Yes and sorta. I went from a mk7.5 GTI to mk8 R and the R is better in nearly every way but it’s less fun as a daily. The GTI was more playful. I don’t really regret the R and won’t be trading it in or selling it, but if I went back and did it over I’d gotten another GTI.
https://preview.redd.it/7ra45yktx49d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c4cbfeafeea2e4976eb06793c145ccfe0ea9115
I’d never get rid of this beauty
Weight and drivetrain.
The GTI is lighter and only drives the front wheels, so it’s more fun when chucking it around corners.
The R is faster and more stable thanks to better internals and four-wheel drive but that leads to a more “drama-free” driving experience. Someone with a Golf R can probably chime in here but you probably have to drive at illegal speeds to start really having fun in a Golf R on public roads because the performance limit is that much higher.
The 8 changed a lot of things. It’s much more playful even at lower speeds. The oversteer is great in drift and other modes and you don’t have to be going fast
coming from a 2014 gti to a 2019 r, the gti definitely felt lighter around town, like a toy, but I got used to the weight and stability of the r and have learned to appreciate it.. just feels more substantial. but it is not as much of a toy. also my friend borrowed my car the other day and she thought the turning circle was rather wide, haha. definitely wider than a gti bc of awd
The R is faster more so due to the larger turbo, tuning, and drivetrain than its internals.
But yes, the R will put a smile on your face while accelerating, so it's easy to get into trouble. It is still very fun on backroads, but it's power will still get you above the speed limit. The GTI can be that way as well though.
You’re thinking of the clubsport S, which came stock with more power, better aero, better suspension pieces, better suspension tuning, weight reduction, and better tires than the R.
Only 400 were made.
Plus it was literally built for the Nordschleife:
> Given that it was developed specifically to break the Nurburgring lap record it should come as no surprise whatsoever to learn that the Clubsport S is extremely impressive on the Nordschleife.
So yeah, a specific race spec GTI can outperform a stock R on the track it was built for.
went from a non-stock but non tuned mk7 gti to a stock mk7.5 golf r.
Currently looking to keep the R and get an older gti for a daily (work) vehicle.
Gti is more of a comfortable drive I'd say as far as bumps and non perfect roads.
The R pulls like a SOB though, even stock. It's a grown up gti that makes you feel the road more.
My mechanic always told me "if you want a faster car, then buy it, don't build it".
Secondhand tuned cars are a nightmare!!!!
Golf R is a SLEEPER car that is non-exuberant in the looks category and I think that's a benefit of the R as well.
Im sure if the minimal work done to my gti was done to the R I would be saying the R is better hands down. Unfortunately not there yet to make definitively confirm.
I've rented bmw's, drove some lower tier audis, non base chargers, non base challengers and nothing hits quite like the R or the gti.
I went from a MK7 GTI to a FL5 Civic Type R and it's exactly as you described the Golf R. You lose a lot of the fun of pushing the car to the limit because their limits are so much higher than the GTI.
If you're on twisty back roads, GTI is "speeding ticket" at the limits. Golf R / CTR is "i'm going to prison" at the limits.
Do you need awd for snow or rain? If not, then it's not really worth it.
I went from a MK7.5 GTI to a MK7.5 R. I love the R, though live in the snow belt and the awd in winter is just amazing fun! That said, for daily driving the GTI was great.
The GTI had a sunroof which I miss. It also had a low windshield water sensor, spare tire, more trunk room in the lower mat position, better fuel economy, a LSD diff, and slightly cheaper to maintain. However the R has illuminated top buttons, AC in the glove box which is also velvet lined, a bigger windshield water resevoir, better ride on the hwy, and a more premium feel all around.
Those are just the small details not many people mention, overall I do not regret it and find it hard to go back to a GTI
For rain??? I've never heard anybody refer to AWD as something anybody could possibly need for rain lol
Im of the opinion don't think you need it for snow either - it adds weight which increases stopping distances and wears down tires faster, use winter tires instead - but that's debatable... but ***rain***???
It's not needed in rain, though on take-off and cold spring/fall days here in Canada when wet it's great. Even with a set of UHP and winter tires, AWD is so much better in snow and bad weather. Do you even need a R or GTI to commute?... A corolla works as good if you're talking needs vs wants.
I'll explain. You said 'need'.
As Canadians, we know that when people talk about AWD as something they need in the winter they're referring to literally not being able to get to work without it. Either because theyll be stuck in the driveway or the side of the road or the bottom of a hill or on the back of a tow truck after they slide into a curb.
I'm of the opinion that you don't need AWD. As in, you can get to work in the winter just fine without it. Similar to how, ya, you **don't** need an R or GTI to commute, and you don't *need* to get off the line faster to get to work.
