Golf R or GTI Manual?

[Dan199]

Hi Guys,

Currently driving a 2015 polo gti and fancy something a bit bigger (got a big dog) and a bit quicker.

I took out the new gti original on the weekend and yea it was a good car but didn't set my heart on fire as its very similar to my current gti.... the salesman said i need to try the R as that would have what I'm looking for. I always thought the R's were out of my price range but......

The Gti original manual is $38k and the R I was quoted at $45k for the manual R Grid. Mrs will only drive manuals so no why no dsg questions lols.

$45k for a new golf R grid??? Is this a really good price?

Thoughts? Should i go test drive the R and find the extra 7k?

[rosslm]

Hi Guys,

Currently driving a 2015 polo gti and fancy something a bit bigger (got a big dog) and a bit quicker.

I took out the new gti original on the weekend and yea it was a good car but didn't set my heart on fire as its very similar to my current gti.... the salesman said i need to try the R as that would have what I'm looking for. I always thought the R's were out of my price range but......

The Gti original manual is $38k and the R I was quoted at $45k for the manual R Grid. Mrs will only drive manuals so no why no dsg questions lols.

$45k for a new golf R grid??? Is this a really good price?

Thoughts? Should i go test drive the R and find the extra 7k?

Last time I looked drive away on the R Grid was $52800, you need to decide on the best compromise if you do a lot of city stop start short trips the R is going to be over kill and use more fuel around 10L/100km in the city, if your extra urban or rural this is not an issue the R will get down to 6L/100km on the open road. The R is heavier than the GTI but the stability offered by 4 wheel drive is fantastic in all weather. The R also gives you more scope in terms of going Stage 1 2 etc. I'm running a JB4 and find this is way more than you need on public roads but hugely capable, I know you don't want DSG but the 7 speed in the R is a a cracker great in the city a fantastic cruiser, and really intuitive on a winding road. Your other option is wait for the coming Polo GTI. Unless money is not an issue the R may over kill fantastic car but probably more than you need as an everyday driver, don't get me wrong though the R is the performance comfort sleeper by far.

[slin]

Both are lovely to drive, both drive differently to each other.
Back to back they feel the same in town but out on a drive in the country, you might find the R sublime , competent and clinical.
Worth a test drive of the R.

[Splashalot]

I have no comment on R or GTI, but have to say your Mrs is a trooper - manuals only! Respect.

[Mattlock]

Thoughts? Should i go test drive the R and find the extra 7k?

Yes but only after you’re certain that you can afford it. $45k is a good price considering the list is $53k. Once you’ve driven it, you’ll want it!

I went through a similar process to you when I bought my 7R 2.5 years ago. It too is a manual as I felt that the DSG was bland and clinical and robbed the car of what little soul the Germans hadn’t engineered out.

I drove both manual and DSG GTIs and Rs before I made my decision. I also drove a Polo GTI as well. The problem I faced was that the twin-charged Golf GT Sport punched much harder off the line than the Polo and the difference to the Golf GTI wasn’t significant enough so the R had to be it for me.

The R is an incredible piece of kit. As a daily driver, there isn’t a lot out there that’s much better. I think it does have some issues around the AWD system and how it changes the car’s posture mid-corner (but you’ll only ever experience this on a track day). The car is fairly heavy and can feel like it’s got to be pushed or man-handled to bite on turn-in. You get used to this and therefore you learn to drive it differently to the GTI.

Having said all of that, I am about to sell my 7R and replace it with an i30N. Basically, the i30N feels more adjustable than the R, a bit more nimble and ‘up on its toes’ by comparison. You can definitely feel the weight difference from not having the AWD system and the boot is massive (again the AWD system makes the R’s boot really quite small).

The major difference for me though is that the i30N has been built around a manual gearbox. No matter how good the R is, it feels like it’s really designed for the DSG and the 3rd pedal is an after-thought. It’s a great ‘box (one of the best I’ve used) but it’s how it fits into the rest of the car that’s annoying. For example, you can’t heel/toe easily so rev-matching the shifts is verging on impossible, the electric parking brake can not sense the biting point properly and lets the break go too early so you roll and the bit point itself is too vague and not positive enough (although this can be fixed with a couple of small mods and some DOT4 fluid & a clutch line bleed).

So I will be going for a 2nd test drive this weekend of the i30N and it is likely that it will be goodbye VW (for now).

(PS: my wife will only drive a manual as well, hence her Tiguan was replaced with a Mazda 3 SP25 GT to allow her to have a manual and a specification level that was acceptable).


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[Rooboy]

Pity the Grid wagon only comes in DSG otherwise it would be perfect with your large dog. The current Wheels has a hot hatch comparo you may be interested in - a hot hatch test that includes the GTi original manual and the Grid manual up against 10 others (still wondering in which planet the WRX is a hatch...).

[Dan199]

Thanks guys 👍

I’m struggling to get a demo on a manual r at the moment..... all are dsg.

[Mattlock]

Thanks guys

I’m struggling to get a demo on a manual r at the moment..... all are dsg.

Where are you based? If you’re in or around BNE, you’re welcome to come and have a drive in mine (it’s a 7.0 not 7.5 though).


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[BenT]

It’s usually impossible to test drive manual cars these days so I’ve given up trying.

I just test drive the auto version because the handling, road noise, comfort, etc are going to be the same.

And I know I’m going to hate the DSG because it will never 100% pick the right feat when I want it, and I just order the manual. My wife feels the same.


Ben

Current
2015 Polo GTI manual
2018 Golf GTI Original manual

Previous
2013 Polo GTI DSG
2013 Golf GTI DSG
2006 RenaultSport Megane 225 Cup manual
2006 Golf GTI manua
2005 Golf 2.0 TSI manual
2001 Astra SRi manual
2000 Pulsar SSS manual
1998 Pulsar SLX auto
1991 Pulsar GL manual
1981 Subaru Leone auto

[Mattlock]

It’s usually impossible to test drive manual cars these days so I’ve given up trying.

I just test drive the auto version because the handling, road noise, comfort, etc are going to be the same.

This is true. However at the end of last year when I bought my Mazda 3, the dealer got a manual out of stock for me to drive so we could drive the mechanically accurate car. I was quite impressed with that.


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