New Ytest
Sign out
Bimmerpost
Login
BMW E39 5-Series Forum | 5Post.com
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Today's Posts  
Go Back   BMW E39 5-Series Forum | 5Post.com > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-20-2023, 04:14 PM   #1
M370z
Private First Class
181
Rep
193
Posts

 
Drives: 370z
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Vagabond

iTrader: (0)

Thoughts on MK8 Golf R?

Hey everyone, I've been looking to add a hot hatch-ish 6MT to the stable of late and have been looking at the usual suspects (CTR, GR, Golf R, etc).

Just this morning I got a call from a VW/Audi dealer that we have done a lot of business with and they offered me a 23 Golf R Anniversary Edition 6MT that just came in for MSRP. Apparently the buyer had financing issues and backed out last minute.

From what I've seen, these and even the base versions have been going for 5-15k over sticker, so it seems like a great deal. Just curious of everyone's impression of the car. I had a GTI a lifetime ago and loved it, but I know the R is a different beast.

Cheers!
Appreciate 1
      07-20-2023, 04:18 PM   #2
c1pher
Primo Generalissimo
c1pher's Avatar
United_States
4977
Rep
4,175
Posts

 
Drives: All of them
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DC area

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I think the Golf R is great as long as you’re not thinking it’s something it’s not. Meaning, it’s a fun hot hatch that’s decently fast. It still has a front wheel bias but does offer AWD. However, I feel the price can be painfully close to its sister car, the S3 which has a bit nicer everything in it.
Appreciate 0
      07-20-2023, 04:31 PM   #3
pikkagtr
Go Spurs Go
pikkagtr's Avatar
3978
Rep
2,912
Posts

 
Drives: '22 GR Z4 Coup '06 Z4M Rdster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (-1)

The MK8 infortainment is horrendous
No physical buttons , and they don't light up at night
Whoever designed that needs to be fired
I have a MK7.5 and the infortainment is 10x better design
Appreciate 2
      07-20-2023, 04:34 PM   #4
blinkme323
Captain
537
Rep
803
Posts

 
Drives: 2018 M3 CS
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Philly

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by c1pher View Post
I think the Golf R is great as long as you’re not thinking it’s something it’s not. Meaning, it’s a fun hot hatch that’s decently fast. It still has a front wheel bias but does offer AWD. However, I feel the price can be painfully close to its sister car, the S3 which has a bit nicer everything in it.
Keep in mind, the S3 still has the old haldex AWD system. The MK8 R has the new trick system that’s in the RS3. No way I’d take the current S3 over the current Golf R given that alone.
__________________
2018 SMB M3 CS
Appreciate 7
z335is365.50
3798j12968.00
David701755.00
GERMAN M34222.50
Red Bread4456.50
XMetal1226.00
nicholasn261.00
      07-20-2023, 04:41 PM   #5
z335is
Lieutenant
366
Rep
506
Posts

 
Drives: 2016 M3
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Newark

iTrader: (0)

I have a MK8 R 6MT and it is freaking fantastic. It has far, far exceeded my expectations. The only other car I would even consider in its class would be the CTR. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

Also, the infotainment issues are far overblown. Took me a day to get used to it and it's perfectly fine now.
Appreciate 5
      07-20-2023, 06:25 PM   #6
3798j
Fleet Mechanic
3798j's Avatar
12968
Rep
1,955
Posts

 
Drives: E86 3.0si
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Susquehanna Valley

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
'19 VW Golf R  [10.00]
'55 Ford F100  [0.00]
'08 Z4 3.0SI  [8.50]
'66 Triumph TR4A  [0.00]
'85 Corvette  [0.00]
'64 Corvette  [0.00]
'68 Triumph GT6  [9.50]
Quote:
Originally Posted by M370z View Post
Just this morning I got a call from a VW/Audi dealer that we have done a lot of business with and they offered me a 23 Golf R Anniversary Edition 6MT that just came in for MSRP.
I'd jump on it.
Appreciate 1
z335is365.50
      07-21-2023, 09:11 AM   #7
Mr Friese
Second Lieutenant
192
Rep
213
Posts

 
Drives: 2011 M3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Baltimore

iTrader: (0)

I recently test drove the CTR (FK8 LE and FL5), the GR Corolla and the Golf R. I was not a fan of the Corolla at all, so I dismissed that immediately. I loved both iterations of the CTR and the Golf R, but it ultimately came down to the FK8 LE and the Golf R and I chose the Golf.

It's not as raw as the CTR, but I feel like it just does everything well. The AWD system is also an added bonus. IMO, if you are used to BMW, Audi, etc. then the Golf will be a better fit, but you really can't go wrong.
Appreciate 1
David701755.00
      07-23-2023, 04:15 AM   #8
G30M
Major General
G30M's Avatar
5071
Rep
5,039
Posts

 
Drives: M550i; retired - M340i
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Australasia

iTrader: (0)

great diff i think it has the one like the RS3, but terrible touchscreen and haptic touch buttons
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2023, 04:38 PM   #9
BMWsully
Second Lieutenant
177
Rep
271
Posts

 
Drives: M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Pittsburgh

iTrader: (0)

Test drove one on a whim and ended up trading in my CTR for one. It is that good. Anyone who says otherwise has never driven one. That said, the 24s are dropping soon, so not sure if it might be worth waiting.
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2023, 05:48 PM   #10
cfm56d7b
Lieutenant General
United_States
6459
Rep
10,705
Posts

 
Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (2)

Golf MK8 R is a great car. I owned 1984 GTI; plenty of good memories.

