So, we're getting a 2012 Volkswagen Golf R with a pumped-up version of the VW GTI's turbocharged inline-4 engine with 266 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Fine. This almost makes up for the fact that we're not getting the 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R, the super-sexed-up MkIII VW364 car, from Wolfsburg. On the other hand, we have to wait. While the rest of the planet gets its Golf R starting now, North America has to wait, because our Golf R won't arrive until the second quarter of 2011 as a 2012 model. Sigh.
Payoff being at least that the Golf MkVI VW360, known as the Golf R with the new fourth-generation version of Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive, is a better all-round hottie than any like competitor on the planet and is therefore worth the wait.
It won't separate your retinas with its dynamics like a Ford Focus RS or Mugen-tuned Honda Civic Type R, neither of which will ever make it to North America (legally, anyway). However, the VW Golf R smothers the overrated old 247-hp VW R32 V6 in all ways but exhaust sound satisfaction, and we think it feels more a premium effort than the 263-hp Mazdaspeed 3 (it damned well should, of course, seeing as it'll probably cost about $8,500 more than the Mazda).
And so we've just driven the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R for two days, much of it on roads in the Austrian Alps that are thick with snow, and this trunkless marvel points, goes hard and soothes all at once.
R32 VR6-Withdrawal Group Hug
On American soil, the VW R32 with its VR6 engine and previous-generation Haldex all-wheel-drive setup became a bit of a legend, complete with breathless Internet bulletin boards all a-gush with how it kicked so much damned ass.
Which, it did, sort of. But not really. The 4Motion was the big draw for most R32 buyers — VW's survey says so, so we ain't just guessing here — and then there was that we-don't-need-no-stinkin'-turbo 3.2-liter VR6. Apparently it just didn't matter how underpowered and fuel-sucking that heavy, narrow-angle V6 has been, because it did the Pavlov thing for Americans, who could say, "at least it's a V6, dude." The engine was never really any good in the Audi TT either, and for the same reasons. But, boy, did VW Group make a lot of money on each one sold. Admittedly, too, the thing could sing real pretty through those pipes.
At 155 mph on the autobahn to the Munich airport, there is a low hum from the twin-pipe exhaust.
But, well, it's time to give it up, guys. (VW's R32 survey says you're almost all guys, as in males. Like roughly 100 percent.) The whole VR6 engine program has been scrapped already. It is time for the exceptionally better EA113 inline-4, in this case the turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter TSI that we've recently driven with much delight in the VW Scirocco R.
One thing that should help us break this tortured sort of man-hug and move on to the better 2.0-liter turbo is the matter of 266 hp at 6,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,000-5,000 rpm. And you can't deny that 12.6 pounds of Golf R that each 2.0 TSI horse has to carry is much better than the 14.2 pounds that every VR6 pony had to pack. In fact, the brand-new MkVI GTI with the latest EA888 turbo-4 burdens each horse with 15.8 pounds.
A Man's Car
This VW Golf R with the 2.0 TSI is exactly what we need to stop the criticism leveled at small cars with turbocharged four-cylinder engines. There's so much premium-ness built into this car that it is not to be believed, and we mean that in the amazingly good way. A long list of upgrades in both manufacturing and anti-NVH development has made every member of the Golf MkVI family feel as substantial as an Audi A6.
And then there is the long list of features. Like the latest quick-acting all-wheel drive making snowy roads feel like dry roads, plus making serious acceleration numbers on dry roads and communicating in the corners through the flat-bottom R-type steering wheel. Like the sheer quality of the interior design that no longer seems as if it's compensating for shortcomings in another department.
The Golf R is a fully copacetic package, gents. And particularly as a four-door hatch, the new Golf R looks normal-ish, certainly when compared to the blatant sport stance designed into the Scirocco. No boy racers need even apply.
