The owner does the fly bys. He asked us not to just cruse slowly by but to actually make it look like we're actually driving the car to have some fun basically.
For someone daily driving and possibly with a family and/or carpool, the squishy/comfortable ride is very ideal. I wouldn’t want to daily an RS. It would be uncomfortable and I’d wish I’d had a different car
Nice review of a car most could own and most would reasonably modify. Not everyone goes big turbo or coilovers...but a tune and some bolt-ons is what most could handle. Not my pick in the segment, but these can be really quick. Great review Matt.
That's how this car was done. I didn't want to go overboard. It's certainly not over but as a daily I don't feel the need for stage 2 at the moment. It runs a 12.3 in the 1/4 right now.
mike schalk nope he has no brand loyalty. In fact he hates people who are blindly brand loyal. Look at the cars he owns and has owned there is a huge variety
Really love the Golf R but man, those standard taillights you got in the US instead of those sexy dimmed red LED we got in EU make the rear view really dissappointing
yeah indeed, it looks old fashioned, on the other hand. we in europe always get the shit cars from the usa. like the ford mustang with less Hp then the US model. so yeah, we can give them some shit to right :D
yeah, I'm totally dissapointed, he spends 15+ minutes on every other car and he talks about that specific car only. This time, he was just going back and forth on a 50 meter stretch and he talked about the RS mostly. oh well.
Diego Murillo I have nothing else to say about the Golf R. We've been there several times already. Saying something new, even if it's a comparison to another car, is more important.
+TheSmokingTire I gotta agree with Matt on that. The most I'd want to know that I forgot to ask you, Matt, is what did you think of my car vs the stock press car you drove?
I have a 2015 4dr GTI DSG and its been an amazing daily driver. The quality and price is great and it allows someone the flexibility to pay off quickly so one can get something else like a 1le or GT and still keep the gti as a DD.
Mk7 R's make about 330whp on a mustang dyno with an intake and tune. There isn't a single car out there besides the s3 that can compete with it in that class. The RS doesn't come close to the refinement of VW unfortunately.
@@MrZyLeXx can you read? He said s3 and speaking about the Ford RS. Which it does. Also can you please Google stage 1 apr golf r instead of arguing yourself in a corner
TheSmokingTire Thats what my gut feeling has been telling me. Even though I did own an MK6 GTI, I prefer the looks of a sedan over that of a hatch and the S3 is a stunner.
I loved the S3 when I test drove one. Smooth, plentiful and accessible power and interior is excellent. However the reason that I skipped it was the depreciation was so much steeper than the R.
Matt I totally get why you prefer the dct vs the manual. Those shifts seemed seamless. Its a very good transmission and it shows clearly in the video. Im a manual enthusiast but I totally get it. It seems youre driving faster these last one takes, its awesome to see you go for it! On the other side... About the Apple thing Im sorry but PC master race m8. Apple is just overpriced incompatible average stuff :P
atascatorDAOC I spend hours a day with my hands on either an iPhone or a MacBook Pro. And if I'm going to be touchig something that much, the apple products feel much nicer in my hands. Plus, they really are better for editing videos
TheSmokingTire I dont know on the editing side, never done that but on the quality of the hardware Apple is just inferior. I had an Iphone for 7 days and sold it to get Nexus 6P, much better screen, camera, usability and aluminium unibody. Oh, and also cheaper!
I'd get the RS if I were able to track my car more if not the interiors just don't justify the high markup that it still involves to get your hands on one of them
Bradd Kordenbrock thx for lead. Have DoubleApex carbon fiber paddles (gorgeous, they keep ignoring my requests for a Mk7 set) on my Mk6 and just some screw-on aluminum ones on my girl's Mk7. The stock paddles are a total disservice to the DSG. Must be a safety concern. A non-enthusiast would easily hit them and get annoyed by the size. What's worse is some manufacturers have very nice paddles (BRZ) operating a crap trans.
The one car I would have loved to test is the Renault Megane RS, it is supposed to be so so so good that I am a bit frustrated I never got to drive it and, on paper it is really my type of car (well as much my type of car as a front wheel drive can be)! And I also find it good looking. If I was still living in France, I would have surely been able to give it a try on a track!
Peder Hansen Eh, not true. Some may have reliability issues, but as a whole, they made some great cars. Would love me a Renault 5 Turbo II or a 205 GTI.
i wonder why that is... ive always seen the French and the Americans, kinda, well not as stick up the ass like the rest of the world, then again, i might be talking out of my ass...
Talking about MK7 strictly. He's done them stock. Tuned 1.8 golf and is38 gti on track. Wanted to see a review on road stage 1 or 2, stock turbo on either car. Even though is38 is a stock turbo, not in a gti. Lol just realized this got specific... but just put it this way he did what I was waiting for 😂 maybe stage 1 gti next!! Great value for the money, and for the price would rape the fiesta st, I know Matt is a ford fan and the fiesta is an awesome car, but stage 1 300whp and 350wtq and 3000 pounds is no match for the fiesta even on race gas, straight line and probably in a canyon road
I have the same feelings about the Ford/VW differences with my ST and my friends MK7 GTI, the GTI is more civil and always usable, while the ST is more fun and lively out of the box. I just wish the ST had as much left on the table as the GTI does in terms of tuning.
