I love the Golf and have had GTIs & R32-R Over the years and if I had to choose it would be the R32 mk4 or mk5 so much character and the sound makes you smile :) Great episode thank you
Engine is no stronger. Yes, bigger turbo, IS38 vs IS20. Main difference in motors is SAI which is for getting air into the catalytic converter on start up for emissions. Non-consequential differences in strength / power potential.
Hey guys, Sorry about the engine mistake. Didn’t realise the TCR used the IS38 turbo instead of the IS20. Thanks for pointing that out. Hope you’re having a good day Max
my APR stage 1 93 Octane Hight Torque tune on my MK8 R has me at 405 HP, 397 TQ. I plan on going Stage 3 in a year. It's my 2nd R, and I've had 3 GTI's. I've loved them all... but R's just get way more looks.
Had a GTI manual for a few years and loved it such. Such a great little car and it's K03 turbo was super tourqy down low and lateral mobility on the freeway the best I've ever driven. BUT my 17R DSG R hands down is the best Golf that I've ever driven. Love the AWD and how planted the R is at any speed. I'm tuned to 400whp and 437tq on 93 running stage 2 and she's a blast..
I have a 6C Polo GTI, RL Stage 2 Tune, heaps of supporting bolt-ons, really love it. If I had to move away from pocket rocket a TCR might be the option....
Team Golf R only because it’s AWD and has more power. Although the FWD GTI can be fun on backroads it’s also less grippy and when you’re talking close to 300hp on wet roads (British weather) you don’t want to risk sliding out
@@DrivenPlus i went from a gti to an R i find the R to be on another level to gti on the twisty A roads i usually drive on when driven hard, i dont get the "more fun" thing tbh never drove a tcr though
For me the key difference between a GTI and an R is the AWD. The R's AWD gives you exponentially more grip. Should you add bolt on's and upgrade software, a GTI with over 300hp is just a FWD tire roaster - you'll never get that power down out of a corner or in the wet faster than an R. I always scoff at GTI's with more than 300hp, they will just spin from 1st through 2nd on a launch, and as soon as the tires let go from applying power to early out of a corner, you will understeer right out of it. The AWD in the R allows you to point the steering wheel under power and have the car follow. I've owned many GTI's and now an R. The GTI's are really top tier, but if you seriously want the best performance possible out of a hatch, you'll want to go with an R. If you think the GTI is better performance wise, you've never owned an R. It is truly on another level compared to the GTI. Now when it comes to personal preferences like interior and exterior bits and bobs, one is not better than the other, it just comes down to personal taste.
I feel it’s unwise to compare both golf’s as that’s all they have in common.. undoubtedly the tcr is probably exciting in certain circumstances but once you drive an R it’s a different ball game on rural B roads where I live . If you go off in a golf it’s going to be big as the golf pulls like a train from the second you put your foot down.
If you live in the countryside the FWD with over 250bhp becomes tiring. This anything with 280bhp (Cupra or TCR) would struggle to get out of any of our junctions and that’s when dry. In the wet you’ll regret not getting AWD/4WD car. That’s the only drawback.
Guy knows what he's talking about, in the wet AWD is a must and far superior off the junctions, tires and lsd aint going to help you spinning up if you pushing it hard with 300+ bhp, and like he said gets tiring and boring and costly front tires spinning up all the time
For daily use, the best is GTI Performance with the DCC option! The CS and TCR are too stiff and also more fuel consumption. I consider 245hp to be enough for the occasional fun elements on b roads, but you can always tune/mod your GTI if you "need" more. But, having said that, I would still go for the TCR and sacrifice some daily usability, because it is more special and has it the sweet-spot power for a FWD car.
Max. Agree! Would sell a " vital organ" for a TCR or Clubsport. As you say will never date. Oh, like a comment below, really not sure about the " bed" music. Your videos don't need it.. Cheers! Have a good week.👍👌
Hey Keith! Hope you’re doing good! Really enjoyed the TCR, great looking things. Note taken regarding the music. Thanks for you comment! Hope you’re enjoying the weather
Does the TCR also have direct and port injection? I'm a BMW straight six cilinder guy but I've driven a tuned TCR and it was really fun and I wish I had it as a daily.
It you bought it with performance pack you’d have cup 2 tyres, top speed limited to 165mph not 155mph, 19” wheels, Akrapovic exhaust. You gotta buy with performance pack otherwise the car looks almost like any other GTI.
Had my grey gti tcr for 3 years, brilliant car, holds its residual values.
What’s your mileage ?