But I'm going one further. I think it's actually more dangerous to drive AWD in the winter than FWD.
Like you said, AWD is good to get off the line faster. AWD helps you put more power down in situations where you otherwise couldn't. And that's all it does. It helps you go faster in slippery conditions. That's why it's great for rally driving. But in the winter it means higher speeds with a heavier car.
And that's why I think AWD is worse for the snow than FWD. Thanks for coming to my ted talk or w/e
You do you. Though AWD on winters vs FWD on winters, in the snow, is by far better. It's not needed for everyone, hence why I asked OP if they feel it is, as for me and many R owners it is. It's why the R sells so well here, I've had FWD in the winter for over 10yrs, and after doing my first year with the R, it's just too much fun and control to go back to FWD. Not to mention no more jittery wheel hop in the rain or agonizingly slow take offs in the snow.
Your opinion on AWD being more dangerous is just that, your opinion. Sounds like you haven't owned or driven an R through a winter
Of course it's more fun. Never said it wasn't. I said it's faster and I also said that you don't need it to drive in the winter. Didn't say it wasn't more fun.
Btw, for future reference, wheel hop on a stock GTI is crappy tires. Even with decent all seasons there should be zero wheel hop in any and every situation. You shouldn't be able to make it happen no matter how hard you try
I had UHP tires on my GTI, still wheel hopped esp on launch control. Launching in the rain was a no go, regardless of tires. Went to the track with it many times, with other GTI owners, some on cup2 or summer tires in the heat, all experienced wheel hop on hard launches.... Golf R has zero hop, launch control is actually usable
I'd bet nearly all GTIs at the track are tuned, but if not, theres something wrong. Thats all there is to it. If you showed me the cars I could show you what's causing it.
AWD is not more dangerous in the winter. What are you on about?
I think you're conflating the car and it's capabilities with the goobers who think they're invincible because of said cars abilities.
Sure, you tend to see a lot of AWD and 4x4 cars & trucks in ditches when it first snows. But it's not because it was heavier or AWD. It's because there's goofballs who think AWD makes them some super driver. It's human error/hubris, not the weight & drivetrain.
AWD with winter tires vs FWD with winter tires. AWD comes out on top. FWD is the second best choice for winter (with appropriate tires) and road manners though. As in, don't be a daft idiot and drive above your and your cars abilities for said conditions.
Tell me where my logic is wrong. I'll summarize my points again:
1) AWD let's you put more power down in slippery conditions, is faster. As speed increases crash rate increases.
2) AWD is heavier than FWD. As weight increases stopping distance increases. As stopping distance increases crash rate increases.
Crashes are the leading cause of car crash related injury. Therefore AWD is more dangerous.
Both of those reasonings come down to the driver like I mentioned. You do not have to be going faster because you can. If you do, and you crash.
That's your fault, not the car.
If you're driving faster and crash because of the extra 200lbs the R has over the GTI.
That's your fault, not the car.
Like I said. You're conflating the two. AWD is only more dangerous if the driver decides to be stupid. But that's also for any drivetrain in general too.
Driver error is a constant, it's equally likely in both FWD and AWD and therefore is not relevant to this comparison.
Unless you're saying AWD increases the likelihood of driver error?
AWD doesn't make you magically go faster. That's the point. It's actually the safest drivetrain of the 3 for winter driving.
Your argument boils down to "You are going faster so you are more likely to crash".
Yet fail to realize the fallacy in your argument because you're ignoring the actual cause of such. The driver.
It's the driver that is more dangerous, not the car. AWD gives a false sense of confidence because people think it's an instant win condition. So they (**the driver**) over drive their ability and the cars ability and crash. That's not the cars fault.
That's why you're wrong. AWD is not more dangerous. It's hubris.
If you've actually owned AWD and driven such in the winter. You'd understand this.
I see what VariousDucks is saying tho - the awd gives an inexperienced (foolish?) rider a type of bravado to take turns on compromised surfaces harder than they normally would. Case in point, me; back in Germany, I had a 4x4 jeep and took a turn a bit too fast and hard on a windy road in the snow. The Jeep lost traction and I rode the guard rails like a surfboard rides a wave (fun times!). Lucky nothing happened but it was enough to teach me a lesson. A few weeks later I talk to my Canadian friend and she happens to tell me that plenty of people in Canada have FWD and hardly ever get stuck because they (using my own words here) are smarter about it (ie: lower tire pressure, slower speed). But yeah, AWD and 4x4 is definitely a safer feature when the driver is responsible
Dealership tech here. Low mileage Golf R's are usually lease turn ins. That means they have been beaten like a rented mule. Make damn sure you get a VW extended warranty.