I like the Apple product comment. Main reason I use them as well! The actual build quality and the materials just seem nicer and a little more robust than the alternatives.
Non-Technical? Do you call graphic designers, web developers, video production, and composers NON TECHNICAL? Because if you look, a vast majority of those people use Apple products...
There is such a difference between stage 1 and stage 2 I wish that was the one you drove. While power doesn't increase between the two, drivability is a world of difference. This is my experience having driven both.
Bradd Kordenbrock check apr's website. Last I checked (during the summer, not sure if they've updated their software since) there was about a 10-15 crank hp difference. You do get more torque however and like I said, drivability is where you see the difference. The stage 2 feels more oem in its power delivery, more natural.
Just oil changes....and regular 60000km DSG services that are not exactly cheap, not crazy but they add up. And if you're tracking it it's probably advisable to do the service even earlier. I personally still love and prefer the manual. And Matt, you say it about cars all the time, "this transmission dates this car". Manual will always be timeless in my opinion.
If you want a slightly slower but way better handling mqb you are welcome to try mine out, if you come up to New England that is. I have bilstein coilovers, pilot super sports, less weight, and will be getting 034 endlinks soon :)
Same goes for the Focus RS, it's a standard production car... And I hope people don't buy car cause what they might be worth in 20 years... Fossil fuel cars could be collecting dust in 20 years...
Peder Hansen You might want to check other Ford RS prices. Marwan Arakji The Focus RS is not a standard production car. The suspension and drive train alone make it very different to a base or even an ST Focus. And yes, people buy cars for what they might be worth in 20 years. For me, the prospect of a car being some 60% of new value when 7 years old is a much better prospect than knowing it will be just 40% of new value after the same period of time. I don't plan on keeping the car for 7 years (or longer) though. And sure fossil fuel cars could be collecting dust after 20 years time (I only used the 20 years time because the OP said the Golf R would outlive it). But at that time, what will be more profitable to sell to a collector you reckon? The Focus RS or the Golf R? Looking at the current prices of the previous Focus RS, the first Focus RS and cars like the Escort RS Cosworth I'm pretty confident the Focus RS will get you a much greater return.
Ive heard new vw's start having big problems around 60-80k miles. If they could build a car that didn't need repairs till 150k miles, I would own one. I LOVE how they look and feel straight when they are brand new. Maybe it would be best to keep leasing a VW? Sad.
***** It's his car we were in, a humble, stock E92 M3 w/ DSG. Willy, trust me i did my research, Golf must have had close to 500hp, it was a bloody rocket.
XuJi cover on Aliexpress. You can custom order a specific material, stitching color, top marker color, etc. They make good products, albeit not incredibly high quality.
Great road and video, I hate this car but I agree with everything said in the video except the "stealth" part. This car has 4 exhausts. With the tune it has just about enough power to justify that. I don't think they used this layout because it produces more power, correct me if I'm wrong. But a Golf with 4 exhausts can be called rice but not stealthy or a sleeper.
There's only one exhaust. The catback connects to the muffler, and there's two exhaust tips coming out of each side of the muffler. It's to differentiate between the gti and the R. Make it look slightly more aggressive. I think it's a bit of a sleeper compared to most other cars in the segment. Like the evo, sti, wrx, the ST's, and whatever else.
If anyone is considering cross shopping a focus RS with a golf R just remember that you can get an APR stage 3 kit on the golf with the money you save over the RS and then you're rocking 570hp and 500lbft on pump gas. In my opinion the choice is quite simple
For a second I thought "how could Matt be talking about the Focus RS, drive right by one, and not even point it out?" Then I realized it was HIS Focus RS.
Not at all depending on what you want in a car. The Golf R is (in my opinion) THE DEFINITION of versatility. Fast, fun, hatchback practicality, reasonable MPG, AWD for snow/rain fun, comfortable with adjustable suspension if you have DCC, and even reasonably roomy for a car that small. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. I've owned mine for 2+ years and almost 40k miles.
Bradd Kordenbrock I just bought the camaro literally 4 weeks ago an already I hate it. I am a car review fiend, I did all kinds of research on the car an was damn sure it was what I wanted until I actually bought it lol the gas mileage is worse than I thought it'd be, the seats kill my back soooooo bad, u can't adjust the lumbar support that it has built into the seat, and to top it all off it isn't optioned the way I want. All I had to do was sit in a 2012 golf r at this car meet I went to and I was hooked, the golf r is all I think about now lol I test drove one last weekend and it was in the rain an it still pulled like craZy. it's the perfect all around vehicle. Now I'm stuck idk what to do
Danny Denihan Jr that's a hard situation for sure. If you can afford to lose some money on the Camaro. Doing it now is better than later. But you may want to wait till the update for the 2018 model year is available. It has some nice updates. Or you could find a CPO used 2016 or 2017 for a bit less. Unless you really love and have to have manual, I'd recommend getting DSG. The R is best when paired with DSG unless you plan extensive modifications. The manual will need a clutch upgrade with most any power adding modification.
