VW Golf R Review--THIS OR GTI?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- The VW Golf R is the top of range Golf, with 292hp, 4Motion all-wheel-drive as standard equipment and dynamic Chassis Control. For 2018 the Golf family receives a facelift. The Golf R hatchback gets a new front bumper and spoiler, LED adaptive headlamps and new rear umber with LED tail lights. Inside the 2018 Golf R gets a digital dashboard with a new, larger display audio system. The big question is the Golf R, starting at $42,000 worth the money over the updated Golf GTI? The latest GTI gets 22hp now and is available with a sunroof and LED headlamps.
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Zack Spencer
Zach Spencer
Canadian Car Review
Motormouth Canada
Had both. No competition. R all day every day
R32 even better.
David Ryan false
Eisa Qureshi Nope.
@@ninjamonkey1 Nope
As the owner of a 2016 R with a manual gearbox, I have to say it’s an unbeatable daily driver especially when equipped with 4 snow tires. I previously had a GLI and even with 4 snows it just could not get off the line in slippery conditions.
Jonah Bonn 4 motion all wheel drive does help alot vs front wheel drive 🤔
The best fun I have in my MK5 R32 is pummeling it through the snow.
Yup no issues with VW here either... I come from Sweden & no issues with the 2017 GTI Clubsport monster machine you see at my Channel! ;)
Great review. Too bad the golf R is not avail in wagon format in North America.
I was calling the stealership every day when I heard about the golf R wagon, Would have went and traded my 2016 gti in the second VW would have approved the r wagon....sad they didnt.
I’m in the UK and have the wagon version. It’s faster 0 to 60 than the hatchback. It’s also a wolf in sheeps clothing.
I think a completely base GTI with the plaid seats and a stick is vastly more compelling than this.
Great review as always.
ak2112 It’s at this point in the conversation I let the other person know, I have this.
That's what I would get as well. I don't need all the bells and whistles from the Autobahn trim. Give me a stick and I'll be happy.
P-O Veilleux That’s what I have. Base model MK7 2017 GTI S 6spd manual. Got it for $23k brand new last February. The MK7.5 models are way too expensive, even in the base trim, going for like $27+k I think. Not worth it.
The car is great! It has tons of features standard, and being it the lightest version of itself, is the fastest model in the GTI lineup. Check out my Instagram @ bim3m
I love manual transmissions. I’ve owned 20 stick shift cars, however if you plan on adding power to the gti, better save up for a new stronger clutch as VW uses clutches that can just barely hold stock powers add another 40+ HP and it starts to slip. I e never owned a vehicle with such a weak stock clutch.
V Barretto You’re 100% right! It’s pretty shameful how weak the stock clutch on the MK7 GTI is. I spent $1150 for the DKM Stage 3 clutch kit and flywheel (660 ft/lbs) and did the install myself, and now the car is so much better. It’s worth the price, but still wish the stock clutch would hold more power than stock numbers and would’ve lasted longer.
For me DSG is the way to go. It's the best of both worlds and the best way to get the best performance out of the car. The DSG in my GTI is only a little jerky during cold starts. Once the transmission warms up, I find it to be very smooth.
I'm sorry but driving a manual in the city isn't an "involving" experience. It's just a chore.
vr6gls same here. I have a 2012 gti dsg and is way more jerky when cold.
DSG owns it! Imagine how jerky the driving would be in a tight city with manual a busy day! I own the GTI Clubsport with DSG, DCC & loads of other options & never experience any jerkyness, it is Flawless! - Check the 2017 GTI Clubsport videos on my Channel & Enjoy! ;)
DSG vs Manual is a preference. Either way you can't go wrong with the R or GTI. I live in the GTA and I have no problems or issues driving in traffic. I have been driving manuals for about 35 years and maybe it's just muscle memory in my left leg. When I get in a car with an auto my left leg tries to find and mash the phantom clutch all the time and it feels weird.
Japanese women in rubber
vr6gls - I daily a manual transmission Civic Si in New Jersey and New York City and it’s never been a chore, in fact it’s been a pleasure. How is a DSG the best of both worlds when it only has 2 pedals?
I have a 2017 GTI with a good set of winter tires and have had no problem what so ever here in Ontario.
Same here with 2015 Performance Pack DSG, 9K saved.
No doubt, but there's more to the awd vs fwd traction argument than winter capabilty. Ever try and take off from a light with a little gusto with high power and just fwd? Now again with awd. Cold, wet, greasy, leaf-strewn roads for the other 3 seasons are also awd playground. And safer too.
My dealership was out of golf R's when I bought my gti in 2016, the stock tires on the 16's were junk. I get to frustrated with FWD in winter, which is why I have a awd Eagle talon... EVO drive train and engine on the cheap!
I own the 2017 GTI Clubsport here in Sweden! - What can i say? It's Flawless! ;) Check it's videos on my Channel!
