Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[Lima]

I wouldn't know mate, to me most Golfs look the same... I'm sure there must be a few mother-in-lawas driving Rs, too

R's part time AWD is in fact 90% front wheels most of the time. I wouldn't believe the 10% sent to the rears makes any difference for normal driving. The only advantage over the GTI seems to be a more balance car due to extra weight of the AWD system. No use to bag the GTI since they're really the same car.

Got much experience with a Haldex equipped car? Or, even better, got much experience in a VAG Haldex car vs a VAG fwd? Around town, in dry conditions, sure there's not much difference.

On a twisty road, or on a wet day on any type of road, the benefits are clear in favour of 4motion/quattro/whatever you want to call it.

Yes, of course, Haldex is not "full-time" awd, but for most of us that point is the theory, whereas in practice it may as well be a full-time system. The Haldex IV setup used on the R (and my S3) is vastly improved for earlier versions and will send power to the rear wheels quicker than any human can detect.

Yes, the car will still understeer, it's not a perfect setup, but the point at which that happens in an R is beyond what a GTI can achieve.

[REXman]

I wouldn't know mate, to me most Golfs look the same... I'm sure there must be a few mother-in-lawas driving Rs, too

R's part time AWD is in fact 90% front wheels most of the time. I wouldn't believe the 10% sent to the rears makes any difference for normal driving. The only advantage over the GTI seems to be a more balance car due to extra weight of the AWD system. No use to bag the GTI since they're really the same car.

They all the same..? Sorta like how your Clio looks.. Like a Clio..! If you think all golfs look the same then you need glasses. Or need to get back to your Renault forum.

Look mate the stats you are giving (90%/10%) are totally bogus. It is completely dependent on how the car is driven.

Let me start by saying I do not think the AWD system in the R and the S3 are better than an EVO's.

But, the new Haldex system apparently can now lock up the diff or whatever it does and send ALL the power to the rear. Essentially making it a RWD for just a moment -when it needs it. And it does need the front wheels to slip in order to do it.

Also, like stated above it reacts quicker than a human would notice to the point where it simply behaves like a full time AWD.

It's a solid system and on some long sweepers at 180km/h (mates track) you can feel it bring you into line and try and fight that understeer feeling..

On various strut braced/ lowered /heasman aligned /quick WRXs I have had.. It is a simple case of get the car going but then the car follows it's own line, such is the floatiness of that style of set up.

I have to say the R does a better job and really works and as many people have found first hand, it works really well.

[Justin Fox]

I am sure though, it's just you. If styling is your only criteria then you're not a true car enthusiast. The proof is in the driving at the end of the day.

It truly is "each to their own", at least I believe it is, but I chimed in with my own personal opinion of what I think of Renault cars and you try to imply that I'm not a true car enthusiast?! That's true keyboard warrior/internet troll skills right there.

I couldn't care less if a Renault drove better than my Golf, or my GT-R, or if your ass looks better than my fiancées. I still wouldn't touch it.

[REXman]

It should say.. Doesn't need the front wheels to slip!!

[dave_r]

I am sure though, it's just you. If styling is your only criteria then you're not a true car enthusiast. The proof is in the driving at the end of the day.

So now styling isn't a valid criteria to be an enthusiast? Ease up!

I couldn't care less if a Renault drove better than my Golf, or my GT-R, or if your ass looks better than my fiancées. I still wouldn't touch it.

LOL that's one way to put it. +1 to hating the wierd styling of the frenchies.

[sabloke]

He he, I find this VW fundamentalism absolutely hilarious! Chill people Why do you keep bringing Renaults into the discussion when the thread is R vs GTI? It just happens I'm on Team GTI's side. That's because 1. Can't see the point of a T4 R (love the V6...) and 2. R's AWD fails to prove its advantage over good FWD cars, test after test and review after review. So stop bagging the GTI as if it is a lesser R or something when in fact it really is the smart man's fast Golf buy. That is my opinion, ful stop.
To be fair, if you want the fastest Golf there is, R's the way to go. Having said that, I still think GTI is a better deal overall.

@dave_r: funny to see you don't read my words even when you quoted me. Try read it first and reply after that.

@Justin Fox: I don't really care what you have to say about Renault or any other brand, really. I do believe that a true car enthusiast is not judging a car by looks alone. Am I wrong?

@REXman: imagine a world where there's only one Golf on the streets, the R. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Come on, admit it... People like me won't mix a 1.6 vanilla with the AWD beast then!

[Justin Fox]

@Justin Fox: I don't really care what you have to say about Renault or any other brand, really. I do believe that a true car enthusiast is not judging a car by looks alone. Am I wrong?

In my opinion, yes you are completely wrong. A car enthusiast can surely decide for themselves how much value they want to put into form or function. If a person is absolutely obsessed with an FD RX7's shape, maybe because it reminds him of a female body, and he chooses to put 100% of his value into it's form and negate it's function entirely, then who are you to say he is not a true car enthusiast?

[walbjj]

My brother is a huge ford mustang nuthugger. He has owned a 69 Mach 1, 97 Saleen gt convertible, and has an 01 cobra vert. He has just put money down on a 2011 Shelby gt500 vert. 3 month wait for it. He fully acknowledges it's downsides, poor handling, suspect build quality, etc. But he keeps rattling on about how a mustang enthusiast ignores all that just to own and drive a mustang
Plus it goes awesome in a straight line and cruises great

[Corey_R]

I know that Shelby has the name, but Roush builds the best Mustangs. They fix up those handling issues and give it practically as much power as the Shelby

[triode12]

Sabloke should have used 'driving enthusiast' instead of 'car enthusiast'. The term 'car enthusiast' is too broad and can encompass those who place more emphasis on looks of the car over performance and handling.

One could say that the Renaults are designed and built for driving enthusiasts in mind.