*Yeah... no chuckle whatsoever. Let's be honest, Matt was bored in this car. That's the problem with the R. It's a very quick car but it looks boring and relatively drives boring for what it is at it's price bracket.*
@@BurritoSenor I’m going to be taking a long hard look at these two because I’m going to have to get out of my brz soon. I would 100% opt for the S3 if it came with a manual.
This. The difference between a fully loaded GTI and 2017 R around where I live is 6k. If you don't need it loaded though, the GTI is a pretty good deal.
In the UK can pick up 18 month old golf r for 20k and gti not much less, golf r has become one of the best bang for buck easily tunable and still reliable
Part of the reason why i want this car is becasuse of reviews like this, very professional, supurb video and audio quality. I've rocked with you since you first bought your BRZ. Yes you seemed bored as hell in this car but i've test driven a few of these cars and i love them. I hope to be a proud owner of one of these this week. Thanx Matt
I love your videos man, they're absolutely awesome, very informative, and I love how unbiased you are in your reviews. It's also hilarious when you flog the fuel pedal hahaa!
You didn't mention the modding capabilities, the Golf R runs 10s on a stage 3 APR. The amount of speed left laying on the table is insane, much more than the Focus RS.
"great value car" Priced 8k above the GTI (it's competitor) for AWD and 45 more horsepower. lol. You can get Golf R's for 35-37k all day. My buddy just bought a loaded WRX for 35k.
I think the biggest bummer with the Golf R: No sunroof! I cannot live without one. I currently drive the 2016 Golf GTI and I love the sunroof. If future iterations of the Golf R includes the sunroof option (at least here in N.America), it'll be at the top of my list of options once my lease with the Golf GTI expires in 3.5 years.
Great review! You definitely perfectly summed up the R to a tee. I own a 2017, mines a lemon and has been in the shop 6 times in 2,000 miles, but driving it made me have the biggest smile. So much capability. Can't wait to get mine back.
At what point are they required to just give you a new car? 6 times in 2k miles that would drive me insane. I don't have a Volkswagen but drive a 2015 car and with 13k miles haven't been to the shop once.
It's had two problems. One was a bad blind spot monitor sensor. That's all said and done. Now the problem that is nearly impossible to fix is it misfires when cold but only when driven a certain way. It'll idle fine. It just misfires when you're driving. After 15 seconds, it's 100%. I dropped it off last night at the dealership
Lol they should definitely just give you another brand new golf r if your engine is already misfiring. Definitely something wrong with the way that one was built.
zed4me I never knew that so I googled it, turns out they have a common issue where they rattle...mine has been doing that since day one and I thought it was a speaker issue. Now I know what it is and how to sort it so thanks for that, you've actually done me a big favour pointing out my mistake.
Get an APR stage 1 tune fixes all throttle lag also makes it shift 10x times faster. Oh and it bumps power to 357 HP & torque to 349 FT-LBS Makes it feel like a baby GTR hatch! ;)
Chassis =/= Body style. The chassis is the underpinnings (frame) and is often used to describe the suspension tuning as well. Most Volkswagens have pretty fantastic chassis and tuning (and therefore driving dynamics), but do have the more conservative body styling.
After test driving both I have to say I completely agree! Personally I preferred the drive, the interior finishes have a richer feel and its an extremely attractive looking car in my humble opinion.
I just put a deposit on a 2017 Golf R. When I was at the dealer, they had a fully loaded (Autobahn edition) for $36k... so really we're only talking a 4k difference for the extra power and AWD. Just FYI :) Oh, I picked a manual.
I love my 16 R 6spd...base model with no DCC or other unnecessary bells and whistles. 36.5k...a bit harsh on rough roads and the mileage stinks compared to my jsw...that said its so composed, super quick and solid feeling. No spare, summer tires, no sunroof stink but easily forgotten. Looking forward to my jsw buyback too!
I had this same issue too before I found a lightly used R and bought it instead. The VW dealerships near me would not let me test drive any of the R's unless I was ready to buy the car without test driving, which defeats the purpose of test drives at all.
You'd think they can devote one for test drives even if they don't stock the car and it has to be special ordered, then you can sell off the test vehicle at a special price when a new model comes in.
