There is actually a recall on the engine covers because the ones they designed doesn't stay attached and can cause a fire. So they started leaving them off from the factory.
The absolute first thing I thought when I saw the video come up was, "Why?! The infotainment system is so bad!". And then while watching he had the sign...lol!
Fun fact, these did originally come with an engine cover in the first model year. Unlike the previous Golfs and pretty much every other VW, it wasn't a plastic cover with some insulation stuff on the underside. It was essentially just a chunk of foam, no plastic or anything on rop. Early on it was discovered that those covers had a tendency to catch fire, especially if it had absorbed some oil. VW issued a recall to remove those covers and chuck 'em in the bin, and they stopped installing them at the factory from that point on Edit: They've since come out with a revised engine cover made entirely of plastic (no foam or insulation at all) and those are being installed at the factory. They've also issued another recall to install the new plastic cover on all the cars that had the foam ones removed. The foam covers only existed on I think the first 2 model years (in North America at least)
You’re correct, except for the fact that since the beginning of the 24 model year, they are coming through (most of them, mine for instance) with the redesigned cover on them again. But if James didn’t get one, he’ll probably have to shell out for one; they retail for $50-something in the US.
Just test drove one today with the DSG, quite an awesome little car.. the techy infotainment is actually quite cool and not too hard to use even though i prefer more old school analog, ride quality is comfy but when you switch to sport modes everything stiffens up and gogogo.. the variable exhaust is awesome and even in sport mode is not too loud, and not to mention it handle awesome.. gonna be starting the process to pick one up as there isnt any markup at the moment... thanks throttle house for helping me make the decision ..
Very nice car and nice of Thomas to approve of it. Couldn't help but notice it didn't stop him (or potentially someone else on the team) to finger in "poo" in the rear window dust... never change guys, never change.
If the MK8 had the interior of the MK7.5, it would be the perfect Golf. Edit: Yes the MK7.5 was a really good car that many love. But if you drive the MK8, you’ll notice immediately how superior the AWD system is compared to the MK7 that was already pretty good. The MK8 drives great but like others have mentioned, the overuse of glossy black plastic is an eyesore, the backseats are more cramped, and then the obvious shortfalls with lack of buttons, non-backlit controls, etc. Bottom line is both aren’t perfect but if you had that MK8 drivetrain combined with the no frill and tasteful interior of the MK7.5, it would be an amazing little car.
@@SwiftHDX Yup, it's on of those gated crooked shifters in an old Corolla or something. Thomas got it pretty spot on, it's this one: ua-cam.com/video/YQ7173XCElc/v-deo.html
So much fun watching this video, finding myself in the same situation when don't mind about the not illuminated volume slider, but having issues with wireless charger. Happyly went for the DCC instead of the Harman on my Mk8 GTI :P Two maybe informative/helpfull notes: - Engine cover was removed due to heat issues -> Can be retrofitted at VW dealer for free (at least in germany) - heated seats can be activated with a two finger tab on the heating slider ;) Have fun with the car just because it is really a great car!
Actually the build quality of the interior is significantly better in the mk8 My mk7 gti had TONS of rattles from new When I replaced it with a mk8 R there were ZERO rattles in the mk8, even after a full year of use
I love everything about this video. The scripts, the shots, the humor, the relatable feelings of making a decision that makes the most sense... Keep up the good work Throttle House!
0:04 my favorite part of this emotional vlog Also Thomas did tremendous in this. And Harrison. I’m sure he was cracking up Off camera. Love you guys. The brotherly togetherness is magnificent
I love my '23 golf R 20 years. I trade cars about every 18 months or so and I have already been looking for a replacement, but I can't find any other vehicle that I like better. You can't beat the Golf R for practicality, handling, and overall performance. I am very tall at 6'7" and it fits me to a T. Plenty of leg and headroom. It's great on a long trip, very comfortable, I could drive it all day! As far as the infotainment, you get used to it, and the interior lighting is fantastic. I could go on and on, lol. Enjoy your Golf R!
Wow congratulations. You have a collector’s item there. Here in Indonesia they sell unofficially for about 120K USD. VW Golf has reached ridiculous speed recently. I have a Mk7 GTI with only 13000miles on it, supposedly has 327PS on paper on APR Stage 1 (never dyno it). FWD cannot handle the power and torque on hard launches. I am a foot shorter than you btw. I’m Tom Cruise’s height. LOL. Space is plentiful for me in that car.
@Mav86asian Mantap, your MK7 GTI. What a power with FWD bung! I drive the MK8 R Performance as my daily driver. Driving sometimes on the Autobahn with the R is really fun. Selamat!🤙🏾
i love how the thumbnail for the GR corolla was timed right when james said "There's not many hatchback's that does what this car can do" at 7:18. These cheeky lil details is what i love ab TH
Congrats on getting a 24' R. I have owned several GTi's in the past and got my first R, a 20th R w/DSG in August, and I love it. Glad to finally be able to experience it. I very much enjoy the content you both create and hope it continues.
@Chronicxeye Get a low mileage 2023 GTI SE trim with plaid seats. You should be able to find one with less that 8,000 miles for around $34,000 US dollars. Avoid the 2022 as there were some important infotainment improvements in the 23. Anyway, that’s my advice.
Perfect choice for a city/family/fun car. I think they look even better in person than they do on camera too. Special shoutout to the person that wrote on the back window.
It's a terrible family car. The rear seat space is miserably small, and the rear hatch space is a compromise because of it. I owned one and it was the worst car I've ever lived with.
I just picked up the exact same car and I'm a manual guy, but the dsg is freaky similar to some of the pdk Porsches I've owned. I have a manual Boxster Spyder 981 variant so for a daily this mk8 in blue with the dsg really hits the sweet spot. Some days I hate myself for not buying the manual version, but then I've drive it hard and love it. After watching this video, I honestly feel better and will sleep better at night knowing other enthusiasts and two of my favorite people on UA-cam also love the dsg version. And you really can't beat the blue. I live in Colorado so I also run snow wheels and tires 8 months out of the year and it's been just as solid as my Subaru outback with winters that my girlfriend drives. Love the mk8, glad other enthusiasts like me realize as a daily this is really the best even with the dsg. And I think the lack of nobs and the infotainment issues people complain about are bs. I've had zero issues. Great car. Great channel.
@purwantiallan5089 they only made the 981 boxster spyder in manual and it's so great... short throw from the factory is awesome ... love manual but golf R is great as a daily with the dsg
@@L4GGINGB4D Nope...honestly not sure why so many people are against them...they work totally fine and I have not had any issues with them at all. It's different but you get used to it after 3 days then I don't even notice.
I couldn't agree more with the main message in this video. I live in the Chicago area, and I have a Mark 7.5 Golf R with a manual transmission and a set and summer and winter tires. Many cars are more fun in dry and mild weather conditions, but very few cars are more fun and practical year-round and in all weather conditions! I actually look forward to having some fresh snow on the ground so I can go on a fun winter drive. The only thing holding my Golf R back in winter is the ground clearance when faced with significant accumulation.
Now they just debuted the updated mk8.5 which address some of the issues with the 8 that made folks hang on to their mk7.5's like me. The new one finally has real buttons in many places now, plus a larger screen and more power. They GTI and R are only DSG going forward, but even as a manual trans guy it's probably for the best since VW shifters are less than good. The 8.5 may finally get me to switch now.
I high centered and got trapped on snow twice, once in a regular Golf and once in a 328d. I imagine a lower Golf R would be even easier to high center.
