So come on Autocar ,you raised this article in April ,so where is your update, for comparing notes on your experience of "Long Term "Running.:http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/our-cars-2015-volkswagen-golf-r/volkswagen-golf-r-long-term-review

 

Think Pistonheads are doing one  or is it the same article?

Edited 29 July, 201510 yr by vrskeith

Think PH and Autocar are under the same publishing/ownership group now - although PH are running a red R so that's an easy way to differentiate

Early days yet for the Carmagazines  Long term R. Spec and general info :http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/long-term-tests/volkswagen/vw-golf-r-2015-long-term-test-review/

I see the Golf R got dumped out first on tonight's multi hot hatch test on Fifth Gear! To be honest it was a stupid test and only the final race between the Renault and Audi seemed to have the remotest amount of credibility. As ever it would have been nice if they just said which car they enjoyed driving the most, ie which was most fun. Add the Civic and one of the Baby Beemers and do a proper multi car test with less forensic timings and more subjective reasoning that might be more appropriate to everyone except the Top Trump braggarts down the local. Still, I was surprised that the Audi was essentially as quick as the Renault around the circuit.

 

Still, the rumours are Jenson Button is going to work on Top Gear I will believe it when I see it, but it would probably be a better show than the current Fifth Gear at the moment.

So just had a break for a few days and a trip up to Edinburgh via, Derbyshire and the Lakes, scenic/driving routes up . Returned via M6 -M5 etc Bloody awful grind. Hence a real mixed bag of driving, static or close to static at times on trip home.

 

R went very well ,very comfortable under all conditions and motor sweet as a nut!  Great driving up via the Lake District - haven't been there for a few years. Stopped over in a super B&B / pub/ restaurant in Kendal - Romneys Restaurant - recommended. 

 

1081 miles in 4 actual driving days .with average  return of 36.2 mpg ( Tank brimmed top ups) Tesco momentum and Sainsbury's Super Unleaded. Average speed 43 mph ( was 55  mph prior to the return grind)

 

So pretty pleased with the run overall,3 adults and boot fully loaded.

 

The Discovery Pro -nav / radio, is a useful bit of kit, avoiding road blockages , worked great! That is such a useful tool, for an "old map fart!"

Edited 1 August, 201510 yr by vrskeith

Been considering an estate one of these but the 280 TSI Superb is looking pretty good as well, slightly cheaper and with more kit as standard. Superb is 250mm longer, 160mm wider and  

Been considering an estate one of these but the 280 TSI Superb is looking pretty good as well, slightly cheaper and with more kit as standard. Superb is 250mm longer, 160mm wider and  

.....and....what? don't leave us hanging

Sorry was going to compair the weight but have not found the golf R estate stats on the VW site

oh :( I hoped it might have been more exciting than that. Perhaps you could compare the number of small blue wires or something equally exotic

Mk7 Golf R Estate 2.0 TSI  300ps 1,499kg Minimum Kerb Weight.

 

Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TSI 280ps 4x4 DSG 1,560kg mkw

Mk7 Golf R Estate 2.0 TSI  300ps 1,499kg Minimum Kerb Weight.

 

Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TSI 280ps 4x4 DSG 1,560kg mkw

Good grief. I thought the difference would be more than that!

My Partner's brother -in - law, tells me his R Estate was on the Boat last week,so probably at the UK Dock by now. Due to exchange his Merc Estate in Sept. So guess the stock Estates will be available to view / demo soon.

Amanda, neither are light weights, but then neither is the M135i Auto @ 1,450kg mkw.

These porky hot car / estates are needing more & more power just to get their bulk about quickly.

The Superb Estate offers the carrying capacity though & All weather security.

 

BMW's Gross Weight 2,015 kg, so Max load 565kg

Golf R Estate Gross Weight 2,080 kg,   Max Load 581 kg

Superb 280ps 4x4 Estate (1,560kg) Gross Weight 2,275kg, Max Load 715kg

 

The Skoda Octavia Estate is left out with a 230ps Petrol Front wheel drive

1,365kg / 1,907kg / 542kg

or a 184ps Diesel is you want AWD.

1,484kg / 2,129kg / 645kg

 

Series 3 BMW Touring petrol Auto X-Drives

1,610 kg / 2,185 kg / 575kg

It's always worth checking the manufacturers small print on weights as some include the driver (75kg's) and some don't.

That was the common practice across the Volkswagen Group, where Skoda & Seat did and VW / Audi were not,

and it was not so easy to clearly see where they did or did not looking for the Small Print.

 

Kerb Weight / Unladen Weight / Dry Weight etc, different countries different things.

Now supposed to be the same in the EU.

 

But you still need to check if it is with a 65 or 75 kg Drivers, 60% Full Tank of Fuel etc.

Now the weights should be IMO,

 Sitting at a Kerb ready to drive on the road, with the Fuel Tank 100% Full, Oil & Coolants & Optional Extras included,

and no weight of a Driver Included.

Then you know if you are Slim Jim / Jane on your own, or a car full of Hippos on their way to KFC.

Amanda, neither are light weights, but then neither is the M135i Auto @ 1,450kg mkw.

These porky hot car / estates are needing more & more power just to get their bulk about quickly.

The Superb Estate offers the carrying capacity though & All weather security.