Golf R was factory tuned to be a car that cater to ages 17-60 years old. I see more golf Rs than I do golf tsi. same for the GTI. I can say the somewhat exclusivity, that the R was to offer, just isn't there for me. sorry to say, but the VW crowd got really soft of late.
Sorry for the late response. MY RSe10s are Machined Silver Finish. Check out DWSparts.com for the best price or go on facebook and look for Autrey McVicker (hes the owner and a great guy).
Matt was a bit bored. The R is an awesome car but he does drive a ton of crazy stuff. That's like asking a wealthy drunk who sips expensive scotches all day "how do you like this microbrew?". Drunk will respond "It is great for what it is but doesn't really pack the 'bite' I prefer."
Sorry if I missed if you said this but where is this? And do you or anyone else now any fun roads like this in the DFW area? I have a GTI stage 2 with other mods and I have a track day Sunday so I want some practice;)
Bradd. Thanks for sharing. I'm initiating similar upgrades to a 2016 R MT. I track the car about every two months. Before pursuing an APR tune, I want to start with brake and suspension modifications. I'm curious to hear about your experience with the sway bars. Has it corrected the understeer? Is it as noticeable? Why didn't you include a front sway bar install? Granted the understeer is manageable, but I'm curious if the improvements are apparent on the track. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
I haven't done a front sway yet because I think it will take away from the neutralness to oversteerness that has been added with the RSB. The car understeered at the limits from the factory. When I installed the 034Motorsport RSB and RSB Endlinks along with their rear Subframe inserts, it really woke up the handling aspect such that I could actually initiate oversteer thus made the car a lot more fun in the bends at the limit. So all around if you want better handling (more neutral car rather than prone to understeer), I highly recommend this set up from 034. RSB, RSB Endlinks, and Rear Subframe inserts. Good package that significantly improved handling in my humble opinion. Also side note, I wouldn't recommend doing an upgraded RSB unless you do upgraded endlinks. The stock endlinks are just plastic trash IMHO. On the braking front, unless you start adding power past stage 2 or doing alot of track events, I think a simple upgrade like I've done is just fine. Better rotors and pads and done. The stock set up worked just fine on the track with stage 1 power. No noticeable fade at all. Even better with the Stoptech/EBC Yellow combo. Also since you have a MT R, I'd highly recommend you get a short shift kit (My recommendation would be DieselGeek) and budget for a clutch if you're going to add any power (Heard good things about Southbend Stage 2 Endurance if you're planning track time). Anyway hope that is helpful! Feel free to message me on FB also. There is tons of help on the MQB page found here: facebook.com/groups/TexasVWMK7golf/
The steering is drive by wire, I don't think enthusiasts are going to like it. The engine does look very promising though. Maybe it will make it into a more traditional future Z car.
when i first saw these i was very interested. they cost way more then i thought they would. then they are really heavy. finally there isnt any aftermarket support. so i lost interest.
OutlawUniverse go to the apr website. You can do almost anything you want to these depending on how much you can afford. From his simple tune all the way to a purpose built race car. These run in the Grand Am series. I think apr is sponsoring a couple of cars...
I'm looking into getting my next project car and was thinking about a golf r and adding the stage 3+ apr but the chevy ss is also in the radar and for ss I will go fbo with procharger. need suggestions or opinions
I hope it was a stage 2 R but still a nice car. Is a shame that i don't have any use of the haldex awd where i live... Will get a GTI sport instead and save some $
Why is it so difficult for him to say that there are certain better features on a golf r than the focus rs? Like bruh, it has a better interior, better ride quality , and is crazy underrated in performance
Could someone explain to me. I understand that Matt wont overtake traffic because of double line, right? But U turn is legal move? In so many situations in this video series it would be much easier to overtake in straight line and continue video recording as planned. :) In powerful car it's just few second question.
Only Matt could turn a Golf R review into a Focus RS one.
LOL at Matt trying to compare this to the Focus RS and justify his purchase to himself. You know this car is leagues ahead in so many ways.
Not really. They are both great, but they do some things in a different way. It's up to everyone what to prefer, as Matt said in the video.
The Golf R does daily driving better and the Focus RS does performance driving better, you choose.
They're both similar cars and in the same market, I'm sure that's why he compared the two
I'd like to understand how this is "leagues" ahead. I'm not following. seems like you'd cross shop these pretty easily.
you cannot even compare these 2 Ford is for people that like sporty drive Golf R daily car.
TBH those are some of the quickest most aggressive fly bys I've seen in a one take
The car owners do the fly-bys, Matt is the one recording them.
I think the owner does the flyby's
The owner does the fly bys. He asked us not to just cruse slowly by but to actually make it look like we're actually driving the car to have some fun basically.
Lol, I knew it was you skirping the tires in those shots Bradd.