Heard from the grapevine that the few set aside as Manager's vehicles (manager drives it as a daily, but must be used for test drives upon request), were discarded due to the frequent break downs.
I have a '16 GTI and you really undersold the space in the trunk. Many panels can be removed for more space and that subfloor drops down another few inches as well. Golf R also has a bigger turbo than the GTI.
I live in Oregon and its almost always wet so I want an AWD. I had a VW W8 wagon and loved pulling up next to V8s at a light in the rain and teasing them.
I would say very nice review You explained very well the difference between the Golf R and the Focus RS Also the GTI is a better value, that's why I selected it. Thanks for this.
best performance daily driver with some luxury! a unique choice for those who don't want something too hardcore! my friend who likes cars but not a hardcore enthusiast loves his mk7.
The price difference in Canada between a GTI PP and a Golf R is tiny, so the R is a tremendous value here. I love my R but you're right about the value proposition of choosing a GTI if you don't spec up to the Performance Pack.
let's just turn down this little back road............ whoo hoo giggle laugh and smile, you could review a potato and I'd watch it and smile, well done..
You really should test it with the soundaktor unplugged. It'll make the car sound even better and way quieter when cruising. I unplugged mine in my 2016 GLI. It's the silliest thing ever.
Matt, excellent review. I owned the 16 gti and now have the R. Three points to hammer home: to get a gti that has leather, ppackage, dsg, dcc, etc., what I had-- you're talking an autobahn listing for 37k, just 3k less. For 3k, to get a German built, awd, slightly better build quality (yes, observed), 72bhp With safety radar, and definitely better resale value, there's no comparison. Second, after carefully looking at the a3, I don't see ***any*** meaningful improvement it has over the R. Last, you were constantly testing the R in normal mode. I hope that you spent time in race. Hans stuck created this car's suspension and it is silly smooth even in race mode. Your complaint about the transmission and bland feel as well as exhaust note -- all enhanced with race mode activated. Done.
Matt... stop playing around. This thing monsters your GT. No sugar coating it... and the complaints about the noise. You had an ecoboost and this sounds quite a LOT better lol
+Arno Fourie sound is subjective. As for the Golf R "monstering" my GT, they're polar opposites. The R will outhandle it sure, but in a straight line the R feels way slower than the GT.
I know it hurts guys. I'm a mustang guy (owner) but facts and figures are what they are. Throw a noob in the R and launch it next to a skilled driver in the GT and you'll lose to 60 9 times out of 10. But yeah sure if you want to race to 160 the GT will probably just win. Not hating. I love both.
a Golf R by default depreciates a hell of a lot slower than a mustang or a gti. They are rarer and have a certain reputation which makes them sought after. MK6 R's are around 30k still where i live.
On the interior storage, you missed a something. Besides the glove box of course, there is also a small storage compartment in front of your left knee when you are sitting in the drivers seat. You could put change or maybe something small in there, it almost looks like an old school ash tray.
The Golf R is very neutral on public roads, but going to the limit on a track you earn a lot of understeer. Stock it is a super fast daily driver, but not a track car.
I always find it funny when car channels and car review videos have blasting EDM music and then when they start talking the production value hits the floor. This is no different haha.
did you try it in race mode? everything sharpens up, suspension stiffens, it'll auto blip the throttle. The R's suspension and chassis were tuned by ex Porsche race driver hans stuck.
So it seems you just got the 2016 R in the states by now. Im waiting for delivery of my GTI Clubsport (290 HP on overboost & sends 100% of power to front wheels.. ;) So you have only the normal GTI & R there. Im paying the same price for my GTI Clubsport, DSG, DCC, as i would if i got the normal GTI here in Sweden ;) Anyways they both use the same base engine (EA 888), so if your planning on tuning it anyways, your probably doing a good deal on the GTI Performance if u got it there, & dont need the 4WD of Golf R.
Seems like it would be way smarter to grab a GTI. A simple stage 1 flash from APR gets you over the 300 HP mark (correct me if I'm wrong but I've heard you can keep your warranty if you go with APR), you keep the much lighter weight without the AWD, and you can have those awesome plaid seats!