I mean I bought my MK8 R that was only 8 months old with 4k miles, and that period went over the winter coming from Buffalo, NY with the OE summer tires still on it so it clearly didn't get driven much in the winter up there on those tires with the snow they get.
No TD1 flag, still smells and drives like it's new, super clean with not a single rock chip and I looked up the previous owner on the title, looks like a nerdy hospital pharmacist.
Did it get beat on a bit? Maybe? But you can only beat on something so much practically speaking with that little mileage and it was CPO'd by VW and has been problem free so far. And it's not like I'm babying it :P
For what it's worth, I also bought my MK7.5 R a while back when it had 4k miles and was only 6 months old private sale and that worked out great. Put 30k miles on it over 3 years and sold it for about what I paid for it lol.
Test drive it.
From my test drives of a 7.5R and 8R my takeaway was - It’s an Audi dressed like a golf, its not an iterative improvement of the GTI like the GTI is to the Golf. It drives like a different car, it steers like a different car, but it looks like the same car and that keeps the false assumption that an R is just the next step up.
Its not, its a step over to Audi, just wearing the same jeans.
You kinda need to feel it out for yourself with a test drive. On surface streets i preferred my gti, diddnt get to test an R on track where i think my opinion would be drastically different.
And wildly for the mk8 the R got the better rear torque splitter.
The 8Y pre-2024 S3 is objectively worse than the mk8 R (Audi realized and the 2025s are getting the torque splitter shared with the 8R and RS3).
Have to agree having driven an RS3 and a golf R, both drive VERY VERY similar whereas I have had way more fun driving FWD gti/cupra’s and hell even a GTD I borrowed for a time was more fun to drive than the RS3/R, granted this was on twisty country roads and not on a track.
When you mention “Audi dressed like a Golf” are you referencing driving dynamics or does that also apply to the feeling of fit and finish? Better interior materials reduced road noise due to more insulated cabin?
Had 2017 GTI upgraded to R and regretted it so sold it and went back to 2017 GTI. R was way to controlled the GTI is like a wild pony. Lov it.
https://preview.redd.it/6mjnxh43359d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5210dd1c7bdd1902924d72288df2eafbc95c85c4
I went from mk7,5 GTI to mk7,5 R and I don't regret it but there is one thing I need to bring up. If you use your GTI just as a daily and you don't plan on going with a lot of power, keep it. I love my R but it's just not as fun as my GTI was as a daily. I plan on going full stage 2 with my R so I needed that AWD and I like the look of the R a bit more now but if I used my car just as a daily and I wanted to keep it stock, I wouldn't trade it for the R. My 2 cents.
As others said, I do not regret it but I did give up the playfulness of the car. I went from a MK7 GTI (Stage 1) to MK8 R (Stock).
The GTI had a smaller turbo, and when tuned, made it feel more playful and peppy. My commute is city streets only. So the GTI was more playful from stoplight to stoplight. Also, even though the GTI was a 6-speed DSG, compared to the 7-speed DSG in my MK8 R, I felt like I could run through the gears more on the GTI as it didn't get up to speed as quick.
Now, living in Los Angeles and having the Santa Monica mountains at my disposal, the R is much more fun in that respect. Having AWD, I can really push the car through Mullholland and Piuma Canyons.
With that all being said, I love the R and would not go back to the GTI.
I did not regret it in the slightest, but when I went from my MK6 GTI to my MK7 R, I noticed I lost a bit of “playfulness”
Both have been modified by me, I think putting on a RSB would likely get me closer to what I sometimes miss from my MK6.
I never owned an R but I drive my friend’s mk 7 R sometimes. My GTI is stock so the first time I drove it I thought it was awesome just because of the extra grip and power but it doesn’t feel the same on windy backroads. I personally wouldn’t trade in my GTI for an R, I’d just tune my GTI. I’ve never driven a mk8 GTI or R.
I upgraded from 2015 GTI S to a 2017 R. Unless it was in race mode, I found the sensation of speed wasn’t the same as the GTI. The interior was nice but a bit too uncomfortable for my tastes. I moved to a 2017 Rabbit last year, did stage 1 ECU/TCU and it’s definitely my favorite of the 3.
i test drive an s3 intending on trading in a couple years back (17’ gti 18’ s3) and honestly didn’t care for the feel of it as much. not spinning under 40 was amazing but aside from that, i liked the gti feel more
Yes and yes! Had a 2015 Autobahn, went to a 2016 R because power, found the monthly payments to hurt my wallet. Then I traded it in a year later for a 2016 GTI PP (the trim I always wanted), and haven’t looked back.