Brad is probably the first owner to actually drive the car in the drive-by shots, nice one
I like the fact that the Golf owner seems like a cool guy.
he might be single, ya know.
Haha well thanks!
nvrmnd. He's not single.
I’m a cool golf owner myself 🏌️
I don't want to admit that this car has a nicer ride or interior so I'm gunna say it's squishy
Not trying to be a hater though, I actually like this video and Matt. Just thought this was funny
For someone daily driving and possibly with a family and/or carpool, the squishy/comfortable ride is very ideal.
I wouldn’t want to daily an RS. It would be uncomfortable and I’d wish I’d had a different car
I own a focus and I guarantee you the interior is shit compared to the golf. Went to go check out the Golf R last year.
Glad you guys show VW love on this channel
Nice review of a car most could own and most would reasonably modify. Not everyone goes big turbo or coilovers...but a tune and some bolt-ons is what most could handle. Not my pick in the segment, but these can be really quick. Great review Matt.
That's how this car was done. I didn't want to go overboard. It's certainly not over but as a daily I don't feel the need for stage 2 at the moment. It runs a 12.3 in the 1/4 right now.
That's an impressive time for sure, didn't know it got up and went like that.
how much for those euro side mirrors? I hate that we don't get them in North America.
I think Matt is a Ford guy, not sure though.
mike schalk nope he has no brand loyalty. In fact he hates people who are blindly brand loyal. Look at the cars he owns and has owned there is a huge variety
mike schalk they are generally making the most impressively well engineered cars on a budget at the moment
One one hand he has a Corvette C5, on the other he also has a Focus RS and a Mustang project.
VirusTornado he also has Aston Martin Vanquish with manual conversion, and a Lexus LS400.
what.... he owns a mustang and a RS.... and he always compares every other car with the RS or ST. hes a ford guy.
Really love the Golf R but man, those standard taillights you got in the US instead of those sexy dimmed red LED we got in EU make the rear view really dissappointing
I agree. Euro Golf R LEDs are next on my mod list.
Yeah, unfortunately that's why all of us in the states have to import and pay for the good shit all of you get standard!
+Joshua Winter but we do pay less for the vehicle up front though.
Bradd Kordenbrock That is true...and gas is cheaper.
yeah indeed, it looks old fashioned, on the other hand. we in europe always get the shit cars from the usa. like the ford mustang with less Hp then the US model. so yeah, we can give them some shit to right :D
The ultimate sleeper! I can't wait to get one!
Clean Golf R, and great One Take. Thanks for the shout out!
And thanks for all the great parts and customer service!
I like how the whole video was you mostly talking about the RS.
imo that's the perfect length for a one take...i like to watch the other ones too but 20 minutes is just a bit too much. So good job on this one!
put it at 1.5x speed.
If you could only have one car, the Golf R is a great choice.
focus rs is overhyped.
Golf r mk7 way better
rs is way more fun
I think Matt nailed it. The Focus RS is better in manual (not that you have a choice) and the R is better in DSG.
Damn, you finally do a modified mk7 R but it's not even a stage 2 :(.
yeah, I'm totally dissapointed, he spends 15+ minutes on every other car and he talks about that specific car only. This time, he was just going back and forth on a 50 meter stretch and he talked about the RS mostly. oh well.
Diego Murillo I have nothing else to say about the Golf R. We've been there several times already. Saying something new, even if it's a comparison to another car, is more important.
+TheSmokingTire I gotta agree with Matt on that. The most I'd want to know that I forgot to ask you, Matt, is what did you think of my car vs the stock press car you drove?
this is one of the few cars that LOOK really quick in the videos
Love my stage one MK7 Golf R! Best daily driver / weekend canyon run car.
What tune company you go with I got APR 🙌🏼
Andrew Pantoja I went with COBB for mine. I’ve since moved to stage 2.
The Manual on this R feels so good i have no regrets on my manual 2017 R. Short gearing and full control with no ecu taking over
I like the owners setup, just like how I would put it together. Thanks for sharing this. Thank you, Matt.
Nice video matt, been wanting to see this car for a while, especially after the ford. Love to see you dive into some more classic cars in the future.
Gotta give it to the guy on his drive-by's...nicely done!
My friend just took me for a ride in a 17 R with stage 1 tune and Trans tune. The launch is nuts!
"If I'm gonna have my hands on something for 8 hours a day, I want it to feel nice."
-Matt Farah, 2016
I have a 2015 4dr GTI DSG and its been an amazing daily driver. The quality and price is great and it allows someone the flexibility to pay off quickly so one can get something else like a 1le or GT and still keep the gti as a DD.
Haha, the Golf R is a *little bit* easier to live with than the Focus RS? Try again lol
Mk7 R's make about 330whp on a mustang dyno with an intake and tune. There isn't a single car out there besides the s3 that can compete with it in that class. The RS doesn't come close to the refinement of VW unfortunately.
Yeah no it doesn't make that whp lul. Stock they make like 240 whp or around there lol.