 

BMW's Gross Weight 2,015 kg, so Max load 565kg

Golf R Estate Gross Weight 2,080 kg,   Max Load 581 kg

Superb 280ps 4x4 Estate (1,560kg) Gross Weight 2,275kg, Max Load 715kg

 

The Skoda Octavia Estate is left out with a 230ps Petrol Front wheel drive

1,365kg / 1,907kg / 542kg

or a 184ps Diesel is you want AWD.

1,484kg / 2,129kg / 645kg

 

Series 3 BMW Touring petrol Auto X-Drives

1,610 kg / 2,185 kg / 575kg

Whoa!!!!!!!! Whats the M135 got to do with this? I was surprised the Superb, a car about the size of an aircraft carrier only weights a big ham sandwich more than the Golf.  You guys are too prickly, I am sure the Golf R is made of pure magical fairy dust and is wonderful. BTW my M135 with the auto box and several options  is no lightweight and I am fully aware of this as I own the car and have read it's specs    .

 

Btw I understand power and torque to weight ratios reasonably well thank you

 

Well done the Superb to offer so much for so little (if you see what I mean)

Edited 3 August, 201510 yr by Lady Elanore

Interestingly enough, I just read an article about the next gen Golf GTi. Slightly lighter and power pegged at 300bhp (possibly?) Looks like the R may get more when it eventually comes and perhaps the return of the VR6 engine

I doubt that on the VR6 engine or similar.

 

This is the last hoorah in 2015 -16 for cars and Engines like there are now before Full Euro 6 Emissions later this year and then the next lot of EU Type Approved cars.

 

Its going to be Down Sizing of CC's, Less Cylinders, Cylinder Deactivation & Cylinder on Demand,

Turbo & Supercharging & Electric Superchargers, Petrol / Diesel / Electric and some Alternative Fuels.

Just as all Manufacturers have ready now, trialed, on sale in small numbers.

 

I have just seen the monster of all cars,

A Merc GLA 63 AMG,  there will continue to be vehicles like that on the roads for those willing to pay.

 

The UK & EU needs to start taxing great big Private Passenger cars by Weight, 

not just Emission Figures that Manufacturers can get through the tests.

If Big cars are going in an out cities with 1 or 2 on Board then charge the Congestion Charge as though it has the full compliment of passengers.

Apparently the VR engine is going to be used in the Passat and an SUV for North America. As VW cant use the 5 cylinder engine, then it might make sense to produce something a bit more exotic for the R. Especially if the GTi is going to match the current R for power and possibly beat it on weight

There is the New Mk6 Polo to come out in Europe and that might have to be where VW put their efforts with Small Sporting Hatchbacks,

after all that is what they have around the world in WRC, Polo is the Model getting the Public Exposure among the other cars in that sizes from the Big Manufacturers.

 

Not that the Face Lifted 2015 Polo GTI 1.8TSI seems to be a sales success.

Unless all these long build times are because of Full Order Books.

 

I wonder where a New Golf GTI would get priced in the Range between the Golfs selling in Big Numbers at the prices they are, then the Golf R's that are not that much more expensive than a current Golf GTI.

I read it from a George Karcher report and he is a very well respected journalist. If he writes something, there will be a grain of truth in it at the very least.

I read it from a George Karcher report and he is a very well respected journalist. If he writes something, there will be a grain of truth in it at the very least.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/volkswagen/vw-golf-gti-mk8-whats-in-store-for-2019s-hot-hatch/

 

Would hope that R400 would be launched before  then.

 

Same guy that dismissed the R IN HIS FIRST REVIEW OF IT!  Check that out in past review in Carmagazine.. 

 

 

 

"Verdict

Is the Golf R really worth a 14% price premium over the GTI? VW is bullishly saying so – it claims the new R will could constitute up to 5% of Golf sales – twice its previous ratio.

However, with the equally competent and sexier-badged Audi S3 available for almost the same money, and a crazy 400bhp Golf RS in the pipeline for late 2015, we’d leave the Golf R out in the cold."

Edited 3 August, 201510 yr by vrskeith

'2019' /  Mk8 Golfs.  

 There will be Euro 7 Emissions coming in on 2020, and much Oil will flow under bridges by then.

 

North America might have stopped generating 1/3 of their Electric Energy from Coal, and Germany might have had to get real on how many cars & models they produce and sell around the World.

 

He is Georg  not George.

http://www.automobilemag.com/staff/georg-kacher

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/volkswagen/vw-golf-gti-mk8-whats-in-store-for-2019s-hot-hatch/

 

Would hope that R400 would be launched before  then.

 

Same guy that dismissed the R IN HIS FIRST REVIEW OF IT!  Check that out in past review in Carmagazine.. 

I've read CAR mag since the late 70s (father was a bit of a car nut) and thought of it as having the best jornos for years. Kacher is one who always entertains and impresses me. I value his judgment, although not over my own of course. Besides who says he was wrong :p  :peek:

Edited 3 August, 201510 yr by Lady Elanore

 

He is Georg  not George.

http://www.automobilemag.com/staff/georg-kacher

Spool checker gone into turbo mode. It made Kacher into Karcher too

Edited 3 August, 201510 yr by Lady Elanore