I love the Golf and have had GTIs & R32-R
Over the years and if I had to choose it would be the R32 mk4 or mk5 so much character and the sound makes you smile :)
Great episode thank you
Thanks for your comment Jonathon! R32 Mk4 for me! Timeless piece
traded up from gti 245 to icr the tcr has been faultless great to drive not seen another i love it
GTI over R any day. It's the details - red piping and tartan 🥰
Mine's got red-edged black seatbelts too, just to accentuate the sportiness inside 😁
The engine in the TCR isn’t the same as the GTI. It’s the Golf R engine, stronger engine and with a bigger turbo.
Yes this is the part driven+ need to correct ✌🏽
Engine is no stronger. Yes, bigger turbo, IS38 vs IS20. Main difference in motors is SAI which is for getting air into the catalytic converter on start up for emissions. Non-consequential differences in strength / power potential.
@@GooNik-l9w you don’t know what your talking about. R engine uses different internals also, compression rate is different.
Hey guys,
Sorry about the engine mistake. Didn’t realise the TCR used the IS38 turbo instead of the IS20. Thanks for pointing that out.
Hope you’re having a good day
Max
@@Madman568 Like I said, non-consequential differences when it comes to failure points. How many high HP EA888s have you built?
I keep picking the GTI over the R. Of course I get a APR stage 2 tune, which gives 358hp 370 tq in the US. It is a proper blast!
my APR stage 1 93 Octane Hight Torque tune on my MK8 R has me at 405 HP, 397 TQ. I plan on going Stage 3 in a year. It's my 2nd R, and I've had 3 GTI's. I've loved them all... but R's just get way more looks.
@@du3lcitiz3n R is superior in every way.
@@blam9346 I'm loving mine.
Nice!
Had a GTI manual for a few years and loved it such. Such a great little car and it's K03 turbo was super tourqy down low and lateral mobility on the freeway the best I've ever driven. BUT my 17R DSG R hands down is the best Golf that I've ever driven. Love the AWD and how planted the R is at any speed. I'm tuned to 400whp and 437tq on 93 running stage 2 and she's a blast..
better then a standard gti but would go for the gti club sport kidd deffo nice review son 🤛🏻🔥💯💪🏻
Thanks!
Great review - apart from that really irritating 'Elevator Music' playing in the background... 😁
Note taken - thank you!
@@DrivenPlusI didn’t mind the music but it could definitely be turned down while you’re speaking
I have a 6C Polo GTI, RL Stage 2 Tune, heaps of supporting bolt-ons, really love it. If I had to move away from pocket rocket a TCR might be the option....
GTI TCR is the best GTI ever made 🔥💪
It’s definitely up there! And I think I agree
Team Golf R only because it’s AWD and has more power. Although the FWD GTI can be fun on backroads it’s also less grippy and when you’re talking close to 300hp on wet roads (British weather) you don’t want to risk sliding out
Good tyres and a LSD, it would be great. But for the UK however, the Golf R makes more sense
@@DrivenPlus i went from a gti to an R
i find the R to be on another level to gti on the twisty A roads i usually drive on when driven hard, i dont get the "more fun" thing tbh
never drove a tcr though
Very nice machine 👌🏼 another great review from Driven+
Thanks Nigel!
Gti has always been more fun but you can save money but going for the Leon cupra 280 or map a gti that will make about 320bhp
or map a TCR and get 360bhp.
but the leon is quite plain but a cheaper option for sure
I have a tcr, but i prefer my mk7 clubsport drive wise. You should definitely review a clubsport hmu 🤙 and compare both gems
I bought an R, will see this summer if the awd is just hype, but from what ive seen already the R is a monster compared to the gti
For me the key difference between a GTI and an R is the AWD. The R's AWD gives you exponentially more grip. Should you add bolt on's and upgrade software, a GTI with over 300hp is just a FWD tire roaster - you'll never get that power down out of a corner or in the wet faster than an R. I always scoff at GTI's with more than 300hp, they will just spin from 1st through 2nd on a launch, and as soon as the tires let go from applying power to early out of a corner, you will understeer right out of it. The AWD in the R allows you to point the steering wheel under power and have the car follow.
I've owned many GTI's and now an R. The GTI's are really top tier, but if you seriously want the best performance possible out of a hatch, you'll want to go with an R. If you think the GTI is better performance wise, you've never owned an R. It is truly on another level compared to the GTI. Now when it comes to personal preferences like interior and exterior bits and bobs, one is not better than the other, it just comes down to personal taste.
I feel it’s unwise to compare both golf’s as that’s all they have in common..
undoubtedly the tcr is probably exciting in certain circumstances but once you drive an R it’s a different ball game on rural B roads where I live .
If you go off in a golf it’s going to be big as the golf pulls like a train from the second you put your foot down.
That’s good way to put it Brian for sure 👍
Great review of the TCR by the way 👍
Best car I’ve owned
I wanted a manual so ended up with a R but the TCR would be a great option.