And Then on Ice and Snow
You can probably see that the weather in the Austrian Alps for our drive of a 2012 Volkswagen Golf R ablaze in Tornado Red proved perfect for testing the majority of the reasons for buying one. Though there are engineering and dynamic reasons why we would prefer a mechanical Torsen center differential, no car built on the VW Group's PQ35 chassis has ever had anything but a Haldex. Some say it's due to cost issues in having to beef up the chassis to properly mesh with a Torsen's reactive properties, especially when the engine is transversely mounted.
No matter, this fourth-gen pro-active Haldex system is just right on this lighter Golf. Its most important innovation is the way that the hydraulically activated system (435 psi) is always prepared to manage the driving forces and weight transfer in far less time than the Haldex AWD system it replaces. The previous differential could also send 100 percent of traction to the front or rear axle, but this one reacts now like the proverbial lightning. While hammering around the local mountain roads and circling a local ice-racing circuit with studded tires, we learned that the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R is always under control, even while drifting the racing circuit's curves at 6,500 rpm.
On the slick stuff, at least, the stability control still has a safety net engaged even when you switch off the system, so it would still intervene while we were trying to be teenagers for life, kicking sideways and using the hand brake and so on. But this is not exactly a dumb move for a series-built car that is expected to spend some portion of its life in controlled sledding under similar conditions. It corrects things just enough to keep the less capable out of the snowbanks.
Das Fahren auf der Autobahn
There's a good chance that the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R for North America will be limited to 130 mph like the GTI and others, which might make police-chase television shows seem a little like restrictor-plate NASCAR weekends if the getaway car is a VW. We weren't in North America, though, were we? No.
At 155 mph on glorious portions of no-limit autobahn on the way back to Munich airport, there is that low hum from the turbo engine's twin-pipe exhaust that's very close to the note of the R32, only the greatly improved acoustic insulation of the cabin admits less of it than the R32 did. Meanwhile, the stability afforded by the suspension is very much as you'd expect in a premium car, a benefit from a sport setup for the suspension's Mubea springs (20 percent firmer than the GTI springs), which lower the car an inch. In Europe you have the option of Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), electronic control of the Sachs dampers for Comfort, Normal or Sport modes. Our sources in North America say, "Chances are that our cars will come loaded, so DCC would be standard in the price." (It's Christmas every day of the year, isn't it?)
Our lipstick-red test car had the standard 18-inch wheels instead of the optional 19-inchers, but it did have the optional, broad-shouldered VW Motorsports seats that, simply put, must be available for this car in the United States or we shall storm the gates of VW HQ in Herndon, Virginia. As with the Scirocco R, these Talladega wheels slay us bad, almost as cool as the optional 18-inch Khartoum black units for the GTI.
The six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment for this car, but if we were expecting to drive the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R daily, we'd get the optional dual-clutch automated DSG manual. Then again, if we were slamming around a bit regularly and given to saying things to passengers like "Watch this!" then we'd go with the manual. Projections have two-thirds of Golf R buyers taking the DSG. Also, about 70 percent will choose the four-door version of this car over the two-door.
Accelerating to 60 mph with the DSG gearbox and launch control and 225/40R18 82V Continental ContiWinterContact tires under the fenders took about a second less than an R32.
Is It Coming? Really? Really?
No one in Wolfsburg or Herndon will go on the record as confirming or denying, but the definite majority told us that we would not be far off if we say that yes, the Volkswagen Golf R is coming to the U.S. Volkswagen of America is just a little nervous about bringing it in too hot on the heels of the new 200-hp 2010 Volkswagen GTI that just arrived.
But it will come, however reluctantly VW's business people on both sides of the ocean might be about it. The 2012 Volkswagen Golf R will be a limited edition of between 1,500 and 3,000 cars, with prices starting at $32,500 or so for a manual-equipped two-door. We might even get four-doors for a slight premium. As one executive told us after a couple schnapps toss-backs, "I mean, hell, we build a lot of these. If the U.S. would want more Rs, then we would just make some more."
Love that attitude.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Add A Comment »
ggeilman says:
02:59 PM, 07/18/2010
Nope, they are not alll guys. My wife has a 1995 GTI that we bought new and she recent bought a red 2004 R32. She wouldn't buy a 2008 because it wasn't available in a stick. If this one is automatic only she won't get it either. Otherwise it looks good.
powderhound says:
04:12 AM, 04/30/2010
German or Japanese? It's the old debate, rehashed for 2012. Despite the low-rent interior, Subaru makes a fun yet practical little car to zoom around in. And with a few tweaks, it'll tear it up at the track. Has anyone here actually worked on a WRX or STi? They're very easy to work on, as opposed to most modern cars. Also, Japanese reliability may be lacking in some newer cars, but my 07 WRX feels solid (knock on wood). Drive one fast and you might think it "slays you bad", to steal a line from the author.
jeffreyfranz says:
01:00 PM, 02/19/2010
I only wonder: Is this car too little, too late, for too much? I want the sexy Sirocco coupe. As far as that goes, I want the Blue Motion Concept to become reality. I don't want another "almost everything" car at a premium price. I read somewhere recently (here?) that this car actually costs slightly more than a more or less identical Audi A3 or S3 (?). If that is true, why would anyone get the V-Dub?
Actually, I think this car has a lot going for it and could see myself buying one (if I hadn't just bought a new 370Z Coupe). I do think they could give us more, however.
delraylocal says:
11:53 AM, 02/17/2010
This car looks awesome, however I know that we will only get the 2 door in the states which totally blows. In my opinion the 2 door version looks weird because the way the d-pillar window curves upward instead of following that nice straight line like the 4 door.
Also, the 2 door looks to much like a "kids" car while the 4 door one looks more mature and "adult."
It is their way of forcing me to upgrade to the audi a3, which I don't really want.
VW- I want a 4 door Golf R!!!
akitadog says:
01:15 PM, 02/10/2010
Man, I am salivating for this Golf R, in blue, 4-door (new baby in the family), manual guise. Of course, I finished paying off my 08 GTI a couple months ago, and I'm putting only about 12K miles per year on it, so I'm not sure I could make the argument to my wife that it's time to replace it in a year and a half. I guess my hope is that they keep selling the Golf R every year for the next 4 years or so after it's introduced, instead of just 5000 in one model year. I'd hate to be limited to looking at used examples, which will surely have been flogged to death by the previous owner (I know I would).
BTW, for those concerned about VW reliability/quality, my GTI has been virtually bulletproof since I bought it new. I've run it fairly hard at times, I've got 25K miles on it and I've taken it in once to replace the iPod adapter and tighten a light bulb over the rear license plate. That's it. If the Golf R can keep up this newfound reliability, then I'll be there when the time comes.
ChromieD says:
04:32 AM, 02/08/2010
for micanichi - Don't tell me you're one of those cave-dwellers who still believes that the Golf we get is built in Mexico? Please, don't tell me you think that. Because every single Golf we get is built in Wolfsburg, Germany, at the famous factory. This Golf R is the Golf R we'll be getting, man. Get over it.
jeremy_c says:
07:32 PM, 02/07/2010
Went car shopping with a friend this past weekend and VW as on the list of dealers we visited. Must say that I was not impressed by the interior fit and finish. From the Golf to Jetta to Passat, the interior is just so bare. This is nothing except for the speedo,tach and a few HVAC dials. Sure the price is cheaper in comparison to Honda, Mazda but it really shows. The cars may drive nice but I felt like I was sitting in a very cheap car inside. Even Kia and Hyundai have more luxurious interiors. VW commercials says they make other cars feel incomplete but sitting in a VW you sure get the feeling it's the other way around!
sergius64 says:
02:50 PM, 02/05/2010
A bit expensive for what it is... I'll stick with my Mazdaspeed 3. Still, it's always nice to see good competition.
micanichi says:
10:42 AM, 02/05/2010
Is the car you drove for sale now in EUROPE as the 2010 Volkswagen Golf R? If so, just say that you tested the 2010 Volkwagen Golf R made for the European market. I am assuming that you, in fact, did not drive an actual 2012 Volkswagen Golf R made for the AMERICAN market. Yes, you got the big 2-0-1-2 up there before anyone else but in the process, misrepresented the product you drove and made for an annoying read.