Do you prefer the golf R over an STI? i live in Québec so a lot of snow and i Wonder wich is the best (fun to drive and practical)? i would love to know your answer!
STI is more fun but also a harsher ride. I'd personally just get a standard WRX which is 8/10 the fun of the STI with better fuel economy and a smoother ride.
Trying race mode would have answered some questions I have like does the steering ratio or feel of wheel change, do shift points change, timing, traction control, and does the sound change? Surprised you mentioned testing handling but did not try race mode. You also mentioned you like the sound but would like a little louder. My 08 vet only has tour/sport(traction control and active handling separate button) selections and it changes things like steering, gear shifting in full auto, magnetic ride, traction control, and sound with dual mode exhaust. Would be nice to know the answers to these question after spending a fair amount of time with you "reviewing" the car. I also own a kia with 2.0 turbo, auto/paddle shift and mild traction control option(on/off). Hard to agree or disagree with your value and comparison assessments based on limited information provided.
I get 23mpg in my Sti with a stage 1 tune, beating the crap out of the old EJ. My Audi S4 gets 27-30mpg. 23mpg is barely acceptable for new model car with barely 300hp
karlmalone11 I own a 2014 S4, 6spd..mixed driving gets over 25mpg. I can get 28-30mpg on strictly hwy driving at 120km/hr in 6th. Go drive one on a full tank and find out for yourself you rude ignorant fuck.
Sapient Budgie You must never ever go over 2,000 rpm then, most normal people who accelerate briskly from time to time will never get that kind of mileage.
It's because he is driving mostly city. I drive pretty aggressive and have been averaging right around 25mpg on 70% city and 30% highway. Which is actually better than my 2015 WRX (tuned) for the same commute. My GR WRX with the EJ struggled to get 20mpg doing the same commute. Golf R is on a whole different level of performance than my 2015 WRX. Even a tuned WRX.
Thanks for clearing up the issue of the centre consol not opening. Do you know why the sunroof and power folding mirrors aren't available in North America?
I enjoyed your review but a Golf R review definitely merits at least one Launch. We have seen you floor plenty of fast cars, surely there had to be a single desolate road where a proper launch could have taken place. Besides it's a unique feature that not many cars in this price range have, besides the new RS.
Thinking about a golf r or the evo x. Been looking for a little more reliability coming from an 04 sti. I like the comfort and subtle look from the golf r but but I like the drive from the evo.
subaruwrxfan Wow! Pretty epic. And BTW, with you shaking like that while trying to open a center console that is bolted shut, funniest thing I've ever seen in a car review video. 😄
Great hot hatchback that doesnt need silly styling thats outdated in a few years. Its the 300HP AWD Golf that can be driven everyday, If i had an expensive supercar I would go for that or an Audi S3 for a daily. It wouldnt be a bad choice as the only car either :) If you want more hardcore driving dynamics the Focus RS ist the one to go for... Its a bit lame that everyone of these is blue and looks the same, but the color suits the car and here in europe you can get this as a Wagon also :) I dont like the fake sounds from the speakers andthe small gas tank.
If 4 full size adults and a weeks worth of luggage for each person can somehow be stuffed into a 2 door ford zx-2, I think this car has more than enough room for them.
Define fun. The STI is harsh and loud inside. It was uncomfortable too. If I was 16 it would have made me giggle though. Fun to borrow, but wouldn't want to pay for it.
zed4me i think most R owners would want a more aggressive shifting program compared to the GTi. Even my Audi S4 DSG shift program was a bit sluggish without a reflash
zed4me i own a Audi S3, same car as the R. The dual clutch s-tronic is a bit harsher because is tuned that way for these versions. APR can get you a flash and improve it for you. It will be my next mod. Am tuned with stage 1.
Fuego _ Steering is tighter, suspension is tighter, and throttle seems more sensitive to me in race mode. Normal mode is good for daily driving but on backroads you definitely want race mode.
Eeh your reaction when pulling away in this car says it all, it wasn't very exiting.. I'd have to say though, this car looks much nicer in person than in video. Saw one on the road this morning, which is what encouraged me to end up in this video haha
I'm only here for the "let's turn onto this back road here..."
*Yeah... no chuckle whatsoever. Let's be honest, Matt was bored in this car. That's the problem with the R. It's a very quick car but it looks boring and relatively drives boring for what it is at it's price bracket.*
Pretty much. The STI and RS are much more a 'drivers car' compared to the R.
the fakenoise in the interior of the R is much more boyracerish then the spoiler of the sti and the RS
Ashton Murch and see how it does
@@AzNightmare have you even driven one?
The best compromise of the one car that can do everything
S3 is just that bit nicer tho, interior quality is a step up and of course it comes with the extra price
@@BurritoSenor I’m going to be taking a long hard look at these two because I’m going to have to get out of my brz soon. I would 100% opt for the S3 if it came with a manual.
@@Online_ToughGuy yeah interesting car to come from to a vag hatchback, here in the UK they both come in auto and manual
A fully loaded GTI runs you around $35k....so an R will run you and extra $5-6k. I'd go R
This. The difference between a fully loaded GTI and 2017 R around where I live is 6k. If you don't need it loaded though, the GTI is a pretty good deal.
there are a lot of 2017 autobahn GTI's,( which is the highest trim level) in the low 30's....on auto trader that is
thomas pugh you can get a gti autobahn here for 31.5k after discount
Indeed. I went R. The second impossible question is, dsg or manual? My 2018 arrives in late January. Blizzaks on Pretoria wheels for winter.
In the UK can pick up 18 month old golf r for 20k and gti not much less, golf r has become one of the best bang for buck easily tunable and still reliable
Part of the reason why i want this car is becasuse of reviews like this, very professional, supurb video and audio quality. I've rocked with you since you first bought your BRZ. Yes you seemed bored as hell in this car but i've test driven a few of these cars and i love them. I hope to be a proud owner of one of these this week. Thanx Matt
I love your videos man, they're absolutely awesome, very informative, and I love how unbiased you are in your reviews. It's also hilarious when you flog the fuel pedal hahaa!
"flog the fuel pedal" what time period are you from? XD
You are rustling my jimmies hahaha
You didn't mention the modding capabilities, the Golf R runs 10s on a stage 3 APR. The amount of speed left laying on the table is insane, much more than the Focus RS.
That 0-60 is very fast. That's modern muscle car territory - and what used to be super-car times. Much respect.
Ive driven a 2015 GTI and it actually impressed me. Very fun cars to take around town.
7:04 this is what you came for
Matt, the R fits you to a T.
If there was no such thing as the WRX, I'd grab one of these once I needed 4 doors probably.
subaruwrxfan wrx FTW!!!!!!!!!
WRX is a great value just wish the threw in an alcantara package or a rear LSD
"great value car" Priced 8k above the GTI (it's competitor) for AWD and 45 more horsepower. lol. You can get Golf R's for 35-37k all day. My buddy just bought a loaded WRX for 35k.
its not priced 8k above the gti
I think the biggest bummer with the Golf R: No sunroof! I cannot live without one. I currently drive the 2016 Golf GTI and I love the sunroof. If future iterations of the Golf R includes the sunroof option (at least here in N.America), it'll be at the top of my list of options once my lease with the Golf GTI expires in 3.5 years.
Great review! You definitely perfectly summed up the R to a tee. I own a 2017, mines a lemon and has been in the shop 6 times in 2,000 miles, but driving it made me have the biggest smile. So much capability. Can't wait to get mine back.
At what point are they required to just give you a new car? 6 times in 2k miles that would drive me insane. I don't have a Volkswagen but drive a 2015 car and with 13k miles haven't been to the shop once.
Brandon Friesen 6 times in 2k miles? that's just ridiculous.. what were the issues?
It's had two problems. One was a bad blind spot monitor sensor. That's all said and done. Now the problem that is nearly impossible to fix is it misfires when cold but only when driven a certain way. It'll idle fine. It just misfires when you're driving. After 15 seconds, it's 100%. I dropped it off last night at the dealership
Thanks and good luck with your R!
Lol they should definitely just give you another brand new golf r if your engine is already misfiring. Definitely something wrong with the way that one was built.
