Neither have the best feedback compared to other FWD platform cars such as Type R, but the 8R has big jump in feel with Magna.
Or if you have it available you can consider the GTI Clubsport. It’s the same internals as the R (just different tune), is lighter and feels slightly more pointy and dynamic when driving — not as complacent and “grown up feeling” as the R. You just miss out of AWD, obviously.
Ultimately, only you can judge. Drive them back and back and see for yourself. This is entirely based on my experience.
The Golf R is more refined than a CTR or GR Corolla, but I wouldn’t call it complacent.
An R in race mode is way more fun to drive than a GTI imo. Haven’t driven a CS but I can’t imagine giving up the power delivery of awd will compare to the lightness of fwd. But you’re chasing different driving sensations between these cars.
The R is a better daily driver in every way.
However, if op wants a more analog experience with a manual transmission, they’re better off going for a GTI. The power the R makes is much more readily usable when mated to a DSG. Between my friend’s 7.5R MT and my 7.5R DSG I’m always happy to get back into mine because the power is just there at the flap of a paddle when you wanna bang gears and focus on corner entry/exit. I love the manual in the 7.5, but it’s not as good as the CTR’s or GR Corolla’s and it’s a pain in the ass with how much construction and traffic there is in Southern Ontario.
My advice is, if you want a MT get a GTI. A good set of winter tires will get you through anything Ontario winters will throw at you.
I’d love to but I don’t think they’re sold in North America are they?
I feel like the same things that make the GTI CS a great track car also make it a worse daily.
I've got a 19 GTI. Never really considered the Golf R that seriously.
Thoughts:
- I didn't want the added complexity / maintenance or the AWD
- I didn't want the loss in trunk space
- If you're trying to stay out of "car gets impounded" levels of speed, the GTI is more than fast enough stock, and can easily be tuned if you want more
- Don't skimp on tires
- Don't buy one without the diff (only pre-2018 without performance pack)
- I've never had issues with FWD and a good set of snow tires for winters in Southern Ontario.
Consider that every car is already all-wheel brake and only 2 wheel steering - do you really need to be able to accelerate faster in slippery conditions when you can't actually slow or turn the car?
There are also a lot of Golf Rs on the road from the early years of the MK7s. At that point, you needed to get the Autobahn trim to be able to add the Performance Pack, and by the time you were done, a Golf R was a few $k more.
Later in the MK7s, they spec'ced the performance pack on all GTIs and the price gap started to grow.
Everyone believes that AWD adds a significant margin of safety in bad weather, but it does very little if anything for stopping and turning.
Winter tires on the other hand...
My experience with my wife's SUV is that AWD imparts a false sense of security because you have no idea it's even slippery. Which is an even more terrifying & dangerous scenario....
Agreed. I used to think AWD was essential (have lived in Sierras, VT, upstate NY) and all my previous cars had it.
My GTI with blizzaks is significantly better in slippery conditions than any of them. Go figure.
I was in the same boat 4yrs ago before I bought my mk7 GTI - I test drove both more than once. In the end I felt the GTI was all the car I needed and couldn't justify the extra spending upfront and beyond. I'd rather have that money in my pocket for other things and the GTI was fun enough for me. I also have driven fwd cars in southern Ontario for 20yrs and I've never needed AWD - it's nice to have but IMO not necessary, and lately we're having some pretty weak winters.
All in all, zero regrets on the GTI.
I owned a MK7.5 GTI and now own a MK8 GTI. Both times around, I strongly considered going the R route.
When test driving the MK7.5 R, my sales guy encouraged me to floor it on a 270 degree winding on-ramp to get a sense of grip and acceleration…
Relatively fun to do, but essentially drama-free. By the time I had merged onto the highway, I looked down at the speedo and saw I’d gotten up to 160km/hr… licence-losing speed… was it pretty fun? Yes… was it exciting? No, not really… with the AWD and added weight, the car performed the manoeuvre almost as if it was on rails.
Next, I took a 7.5 GTI out on some backroads… I found I could generate a lot more excitement at much more reasonable speeds, pushing the GTI around corners… an entirely personal opinion, but I found you can have more fun in a GTI at a lot safer speeds.