nyccarguy says:
09:07 PM, 02/02/2010
Right around the time this Golf R comes out, my 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH will be entering its 10th year of life. The Prelude is fantastic for me to drive back & forth to work 6 days a week, but with 2 kids it is impractical to say the least. I think this Golf R might hit all the right notes for me (gotta drive it first obviously): BMW-esq handling & ride quality, Audi Interior, functional 4-door hatchback, Turbo Power, 6-speed stick, low $30's price tag... Now if I could only guarantee it would be as trouble free as my '01 Prelude, '07 X3, & '10 Acura TSX it would be perfect.
jusben1369 says:
09:38 AM, 02/02/2010
Yes I think there are two markets here. I just turned 40 and had the 08 GTI. I drove the WRX but it's too boy racer for me. I love the more refined cockpits of the VW and it's less auspicious when I go and visit key clients etc. However, whilst quick I still longed for that extra umph. I passed on the R32 as it was a fuel guzzler (getting away from an SUV) and didn't have 4 doors (two kids)
I'm worried the last sentence made it sound like the 4 door wasn't a no brainer. Deal killer for me. However, I do think the EVO's and STi's can have the 30 and under boy racer type and this could fulfill folks like me who would spend similar money on a lot less exciting X3 or A3/A4 Avant etc.
CPCanada says:
08:49 PM, 02/01/2010
I'm a 40-something owner of a 2010 STI and I can tell you I would have have gone with the VW R in a flash had it been available when I bought the Subie. As it was I was tempted by the 'much' classier fit and finish of the GTI, but in the end it was the crazy performance and the all-wheel drive of the STI (Canadian winters) that won the day.
I the the R would address those two points...now if they could just improve the reliability of the VWs...
milkwilly1 says:
10:13 AM, 02/01/2010
To all those who are claiming that the Golf R only has the performance numbers of the WRX, I have to say you are incorrect. The British show Fifth Gear tested a Mk V GTI against a WRX. The GTI performed a lap a full second quicker than the WRX. A FULL SECOND! WRX's are cheap, the doors are thin, the interior is sub par, the comfort is lacking. etc... If you want a rally car buy a WRX or an STI. If you are not a douchebag and want to get a real car that is functional outside of high school, buy a VW.
You can say your Japanese car is faster and that it cost less but you are still the guy riding in a cheap Japanese car. Also, to those in these cheap JDM vehicles; get a 'real' job, don't get your girlfriend pregnant, and quit sucking all the tax dollars out of the system so I don't have to pay so much in taxes to keep you up.
ba27 says:
07:54 AM, 02/01/2010
scottyscooter:
Where we really differ, IMO, is that you seem to be of the opinion that if a car performs (puts up performance numbers) on a par with another car, it should be priced similarly. I just don't see it that way.
For many, the additional refinement and comfort of a VW/Audi will be more important than the pure performance advantage an EVO or STI (or WRX or Ralliart) might have.
scottyscooter says:
06:59 AM, 02/01/2010
ba27, I do agree with you 100% that there is a large group of people that are going to always stick with their preferred car maker. This is especially true when you are talking about niche performance models and brands like Subaru and Volkswagen.
Our main disagreement is that I don't think that the number of independent thinking people who are out there is an insignificant amount. If the Golf R performs like a WRX or a Ralliart, it should probably be priced as such. You are really only going after VW fans and no one else if you start this car out with a base price of 32k. Maybe in VW's eyes, this car is just a niche with just their fans so they don't care about strong sales drawing any additional people to the brand.
ba27 says:
05:41 AM, 02/01/2010
scottyscooter:
I disagree, in that I think that most of the STI/EVO crowd will never be swayed by any VW, no matter how powerful. And the VW crowd will generally not be swayed any STI/EVO, because they (I'm one of them) value balance and refinement over flat out speed for a daily driver.
Every time I think that I might just get myself an STI or EVO, I just go sit in one again and am reminded why I don't have one as a DD.
All of that said, my next (first) track toy might well be a lightly-used (ha!) EVO, but not as a DD. For that I'll keep my Audi.
scottyscooter says:
04:37 AM, 02/01/2010
The AWD layout, the turbocharged engine, the price, and the fact that this is a hatchback is putting the Golf R in direct competition against the STi. I think this is an unwise move by VW. The level of performance is going to be one of the most important aspects considered by people shopping for this type of car. The STi has superior performance so how successful do they expect to be competing against it with an inferior performing product that is priced about the same. The result is going to be that the bulk of Golf R sales are going to be German car fans that were going to buy some VW/Audi product no matter what.
They should consider lowering their profit margin a bit if possible so they can compete against cars that are more equal in performance. I think that the Golf R would do much better if it were competing against the MazdaSpeed3, WRX, Mitsubishi Ralliart sportback, ect.
veer6 says:
03:25 AM, 02/01/2010
I'll just keep on with my bone stock 2000 VR6 Jetta; bought used in early '03. I just can't justify the R price vs. the performance I have now. I think I have like 150k miles on it and it's better now than before. Plus I hear the turbos have issues as they age.
Would just buy another used VR6 or diesel (they really are bulletproof).And have done daily serious Boston traffic and up/down eastern seaboard. Just use good synthetic every 3k miles and maintainence. And I don't have a speed limiter :)
If to go faster, I'll just turbo what I got for way cheaper and will be just as reliable.
yellowmiata says:
08:42 AM, 01/31/2010
"a better all-round hottie than any like competitor on the planet"
Pretty big words. I hope this isn't a journalistic overstatement to make a point. Reporting is about accurately representing the product, not just taking kickbacks and writing that the car is perfect...
ChromieD says:
04:11 PM, 01/30/2010
Confirmed rumors in the mill, kids: Abt-Sportsline's Golf R kit will give it 325-hp and unknown added torque. And a VW exec has been heard to say recently that they're testing 350-hp Golf Rs all over northern Europe right now. Now, I just wonder if these bigger numbers would do even better on the chain-driven EA888? The Scirocco GT24 car uses it already and it supposedly gives off 325-hp DIN.
This whole new R GmbH stuff is shaping up to be a lot of fun for us all!
traxstar says:
12:39 PM, 01/30/2010
I think most people are missing the real news about the R20, the motor under the hood, more specifically the EA113. This is the same motor used in the "Europe only" Audi S3. VW has finally responded rationally to the STI and EVO by creating a "tuner's special" with the introduction of the R20. The R20 platform is solid and scaleable. There are so many up-grades that exist for the EA113 already because the S3 has out for years in Europe. VW did the right thing by not going to any extremes with the R20. Let the individual owners chose how to "personalize" their respective vehicles. Something very simple like a reflash, approximate cost $500.00, can immediately add 40 to 50 BHP and 60 to 70 lbs. torque easily. The AWD ECU can also be reflashed to change the front/rear wheels percentage ratio as well. This car is so "tunable" it's just beautiful!
joefrompa says:
04:25 AM, 01/30/2010
People also assume that a manufacturer can easily bump up power 40-50hp in a turbocharged engine while still meeting reliability requirements, emissions, pricing, and fuel economy.
It's a balancing act. Maybe 20 more HP is completely reasonable for the current engine, and maybe they are simply waiting a few more years for that :)
Joe
xorbe says:
06:36 PM, 01/29/2010
> There's no good reason that an R model GTI couldn't make
> 295-305hp and really be competitive with Evos and STIs
I don't think VW has recently tried to wage any HP wars in the USA, and I doubt that they will start doing so. How would they "win" anything with their mellow suspensions, anyways? I think the kind of people that like VWs aren't too concerned about having the fastest vehicle. They want a smart combination of fun performace, good looks, and comfort. The R just brings a bit more oomph, but they're not out to beat anyone.