It snowed here earlier in the week. AWD + snow tires was amazing. It regained traction so fast when I intentionally tried to lose traction. It stopped so much faster than I expected. It just powered through everything. Loved driving in the snow.
Congrats on your new little rocket. You absolutely deserve it! Watching u since 2020 and u guys improved over time so much its an absolute pleasure to see there is a new video of u guys. The editing, humour and personal note u implement in your artwork is bonkers. Keep up the great work.
A few things I do to make my mk8 GTI feel better: I always use volume slider on the steering wheel. I set up a custom page on the center console which has the seat warmer and cooler buttons, media and directions. I leave it on this page almost all the time.
@@ThrottleHouseJames, would you buy new a Subaru WRX STI hatchback if they made one? Tip: I tell this to anyone that buys a car with piano black, when you get your car wrapped ask them if for a few extra bucks they’d wrap the piano black so it won’t scratch?
Huge congratulations James! Lovely choice. Wait until you find our what the new facelifted S3 that will be revealed in 3 weeks will be like hihi. Congrats again
I just bought the 6 speed R 3 weeks ago and have loved it more than anyone or anything in my life. Yes the no buttons thing isn’t the best and the climate being on the infotainment is clumsy and distracting while in motion. But after a few drives it really is not that terrible. The no knob volume really isn’t that big of a deal and if you can’t get to a point where the volume and temp is not easily disguised you have bigger problems. That being said great video and hope you are enjoying this beauty vehicle.
Yeah, tap the temperature up and down at the same time and can navigate between the heated seats settings. You can also set the heated seats and heated steering wheel to come on automatically depending on the temperature outside inside settings. It will detect if there’s someone on the passenger seat too.
Ah, so you have to double tap a thing that disappears in the dark. Nice...Also, since you're cold, you may be wearing gloves. How is using the capacitive touch crap while wearing gloves?
I have read that Golf 8 R engine covers were recalled because they could come loose/ catch fire/ get in contact with turbos. Aparrently, that is why yours came with no engine cover. For earlier cars, VW would take off your engine cover when you took your car in for service and tell you you'd get the new redesigned one when it's available.
@@t.kmartin1026 i still have the old engine cover since I just took it off myself when the recall came through. I’ve given up waiting for the replacement and they would probably gripe that I’m out of warranty now with 55k on my car lol
Great episode! I have owned my Golf R Mk 8 for almost two years and it has met every expectation. Having owned every GTI model 1 through 7.5 , I decided to to get the R as this was to be a long term keeper, Yes, there have been some frustrations related to the infortainment (All listed by James), I find that the day to day use of the system is intuitive and easy to use. The haptic buttons are fine and I have always used them like traditional buttons with no issue. I live in Virginia; so, I have the luxury of setting the A/C at 70' year round - zero issues with heated/ventilated seats and take advantage of them coming on at pre-set temps! Lights are superb and the comfort level of the interior is extremely high. The car drives superbly and is the best driving car I have ever owned - the beauty of the R (Like the GTI) is that you can drive it as an excellent everyday commuter or a flat out sports car. I went with the manual and have no regrets, for me the driver engagement is heightened, I have owned DSG GTI's and they were superb - its just my preference. As far as reliability, mechanically the car has been flawless and inspires confidence. I had the travel assist gremlins and the steering wheel was replaced, and occasionally I have a problem with Apple Car Play syncing. For me, this is the perfect car when you combine performance, functionality and specification. After a two years ownership (Bought at MSRP), I can encourage James to believe that he as made the perfect choice!
I have the GTI, which is my favorite car I’ve ever owned. The R would be great, but I went base GTI trim because I really just don’t drive much anymore.
You can turn on the heated seats by tapping the temp slider with 2 fingers (one on hot, one on cold). You can also set them up to turn on automatically when it's cold.
As a Lapis Blue MK7.5 Owner I've got to say I love the look of the exterior, especially the rear, of the MK8 better than the previous model. However, I do prefer the interior of the MK7.5 over than MK8 (other than the new seats and badging). If they could take the MK8 exterior +seats and badging and fuse that the with MK7.5 virtual cockpit and infotainment system, I think they'd be onto a winner!
I agree except with the virtual cockpit the MK8 has a lot more customization and I prefer all the different layouts you can have + being able to change the colours.
Agreed. I personally looked at a mk8 and felt that it was a step down in overall interior quality compared to my mk7.5 R. When they release the version with the physical steering buttons and backlit volume/ac controls, I'll consider one.
The digital cockpit might be good but the design of the rest of the dash is awful. The large areas of piano black plastic look like something lifted from a budget car, not a chance would I part with my cash for that regardless of it's performance, id feel cheated. The mark 7.5 is a much nicer design.
I've had my Mk6 R for 6 years now. Still a perfect compromise for daily, weekend and track use. A tune, short shift manual, single mass flywheel and some handling bits make them so fun for almost any situation.
Hey bro. I have a 2016 S3. It has a tune already and it's really fun to drive. What handling bits would you recommend to make it handle better? Cheers!
@@plant-based_papi6503 I've had upper and lower control arms and sway bar swapped out. Better positions and beefier components. Cheep and effective. And to transform your car, some nice coilovers. I haven't done this because I'm happy with my handling and like the factory ride height + a good set can be expensive. But they will transform your experience.
21:16 - the shortcut menu is customizable, he is correct, traction control can be placed in that swipe down screen. I have a 2024 and that is where I have mine set for.
You mentioned needing 2 touches to adjust seat heating. There's actually a faster way, which is tapping the heating adjustment bar with 2 fingers at the same time. This will cycle the heating (or ventilation if that's the one enabled) by 1 level per tap. This is the only reason why the no backlight is a pain for me, because it's difficult to nail the 2 finger tap in the dark.
Ah, so you have to double tap a thing that disappears in the dark. Nice! So, how many touches does it actually take when you're trying to tap the exact right spot in the dark? Also, since you're looking to turn the heated seats on, it's probably cold and you may be wearing gloves so how well do the capacitive touch buttons and screens respond to gloved hands and how many touches does it actually take in that situation? It can just picture people trying to double tap the invisible fiddly slider with gloves on and getting quite frustrated.
I agree. I have an mk8 GTI and I haven't had any issues at all with the haptic buttons. although sometimes at night when its really dark, trying to get the double tap and focusing on the road gets tricky lol. luckily i have it in my muscle memory now HAHA
Pro-Tip: You can turn on the heated seats with pressing with both fingern on the temperature thingy. So basically one finger on the cold and one finger on the warm and then you can toggle through the modes. Makes it a lot easier
The part "this is my brother" in the mk2 is the best. Congratulations James. I'm in love with my Gti mk7, and I was in love with my Gti mk2 and de mk2 16v. Golf isva legend
You guys are tops in the review entertainment space!! Love the car as well for pretty much the same reasons you give. As a 2 time GTI owner (Mk2 and Mk6), I'd go for one of these in the used market down the line.
Welcome to the club mate. My 2018 MK 7.5 R has now 45K miles, no squeaks, rattles, no oil burning, no nothing in fact. Took my parents on holiday down to NC, 4 adults, and all the luggage (ok this was jammed to the roof) plenty of room in the back seats and comfortable for the drive. Couldn't be happier. BTW the Fender SS in the MK7.5 is awesome.
I agree in the room. I have a 2018 GTI, STAGE 2 😈 and just recently came back from Cancun with my wife and mother unlaw.😢 We had three checked bags 3 carry-ons and our personal items. We stopped at Costco and got some stuff too, these little cars can hold quite a bit. 😊
@@Burnout143 If I recall the GTI has more space in the boot (trunk) because it doesn't have the Haldex clutch underneath. In the Golf R the boot floor is raised higher. I had my 7R for 7 years and it was surprisingly good but I saw a GTI once and it's a big difference having that extra space.
