Mk7 Golf R Discussion Thread

[team_v]

No Manuals available at launch. Late 2014 for the first batch of manuals. We should get our new DSG in the next couple of weeks

You should bring it out to Happy Laps at QR on 31 May!

[andrew7]

As Adam D points out a $4k premium for the S3 in my mind makes it the clear choice (dealer delivery can be negotiated down). Talk about a pricing fail by VWA... as WJ pointed out in another thread VW dealers must be very nervous indeed.

[Dzl_Dubba]

Pricing for the R, $52k

2014 Volkswagen Golf R: Australian Price, Features And Specs | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

[Longy]

Pricing for the R, $52k

2014 Volkswagen Golf R: Australian Price, Features And Specs | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications

But the DSG version is $54.5k, so with Dealer delivery and OCR, and a few options, you'll be over the LCT threshold as the official fuel consumption is listed at 7.1ltr/100km, so it does come under the 7ltr/100km required to be classed as a fuel efficient car.

[Ryan_R]

So the R is essentially $5k cheaper than the S3
The S3 however has leather seats, better infotainment system, etc as standard which makes up for that difference
But all reviews I've read paint the R as more of a fun drivers car compared to the S3

I'm due to have a look at both next week but I'm not in a super rush to upgrade due to a few factors.

[AdamD]

So the R is essentially $5k cheaper than the S3

Just to clarify this difference a little further, as per something I wrote in another thread:

The R DSG is $54,490, and leather is $3,150. The S3 is $59,900. That's a difference of $2,260. Redbook publishes a dealer delivery price of $3,528 for the S3 (a standard price published by Audi - so if you're being quoted more you've been quoted above RRP effectively), whilst VW quotes $2,495, so that's $1,033 - bringing the total to $3,293. Before bargaining of course. And don't forget that the Audi is generally better equipped (with the exception of ACC, a $1600 option on the S3) than the Golf, as a justification for that premium.

On the bargaining front, the Audi is eligible for corporate pricing, which drops the dealer delivery charge and gives three years' free scheduled servicing. The Golf R is - apparently but not yet confirmed - not eligible for corporate pricing under VWA's current scheme.

At these prices, I think you'd have to genuinely want the R more - and be able to dismiss the specification shortfalls accordingly - to go the R route. Hopefully it offers some real dynamic benefits to justify its pricing.

[Hail22]

So the R is essentially $5k cheaper than the S3
The S3 however has leather seats, better infotainment system, etc as standard which makes up for that difference
But all reviews I've read paint the R as more of a fun drivers car compared to the S3

I'm due to have a look at both next week but I'm not in a super rush to upgrade due to a few factors.

Make that electric leather seats with forward, backwards and lift controls as standard and the cabin of the S3 is less busier / more professional with the pop up / down navigation / media screen as well as fighter pilot like switches

[Mikey1]

Make that electric leather seats with forward, backwards and lift controls as standard and the cabin of the S3 is less busier / more professional with the pop up / down navigation / media screen as well as fighter pilot like switches

As has been previously mentioned in this thread, electric seats without a memory function is quite pointless. Logically, the sports seats supplied in the S Performance Package have manual seat controls. While the cabin is definitely simpler, maintaining Audi's traditional minimalist approach, you do miss out on Volkswagen's clever storage solutions around the dash, console and the overhead sunglasses compartment.

[Mikey1]

I revisited my local Audi dealership, who confirmed the best discounted price of $70.8K, which I obtained in January and most closely matches a Pure White Golf R with all three options, for the following included Audi S3 Sportback options:

Glacier White Metallic, Exterior Mirror Package, Panoramic Sunroof, Load Through Facility including Rear Centre Armrest, Assistance Package, Audi Magnetic Ride and customer supplied number plates in Victoria.

Given DrK obtained a confirmed deal of $61.3K in Victoria, there is a $9.5K difference here, which is in the ballpark that I had predicted and stated in my previous posts (for Victoria).

[AdamD]

Given DrK obtained a confirmed deal of $61.3K in Victoria, there is a $9.5K difference here, which is in the ballpark that I had predicted and stated in my previous posts (for Victoria).

My father has negotiated a discount on an S3 that amounts to just under $8,000 off the full retail price, and also includes 3 years' free scheduled servicing. Bear in mind that he is also eligible for the corporate discount, and so the deal represents about $5k off the standard corporate discounted price. As far as I'm concerned, that's a fantastic deal.

It is pointless to compare negotiated driveaway prices for the R and S3, because one person's negotiation tactics and circumstances are not the same as another's. Your best bet is simply to compare based on the published retail prices (including published dealer delivery, duty etc) and go from there. And that gap is substantially less than $9,500.