Golf R -v- Golf GTI

[WhiteJames]

See WJ Suspension Thread for a few pics of the Golf R and Sirocco R ... Blue -v- Green Day. For those that think the Sirocco is a front heavy FWD ... think again. Many on the day were very surprised at how much the Sirocco felt un-like a FWD around the track and through the slalom. Just had to watch the lift off oversteer in the Sirocco R -v- Golf R, but the Sirocco was definitely the more fun and focussed of the two at Eastern Creek. Head is not too bad if you're under 6 foot tall in the rear of the Sirocco ... PITA getting in and out of the rear.

See pics on page 22 post # 484:

WHITE JAMES: Suspension & Wheel Reviews - Page 22 - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

Cheers.
WJ

[andrew7]

Great write up WJ. BTW, what tint do you have on your GTI?

[WhiteJames]

Tint on my GTI is factory tint for rear and rear side windows. Front windows is the tint that McGraths Sutherland Volkswagen sell, which is Solaire directly behind the Sutho dealership. When dark ... both tints look the same. When very light, the aftermarket stick-on tint maintains a darker colour & is more effective at reducing UV/light. The Factory tint is clearer to see through.

Read the review from this months Top Gear Magazine re: Sirocco R -v- Megane RS250. In keeping with this thread, the other crappy French brand as others have stated to be seems to be around the same speed & level of agro and the Golf R. The Sirocco, as Top Gear as gleaned, is a faster car esp. on flowing roadways and higher speeds ... also in a straight line from rolling start imo. Seemed like the Sirocco R was doing about 10+kph more everywhere around EC than the Golf R, as top gear had noted in this month article. The Golf R and RS250 would no doubt be faster around a really tight track where XDS electronic diff can be a hinderance, but faster flowing roadways/track, has the Sirocco R really giving it to the Golf R and most probably Megane RS250, which is very short geared & revs out faster than the Sirocco R. My 2 cents.

Just think of the Sirocco R as an ED35 Golf GTI that is squashed down and widened with a Passat reer axle and you'd be on the money. See link to Danish video review for how quick the Sirocco R really is ... suprised me with its turn of speed and unlikeness as a FWD in certain conditions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3o6wlBwLno

Cheers.
WJ

[brimway]

Just think of the Sirocco R as an ED35 Golf GTI that is squashed down and widened with a Passat reer axle and you'd be on the money.
Cheers.
WJ

With respect, one very important omission, Golf GTI and R have 4 doors

[brimway]

Having completed the VW Progression Drive day at Norwell yesterday, I had the opportunity to compare a Golf GTI and Golf R back to back.

The last event of the day was 4 laps in the R first and then the GTI. As a very happy R owner, I expected that I would be a little biased toward the R, but not totally the case. The R was optioned with ACC and 19s, the GTI was poverty.

The R was, as expected, fantastic around the tight Norwell circuit, but the surprise for me was the GTI. It was quite amazing, especially as it rained heavily (enough to need the wipers on low speed) for the last 2 laps.

Overall, a good day that was very well organised. I was lucky to have Tony D'Alberto as my instructor.

[SilvrFoxX]

So are you saying you spent 10K too much

[Candyman]

So are you saying you spent 10K too much

LOL. Time to trade "up"

[SilvrFoxX]

LOL. Time to trade "up"

Well said whitejames

[Candyman]

Well said whitejames

Dammit, you guessed my alter ego

Re GTI vs R or R vs GTI

Does the GTI have the soundaktor or is it just awesomeness without a soundmaker ?

[Fab_R]

Well said whitejames

Lol!!!
You are bad!