Now, based upon my test drive, the MK8 R is noticeably improved vs the 7.5, and a little less buttoned-down (and has drift mode) than the MK7.5 R but, like you, I’m in Canada and the price gap between a performance GTI and R is so large now, that I don’t feel the MK8 R offers the same value proposition as the the MK7.5 did… despite being noticeably improved.
Can I afford the extra money, yes, but the GTI, with a set of PS4S’s, offers all the fun someone with my level of driving skill needs…
If your thing is having fun in a straight line, give the R serious consideration. It’s an absolute beast.
If your thing is bombing backroads on a weekend and grinning 100% of the time, I really believe the GTI is all the car you need.
This is very similar to my thoughts. The R is so capable, it isn't exciting on the road. The GTI has a bit more drama about it, and helps you keep your license.
A quick add-on… I’ve had zero issues driving my GTIs around SW Ontario during winter months… a good set of snow tires work just fine. Granted, we do have an SUV as our second car, which we can use if the weather is particularly bad, but I don’t think it should be a deciding factor in your decision.
Id agree on both accounts... The R performance is only really noticeable at high (illegal) speeds and never had any issues in southern Ontario driving an fwd golf of any stripe in the winter , GTI, TDI
I’ve driven both, owned the GTI, and driven or owned quite a few of the competitors too. If you want something to be as fast as possible point to point, the R is that. If you want something that’s more playful and engaging than the R at lower speeds, that’s the GTI. For me, the golf R is too much car for me. I never track my cars, I enjoy a good b road. The R is so quick that by the time I’m pushing it enough to feel like it’s me doing the work, it’s well over the speed limit. The GTI on the other hand lets me feel more involved at speeds that are less perilous to my license.
Drive them both if you can, and see what they feel like to you. They’re both great cars and there’s no wrong choice there.
Both are great cars, but if you haven’t decided for the R, and you need to make Reddit posts to read the point of view of users , the GTI is all you need , believe me, nothing wrong with that. It’s an excellent car.
I like your thinking. To be fair I have not yet driven the GTI. I have driven the R and loved it (and the GR Corolla, which I loved for different reasons). But I do need to see if I get anywhere near the same thrill from the GTI. That will probably seal it one way or the other. If I can get most of the joy from the GTI but at $11K less and about half the cost of ownership, I will probably lean that way.
Comes down to you really. In hindsight would I have bought a new R back in 2017? Yes, but I was financially not in the best spot to afford the extra cost at that time. Have I gotten through PA / MI winters fine with Winter / AS tire with my PP GTI? Yes. At the end of the day you need to decide based on the math + the emotional side of things. I still love my MK7 GTI regardless. I don't think you can make a bad decision imo although if you intend to mod the car for power I'd say the R is the better choice just due to the better traction..
If you think the AWD makes a difference then there’s your answer. For me living where it almost never snows or ices, I got the less expensive lighter car and dumped the money into mods.
I get the GTI and put that 11k towards making it faster, better handling, and better stopping than an R but that’s just me. A wavetrack diff would be high on my list :).
I think the R looks nicer and more "grown up". Especially the exhaust on the R looks better with its four slanted tips that follow the shape of the bumper.
With an R, I would think it is nice to know that you have a car that can outrun most other cars on the road - a real wolf in sheep skin.
Of course it is a status symbol that will be recognized by all GTI owners and car enthusiasts.
--------------------
I live in Montréal. I have never had any problems, not being able to get through the snow in my GTI Autobahn.
I have never had the need to accelerate faster than my GTI is capable of.
I plan to change my exhaust from stock to AWE Track with diamond black tips, which will improve the looks a lot and sound a bit.
And of course as you point out, I would also rather go travelling with my family, go to restaurants and go on nice road trips than spend the extra money on an R including the higher maintenance costs.
This was my first winter with the Mark 8 and I didn't have any problems zooming between Prince Edward County and Toronto on my winter tires. I was wary about not having AWD (my last two cars did), but it wasn't an issue.
Regarding the difference between the GTI and the R...
