Soulboy Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 (edited) Very quick review as I only picked it up 3 days ago. I was unsure what to replace the S3 with, but had it down to a choice of 5. > BMW 135 > Golf R > Subaru Imprezza > Porsche Cayman > Another S3 I knocked the BMW and Porsche on the head as I wanted to stick with 4wd. I have got used to it over the years from a driving point of view and it proved invaluable during the bad weather last winter. We live on a hill and I was the only car getting out and about. I had not yet properly looked at the Subaru (despite a kind offer from Garcon) and didn't really want another S3 (just because I have had one already and I intend to keep it 3 years, by which time it will probably be replaced by a new model). The biggest drawback with the Golf was the ridiculous price. I was also struggling to find a Golf R and the wait for new is 6 - 9 months. Then one appeared at the right price, with the spec I wanted. I got offered a good p/x on the S3 and the deal was done overnight. Anyway, my first impressions are very good. Firstly the standard seats are fantastic. I am not a lover of leather (too cold in winter / too hot summer) but the cloth/alcanterra seats are very supportive and have a none slip material on the back and ar5e sections, which is excellent. I didn't go for DSG as I dont like it. But the manual gear box is super slick and a delight to use. The sound is very good for a 4 pot and even has a hint of the old R32. Its quite a lot louder than the S3, with far more of a rumble. The car also seems a lot more responsive and dynamic than the S3 and appears more driver based and the handling is breathtaking. It just grips! The cabin is a lot bigger than the S3. It has got more headroom and a lot more rear leg room (even though its a 3 door) but the build quality is not up to the S3. Additionally, its not as well specced as the S3 and you could spend a lot of money getting everything you want on one of these. I didn't like the wheels from the photos, but they look a lot better in the flesh. In addition the unique rear lights are cool. I just need to find out how to switch the DRLs off though. Another appeal is that they are quite rare. I think they are only building 400 this year. In summary, it reminds me a lot of my mk4 R32 (both black). It just makes me smile when I drive it The price is an issue, and if I am brutally honest - I would say the S3 feels like the more expensive option. For anyone interested (especially the sound), this vid sums it up pretty well Edited September 21, 2010 by Soulboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Same route as me Soulboy, and your comments pretty much reflect my own moves from S3 / TTS / Facelift S3 to Golf R The S3 does feel more expensive, but after an audi cabin everything else is not going feel as expensive, but yes this car has more character than the very capable but sometimes bland S3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 How do you find the performance, or is it not worn in yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
encee Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 From your initial impressions, mate, do you think that you will keep it the intended 3 years then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Very interesting for me, thanks Soulboy. My Mk5 R32 is now two years old on a VW Solutions deal which entails that it goes back in September 2011 or I buy it from VW ! My Dealer is advising that with the Price Hike and the VAT rise to 20% at the end of 2010, it makes semse for me to order the Golf R to my Spec now as it's likely to take 6 months for delivery and I can effectively 'protect' myself from any increases to current List Price. I'm minded to hang fire as the idea of a 4-Pot Golf isn't really what I'm after, especially as the same spec as my R32 is near on £40k !! Your hands on experience with the new Golf R will be very welcome ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Jesus wept. I have just seen the price of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Jesus wept. I have just seen the price of these. I know Chris. When I bought my mk IV in 2003 it was £25k with a few bits. Now you could top over £40k without ticking all the boxes! Soulboy was yours brand new? Did you have to pay list? Don't suppose there were any discounts. It's very subtle compared to the original model, which I don't mind. But it looks like it could stand out just a bit more from the other models. I've seen one blue one and a broken down White one! They are rare at the moment, wonder how the prices will hold up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Jesus wept. I have just seen the price of these. Yes - too much and fully loaded, it's competing price wise with a host of more credible alternatives ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busby Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 I saw one in the flesh for the first time this week in Hove. They certainly look much better in the flesh than they do in the pictures - especially the wheels. It's certainly on my list when I'm due a change in April. Price wise they are starting to appear at dealers for £26k which isn't bad for a car with a couple of thousand on the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted September 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Well a few days in and I absolutely love this car. It just makes me Grin!! The grip and handling and feedback through the steering is excellent. It corners like a go-kart And as for the sound (TP27) - have a listen to the YouTube link I posted in my first post. I think that is a standard car. It has got a real rumble and growl (like the old R32s) and mine sounds the same as that even though I have only done 500 miles. You wouldn't recognise it as the same engine in the S3 (and girlfriends 2.0t TT). The engine seems far more responsive and willing to rev than the S3 and it appears to have more torque and pull from lower revs - without the turbo lag I had in the S3. As for getting hold of one, I had been looking for a while and couldnt find one. The dealer wait list is typically 6 months. There are a few 5 doors about (which I didnt want) and a few white ones (same) and mostly DSG (not wanted again). Many had extras on I didn't want which made them very expensive. In the end I found a black 3 door manual in a dealers. It was sold as an ex demo - even though it only did one test drive (26 mies on the clock) and had been used as a display model. It had been registered 2 months ago and I managed to get it about 10% below list - and a very decent p/x on the S3. Its actually a pretty base spec - but again suits me fine as it brought it in on budget. To be honest the only thing I miss from the S3 are the heated seats - but the standard seats on this are amazing and are actually warm anyway. On the other hand, I now have a touch screen RCD 510. I think the car will remain rare due to the ridiculous price. But I for one think its worth the money (if you can get a deal and dont go