@@MrZyLeXx he said with a tune...smh
So u think they go up by about 90whp after a tune LOL?
And the guy is trying to say that there is better refinement in the VW over the RS3 lmao....
@@MrZyLeXx can you read? He said s3 and speaking about the Ford RS. Which it does. Also can you please Google stage 1 apr golf r instead of arguing yourself in a corner
Golf R or S3? The S3 has been on my radar for my future ride.
Danny J. Llerena similar driving dynamics but IMO the S3 is worth the premium over the Golf
TheSmokingTire Thats what my gut feeling has been telling me. Even though I did own an MK6 GTI, I prefer the looks of a sedan over that of a hatch and the S3 is a stunner.
Check out the new RS3 sedan :)
Robbie85RS That one is REALLY high on my radar too, i'm dying to see and drive one!
I loved the S3 when I test drove one. Smooth, plentiful and accessible power and interior is excellent. However the reason that I skipped it was the depreciation was so much steeper than the R.
Matt I totally get why you prefer the dct vs the manual. Those shifts seemed seamless.
Its a very good transmission and it shows clearly in the video. Im a manual enthusiast but I totally get it.
It seems youre driving faster these last one takes, its awesome to see you go for it!
On the other side...
About the Apple thing Im sorry but PC master race m8. Apple is just overpriced incompatible average stuff :P
atascatorDAOC I spend hours a day with my hands on either an iPhone or a MacBook Pro. And if I'm going to be touchig something that much, the apple products feel much nicer in my hands. Plus, they really are better for editing videos
TheSmokingTire I dont know on the editing side, never done that but on the quality of the hardware Apple is just inferior.
I had an Iphone for 7 days and sold it to get Nexus 6P, much better screen, camera, usability and aluminium unibody.
Oh, and also cheaper!
He said laptop not phone. Also it is possible to get a high end windows laptop its just that most of them are commodities.
I also have a 6P. Beautiful phone.
DSG. Not DCT. That's BMW.
I want to see the Monotune Focus RS race any tuned MK7 Golf R
You and me both. Maybe Matt will let me race him when I'm down there in LA in late summer for Fastivus.
Great review. Very similar to my setup. I have the same wrap and it made a huge difference.
I kind of figured. love your reviews. Thanks for responding
I own and RS, but the R is a sexy car.
I'm planning on getting an R soon but the RS still gives me a carection..
I'd get the RS if I were able to track my car more if not the interiors just don't justify the high markup that it still involves to get your hands on one of them
So true
I like how they don't give into the fanboy-ism. I own a golf r, but will always tip my hat to an RS owner. They are both awesome cars.
Agreed. I just did a highway pull with an RS owner the other night even though we both knew what the outcome would be.
Nice paddle shifters! S2T?
Long live the Golf R.
Negative. Leyo Motorsport. Check them on Instagram.
Interesting, thought for sure they're S2T B1 paddles. Looks nice, direct replacements?I've got S2T B3 ones.
Bradd Kordenbrock thx for lead. Have DoubleApex carbon fiber paddles (gorgeous, they keep ignoring my requests for a Mk7 set) on my Mk6 and just some screw-on aluminum ones on my girl's Mk7. The stock paddles are a total disservice to the DSG. Must be a safety concern. A non-enthusiast would easily hit them and get annoyed by the size.
What's worse is some manufacturers have very nice paddles (BRZ) operating a crap trans.
I had Double Apex ones on my MK6 GTI too, awesome paddles. Too bad they didn't get on the MK7 platform.
Please try getting your hands on a Vw polo gti. It's an absolutely amazing car. Very sad that it isn't sold in the USA .
Or a lupo GTI... Always had a soft spot for one of those. 1.6 litre 16v in something the size of a shoe. Then there's the engine swap combinations...
034 Motorsport is originated in my hometown in Fremont!! My old auto tech teacher used to work there
Any old Corrados /Golf VR6 floating around to test ? Always dug that model back in the day.
The one car I would have loved to test is the Renault Megane RS, it is supposed to be so so so good that I am a bit frustrated I never got to drive it and, on paper it is really my type of car (well as much my type of car as a front wheel drive can be)! And I also find it good looking. If I was still living in France, I would have surely been able to give it a try on a track!
We don't get French cars in the States sadly.
Yes although there are already plenty of online reviews and video reviews of the car.
***** I mean Evo has some great reviews on them last I checked.
Peder Hansen Eh, not true. Some may have reliability issues, but as a whole, they made some great cars. Would love me a Renault 5 Turbo II or a 205 GTI.
i wonder why that is... ive always seen the French and the Americans, kinda, well not as stick up the ass like the rest of the world, then again, i might be talking out of my ass...
been waiting for you to do a stage 1 or 2 golf r or gti!!
Dino Alexander he already has done several golfs
He did an is38 gti and a stage 2 1.8. So yeah
nope, he has done others. He even did an insane mk6 R.