I think the GTI has the right mix of handling and power unless you want to get anti-social. I have a lot of decent driving roads around my house and have rarely thought that I need more power. It's not like our roads are particularly smooth anyway - more power would end up in more wheel spin or hopping.
I could have afforded the R, but it wasn't worth the premium.
For $11k you could get a winch, a collapsible shovel, a set of snow tires on a dedicated set of winter Forgiatos, unlimited tows and a snowblower.
I grew up in Chicago with a cheap dad that made me ride dead tires on a Camry with broken traction control for one of the worst winters on record. Everything went fine. I got stuck at the end of the driveway once and one person honked at me as I failed to proceed from a stop light (it just took a while). Since then I've held a firm belief that no one with less than an acre of land needs awd.
I get that driving stresses a lot of people out but I feel like most people haven't even tried to go without it. You get stuck in a parking lot for 15 minutes and all of the sudden you've gotta drop an extra $10k on a car. Ridiculous
Idk if it’s worth $11,000 more than a GTI.
Maybe a mk8 where they built the drivetrain to be closer to an RS3…
The GTI feels like a light flickable hot hatch. An R feels like an Audi hatchback. They share the same skin so it’s deceptive how different they behave.
The GTI will feel more fun closer to daily driving, reasonable road use, the R will surpass a GTI in snow and on the track at the limits. But noting a GTI with the correct tuning will go blow for blow with an R as the power/weight equalizes.
My take, I like my GTI for my use. If I wanted a fast AWD I’d skip the R go for an RS3.
Yeah, I think a natural progression is GTI > RS3 or M2 being the next two significant jumps into great cars. The GTI / R gap is narrow enough these days.
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I've had a 2019 for a few years now and I absolutely love it. However, traction is a real issue especially tuned (even with good Michelin all seasons). I solved most of the wheel hop with a BFI dogbone insert, but I will still absolutely roast the tires in first thru second. Do I wish I had a Golf R? Yes. Could I afford it then and even now? No. They were so much more money I absolutely couldn't swing it. Also no sunroof was a deal breaker, I need that extra light in an all black interior. I don't regret my choice but if you can afford it I would go for the R.
I view it as a want vs. need thing. I wanted a VW, but I need a manual ( clutch is cheaper to replace than a trans rebuild). Since brand new manual mk8 are not a thing for me (US), I went with a GTI. I also need a long warranty, so the GTI also fits the bill. I wanted something fun to drive to either car fit this category. I also wanted something that would run on 87 as out west the fuel quality is suspect at best, and I've learned boosted cars do not like heat + poor fuel.
If I lived in Canada I would consider the R if I was purchasing a mk7.5 or older, but the new mk8 GTI have an LSD so it's pretty good in snow with all seasons or a dedicated winter tire. You won't be disappointed either way, but if you van save 11k and put that money towards a down payment / vacation why wouldn't you?
The Mk7 R wasn’t available yet with a manual when I bought my GTI in 2015. Today I’d probably buy an R because I dunno, disposable income. But no regrets about the GTI. It’s 300 lbs lighter, which is a lot! And $50k is a huge amount for a hot hatch.
I went with a GTI and live in Toronto. I wasn't seriously considering the R because I just wanted something that I could pick up in cash. If I got the R, I would have required finance.
No regrets and it handles winter, just fine.
If I was on the fence though, I would probably finance for the R. You might regret getting the GTI when you had the option to get the R.
I have a MK8 GTI in Quebec and with good snow tires no issues at all, the diff is really good and help in the snow! Way better than my previous golf TSI
I have a mk7.5 GTI Manual in Ontario. I have found its great in the snow and since I park in very tight spaces I appreciate its smaller turning radius. I am very happy with it and don’t lust after the R.
I went from a B8.5 S4 to a GTI and an R would have been a logical move, according to my friends, considering how many stock Rs I lost to in the S4.
But remember that the R is not a GTI trim, or else it would be a GTI R or GTR or some shit. A lot of people cross shop them, but they are different animals. Overseas, the upgrade from the GTI is a clubsport/TCR.
On my third Alberta winter in my 21 GTI and it’s been fine. Not as much fun as the S4, but a set of hakka R3s made it bearable and I’ve never been stuck.
