Golf R or GTI Manual?

[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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[LibraR]

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

I laughed reading as I was thinking the same thing - keeper!!
When I read the original post, too, my thought was that the Golf GTI may be too close to a Polo GTI. I had this impression when I went car to replace the daily drive. Thought Polo GTI as sensible price and overall pretty good. Golf GTI was not enough more to justify the price in my view over the Polo. One drive of the R sealed the deal. A bit under 2 years and $30000km later, very happy.
The Golf R is certainly a very different vehicle and worth every cent extra I reckon, but personal preference for sure.
In standard form you can feel the extra weight of the R but application of a JB4 cures this and makes the car feel so much more responsive. You have to spend a great deal of cash to get more go than an R with a JB4, and few will be as composed on spirited fangs on real world bumpy back roads.
The kicker is that you don’t need all that go if it will spend its life commuting around town, but it is in a league of its own out on a week end fang. Horses for courses but as others have said, if you drive one you will probably want one!
And of course, that I went and test drove an RS3 recently may be an indication of what the R does to you... only a vast increase in budget can better it as an overall great performance package.

[bgroper]

Why not go straight for an RS6 ?
Here's a nice looking one.
2017 Audi RS6 performance Auto quattro MY17

[BenT]

Why not go straight for an RS6 ?
Here's a nice looking one.
2017 Audi RS6 performance Auto quattro MY17

Bargain.


Ben

Current
2015 Polo GTI manual
2018 Golf GTI Original manual

Previous
2014 Polo GTI DSG
2013 Golf GTI DSG
2006 RenaultSport Megane 225 Cup manual
2006 Golf GTI manual
2005 Golf 2.0 TSI manual
2001 Astra SRi manual
2000 Pulsar SSS manual
1999 Astra CD auto
1998 Pulsar SLX auto
1991 Pulsar GL manual
1981 Subaru Leone auto

[LibraR]

Why not go straight for an RS6 ?
Here's a nice looking one.
2017 Audi RS6 performance Auto quattro MY17

You could just about have a Golf in every colour for that money

[Dan199]

Haha I wish i had that sort of budget for a car.... not sure id go rs6 though, a E63S and now were talking

I actually want to buy the DSG version (I'm lazier) but she refuses. Luckily my work ute is auto.

Test drive is lined up on the weekend with a different dealer from the original quote, same price but willing to throw in extras for the sale.

[Jap]

You do know their phasing out the R and gtd manual over here don’t you? Something to do with eu emissions, so you may have a knock on effect down there

[BenT]

You do know their phasing out the R and gtd manual over here don’t you? Something to do with eu emissions, so you may have a knock on effect down there

Yikes! Was that in the news somewhere?


Ben

Current
2015 Polo GTI manual
2018 Golf GTI Original manual

Previous
2014 Polo GTI DSG
2013 Golf GTI DSG
2006 RenaultSport Megane 225 Cup manual
2006 Golf GTI manual
2005 Golf 2.0 TSI manual
2001 Astra SRi manual
2000 Pulsar SSS manual
1999 Astra CD auto
1998 Pulsar SLX auto
1991 Pulsar GL manual
1981 Subaru Leone auto

[Jap]

No a sales manager from a vw garage posted it on a UK golf page,

[Mattlock]

No a sales manager from a vw garage posted it on a UK golf page,

As frustrating as that kind of news is, it confirms my complete base feeling about the Mk7 manual R (and GTI) - it is a car built around the DSG that is then ‘adjusted’ to fit the clutch. It feel like it’s a dying breed in VWs arsenal.

This lack of connectedness is why I’m off to do a second drive of the i30N tomorrow (the drive with my head, rather than the excitement of the press hype).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro