2015 Golf R

I've driven STI and WRX and neither car was a pain on the road to warrant saying that golf is significantly better in that regard.

Golf R is nice though, almost bought the last one then I remembered I just sold my 350Z because the electricals went literally insane and didn't want to deal with that again. Plus I didn't want to have to "chip" a car for performance increase, OBD II open source tuning is just too convenient for a performance car. If they have that for golf now, forgive me, but i doubt they do. Germans lock down their ECUs.

Right now in the WRX i have catless downpipe and passed smog. It's just too much of an easymode car if you want to do performance mods. If i'm buying a car like that this is the #1 selling point not if the seats are 5% more comfy. To me the whole point of buying these high end performance turbo cars is to mod them. If they make that inconvenient they are pretty much worthless to me.

If i'm buying a DD get around fun super-comfy car like that i'm buying a GTI and leaving it stock, saving like $15,000. If I was spendy i'd spend the $40k on a 128i or 135i.

Yes, you CAN defeat the stability control. You need VAG COM to do it, but otherwise the coding is out there and it's easy to do.

There's a HUGE gap in daily driver comfort between the STI/EVO and a R, as well as build quality. I've had both, there's simply no argument there. The EVO X is a better DD than the previous EVO's and all of the STI's, but still isn't as nice as the R.

Someone did an 11 flat 1/4 with simple bolt ons, factory turbo with the R, I'd say that's an easy car to mod and make fast.

I'm happy the STI/EVO/R are all out on the market, as one of those cars should appeal to a very broad spectrum of enthusiasts.

VWs are good looking... but like a crazy chick with health issues... they are not keepers. Lord knows... I've tried.

kanaric wrote: I've driven STI and WRX and neither car was a pain on the road to warrant saying that golf is significantly better in that regard.

Try Michigan potholes. Even despite that, Scoobies and Evo's have aweful NVH in comparison. I'm old enough where NVH matters to me for a DD. Track toy? Yeah, Boostbuggy rally wanna be all the way. A car that see's more time on the street than the track, VW all the way if you want AWD Sporty. Away from AWD Focus ST

GameboyRMH wrote: I'm not an ex-pat from the US...it was a mistake to assume the depreciation was similar in the US (generally depreciation is similar in scale, but slower overall) but the STi models in particular depreciate hard and fast here. Subarus in general don't depreciate too quickly here.

Fair enough. Assumptions on both of our parts did the "assuming makes an ass of u and me" thing to both of us :)

petegossett wrote: I'm completely infatuated by the Golf R, but nowhere near shopping a $35k car. Edit: I'll also add that one of the reasons I really like it is that it(seems) to offer the sophistication and refinement of the other German makes, without showing the world you're a prick in an expensive car. The fact it looks almost identical to a standard Golf, and the average person would think its a $20k car vs. A $35k car is a good thing, IMO.

Agree with this perfectly. I would love the new Golf R, and in my book the auto/DSG is a plus.

In reply to mattmacklind:

That's the other point - my wife doesn't/won't drive a stick, and next time I go car shopping if I bring one home there's going to be problems. So without going into high-end car, that pretty much leaves the Golf R or Evo...or used.

At what point does $35k not mean high-end? Is a $35k BMW more high-end than a $35k VW?

In reply to DaveEstey:

When the other DSG optioned cars are Porsche or Audi.

Where can you buy a BMW for $35k brand new? Crap, a Jeep Grand Cherokee costs $45k new. Cars cost big bucks new now, particularly something that's not an econobox...

docwyte wrote: Where can you buy a BMW for $35k brand new? Crap, a Jeep Grand Cherokee costs $45k new. Cars cost big bucks new now, particularly something that's not an econobox...

BMW 128i Coupe MSRP is $31k. BMW 320 xDrive is $34,XXX MSRP

DaveEstey wrote: At what point does $35k not mean high-end? Is a $35k BMW more high-end than a $35k VW?

Perception. To 99% of the people out there a $35K Golf R is indistinguishable from a $19K base Golf so isn't viewed as a performance vehicle. STi's and Evo's don't get to make that budget association as they are so covered is spoilers, arches, tack ons and gold wheels they shout performance. Also the % of Golf R's to base golfs is much much lower than the % of STI's or Evos to base Imprezas or whatever the hell the MisterBitchie is called.

An excuse to post some pictures of rad lookin CX5s

Not the same category as the Golf R, but still fun.

I, for one, am extremely excited about this car. Looks good, promising performance/tech and probably more comfortable to commute to work in than my 2013 WRX hatch. Seems like a white one with the DSG box would be a great daily once my lease is up...