Welcome James. You made the right choice. I'm nearly 7 years into a Mk7 R, zero regrets, still love it just as much as year 1. On the tune side - suggest the slow/low path. I'm still on Stage 1 low torque and honestly, it's more than enough. I do enjoy the stock DSG, because it's quirky and has more personality, especially with a low torque tune. It's the best thing I've ever bought in my life.
@@ramp7857Nope, it will have steering wheel buttons, which should fix reliability issues with the haptics, sliders on the dash stay the same. Haptics aren’t bad if you use it like regular buttons.
That’s a beast. Congrats. Picked up my GTi from Humber view VW which the sister dealership of Maple VW December 27th. R would have been my dream car but out of reach from price point. Mine was an autobahn model heavily discounted to the same price as base model on year end clearance. Too bad you let the dealer screwing the license plate on the bumper ruining your 50k car. I bought a bracket that mounted onto the honeycomb grill from 3DGoWest.
Love the decision making process you went through here, as this is exactly why I own a '16 Golf R 6MT DCC. It checks all the boxes for a daily driver, family hauler, and winter baller. It's really sad to hear the stereo is garbage; the Fender system that came in mine is surprisingly good! Enjoy the car and keep us posted if you upgrade the steering wheel when the new one comes out!
Brilliant video. Perfect and funny extended take with James walking the car with Thomas using the signs. I agree with your choice James, I bought a GTI '19 Rabbit based on the TH review and Q/A session where you two suggested it was the best pick at the time. Nothing but smiles 70k in. Thanks guys!
Great choice! I bought a ‘23 GTI 40th anniversary addition a few months back and have zero regrets. It’s my 4th gti in a row if that tells you anything. One thing I really like is it has the S trim infotainment which is a little less frustrating than the upper trim. Would have loved the R if I had a bit more jingle in my pocket though!
Well done, James. I have a Mk7 R with a manual and love it. Granted, I had to do a few things to make the factory clutch feel like an actual clutch, but it was so worth it.
I work at a volkswagen dealer and there is actually a recall on these because the engine cover they designed doesnt stay attatched and can cause a fire. So they started leaving them off from the factory. Had a new arteon this year delivered without a cover so i assume its the same for that
Love this video! Been watching you guys have fun for years. Your explanation of purchasing process was refreshing and honest. Have owned over 15 VWs and 3 Mk7s. My current Mk8 GTI 6spd is my favorite. I’m one of the few that love the new interior and infotainment. It’s not perfect but none are. Look forward to your ownership reviews 🍻
I can guarantee you're going to live to love this purchase. The Golf R Mk8 is a real return to form for this hot hatch. It's performance alone puts it at the top of its class. The look is fantastic, perfect blend of high end finish with subtle aggression. Then that exhaust note, my god it sounds good. I myself went for the Audi S3 but only because I am a die hard fanboy. I toiled over getting this exact Golf R for ages and I think I would have been every bit as satisfied with the Golf had my wife wanted it.
These Golf R’s are the best daily drivers. I only sold mine to get an RS3. I wish I could get a Golf R with the 5 cylinder. That would be my dream daily.
Congratulations on your new car. It was certainly at or near the top of my list when a GMC Yukon decided to drive through my passenger door of my 2016 VW Golf R in early December (6-speed manual with 31,000 miles on it, the insurance company totaled it). So I went from having zero plans to get a "new" car to having to replace one that gave me seven years of driving pleasure. But, a trip to a few VW dealers in Northern California (and calls to several in Southern California) confirmed that they had seemingly formed a PAC to ask for $15,000 over MSRP. I found this to be outrageous, even though I could probably afford it. One dealer was even asking $15,000 over MSRP for a leftover 2023 model. I ended up buying a "leftover" 2023 Audi S3 Premium Prestige (adaptive sport suspension, Napa leather, Bang and Olufsen sound system, black optic kit, panoramic moonroof, and other goodies for $8500 off of MSRP thanks to a year-end deal. I really have no idea if the 2024 Golf R is a better choice than my Audi S3 because the dealers weren't allowing test drives. I do know that the S3 is much nicer, better handling car than my 2016 Golf R (no adaptive suspension, no moonroof, a plain black leather interior). I've seen enough videos of the 2024 Golf R to know that the drift mode must be a hoot, but I'm too cheap to wear my tires drifting anyway. I'm impressed with the deal you receive in your local market for a Golf R, if that had been the case in my neighborhood, we'd probably be both driving a 2024 VW Golf R. Interestingly, while my wife enjoyed driving the Golf R, she was never a fan of the styling, yet she's smitten with the S3.
Great video, as usual. Re: interior space, which is going to be discussed a lot in the comments, my wife has a MK8 GTI and she loves the interior and is not bothered by the touch controls at all. She says it looks nice, modern and clean that way. I'll just say that both GTI and R drive extremely well.
@@mrjkstark yeah I would say so to. I own a seat with pretty much the same interior and infotainment and it's not bad, but my seat has real buttons on the steering wheel :D Android auto wireless works great, love the driver's display, can easily switch drive modes (sport and custom with the automatic selector), competent driver assist, and I don't really use the rest of the infotainment system. The only thing not working is the wireless phone heater, with that said in an Audi or Merc it's the same thing. Idk why these companies don't test this feature.
I agree with your wife. As much as really loved my GTI 7.5, I love me 8 even more. Only two things I’d change is less piano black & adjustable head rest front seats.
@@katiecannon8186 She said the same thing about head rests. :) But yeah, the car is really good, looks great and is a joy to drive. You get used to the controls pretty quickly, you just have to live with it for a week or so.
@@karacha The seats are WAY more comfortable than the 7. So that’s the big plus. As an older person, I got really tired of my 7.5 GTI seats as far as comfort goes. Whereas I find the new seats extremely comfy, even on long drives. Still, I like the looks of adjustable head rests better. And they give back passengers better visibility. Finally - it’s so cool your wife drives an R. More women should be buying GTI/R cars.
For anyone in the UK thinking of going this route may I suggest having a look at what dealers are asking for the Arteon R? List price for a new one with a couple of options and proper paint is around £63k. A five month old ex-demo with 4k miles on the clock? £43k. About the same as an ex-demo Golf R but something a bit different (and, if I'm being honest, a better looking car than most of its Audi stablemates). Now, granted, I suspect the Arteon still has a big chunk of depreciation still to go but even so...
I was worried James was becoming Canadian but this proves he’s still one of us 😂 Btw please modify this in some way the Golf R is a great fast daily platform
@bwthomas84 I'm not gonna bother explaining finances to you. Seems like even a lease for 1 dollar a month conflicts with your "you're paying not to own it" nonsense.
Congratulations on the new car. An excellent choice. I was in the same position back in 2020 with very similar criteria - hatchback, all-wheel drive, sporty, automatic. I ended up deciding on a 2020 Stinger GT, but it was a very close decision for me between the Golf R and the Stinger. I was coming from a 2017 GTI and the 2019 Golf R just seemed too similar to what I was coming from. I'm still loving the Stinger, but think if I was to make the same decision in 2024 I would likely go for the Golf R.
My previous 07 GTI was a fantastic car. I sold it to a friend when it had 275,000 km on the dial. It had the dual clutch manual. I miss that car. Great review men.
You nailed it with use case. EV's are amazing, but they're not for everyone. And when the gov't steps in and tries to ram it down everyone's throat, you get a distinct divide in the car community. I have a Tesla Model S for a commuter, but I still need my diesel 2500 for the camping trips and desert adventures with our dirt bikes & RZR's. In time it will be all EV (or at least 90%) with those edge case scenarios where gas/diesel will still play a role. Infrastructure and charging speeds will only get better as well as educating the masses on EV's. Great video as always! Keep it up gentlemen!
No EV's won't. They will be niche only inside ten years. No one wants to rely on them. They are terrible for the environment. Their weight kills tires and people as well. The coper thieves also have found a new target in their charging cables just like catalytic thieves.
Congrats on the new car, I know you're going to enjoy the hell out of it! I bought an S3 Sportback for very similar reasons to you, 8 years ago. Didn't regret one minute of it, honestly the perfect blend of vehicle.
I own a '23 Golf Alltrack and a lot of what you mentioned applies to mine as well, even though it is a different beast altogether. No drift mode (unfortunately), but higher ground clearance. Here in the black forest, winter has decided to come back after many weekends with 25+ deg. C, so naturally I already switched to the summer rubber. The sudden snow didn't scare it at all, it just does its thing. Just like in winter, where it didn't miss a beat, even in very harsh conditions. The Alltrack has the benefit of physical buttons on the steering wheel, so that's another win. My only gripe is the sometimes sluggish gearbox and the even sluggier infotainment system.
Well if you’re going to buy a hot hatch why not buy the one the pioneered the trend in the first place 🤷🏽♂️I’ve owned several over the years no regrets and remember there are 2 kinds of cars in the world Volkswagen and the rest cool purchase enjoy 💯
Out of all the videos you guys do, the personal ones are my favorite. Car collection, personal buys, road trips, etc.
Ah so you do think he is Vin Diesel lol
@@maverickphantom005You don’t turn your back on family
Agreed the road trip video needed more danger
I was about to comment the same thing! There's something exciting to me about seeing why reviewers drive the cars they do.
@@chasegaias even when family turns their back on you.
i appreciate how James bought a new car and wants people to roast it - this is why throttle house is a gem.
Thomas' signs during James' monologue is exactly why you guys are my favorite car review channel. 😂
That was funny!
Great video, congrats james
@@BOOSTEDDUDEyet also an iconic one for sure.
@@karimakiki6424the VW Golf R is as powerful like Skyline R33GTR.
Huge respect for not getting a crossover
There is actually a recall on the engine covers because the ones they designed doesn't stay attached and can cause a fire. So they started leaving them off from the factory.
And you can get a new redesigned one from Volkswagen. At least in Europe.
Sounds like a Jokeswagon problem
Yeah the replacement "safer" engine covers are starting to come into stock in Europe now for replacement. Same issue with the T-Roc R.
How do you fuck an engine cover up
Wow, that doesn't sound very reassuring for the rest of the car
Seeing Thomas teleporting around with different signs was much more funny than I expected 🤣
This is why they're the BEST
The absolute first thing I thought when I saw the video come up was, "Why?! The infotainment system is so bad!". And then while watching he had the sign...lol!
@8:35 I lol'd at what was written on the rear window... Won't spoil it for those that haven't seen it.
yeah man this got me laughing haha
This made me hit the like button instantly. Well played.
Fun fact, these did originally come with an engine cover in the first model year. Unlike the previous Golfs and pretty much every other VW, it wasn't a plastic cover with some insulation stuff on the underside. It was essentially just a chunk of foam, no plastic or anything on rop. Early on it was discovered that those covers had a tendency to catch fire, especially if it had absorbed some oil. VW issued a recall to remove those covers and chuck 'em in the bin, and they stopped installing them at the factory from that point on
Edit: They've since come out with a revised engine cover made entirely of plastic (no foam or insulation at all) and those are being installed at the factory. They've also issued another recall to install the new plastic cover on all the cars that had the foam ones removed. The foam covers only existed on I think the first 2 model years (in North America at least)
You’re correct, except for the fact that since the beginning of the 24 model year, they are coming through (most of them, mine for instance) with the redesigned cover on them again. But if James didn’t get one, he’ll probably have to shell out for one; they retail for $50-something in the US.
Engineering embrassment. LMAO!
my 24 has one. car was built 9/23.
Mine also has an engine cover, 24 golf r
I always toss mine in the trash, as I’ve found countless mice nests under covers
Just test drove one today with the DSG, quite an awesome little car.. the techy infotainment is actually quite cool and not too hard to use even though i prefer more old school analog, ride quality is comfy but when you switch to sport modes everything stiffens up and gogogo.. the variable exhaust is awesome and even in sport mode is not too loud, and not to mention it handle awesome.. gonna be starting the process to pick one up as there isnt any markup at the moment... thanks throttle house for helping me make the decision ..
I saw one in my street today,they`re very cool,like a lighter sleeker T-Roc
Very nice car and nice of Thomas to approve of it. Couldn't help but notice it didn't stop him (or potentially someone else on the team) to finger in "poo" in the rear window dust... never change guys, never change.
I was rolling when I saw that, lol
Well, if you are going to buy a car to drive around on salt roads, something as dull as a Golf is a good choice.
If the MK8 had the interior of the MK7.5, it would be the perfect Golf.
Edit: Yes the MK7.5 was a really good car that many love. But if you drive the MK8, you’ll notice immediately how superior the AWD system is compared to the MK7 that was already pretty good.
The MK8 drives great but like others have mentioned, the overuse of glossy black plastic is an eyesore, the backseats are more cramped, and then the obvious shortfalls with lack of buttons, non-backlit controls, etc.
Bottom line is both aren’t perfect but if you had that MK8 drivetrain combined with the no frill and tasteful interior of the MK7.5, it would be an amazing little car.
Have you even sat in a mk8 and played with it?
@@j.a.g.8689 yes
@@j.a.g.8689pretty sure most of us have and it’s fucking royally horrible 😂
@wtbanation6268 I disagree. I think if you have a problem with it you're either special Ed or a dinosaur. People are blowing it out of proportion.
And the front end of a mk7.5, those lights and bumper are hideous
9:55 Thomas’ utter astonishment at the lack of a third pedal and subsequent dry heaving on the automatic transmission lever is the best thing ever! 🤣
That’s how I felt when I first noticed him tap a paddle
He recreated that from a reel, that reel is brilliant.
@@SwiftHDX Yup, it's on of those gated crooked shifters in an old Corolla or something. Thomas got it pretty spot on, it's this one:
ua-cam.com/video/YQ7173XCElc/v-deo.html
@@SwiftHDX Yea it's this one, right?
ua-cam.com/video/YQ7173XCElc/v-deo.html
(I promise it's not a rickroll)
@@richardnavratil9661 That's the one :D
So much fun watching this video, finding myself in the same situation when don't mind about the not illuminated volume slider, but having issues with wireless charger. Happyly went for the DCC instead of the Harman on my Mk8 GTI :P
Two maybe informative/helpfull notes:
- Engine cover was removed due to heat issues -> Can be retrofitted at VW dealer for free (at least in germany)
- heated seats can be activated with a two finger tab on the heating slider ;)
Have fun with the car just because it is really a great car!
MK7 for interior usability and Mk8 for its superior chassis. If only we could get a mixture of the two.
I love the new interior. And, as much as I loved my 7.5, I love the 8 even more. Including the modern, clean, interior.
An Audi S3 would be my choice for the more functional infotainment
It's coming with the MK8.5 later this year.
Actually the build quality of the interior is significantly better in the mk8
My mk7 gti had TONS of rattles from new
When I replaced it with a mk8 R there were ZERO rattles in the mk8, even after a full year of use
Mk8.5 Golf R is right around the corner, VW already teased the GTI interior, we've got it coming in 2025, brother. 🙏
Congratulations James!
Throttle House just keeps on getting better and better in every episode actually.😊
Piss off, quit trying to steal views from his subscribers
I love everything about this video. The scripts, the shots, the humor, the relatable feelings of making a decision that makes the most sense... Keep up the good work Throttle House!
… The dad not loving one of his kids as much as the other…. Oh so relatable! 😂😂
Am I the only one who noticed what was written on the dirty back window at 8:39? lmao
10:00 I love that Thomas recreated the automatic transmission gagging reel. I laughed so hard at that.
😭🤣
Hahahaha I loved it!
@@xleftyyeah shoutout to a racist clown who thinks he's actually funny
@@tersy9862the steering wheel column of VW Golf R looks like it came from Hyundai Creta.😅
@@AyoHustlavery nice in fact.😂
@18:20 If you press the hot and cold button at the same time it will activate your seat heating, no need to go in the menu.
0:04 my favorite part of this emotional vlog Also Thomas did tremendous in this. And Harrison. I’m sure he was cracking up Off camera. Love you guys. The brotherly togetherness is magnificent
I love my '23 golf R 20 years. I trade cars about every 18 months or so and I have already been looking for a replacement, but I can't find any other vehicle that I like better. You can't beat the Golf R for practicality, handling, and overall performance. I am very tall at 6'7" and it fits me to a T. Plenty of leg and headroom. It's great on a long trip, very comfortable, I could drive it all day! As far as the infotainment, you get used to it, and the interior lighting is fantastic. I could go on and on, lol. Enjoy your Golf R!
Wow congratulations. You have a collector’s item there. Here in Indonesia they sell unofficially for about 120K USD. VW Golf has reached ridiculous speed recently. I have a Mk7 GTI with only 13000miles on it, supposedly has 327PS on paper on APR Stage 1 (never dyno it). FWD cannot handle the power and torque on hard launches. I am a foot shorter than you btw. I’m Tom Cruise’s height. LOL. Space is plentiful for me in that car.
Yaris gr
@Mav86asian Mantap, your MK7 GTI. What a power with FWD bung! I drive the MK8 R Performance as my daily driver. Driving sometimes on the Autobahn with the R is really fun. Selamat!🤙🏾
i love how the thumbnail for the GR corolla was timed right when james said "There's not many hatchback's that does what this car can do" at 7:18. These cheeky lil details is what i love ab TH
Congrats on getting a 24' R. I have owned several GTi's in the past and got my first R, a 20th R w/DSG in August, and I love it. Glad to finally be able to experience it. I very much enjoy the content you both create and hope it continues.
@Chronicxeyewhat about the 2005 Mustang GT btw??
@Chronicxeye
Get a low mileage 2023 GTI SE trim with plaid seats.
You should be able to find one with less that 8,000 miles for around $34,000 US dollars.
Avoid the 2022 as there were some important infotainment improvements in the 23.
Anyway, that’s my advice.
Perfect choice for a city/family/fun car. I think they look even better in person than they do on camera too. Special shoutout to the person that wrote on the back window.
It DEFINITELY has a presence in-person. Camera doesn't do it justice.
And that rear window... 🤣🤣
It looks like a golf mate.
POO
The white looks incredible in person
It's a terrible family car. The rear seat space is miserably small, and the rear hatch space is a compromise because of it. I owned one and it was the worst car I've ever lived with.
I just picked up the exact same car and I'm a manual guy, but the dsg is freaky similar to some of the pdk Porsches I've owned. I have a manual Boxster Spyder 981 variant so for a daily this mk8 in blue with the dsg really hits the sweet spot. Some days I hate myself for not buying the manual version, but then I've drive it hard and love it. After watching this video, I honestly feel better and will sleep better at night knowing other enthusiasts and two of my favorite people on UA-cam also love the dsg version. And you really can't beat the blue. I live in Colorado so I also run snow wheels and tires 8 months out of the year and it's been just as solid as my Subaru outback with winters that my girlfriend drives. Love the mk8, glad other enthusiasts like me realize as a daily this is really the best even with the dsg. And I think the lack of nobs and the infotainment issues people complain about are bs. I've had zero issues. Great car. Great channel.
Boxster Spyder 981 even on MT gearbox option is still as great as the original Boxster S.
@purwantiallan5089 they only made the 981 boxster spyder in manual and it's so great... short throw from the factory is awesome
... love manual but golf R is great as a daily with the dsg
You feel any ahhh moments because of the haptic buttons?
@@L4GGINGB4D Nope...honestly not sure why so many people are against them...they work totally fine and I have not had any issues with them at all. It's different but you get used to it after 3 days then I don't even notice.
@@tripletbiguy6908 nice nice :D
I couldn't agree more with the main message in this video. I live in the Chicago area, and I have a Mark 7.5 Golf R with a manual transmission and a set and summer and winter tires. Many cars are more fun in dry and mild weather conditions, but very few cars are more fun and practical year-round and in all weather conditions! I actually look forward to having some fresh snow on the ground so I can go on a fun winter drive. The only thing holding my Golf R back in winter is the ground clearance when faced with significant accumulation.
Golf R only had one setback actually.
Now they just debuted the updated mk8.5 which address some of the issues with the 8 that made folks hang on to their mk7.5's like me. The new one finally has real buttons in many places now, plus a larger screen and more power. They GTI and R are only DSG going forward, but even as a manual trans guy it's probably for the best since VW shifters are less than good. The 8.5 may finally get me to switch now.
I high centered and got trapped on snow twice, once in a regular Golf and once in a 328d. I imagine a lower Golf R would be even easier to high center.
Watch out for 👨🏿🦲🦧🔫
A Subaru WRX would solve your problems it sounds like
It snowed here earlier in the week. AWD + snow tires was amazing. It regained traction so fast when I intentionally tried to lose traction. It stopped so much faster than I expected. It just powered through everything. Loved driving in the snow.
@@virid6819 he's probably just saying it braked well with snow tires and that was surprising. Of course AWD doesn't help it stop faster.
Congrats on your new little rocket.
You absolutely deserve it!
Watching u since 2020 and u guys improved over time so much its an absolute pleasure to see there is a new video of u guys. The editing, humour and personal note u implement in your artwork is bonkers.
Keep up the great work.
A few things I do to make my mk8 GTI feel better:
I always use volume slider on the steering wheel.
I set up a custom page on the center console which has the seat warmer and cooler buttons, media and directions. I leave it on this page almost all the time.
This car does so many things well, congrats on the new purchase James! Let us know when you're ready for a little bit more oomph. 😎
👊
@@ThrottleHouseJames, would you buy new a Subaru WRX STI hatchback if they made one?
Tip: I tell this to anyone that buys a car with piano black, when you get your car wrapped ask them if for a few extra bucks they’d wrap the piano black so it won’t scratch?
@@Hi-how-are-you-today. Judging by his choice (mature adult hot hatch) and runner-up (hybrid toyota), I doubt it. But who knows
James was created in GTI!? Destiny is made!
@@Jobo9O9 that’s why I’m asking 😜
How they integrated the "it's not a manual" meme is just automotive god level over 9000... Congrats on the new whip James!
Huge congratulations James! Lovely choice. Wait until you find our what the new facelifted S3 that will be revealed in 3 weeks will be like hihi. Congrats again
Will the facelifted RS3 also be revealed in 3 weeks time?