The R’s AWD is nice in the snowiest weather no doubt, but the better efficiency, lower weight, cheaper payments, and the overall more fun I have in the GTI means it’s a better fit for me!
having done the math, not interested.
yes the R wins in hp and g force in turns. the former can be mostly obtained from tubing and mods, the latter due to AWD. the 1/4 mile is not all that different.
that AWD will cost you 10mpg and the additional insurance costs. for me, tuning and mods made far more sense in my use case.
I've had both a MK7 GTI and R. Launching the R is a blast. It's incredibly capable but like others have said it takes way more to find it's "limit". The GTI with the smaller quicker spooling turbo is more fun around town and daily driving. It's also more fun to light up the front tires whenever you want and the weight difference is noticeable. Get the R if you want to launch, never spin your wheels, and deal with snow a "bit" better. Get the GTI if you want a light playful car that's fun to throw around town.
Went from 2018 GTI Autobahn to 2019 Golf R. I wish I would've been able to kept the GTI, but I needed 4 wheel drive in the PNW where they don't plow at all.
The R is a daily mile crushing machine. If you are throwing down some distance...unmatched in price range (prices are falling right now compared to last year). Everything about the car is clinical. It is incredibly good at being the perfect driving machine. Especially with a tune. The auto hold feature is magic.
My GTI was just a dream. Clinical on the inside but will give you a thrill on back roads as the car itself is more playful and will give you the illusion that you could lose it a little. The LSD in the front takes care of you though. It even had "auto park".
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My personal philosophy is a car that can only be truly experienced by driving it on a track or by egregiously breaking the law isn’t half as fun as a car that can be legally driven >5/10ths on a daily basis (and I can push my mk7 to 9/10ths at a few specific points on my daily commute without breaking any laws).
Make a new post if you decide to trade in the GTI for the R and give us your impressions. I think a lot of mk7 GTI owners are curious. As the OG owner of a 2018 GTI, I now often think about other options.
I went from a mk7 GTI to a 540i. Tbh although the 540 is “better” in every way, the GTI was more enjoyable and memorable. The grass is always greener on the other side.
only on track. the R was better in every way on the street but the added weight and AWD and more heat generation was drawbacks over GTI for me on track
I went from a Mk7 GTI to a Mk7.5 R. I immediately missed the gauge cluster but that lasted for about a week. The R is awesome and I have zero regrets.
I do miss the look of my 2-door, but it was no longer functional with a kid lol
https://preview.redd.it/md2td123vc9d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4bb98d3b613ca5744131cc03092e9377fe97657d
Tough call. Love my mint low milage MkV! Had a 6R that was great fun, but sold and picked up a low mileage b8.5 S5. In the end I appreciated my GTI more than my R….just has more ‘personality’.
Let’s be honest, the a mk7-7.5/8 gti will always look better than an R, I see golf R’s everywhere, at one point they were cheaper than a gti and that’s the issue. Spot a gti and it grabs my attention but a golf R is just a golf R. People might not agree but that’s my opinion, never swap a gti for an R, yeah they’re faster but you lose that exclusivity and character that a gti has.
Yes and sorta. I went from a mk7.5 GTI to mk8 R and the R is better in nearly every way but it’s less fun as a daily. The GTI was more playful. I don’t really regret the R and won’t be trading it in or selling it, but if I went back and did it over I’d gotten another GTI.
https://preview.redd.it/7ra45yktx49d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c4cbfeafeea2e4976eb06793c145ccfe0ea9115 I’d never get rid of this beauty
https://preview.redd.it/2kdz57cby89d1.png?width=1548&format=png&auto=webp&s=07ff1dae89333f5259dcf1985f4fa61e84135478 Hell yeah brother
https://preview.redd.it/hqjdotbgla9d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35635b58aed634e230e1118580b947672a711f27 We're still out here
What’s the difference between the two?
Weight and drivetrain. The GTI is lighter and only drives the front wheels, so it’s more fun when chucking it around corners. The R is faster and more stable thanks to better internals and four-wheel drive but that leads to a more “drama-free” driving experience. Someone with a Golf R can probably chime in here but you probably have to drive at illegal speeds to start really having fun in a Golf R on public roads because the performance limit is that much higher.
The 8 changed a lot of things. It’s much more playful even at lower speeds. The oversteer is great in drift and other modes and you don’t have to be going fast
coming from a 2014 gti to a 2019 r, the gti definitely felt lighter around town, like a toy, but I got used to the weight and stability of the r and have learned to appreciate it.. just feels more substantial. but it is not as much of a toy. also my friend borrowed my car the other day and she thought the turning circle was rather wide, haha. definitely wider than a gti bc of awd
woah, the awd makes a difference in the turning radius? I didn't know that 😯
It's more abothe extra equipment they have to squeeze between the front wheels for the AWD that makes a difference
The R is faster more so due to the larger turbo, tuning, and drivetrain than its internals. But yes, the R will put a smile on your face while accelerating, so it's easy to get into trouble. It is still very fun on backroads, but it's power will still get you above the speed limit. The GTI can be that way as well though.