If you live in the countryside the FWD with over 250bhp becomes tiring. This anything with 280bhp (Cupra or TCR) would struggle to get out of any of our junctions and that’s when dry. In the wet you’ll regret not getting AWD/4WD car. That’s the only drawback.
Owned a TCR since September 2019 and have not once regretted when driving in the wet!
With good tyres and a LSD, I’m sure you will hardly noticed the difference
Guy knows what he's talking about, in the wet AWD is a must and far superior off the junctions, tires and lsd aint going to help you spinning up if you pushing it hard with 300+ bhp, and like he said gets tiring and boring and costly front tires spinning up all the time
@@scitec717 completely agree I'm just saying for me personally having owned one for 4+ years I've not regretted it, and my TCR is running 400ps 😁
As much as I loved my GTI in the summer it struggled in snow and rain with traction going up steep hills.
You missed a point here. The TCR has the IS38 turbo which is superior to the IS20. Much better torque distribution.
Thanks for pointing this out!
@@DrivenPlus 🫡 Great video keep up the good work!
Thanks! I appreciate it, plenty on its way 😎
GTI performance vs. Clubsport vs. TCR? Which one is the best for daily use with some fun elements on b roads?
For daily use, the best is GTI Performance with the DCC option! The CS and TCR are too stiff and also more fuel consumption. I consider 245hp to be enough for the occasional fun elements on b roads, but you can always tune/mod your GTI if you "need" more. But, having said that, I would still go for the TCR and sacrifice some daily usability, because it is more special and has it the sweet-spot power for a FWD car.
Would it be correct to correct to say gti clubsport 40 manual is overall a better vehicle? 🤔
GTI. I’m in the states but I’ve basically recreated the TCR. Not gonna fake badge it though
Max. Agree! Would sell a " vital organ" for a TCR or Clubsport. As you say will never date.
Oh, like a comment below, really not sure about the " bed" music. Your videos don't need it..
Cheers! Have a good week.👍👌
Hey Keith! Hope you’re doing good! Really enjoyed the TCR, great looking things. Note taken regarding the music. Thanks for you comment! Hope you’re enjoying the weather
Does the TCR also have direct and port injection? I'm a BMW straight six cilinder guy but I've driven a tuned TCR and it was really fun and I wish I had it as a daily.
Absolute brilliant video mate ... would you say the TCR may be a good investment?
Thanks! Well new cars are hard to be investments but the TCR will certainly hold its value better than a normal GTI
@DrivenPlus that's what I'm thinking as I have a 7.5 performance pack and wondering weather to trade it for a tcr
nice car, but personally like more the design if the newer models
i went GTI PP to TCR love it dont see many either the R feels quite heavy compaired to a GTI great vlog btw
The R is more planted and stable at higher speed compared to the GTI. Plus it's AWD gets it off thr line faster every time.
Hate torque steer, so sticking with my 7.5R. If you're good with FWD, then yeah, GTI is a lot lighter without the Haldex system.
7.5 is a great model
Fun wise: Golf 8R > Golf 8 Clubsport > Golf 7.5 TCR > Golf 7.5 R
Glad my sleeper 7.5 gti missed your list.
prefer the clubsport
That’s a great car too
This is the same car as my mk7 clubsport
That 0-60 was pretty downhill!
Exactly. Bs 0-60
Gti tcr
I’d rather my mk6 Ed35 over a mk6 R.
Why did you go down a steep slope? 😂
You srsly tested 0-60 downhill 😂
-0.7% is hardly downhill
Tcr all day long
It you bought it with performance pack you’d have cup 2 tyres, top speed limited to 165mph not 155mph, 19” wheels, Akrapovic exhaust. You gotta buy with performance pack otherwise the car looks almost like any other GTI.
Nice! Performance pack definitely seems worth it then definitely
So you're telling me if i load a stage 1 tune on my Mk7 GTI ill have a TCR? nice
The Golf R is always going to be superior to the GTI, no matter how you put it. lol
It depends how you defy ‘superior’
As a drivers car, the GTI is the one
Gti clubsport was faster then the R on the best track in the world, the Nurburgring.
I have just sold my TCR for a Mk8 Golf R. TCR is a fantastic car but the golf R is just better. I could do a whole write up but its not my channel 😉
My mk 7 gti looks better, sorry, bigger and fatter
Everyone has their own opinion! Mk7 is a great looking car for sure
Disagree.... my golf 7.5 TCR has a much bigger girth
@gabsterc4220 i disagree, my mk 7 has a body kit and is wider than the standard 7.5!
Buying a GTI over a R is the same reason why someone would buy a 718 over the 911 😂😂😂
Unpopular opinion: 718 drives better 👀
718 GTS 4.0 drives better than double the price 911‘s