R is better but i love my Gti. more affordable and still super fun
I have spent about 40 hours researching and a week driving both the 2018 GTI and the R. Out of pretty much all the reviews on TH-cam and other auto media, this is the best review I've seen so far.
Which one did you go with?
Not sure about the jerkiness in the DSG. As a passenger the shifts are far smoother than a manual transmission.. initial can be jerky tbh but you just have to be less Heavy footed
Thank you Zack, finally post this video that we all are looking for so long. Big fan of your channel, the best car reviewer in Canada. You are right about GTI is good enough for Vancouver, even the stock tire is a bit slippy during the rainy days. For the transmission, not just Golf R, even the GTI MK6 is jerky too, because VW wants their performance cars to feel sporty on purpose (new 7 speed DSG just luxury as Audi). And yes, Golf R can be a practical family car (maybe not that comfortable), but it is designed for the people who care about performance. I do love VW because of their interior and tech (can't believe they did not offer the sunroof on this top model), but I kinda think that VW treats Canadian customer as the fool, considering the specs we will get based on the price. I totally agree with you, if AWD or "made in Germany" is the must, then you know what to buy, otherwise go for GTI.
Just for clarity, don't get me wrong, the Golf R is a great car, as well as the GTI. The only deal-breaker is if you think the price is reasonable or not. They both are great "Audi Lite" cars, truly fun to drive. And the Golf R still the top 1 of my next car buying list.
I mean if 5K is enough to turn you off 72HP/AWD/Digital cockpit/etc then it would be a better idea to go for a 1 yr old used. I think if you are buying them both new it is still silly to just not pay the extra for the R. The R will probably hold value a bit better too, so in the end you wont be down that much.
Indeed. Since it is still cheaper than other German brands, Golf R is still a competitive player in the market.
DSG can be jerky when you're mashing the throttle. Be more gentle.
It's not about feeling sporty but that's how DSG works - it's basically a sert of two manual transmissions, there's no torque converter that allows you to glide through stop and go traffic. Engine always has a direct connection with the wheels, stop and go traffic means it has to slip the clutch, connect, disconnect, slip, connect, disconnect and so on.
Good tip about using manual mode for stop and go with DSG transmission! I've had a similar experience as your wife in stop&go traffic. It's too bad plaid seats aren't available as an R, as they're more comfortable than leather (which gets hot in summer and cold in winter). Yes, heated/cooled seats remedy this, but it's nice to not have to rely on that in order to avoid unpleasant seat temperatures.
I'll keep my 2004 GTI VR6 with 117K miles that looks and runs like new. :)
To me, the Golf R is the epitome of badass, all generations. 😎
If the audi S3 was available as a hatchback in Canada I would go for that, but here I am patiently waiting for my 2018 R to arrive from Germany :)
"It now gets the performance package as standard equipment". Not quite. That package came with a pretty sweet locking differential and the big brakes from the Golf R, neither of which are available on the Canadian GTI for 2018. Honestly, the differential was by far the most compelling part of that package for me, with the brakes coming second, and the meager power bump at a distant third. If the GTI came with those improvements, like it does in the US, I would definitely consider it over the Golf R. As the packaging stands up here I would pick the R every time. If budget permits of course.
I drive a DSG in NYC and it is as smooth as my Mercedes E automatic. I think the problem you are having is that the DSG “learns”. If the previous driver never drove a stick and so is constantly catching-out the tranny by injudicious use of throttle and brake you can have problems. Drive it herky-jerky in Auto mode, it thinks you want that. You can catch-out the DSG by “stabbing” at the throttle and brake, forcing it to go up or down more than 1 gear a lot instantaneously. If you know how to drive a manual you will drive DSG much more smoothly just by nature. To un-learn DSG u drive it REAL fast manually for a few days.. 4K RPM plus shifts and it resets. BTW I believe all this is in the owners manual. Hope this helps.
Vance Shaw
I'm still a bit confused on the explanation of "unlearning" the DSG because I'm not sure why anyone would want to undo a good. Mind u that while I drove SCCA GT1 & 2 classes for several I don't profess to know much about the technical aspect.. That said I driven many different track/performance tourers over the years, mostly German, some Japanese. My everyday car is probably my favorite, a MK7 R DSG, DCC and several of my friends opted for the old school 6sod manual. And all regret not having gotten the DSG. It REALLY applies itself tremendously to the I4 setup with the bigger turbo and the spread in track time or just 0-60 is unlike any other car in this segment. We're talking over a second in 0-60 . I think you perform a terrific service in educating potential consumers especially given today's segment range and as you stated higher prices to match all that technology. My apologies for the lengthy message but given my vast experience in both track and off road rallies I would appreciate it much if you could again explain your point about rebounding that DSG. Perhaps couched in a different manner will help me better understand the why's a bit better ( and yes many novice drivers don't understand that two identical cars will most definitely pick up the characteristics of a given driver ) Especially with Performance cars that are more likely to mirror the driver/owner since they are engineered to be driven in a more challenging and agressive manner. Thanks in advance for your consideration
You can also buy a tune for the DSG which is apparently a huge improvement.