I just bought the 6 speed R 3 weeks ago and have loved it more than anyone or anything in my life. Yes the no buttons thing isn’t the best and the climate being on the infotainment is clumsy and distracting while in motion. But after a few drives it really is not that terrible. The no knob volume really isn’t that big of a deal and if you can’t get to a point where the volume and temp is not easily disguised you have bigger problems. That being said great video and hope you are enjoying this beauty vehicle.
For the heated seats you should be able to tab the climate controls next to the volume slider with 2 fingers to control it
Double tap the temp up and down slider with two fingers to cycle heated seats
Yeah, tap the temperature up and down at the same time and can navigate between the heated seats settings. You can also set the heated seats and heated steering wheel to come on automatically depending on the temperature outside inside settings. It will detect if there’s someone on the passenger seat too.
@@eshraq17man, that's ridiculously obnoxious
Ah, so you have to double tap a thing that disappears in the dark. Nice...Also, since you're cold, you may be wearing gloves. How is using the capacitive touch crap while wearing gloves?
@@Hawk7886 it's really not. You get used to it and it's a small price to pay for an interior this clean
11:40 "poo" on the back glass 🤣 You guys never fail to crack me up. Love the content and the film style. Great team.
lol saw it a couple times wondered if anyone else noticed
8:38 too. lol
Congrats James! I picked up my 2024 R a couple of months ago after waiting 17 months for it!
I have read that Golf 8 R engine covers were recalled because they could come loose/ catch fire/ get in contact with turbos. Aparrently, that is why yours came with no engine cover. For earlier cars, VW would take off your engine cover when you took your car in for service and tell you you'd get the new redesigned one when it's available.
And the redesign has never happened lol
@@trevzy91 Would be interesting to see a comment here when someone finally gets one 😂
@@t.kmartin1026 i still have the old engine cover since I just took it off myself when the recall came through. I’ve given up waiting for the replacement and they would probably gripe that I’m out of warranty now with 55k on my car lol
@@trevzy91 Yes, it has. My 2024 came with one, as many have. It's hard plastic now. I guess previously it was some kind of foamy material.
@@enzoismydog.why its turned into a hard plastic now btw?
Great episode! I have owned my Golf R Mk 8 for almost two years and it has met every expectation. Having owned every GTI model 1 through 7.5 , I decided to to get the R as this was to be a long term keeper, Yes, there have been some frustrations related to the infortainment (All listed by James), I find that the day to day use of the system is intuitive and easy to use. The haptic buttons are fine and I have always used them like traditional buttons with no issue. I live in Virginia; so, I have the luxury of setting the A/C at 70' year round - zero issues with heated/ventilated seats and take advantage of them coming on at pre-set temps! Lights are superb and the comfort level of the interior is extremely high. The car drives superbly and is the best driving car I have ever owned - the beauty of the R (Like the GTI) is that you can drive it as an excellent everyday commuter or a flat out sports car. I went with the manual and have no regrets, for me the driver engagement is heightened, I have owned DSG GTI's and they were superb - its just my preference. As far as reliability, mechanically the car has been flawless and inspires confidence. I had the travel assist gremlins and the steering wheel was replaced, and occasionally I have a problem with Apple Car Play syncing. For me, this is the perfect car when you combine performance, functionality and specification. After a two years ownership (Bought at MSRP), I can encourage James to believe that he as made the perfect choice!
I have the GTI, which is my favorite car I’ve ever owned.
The R would be great, but I went base GTI trim because I really just don’t drive much anymore.
The winter silver wheels look so much better than the standard ones.
agreed. the praetorians (sp) look awesome.
You're joking. The standard silver wheels that come OE are significantly nicer and more aesthetic.
You can turn on the heated seats by tapping the temp slider with 2 fingers (one on hot, one on cold).
You can also set them up to turn on automatically when it's cold.
Came here to say this!
Sweet. Can't wait to try this in my partners Atlas.
I concur, It’s the best shortcut!
Same with the heated wheel. I can be set to turn on with a certain temperature you set
Great! Combo shortcuts... OF COURSE!
WAY easier than a FVCKING BUTTON!
The 2024 VW Golf R is a masterpiece like 2005 VW Golf V GTi and 2010 Scirocco! Perfect!
As a Lapis Blue MK7.5 Owner I've got to say I love the look of the exterior, especially the rear, of the MK8 better than the previous model. However, I do prefer the interior of the MK7.5 over than MK8 (other than the new seats and badging). If they could take the MK8 exterior +seats and badging and fuse that the with MK7.5 virtual cockpit and infotainment system, I think they'd be onto a winner!
I agree except with the virtual cockpit the MK8 has a lot more customization and I prefer all the different layouts you can have + being able to change the colours.
Also a Lapis Blue 7.5R owner. I'd take the Mk8 gauge cluster and keep the center console/infotainment setup of the 7.5.
Agreed. I personally looked at a mk8 and felt that it was a step down in overall interior quality compared to my mk7.5 R. When they release the version with the physical steering buttons and backlit volume/ac controls, I'll consider one.
@@Fishsticks360I also have the mk7.5 Lapiz Blue Golf R, and I completely agree with you.
The digital cockpit might be good but the design of the rest of the dash is awful. The large areas of piano black plastic look like something lifted from a budget car, not a chance would I part with my cash for that regardless of it's performance, id feel cheated. The mark 7.5 is a much nicer design.
I've had my Mk6 R for 6 years now. Still a perfect compromise for daily, weekend and track use. A tune, short shift manual, single mass flywheel and some handling bits make them so fun for almost any situation.
Hey bro. I have a 2016 S3. It has a tune already and it's really fun to drive. What handling bits would you recommend to make it handle better? Cheers!
@@plant-based_papi6503 I've had upper and lower control arms and sway bar swapped out. Better positions and beefier components. Cheep and effective.
And to transform your car, some nice coilovers. I haven't done this because I'm happy with my handling and like the factory ride height + a good set can be expensive. But they will transform your experience.
The MK8 is one of the best driving Golf Rs ever made!!! Congrats on the dope score!
21:16 - the shortcut menu is customizable, he is correct, traction control can be placed in that swipe down screen. I have a 2024 and that is where I have mine set for.
You guys are hillarious in this video. Don't want to spoil it for those who hasn't watched it yet.
Great job.
You mentioned needing 2 touches to adjust seat heating. There's actually a faster way, which is tapping the heating adjustment bar with 2 fingers at the same time. This will cycle the heating (or ventilation if that's the one enabled) by 1 level per tap.
This is the only reason why the no backlight is a pain for me, because it's difficult to nail the 2 finger tap in the dark.
Ah, so you have to double tap a thing that disappears in the dark. Nice! So, how many touches does it actually take when you're trying to tap the exact right spot in the dark? Also, since you're looking to turn the heated seats on, it's probably cold and you may be wearing gloves so how well do the capacitive touch buttons and screens respond to gloved hands and how many touches does it actually take in that situation? It can just picture people trying to double tap the invisible fiddly slider with gloves on and getting quite frustrated.
I agree. I have an mk8 GTI and I haven't had any issues at all with the haptic buttons. although sometimes at night when its really dark, trying to get the double tap and focusing on the road gets tricky lol. luckily i have it in my muscle memory now HAHA
Or you can just create a template screen with the heated seats so they are always accessible.
I had to go back & listen to James going over the monetary numbers again, since I was too busy laughing at Thomas looking for the clutch🤣
Pro-Tip: You can turn on the heated seats with pressing with both fingern on the temperature thingy. So basically one finger on the cold and one finger on the warm and then you can toggle through the modes. Makes it a lot easier
What a shitty workaround and afterthought
WHAT I'm going to try this right now
When you need shortcuts for heated seats that's a sign of terrible design.