06sti says:
03:19 PM, 01/29/2010
The thing that Bugs me ;) about VW/Audi is that that you feel like they are holding back some of their models so that they don't infringe on their higher-end lines. There's no good reason that an R model GTI couldn't make 295-305hp and really be competitive with Evos and STIs -- except that it would make the more expensive TT look like a wus. Yes, VW has more a bit refinement than the other cars I mentioned, but the WRX is so darn good, so fast, and so reliable, that the Golf R is going to be a real niche player in the market. Probably why they are in no hurry to send it to us...
joefrompa says:
01:18 PM, 01/29/2010
Here's the over the top statements :)
"...or we shall storm the gates of VW HQ in Herndon, Virginia. As with the Scirocco R, these Talladega wheels slay us bad, almost as cool as the optional 18-inch Khartoum black units for the GTI."
Slay us bad? Storm the gates? World of Warcraft?
"The Golf R is a fully copacetic package, gents"
Uh-huh....
:)
Honestly, I re-read it and it didn't come across as bad the second time. The first time, I got hung up on those sentences.
The VW thing has never come across to me. I've driven them a bunch of times hoping to feel the magic others feel. The new-gen GTI didn't do it at all...felt like the ride was rubber-bandy, albeit very germanic feeling in terms of speed pick-up and sensation of movement. The last gen R32 was a blast to drive, but the interior sucked (IMHO, except for the seats). And none of the audis work for me (except the RS-4, which is 3 steps from being one with God).
So maybe I just haven't "felt it" yet :)
iskch says:
01:15 PM, 01/29/2010
The Golf R could be on my next car list. Nice interior and those seats look confortable.
xorbe says:
12:59 PM, 01/29/2010
A loaded 4-door GTI-R w/DSG, moonroof, heated seats, metallic paint, and as many creature comforts as they can wedge in there sounds good! I miss my previous VW, despite a few repairs.
mlh says:
12:56 PM, 01/29/2010
Okay, this just bumped a used S4 off the top of my next car wish list.
perrito says:
11:40 AM, 01/29/2010
It's the price, after all, that will turn people away. Same hp as a WRX, for what, 7-8K more? I don't think so.
audisport says:
11:15 AM, 01/29/2010
My girlfriends Jetta was built in Puebla and I never noticed any build quality issues. Tight fit on everything and perfect paint. 2 years later it's still solid and has had not a single issue ever.
audisport says:
11:12 AM, 01/29/2010
@milkwilly- Yes they can put the Haldex system on the GTI, but they won't because it would push the price up.
rkymtnhgh says:
10:54 AM, 01/29/2010
"On the Interstates, a "low tech" Camaro or Mustand with a ohv engine costing about the same can eat the Golf R for lunch."
While I can certainly appreciate a big burly American V8, my primary interest isn't in displacement or straight line acceleration. A Mustang GT (or STI for that matter) may be severals tenths quicker, but I just happen to prefer the overall refinement and balance offered by german engineered cars.
As far as the miles of straight road, Golfs do a pretty good impression of a grand tourer and can chew up the miles at high speeds quite comfortably. It was designed with the autobhan in mind after all.
rickerbr says:
10:12 AM, 01/29/2010
EA113 Engine Comments -
The Cam Belt Change interval is no where near 30k miles, don't know where that came from. VW maintenance says check starting at 60k. I'll replace mine somewhere between 60-80k depending on when the Golf R comes and how many miles I put on my 06 GTI in the meantime (it's at 59k now).
Cam Follower - I changed mine at 50k and it didn't need it. I run a magnetic drain plug and noticed a few tiny flakes on it at the 45k oil change. Since the amount of labor is the same (roughly 30 minutes), I decided to go ahead and change the $50 follower without inspecting it first. Probably would have been good for at least 20k more miles and probably 40-50k more.