Totally agree with you. Ive driven both. If you live in an area without snow don't bother with the R. you'll only feel the 75 hp on full throttle. but you'll feel the AWD dragging you down all the time.
kmsm668 Ithink you might feel the 2017 GTI Clubsport (seen on my Channel) Would be a nice little Substitute...?? ;)
No Clubsport in Canada.......
$48K?!? Thanks but no thanks.
I got a used 2016 for $35000 Canadian. Great car!
Extra 3000 for the custom paint job
You know how much it costs in Switzerland?! 50’000 CHF, almost 52’000 USD, 63’000 Canadian dollars... Don’t complain in US and Canada, you have very cheap prices compared to EU (and VW is an EU brand...).
42k is the average.
cost 100k from where i am from stop bitching
This purple colour is incredible, but I can't believe we didn't get the extra horsepower. I'm so glad I didn't wait and got the GTI.
There are two different purple colors in the Golf configurator; Dark Violett Perleffekt and Violet Touch. Unfortunately, the reviewer didn't tell us which one of them is on this car. Anybody here who knows?
Kolbjørn Halvorsen Hi.
Dark Burgundy Perleffekt is the real car config Color
A JB1 takes care of the power issue and won't mess with your warranty, should've done some research before buying.
Was gonna turn in my 2016 for a 2018 but just found out we don't get the power boost here... 😫
With a simple tune and downpipe the Golf R makes close to 400hp. That said you can do the same in a GTI and get 400TQ/320HP.
Great MATURE review. Not just some kid screaming through the whole thing. Really appreciate your well though out observations on both. I'm a current 2017 Golf R owner and am really impressed with this car every day. I love how quick, easy and fun it is. But man, $48,000 before tax ($54,000 w/tax) is A LOT OF MONEY for a new Golf R. The opportunity cost of that puts you in a new Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Or some really nice lightly used cars. Think I might reconsider if I were doing it again today.
Problem I found with the GTIs manual transmission is the long gearing. Good for fuel economy but not as fun as the golf Rs 6 speed
ckarsenal The 2017 GTI Clubsport i own, that you see on my channel here, is NOT having good fuel economy. It also have the DSG 6-speed (which have the best reliability) & Like the R, its a race car! Its not Supposed to have "good fuel economy..) But its even faster than the R on a real track, even if R's the fastest on straights. Clubsports lighter & generates bit of downforce. Where the Clubsport S of course is the fastest which took the World Record at Nurbergring Germany some year ago. Check the GTI Clubsport on my channel! ;)
I've owned both -- a 2015 GTI (stage 2) and a 2017 R (JB4 w/ dp). I also live in Vancouver. GTI is obviously lighter, with more torque down low in rpm range (smaller turbo). The prob is you can't put it down, bc fwd... wheel spin is silly, esp when tuned. When it's raining (several months a year here) forget it. R is a bit laggy (turbo and pedal), but JB4 helps. R has much better brakes, better cornering, and WAY more grip off the line. If you live in a city, this is everything. I paid 47K all in. I appreciate that this guy knows cars, but he's really missed the mark on the R's performance as a wet-weather car
Agree with you 100%.
I own a 2017 GTI with DSG and my son owns a 2015 GTI with DSG. Neither one is "jerky" when driven in DSG/Automatic mode. They aren't perfect...but they are FAR from being jerky. I would call the DSG quite smooth overall. I love driving a manual...but NOT in heavy traffic! I get caught in heavy traffic way too often for me to want a manual these days. Driving a manual is a MASSIVE headache in stop and go traffic! I LOVE the DSG and will probably never buy a manual shift car again. Plus...when you buy a car with DSG...you always have the option of throwing it over into "manual" mode. On a side note...I have another son who owns a 2011 GTI with manual. He loves the manual and doesn't want DSG. But he also doesn't currently live in an area with heavy traffic. If he moves to a place with heavy traffic...he may quickly reconsider his love for manual driving.
Jeremiah17seven that's a lot of GTIs!
Exactly, it is about the driving style! - i owned a 2012 GT R-Line with manual & now a GTI Clubsport with DSG. I Love Both! - Check out the 2017 GTI Clubsport on my Channel! ;)
Dude, as soon as I heard about "Jerkyness" comment, I disliked this video because he does not know what he is talking about in my opinion... so you are right 100% on that comment
Decent performance hatch, but it's *absurdly* overpriced. I'm not a fan of VW these days anyway, since they committed fraud with their diesel cars (I owned a 2012 Golf TDI, which I sold). I know other brands were doing it too, but that doesn't make it right! Great review, as always.
Really love the purple colour, looks fantastic!