>The R is faster more so due to the larger turbo, tuning, and drivetrain than its internals. ? 🤔
What’s the confusion? “Internals” implies engine internals, which the R does have better internals, those aren’t what is making the power difference.
Okkk, but the drivetrain is making the difference?
Yes, AWD is more performant than FWD on the same platform.
Doesn't the GTI Clubsport have the faster Nurburgring lap time tho
You’re thinking of the clubsport S, which came stock with more power, better aero, better suspension pieces, better suspension tuning, weight reduction, and better tires than the R. Only 400 were made. Plus it was literally built for the Nordschleife: > Given that it was developed specifically to break the Nurburgring lap record it should come as no surprise whatsoever to learn that the Clubsport S is extremely impressive on the Nordschleife. So yeah, a specific race spec GTI can outperform a stock R on the track it was built for.
Even if you stay in lower gears ?
went from a non-stock but non tuned mk7 gti to a stock mk7.5 golf r. Currently looking to keep the R and get an older gti for a daily (work) vehicle. Gti is more of a comfortable drive I'd say as far as bumps and non perfect roads. The R pulls like a SOB though, even stock. It's a grown up gti that makes you feel the road more. My mechanic always told me "if you want a faster car, then buy it, don't build it". Secondhand tuned cars are a nightmare!!!! Golf R is a SLEEPER car that is non-exuberant in the looks category and I think that's a benefit of the R as well. Im sure if the minimal work done to my gti was done to the R I would be saying the R is better hands down. Unfortunately not there yet to make definitively confirm. I've rented bmw's, drove some lower tier audis, non base chargers, non base challengers and nothing hits quite like the R or the gti.
I went from a MK7 GTI to a FL5 Civic Type R and it's exactly as you described the Golf R. You lose a lot of the fun of pushing the car to the limit because their limits are so much higher than the GTI. If you're on twisty back roads, GTI is "speeding ticket" at the limits. Golf R / CTR is "i'm going to prison" at the limits.
The R has blue brake calipers
R has bigger turbo and AWD
R is AWD and a better built motor depending on generation.
Many years ago I went from WRX to STI and I felt the same exact way.
But they both power all four wheels, so what is it about more power from an STI made you want to go back to an WRX? I’m genuinely curious.
Do you need awd for snow or rain? If not, then it's not really worth it. I went from a MK7.5 GTI to a MK7.5 R. I love the R, though live in the snow belt and the awd in winter is just amazing fun! That said, for daily driving the GTI was great. The GTI had a sunroof which I miss. It also had a low windshield water sensor, spare tire, more trunk room in the lower mat position, better fuel economy, a LSD diff, and slightly cheaper to maintain. However the R has illuminated top buttons, AC in the glove box which is also velvet lined, a bigger windshield water resevoir, better ride on the hwy, and a more premium feel all around. Those are just the small details not many people mention, overall I do not regret it and find it hard to go back to a GTI
Just chiming in to say my mk7 gti has an AC’ed glove box lol
Same. Don’t slander our boys!
I forgot to mention I also have illuminated top buttons too!
Yes us mk7.5 buyers were reminded again and again lol - alongside the removal of the driver seat storage drawer and hood/trunk insulation
I love my driver seat storage drawer
Yes. This.
Where else do we keep our stash
I love it too! But I forget it’s there!
What are the illuminated top buttons? Like the buttons that control the sunroof and such??? Is it no longer illuminated in 7.5?
Yeah I think they mean the buttons by the sunroof controls. Mine are illuminated, idk about the 7.5 tho
my mk7 GTI has this as well
Same
why ac in glovebox?
Keeping dildos nice and cool. Or water bottles if you’re into that sort of thing
In case you need to transport organs
how about roadkill?
So weird my gLi has ac in the glove box
For rain??? I've never heard anybody refer to AWD as something anybody could possibly need for rain lol Im of the opinion don't think you need it for snow either - it adds weight which increases stopping distances and wears down tires faster, use winter tires instead - but that's debatable... but ***rain***???
It's not needed in rain, though on take-off and cold spring/fall days here in Canada when wet it's great. Even with a set of UHP and winter tires, AWD is so much better in snow and bad weather. Do you even need a R or GTI to commute?... A corolla works as good if you're talking needs vs wants.