Love your reviews. Do you ever consider adding a quick comment on safety ratings? Maybe even just a note if its especially good or bad?
That "little growl" is actually coming through the speakers, its louder in race mode.
ian7675 sort of. its called a soundaktor and is basically a separate module that sends vibrations through the windshield
zed4me I never knew that so I googled it, turns out they have a common issue where they rattle...mine has been doing that since day one and I thought it was a speaker issue. Now I know what it is and how to sort it so thanks for that, you've actually done me a big favour pointing out my mistake.
No problem! Feel free to check out my channel, I've got many videos on the Golf R
Get an APR stage 1 tune fixes all throttle lag also makes it shift 10x times faster. Oh and it bumps power to 357 HP & torque to 349 FT-LBS Makes it feel like a baby GTR hatch! ;)
Found a local 2016 R for $30k with 18k miles. Gonna check it out
I'm going to be buying myself one of these bad boys. I'm so in love with this beast. 16 years old never looked so focused.
Race mode gets rid of the DSG lag just so you know. Also makes the pedals a lot more responsive.
Finally Matt! The chassis is one of the best. I much prefer it to the Focus RS myself
TheGetawayer if you prefer a more conservative clean cut look. The RS looks way better and more aggressive to me
Chassis =/= Body style. The chassis is the underpinnings (frame) and is often used to describe the suspension tuning as well. Most Volkswagens have pretty fantastic chassis and tuning (and therefore driving dynamics), but do have the more conservative body styling.
After test driving both I have to say I completely agree! Personally I preferred the drive, the interior finishes have a richer feel and its an extremely attractive looking car in my humble opinion.
I just put a deposit on a 2017 Golf R. When I was at the dealer, they had a fully loaded (Autobahn edition) for $36k... so really we're only talking a 4k difference for the extra power and AWD. Just FYI :)
Oh, I picked a manual.
Mexifinn a year later are you happy you chose manual?!
I love my 16 R 6spd...base model with no DCC or other unnecessary bells and whistles. 36.5k...a bit harsh on rough roads and the mileage stinks compared to my jsw...that said its so composed, super quick and solid feeling. No spare, summer tires, no sunroof stink but easily forgotten. Looking forward to my jsw buyback too!
VW wouldn't let me test drive the R. They said because the few people who buy it want it virtually with 0 miles.
I had this same issue too before I found a lightly used R and bought it instead.
The VW dealerships near me would not let me test drive any of the R's unless I was ready to buy the car without test driving, which defeats the purpose of test drives at all.
You'd think they can devote one for test drives even if they don't stock the car and it has to be special ordered, then you can sell off the test vehicle at a special price when a new model comes in.
Mike M same name as me. Weird...
Heard from the grapevine that the few set aside as Manager's vehicles (manager drives it as a daily, but must be used for test drives upon request), were discarded due to the frequent break downs.
My first Golf R and loving it, wonderful review
Sick review. It's always great when watching your reviews and waiting for the "let's turn on to this back road here" haha. KEEP IT UP!
I have a '16 GTI and you really undersold the space in the trunk. Many panels can be removed for more space and that subfloor drops down another few inches as well. Golf R also has a bigger turbo than the GTI.
In Europe 310hp, sun roof available, haldex 5...FL mk 7.5
I live in Oregon and its almost always wet so I want an AWD. I had a VW W8 wagon and loved pulling up next to V8s at a light in the rain and teasing them.
Best color, nice review! Would like to see more people review the 6-spd manual model.
I would say very nice review
You explained very well the difference between the Golf R and the Focus RS
Also the GTI is a better value, that's why I selected it.
Thanks for this.
best performance daily driver with some luxury! a unique choice for those who don't want something too hardcore! my friend who likes cars but not a hardcore enthusiast loves his mk7.
The price difference in Canada between a GTI PP and a Golf R is tiny, so the R is a tremendous value here. I love my R but you're right about the value proposition of choosing a GTI if you don't spec up to the Performance Pack.
The station wagon (Variant) version is so desirable! Lots of them driving around here. Saw one today in the same blue, killer car!
let's just turn down this little back road............
whoo hoo giggle laugh and smile,
you could review a potato and I'd watch it and smile,
well done..