"It feels like an audi light". Well, vw own and make audi cars, so that makes sense.
the only difference between this and a gti is fwd and 4 motion and the price, lets be honest, people buy a gti cause they cant afford a gold r
If you can afford it the R is always better than the GTI. It is a cut rate Audi S3 and I loved how that car drives. The DSG is still one of the better dual clutch gearboxes on sale today.
Trades46 handles better, is layed out better, more headroom in golfR
Oh and save 10000 when similar equipment
Zombie Head not enjoying your r?
Zombie Head damn, sorry to hear that man. Do the gear synchro issues only apply to the mk 7.5 platform? I've been looking at getting a 2018 gti or R in manual but will think twice after hearing your experience. Although I have to wait till fall since I'm in the US...
My Pretorias came with pirelli pzeros, wonder why they randomly give out different tires.
trades 46 or the Audi s3 is just a over priced golf R really depends on how you look it both being made by VW and the same chaise and same engine and little softer suspension in the Audi s3. I know this because I have driven both around a auto cross back to back the s3 is more a cruiser then the golf r plus you cant get it with out the dam moon roof I hate the things at lest here in the USA
Why do you need heated steering wheels? I just re-direct the vents to blow on my hands. I'm not convinced AWD and a power bump is worth >$10,000. Buy a $1000 tune (Comes with powertrain warranty) for the GTI that will produce more power than the Golf R. And the GTI has a limited slip diff (2 wheel motion) which helps to get the car up a small snowy hill.
After owning the GTI and the R, I would recommend the GTI. It's more fun to drive. Now if you are looking for a racing, get the R.
Hasco De La Vega Ican recommend owning the GTI Clubsport you see on my channel! Best of GTI & R in one car! If your looking for track racing, Clubsport is best - Even better than R coz its made for it. R's faster on straights but Clubsport kicks it on curvy tracks as its lighter & etcetera. Anyways check the car out on my channel! ;)
Hasco De La Vega Did you have any mechanical problems with either cars when you owned them? I heard Volkswagens aren't the most reliable cars.
@vandrosia Don't listen to those rumors. i own a 2017 face-lift GTI my brother has owned a Mk5 GTI and now owns a Mk6 golf r. never have we ever had a problem with the car. most reliable cars we have ever owned.
Vandrosia sorry for the late answer. No I’ve never get any issues with both.
I owned GTI and now own 2017 R...I like the R better but they're both great cars.
300 lbs heavier and only approx 70 more hp? I’ll take the GTI any day
the preference is all-wheel drive over FWD for the GTI.
I like AWD and 70 HP extra is a hell of a lot. A $600 tune adds another 60 HP too.
First of all, thank you for showing us a purple Golf R. I wish that colour option had been available when I ordered my 2016 Golf R in Lapiz blue with DSG. I almost want to trade my 2yr old R in for the new R just for the colour, but I doubt the finances would be favourable trading in soon. I have driven manual Golfs (including 2 GTIs) since 1999 and I find they work very well, especially better than Honda and some other brands Ive tried. I now have the DSG in my 16 R and LOVE it. I find it shifts very fast in all modes. I only got it because I thought my wife might need to drive it, and that hasn't happened. Now I'm think that I should have gone manual, but I'm also conflicted in that thought because I really do like the DSG. In 3 years I may go manual again because I do miss rowing my own. The problem is that the DSG is higher performance.
The seats are hard and the interior feel cheap. Nobody ever looks at you on the street or at the gas station because it is so ordinary with all the style of a bar of soap.
Whoever mounted that front tag should be slapped across the face!
Comparing GTI to R in real (non-Vancouver) snow is a bit much - the Haldex and extra weight means the R is much more planted and predictable, no? I test drove the GTI and it felt way too light without the front differential - wheel slip and slidey even in rain on stock tires. Winter tires are mandatory in some provinces and should be anyway, so that’s a wash. The R doesn’t offer some options I’d like but is very tune-able and holds value better - still the better car. The reasons not to get the R are that the stock manual clutches seem to be failing early and are not covered after 20k km, if you hate a leather interior or absolutely need a sunroof, the maps are not updated ever /well / frequently....and other first world problems.
acchaladka Lol. I bought the 2017 GTI Clubsport you can see at my channel here in Sweden, for EXACTLY the same price as a normal GTI. Cannot possibly get a better deal than that... Here in Southern Sweden, there is never any need for AWD.
3DFX Okay but....what are you responding to? The GTI is a great choice especially if you don’t get real snow where you live. If I were south of here in NY for example I might be really tempted to get the GTI despite the wheel spin.
He's spamming his channel in comments
Great car but I have a MK5 GTI with the 1st generation DSG gearbox and yes in traffic it is jerky at low speeds especially here in Sydney where our maze of roads is one huge parking lots.
Dream car. So nice.
I have a 2017 Golf R, DSG. I always get people saying how smooth the DSG is. Perhaps it's your driving style or the car itself? If I leave it in sport mode and am mashing the gas peddle that's the only time I find it to be jerky. Manuel mode can also be jerky depending on throttle.
