.1 sec 0 to 100.
The Audi A5 at $80,314 (without onroads or taxes) has the GTI motor but with valve lift, so is 155kW/350Nm, and whilst that manages 0 to 100 in 6.6seconds, it's still not a "sports oriented" car such as the GTI or Golf R.
Even the $90,137 (w/o onroads/taxes) A5 3.0L is still not sports oriented. 0 to 100 in 6.1 with its traditional (non-DSG) auto, and no real attempt to make its 1700kg weight "sporty" in the corners.

The S5 on the other hand... but then that's $130k+

I looked into this option when it was initially announced that the Golf R would be 5 door only and the 3 door GTI would be removed from the lineup. It really isn't an alternative to the Golfs if "sportiness" is what you're looking for. If that is not what you're looking for, why are you looking at the GTI or R in the first place?

[Fab_R]

Ray’s thoughts after driving Golf R in contrast to his current MKV Golf R32 with Haldex Controller, H&R adjustable sway bars & fancy Pioneer SATNAV/stereo:

1. Biggest problem for Ray is that he is an owner of a MKV R32.
2. Second problem is a 6 month wait for a Golf R to arrive. Ray wants a fully loaded R or GTI straight off the lot (or boat) and is not prepared to wait.
3. Golf R, while offering more poke in terms of power supply, drove pretty much the same as his R32 on this drive – in his opinion. Vehicle dynamics in the lower speed corners were uncannily similar, as was the feel of the controls. The Golf R loses some weight, which is an advantage and has option of DCC; the R32 has H&R aftermarket sway bars & aftermarket Haldex controller improving the drive experience of this older model Golf.
4. He is paying a 30K premium over a 3 year old 30,000km R32 which a fantastic & fault free car in its own right. Ray hasn’t convinced himself that the 30K premium can be justified for the Golf R - given that R and R32 are so similar in drive experience on this short snaking route.
5. Base price of the Golf R is cheaper than R32; but options are more expensive – option for option Golf R turned out to me more expensive than his R32. Add in a super premium SATNAV/audio system on the Golf R and his pricing is looking to be @ 75K (Ray’s figures).
6. Golf R at 70-75K has caused him to take a second look at test drive of the Audi A5 Coupe, which can be had for about 80K. This may offer something different in terms of drive and ownership experience.
7. Golf GTI still on the cards for something different and that will allow him to personalise his ride. His 80K price limit includes any mods that takes the price up to 80K – in the case of the GTI it could be 20K worth of upgrades to his heart desire. Not that he’s likely to use the full extent of the mods’ – it’s more of a hobby for him than anything else (expensive hobby nonetheless).
8. Ray tells me no-sale on the Golf R atm.



WJ:

I was 50:50 Golf R –v- Golf GTI prior to release & drive of Golf R.
This changed to 60:40 in favour of GTI after first test drive on faster flowing roadways in Canberra.
It is now 80:20 in favour of the GTI after the second low speed winding road hill climb test run South of Sydney.
It’s GTI for now – well until the new Mark 7 GTI hits the showroom floor.
No sale on the Golf R for WJ.


Cheers
WJ

Yawn...........

[Converted]

Yawn...........

I'm one who enjoys reading WJ's write -ups, keep 'em coming.

[REXman]

Yawn...........

Its another R bash, self justification that lasts 4 pages... awesome.

[Mr_Bob]

WJ is entitled to his opinion.
He's obviously careful to differentiate science from opinion as best he can.
When assessing the features, everyone has a different balance of what is most important.
different driving styles, different needs.

It's interesting to read his observations, it doesn't make me 2nd guess my purchase decision.

I can completely understand that Ray wouldn't want to upgrade from a modified R32 to an R.
The additional outlay might buy you a newer car, perhaps better weight distribution and power to weight
but these are marginal, and you'd lose the awesome R32 soundtrack.
For $30k, i couldn't justify it either.

The again, i couldn't trade in the R32 for a GTi, which I see as adding cash in order to downgrade.
It's a trick ride in it's own right, but lacks the "specialness" of the R32...