You really should test it with the soundaktor unplugged. It'll make the car sound even better and way quieter when cruising. I unplugged mine in my 2016 GLI. It's the silliest thing ever.
Matt, excellent review. I owned the 16 gti and now have the R. Three points to hammer home: to get a gti that has leather, ppackage, dsg, dcc, etc., what I had-- you're talking an autobahn listing for 37k, just 3k less. For 3k, to get a German built, awd, slightly better build quality (yes, observed), 72bhp With safety radar, and definitely better resale value, there's no comparison. Second, after carefully looking at the a3, I don't see ***any*** meaningful improvement it has over the R. Last, you were constantly testing the R in normal mode. I hope that you spent time in race. Hans stuck created this car's suspension and it is silly smooth even in race mode. Your complaint about the transmission and bland feel as well as exhaust note -- all enhanced with race mode activated. Done.
you can get 5k off just about any GTI easy, but not off of R's. So thats about 7-8k difference
Have to say the smile on your face was soo much wider in your review of the WRX STI
Matt... stop playing around. This thing monsters your GT. No sugar coating it... and the complaints about the noise. You had an ecoboost and this sounds quite a LOT better lol
+Arno Fourie sound is subjective. As for the Golf R "monstering" my GT, they're polar opposites. The R will outhandle it sure, but in a straight line the R feels way slower than the GT.
This will not "monster" a 5.0 Coyote. It may beat it to 60 with the awd and dsg, but after that it's all Mustang
I know it hurts guys. I'm a mustang guy (owner) but facts and figures are what they are. Throw a noob in the R and launch it next to a skilled driver in the GT and you'll lose to 60 9 times out of 10. But yeah sure if you want to race to 160 the GT will probably just win. Not hating. I love both.
MrThePrivateer just wait until the warranty is up and stuff starts breaking, your love for it will start depreciating. coming from a GTI owner.
a Golf R by default depreciates a hell of a lot slower than a mustang or a gti. They are rarer and have a certain reputation which makes them sought after. MK6 R's are around 30k still where i live.
Everyones got their thing. For me, it not having a sunroof is a bonus. I hate that the new R is only optioned with a sunroof
On the interior storage, you missed a something. Besides the glove box of course, there is also a small storage compartment in front of your left knee when you are sitting in the drivers seat. You could put change or maybe something small in there, it almost looks like an old school ash tray.
The Golf R is very neutral on public roads, but going to the limit on a track you earn a lot of understeer. Stock it is a super fast daily driver, but not a track car.
Imagine this guy bald
Hahaha
Mr. Burns from the Simpson’s comes to mind
@187 u earned a black belt in youtube commenting with this one
Dont worry he's almost there
I always find it funny when car channels and car review videos have blasting EDM music and then when they start talking the production value hits the floor. This is no different haha.
The USB is great as long as you have worlds smallest hands...
first!!! and omg I love this car always been a vw golf fan
If I'm going to be doing over 260 HP with a tune on a Golf, because that's atleast what the GTI would get, I want AWD putting power like that down! 🙂
I love your videos! However, driving the R in race mode changes everything, including how hard the car launches and reacts to throttle inputs.
That is not delay matt . thats why you didn't rev before acceleration or didn't downshift
I wish they would make a two door version of this car, would look better IMO and would save wieght
did you try it in race mode? everything sharpens up, suspension stiffens, it'll auto blip the throttle. The R's suspension and chassis were tuned by ex Porsche race driver hans stuck.
What is auto blip?
I HAVE NEVER DROVE VW, EXP FOR A 1967 BUG, LOVED IT, THX
So it seems you just got the 2016 R in the states by now. Im waiting for delivery of my GTI Clubsport (290 HP on overboost & sends 100% of power to front wheels.. ;) So you have only the normal GTI & R there. Im paying the same price for my GTI Clubsport, DSG, DCC, as i would if i got the normal GTI here in Sweden ;) Anyways they both use the same base engine (EA 888), so if your planning on tuning it anyways, your probably doing a good deal on the GTI Performance if u got it there, & dont need the 4WD of Golf R.
3DFX Where I live AWD is a must.
Best car ever made.