On my R I will just watch the drain plug for signs of wear of the follower and change it after that. The 265hp engine may put more stress on the pump and cam follower than the 200hp did.
milkwilly1 says:
10:04 AM, 01/29/2010
I wonder if you can put the AWD system on the MkVI GTI?
jeremy_c says:
10:03 AM, 01/29/2010
"It's also worth noting too that the EA113 uses camshaft belts rather than chains (as in the EA888 used in the current MKVI GTI.)"... great. That means a timing belt change every 30K miles or it's mr. valve meet mr. piston. I sometimes question the reason for having these hot hatches with high compression and small engines in North America. In Europe they made perfect sense because of high fuel cost, gas guzzler penalty for engine size above 2 litres and those twisty narrow roads. On the Interstates, a "low tech" Camaro or Mustand with a ohv engine costing about the same can eat the Golf R for lunch. And that sophiscated suspension doesn't matter when you are driving down miles of straight road. Yeah the Golf R can probably pull ahead of the Camaro or Mustand GT on the on and off ramps but in a heartbeat it will lose that lead on the straights.
rkymtnhgh says:
09:44 AM, 01/29/2010
I would love to get a Golf R as it has everything I want in a practical package. My only concern however is whether the cam follower and fuel delivery problems of the EA113 motor have been addressed. I realize that the internals (pistons, rings, connecting rods, cylinder block) have been beefed up to handle the increased torque, but if the cam follower and hpfp issues remain unresolved, it would certainly give me pause.
It's also worth noting too that the EA113 uses camshaft belts rather than chains (as in the EA888 used in the current MKVI GTI.)
spektre says:
09:14 AM, 01/29/2010
@ChromieD
Agreed, it's not the production of VWs that's the problem anymore - it's the abysmally bad dealership service departments. VWoA needs to rein-in these jacka$$es in a big, big way.
ChromieD says:
08:56 AM, 01/29/2010
The whole "all VWs in North America are built in Mexico and they therefore stink and worry me" is a thing of the remote past. The Puebla plant has not built a single Rabbit/Golf in a bloody long time.
All of our Golfs come straight from the mothership in Wolfsburg. The only other plants around the world that build Golfs are in China (for China only), Brazil (for S. America only), South Africa (for rhd markets only), and a second German plant Mosel-Zwikau.
We must all kill this myth that the Mexicans are still building crud, too, because they don't. They used to, yes, but nowadays they build only the New Beetle, its convertible version, the Vento Jetta version for non-US markets, and the buses. Then also the latest generation of inline five-cylinder engines.
jeremy_c says:
08:21 AM, 01/29/2010
Will the R models be built in Mexico like the other VWs? VW quality has deteriorated so badly with the poor workmanship that I rarely see any on the road anymore. Gone are the days when half the people on my street had Jetta's. A friend had thought about buying a R32 until he heard of the fuel pump/car fire recall. A Mazdaspeed 3 will still be running long after this Golf R has turn to dust!
ChromieD says:
08:17 AM, 01/29/2010
for wim26 - drive the Mazda on snow. And the Golf R 4Motion is one second faster than your Mazda to 60 mph. Hmmmmm. And several percentage points better on fuel mileage. Hmmmmm.
ChromieD says:
08:15 AM, 01/29/2010
for joefrompa - yes, you are getting old.
The reviewer just got a little excited and that's fine. Maybe you should have been in the passenger seat with him and then you'd get why he went loopy for the car.
wlm26 says:
08:08 AM, 01/29/2010
Okay, I clearly caught the jab (wannabe uppercut) at the Speed3, but at best it was, and will continue to be a glancing blow that slides off the vaseline. Why? Oh, it was stated clearly ($8500 cost difference). For what again? Oh yes, now I recall: "266 hp at 6,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,000-5,000 rpm" as opposed to "263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque" in the Speed3. And what do you get for your money? Drag-inducing AWD, and lest we forget, "and we think it feels more a premium effort than the 263-hp Mazdaspeed 3." Aaah, that PREMIUM SMELL!! LOL!! Granted, the R will likely win the 0-60, and barely edge out the 1/4 mile, and do a little better in the handling department. Hmm, would that be worth that "premium feel?" Oh, and lets not forget the $32K is the ENTRY PRICE. Optioned out, whoever buys one of these would look in shame at the G37 sedan with AWD beside it that would literally smoke it in nearly any test. And then there's that MS3 that you still have to worry about at the light. Did he spend, I don't know, $3k of the $8500 he saved to get his front tires to hook up without all the spin?? Ooooh, you can't tell, can you? Well, might as well pluck up the nerve and gun it, right? Too late, he's got you off the line, and if it's wide enough, he blew you away to his 155mph limit, when your engine sputtered at 130mph. OUCH!! Sorry, score again for Mazda's Speed 3!!!