Talking about MK7 strictly. He's done them stock. Tuned 1.8 golf and is38 gti on track. Wanted to see a review on road stage 1 or 2, stock turbo on either car. Even though is38 is a stock turbo, not in a gti. Lol just realized this got specific... but just put it this way he did what I was waiting for 😂 maybe stage 1 gti next!! Great value for the money, and for the price would rape the fiesta st, I know Matt is a ford fan and the fiesta is an awesome car, but stage 1 300whp and 350wtq and 3000 pounds is no match for the fiesta even on race gas, straight line and probably in a canyon road
what do all the stages mean?
I have the same feelings about the Ford/VW differences with my ST and my friends MK7 GTI, the GTI is more civil and always usable, while the ST is more fun and lively out of the box. I just wish the ST had as much left on the table as the GTI does in terms of tuning.
Matt, when are we going to see more Focus RS content?
after I get it tuned at Mountune on the 11th.
is the mountune for the RS covered by factory warranty like the Fiesta ST? if so thats a great option for some quick headache free power.
I freaking love this car 😍
awesome car, I prefer this over RS with the same exact mods !!
The only way to settle the Golf R vs Focus RS debate is to take them both to the track. Maybe you can make that happen Matt?
It's been done by plenty of other journo's. Focus RS is much faster on track.
I like the Apple product comment. Main reason I use them as well! The actual build quality and the materials just seem nicer and a little more robust than the alternatives.
Non-Technical? Do you call graphic designers, web developers, video production, and composers NON TECHNICAL? Because if you look, a vast majority of those people use Apple products...
There is such a difference between stage 1 and stage 2 I wish that was the one you drove. While power doesn't increase between the two, drivability is a world of difference. This is my experience having driven both.
What do you mean there's no power increase? What else could be different about the tune?
Wrong. There's about a 25whp difference. With APR at least. Puts it a hair under 350whp with Stage 2 on 91 octane.
+Bradd Kordenbrock Thanks for clarifying. I thought that didn't sound right.
Bradd Kordenbrock check apr's website. Last I checked (during the summer, not sure if they've updated their software since) there was about a 10-15 crank hp difference. You do get more torque however and like I said, drivability is where you see the difference. The stage 2 feels more oem in its power delivery, more natural.
those wheels match perfectly the car. Sportier yet with a stock like look. good taste
I thought it was time to go back to the video that inspired me to buy my Golf R:)
That thing HUSTLES! Damn.
It moves well. Thank you.
Just oil changes....and regular 60000km DSG services that are not exactly cheap, not crazy but they add up. And if you're tracking it it's probably advisable to do the service even earlier. I personally still love and prefer the manual. And Matt, you say it about cars all the time, "this transmission dates this car". Manual will always be timeless in my opinion.
Hey Matt are you going to upload how to drive manual part 2?
Bentheguy willing to bet this Friday or Friday after depending if that clothing website funds another video
Bentheguy yes this Friday I'm uploading "part 1.5" which is a supplement to part 1, and then part 2 next week
(reviews Golf R, speaks on specifications of Focus RS the entire time... SMH, GET REAL MATT)
If you want a slightly slower but way better handling mqb you are welcome to try mine out, if you come up to New England that is. I have bilstein coilovers, pilot super sports, less weight, and will be getting 034 endlinks soon :)
Are you guys filming this on HWY 1?
He forgot to add "if you want a keep it for any length of time you should get the Golf R"
Not sure why the constant Focus obsession and comparison, when this car will outlive the Focus by about 20 years all in all...
Too bad this won't be worth a dime in 20 years time.
The Focus RS however...
Same goes for the Focus RS, it's a standard production car... And I hope people don't buy car cause what they might be worth in 20 years... Fossil fuel cars could be collecting dust in 20 years...
Peder Hansen
You might want to check other Ford RS prices.
Marwan Arakji
The Focus RS is not a standard production car. The suspension and drive train alone make it very different to a base or even an ST Focus.
And yes, people buy cars for what they might be worth in 20 years. For me, the prospect of a car being some 60% of new value when 7 years old is a much better prospect than knowing it will be just 40% of new value after the same period of time. I don't plan on keeping the car for 7 years (or longer) though.
And sure fossil fuel cars could be collecting dust after 20 years time (I only used the 20 years time because the OP said the Golf R would outlive it). But at that time, what will be more profitable to sell to a collector you reckon? The Focus RS or the Golf R? Looking at the current prices of the previous Focus RS, the first Focus RS and cars like the Escort RS Cosworth I'm pretty confident the Focus RS will get you a much greater return.
VW's depreciate super fast. The rs will probably be worth more but the type r will be the car with most value.
Mornin', Matt.
Ive heard new vw's start having big problems around 60-80k miles. If they could build a car that didn't need repairs till 150k miles, I would own one. I LOVE how they look and feel straight when they are brand new. Maybe it would be best to keep leasing a VW? Sad.
My buddy and I got smoked by an APR stage 3 Mk7 R DSG not so long ago. I personally was shocked.
SilverS Lol well stage 3 is a shitload of power and torque, so... we're talking close to 450/450
what do you drive?