@@AnoNym-zi5ty omg it works LMAO
The part "this is my brother" in the mk2 is the best. Congratulations James. I'm in love with my Gti mk7, and I was in love with my Gti mk2 and de mk2 16v. Golf isva legend
Dont forget the 1976 Golf GTi Mk. 1 also.
@@purwantiallan5089 Never!!
A buddy of mine has the MK8 Golf R and he recently tuned it…and it’s even FASTER and it wasn’t very expensive.. Seriously consider it 🤘
yea, but you still drive around in a VW
@@UnratedPlayer21you sound like you don’t even own a car
You guys are tops in the review entertainment space!! Love the car as well for pretty much the same reasons you give. As a 2 time GTI owner (Mk2 and Mk6), I'd go for one of these in the used market down the line.
Easily my personal favorite TH episode.
Thomas nailed all the background comedy and James did brilliantly keeping a straight face.
Welcome to the club mate. My 2018 MK 7.5 R has now 45K miles, no squeaks, rattles, no oil burning, no nothing in fact. Took my parents on holiday down to NC, 4 adults, and all the luggage (ok this was jammed to the roof) plenty of room in the back seats and comfortable for the drive. Couldn't be happier. BTW the Fender SS in the MK7.5 is awesome.
I agree in the room. I have a 2018 GTI, STAGE 2 😈 and just recently came back from Cancun with my wife and mother unlaw.😢 We had three checked bags 3 carry-ons and our personal items. We stopped at Costco and got some stuff too, these little cars can hold quite a bit. 😊
@@Burnout143 If I recall the GTI has more space in the boot (trunk) because it doesn't have the Haldex clutch underneath. In the Golf R the boot floor is raised higher.
I had my 7R for 7 years and it was surprisingly good but I saw a GTI once and it's a big difference having that extra space.
@@milinddixit6583 Yes, you definitely have more depth in the back. It would be nice to have a bit more room.
Welcome James. You made the right choice. I'm nearly 7 years into a Mk7 R, zero regrets, still love it just as much as year 1. On the tune side - suggest the slow/low path. I'm still on Stage 1 low torque and honestly, it's more than enough. I do enjoy the stock DSG, because it's quirky and has more personality, especially with a low torque tune. It's the best thing I've ever bought in my life.
Currently looking for Golf R myself, amazing cars.. you guys have made me even more excited about owning one again 🙌🏼🔥🔥
The Golf is the only VW that still has Fahrvergnügen
The "poo" on the rear window got me laughing😂
LOL Thomas with the signs. The capacitive volume button was the first thing I thought of when James said he bought this car.
Thomas in the background at 4:14 is saying what everyone is thinking.
The golf 8.5 is going to have normal buttons
@@ramp7857Nope, it will have steering wheel buttons, which should fix reliability issues with the haptics, sliders on the dash stay the same. Haptics aren’t bad if you use it like regular buttons.
That’s a beast. Congrats. Picked up my GTi from Humber view VW which the sister dealership of Maple VW December 27th. R would have been my dream car but out of reach from price point. Mine was an autobahn model heavily discounted to the same price as base model on year end clearance. Too bad you let the dealer screwing the license plate on the bumper ruining your 50k car. I bought a bracket that mounted onto the honeycomb grill from 3DGoWest.
Love it. One of my favorite UA-cam channel presenters bought the car I own. Hah. This made my day finding out James bought one of these.
Same, feels weird actually having one of these cars people review hey?
Love the decision making process you went through here, as this is exactly why I own a '16 Golf R 6MT DCC. It checks all the boxes for a daily driver, family hauler, and winter baller. It's really sad to hear the stereo is garbage; the Fender system that came in mine is surprisingly good! Enjoy the car and keep us posted if you upgrade the steering wheel when the new one comes out!
At 3:20, you can see James has already made his first distinct modification on the rear glass.
Thank you... I was looking for this comment🤣
Thanks. I thought it was just my childish imagination, so went looking in the comments.
I have one & love it. My daily. I do everything with it. ticks all my boxes. will only ever trade it in for another Golf R.
Brilliant video. Perfect and funny extended take with James walking the car with Thomas using the signs. I agree with your choice James, I bought a GTI '19 Rabbit based on the TH review and Q/A session where you two suggested it was the best pick at the time. Nothing but smiles 70k in. Thanks guys!
Great choice! I bought a ‘23 GTI 40th anniversary addition a few months back and have zero regrets. It’s my 4th gti in a row if that tells you anything. One thing I really like is it has the S trim infotainment which is a little less frustrating than the upper trim. Would have loved the R if I had a bit more jingle in my pocket though!
21:45 "It's a very simple 7-step process."
Died 😂🤣
Not even ten seconds in and I’m struggling to compose myself. You two are absolutely amazing at what you do.
Cringe
You guys are the new Top Gear. Love your chemistry and the content you put out there!
This comment on every single UA-cam car review is pretty tiring.
@@a_single_white_female best you go to bed 🙄
These guys are enjoyable but thats a stretch.
Proper socially inept comment you find on every car youtube channel. Go out and touch some grass ya mug
@@romevangyet its still almost flawless one.
Well done, James. I have a Mk7 R with a manual and love it. Granted, I had to do a few things to make the factory clutch feel like an actual clutch, but it was so worth it.
I love your videos. Reasonable, intelligent bought cars. It never feels like humble bragging. Love the editing and the comedy always so well done.
Bought a 24 Golf R DSG a month ago. This video helped me make my decision. Love it so much, thanks throttle house!
I work at a volkswagen dealer and there is actually a recall on these because the engine cover they designed doesnt stay attatched and can cause a fire. So they started leaving them off from the factory. Had a new arteon this year delivered without a cover so i assume its the same for that
Interesting, that would explain it.
This has been stated since 2022
How sad that VW can't even design an engine cover properly. Sigh....
Pathetic
@@bigmacdaddy1234yet they designed this wonderful piece of machinery and mk2 mk4 mk7 and all of em
"Poo" @ 11:40 😅 lolol
Such a great video. I was entertained to the max...thank you i needed this vid today.
Love this video! Been watching you guys have fun for years. Your explanation of purchasing process was refreshing and honest. Have owned over 15 VWs and 3 Mk7s. My current Mk8 GTI 6spd is my favorite. I’m one of the few that love the new interior and infotainment. It’s not perfect but none are. Look forward to your ownership reviews 🍻
Proper buttons and knobs would be FAR better
I can guarantee you're going to live to love this purchase. The Golf R Mk8 is a real return to form for this hot hatch. It's performance alone puts it at the top of its class. The look is fantastic, perfect blend of high end finish with subtle aggression. Then that exhaust note, my god it sounds good. I myself went for the Audi S3 but only because I am a die hard fanboy. I toiled over getting this exact Golf R for ages and I think I would have been every bit as satisfied with the Golf had my wife wanted it.
I knew where watersports was going and I still loved it! Keeping that in was the right call guys.
Really fun choice. I’m a sucker for 5 doors and this one checks a lot of boxes.
Those wheels look way better than the stock ones. Congrats, we wish you many happy kilometers.
Can relate completely! I've had my Golf R for nearly 8 years and it's been nearly flawless.
These Golf R’s are the best daily drivers. I only sold mine to get an RS3. I wish I could get a Golf R with the 5 cylinder. That would be my dream daily.
The Golf R and Mazdaspeed 3 realistically are equally great.
Had a MK5 R32, fun car but between the dsg and vr6 that thing was a boat with only 250hp. Glad to see the vast improvements over the years.