mad on extras) In essence it reminds me of my mk4 R32 and somehow is more than the sum of the parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Well a few days in and I absolutely love this car. It just makes me Grin!! And as for the sound (TP27) - have a listen to the YouTube link I posted in my first post. In essence it reminds me of my mk4 R32 and somehow is more than the sum of the parts. The sound track made me think it was an R32!! My issue is that the R32 I have is fully loaded (manual but no Recaro's) and rolling the same spec into the R20 makes it expensive. That said, I don't want the car until next Summer (if I go for one) so it may be a Deccember order if I can 'get a deal'. I now want to drive one - that's dangerous for me 'cos it usually follows with me signing an Order Form as was the case with the RS4 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 It is a very fine looking car, and has been well received by the likes of EVO. But there's no getting away from that price - nor some of the ridiculous things you have to pay extra for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulboy Posted September 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) The sound track made me think it was an R32!! My issue is that the R32 I have is fully loaded (manual but no Recaro's) and rolling the same spec into the R20 makes it expensive. That said, I don't want the car until next Summer (if I go for one) so it may be a Deccember order if I can 'get a deal'. I now want to drive one - that's dangerous for me 'cos it usually follows with me signing an Order Form as was the case with the RS4 !! If you are ever round this neck of the woods (North west) you are welcome to a test drive. And in answer to 2 of the other questions. Yes, I do hope to keep it 3 years. The days are gone where I enjoy changing cars - now I just find it a ba!! ache and am glad when its done. And Wopps - yes it does seem fast - even though it will take some time to loosen up fully. Decided to give it some welly from the off so it doesn't think its a grannies car Edited September 23, 2010 by Soulboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Thanks for the offer - appreciated. Those of you that know my car experiences, this R32 is probably the longest I have kept a car so like you, the next one will be a three year horizon too. I'm pushing for the Test Drive of the R20 and we'll see. As Garcon says, too many of the extras, I feel, should be standard!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 If you can live without the Haldex and don't need the 5 doors, I think the Rocco R is a better buy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 My roccy r sounds better with miles but still rather Hoover like. Not like the old r32 at least. Wonder if the golf sounds different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 My roccy r sounds better with miles but still rather Hoover like. Not like the old r32 at least. Wonder if the golf sounds different? Golf is more throaty than the Rocco, Rocco is more S3 like, and as Soulboy notes the Golf is a different drive than the S3 Nearly went for a cancelled order Roco in Silver with DSG, but after driving both, plummed for the Golf manual and the FWD. Soulboy are you running 18s or 19s? I am on 19's and the ride is spot on,which did surprise me somewhat, as well as the alloy being a dam sight harder to kerb or pothole damage, than the 19s feckers I had on the TTS which were a nightmare as the alloy actually stuck out further than the boot, very much like the A2 sport alloys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahankins Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 The comments are interesting. I asked the dealer how they were doing when getting my R32 serviced a couple of months back. The response was 'not great'. It's a big Inchcape dealership, so they do good business. His comment was that the Rocco was a far better price, echoed above. I too spec'd an R to the same as my current R32, it's 40k as others have found. I just can't justify that sort of money on a Golf, coughing up 30k for the R32 was bad enough. I wangled a new RS6 last year for 20k more a spec'd R.....makes the price nothing short of barking. If the RS3 transpires to be real then that's where I'll chuck my 40k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 If the RS3 transpires to be real then that's where I'll chuck my 40k. Yup - have to echo that sentiment. If I was a hairdresser I might have considered a TTS or TT RS !! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted October 15, 2010 Report Share Posted October 15, 2010 I've now test driven a Golf R - have to admit, it's caught my attention, big time!! Apart from the lack of V6 soundtrack, it's a much more like the original MkIV R32 than the MKV IMO!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Thought it might!!! Back in a GTI now, missing Haldex with the weather we have had this month. What I really need is a GTI in the Summer and an R in the winter not the other way round! My old one was sold during the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP27 Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Thought it might!!! Morning Matt !! Yes - I have to say I'm in a quandry on this one! I drove the new R and the GTi back to back, just to see the difference. Was well imprssed with the GTi, I have to say, however, the R is so so like the 'original' R32 it makes me realise that the new R might just have to be acquired! Any upgrades coming to the R in the next while or is it as seen in the brochure today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 There are some more week 45 changes IIRC, but I don't think the golf R is affected, the Scirocco R is having the standard Spoiler not the R one anymore, GTI will have LED DRL's with Xenons. Don't think there are golf ones other than that, will check monday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 There are some more week 45 changes IIRC, but I don't think the golf R is affected, the Scirocco R is having the standard Spoiler not the R one anymore, GTI will have LED DRL's with Xenons. Don't think there are golf ones other than that, will check monday! I also heard that the Rocco R will get the option of Recaros for a £3,250. Strange decision IMO to take away the unique "R" rear spoiler and replace it with the same spoiler as the standard Rocco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 There are some more week 45 changes IIRC, but I don't think the golf R is affected, the Scirocco R is having the standard Spoiler not the R one anymore, GTI will have LED DRL's with Xenons. Don't think there are golf ones other than that, will check monday! I heard that the Rocco will now have the option of Recaro seats for just over £3k. Backward step IMO to replace the rear spoiler on the Rocco R with the one off the standard car. You're paying a premium for these models so you do want it to be different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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