***** It's his car we were in, a humble, stock E92 M3 w/ DSG. Willy, trust me i did my research, Golf must have had close to 500hp, it was a bloody rocket.
Yeah, that's what I was saying.
VWs are crazy quick with a Stage 2 and Stage 3 tune. An E92 M3 isn't that fast tbh. I'm sure that Golf R has beaten cars a lot faster than the M3.
Been waiting for Shayne's black STI hatchback. Hopefully it's soon
Matt- please explain the effeminate dance at 10:08.
Lmao no explanation needed.
has anyone found that steering wheel wrap?
It's on his wheelwell account. Xuji
XuJi cover on Aliexpress. You can custom order a specific material, stitching color, top marker color, etc. They make good products, albeit not incredibly high quality.
Great road and video, I hate this car but I agree with everything said in the video except the "stealth" part. This car has 4 exhausts. With the tune it has just about enough power to justify that. I don't think they used this layout because it produces more power, correct me if I'm wrong. But a Golf with 4 exhausts can be called rice but not stealthy or a sleeper.
There's only one exhaust. The catback connects to the muffler, and there's two exhaust tips coming out of each side of the muffler. It's to differentiate between the gti and the R. Make it look slightly more aggressive.
I think it's a bit of a sleeper compared to most other cars in the segment. Like the evo, sti, wrx, the ST's, and whatever else.
Each exhaust tip adds 14 horsepower.
Heel Toe That's just silly
Its an inline 4, a dual exhaust system would make no sense.
yeah so it's rice, but I agree it looks more stealthy than an evo / subaru.
If anyone is considering cross shopping a focus RS with a golf R just remember that you can get an APR stage 3 kit on the golf with the money you save over the RS and then you're rocking 570hp and 500lbft on pump gas. In my opinion the choice is quite simple
Would love to see a one take with a 2016 Nissan Maxima SR and hear your thoughts on it Matt
First car I’m buying once I’m done with college is a golf r. As long as they don’t bring the evo back in the next 3-4 years
For a second I thought "how could Matt be talking about the Focus RS, drive right by one, and not even point it out?" Then I realized it was HIS Focus RS.
Will there be tst decals?
If he tuned the DSG to increase the amount of launches he gets, does this mean the mechatronic is no longer under warranty. Is it worth doing it?
yes, if you tune it you loose the warranty.
The DSG isn't tuned and doesn't need it with Stage 1 ECU tune BTW.
Am I crazy for wanting to trade my camaro ss in for the golf r?
Not at all depending on what you want in a car. The Golf R is (in my opinion) THE DEFINITION of versatility. Fast, fun, hatchback practicality, reasonable MPG, AWD for snow/rain fun, comfortable with adjustable suspension if you have DCC, and even reasonably roomy for a car that small. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. I've owned mine for 2+ years and almost 40k miles.
Bradd Kordenbrock I just bought the camaro literally 4 weeks ago an already I hate it. I am a car review fiend, I did all kinds of research on the car an was damn sure it was what I wanted until I actually bought it lol the gas mileage is worse than I thought it'd be, the seats kill my back soooooo bad, u can't adjust the lumbar support that it has built into the seat, and to top it all off it isn't optioned the way I want. All I had to do was sit in a 2012 golf r at this car meet I went to and I was hooked, the golf r is all I think about now lol I test drove one last weekend and it was in the rain an it still pulled like craZy. it's the perfect all around vehicle. Now I'm stuck idk what to do
Danny Denihan Jr that's a hard situation for sure. If you can afford to lose some money on the Camaro. Doing it now is better than later. But you may want to wait till the update for the 2018 model year is available. It has some nice updates. Or you could find a CPO used 2016 or 2017 for a bit less. Unless you really love and have to have manual, I'd recommend getting DSG. The R is best when paired with DSG unless you plan extensive modifications. The manual will need a clutch upgrade with most any power adding modification.
Bradd Kordenbrock no homo man but do you mind calling me?
No problem. Easiest way is follow me on Instagram (@slow7r) then DM me. Or just FB then we can hook up through there. Savvy?
Hmm it seems Matt prefers RS.
I agree it's subjective all the way. Whatever car u personally like better. They are both great cars.
Where can one order a steering wheel wrap like that? Looks like alacantra. Sweet.
go to www.aliexpress.com and search "Xuji mk7."
Thanks Brad!
No problem!
I believe they are also on eBay.
Golf R was factory tuned to be a car that cater to ages 17-60 years old. I see more golf Rs than I do golf tsi. same for the GTI. I can say the somewhat exclusivity, that the R was to offer, just isn't there for me.
sorry to say, but the VW crowd got really soft of late.
Hi Can you tell me what colur neuspeed rse10 you got. They suit the black car nicely
Sorry for the late response. MY RSe10s are Machined Silver Finish. Check out DWSparts.com for the best price or go on facebook and look for Autrey McVicker (hes the owner and a great guy).
Matt was a bit bored. The R is an awesome car but he does drive a ton of crazy stuff. That's like asking a wealthy drunk who sips expensive scotches all day "how do you like this microbrew?".
Drunk will respond "It is great for what it is but doesn't really pack the 'bite' I prefer."
Sorry if I missed if you said this but where is this? And do you or anyone else now any fun roads like this in the DFW area? I have a GTI stage 2 with other mods and I have a track day Sunday so I want some practice;)
Bradd. Thanks for sharing. I'm initiating similar upgrades to a 2016 R MT. I track the car about every two months. Before pursuing an APR tune, I want to start with brake and suspension modifications. I'm curious to hear about your experience with the sway bars. Has it corrected the understeer? Is it as noticeable? Why didn't you include a front sway bar install? Granted the understeer is manageable, but I'm curious if the improvements are apparent on the track. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
I haven't done a front sway yet because I think it will take away from the neutralness to oversteerness that has been added with the RSB. The car understeered at the limits from the factory. When I installed the 034Motorsport RSB and RSB Endlinks along with their rear Subframe inserts, it really woke up the handling aspect such that I could actually initiate oversteer thus made the car a lot more fun in the bends at the limit. So all around if you want better handling (more neutral car rather than prone to understeer), I highly recommend this set up from 034. RSB, RSB Endlinks, and Rear Subframe inserts. Good package that significantly improved handling in my humble opinion. Also side note, I wouldn't recommend doing an upgraded RSB unless you do upgraded endlinks. The stock endlinks are just plastic trash IMHO. On the braking front, unless you start adding power past stage 2 or doing alot of track events, I think a simple upgrade like I've done is just fine. Better rotors and pads and done. The stock set up worked just fine on the track with stage 1 power. No noticeable fade at all. Even better with the Stoptech/EBC Yellow combo. Also since you have a MT R, I'd highly recommend you get a short shift kit (My recommendation would be DieselGeek) and budget for a clutch if you're going to add any power (Heard good things about Southbend Stage 2 Endurance if you're planning track time). Anyway hope that is helpful! Feel free to message me on FB also. There is tons of help on the MQB page found here: facebook.com/groups/TexasVWMK7golf/
+Bradd Kordenbrock Thanks Bradd. Appreciate the response and recommendations!
jm sma No problem. I hope it helps.
I love my GTI but sometimes I wonder about the R. Perhaps one day
Both are amazing vehicles. If you don't have a GTI with an LSD or a Golf R, either is worth the upgrade. What generation GTI do you have now?
curious about the wheel.. zooji ? zuji? new china place to buy ? (fingers crossed)
Xuji Search Aliexpress.com
I want to see Matt review the new Infinity Q50 turbo Coupe..There is 2 versions of it Awd or rwd 400 or 300 hp.
The steering is drive by wire, I don't think enthusiasts are going to like it. The engine does look very promising though. Maybe it will make it into a more traditional future Z car.
If there is a aftermarket parts for it I think it could be .
That's going to be alot more "squishy" than a Golf R. Lol
when i first saw these i was very interested. they cost way more then i thought they would. then they are really heavy. finally there isnt any aftermarket support. so i lost interest.
OutlawUniverse go to the apr website. You can do almost anything you want to these depending on how much you can afford. From his simple tune all the way to a purpose built race car. These run in the Grand Am series. I think apr is sponsoring a couple of cars...
That xuji wrap is descent, I have one on my mk6 gti.
Would you please make a list of all the 'mods' on your new "R"? I'm getting one this summer, thank you.
The APR stage 1 tune is a very mild upgrade, nevertheless the spec sheet is excellent
"I love your thick rim!" Easy boys.
I'm looking into getting my next project car and was thinking about a golf r and adding the stage 3+ apr but the chevy ss is also in the radar and for ss I will go fbo with procharger. need suggestions or opinions
Definitely Chevy SS with magnetic ride and a manual. Future classic!
I hope it was a stage 2 R but still a nice car. Is a shame that i don't have any use of the haldex awd where i live... Will get a GTI sport instead and save some $
Great car and tastefully modded!
9th gen civic in the background. That one should be a good watch.
Welp, you will have to wait and watch.
how much would it cost to build a car like this?
The Mods? APR Stage 1 is $800. That's the pain part. The rest is all listed on my wheelwell profile thats listed in the video description.
Cool thanks
Matt would you come to Florida to do a video on my Golf R?
Mstreetking5 no
Is that 997.2 GT3 coming soon? so hype
FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS DAMN FOCUS ON THAT CAR SHIT!!!
Why is it so difficult for him to say that there are certain better features on a golf r than the focus rs? Like bruh, it has a better interior, better ride quality , and is crazy underrated in performance
Could someone explain to me. I understand that Matt wont overtake traffic because of double line, right? But U turn is legal move? In so many situations in this video series it would be much easier to overtake in straight line and continue video recording as planned. :) In powerful car it's just few second question.
Valters Pelns that is correct. Passing on double yellow = super illegal. Making a u-turn when road is clear = legal.
What cars are up next on the schedule?
ITS PRONOUNCED GINA
Is that Lake Mead?
Lake Piru.
Do you run the roads first to chech for CHP?