Liked my GTI over an R. Am I crazy?

[GTIfan99]

I love my GTI, but if the mk8 R is as track focused as reports suggest, I could see getting one once they work out the first year kinks, but it would have to be spectacular, because my current car is fantastic to drive now.

 

[Judas]

I test drove a couple 2020 gti s, and I think my 2015 gti s drove better, felt less cheap

 

[NoGodGetOverIt]

If R's had a better awd system I'd be more on board with them. Haldex robs power and doesn't behave like a proper awd should. If youve ever driven evos or wrxs you know what I'm talking about.

Absolutely true! It's hard to beat a nice rear-biased AWD setup...

 

[MSchott]

If they would just make a rwd only version of either one. Grrrrrr.

Is it even possible to have a RWD car with the MBQ architecture? The differential is up front.

 

[Ridebjj]

Is it even possible to have a RWD car with the MBQ architecture? The differential is up front.

I dunno? Take a golf R and remove all the fronty parts?

 

[ecsta]

I test drove the GTI before the R (within a few days of each other) and can understand if someone decided that AWD wasn't worth the premium. The GTI is lighter and feels easier to throw around, whereas the R feels more planted. I was sold on the GTI until I drove the R lol.

 

[MSchott]

I dunno? Take a golf R and remove all the fronty parts?

Not sure if the 4Motion system with Haldex would work that way. Even the R is primarily a FWD car.

 

[ztorc]

I'm always chased by GTI...

 

[goodvibes]

All I kept thinking was a simple tune and my car wouldn't be terribly far behind this.

Really the only thing an R has over the GTI is the Haldex 4wd. A GTI with a tune is very close power wise if not more. Having quattro Audis all my life, I DO miss the assurance of 4wd. Even if it's the Haldex version. I'll eventually pick up an R. But I love my GTI.

Because R's can't get tunes?

 

[randomhobo130]

Because R's can't get tunes?

Oh I'm aware they absolutely can but I'm definitely in the camp of I don't need that much power. Golf R stock power or close to is good enough for me to have some fun.

 

[eajr]

Oh I'm aware they absolutely can but I'm definitely in the camp of I don't need that much power. Golf R stock power or close to is good enough for me to have some fun.

Stock Gti power is enough to get you into some trouble. But there's always that need for more speed

 

[trex8]

Got a 19 GTI to replace an 02 WRX which was turning into rust in IL, test drove both the R and GTI, I had to have a manual. I dont do auto X etc etc. If I wanted to not row gears I would have got the R, the GTI needs to be "worked" and is more "fun". Had a 99 Audi TT once, the haldex on that is a joke compared to the subaru system or the real quattro system I had on a 90 Audi Coupe. Maybe the haldex is far better today in the R. The R was very very nice but the awd was not a deal changer as its a haldex and it has so much power I could stay in 4 or 5 all day and never use anything else except from stop!

 

[eajr]

Got a 19 GTI to replace an 02 WRX which was turning into rust in IL, test drove both the R and GTI, I had to have a manual. I dont do auto X etc etc. If I wanted to not row gears I would have got the R, the GTI needs to be "worked" and is more "fun". Had a 99 Audi TT once, the haldex on that is a joke compared to the subaru system or the real quattro system I had on a 90 Audi Coupe. Maybe the haldex is far better today in the R. The R was very very nice but the awd was not a deal changer as its a haldex and it has so much power I could stay in 4 or 5 all day and never use anything else except from stop!

I had my Mk7 for six years, and the exterior was in pretty decent shape. Now my undercarriage was a completely different story. Man was it rusty down there!

 

[YamR1rider]

If I could have gotten an R at anywhere close to the percentage of discount I got on my GTI I would have been tempted. Similarly if I lived somewhere with the potential for bad winter weather (or perhaps even somewhere with more challenging roads than boring ass straight line Florida), I might have been able to justify the extra for splurging on one.

But as it is, I'm perfectly happy with the GTI Sport plus low end APR tune to free up an extra bit of pep. I also happen to think the GTI looks that bit better anyway despite being the lesser car. And, from a boring practical point of view, I've found being able to lower the cargo deck in the GTI to be very useful more than once

 

[randomhobo130]

If I could have gotten an R at anywhere close to the percentage of discount I got on my GTI I would have been tempted. Similarly if I lived somewhere with the potential for bad winter weather (or perhaps even somewhere with more challenging roads than boring ass straight line Florida), I might have been able to justify the extra for splurging on one.

But as it is, I'm perfectly happy with the GTI Sport plus low end APR tune to free up an extra bit of pep. I also happen to think the GTI looks that bit better anyway despite being the lesser car. And, from a boring practical point of view, I've found being able to lower the cargo deck in the GTI to be very useful more than once

Actually, I live in the Buffalo area and with a good set of winter tires it's really not bad. I mean, you gotta be mindful of your throttle a bit more but it's overall not bad.