gtijake says:
07:46 AM, 01/29/2010
right dc325ix. Plus it probably sips gas (20's city 30's highway). You can't say that with the WRX.
vwestchester says:
07:40 AM, 01/29/2010
My 2007 328xi 6-speed Sport is as good as GONE. Drove an '06 GLI before it with the first version of the 2.0T and loved it, but another 30% in the horsepower department and Haldex was what I really wanted...someone must have been listening!
DLu says:
07:32 AM, 01/29/2010
can't completely turn off stability control? our frumpy '04 Forester doesn't have stability control and it's a HOOT in the snow and can hang sideways for as long as you have the balls/skills. i don't know about you guys, but i don't like techno-nannies forced upon you -- kinda defeats the purpose of having a manual trans etc if you have to give up so much control in other areas. this R is off my list.
spektre says:
07:31 AM, 01/29/2010
I call BS - this car, for the US market, it constructed of 99% Unobtanium!
jazzor says:
07:25 AM, 01/29/2010
"GTI is for Sissies"
Finally someone makes some sense!
Goodbye GTI, goodbye R32, hello Golf R!
Finally something worth driving with a VW badge... cause those two were falling behind fast!
joefrompa says:
06:47 AM, 01/29/2010
Fuhteng - It's a sad state when it's mostly college guys buying 32k cars.
Considering the price tag and edmunds tendency to wax poetic in a way that resonates with many audiences, yes, this was a dissapointment for me.
This coming from a guy who bought a 2006 Civic SI (around #2800) and now has 81k miles on it :)
fuhteng says:
05:43 AM, 01/29/2010
joefrompa - Is that a bad thing? I'd imagine it is going to be mostly college guys who buy one. Just like how Challenger, Camaro and Corvette articles are written by octogenarians, for octogenarians.
majin_ssj_eric says:
05:32 AM, 01/29/2010
I'll take this engine in that new Jetta coupe concept please...
ba27 says:
04:46 AM, 01/29/2010
I currently drive an A6 2.7T, and even though it might seem odd to some, I've ALWAYS wanted a GTI.
Problem was, I wanted a GTI with AWD, plus the refinement of my Audi, plus a turbo, just because I really enjoy turbo-fueled torque. So, to me, this thing sounds perfect. I just don't wanna hafta wait!!!
joefrompa says:
04:35 AM, 01/29/2010
I must be getting older, this entry was clearly written for the college crowd. And I'm not talking grad students. I like the car, but the prose was over the top.
dc325ix says:
04:32 AM, 01/29/2010
4 door, manual, navigation, and fully loaded at 35k and I'll buy one - I'll get rid of my A4 in a heartbeat for this.
05stangdriver says:
02:03 AM, 01/29/2010
In the words of the great Inigo Montoya, "I hate waiting."
erk5 says:
12:50 AM, 01/29/2010
YES YES YES! And please bring over the manual transmission.
imclarkkent says:
11:24 PM, 01/28/2010
So, wait. In order for me to get the power and AWD of the WRX, I'll need to spend almost 10k more? Screw the amenities and VW's long-term reliability issues; I'd still buy a WRX over this thing.
ap302 says:
10:33 PM, 01/28/2010
I am still reluctant to buy one due to one minor exterior design which i dont particularly fond of. I dont know how many ppl can relate to me but isnt the back of the new golf/golf r looks like 1992 civic hatchback esp the taillights. I dont know if ppl have been saying this on other side but I just havent read ppl comment on that. Aside from that I am sure this is a great car, have to see how it drives when it came stateside.
charlesb says:
10:13 PM, 01/28/2010
I wonder if it will be DSG only again? : p
blueguydotcom says:
09:42 PM, 01/28/2010
4 door R would be nice. I would have bought one last gen with 4 doors.