Mk6 GTI is perfect, yet I am tempted by an R/Audi S3/TT

[Corey_R]

I've owned a MKV Golf GTI and I now own a MK6 Golf R.
I've also driven a few MK6 Golf GTI's a few times.

I can honestly say that there is NO WAY that I'd sell a MKV or MK6 Golf GTI to buy a Golf R, unless the MKV Golf GTI was so old that had to or wanted to get a new car.

I can also honestly say that if the MK6 Golf GTI was available in Rising Blue, that I would have bought that instead of the Golf R. AWD is great for ****s and giggles from the traffic lights, but other than that, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages for me (pun DEFINITELY intended). Take away the AWD, and the differences between a GTI and R are not that big. Don't lecture me on this, I know the differences as well as anyone else on here since I've detailed them numerous times in several threads.

You need to figure out what matters to you. Drag racing? Circuit racing? Everyday road driving?
Being AWD, the R will be better for standing start acceleration, i.e. Drag Racing. Both the GTI and R are as capable as each other in circuit racing once you change the brakes and suspension and upgrade the power - one has AWD but has a weight disadvantage, one is FWD but has a weight advantage - but even in the wet around Eastern Creek, the difference is small. Everyday road driving, I'd say that unmodified, the GTI wins here. The R feel sluggish and slow due to it's added weight and lack of low down torque due to the K03...


But again, there is a few hundred pages of this info from numerous people in the GTI vs R thread, which is what this thread was always going to turn into. Even S3 and TT being in the title doesn't change that. At a very simple level, S3 = R. TT = GTI. TT-S = R.

[Ideo]

Get a secondhand Porsche Boxster S.

[SilvrFoxX]

Who would dare lecture you Corey..?

. Take away the AWD, and the differences between a GTI and R are not that big.

.

You then would get a 35

You need to figure out what matters to you. Drag racing? Circuit racing? Everyday road driving?
Being AWD, the R will be better for standing start acceleration, i.e. Drag Racing. Both the GTI and R are as capable as each other in circuit racing once you change the brakes and suspension and upgrade the power - one has AWD but has a weight disadvantage, one is FWD but has a weight advantage - but even in the wet around Eastern Creek, the difference is small. Everyday road driving, I'd say that unmodified, the GTI wins here. The R feel sluggish and slow due to it's added weight and lack of low down torque due to the K03...
.

This is the only statement that I get frustrated, you list all the hero reasons for and against AWD but leave out the most important being safety and second the driving experience. Neither have track , performance or race associated with them. As for sluggish, only whne making a comparison to the flighty drive of the GTI, if again that is your preferred driving experience. For mine, and I have no doubt others the AWD experience of being heavier and planted is just fine in acceleration.

I have mentioned this before that my R is now bedding in and I have learnt to drive it so don't experience or should I say notice any sluggishness to which you refer.

[Ideo]

It's the epic turbo lag that does it.

I tend to be able to count to 400 and twenty billion before the lag stops.

My god. The lag. The sheer horror of the lag.

[Corey_R]

@SilvrFoxX, I haven't driven the Ed 35, so I'm not sure whether I'd get that or not. Whilst Ideo exaggerates a lot, anyone who thinks that there is no difference in driving characterists between the K03 and K04 has no credibility. The facts are, call it lag, or call it something else, there is a large difference between the 2.0L Turbo VW engines with the K03 and K04 in respect to where the torque and power is. The K03 has the K04 trumped for torque down low; the K04 has the K03 trumped for power up high.

As for safety. Safety comes from ESP (and all its subsystems, including ABS) and the driver not being an idiot. AWD is only an improvement where acceleration outpaces grip. AWD adds weight, which everything else being equal, means longer braking distances and lower cornering speeds. So this is where I get back to the "driver not being an idiot comment" - if it's raining badly, what are you trying to accelerate like a race driver for anyway? And if you're not trying to accelerate like a race driver, then your AWD advantage has just gone, and now you're just carrying around weight.

We're talking public roads here, not snow, ice, dirt or gravel. I just don't believe AWD is useful, except for traffic lights GP. The R has done nothing to change my opinion in that.

[SilvrFoxX]

OK WJ.. I believe you

[Finance_Analyst]

Go a BMW 135i.... Best of both worlds (even if it is a BMW!!!)

[Candyman]

I sold my MKV GTI to get our R

A remarkable improvement in all areas. More responsive, better finished, more planted, no stupid lift off wheelspin. better intake and exhaust note ....

Over a MKVI GTI, have only had a few days in one but in wet weather on my commutes, prefer the R (road markings, ruts, bumps etc).

Minor things like styling add to the win. The other standard items can be optioned up on a GTI.

Would never go back to a FWD GTI.

[MrGTIandRfan]

I think I'll wait until the Scirocco comes out and consider selling and moving to an R/S3.

What I am after is a car with decent handling and power, yet comes with a decent interior.


My opinion on the others:

R32 - tempting, but checked out the example I was keen on and unless I can get it for a bargain price (rims scraped, needs a good detailing), it's not worth the hassle of switching as my GTI is overall in better condition and the only missing features are xenons, 4motion and the VR6 engine note. What I lose by downgrading will be a better looking interior, touchscreen radio, weight, power.

TT - variable quality, despite what seems like good bang for buck.

[easeup]

What I am after is a car with decent handling and power, yet comes with a decent interior.

Man... just go sit in your GTI and be satisfied.