That said, the 2018 is a 7 speed DSG so maybe it's the issue...
if you are not super smooth in first gear does it jerk a little bit in bumper to bumper? That is the only time I'm not fond of my 6 speed DSG, but I've got the older MK5 R32.
I've never tried older versions of the DSG, but in my experience, the Mk7 is very dependent on throttle. If I ease into the throttle it's never jerky in any gear (including 1st in traffic), but if I depress the throttle half way and immediately cancel throttle, it jerks a bit.
It feels as though around half throttle the turbo starts spooling up ready to launch you forward and if you cancel immediately it jerks in a somewhat disappointed fashion. Got its hopes up then denied it the fun of accelerating forward.
I suppose it makes sense; the 6 speed DSG in the Mk7 has been perfected while the Mk5 DSG was still fairly new to the car and the Mk7.5 7 speed DSG is also a new transmission for the car. For your Mk5 I recommend looking into a APR DSG tune. It should be under $500 and improve the software to the point where it no longer jerks for you. May even speed up the car. Regardless you're out of warranty so provided it actually improves things, you have nothing to lose.
That is the feel man, I've gotta really be gentle in first for it to like it like maybe 5% throttle. I think my car has a shorter gear ratio than the new ones though so that is probably why I notice it.
I got to drive the DSG model GTI and golf R....hated it. I thought the manual was much much better.
Manual is definitely more fun. I got the DSG for a lot of reasons; I drive in traffic a lot, it has more potential performance wise, it's smooth and impressive to people who don't actually like cars which is most people...
But the real reason I got a DSG is that I'm an idiot and I drive far too quickly. I keep the DSG in normal mode which aims for best fuel econ which means it's almost never in boost.
It's actually why I got the golf in the first place. I know that I'm perfectly happy driving 100 mph everywhere I go even in school zones, I also know that's stupid and I'm being overconfident and I'll eventually kill someone.
So, it's a car that can go really fast when I want to but it's also a car that won't be all that fast unless I consciously want it to be.
What was that? Don't drive so irrisponsibly? Yeah. You're right.
The price increase is slightly problematic in that it's now only $3000 less than the Audi S3, which is the brand snob's obvious choice. It'll come with a nicer interior and arguably more tech, it also gets you a sedan if you prefer that body style. Depending on the deal you get on an S3, this Golf may be just too expensive.
The real solution to life's problems is to bring over the s3 in manual
highly agreed
Golf R much more usable space. More Headroom in front and especially in back.
Some people talk total bollocks, the dsg gives you everything, for any experienced driver, you can shift when you need to and do it without any jerks, imhave a gti performance and its ideal, though if I lived in NY or Scotland I would have an R i would also have standard 18” agains’t mine at 19” in UK potholes the Bigger wheels are not a help ! I am thinking a Cooper S works next ! Just for a change
I wonder if there's a reliability difference between the GTI and the R, as they're made in different countries.
you would get the R all day every day if only for the AWD and more power.
The GTI this year doesn't have mechanical front diff which is a huge let down. Not sure it still has R brakes.
Hugo Ning that's correct for Canada, but for some reason you can still get it in USA...
Aleks Lajzer that's true, which is very annoying 😂 com'on Canadians need mechanical front diff too.
All GTIs have the electronic LSD in Canada. It's an option in the USA.
Abe Froman but wasn't the mechanical one better? 🤔
I had a '15 GTI, had to sell it because of money problems 😥. When I get back on my feet I hope to upgrade to the R as I live on a side hill and the all wheel drive will come in handy.
More then 6“3 im 6”6 and I have plenty of room
When you factor in depreciation, the Golf R is a no brainer. You will lose a lot more on a GTI, in terms of percentage. Closes the cost gap considerably
mark haidar Only matters if you trade it in. And the GTI will be cheaper to maintain and easier on fuel.
Mike M Or if you’re in an accident / salvage situation and the car is written off by the insurance company. Or you decide after buying you really didn’t want it. Or if....
Brian of course they aren't investments but I prefer to lose as little as I can on them. Always pay cash ... looking at the amount of depreciation is smart though because in the end it will go down in value but you want yo limit it as much as you can
Forget about percentage loss. Only dollar loss really counts as loss.
mark haidar - get a Subaru WRX instead, no comparison when you consider how well they hold their value, way better than any VW
The GTI feels lighter, because it is, awd system weighs about 300lbs.
As for GTI vs R - all depends if you want that extra bit of performance or not. You can't add AWD, and it'd be very expensive to add the bigger turbo with supporting hardware the R has over the GTI. So a good, all around car that will go fast, have almost never ending traction, and if you wanna bump the power more without the worry of reliability, go for the R. But just as a daily driver/commute car, the GTI is a great choice.
R owner here, the dsg and tech package are the cats ass. I use adaptive cruise control so much. Manual is for grampa puttering around, re living his model t days.
