Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[kaanage]

The R is undoubtedly quicker and more relaxed at going hard point to point - very fuss free. The GTI, particularly if tuned, can be much more of a handful (albeit fairly safely so) while being nowhere rear as quick unless being driven by a pro. I personally enjoy the thrill of being smooth and fast rather than just going faster than everyone else, but I know plenty of others who don't see the appeal. I love having to pay real attention to throttle application, and controlling the car as the (lower) weight transfers on entry and exit - it's a real challenge to get right.

I think the GTI would be seen as more of an on-par performance alternative to an R if it were RWD and so appealed to the hard-core traditionalists. FWD has come a very long way in the last decade or so, but at the end of the day no amount of suspension tuning and clever diff electronics can overcome physics when you push beyond a certain point.

Given that the the Sirocco R (basically an Ed35 with different styling) can lap some race tracks quicker than a Golf R, this is not strictly true - the sheer added weight and inertia of the AWD does slow the acceleration down under the right circumstances.

I do agree that AWD makes the Golf R much more of an every person's car but that is where I have been confused in the past - I just couldn't understand buying a relatively budget performance car if exploring the limits wasn't part of the reason. But it seems there are 2 types of buyer which I couldn't relate to in the past (and why I couldn't understand why people buying a GTi or R wouldn't want to track it at least once).

Anyway, this thread justifies (to me) why the Sirocco R is FWD - it's intended for those who really want a responsive drivers car that demands and rewards attention. The lower spec Siroccos are intended for those who just want the looks.

[SilvrFoxX]

I thought the ROC came in AWD in Europe, we just got the FWD version

I believe it is possibly related to where they want to position the Golf range. The Golf R has all the toys, the Scirocco has the 3 door looks but FWD, then the GTIs come into play.

Overseas you seem to get the breadth and length of all the variations including diesels

[AdamD]

Given that the the Sirocco R (basically an Ed35 with different styling) can lap some race tracks quicker than a Golf R, this is not strictly true - the sheer added weight and inertia of the AWD does slow the acceleration down under the right circumstances.

The 'Roc boys would have a fit if they read that! Yes, the Scirocco is built on a modified PQ35 platform just like the Mk6, but the wheelbase and track are different, centre of gravity is significantly lower, and there are a ton of other differences beyond the basic bodyshell that means you can't really compare them too closely and certainly can't call them equal. But they certainly do share many parts, yes - although I'd hazard a guess the Golf GTI and R share a lot more.

[SilvrFoxX]

lol, time for a R v GTI v Roc thread to get the Red haze going.. love it.. go post this in a Roc thread

[AdamD]

lol, time for a R v GTI v Roc thread to get the Red haze going.. love it.. go post this in a Roc thread

As far as they're concerned, we all drive fridges.

[SilvrFoxX]

As far as they're concerned, we all drive fridges.

We do .. .. now just tell them that the appliances can whip their Megane clone , cockroach looking asses all day every day .. now where is that haze

[AdamD]

We do .. .. now just tell them that the appliances can whip their Megane clone , cockroach looking asses all day every day .. now where is that haze

*runs and hides from the ensuing thermo-nuclear war*

[SilvrFoxX]

*runs and hides from the ensuing thermo-nuclear war*

lol... sif a ROC owner would know what anything more powerful than a detonator cap is like little alone a nuclear weapon

P.S

Candyman.. you are doing an excellent job of stirring, I can only dwell in your shadow..

[kaanage]

The 'Roc boys would have a fit if they read that! Yes, the Scirocco is built on a modified PQ35 platform just like the Mk6, but the wheelbase and track are different, centre of gravity is significantly lower, and there are a ton of other differences beyond the basic bodyshell that means you can't really compare them too closely and certainly can't call them equal. But they certainly do share many parts, yes - although I'd hazard a guess the Golf GTI and R share a lot more.

According to VW's brochures, the Sirocco and Golf have a wheelbase difference of 1mm (2575mm and 2574mm, respectively) while wikipedia have them both at 2578mm (along with the MkV Golf)
The brochures also state that the Sirocco does have a slightly wider front track (by 20mm) and slightly more at the rear (45mm) but the difference isn't earth shattering. It would be interesting to know which wheels are used when specifying these as the Sirocco comes with wider wheels/tyres as standard which would account for some of this difference.

As for lower CoG, well the body work accounts for much of this and the lower standard suspension would account for pretty much all of the rest

They aren't that different.

Back to the GTi vs R Golfs, jozeff sums up the differences pretty well. The 2 cars suit different drivers (talking about the ones that care about performance rather than the masses that just buy GTi's as an upspec model)