Squeezing 315 HP from a 2.0L engine isn't a simple task. Kudos to VW engineers. But VR6 is a much better engine and sadly VW decided not to offer it in the US.

The VR6-equipped Golf R32 was launched in 2004 for the US market. At that time, VR6 produced 240 HP - clearly not reaching its potential.

I would rather buy VR6-equipped Golf from ...

https://www.hpamotorsports.com/pages...5l-vr6-program

550 HP.
Appreciate 1
GERMAN M34222.50
      07-23-2023, 05:55 PM   #11
KevinC
your average JAMF
KevinC's Avatar
United_States
3479
Rep
4,179
Posts

 
Drives: '21 M2 Comp, '19 Golf R
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cochise County, AZ

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by pikkagtr View Post
The MK8 infortainment is horrendous
No physical buttons , and they don't light up at night
Whoever designed that needs to be fired
I have a MK7.5 and the infortainment is 10x better design
x1000

As a 2-time (including currently) Mk7 then Mk7.5 Golf R owner, I agree with this assessment 100%.

Love my 7.5. Still under factory warranty (6 yrs / 72k miles for 2018/19). Great practical car to go with my M2 Comp as my "fun" car. I've never warmed to the Mk8. Yes it has some mechanical improvements, but not enough to overcome its other issues (total fail infotainment, cheapening of interior, frumpier looks).
__________________
'21 M2 Comp
'19 Golf R
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2023, 06:47 PM   #12
G30M
Major General
G30M's Avatar
5071
Rep
5,039
Posts

 
Drives: M550i; retired - M340i
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Australasia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWsully View Post
Test drove one on a whim and ended up trading in my CTR for one. It is that good. Anyone who says otherwise has never driven one. That said, the 24s are dropping soon, so not sure if it might be worth waiting.
They are removing haptic touch buttons I think, coz every single person complains about them
Appreciate 0
      07-24-2023, 08:14 AM   #13
David70
Colonel
1755
Rep
2,834
Posts

 
Drives: 20 AM Vantage -13 Cadillac ATS
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by g21 View Post
They are removing haptic touch buttons I think, coz every single person complains about them
They are but I haven't seen a date for when it will happen.

Article from Oct. of last year - https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...trols-changed/

I haven't driven the car so don't know big of a problem it is. I will say controls that aren't great often become less of an issue as you use the car and get used to it, knowing what you should and shouldn't do.

For the bigger picture, I also will consider an R for my next car, think it provides a good mix of performance and utility. I've owned 2 GTI's and a "sport wagon" A3, but nothing recently.
__________________
2006 Z4M Coupe - ZHP knob, stubby antenna, clutch delay delete
Appreciate 0
      07-24-2023, 08:34 AM   #14
RM7
Brigadier General
RM7's Avatar
3021
Rep
3,627
Posts

 
Drives: Camaro SS 1LE
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alaska

iTrader: (0)

I rented a vw product a few months ago and the touch climate controls were infuriating.
Appreciate 0
      07-24-2023, 09:18 AM   #15
Theruleslawyer
Captain
Theruleslawyer's Avatar
United_States
1048
Rep
860
Posts

 
Drives: 2019 m4
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Chicagoland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by pikkagtr View Post
The MK8 infortainment is horrendous
No physical buttons , and they don't light up at night
Whoever designed that needs to be fired
I have a MK7.5 and the infortainment is 10x better design
Yah, I looked at one, but I couldn't do it with the touch and laggy UI. I know it would drive me nuts. Sad since its a great car otherwise.
Appreciate 0
      07-24-2023, 09:46 AM   #16
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4457
Rep
9,160
Posts

 
Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

I have a Mk8 R 6MT and had Mk7 and Mk7.5 GTIs. Anyone saying they’d rather have a Mk7 is Bilal levels of high. Drive both, it’s not close. User interface is fine, I traded my Mk7.5 in, drove off in the Mk8 and have never had any trouble with it.

I have an intercooler and 200tw tires on mine, the rear diffs are great, there’s easily accessible power oversteer, even though it only allows 50% to the rear, it can allocate all of that to either rear wheel.

Be aware that the EU never got a manual Mk8 R and there is talk that they’re killing the manual in the GTI at the facelift later this year, so if you can find a manual R at MSRP (like I did in January) I’d definitely jump on it now.

Worth noting that even with the few tunes out now, the new Continental turbo is hitting mid 400’s for hp and torque, there’s more on the table with E85 and fueling mods too and other tuners getting involved (Cobb still has yet to provide the AP Tuner, which many Mk7 tuners use.)
Appreciate 2
Post Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:25 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST