I've been and driven an 'R' and as above, I didn't feel connected to the road and I was dissapointed in it overall. I dont know what specifically but it just didn't feel that special. I certainly wouldn't buy one based on the 25 mile run I gave it.

No comment!

I keep getting tempted to get a S4, Debadge it, map it and just never wash or Polish it.

 

 

I'm glad I didn't see this video last week, a local garage had a 60 plate S4 in and I was tempted to go have a look but knew if I heard that supercharged V6 I wouldn't be able to resist it.  This thread put me off a bit as well originally as the Golf R made the S4 look a bit pricey although it makes a lot of sense that the S4 can be so easily tuned to get a lot more power.

 

John

Thing is most people buy a car on the basis of a test drive

If it doesn't impress, they won't buy it

I'm glad I didn't see this video last week, a local garage had a 60 plate S4 in and I was tempted to go have a look but knew if I heard that supercharged V6 I wouldn't be able to resist it. This thread put me off a bit as well originally as the Golf R made the S4 look a bit pricey although it makes a lot of sense that the S4 can be so easily tuned to get a lot more power.

John

The S4 engine tunes very well. My last car had a Revo stage. 1 @ 411bhp. Just shame about the handling.

The Golf R is amch better all round car

I've been and driven an 'R' and as above, I didn't feel connected to the road and I was dissapointed in it overall. I dont know what specifically but it just didn't feel that special. I certainly wouldn't buy one based on the 25 mile run I gave it.

I've got a feeling that the steering may have been set to 'comfort.

This is great for pootling around town as it makes steering effortless but the downside is' its gives the car less feel.

When it's set to 'race' you get a much weightier feel and the car feels much more 'connected'.

The R has a more aggressive R/sport mode, with more noise and sharper handling.

I drove both within a day or so of each other and personally I found they felt reasonably different.

Audi have gone for a softer feel with the S3. Arguably better as a daily, but not as good when going bonkers.

Fair enough, I've not had enought time in the R. But to me it felt similar. In a way you can tell its same engine and running gear, susp a bit more uncomfortable but yea you might be right better suited when going manic

I must be driving a totally different car, day in day out.

 

B33fy, thanks for the Snapshot review - however as you might expect I will agree to disagree with your Snapshot  conclusion.(Sorry if my enthusiasm for the marque is so transparent - but real)

 

I would stick with what you've, got if you can't truly appreciate the Golf in driving experience with what you own / drive.

 

It would have been interesting to have your colleague owners comments side by side with yours.

 

Enjoy your car ,as I do mine and I hope that your new car final decision is everything you aspire it to be.

 

I don’t expect anything less Keith. Perhaps something that I call the” HD effect” is going on here, when HD was launched, was constantly raved about and bigged up about how brilliant it is, over egged and oversold, expectations are raised to unrealistic levels and when you actually turn the new HD tele on, you wonder what the fuss was all about.

 

Over enthusiasm can also have a negative effect on others who don’t share the same levels, if the enthusiasm is not  ‘measured’ or ‘paced’ against the persons interest levels, (i.e. rammed down their  throat) then the person can come to detest or view the subject matter very negatively.

 

I’ve observed both of the above in this thread, though I’ve still actively sought out a car and gave it a good go with insight and objectivity and my feedback is my feedback

The feedback from the owner is much the same as mine and it’s a level up from VRS ownership and the deal we get is just too good to miss which is where I’m at.

 

Anyhow that’s me done with Golf R’s for now, all the best with your mission to spread the Golf R gospel according to Keith, you never know I may be back once I’ve seen the light..,  off  to find a “my Volvo’s bigger than your Volvo” thread now.

 

Laters

 

Mike

"Praise The Lord"! - I have a distant R disciple :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeCCr9QaLp0

 

Non-Believers will always be welcome, door will always be open!

Brilliant drive today, the car is a machine, you just don't appreciate it when driving normally or in a straight line. But, throw some corners in to it on a country road and keep your foot planted wow oh wow oh wow. You really can feel the haldex moving the power around the wheels

Personally I don't feel you can safely get close to the grip limit in the Golf R or S3 on the public highway and see what it can really do.

It's impressive if you are used to less capable machines because it has so much grip and you can be thinking wow while still under 100% VAG safety, but the fact it's a public road and you don't really know the camber, dead animal there etc... Means you need to take one on track to really be able to see what it can do.

Unless you are driving in such a way that you'd get 3-6 points if a police car was coming the other way.

This is why personally think a less capable fun car that moves around more is better fun on the road.

The new VAG 4x4 hot hatches are arguably too capable.

That applies to almost every car on sale in the UK today at the 60 MPH nsl except on the worst of Eco tyres. They all go around corners and come out the other end facing the right way.

Edited 10 May, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

Personally I don't feel you can safely get close to the grip limit in the Golf R or S3 on the public highway and see what it can really do.

It's impressive if you are used to less capable machines because it has so much grip and you can be thinking wow while still under 100% VAG safety, but the fact it's a public road and you don't really know the camber, dead animal there etc... Means you need to take one on track to really be able to see what it can do.

Unless you are driving in such a way that you'd get 3-6 points if a police car was coming the other way.

This is why personally think a less capable fun car that moves around more is better fun on the road.

The new VAG 4x4 hot hatches are arguably too capable.

Totally agree about never being able to test it's capabilities on public highway, I do however think that it's not just the grip it's the way it can accelerate out of a corner, you can accelerate mid corner with 0 worries that the car might oversteer/understeer.

That being said I agree the same fun could be had for less with less risk to your licence, but and a big but the golf r will seriously put most things to shame around a bendy Road with in legal limits of course.

I think anyone who believes the car is boring(me until today) or not that fast needs to get on a twisty country road. That all really.

The car is my daily driver so I do understand why some people feel disappointed. It just doesn't have that wow factor in a straight line or around town, but get on a country road and drive it like it is stolen and you will soon realise the brilliant engineering that has gone in to making the car so great.

That applies to almost every car on sale in the UK today at the 60 MPH nsl except on the worst of Eco tyres. They all go around corners and come out the other end facing the right way.

It's not just how it goes in to a corner it's how it comes out, I think your missing the point really.

I would like to see "any" car take 45 degree bend at 60mph and watch it in a ditch.

This is coming from someone who has owned a audi TT 1.8t running 260bhp, skoda octavia 2.0tfsi stg 2+, seat ibiza 1.9tdi 165bhp, and civic 2.2 Icdti 185bhp.

Non of these would do what the golf can do in and out of a country road twisty so well with the exception of the Honda which is actually a brilliant handling car for a fwd

It has to come out it still at 60 does it not. Only joking really we all know how quick 70 feels on back roads. Do they really go around tight bends lkr that on the public road's that much safer because of the part time all wheel drive?

Edited 10 May, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

It's not just how it goes in to a corner it's how it comes out, I think your missing the point really.

I would like to see "any" car take 45 degree bend at 60mph and watch it in a ditch.

This is coming from someone who has owned a audi TT 1.8t running 260bhp, skoda octavia 2.0tfsi stg 2+, seat ibiza 1.9tdi 165bhp, and civic 2.2 Icdti 185bhp.

Non of these would do what the golf can do in and out of a country road twisty so well with the exception of the Honda which is actually a brilliant handling car for a fwd

That last bit is the important bit, 'Handling'. Grip is not the same as handling. Hence why I chose my M135. Fun was more important that just extreme grip and for me, the Baby Beemer gave me what I wanted. Obviously some people have different opinions on what gives the most fun

It has to come out it still at 60 does it not. Only joking really we all know how quick 70 feels on back roads.

That's illegal!!! Ahem .... cough....cough

That's why it's hardly worth discussing on an open forum or even anytime. We all know about going around cornend and expecting the unexpected.

Edited 10 May, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

I was referring to the fact that a back road will be a 60 limit at best 

So was I, because there are not that many challenging dual carriageways. Not that many 45 degree bends either to test a Golf R on.

It has to come out it still at 60 does it not. Only joking really we all know how quick 70 feels on back roads. Do they really go around tight bends lkr that on the public road's that much safer because of the part time all wheel drive?

Yes they do, why? because that "part time all wheel drive system" can send nearly all of its power to the rear or individual wheels. What does this translate to on a road? A bloody quick weapon that not only sticks to the road like glue at speeds not legal on public highways but also handles just as good and some cases better than anything I have driven. An yes I have driven a 2012 Nissan GTR, 996 porsche turbo, not saying it is better than the above but it is on pair in the corners, obviously hit a straight and it's bye bye golf

That last bit is the important bit, 'Handling'. Grip is not the same as handling. Hence why I chose my M135. Fun was more important that just extreme grip and for me, the Baby Beemer gave me what I wanted. Obviously some people have different opinions on what gives the most fun

Haven driven a m135 I can honestly say it is brilliant fun, however add slightly damp roads and that fun quickly becomes dampened. Not a problem for the "part time all wheel drive system" nevertheless the m135 is a cracking car and I would so own one.

There are some seriously twisty roads with good visibility up in County Durham. Managed to get my Merc squiggling out of corners with complete safety and my M135 looks like it will be doing the same any day soon I found my A4 3.0TDi Quattro to be a bit boring in comparison, even though it had the optional Sports Diff and was very quick at covering the ground.

So was I, because there are not that many challenging dual carriageways. Not that many 45 degree bends either to test a Golf R on.

I am not sure where you live but round the cotswolds there are plenty 60 mph roads with super sharp bends.

Haven driven a m135 I can honestly say it is brilliant fun, however add slightly damp roads and that fun quickly becomes dampened. Not a problem for the "part time all wheel drive system" nevertheless the m135 is a cracking car and I would so own one.

I just dial back my expectations in the wet. 3 out of the last 4 cars I have owned have been RWD and I find more fun in them (not including the off road cars I've also ran so I can keep mobile in extreme winter weather  )

I just dial back my expectations in the wet. 3 out of the last 4 cars I have owned have been RWD and I find more fun in them (not including the off road cars I've also ran so I can keep mobile in extreme winter weather )

I agree with the fun bit! Rwd for you