Congratulations on your new car. It was certainly at or near the top of my list when a GMC Yukon decided to drive through my passenger door of my 2016 VW Golf R in early December (6-speed manual with 31,000 miles on it, the insurance company totaled it). So I went from having zero plans to get a "new" car to having to replace one that gave me seven years of driving pleasure. But, a trip to a few VW dealers in Northern California (and calls to several in Southern California) confirmed that they had seemingly formed a PAC to ask for $15,000 over MSRP. I found this to be outrageous, even though I could probably afford it. One dealer was even asking $15,000 over MSRP for a leftover 2023 model. I ended up buying a "leftover" 2023 Audi S3 Premium Prestige (adaptive sport suspension, Napa leather, Bang and Olufsen sound system, black optic kit, panoramic moonroof, and other goodies for $8500 off of MSRP thanks to a year-end deal. I really have no idea if the 2024 Golf R is a better choice than my Audi S3 because the dealers weren't allowing test drives. I do know that the S3 is much nicer, better handling car than my 2016 Golf R (no adaptive suspension, no moonroof, a plain black leather interior). I've seen enough videos of the 2024 Golf R to know that the drift mode must be a hoot, but I'm too cheap to wear my tires drifting anyway. I'm impressed with the deal you receive in your local market for a Golf R, if that had been the case in my neighborhood, we'd probably be both driving a 2024 VW Golf R. Interestingly, while my wife enjoyed driving the Golf R, she was never a fan of the styling, yet she's smitten with the S3.
What did you end up paying for the S3 after discounts?
I believe it was $59,700 MSRP (loaded Premium Plus), and I paid $51,200 plus taxes and license.@@TheCarCrazyGuy
@@TheCarCrazyGuy They literally stated $8,500 off MSRP! Do you need your mommy to cut your steak into bite sized pieces for you too?
@@Ts-zy4bwAre you a moron? I asked what they paid for it, not how much they saved.
Great video, as usual. Re: interior space, which is going to be discussed a lot in the comments, my wife has a MK8 GTI and she loves the interior and is not bothered by the touch controls at all. She says it looks nice, modern and clean that way. I'll just say that both GTI and R drive extremely well.
Because they're not bad. Majority of the flak seems to come from press, not people who use it on a daily basis.
@@mrjkstark yeah I would say so to. I own a seat with pretty much the same interior and infotainment and it's not bad, but my seat has real buttons on the steering wheel :D
Android auto wireless works great, love the driver's display, can easily switch drive modes (sport and custom with the automatic selector), competent driver assist, and I don't really use the rest of the infotainment system.
The only thing not working is the wireless phone heater, with that said in an Audi or Merc it's the same thing. Idk why these companies don't test this feature.
I agree with your wife. As much as really loved my GTI 7.5, I love me 8 even more.
Only two things I’d change is less piano black & adjustable head rest front seats.
@@katiecannon8186 She said the same thing about head rests. :) But yeah, the car is really good, looks great and is a joy to drive. You get used to the controls pretty quickly, you just have to live with it for a week or so.
@@karacha
The seats are WAY more comfortable than the 7. So that’s the big plus. As an older person, I got really tired of my 7.5 GTI seats as far as comfort goes. Whereas I find the new seats extremely comfy, even on long drives. Still, I like the looks of adjustable head rests better. And they give back passengers better visibility.
Finally - it’s so cool your wife drives an R. More women should be buying GTI/R cars.
For anyone in the UK thinking of going this route may I suggest having a look at what dealers are asking for the Arteon R? List price for a new one with a couple of options and proper paint is around £63k. A five month old ex-demo with 4k miles on the clock? £43k. About the same as an ex-demo Golf R but something a bit different (and, if I'm being honest, a better looking car than most of its Audi stablemates). Now, granted, I suspect the Arteon still has a big chunk of depreciation still to go but even so...
I've seen 2023 Arteon SELs with 20k miles at around $26k USD. Amazing value
I just want a new Phaeton.
Or ... An M340i for the same price which has a proper engine, better chassis and RWD biased xdrive system.
@@S3RF1NB1RDdamn never seen a 2033 model lol
@@speeddemonRS3 yeah my dad works for Microsoft and hacked into Wolfsburg's future. Nbd really
I got mine in manual and I love it! It’s so special.
I had to pause at 10:33 and look at your subscriber count.
WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE 10 TIMES THE SUBSCRIBERS?! I love you guys' content.
I was worried James was becoming Canadian but this proves he’s still one of us 😂
Btw please modify this in some way the Golf R is a great fast daily platform
@11:02 the heated steering had me in tears🤣
Thomas’ cutaways are brilliant and hilarious. Love it😂
13:10 "we don't gotta leave that in" had me floored
Loyal golf family, well done sir!
Congrats James, you picked a really good car. I went with the EV6 AWD but since depreciation was a major worry, I leased it !
So depreciation was an issue, so you paid to never even own it?
@@bwthomas84 Buying it loses more money.
@@suserman7775 keep telling yourself that
@bwthomas84 I'm not gonna bother explaining finances to you. Seems like even a lease for 1 dollar a month conflicts with your "you're paying not to own it" nonsense.
Congratulations on the new car. An excellent choice. I was in the same position back in 2020 with very similar criteria - hatchback, all-wheel drive, sporty, automatic. I ended up deciding on a 2020 Stinger GT, but it was a very close decision for me between the Golf R and the Stinger. I was coming from a 2017 GTI and the 2019 Golf R just seemed too similar to what I was coming from. I'm still loving the Stinger, but think if I was to make the same decision in 2024 I would likely go for the Golf R.
My previous 07 GTI was a fantastic car. I sold it to a friend when it had 275,000 km on the dial. It had the dual clutch manual. I miss that car. Great review men.
I love the winter wheel setup better than stock. The silver looks good with the blue and I like the extra bit pf sidewall.
Great car. Love it.
You nailed it with use case. EV's are amazing, but they're not for everyone. And when the gov't steps in and tries to ram it down everyone's throat, you get a distinct divide in the car community. I have a Tesla Model S for a commuter, but I still need my diesel 2500 for the camping trips and desert adventures with our dirt bikes & RZR's. In time it will be all EV (or at least 90%) with those edge case scenarios where gas/diesel will still play a role. Infrastructure and charging speeds will only get better as well as educating the masses on EV's. Great video as always! Keep it up gentlemen!
No EV's won't. They will be niche only inside ten years. No one wants to rely on them. They are terrible for the environment. Their weight kills tires and people as well. The coper thieves also have found a new target in their charging cables just like catalytic thieves.
Congrats on the new car, I know you're going to enjoy the hell out of it! I bought an S3 Sportback for very similar reasons to you, 8 years ago. Didn't regret one minute of it, honestly the perfect blend of vehicle.
I own a '23 Golf Alltrack and a lot of what you mentioned applies to mine as well, even though it is a different beast altogether. No drift mode (unfortunately), but higher ground clearance. Here in the black forest, winter has decided to come back after many weekends with 25+ deg. C, so naturally I already switched to the summer rubber. The sudden snow didn't scare it at all, it just does its thing. Just like in winter, where it didn't miss a beat, even in very harsh conditions. The Alltrack has the benefit of physical buttons on the steering wheel, so that's another win. My only gripe is the sometimes sluggish gearbox and the even sluggier infotainment system.
Well if you’re going to buy a hot hatch why not buy the one the pioneered the trend in the first place 🤷🏽♂️I’ve owned several over the years no regrets and remember there are 2 kinds of cars in the world Volkswagen and the rest cool purchase enjoy 💯