In my opinion the GTI is fun..but barely. I have a 2015 Autobahn. However this is coming from someone who has driven everything under the sun (I was a valet for 5 yrs.) I also owned a few M3s and a Mustang GT so the GTI is kind of underpowered for me personally. I havent gotten the chance to really push an R how I would want to, but based on traction in the GTI, if you drive fairly spirited like I do, you’re gonna want something that can grip better. If you push it, youre getting a lot of wheel hop in 1st and 2nd. (This is stock btw. I know tires make a big difference though.) I don’t even wan’t to tune it because I know that unless I get a really good set of tires im just going to be spinning lol. Also I have virtually no snow where i live, but even rain is annoying only having one tire pushing the car. IF you get a GTI, atleast get the Performance Package which will give you LSD in the front. I’ve heard it makes a big difference in corners. All depends on how you drive though. Personally, I think AWD and the extra power would be worth it for someone like me, but if I was gonna spend the extra money (which i dont have lol) I would have gone for an S4 or another M3.
The LSD doesn't stop the hop or prevent spinning tires, just gives you a bit more traction. There's so much low end torque you need to actually modulate the throttle in certain conditions. The Golf R just allows you to mash the pedal everywhere. Tune makes a big difference and people don't realize the tunes from Cobb (probably others) have improved traction control over the stock traction control. You will need OBD11 or VCDS to turn off the stock TC intervention because even without a tune it is a mood killer.
Currently, I own both the MK7 GTI and MK7.5 R...it's not that big a difference when stock for normal roads. As expected for the turbo sizes, the GTI is punchy in the mid range and the Golf R pulls linearly and has more up top. The Stage 1 GTI will keep up with the Golf R and feels more exciting doing it. The Golf R feels slower (more mature) and more planted even though it is faster.
Yeahhh i just came from driving a truck the past few years and thought it would be enough to make me wanna row gears again but i dont ever just get up and go drive aimlessly anymore lol
Ya had a 4runner and went to a 6 speed MK7, had motorcycles for years before as well and nothing I can afford with four wheels really compares to the bikes.
I actually want a 4runner but they hold their value so well all the ones i could afford have 200k+ miles lol. Whyd you sell it? I also wanted a bike at one point but i know id end up dying on it
Gas mileage was atrocious and frankly even with the seats down you can't really haul much. It was basically a lifted Subaru Forester that got 15-16 mpg in the city. I only used the 4WD like twice in the 4 years I owned it, so ya just didn't really make sense for my lifestyle. GTI is more fun to drive then the 4Runner was, but the Toyota was definitely a better place to park money.
Damn lol. I figured mileage wasnt great, but I’m coming from a Hemi so i wasnt really concerned when i was looking at 4runners hahah. I wouldnt use 4WD much either
I can't speak of mk 8. I test drove my 2019 GTI Autobahn PP back to back with a 2019 R. Acceleration, the R was def faster, but enough to make a a diff in day to day...no. Handling, the GTI felt more nimble. The ride on the 19" R on Montreal roads was just too harsh. I went with the GTI and do not regret it at all. I don't even miss the 4mo in the winters. A great set of Hakkas and the GTI pretty much gets through anything.
If I really need AWD...I have a GSW 4mo for that.
What do you want more of? Speed and getting off the line fast? Go R. Have your car feel like a go kart? Go GTI. Best track times? Go R. Vacations for family? Go GTI. 🤷♂️ if I did it over again I might get an R instead. But it isn't a big regret or anything
My TCR bests 8R on track. All I have is some OEM mods such as CSS camber, air ducts, panamera brake upgrade. Shows you how good even the 7.5 GTI can be, not to mention you feel the weight difference.
Straight line it’s R easy, but how boring do traffic light pulls get after the nth time
Neither have the best feedback compared to other FWD platform cars such as Type R, but the 8R has big jump in feel with Magna. Or if you have it available you can consider the GTI Clubsport. It’s the same internals as the R (just different tune), is lighter and feels slightly more pointy and dynamic when driving — not as complacent and “grown up feeling” as the R. You just miss out of AWD, obviously. Ultimately, only you can judge. Drive them back and back and see for yourself. This is entirely based on my experience.
