Richard Beddie's take on simplifying the world we live in
Posts tagged Volkswagen
Golf-R – review 2 weeks in
4710 years ago
Here’s my updated Golf-R review (now that I own one)
I got the car two weeks ago, but waiting until I had 1,500km or so on the clock, under a variety of conditions and roads, so I could comment in some depth.
Firstly, let’s cut to the chase: This is ONE AWESOME CAR! The gear box rocks, the performance and handling is confidence inspiring, and the production quality is top class. Car is very well appointed with extras, and things like iPod integration (for music) and iPhone integration (for phone) is very usable.
I suggest you read my 1st review of the Golf-R in New Zealand if you haven’t already done so. It has lots of commentary on it, as well as a comparison with the Scirocco-R.
Also some other useful links in case you want more info:
- Golf-R info / brochure site – web site in NZ
- Golf-R specs (in NZ) – pdf file
- Review of Golf-R in NZ and another revew of Golf-R in NZ
- Scirocco-R Specs (in NZ) – pdf file
- Review of Scirocco-R in NZ, oh wait there STILL aren’t any – my Golf/Scirocco-R review is it! (magazines that just post stats on the car don’t count – they haven’t driven it)
In this post I am going to make some specific further comments on:
- The DSG gear box
- The whole value proposition of this car, and how the competition lines up
- Why I bought one (which may help to answer the question is it the car for you?)
- The extras on the car (the ones you get, and the ones you pay for)
- The bad – surely there must be some?
Before I start, the Golf-R has recently been named by TopGear UK as the hotest hatch for 2010. Not a bad wee award to win! It also wins the somewhat less prestigious, but IMO far more important award of the 2011 best car in the world (according to me). I’ll explain why below.
Golf-R and Scirocco-R review and comparision in New Zealand
1310 years ago
Yes I have finally done it – test drove the new 2010 Scirocco-R and Golf-R back to back. Here is my detailed review and commentary, plus information about stuff no other reviewer has mentioned (but I think any owner would want to know).
I did this on Saturday 15th May 2010 in Auckland, courtesy of Giltrap Prestige on New North Road. The weather was a combination of overcast, and rain (ranging from light showers to very heavy downpour). This means that at one stage part of the roads were VERY flooded, and plenty of variety to test the cars Oh, before I start I would have to say the sales staff were very helpful, and knowledgeable too.
UPDATE Feb 2011: I now own a Golf-R – my updated review can be found here (but read this post 1st!)
Anyway, here’s what I will be covering in my review:
- My overall impressions of each car, trying to focus on what other reviews don’t tell you (but you might wanna know)
- The differences between each car
- How they stack up against the competition and the whole value thing
Volkswagen Scirocco-R (pre) review
010 years ago
UPDATE: I have now written a full review of the Golf-R and Scirocco-R. (Follow the link)
To be upfront, I haven’t driven it yet, but I am TRYING to, and as soon as I have I test driven the Scirocco-R will post a review here. But I do have the full Scirocco-R specs in pdf format for the NZ model, something I can’t seam to find on the VW Web Site for the Scirocco.
Unfortunately in NZ there was only one demonstrator, and it was sold. There is a Press car that will start its tour around NZ in the next week or so, and that will be free mid-June apparently, but that’s too late in my view. So I will keep working away!
I also want to do a back to back test drive of the Golf-R (my initial review here), as, like me, many will consider both cars.
One thing I have noticed, and I will comment on this in my full review, is that the specs for the car vary significantly from country to country, especially with what is an extra and what’s included. Case and point: In the UK DCC (adaptive chassis control) is standard*, in NZ it’s an extra ($1,750 me thinks). In the UK tyre flat warming system is std, here its extra (but only $125). The NZ web site isn’t too good either, since it doesn’t list the Scirocco-R, (click here for NZ specs though). But it’s not all one sided, I think parking assist is included in NZ and not the UK. All will be revealed in my review/test drive.
* Dont ask me why, but yes Adaptive Chassis Control is abbreviated to DCC (D for Dynamic Chassis Control) in the Golf-R and Scirocco-R spec sheet in NZ. I think this is coz it comes from the older Adaptive Chassis Control used in some VWs, but I could be wrong.
In the meantime here are some useful reviews that I have found (I have omitted most of the reviews that are just re-hashes of VW’s Scirocco-R press release, which in itself is useful at least for specs, but full NZ Scirocco-R specs are here)
- AutoExpress UK review of Scirocco-R (note the comments above about what’s std in NZ – so be aware not all comments in this review will apply to other countries versions).
- Scirocco-R Review: Evo (UK)
- Autotrader NZ (a bit of a re-hash of VW’s press release, but at least it is local). Doesn’t look they they actually drove the car!
UPDATE (15 April 2010): I have found the Scirocco-R NZ specs pdf on the VW NZ web site, so have changed my links to connect to this file. I still cant find how to get to it from their main page though, and the Volkswagen NZ Scirocco page still only lists the GTI as the top model.
Update: 6 May 2010: I am due to test drive a Scirocco-R and Golf-R back to back on 15 May 2010. So my review is just over a week away now
Black and White Version: Full test drive and review of the Scirocco-R is coming. In the meantime specs here (for NZ)
Golf-R 2010 Review
510 years ago
Today I took the Golf-R for a wee spin. A test drive even. A decent one hour test drive, which thanks to Easter Monday being a public holiday, meant that the dealership was short staffed and couldn’t spare anyone to go with me – darn, so just me, a 2010 Golf-R (std spec) and an hour of time.
First of all I am not going to talk about the specs. You can do this here. I am also not going to go into a history lesson of the Golf (but you can here if you want), nor it’s GTI line (until the R series this was the “top” Golf). What I AM going to do is give a quick rundown on the car, and what I like (and don’t like) about it.