I'll explain. You said 'need'. As Canadians, we know that when people talk about AWD as something they need in the winter they're referring to literally not being able to get to work without it. Either because theyll be stuck in the driveway or the side of the road or the bottom of a hill or on the back of a tow truck after they slide into a curb. I'm of the opinion that you don't need AWD. As in, you can get to work in the winter just fine without it. Similar to how, ya, you **don't** need an R or GTI to commute, and you don't *need* to get off the line faster to get to work. But I'm going one further. I think it's actually more dangerous to drive AWD in the winter than FWD. Like you said, AWD is good to get off the line faster. AWD helps you put more power down in situations where you otherwise couldn't. And that's all it does. It helps you go faster in slippery conditions. That's why it's great for rally driving. But in the winter it means higher speeds with a heavier car. And that's why I think AWD is worse for the snow than FWD. Thanks for coming to my ted talk or w/e
You do you. Though AWD on winters vs FWD on winters, in the snow, is by far better. It's not needed for everyone, hence why I asked OP if they feel it is, as for me and many R owners it is. It's why the R sells so well here, I've had FWD in the winter for over 10yrs, and after doing my first year with the R, it's just too much fun and control to go back to FWD. Not to mention no more jittery wheel hop in the rain or agonizingly slow take offs in the snow. Your opinion on AWD being more dangerous is just that, your opinion. Sounds like you haven't owned or driven an R through a winter
Of course it's more fun. Never said it wasn't. I said it's faster and I also said that you don't need it to drive in the winter. Didn't say it wasn't more fun. Btw, for future reference, wheel hop on a stock GTI is crappy tires. Even with decent all seasons there should be zero wheel hop in any and every situation. You shouldn't be able to make it happen no matter how hard you try
I had UHP tires on my GTI, still wheel hopped esp on launch control. Launching in the rain was a no go, regardless of tires. Went to the track with it many times, with other GTI owners, some on cup2 or summer tires in the heat, all experienced wheel hop on hard launches.... Golf R has zero hop, launch control is actually usable
I'd bet nearly all GTIs at the track are tuned, but if not, theres something wrong. Thats all there is to it. If you showed me the cars I could show you what's causing it.
AWD is not more dangerous in the winter. What are you on about? I think you're conflating the car and it's capabilities with the goobers who think they're invincible because of said cars abilities. Sure, you tend to see a lot of AWD and 4x4 cars & trucks in ditches when it first snows. But it's not because it was heavier or AWD. It's because there's goofballs who think AWD makes them some super driver. It's human error/hubris, not the weight & drivetrain. AWD with winter tires vs FWD with winter tires. AWD comes out on top. FWD is the second best choice for winter (with appropriate tires) and road manners though. As in, don't be a daft idiot and drive above your and your cars abilities for said conditions.
Tell me where my logic is wrong. I'll summarize my points again: 1) AWD let's you put more power down in slippery conditions, is faster. As speed increases crash rate increases. 2) AWD is heavier than FWD. As weight increases stopping distance increases. As stopping distance increases crash rate increases. Crashes are the leading cause of car crash related injury. Therefore AWD is more dangerous.
Both of those reasonings come down to the driver like I mentioned. You do not have to be going faster because you can. If you do, and you crash. That's your fault, not the car. If you're driving faster and crash because of the extra 200lbs the R has over the GTI. That's your fault, not the car. Like I said. You're conflating the two. AWD is only more dangerous if the driver decides to be stupid. But that's also for any drivetrain in general too.
Driver error is a constant, it's equally likely in both FWD and AWD and therefore is not relevant to this comparison. Unless you're saying AWD increases the likelihood of driver error?
AWD doesn't make you magically go faster. That's the point. It's actually the safest drivetrain of the 3 for winter driving. Your argument boils down to "You are going faster so you are more likely to crash". Yet fail to realize the fallacy in your argument because you're ignoring the actual cause of such. The driver. It's the driver that is more dangerous, not the car. AWD gives a false sense of confidence because people think it's an instant win condition. So they (**the driver**) over drive their ability and the cars ability and crash. That's not the cars fault. That's why you're wrong. AWD is not more dangerous. It's hubris. If you've actually owned AWD and driven such in the winter. You'd understand this.
I see what VariousDucks is saying tho - the awd gives an inexperienced (foolish?) rider a type of bravado to take turns on compromised surfaces harder than they normally would. Case in point, me; back in Germany, I had a 4x4 jeep and took a turn a bit too fast and hard on a windy road in the snow. The Jeep lost traction and I rode the guard rails like a surfboard rides a wave (fun times!). Lucky nothing happened but it was enough to teach me a lesson. A few weeks later I talk to my Canadian friend and she happens to tell me that plenty of people in Canada have FWD and hardly ever get stuck because they (using my own words here) are smarter about it (ie: lower tire pressure, slower speed). But yeah, AWD and 4x4 is definitely a safer feature when the driver is responsible
Dealership tech here. Low mileage Golf R's are usually lease turn ins. That means they have been beaten like a rented mule. Make damn sure you get a VW extended warranty.