Seems like it would be way smarter to grab a GTI. A simple stage 1 flash from APR gets you over the 300 HP mark (correct me if I'm wrong but I've heard you can keep your warranty if you go with APR), you keep the much lighter weight without the AWD, and you can have those awesome plaid seats!
Meh
This alone is just about 10hp short of 300hp. Seems smarter to buy this compared to the GTI and having to throw $$ into it to make it over 300hp
Do you prefer the golf R over an STI? i live in Québec so a lot of snow and i Wonder wich is the best (fun to drive and practical)? i would love to know your answer!
STI is more fun but also a harsher ride. I'd personally just get a standard WRX which is 8/10 the fun of the STI with better fuel economy and a smoother ride.
thanks you for taking the time to answer. I am gonna try those cars out! love your vids!
Great video. Maybe in the future you can add parts in which you use launch control (if the car has one). Thanks for your videos.
Trying race mode would have answered some questions I have like does the steering ratio or feel of wheel change, do shift points change, timing, traction control, and does the sound change? Surprised you mentioned testing handling but did not try race mode. You also mentioned you like the sound but would like a little louder. My 08 vet only has tour/sport(traction control and active handling separate button) selections and it changes things like steering, gear shifting in full auto, magnetic ride, traction control, and sound with dual mode exhaust. Would be nice to know the answers to these question after spending a fair amount of time with you "reviewing" the car. I also own a kia with 2.0 turbo, auto/paddle shift and mild traction control option(on/off). Hard to agree or disagree with your value and comparison assessments based on limited information provided.
I get 23mpg in my Sti with a stage 1 tune, beating the crap out of the old EJ. My Audi S4 gets 27-30mpg. 23mpg is barely acceptable for new model car with barely 300hp
Lol 27-30mpg in an S4 my fucking ass. Actual mileage for S4s is around 18-20 mixed driving
karlmalone11
I own a 2014 S4, 6spd..mixed driving gets over 25mpg. I can get 28-30mpg on strictly hwy driving at 120km/hr in 6th. Go drive one on a full tank and find out for yourself you rude ignorant fuck.
Sapient Budgie You must never ever go over 2,000 rpm then, most normal people who accelerate briskly from time to time will never get that kind of mileage.
It's because he is driving mostly city. I drive pretty aggressive and have been averaging right around 25mpg on 70% city and 30% highway. Which is actually better than my 2015 WRX (tuned) for the same commute. My GR WRX with the EJ struggled to get 20mpg doing the same commute. Golf R is on a whole different level of performance than my 2015 WRX. Even a tuned WRX.
+karlmalone11 how would you know? What do you drive?
This gentleman is surprisingly-deceptively good.
im wiating for him to actually pronounce subaruwrxfan when he introduces himself
DSG, The only automatic I ever loved.
He knows it'll beat his 5.0
Thanks for clearing up the issue of the centre consol not opening. Do you know why the sunroof and power folding mirrors aren't available in North America?
I have a GTI clubsport, its a GTI with the same engine from the R, i dont think you can buy one in the us....
You always do such nice reviews. Very helpful.
I enjoyed your review but a Golf R review definitely merits at least one Launch. We have seen you floor plenty of fast cars, surely there had to be a single desolate road where a proper launch could have taken place. Besides it's a unique feature that not many cars in this price range have, besides the new RS.
Thinking about a golf r or the evo x. Been looking for a little more reliability coming from an 04 sti. I like the comfort and subtle look from the golf r but but I like the drive from the evo.
I like what this car has to offer for the price point but a lot of mixed things I'm hearing on problems. May stick with a Subie
Nice review. More press cars coming up? What kind? Really good review once again.
Yep! You can stay up to date on all of them on my Instagram @subaruwrxfanofficial. Just got in a 2017 Cadillac ATS-V with a manual.
subaruwrxfan Wow! Pretty epic. And BTW, with you shaking like that while trying to open a center console that is bolted shut, funniest thing I've ever seen in a car review video. 😄
Love mine just paid her off.:). Time for a tune!!
Still my dream car, even though I bought a Touareg... :D
Idk, snow and traction for racing is not enough reason for an R considering FWD is fine in snowy areas.