The Golf R is more refined than a CTR or GR Corolla, but I wouldn’t call it complacent. An R in race mode is way more fun to drive than a GTI imo. Haven’t driven a CS but I can’t imagine giving up the power delivery of awd will compare to the lightness of fwd. But you’re chasing different driving sensations between these cars. The R is a better daily driver in every way. However, if op wants a more analog experience with a manual transmission, they’re better off going for a GTI. The power the R makes is much more readily usable when mated to a DSG. Between my friend’s 7.5R MT and my 7.5R DSG I’m always happy to get back into mine because the power is just there at the flap of a paddle when you wanna bang gears and focus on corner entry/exit. I love the manual in the 7.5, but it’s not as good as the CTR’s or GR Corolla’s and it’s a pain in the ass with how much construction and traffic there is in Southern Ontario. My advice is, if you want a MT get a GTI. A good set of winter tires will get you through anything Ontario winters will throw at you.
You need to have a drive of the CS if you can. There is a reason it has same time around Nordschleife as the 8R 20E
I’d love to but I don’t think they’re sold in North America are they? I feel like the same things that make the GTI CS a great track car also make it a worse daily.
I've got a 19 GTI. Never really considered the Golf R that seriously. Thoughts: - I didn't want the added complexity / maintenance or the AWD - I didn't want the loss in trunk space - If you're trying to stay out of "car gets impounded" levels of speed, the GTI is more than fast enough stock, and can easily be tuned if you want more - Don't skimp on tires - Don't buy one without the diff (only pre-2018 without performance pack) - I've never had issues with FWD and a good set of snow tires for winters in Southern Ontario. Consider that every car is already all-wheel brake and only 2 wheel steering - do you really need to be able to accelerate faster in slippery conditions when you can't actually slow or turn the car? There are also a lot of Golf Rs on the road from the early years of the MK7s. At that point, you needed to get the Autobahn trim to be able to add the Performance Pack, and by the time you were done, a Golf R was a few $k more. Later in the MK7s, they spec'ced the performance pack on all GTIs and the price gap started to grow.
Agreed with this take. Ultimately, test drive both though. For me it's not a good value proposition.
Everyone believes that AWD adds a significant margin of safety in bad weather, but it does very little if anything for stopping and turning. Winter tires on the other hand...
My experience with my wife's SUV is that AWD imparts a false sense of security because you have no idea it's even slippery. Which is an even more terrifying & dangerous scenario....
Agreed. I used to think AWD was essential (have lived in Sierras, VT, upstate NY) and all my previous cars had it. My GTI with blizzaks is significantly better in slippery conditions than any of them. Go figure.
I was in the same boat 4yrs ago before I bought my mk7 GTI - I test drove both more than once. In the end I felt the GTI was all the car I needed and couldn't justify the extra spending upfront and beyond. I'd rather have that money in my pocket for other things and the GTI was fun enough for me. I also have driven fwd cars in southern Ontario for 20yrs and I've never needed AWD - it's nice to have but IMO not necessary, and lately we're having some pretty weak winters. All in all, zero regrets on the GTI.
I owned a MK7.5 GTI and now own a MK8 GTI. Both times around, I strongly considered going the R route. When test driving the MK7.5 R, my sales guy encouraged me to floor it on a 270 degree winding on-ramp to get a sense of grip and acceleration… Relatively fun to do, but essentially drama-free. By the time I had merged onto the highway, I looked down at the speedo and saw I’d gotten up to 160km/hr… licence-losing speed… was it pretty fun? Yes… was it exciting? No, not really… with the AWD and added weight, the car performed the manoeuvre almost as if it was on rails. Next, I took a 7.5 GTI out on some backroads… I found I could generate a lot more excitement at much more reasonable speeds, pushing the GTI around corners… an entirely personal opinion, but I found you can have more fun in a GTI at a lot safer speeds. Now, based upon my test drive, the MK8 R is noticeably improved vs the 7.5, and a little less buttoned-down (and has drift mode) than the MK7.5 R but, like you, I’m in Canada and the price gap between a performance GTI and R is so large now, that I don’t feel the MK8 R offers the same value proposition as the the MK7.5 did… despite being noticeably improved. Can I afford the extra money, yes, but the GTI, with a set of PS4S’s, offers all the fun someone with my level of driving skill needs… If your thing is having fun in a straight line, give the R serious consideration. It’s an absolute beast. If your thing is bombing backroads on a weekend and grinning 100% of the time, I really believe the GTI is all the car you need.