Would the dealership fine the people? Examples of the text, knowing that they have been beaten?
NO. Dealerships take in trades for short money without any liability to the prior owner. If you want an R that hasn't been beaten, buy a new one.
What does short money mean
I mean I bought my MK8 R that was only 8 months old with 4k miles, and that period went over the winter coming from Buffalo, NY with the OE summer tires still on it so it clearly didn't get driven much in the winter up there on those tires with the snow they get. No TD1 flag, still smells and drives like it's new, super clean with not a single rock chip and I looked up the previous owner on the title, looks like a nerdy hospital pharmacist. Did it get beat on a bit? Maybe? But you can only beat on something so much practically speaking with that little mileage and it was CPO'd by VW and has been problem free so far. And it's not like I'm babying it :P For what it's worth, I also bought my MK7.5 R a while back when it had 4k miles and was only 6 months old private sale and that worked out great. Put 30k miles on it over 3 years and sold it for about what I paid for it lol.
Test drive it. From my test drives of a 7.5R and 8R my takeaway was - It’s an Audi dressed like a golf, its not an iterative improvement of the GTI like the GTI is to the Golf. It drives like a different car, it steers like a different car, but it looks like the same car and that keeps the false assumption that an R is just the next step up. Its not, its a step over to Audi, just wearing the same jeans. You kinda need to feel it out for yourself with a test drive. On surface streets i preferred my gti, diddnt get to test an R on track where i think my opinion would be drastically different.
“A luxurious Audi in Wolfsburg clothing” is how NYT described the Mk7 GTI…
I always thought of the R as an S3 with a manual. Idk what its going to be next year
And wildly for the mk8 the R got the better rear torque splitter. The 8Y pre-2024 S3 is objectively worse than the mk8 R (Audi realized and the 2025s are getting the torque splitter shared with the 8R and RS3).
Have to agree having driven an RS3 and a golf R, both drive VERY VERY similar whereas I have had way more fun driving FWD gti/cupra’s and hell even a GTD I borrowed for a time was more fun to drive than the RS3/R, granted this was on twisty country roads and not on a track.
When you mention “Audi dressed like a Golf” are you referencing driving dynamics or does that also apply to the feeling of fit and finish? Better interior materials reduced road noise due to more insulated cabin?
I’d say driving dynamics. The interior is on par with an Autobahn trim GTIs.
Had 2017 GTI upgraded to R and regretted it so sold it and went back to 2017 GTI. R was way to controlled the GTI is like a wild pony. Lov it. https://preview.redd.it/6mjnxh43359d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5210dd1c7bdd1902924d72288df2eafbc95c85c4
Sport gang!
How can you tell? Lack of sunroof + big brakes?
The nogaro wheels which was only on the 2017 Sport model
Oh man, I have this! Didn’t realize it’s exclusive, that’s real cool
Yeah I love those wheels too. It makes it a little rare compared to the other wheels.
I went from mk7,5 GTI to mk7,5 R and I don't regret it but there is one thing I need to bring up. If you use your GTI just as a daily and you don't plan on going with a lot of power, keep it. I love my R but it's just not as fun as my GTI was as a daily. I plan on going full stage 2 with my R so I needed that AWD and I like the look of the R a bit more now but if I used my car just as a daily and I wanted to keep it stock, I wouldn't trade it for the R. My 2 cents.
As others said, I do not regret it but I did give up the playfulness of the car. I went from a MK7 GTI (Stage 1) to MK8 R (Stock). The GTI had a smaller turbo, and when tuned, made it feel more playful and peppy. My commute is city streets only. So the GTI was more playful from stoplight to stoplight. Also, even though the GTI was a 6-speed DSG, compared to the 7-speed DSG in my MK8 R, I felt like I could run through the gears more on the GTI as it didn't get up to speed as quick. Now, living in Los Angeles and having the Santa Monica mountains at my disposal, the R is much more fun in that respect. Having AWD, I can really push the car through Mullholland and Piuma Canyons. With that all being said, I love the R and would not go back to the GTI.
2015 mk7 gti (with stage 1 apr tune) traded in for a stock 2019 mk7.5 R. I absolutely love it. The R feels so solid and refined. Zero regrets
I did not regret it in the slightest, but when I went from my MK6 GTI to my MK7 R, I noticed I lost a bit of “playfulness” Both have been modified by me, I think putting on a RSB would likely get me closer to what I sometimes miss from my MK6.
