What to buy? GTI or R20

[backdoc]

I am trying to decide between the GTI & the R20. I sold my R32 last year, which I enjoyed alot and was sad to see it go. I have just purchased a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon as the family car and now need something for fun on the weekend.

Money is not the issue bewteen these 2, but by all accounts of the reviews I've read from overseas, the R20 seems to be lacking something. I need a car soonish (next 6 months), so I was looking for input as to what would be the way to go.

Does more expensive mean better? Will the fact it is a bit more exclusive mean anything? Will it offer much more thrills for the extra $15-20K?

I just don't know what to do. The other option was a 3-4 year old Porsche Boxster S.

Opinions. I need some.

[lincs]

i'm still leaning towards the R at this stage - provided i can get a 5 door manual. ive had a MkV GTI since july 06 (after a 6 mth wait) and have loved every minute of it. i tested the APR chip to get it up to 188kw, but never ended up spending the $2000.

i also considered the upgrade to a pirelli when they were released, but only coming in DSG (and with stock numbers similar to the APR1 on my GTI), i wasnt interested.

so yeh, i'd be more than happy with a new stocky GTI, IF for some reason i decide against the R.

the other thing to take into consideration is waiting times.. (i think GTIs are somewhere back to around 6mths depending on what options you want?).. and theres still no release date on the R other than heresay on "mid year", "juneish" or "second half of the year" depending on who you ask.

i saw 1 review from europe (i think) where the person wasnt 100% over the moon with the R. i'd like to drive one before i commited a cool $60k on it, too... but yeh it looks like a tough machine, presumably with great potential for an ECU upgrade if you're into that sort of thing.

[iBoost]

I ordered my GTI today and was told to expect June delivery. I can't wait!

I did consider getting the R, but for my wife and I the GTI is more than enough, especially once I put take it to APR for a flash tune.

The R by all accounts is an incredible car, but it's more than I am comfortable spending. Either way you'll end up with an awesome car.

[Glennb]

I've decided to wait until more info is known. Was going to order a GTI now, but i'm not in a rush, and i'm hoping that by late Feb or March that full specs and Price will be available for the R/R20.

To the OP, if you likee the R32, then i'd wait for more information to be avaialble, as from memory the R32 never recieved good reviews either (understeer being the biggest complaint if i recall). If the difference betwen my spec'd up GTI and a similar spec'd R20 is within about $5k, then i'm going for the R.

[noone]

So the GTI is a 2lt Turbo
and the R20 is a 2lt Turbo?

Weird...

[triode12]

So the GTI is a 2lt Turbo
and the R20 is a 2lt Turbo?

Weird...

yup - but the R has the 2L engine and larger K04 Turbo of the Pirelli.

[triode12]

I am trying to decide between the GTI & the R20. I sold my R32 last year, which I enjoyed alot and was sad to see it go. I have just purchased a Skoda Octavia vRS wagon as the family car and now need something for fun on the weekend.

Money is not the issue bewteen these 2, but by all accounts of the reviews I've read from overseas, the R20 seems to be lacking something. I need a car soonish (next 6 months), so I was looking for input as to what would be the way to go.

Does more expensive mean better? Will the fact it is a bit more exclusive mean anything? Will it offer much more thrills for the extra $15-20K?

I just don't know what to do. The other option was a 3-4 year old Porsche Boxster S.

Opinions. I need some.

The R will be more like your R32 - setup for comfortable long distance driving - a Grand Tourer. The suspension will be tweaked for that according to one report. So it depends on what you want I suppose.

Personally, faced with the same decision, I would either go back to an R32 (since you know what it is like) or buy a Pirelli (same engine as the R but w/o AWD). The R32 will become a collectable like the Pirelli because it will be last of it's kind - no more V6 engines for the Golf.

If you like a car that is more fun/thrills than the two suggested above (the new GTI included) ...a Polo GTI is what I would suggest you test drive.

[STV4SYT]

Sounds like it would be worth taking the S3 for a spin. To all accounts its what the R20 is going to be based on quite closely and available now, but with a price of around $80k its a fair bit more than an R

[G-rig]

Sounds like it would be worth taking the S3 for a spin. To all accounts its what the R20 is going to be based on quite closely and available now, but with a price of around $80k its a fair bit more than an R

Someone on GolfMKV took an S3 for a spin and didn't really like it over the GTI, however ordered a Golf R anyway (not that there is a price or any information on them here, the dealers are just holding the deposit I imagine).

Also S3's aren't 80k, you could get them for less than 68k driveaway with roof, flat bottom wheel and RS4 wheels (probably a lot more now around the 60k mark). However if you tick all the options could quite easily be over 80k. Audi are doing fairly good discounts but it's the options pricelist I don't like, everything costs a fortune (ie. flat bottom wheel $700, nave $5300 etc).

[dave_r]

Someone on GolfMKV took an S3 for a spin and didn't really like it over the GTI, however ordered a Golf R anyway (not that there is a price or any information on them here, the dealers are just holding the deposit I imagine).

That was probably me

Drove a S3 Sportback DSG with the intention of just buying it - I hate my current car hehe. But there just wasn't a connection if you want to put it like that. Some parts of the car were nice, including the performance but day to day the interior didn't do it for me. I couldn't get comfortable in the drivers seat and don't like that I can't have a 3dr DSG.

30mins later, I found myself in the seat of a 5dr DSG GTI. After sitting in the drivers seat for 20secs I knew I was in the right place, after a test drive, I was positive.

While chatting with the dealer, I looked at an R32 they had sitting there and said can I have a go to see what they're like. Loved the sound which I know is not being carried over, but I really liked the feel of the AWD compared to FWD. I had a lot more confidence chucking it onto the freeway onramp. GTI is definitely a very well sorted car but the AWD just made the car feel better.

So I thought, if I take the GTI which is already sensational, then add AWD, more power and subtle changes, what do I get?

An order for a 3dr DSG R with sunroof. I'll happily take one with the recaros and 19" wheels if the prices are right. I have a car until end of June so didn't want to wait too long and miss out on the first shipment.

These threads come up often from what I can see, and its all personal preference. The GTI is easily the best car under $50k available new so you can't do any wrong going with one. For me, the R is just one of those things that I have to have after seeing the first motor show press shots. I couldn't give you a why, it just is