Itss not really fair cause the golf r has a different goal than the gti. The r will make more power and have better grip vs the gti. Gti is good for people on a more tight budget but if i could get the r i would get every time over a gti.
I personally like the design of the GTI better
Matt's Opinions Thats one reason i own a GTI. Another one being that i wod have to pay EXACTLY the same for a normal GTI, than i did for the 2017 GTI Clubsport you see posing at my channel! (40 Year Anniversary GTI) - Check on my Channel Mate! ;)
Resale value on the R probably offsets the price diff with a gti after 3-5 years of ownership. Just a guess
Of course it's gonna turns heads when you have every other car black, silver, white or tans...people themselves are boring while screaming they are independent and a individual...
I'm really thinking about getting the manual for sure... thanks for the great review video 👏👍👌
Check the forums. Clutches on these are failing at low km, seems to be a design issue. VW is inconsistent but seems to mostly not pay. I thought about that long and hard, though I still chose the manual.
Manual all the way! Auto's are boring as fuck.
Bought a 6 speed manual GTI Autobahn about a month ago with 54,000 miles on it. Drives FANTASTICALLY well.
DSG is a proven system with impeccable manners with very smooth shifting. I don't understand how any experienced car reviewer can make it jerky! Something is not right here!
When the car comes with paddle-shifters, why should you recommend manual shift cars? Only those who have been driving manual shift cars for a long time will prefer the shift lever. Most people can easily get used to paddle shifting because down-shifts are automatically done by the car! It's so darn intuitive.
This is the new 7-speed, not the good old 6-speed DSG. Different
Motormouth Sorry, still not buying it! I have a 2011 Skoda Superb 7-Speed DSG 1.8 Petrol car with 52,000km on it and it's not exactly "new"! Almost 8 years old! If my old car doesn't have the jerkiness you mentioned, why would a latest generation DSG suffer from jerkiness? Please explain.
I don't know why, I'm just reporting on what I experienced. Not smooth like the 6-speed.
Motormouth Is it possible you're giving it a lot more gas than required? Pedal to the metal, as they say?
My Superb is a heavy car. The VW you're testing are tiny rocket-powered monsters with obscene power. One must get properly adjusted to all those horses to achieve the ideal ride.
In any case, technology advancements in engine/drive-train boggle my mind! Thanks for the enjoyable videos of these monster machines!
It's sad that VW doesn't bring many of their top models to the Indian market (our congested traffic and bad road maintenance don't encourage too many to buy these rockets!). When volumes are low, no car maker will care to bring them here!
Having said all that, I still like driving in India, where I routinely drive at 170-180kmph (over 110 mph) in short bursts on our Inter-city highways. When caught (rare), we just pay a fine of a few hundred Rupees and have a nice chat with the team of cops who flag the speeding cars and go our merry way! No guns or arrests or breathalyser tests!
Dude, I've been reviewing cars for over 29 years, I know what I'm talking about
The new Polo also has the digital display thingy, do they even sell Polo's on the other side of the pond?
Not in North America.
I live in toronto and drive a 2015 GTI - with snow tires on it's a dream to drive in the winter.... and i love the sunroof during out hot ontario summers.
How is it in slush or on icy roads?
Same here in Toronto I really enjoy driving my MK7.5 GTI .
Amazing color!👍👍
If they sold that purple in the US I'd trade my Blue 2016 6MT for a brand-new one.
It is still better value than the GTI in my opinion but custom colour is not worth it if you want to drive the car and not display it at shows etc. Manual gearbox is slow, DSG is the way to go especially at this price difference.
Traded in my 2016 for a 2018, couldnt justify paying 3000$ for a paint job. Plus, i'm renting it and you pay the full 3000$. The paint has zero part in the residual value.
i clicked on the video for that super nice purple but i own a golf 2020 mk7.5 confortline with basically all upgrades & i am 6'4 i gotta say i fit very very easily in my golf i am very comfortable i got a bunch of space to move my seat more i even fit in the back pretty easily trunk space could be a little not enough for some for me it's perfect & i agree with him you gotta go with the manual it's much better my mom has a 2019 mk7.5 golf & she's got the dsg & it's fast & snappy but not very fun to drive & is a little on the jerky side but that's personal opinion i guess i would also say i have a friend who has a mk8 golf don't get one it's pretty bad honestly the mk7.5 is wayyy better & is pretty cheap honestly if you buy used :)
if anyone has questions ask away ill try to respond even if it's in 8 years :D
Zack
Review the Audi RS 3
Clueless... I’ve been driving a DSG for almost three years... jerky ride?
Same here, I have absolutely no idea what he is talking about.
My 2017 R DSG is smooth as F in stop and go traffic. Not jerky whatsoever.
Same this guy is out of his mind!
Hi Zack, the picture you used at 2:40 for the GTI is of a MK6, instead of the current gen. Not sure if that was intentional or not. Otherwise, great review as always.