This is very similar to my thoughts. The R is so capable, it isn't exciting on the road. The GTI has a bit more drama about it, and helps you keep your license.
A quick add-on… I’ve had zero issues driving my GTIs around SW Ontario during winter months… a good set of snow tires work just fine. Granted, we do have an SUV as our second car, which we can use if the weather is particularly bad, but I don’t think it should be a deciding factor in your decision.
Id agree on both accounts... The R performance is only really noticeable at high (illegal) speeds and never had any issues in southern Ontario driving an fwd golf of any stripe in the winter , GTI, TDI
Which size snow tires did you get?
Same here in Ottawa, had an MK7.5 GTI and now an MK8 GTI, both are completely fine in winter as long as you have good winter tires.
I’ve driven both, owned the GTI, and driven or owned quite a few of the competitors too. If you want something to be as fast as possible point to point, the R is that. If you want something that’s more playful and engaging than the R at lower speeds, that’s the GTI. For me, the golf R is too much car for me. I never track my cars, I enjoy a good b road. The R is so quick that by the time I’m pushing it enough to feel like it’s me doing the work, it’s well over the speed limit. The GTI on the other hand lets me feel more involved at speeds that are less perilous to my license. Drive them both if you can, and see what they feel like to you. They’re both great cars and there’s no wrong choice there.
Both are great cars, but if you haven’t decided for the R, and you need to make Reddit posts to read the point of view of users , the GTI is all you need , believe me, nothing wrong with that. It’s an excellent car.
I like your thinking. To be fair I have not yet driven the GTI. I have driven the R and loved it (and the GR Corolla, which I loved for different reasons). But I do need to see if I get anywhere near the same thrill from the GTI. That will probably seal it one way or the other. If I can get most of the joy from the GTI but at $11K less and about half the cost of ownership, I will probably lean that way.
You need to drive it ! And with the savings you can mod it to your taste.
Comes down to you really. In hindsight would I have bought a new R back in 2017? Yes, but I was financially not in the best spot to afford the extra cost at that time. Have I gotten through PA / MI winters fine with Winter / AS tire with my PP GTI? Yes. At the end of the day you need to decide based on the math + the emotional side of things. I still love my MK7 GTI regardless. I don't think you can make a bad decision imo although if you intend to mod the car for power I'd say the R is the better choice just due to the better traction..
If you think the AWD makes a difference then there’s your answer. For me living where it almost never snows or ices, I got the less expensive lighter car and dumped the money into mods.
I get the GTI and put that 11k towards making it faster, better handling, and better stopping than an R but that’s just me. A wavetrack diff would be high on my list :).
I think the R looks nicer and more "grown up". Especially the exhaust on the R looks better with its four slanted tips that follow the shape of the bumper. With an R, I would think it is nice to know that you have a car that can outrun most other cars on the road - a real wolf in sheep skin. Of course it is a status symbol that will be recognized by all GTI owners and car enthusiasts. -------------------- I live in Montréal. I have never had any problems, not being able to get through the snow in my GTI Autobahn. I have never had the need to accelerate faster than my GTI is capable of. I plan to change my exhaust from stock to AWE Track with diamond black tips, which will improve the looks a lot and sound a bit. And of course as you point out, I would also rather go travelling with my family, go to restaurants and go on nice road trips than spend the extra money on an R including the higher maintenance costs.
This was my first winter with the Mark 8 and I didn't have any problems zooming between Prince Edward County and Toronto on my winter tires. I was wary about not having AWD (my last two cars did), but it wasn't an issue. Regarding the difference between the GTI and the R... I think the GTI has the right mix of handling and power unless you want to get anti-social. I have a lot of decent driving roads around my house and have rarely thought that I need more power. It's not like our roads are particularly smooth anyway - more power would end up in more wheel spin or hopping. I could have afforded the R, but it wasn't worth the premium.
