Mk7 Golf R Discussion Thread

**Dutch77** · 18-06-2014, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by team_v

I think you will find that the majority of VW owners do not actually care to upgrade their wheels.
The problem with using the forums as a reference point is that you get an echo chamber.

Likely 50% of people on here have aftermarket wheels.
Once you go outside into the real world you see maybe 2% of VW's on aftermarket wheels if that.

I agree the majority don't, but I think GTI/R buyers do. The Mk6 is a great reference - I would say at least a third/half of GTIs I see have Detroits over Denvers, and I see roughly the same ratio of Rs running 19 inch Talladegas.

I still suspect if the Pretorias were offered as a $500 option over Cadiz there'd be at least a third take up if not more (and that's giving VW a fat margin, if it was per Germany and only $150 that take up could be over half).

There is a swing, particularly on Euros, to OEM plus these days. If I could have got Pretorias at a decent price then I'd have put them on my car (aftermarket admittedly, I'm not asking for an R wheel to be optionable on a GTI).

**team_v** · 18-06-2014, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dutch77

I agree the majority don't, but I think GTI/R buyers do. The Mk6 is a great reference - I would say at least a third/half of GTIs I see have Detroits over Denvers, and I see roughly the same ratio of Rs running 19 inch Talladegas.

I still suspect if the Pretorias were offered as a $500 option over Cadiz there'd be at least a third take up if not more (and that's giving VW a fat margin, if it was per Germany and only $150 that take up could be over half).

There is a swing, particularly on Euros, to OEM plus these days. If I could have got Pretorias at a decent price then I'd have put them on my car (aftermarket admittedly, I'm not asking for an R wheel to be optionable on a GTI).

Bear in mind that the majority of the cars with upsized oem rims were likely ordered in by the dealership and bought off the lot so the customer/driver would have had little say in what wheels they got.

VW Aus has to cater to what the market wants and i can guarantee you most customers won't see the point in upgrading to 19" Pretorias even if they were given the chance.

**irossiter** · 18-06-2014, 04:50 PM

Just checked with my dealer. The Pretorias would be $7100 without tyres. Enough said.

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**Sharkie** · 18-06-2014, 05:00 PM

TBH I agree with team_v .... Besides at least 60% of all GTIs i see on the road are driven by ladies (it's a real girls car lol) and all of those are on stock wheels. I also know a lot of GTI driving non members and 90% of those are on stock wheels.

And being a VW enthusiast I notice every one I pass .......

different with the Rs, most, if not all I have seen are driven by men.

**Bigboboz** · 18-06-2014, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by rudiger

ahh i see now, thank you. yes VWA is **** because i want it and these rims, looks like they don't make it to Aus ether (i dislike the stock rims)

Couldn't agree more on the screen and wheels. The screen looks like they're still working through bulk stock they bought in 2008 and their chosen rims aren't to my taste but I'm not interested in paying $7k for an update!

As a quick poll, does anyone particularly like the rims they've gone with as standard?

**Dutch77** · 18-06-2014, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by team_v

Bear in mind that the majority of the cars with upsized oem rims were likely ordered in by the dealership and bought off the lot so the customer/driver would have had little say in what wheels they got.

VW Aus has to cater to what the market wants and i can guarantee you most customers won't see the point in upgrading to 19" Pretorias even if they were given the chance.

Agree to disagree, but besides, if dealers were ordering in black and silver 19 inch Talladegas then obviously there was a demand for them.

Swapping from one OEM wheel to another in the same size isn't what I'd call an upgrade, although most would agree it's an upgrade in looks.

Originally Posted by Sharkie

TBH I agree with team_v .... Besides at least 60% of all GTIs i see on the road are driven by ladies (it's a real girls car lol) and all of those are on stock wheels. I also know a lot of GTI driving non members and 90% of those are on stock wheels.

And being a VW enthusiast I notice very one I pass .......

different with the Rs most, if not all I have seen are driven by men.

Not sure what the point of this is - albeit given we are discussing stock wheels all you've done is confirm what I already had agreed: OEM wheels are popular. Pretorias aren't aftermarket. Wish people read the full discussion sometimes.

**Sharkie** · 18-06-2014, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dutch77

Not sure what the point of this is - albeit given we are discussing stock wheels all you've done is confirm what I already had agreed: OEM wheels are popular. Pretorias aren't aftermarket. Wish people read the full discussion sometimes.

As I said I agreed with team_v .... 90% of all GTIs I see run the stock base rims ..... not upgraded OEM wheels which are not stock base.

Added a bytheway comment around GTIs being girls cars (true though) which you are correct, not really part of the preceeding conversation.

And finally on my Mk7 R I will be running aftermarket wheels as there are neither stock nor any OEM "upgrade" I like.

**Dutch77** · 18-06-2014, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Sharkie

As I said I agreed with team_v .... 90% of all GTIs I see run the stock base rims ..... not upgraded OEM wheels which are not stock base.

Added an bytheway comment around GTIs being girls cars (true though) which you are correct not really part of the preceeding conversation.

And finally on my Mk7 R I will be running aftermarket wheels as neither stock nor any OEM "upgrade" I like.

Admittedly can't comment on Qld, don't go there, but a lot of GTIs here in SA run 18s, the stock Denvers just didn't cut it.

The point I was making on the R which I feel is the vibe here especially is that given the Australian spec already is 19 inch then offering the much better looking Pretorias either as standard or a minimal cost option would be preferable. I don't blame you going for aftermarket rims, I would be too.