William K Yeah.. ‘intentional’ haha
That snippet does look like an MK7 to me, but the purpose of that snippet was to give an example of the plaid seats. The one he's reviewing now is an MK7.5
JoshuaM Totally MK6.. just look at the steering wheel.. or the stereo .. or..
i'll trust your judgment
I have a '17 R. I test drove the '17 GTI and hated how stiff the ride was along with the lack in power.
So much truth with your review. Point #1: The 6spd manual transmission is the best choice for these cars, despite it being a tad slower. The DSG just shifts fast when pushing it ...other than that, it’s jerky in every day use. It’s also not as fun as driving the manual. Point #2: The Golf R, as you explained, is just like an Audi. Too soft! It’s a nice car, but too soft compared to the GTI.
Buy GTI, for some extra coins get damn R body kit if you are into that aggressive look. Much cheaper than actual R model and it still looks great, if you are into HP then yeah go for R. But still with some proper chip tuning and it shits on R. But then again AWD >FWD...
DSG . -better! , _ I pushed in, Datsun, Mazda ,Chevy all the 80's clutched's -what ever. This one and many others will start the revolution . Why have the 3rd pedal. -who cares, you can use the paddle shifter instead of your fckn leg...??
what in gods name has happened to the new GTI's wheels?!
Ahaha, I know this comment is two years old, but im in the market for a GTI and looking at pros/cons. The face lift model has disgusting wheels, will defo be getting a mk7 not mk7.5
I wish they made a Jetta R or CC R... ( but yea S3 or 4 for the price)
They make a CC R-Line but it sadly is just a trashy body kit :(
Exactly I like how it looks but it's only for the 2.0T I rather have the 4Motion VR6.. I wish VDub would invest in a VR6 Turbo
Haha yeah, I might have to make one for myself out of my R32
Hmmm, Now that's a good Idea... Wasn't there a R32 version of the Passat not sure if it was state site but I know there was a Euro ver. (W8's are nice just a lot going on for the lack of power but still an Eclectic creation)
Trust me W8's are bad news, my friend had a sedan and it blew both the trans once then the engine choked itself to death. VR cars are way more reliable, and the R36 passat wagon is only Euro and Australian but I really want one lol.
Why do so many people prefer the DSG over the much more driver enthusiast manual transmission in the Golf R? There’s no argument that the DSG puts you in more control of the car so don’t bother with that BS. It’s faster yes, but how often are you gonna drive this car like that?
The problem with the gti (or the R) manual is that their clutch is weak. If you tune, they almost immediately slip. I have a 2013 gti stage 2 and had to upgrade to a ttrs clutch setup.
Meanwhile you can mod to your hearts desire on a car like the STI on the stock clutch and transmission. Those things are bulletproof.
thefives7ar but you pay in interior quality Subaru makes some of the worst interiors
Pascal Parent a youtuber that I watch had a stage 1 mk7 gti that dyno’d at 319 wheel and he said the clutch hold up fine. The only issue he had was wheel slip
thefives7ar STI’s are shit daily drivers. Terrible quality
Plaid seats are cool.
Am I losing my mind or are the wheels pointing in different directions on either side of the car
My 2011 GTi does fine in the winter with all seasons (northern Alberta)
I have a 2017 in the US and it came standard with all that safety tech. Trust me, you don't want it. This is a drivers car and that stuff belongs on luxury vehicles. I've had the autonomous braking go off twice now for stupid reasons, not fun when the car slams on the brakes for you.
Those compulsory orange cornering lights in North America look horrible.
Both the R and Gti are great vehicles but this review has helped to sway me in the direction of getting the Gti Autobahn manual and saving some money. The real world differences in price become even more apparent if you plan on leasing. Now about that colour on the R test vehicle. I really appreciate the fact the VW makes 30 special order colours available in Canada (check out the Viper Green; it's insane) even if they're not all to my taste. I don't think special order 30 colours will be available in the U.S. Interestingly though, the U.S. 2018 Gti will have a colour option unavailable in Canada; "Great Falls Green". I believe it's called Peacock Green elsewhere.
Ulvaeus I have be owned the fact we don't get a green GTI or R in the USA. Thanks for the news! It's a nice color if a bit darker than I'd prefer. May have to put my money where my mouth is now. If I lived in Canada a brown R would be my choice....
Here's a link to a brief video of a dealer in the U.S. who just got the 2018 Green Gti: NEW 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI SE at McLarty Volkswagen NEW #JM263518
I bought a 2015 GTI Autobahn a month ago. It has been a FANTASTIC car to drive. It has the six speed manual and runs up through the gears effortlessly. My last tank of gas I was trying for the best gas milage and it got 36.23 MPG.
Try another golf r and your wife will be happier. I don't have this problem of dsg jerking. First time I hear something like that.