Great hot hatchback that doesnt need silly styling thats outdated in a few years. Its the 300HP AWD Golf that can be driven everyday, If i had an expensive supercar I would go for that or an Audi S3 for a daily. It wouldnt be a bad choice as the only car either :)
If you want more hardcore driving dynamics the Focus RS ist the one to go for...
Its a bit lame that everyone of these is blue and looks the same, but the color suits the car and here in europe you can get this as a Wagon also :)
I dont like the fake sounds from the speakers andthe small gas tank.
Great Review. I liked the competition segment
*Quickly puts on another shirt* "So, I've been driving this Golf R for about a week now..."
If 4 full size adults and a weeks worth of luggage for each person can somehow be stuffed into a 2 door ford zx-2, I think this car has more than enough room for them.
I love this car! Gotta get one. Nice review.
the delay in throttle can be fixed with a pedal box
review a neon srt 4!
The engines in these sound like real quality and aren't they like 310hp stock?
rad af intro
You should do a review on a 1987 Iroc z28 ; manual
Did you like it better than civic type r how about your bullit
Why doesn't the USA-spec R/GTI have the LED taillights?
Can you please review a 2016 Nissan Maxima? Thanks if you can.
Would you rather have the golf r or a r32
Jake bower Both
How would you compare This power to a turbo 4 stang ?
Hey Matt.
Question for you.
What car is more fun to drive, faster?
The sti or the golf r?
Thank you! Be well
+Carlos Hernandez STI for sure!
subaruwrxfan awesome! Thanks
Define fun. The STI is harsh and loud inside. It was uncomfortable too. If I was 16 it would have made me giggle though. Fun to borrow, but wouldn't want to pay for it.
Ryan B weird. I don't have any of those problems and I'm 28. You might want to consider a Prius. Confi quiet and mature
Outdoor Layne crazy how a 90s engine is still faster than the newer engine from the golf r 😂😂😂
You should come here and try the Leon Cupra.
Genís Andreu Good looking car
Great review, I love my mark 7 R. I want to put on a turbo back exhaust, I'm thinking armytrix, any other suggestions?
APR makes some pretty nice sounding exhausts.
Unitronic or APR
Joshua Fehr Bergen nice car i laked
Fully loaded GTI is $35,000. At that price the R seems like it's worth the extra money.
I guess I'm not the only one who feels that the DSG in the R is harsher than the DSG in the GTI. Really makes me wonder why..
Volkswagen probably wanted to go for a more aggressive feel for the R version
zed4me i think most R owners would want a more aggressive shifting program compared to the GTi. Even my Audi S4 DSG shift program was a bit sluggish without a reflash
I'm just surprised the car jerks on downshifts when in automatic mode. Cant be good for the clutch.
zed4me i own a Audi S3, same car as the R. The dual clutch s-tronic is a bit harsher because is tuned that way for these versions. APR can get you a flash and improve it for you. It will be my next mod. Am tuned with stage 1.
My 16 R DSG downshifts smooth in S auto. I actually love how well they tuned it.
COOL Review: 2016 Volkswagen Golf R
does the race mode change the throttle response?
a simple remap and air filtre here in Brazil put 320cv to the wheels
Fuego _ Steering is tighter, suspension is tighter, and throttle seems more sensitive to me in race mode. Normal mode is good for daily driving but on backroads you definitely want race mode.
you do know race mode isnt just for the suspension?
Great review! What about its reliability? Wait, that word doesn't apply to VW.
daison96 don't apply? Most reliable cars I've ever owned !!!!
M_1986 S but very expensive if they do break down
M_1986 S Sarcasm. I like it!
daison96 VW's suck
daison96 my mk6 GTI only had one issue in the 6 yrs I owned it (a failed intake manifold replaced by warranty). Otherwise it was perfect.
Eeh your reaction when pulling away in this car says it all, it wasn't very exiting.. I'd have to say though, this car looks much nicer in person than in video. Saw one on the road this morning, which is what encouraged me to end up in this video haha
I don’t understand why you can’t get the Golf R with a sunroof anymore....
Do the manual golf r next
This or TTS?
Please do a Toyota Blade master review