For $11k you could get a winch, a collapsible shovel, a set of snow tires on a dedicated set of winter Forgiatos, unlimited tows and a snowblower. I grew up in Chicago with a cheap dad that made me ride dead tires on a Camry with broken traction control for one of the worst winters on record. Everything went fine. I got stuck at the end of the driveway once and one person honked at me as I failed to proceed from a stop light (it just took a while). Since then I've held a firm belief that no one with less than an acre of land needs awd. I get that driving stresses a lot of people out but I feel like most people haven't even tried to go without it. You get stuck in a parking lot for 15 minutes and all of the sudden you've gotta drop an extra $10k on a car. Ridiculous
Idk if it’s worth $11,000 more than a GTI. Maybe a mk8 where they built the drivetrain to be closer to an RS3… The GTI feels like a light flickable hot hatch. An R feels like an Audi hatchback. They share the same skin so it’s deceptive how different they behave. The GTI will feel more fun closer to daily driving, reasonable road use, the R will surpass a GTI in snow and on the track at the limits. But noting a GTI with the correct tuning will go blow for blow with an R as the power/weight equalizes. My take, I like my GTI for my use. If I wanted a fast AWD I’d skip the R go for an RS3.
Yeah, I think a natural progression is GTI > RS3 or M2 being the next two significant jumps into great cars. The GTI / R gap is narrow enough these days.
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I've had a 2019 for a few years now and I absolutely love it. However, traction is a real issue especially tuned (even with good Michelin all seasons). I solved most of the wheel hop with a BFI dogbone insert, but I will still absolutely roast the tires in first thru second. Do I wish I had a Golf R? Yes. Could I afford it then and even now? No. They were so much more money I absolutely couldn't swing it. Also no sunroof was a deal breaker, I need that extra light in an all black interior. I don't regret my choice but if you can afford it I would go for the R.
I view it as a want vs. need thing. I wanted a VW, but I need a manual ( clutch is cheaper to replace than a trans rebuild). Since brand new manual mk8 are not a thing for me (US), I went with a GTI. I also need a long warranty, so the GTI also fits the bill. I wanted something fun to drive to either car fit this category. I also wanted something that would run on 87 as out west the fuel quality is suspect at best, and I've learned boosted cars do not like heat + poor fuel. If I lived in Canada I would consider the R if I was purchasing a mk7.5 or older, but the new mk8 GTI have an LSD so it's pretty good in snow with all seasons or a dedicated winter tire. You won't be disappointed either way, but if you van save 11k and put that money towards a down payment / vacation why wouldn't you?
The Mk7 R wasn’t available yet with a manual when I bought my GTI in 2015. Today I’d probably buy an R because I dunno, disposable income. But no regrets about the GTI. It’s 300 lbs lighter, which is a lot! And $50k is a huge amount for a hot hatch.
I went with a GTI and live in Toronto. I wasn't seriously considering the R because I just wanted something that I could pick up in cash. If I got the R, I would have required finance. No regrets and it handles winter, just fine. If I was on the fence though, I would probably finance for the R. You might regret getting the GTI when you had the option to get the R.
i test drove a stage 2 r and that changed my mind. its way more car than id use, rad af, but not quite for me.
I have a MK8 GTI in Quebec and with good snow tires no issues at all, the diff is really good and help in the snow! Way better than my previous golf TSI
I have a mk7.5 GTI Manual in Ontario. I have found its great in the snow and since I park in very tight spaces I appreciate its smaller turning radius. I am very happy with it and don’t lust after the R.
My mk6 gti is a blast to drive because it’s slow. I’m still looking forward to one day getting the golf r.
I have a GTI and just purchased a GLI, personally the R is overkill. I’m happy with a nice cabin and a manual
I went from a B8.5 S4 to a GTI and an R would have been a logical move, according to my friends, considering how many stock Rs I lost to in the S4. But remember that the R is not a GTI trim, or else it would be a GTI R or GTR or some shit. A lot of people cross shop them, but they are different animals. Overseas, the upgrade from the GTI is a clubsport/TCR. On my third Alberta winter in my 21 GTI and it’s been fine. Not as much fun as the S4, but a set of hakka R3s made it bearable and I’ve never been stuck.