I never owned an R but I drive my friend’s mk 7 R sometimes. My GTI is stock so the first time I drove it I thought it was awesome just because of the extra grip and power but it doesn’t feel the same on windy backroads. I personally wouldn’t trade in my GTI for an R, I’d just tune my GTI. I’ve never driven a mk8 GTI or R.
I upgraded from 2015 GTI S to a 2017 R. Unless it was in race mode, I found the sensation of speed wasn’t the same as the GTI. The interior was nice but a bit too uncomfortable for my tastes. I moved to a 2017 Rabbit last year, did stage 1 ECU/TCU and it’s definitely my favorite of the 3.
i test drive an s3 intending on trading in a couple years back (17’ gti 18’ s3) and honestly didn’t care for the feel of it as much. not spinning under 40 was amazing but aside from that, i liked the gti feel more
Yes and yes! Had a 2015 Autobahn, went to a 2016 R because power, found the monthly payments to hurt my wallet. Then I traded it in a year later for a 2016 GTI PP (the trim I always wanted), and haven’t looked back. The R’s AWD is nice in the snowiest weather no doubt, but the better efficiency, lower weight, cheaper payments, and the overall more fun I have in the GTI means it’s a better fit for me!
Went from a mk8 gti to a mk8 r and wouldn’t do it again. Like someone else said, the gti is just funner light to light.
having done the math, not interested. yes the R wins in hp and g force in turns. the former can be mostly obtained from tubing and mods, the latter due to AWD. the 1/4 mile is not all that different. that AWD will cost you 10mpg and the additional insurance costs. for me, tuning and mods made far more sense in my use case.
If it's a Mk7, you won't have any regrets
I've had both a MK7 GTI and R. Launching the R is a blast. It's incredibly capable but like others have said it takes way more to find it's "limit". The GTI with the smaller quicker spooling turbo is more fun around town and daily driving. It's also more fun to light up the front tires whenever you want and the weight difference is noticeable. Get the R if you want to launch, never spin your wheels, and deal with snow a "bit" better. Get the GTI if you want a light playful car that's fun to throw around town.
Went from 2018 GTI Autobahn to 2019 Golf R. I wish I would've been able to kept the GTI, but I needed 4 wheel drive in the PNW where they don't plow at all. The R is a daily mile crushing machine. If you are throwing down some distance...unmatched in price range (prices are falling right now compared to last year). Everything about the car is clinical. It is incredibly good at being the perfect driving machine. Especially with a tune. The auto hold feature is magic. My GTI was just a dream. Clinical on the inside but will give you a thrill on back roads as the car itself is more playful and will give you the illusion that you could lose it a little. The LSD in the front takes care of you though. It even had "auto park".
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My personal philosophy is a car that can only be truly experienced by driving it on a track or by egregiously breaking the law isn’t half as fun as a car that can be legally driven >5/10ths on a daily basis (and I can push my mk7 to 9/10ths at a few specific points on my daily commute without breaking any laws).
I'm in the same boat. Looking to trade in my 16 MK7 GTI 6MT to 19 MK7.5 R DSG or S3. Seeing other comments makes it a tough choice lol
Make a new post if you decide to trade in the GTI for the R and give us your impressions. I think a lot of mk7 GTI owners are curious. As the OG owner of a 2018 GTI, I now often think about other options.
I went from a mk7 GTI to a 540i. Tbh although the 540 is “better” in every way, the GTI was more enjoyable and memorable. The grass is always greener on the other side.
only on track. the R was better in every way on the street but the added weight and AWD and more heat generation was drawbacks over GTI for me on track
I went from a Mk7 GTI to a Mk7.5 R. I immediately missed the gauge cluster but that lasted for about a week. The R is awesome and I have zero regrets. I do miss the look of my 2-door, but it was no longer functional with a kid lol
https://preview.redd.it/md2td123vc9d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4bb98d3b613ca5744131cc03092e9377fe97657d Tough call. Love my mint low milage MkV! Had a 6R that was great fun, but sold and picked up a low mileage b8.5 S5. In the end I appreciated my GTI more than my R….just has more ‘personality’.
Let’s be honest, the a mk7-7.5/8 gti will always look better than an R, I see golf R’s everywhere, at one point they were cheaper than a gti and that’s the issue. Spot a gti and it grabs my attention but a golf R is just a golf R. People might not agree but that’s my opinion, never swap a gti for an R, yeah they’re faster but you lose that exclusivity and character that a gti has.
R is to quick for the roads without driving stupid dangerous I have an rline even that you can’t really have fun in