Good review But I must share I had my 2016 GTI autobahn and liked VW after 6 new vehicle purchased from VW and when I hit 25k the cultch was shot..? I was so surprised and was even more surprised when VW warranty of 3 yrs 36k new vehicle purchase and the added VW care would NOT cover this defective product....I am a 59yo soft driver ( NO hole shots) or
racing and they VW customer care wouldn't cover this....Broke my heart VW after so long and you killed me ...?
Honest and encouraging review ! I didn't like what you said about DSG :-( Chances are, when it comes out in Autumn 2019., Golf VIII will have conventional automatic gear shift.
I’m on my second MK7 GTI Autobahn now and have to agree - great car, absolutely love it. Hugs the road and its nice not to worry about driving a license loser like the R.
I’d love an R but based on reviews, I’m not sensing the love for the updated R.
Great reviews. Love motormouth canada!
I think your recommendation would still be the Golf R if you lived in Alberta instead of Vancouver.
The AWD of the Golf R is awesome for all the rain we get here in Vancouver. I owned a GTI before my current Golf R.
Indeed. I owned GTI mk6 in Vancouver. The stock tire is little slippy during the rainy days.
So the extra $2000 went to the digital screen?
nickolas LED headlights, virtual cockpit display, nicer infotainment system. Also 7 speed now if you go for DSG. But the real reason there’s a price increase is because Canadians were paying the lowest for the Golf R in the entire world for 2016 and 2017s. VW Canada needed to rectify that somewhat.
- Check out the 40 Year Anniversary 2017 GTI Clubsport videos at my Channel Guys !!! :)
I have been waiting for this video, after watching your live stream yesterday :)
VW's automatic forward collision stop system is *FAR* too sensitive and error prone. You will not enjoy it's ear-piercing screech nor it's 5-seconds of braking on an empty road... nor will you enjoy it on a crowded road when you've left space between you and the car in front of you. (nor will the car behind you, for that matter)
And that's with the system set only to engage "late".
Stay away until VW gets a different system in their cars.
Really like your pure honest reviews. Thanks for all the details and keep it up
I bought a New 2017 gti s manual in Nov 2017 23k out the door. Used an app to do that. USA not Canada. Sweetest ride for the $ out there. For me anyway.
Golf r dsg. All day. Waiting on one where’s the day for us
My 7.5 R is Manuel 🙏, you’re the first person I’ve heard that says get it over the dsg. I wanted a dsg and am so glad I ended up with the 6-speed. I’m a little slower, but man do I honestly just enjoy driving the car.
No spare tire offered in the USA, just fix a flat! WHY?!?! North America has noticeably rougher roads than Europe, so what was VW thinking? Did they even do market research or were they too lazy? Just like the type R, it isn’t a racecar, it’s a daily driver so why no spare tires in both? Both have backseats meant for people.
No spare because with a driveshaft and rear diff no room for one under the rear floor.
2:15
the power symbol turns with the knob. I literally cannot even right now
nuclear_potato Q for Quit
There is a company that makes a sticker to cover that lol. I got it the week I got my GTI last August. I had the spinning power button for 3 days and couldn't stand it.
I own one. they aren't jerky at all.... clearly your wife hasn't driven with somone that sucks at driving a manual.. thats what i call jerky.
meanwhile, down here in the states, we only get maybe 5 colors. salty.
mookie714 No kidding. Is there any way to order thru a Canadian dealer if you wanted more color variation?
USA vw models are so watered down compared to euro spec
Golf r dsg all the way. Not even close.
DSG jerky?! What the hell is he on about? I love the DSG in my Scirocco.
This is the new 7-speed dsg not the 6-speed
the DSG is definitely jerky, and this is from experience driving both mk7.5 GTI Performance and R both with the 7 speed.
Looks very much like the old MK3 Vr6 highline purple color. I hate those wheels though.
I had a new 2016 R DSG. Incredible all-arounder, quick, but boring. I sold it and bought a BMW 128i manual. The R, to be fun, has to be manual. But the Haldex means effectively that it’s a front wheel drive car until you punch it. Front wheel drive is also boring. The steering on these is numb, too. I’d just get a gti manual, maybe 1-2 years old.
Laughable review. The eGolf isn’t number 2. And just because the digital cockpit isn’t standard on the performance lines in North America, doesn’t mean they are standard in Europe. All 5 lines have it. The R, GTI, GTE, eGolf and GTD. I personally have the GTE. The fun and exhilaration of a GTI with the added petrol free economy of an eGolf
I live in Rio but i gotta say... Vancouver is beautiful !
It is if one can afford it
Was thinking of trading my 2016 GTI 6 speed manual on a new MK8 GTI but looking at all the road tests and how all do not like the new steering wheel controls and the fact that you will be spending far more time being distracted futzing around instead of paying attention as well as, despite the hp bump it looks to be slower than the Mk7 and 7.5. Now leaning towards a near new, low mileage 2018 or 2019 "R"