golf 7r is fast

[pbonsalb]

I am into the performance not the status. The Golf R looks awesome to me.

[BNBM3]

Originally Posted by Beemdog

While I am not out shopping for a VW, there are certainly cars with much lower price tags than a new M3 that are a hoot to drive. If that 'fun-to-drive' is your number one priority, and not things like image, appearance, luxury features, and exotic sound-- then the lower priced alternatives make perfect sense. And you can daily drive them without worries. I'm fine with the look of hot hatches, but I do recognize that there is no snob appeal there as far as the general public is concerned. Only the true enthusiasts will even know what a Golf R is.

Tell us more about these "true enthusiasts"

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by BNBM3

Tell us more about these "true enthusiasts"

Most.of them are here on this forum i suspect.

[Beemdog]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Most.of them are here on this forum i suspect.

You would tend to think most people on this forum or other car forums are gearheads. What I was attempting to state was that if you drive around in a Golf R, don't expect many of the general public to distinguish it from any other Golf. In general, most people wouldn't even know an M3 from a regular 3-series, although the M3 has picked up some notoriety over the years. While I think the Golf R is a pretty cool hot hatch, I would definitely compare test drives with the Focus RS when it becomes available... again, it's about fun-to-drive and not about impressing anyone else, which you won't do in a Ford Focus of any kind (impress anyone who is not a car nut).

[1MOREMOD]

I'd take a focus rs or golf r. Love hatches wife just got sportwagen.

[dereksM3]

That guy is what gives true "enthusiasts" bad names and typical BMW stereotypes with his "elitist" stature...

[GRUESOM3]

Don't sleep on any VW's for that matter especially golf R's

You could check out hgpturbo.de or hpamotorsport in Canada. Little motor swaps and 2 turbos and it would make exotics cry.

[pbonsalb]

Any car can be modded. The 10 second daily driver VW Golf R might be a little cheaper to achieve than the 10 second daily driver E92M3 though.

[SunnyD]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Some people like cheeseburgers.

I like turtles.

[swifty]

I'm seriously considering this as well. Will eventually need a 4 door and has to be practical/economical, fast and engagin.

However last 15 years I've been with BMW and I can't believe I'm considering a VW. Read a lot of horror stories about quality on the GTI forums in the past and but not much on the R so wondering if it's an issue of where is made, GTI in Mexico & R in Germany.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by swifty

I'm seriously considering this as well. Will eventually need a 4 door and has to be practical/economical, fast and engagin.

However last 15 years I've been with BMW and I can't believe I'm considering a VW. Read a lot of horror stories about quality on the GTI forums in the past and but not much on the R so wondering if it's an issue of where is made, GTI in Mexico & R in Germany.

Quality has improved over the years. I love BMWs too and not replacing my M3. It will stay with me for a long time but i may replace my 135i with it.
One thing i want to add. Went to one of the VW dealerships and they made it seem like they are selling a supercar to me lol. I left that place very unhappy and now will try another one, but i may just bite the bullit and go for M2. The car i really want at this point...

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

One thing i want to add. Went to one of the VW dealerships and they made it seem like they are selling a supercar to me lol. I left that place very unhappy and now will try another one, but i may just bite the bullit and go for M2. The car i really want at this point...

I've had pretty bad experiences at VW dealers as well. I was shopping for my current GLI and visited a few dealers. Each one I went to it felt like I was at a seedy used car lot. They really push hard for the sale and none of the sales people knew anything about the cars.

They had a GTI on the lot and I asked to drive it. They said no one can drive the GTI, they are special order cars and limited in production, it is super fast etc... what BS.

I feel more comfortable in a Toyota or Honda dealer than VW. They are nicer people.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

Quality has improved over the years. I love BMWs too and not replacing my M3. It will stay with me for a long time but i may replace my 135i with it.
One thing i want to add. Went to one of the VW dealerships and they made it seem like they are selling a supercar to me lol. I left that place very unhappy and now will try another one, but i may just bite the bullit and go for M2. The car i really want at this point...

M2 Is my first choice as well but not sure I can get away with another coupe. But it's Interesting you state that Cuz last night I went by the VW dealer and the way they talked about the R was as if only the privileged will be able to order it.

I understand there aren't many coming here in Canada but they defn had this sense of aloofness ... Atleast till they saw the M3.

Nway have a test drive appt coming up with the S3 at the local Audi dealer tho I highly doubt I'll go that route.

[dparm]

New Car & Driver Lightning Lap results are out. Yellow highlights are new entries.

2015 Golf R = 3:12.3
2009 M3 = 3:05.4

2015 M4 = 3:00.7

I found it curious that its sibling, the 2015 Audi S3, was actually a full second faster despite being 100 lbs heavier. Still a quick car, no doubt, but the M3 is clearly faster on that track (VIR).

[Groundpilot]

Golf R is fast on the track. Take a look at this vid driven by a very good driver. He is chasing gt3 driven by an instructor. Golf R has bilstein clubsports w/ c. plates, BBK, Pilot cups 2, thats it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=wecr-h8JwWQ

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

Golf R is fast on the track. Take a look at this vid driven by a very good driver. He is chasing gt3 driven by an instructor. Golf R has bilstein clubsports w/ c. plates, BBK, Pilot cups 2, thats it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=wecr-h8JwWQ

Eh... that doesn't mean much. I hung on to a 997 GT3 for 1/2 a lap in my Evo X with nothing except a reflash, HKS street coilovers and RE01R tires. It runs faster lap times than my M3 can.

Looking at the lightning lap chart, the Evo is faster than the Golf R so no mystery there.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by Z K

Eh... that doesn't mean much. I hung on to a 997 GT3 for 1/2 a lap in my Evo X with nothing except a reflash, HKS street coilovers and RE01R tires. It runs faster lap times than my M3 can.

Looking at the lightning lap chart, the Evo is faster than the Golf R so no mystery there.

I'm not surpriseed the Evo is faster but again it's got the interior fm the Lancer. The golf R has beautiful interior and the middle console angled to the driver reminds me of my old e46.

Still surprised the s3 was faster tho.

[AP3X_FTW]

Originally Posted by cenix

Plenty of cheaper, smaller cars quicker than the E9x M3's. But the E9x M3's aren't built for brute straightline speed. They're well balanced at the track and excel in the twisties. The S65 has linear power delivery and make peak power up high, like actual race cars. All the while it is very streetable and tame when needed.

I wouldn't trade an E9x M3 for a Focus RS, Golf R, or Civic Type R, although these are some hot hatches, which I have a great affinity for.

Well said.

And seriously guys.. a golf in comparison to the e92 M3? Sure I am impressed by how fast the little guy is, but it looks like a tiny egg

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by Strokeyguy

Are some of you on crack ? There is no comparison between an M3 and a golf R. They are easily 2 hierarchy classes apart in every category : construction quality standard, multi dimensional performance, safety ( the M3 is build to crash like a tank, the golf like a coffin) , looks and refinement, V8 engine exclusivity, engine performance, established luxury segment versus hipster who blew his economy budget, exotic character of the S65, racing driving style with flat torque linear response versus annoying torque that peaks followed by drop. Some of you don't deserve your M3.

There is not even a remote possibility to start making a comparison funny guys. Even a 335is vs golf R is in favor of the 335is. Sometimes i wonder if half of the people on this forum know how to drive their M3 properly in all driving situations, clearly some do not.

This is exactly like someone who between a double cheeseburger fastfood and a homely cooked 4 stars restaurant premium braised beef and potatoes diner start making a comparison on which could be enjoyed more. There is no comparison required.

I own a Golf R, and you said it, don't give up the M3 for one.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by swifty

I'm not surpriseed the Evo is faster but again it's got the interior fm the Lancer. The golf R has beautiful interior and the middle console angled to the driver reminds me of my old e46.

Still surprised the s3 was faster tho.

Speculating here, but tires probably. The 2015 came basically by mistake with Bridgestone RE050A summers that was supposed to be Euro only, can't even get a replacement if you puncture one other than VW dealer. The 2016s which started coming this summer have already switched to a continental. Not sure what the 2015 S3 came with, but I suspect Audi didn't make the same screwup, since the 2015 Golf R was a bit of a last minute rush job. If you lookup that tire on tirerack, it's pretty bad, and wouldn't surprise me if that accounted for a second of track time.

[oolas3]

The Golf GTI makes more sense to me and you save 10k.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by swifty

Still surprised the s3 was faster tho.

It might be faster on purpose -- Audi doesn't want S3 owners saying, "I'll just save $10k and buy the faster Golf R." They want to appease their prospective S3 buyers and remind them it's more than just a re-badging.

1 second on a 3-minute lap is still a fairly small margin, so it could just have come down to something like a less worn set of tires.