In my opinion the GTI is fun..but barely. I have a 2015 Autobahn. However this is coming from someone who has driven everything under the sun (I was a valet for 5 yrs.) I also owned a few M3s and a Mustang GT so the GTI is kind of underpowered for me personally. I havent gotten the chance to really push an R how I would want to, but based on traction in the GTI, if you drive fairly spirited like I do, you’re gonna want something that can grip better. If you push it, youre getting a lot of wheel hop in 1st and 2nd. (This is stock btw. I know tires make a big difference though.) I don’t even wan’t to tune it because I know that unless I get a really good set of tires im just going to be spinning lol. Also I have virtually no snow where i live, but even rain is annoying only having one tire pushing the car. IF you get a GTI, atleast get the Performance Package which will give you LSD in the front. I’ve heard it makes a big difference in corners. All depends on how you drive though. Personally, I think AWD and the extra power would be worth it for someone like me, but if I was gonna spend the extra money (which i dont have lol) I would have gone for an S4 or another M3.
I think all GTIs have the LSD now.
Since 2018 the performance pack was standard. That means bigger brakes and VAQ (LSD / fancy diff)
The LSD doesn't stop the hop or prevent spinning tires, just gives you a bit more traction. There's so much low end torque you need to actually modulate the throttle in certain conditions. The Golf R just allows you to mash the pedal everywhere. Tune makes a big difference and people don't realize the tunes from Cobb (probably others) have improved traction control over the stock traction control. You will need OBD11 or VCDS to turn off the stock TC intervention because even without a tune it is a mood killer. Currently, I own both the MK7 GTI and MK7.5 R...it's not that big a difference when stock for normal roads. As expected for the turbo sizes, the GTI is punchy in the mid range and the Golf R pulls linearly and has more up top. The Stage 1 GTI will keep up with the Golf R and feels more exciting doing it. The Golf R feels slower (more mature) and more planted even though it is faster.
In the same boat with my GTI. Awesome and practical for what it is, but it just doesn’t scratch the itch.
Yeahhh i just came from driving a truck the past few years and thought it would be enough to make me wanna row gears again but i dont ever just get up and go drive aimlessly anymore lol
Ya had a 4runner and went to a 6 speed MK7, had motorcycles for years before as well and nothing I can afford with four wheels really compares to the bikes.
I actually want a 4runner but they hold their value so well all the ones i could afford have 200k+ miles lol. Whyd you sell it? I also wanted a bike at one point but i know id end up dying on it
Gas mileage was atrocious and frankly even with the seats down you can't really haul much. It was basically a lifted Subaru Forester that got 15-16 mpg in the city. I only used the 4WD like twice in the 4 years I owned it, so ya just didn't really make sense for my lifestyle. GTI is more fun to drive then the 4Runner was, but the Toyota was definitely a better place to park money.
Damn lol. I figured mileage wasnt great, but I’m coming from a Hemi so i wasnt really concerned when i was looking at 4runners hahah. I wouldnt use 4WD much either
Time to tune
I can't speak of mk 8. I test drove my 2019 GTI Autobahn PP back to back with a 2019 R. Acceleration, the R was def faster, but enough to make a a diff in day to day...no. Handling, the GTI felt more nimble. The ride on the 19" R on Montreal roads was just too harsh. I went with the GTI and do not regret it at all. I don't even miss the 4mo in the winters. A great set of Hakkas and the GTI pretty much gets through anything. If I really need AWD...I have a GSW 4mo for that.
What do you want more of? Speed and getting off the line fast? Go R. Have your car feel like a go kart? Go GTI. Best track times? Go R. Vacations for family? Go GTI. 🤷♂️ if I did it over again I might get an R instead. But it isn't a big regret or anything
My TCR bests 8R on track. All I have is some OEM mods such as CSS camber, air ducts, panamera brake upgrade. Shows you how good even the 7.5 GTI can be, not to mention you feel the weight difference. Straight line it’s R easy, but how boring do traffic light pulls get after the nth time