The Golf R is the fastest car you can buy under the VW brand, with 300 HP, AWD, and a dual-clutch transmission, it feels more like a mini Porsche on the road than a standard Golf.
Subaru really needs to step their game up. This MK7 Golf R is gonna give the STI a run for its money. For nearly the same amount of money as the STI, you can get the Golf R, which as a better overall fit and finish, fantastic DSG, hatchback practicality (bring back the hatch, Subaru!), and is faster (according to MotorTrend). The Subaru enthusiasts and boy racers will probably stick with their trusty STI, but I think the Golf R is easily the better choice. VW really knocked the MK7 Golf out of the park.
Ivan Pineiro It's faster in the real world too. On the straightaways and on corner entry, the Golf R pulls on the STI without much trouble. The only place the STI can keep up is on corner exit, because you can get on the throttle a bit earlier. In a drag race, which may or may not have occurred, every DSG gearchange is worth about 10 feet on the STI. I love a stick as much as anyone, probably more in certain cars. But Subaru's stick isn't great, as we saw, and DSG is really good 95% of the time.
Ivan Pineiro Subaru does need to step up their game in both the styling of the STI and the motor. I bet when they do the mid-generation facelift that they have always done the the STI, it'll get the new direct injection FA motor and hopefully some better styling. I'd still probably take the STI over the VW because I prefer to work on my own cars and Subarus are about a thousand times easier to work on than VWs. The Focus RS seems to be the better choice over both though, but I'll have to wait and see.
AR Taken You're probably right about that, but interior quality doesn't really matter much to me in the grand scale of things. For the most part, the cars are have owned were used, base model economy cars that were over a decade old when I bought them, so interior quality to me is pretty relative. I've driven a few friends' newer and nicer cars lately, and I Have to say, the interior is very nice and very comfortable, but it doesn't command as much of my attention as good steering, handling, or power. Performance matters more to me than heated seats and a nice sound system. I am happy with the interior in the Fiesta ST I drove recently, and if the RS has anything comparable or better, it'll be plenty of comfort for me.
Justin Donahue It's a great road. CA Highway 2, north of La Cañada Flintridge, on the way to Wrightwood. They just reopened the whole road, so driving the route makes a nice afternoon trip.
***** Nice! I did the trip in my e39 530i, and picked up a hiker along the way. The fog was extremely dense (less than 30ft of visibility at times), so I didn't really get to open it up all that much.
Drivers seem so damn polite up there in the canyons! Up here in Vancouver if you're able to even find a twisty road that isn't dirt or extremely busy, no one will ever let you by. Like seriously. It's never happened.
Just wanted to say that you are awesome sir. You're video with the camera mounted on the front of the car made me feel as though I was there in a way for a ride along. More initial car reviews need to be like this one. Your commentary was great and straight to the point on how the car feels. I can tell you truly have a passion for driving. Subscribed.
If you liked the 2015 with the DSG you'd love the 2016 manual. I've loved all +60k miles I have on mine. Even the lay flat rear headrests to improve rear window visibility are a true sign of the German engineering.
@@busy2012 Literally not true at all.. unless you own one don’t talk about it cause you’re just making yourself sound stupid. I’ve had a MK7 for 2.5 years now it’s been $85 for an oil change from the dealer, which is literally all it’s needed so far. Do some more research pal 🤡🤡
Great review, I'm glad that you liked the Golf R since you always seem very honest and straight to the point. It's cool to hear that overall you seem to like the steering feel since that's one of the things Hans Stuck said he gave a fair amount of input on during development.
Great vids! Would love to see other angles during the drive - interior shot looking forward from back seat, footwell shot for some heel and toe action, close ups of gauges, stuff like that. I'm sure it's not easy to work all that in when you're putting these vids out as quick as you are, just throwing it out there. Keep up the good work!
This is the video that convinced me to go VW Golf. Wanted the R, but have lots of people and stuff to haul, so best I can do is Golf SportWagen with IS38 and supporting mods/tubes. Thanks for the video!
I'd like to see you in germany. Visiting any german car factory and its museum, taking test drives on the autobahn and backroads. Not to forget ze german beer and ze food in ze evening, we (ze germans) are nuts about besides cars. I like these one Take videos. Some reallybeautiful roads, great landscape and nice weather, different cars. Good package
Was shopping for a manual 2016 WRX sport -tec. A 2016 Lapiz Blue DSG fell into my price range. The rest is history. This is basically the car he’s reviewing and it is extremely satisfying to watch considering I thought it would be a very long time before I’d be moving on from my Passat 3.6 4motion. She was a great car though and will be somewhat missed.
Holy cow, maybe it's the video recording, but that sounds damn close to the 2.5L 5-cylinder with the sound enhancement. I'd love to have that as the soundtrack all the time.