I'd love someone to find either of those BMW's on a dealer lot for those prices. Besides the fact that even if you do, the Golf R is much more car for the money comparatively...

I can send you to a few of my clients for one of those cars at those prices (or less).

More car for the money is subjective. I'll take BMW reliability over VWs and I doubt the interior is of higher quality for the gussied up Golf.

PHeller wrote: An excuse to post some pictures of rad lookin CX5s Not the same category as the Golf R, but still fun.

That white one is purdy!

carbon wrote:

PHeller wrote: An excuse to post some pictures of rad lookin CX5s Not the same category as the Golf R, but still fun.

That white one is purdy!

The black one is more my liking but a 1-2" body lift and a turbo would be requested from me for ultimate status.

DaveEstey wrote:

docwyte wrote: Where can you buy a BMW for $35k brand new? Crap, a Jeep Grand Cherokee costs $45k new. Cars cost big bucks new now, particularly something that's not an econobox...

BMW 128i Coupe MSRP is $31k. BMW 320 xDrive is $34,XXX MSRP

You must not have shopped the Germans recently. That's a starting point, a mere suggestion, unattainable fantasy numbers. It's easy to increase those numbers by 50% -70%. You pay for everything with MBW, MB and Porsche/Audi. And they like to group things you want in expensive packages. You want a starter button? That's comes with the sunroof, leather, carbon fiber trim etc package for $6K. You want the sport suspension? Got to get the metallic paint, upgraded nav system, fog lights and on and on. I love how MB advertises the new CLA as under $30K. Thought I would check it out on their website. Just really getting the basic things you are in the mid 40s. And you can get really crazy with other options. How about $2500 for carbon fiber side mirrors. Ya right. Generally they offer red, white and black paint at no cost. Anything else is metallic and an additional $850-$1000. Don't get me started on Porsche. I have wanted a BMW for years but just can't swallow all that pricing nonsense. Bottom line. I like them but you pay to play.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

kanaric wrote: I've driven STI and WRX and neither car was a pain on the road to warrant saying that golf is significantly better in that regard.

Try Michigan potholes. Even despite that, Scoobies and Evo's have aweful NVH in comparison. I'm old enough where NVH matters to me for a DD. Track toy? Yeah, Boostbuggy rally wanna be all the way. A car that see's more time on the street than the track, VW all the way if you want AWD Sporty. Away from AWD Focus ST

I toned down my '04 STi for Pittsburgh DD duties... But it took a lot of work. Different struts, tracked down and eliminated interior rattles, added sound deadening/insulation, stereo install, removed wing+stickers, lowered hood scoop, swapped crappy seats for Recaros, etc, etc... And it's still not a hatch.

So as long as VW reliability isn't completely horrible the Golf R looks like the car I wanted in the first place...

I love my Mark VI

DaveEstey wrote: I'll take BMW reliability over VWs

That's funny. I have enough experience with BMW's that I'd say their reliability is at best on par with VAG products, if not worse. Every time I drive by a M-B dealer a dollar disappears from my wallet... and I don't even own one of the blasted things... I love German cars, but to make a blanket statement that ANY of them is more reliable just reminds me of Clarkson's comment about syphilis and venereal diseases... I swear it's pure crap shoot. You might get a good one - like my generally trouble-free '03 TDI - or you get a turd - like my ex's first M3 - a '95 model she bought new that spent more time at the dealer than in her driveway. She loved the car to death, but she bolted before the warranty ran out. Of course, absence makes the heart from fonder so she bought another one a year later (the '97 I occasionally mention)...

Hell... even Japanese cars are not immune. A friend with a '13 Impreza is currently in a battle with her local dealer as she feels it's odd the car uses a quart of oil in 1000 miles.

Meh, get a last gen, last year, ms3. Love that thing. Wife loves that thing.

You want power, you can make ludicrous power.

You want it softer, just swap regular 3 suspension and rims.

Crazy cheap for low/no miles examples.

Holy thread resurrection batman.

accordionfolder wrote:

Meh, get a last gen, last year, ms3. Love that thing. Wife loves that thing.

You want power, you can make ludicrous power.

You want it softer, just swap regular 3 suspension and rims.

Crazy cheap for low/no miles examples.

But to answer this. Nope, no way. I used the MS3 in a comparison way up thread. I likened my decision to get the C30 over the MS3 the same as getting a VW R over an STi. MS3 just doesn't stack up on NVH for DD livability. I will agree 10 times out of 10 that for the track or a toy the MS3 is a faster car than the C30, but 11 times out of 10 I'll take the C30 over the MS3 for DD usability and comfort.

Plus it's not all wheel drive. I think the golf 7 R will be my next car