That road looked a dream I want one of these cars I've had 3 gti' s and a 4motion and they started feeling a bit heavy to me I'd Love an R great video good driving I'm gonna sub peace out
Matt just wanted to say I love your videos, the best by far at doing what you do. Keep them coming, you should come over to the UK sometime and do some vids here =-)
+TheSmokingTire Yeah your right there, we do have it quite well on some fronts, although after your New Zealand trip I don't think too much would really shock you here. I drive an stage1 R33 gtst but that R34 GTR, WOW, you should definitely stick to the 9year pledge! The owner should be proud =-)
That was an interesting video Matt. I realized most of the other reviewers chose the STI over the Golf R, but i'm glad you gave your honest opinion. That being said, i wonder why you chose to drive the two cars on different roads especially since you were comparing them to each other.
Hi Matt, Great video as always! For a car enthusiast, You are making RU-vid more exciting than ever with these one take videos...I do have one question, you seem very fond of the DCT on the R, but if you have a choice of manual 6spd vs DCT on the R. Which would you choose?
Best drive so far. I miss the R32 for that grunty sound, but it definitely felt heavy around windy roads. Does this car feel like you need to keep the revs high in order for it to do anything?
Was very surprised to hear the comparisons you were making between this and the STI, *especially* when you said that the Golf is better in the corners. Wow. Glad i watched this video, I'm no longer so sure I"ll be going wih the STI. Can you not get this with a manual transmission though? That would be a dealbreaker for me.
I've also watched your video on the Lexus isf both around the same price range in Australia what's your opinion on them which one would you buy and why. Thanks
wicked car though, I appreciate the review....thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up next year....can't decide between this or the GTI+sense+perfromance or maybe just the base GTI+leather....
I enjoyed the review like always but with as concerned with the audio as you are matt, how could you stand hearing that piece of paper or whatever it was sliding around the back seat every time you transition from left to right?
Hi Matt, great video. I am a big fan of both the R and the S3 and although the hardware is identical, the set-up of the R is very different from the S3, wouldn't you agree?
TheSmokingTire Great comparo between the STI and Golf R, when we get the GTI review can you comment on if its better for the money than a standard WRX? Seems like you went Golf R > STi mainly for more for the buck in fit/finish/engine/trans, does that apply to the FWD GTI vs the WRX without the STI motor/trans?
Another great review, thanks! Unfortunately Matt, that noise isn't engine induction... its a speaker behind the dash lol. Is the GTI your getting a Performance Package version with the larger brakes and LSD?
I agree. And these cars make great power without much work. Just stage 1 they're doing 12 flats 1/4 mile times and making ~320-330whp. On a GTX2867R turbo upgrade APR is just into the 10s on pump gas.
Driven both the manual and the dual clutch. I enjoyed the manual because it's, well, a manual... the dual-clutch is the better car though. I'm not a huge fan of VW clutches, they always seem to lack a bit in the feel department. The shifter action, however, has gotten way better over the last few years. -JG
Being a guy with a bad back the dual clutch was a feature that sold me on getting the Golf R. It's very good for the most part when left to its own devices, and the paddles are always there when you want to take over and shift your own gears. The fact that it's faster than the manual helps seal the deal. I am very happy with my choice of the Golf R. It's both a comfortable and nice daily driver, as well as a lot of fun on a back road or at a drag strip.
My back is doing great in the Golf R. The seat adjusts just right for me. Your mileage may vary depending on your body type as I know of one guy that sold his R because it bothered his back. Most people however have been happy with the comfort of the seats.
i haveawrx 2015 but i drove my frends 2015 r for 100 miles while engaging track mode and the ride was extremely unbearable on bumpy roads i would never get that r because ofback problems
I'm waiting for the Focus RS before I make up my mind on which car to buy. I prefer the looks over the focus but the Golf R seems like an awesome car too. I can not wait for your review of the RS.
+TheSmokingTire manually shifting my 2015 M3 at the track was more of a pleasure than i expected ... so quick and never shifted until I asked it. it seems like too many of the DSG/DCT/etc cars still like to upshift before you want it to happen. such an unwelcome event especially when trying to stay smooth with maintenance throttle while going through a turn. i'm looking for a fun/functional daily driver that i'll be using for autocross and a couple track days each year. nothing heavy duty needed but those couple times i go out there and really thrash it, i want it to be satisfying. I'm thinking i'll wait for the manual just to be sure, but what do you think? thank you, i have been really enjoying your one take videos, keep it up man! my favorite reviewer right now, especially with so much new content constantly rolling out! awesome!
LastHumansGarage The Golf R sounds much deeper and more "motorsport-like" than the GTI, which I had right after. The GTI sounds like a tractor by comparison. So if that's what they are doing, it works great.
TheSmokingTire hmm.. well the GTI has the soundaktor too.. a vibration box mated under the wiper area which vibrates up the windsheild. my 2013 GTI soundaktor had an on/off switch, and i have a vid showing it real time on and off. it adds the growl, but i usually kept it off to be honest. I have a 2015 WRX now, so these last couple videos were very interesting for me. GTIs do sound like tractors.. or diesels..
LastHumansGarage The 2015 WRX has a amplifier type thing that pumps sounds from the engine bay into the cabin right? At real low speeds or idol you can hear a very nice rumble, but I feel like its sort of fake. Not quite coming through the speakers fake, but a little help getting into the cabin through some sort of pipping.
