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@@voltag3102 Driving in Germany, then ya come back here and we are 3rd world roads, Driving in Germany is what driving is supposed to BE!! Only got to 123 MPH in the unlimited in Audi A6 S line TDI years ago, FUN, wanted 155MPH, but too much traffic, I'm a tourist! Doing 100 in center lane, get PASSED, by Golf and a Porsche!!! all LEGAL, we suck in the U.S., horrible roads, that wipe out tires and wheels, no cars with shit falling off, flapping fenders like in the U.S., pride of ownership, what a concept! CLEAN roads, no garbage blowing around, gas stations are SPOTLESS, Jersey TPK is crap, with cesspool rest stops.
I love Tomas' reaction to the exhausts _pops_ and _crackles_ more than the _pops_ and _crackles_ themselves! Great to see you having such fun, Tomas! ✌️😎👌
This guy is the best car reviewer ever. Very informative and he has a pleasant soothing nature about him and a voice that is clear and understandable. You will learn everything you need to know and then some. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Your English is EXCELLENT with a bonus very cool German accent. I can understand your vocals better than way too many of my own countrymen. You choose your commentary so carefully I am rarely left with a single unresolved question, and your delivery is always calm, cool, and collected. Your thoroughness deserves special mention. You know what enthusiastic drivers want to know and you can’t possibly suffer a single disappointed viewer. Thank you for such great automotive journalism and video production.
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@@richardsealey3626 probably but think about it, its the top of the range performance oriented model. You need to remember that VW did crap like this even back in the 90s (as in G60 shells and pssat B3 shells having the Syncro floorpan even if not specced with Syncro running gear). Thats why G60 shells were banned from cup GTI racing since they were considerably stiffer then the normal GTI counterpart.
@@richardsealey3626 both are awesome car. I am a big VW fan but honestly I'd buy the Yaris as a new car and the R as a second hand 1yr old car (better price)
Thanks Thomas...and Jonas🎙️📷 Another great test rewiev...great sounds>Harman/Kardon+Akrapović😯❤️🎵🎶🎼merry Christmas and a happy, much more better year than those.. Greetings from Hrvatska.
This was a fantastic review Thomas 👍🏻 I'm so excited for this car. Looks like a lot more fun than the previous Golf R. Although I currently own a GTI TCR (which I love), I cannot wait to test drive one of these when they arrive in the UK 🇬🇧
Hi Thomas just a quick update if you are interested. They have been updating the software on my Golf 8 regularly, about 5 times now and all over the air, so no dealer visits. It is pretty snappy now. At least it now responds quicker than most mainstream competitors, it is no iDrive or MBUX, but at least mine reacts as quick as my smartphone. The mapping could still use some work though. But I had an e-Golf (loaner) with the old system (discover Pro 9,2 inch one) and it felt slower than the Golf 8's system. It feels a bit more choppy in the menus and the map is about as fast or slower in response. So they are getting there. But definitely still room for improvement.
Thanks so much for this review! Many channels don't do a thorough and detailed review of all aspects of the car. So big thank you for explaining and demonstrating everything!
I must say, the more i see it, the more i like it. Especially the front side. If there wouldnt be the bad usability with the Infotainment and the touch buttons, it would be a perfect hot hatch. Thanks for the great review 👍👍
In Canada we are getting only the Performance Pack so it’s $51K CDN for the DSG version (€34K). It’s a no-brainer at that price point for a daily driver with this much potential
Another great and detailed review, Thomas. I always learn far more from your tests than I do from those in the magazines. I think the car is fantastic, the only bad things really are the infotainment, some of the material quality and the price... Even without the Akrapovic exhaust, in the U.K. a Performance Pack R with a decent specification is around £45k, my high spec 7.5R was under £40k less than 3 years ago. Looking forward to your test of the GTI Clubsport!
@@AlexanderDornbracht I agree, it’s too expensive. They’re trying to recoup money from the emissions crisis and pay for the electric car programme so although the car is good, infotainment and material quality have suffered. I’m not totally convinced by RS3. New one has to be better than the old one. A friend replaced his S3 with an RS3 and was disappointed. Yes RS3 sounds nice and fast in a straight line, but S3 nicer to drive overall.
@@dacmm His view was that it handled far better on country roads, steering was sharper and the ride quality better. He also thought that the S3 engine was more eager, RS3 may be quicker on paper or in a straight line, but not in practice. Sometimes less is more. For example, many would argue that Mk5 Golf GTI was a better car than the R32, lovely though it sounds and looks. Engine is just a bit lazy compared to the 2.0. Point is we’re all different. You pay your money and take your choice!
Mr Andrew, in Portugal, a Mk 8 Golf R with the very same spec and options of the car tested by Thomas, costs today, plus Euros 70 000 !!!, for God sake, I also have one Golf R mk 7.5 / 2018 with the normal exhausts ,DSG and a white pearled color I payed in new, about Euros 48 000 and love it, and I´m gonna keep it as far as I can. Thank you.
Thank you for yet another detailed review Thomas and Autogefühl people! Unfortunate the 8th generation is suffering from software issues after the systems in 7.5 seem to work flawlessly indeed - even if they're not that pretty it all works quite well. I hope they manage to patch up those issues because I do find the 8 R is the most appealing of the pack. Stay safe, and keep up the good work :)
Feels like a major interior downgrade. Touch controls make no mistake are just a cost saving measure. They are being sold as a "premium" feature but it is anything but. Just like alcantara.
I have a 2016 and agree! Hang into it, it will be a classic, as it is the final model which transitioned from nice manual push buttons to the awkward touch buttons
As a former racer (25 years and IMSA license) I like the new dynamics. My 2018 R plows on the track a bit too much and is also not crisp enough on turn in. Pushes in autocrosses. The new rear diff setup should help a great deal.
Of all the last couple of Golf generations, the Golf 8R really captured my attention. I love the outside as well as inside of it. The only option I won't choose is that popping exhaust system. For me it is about driving pleasure and since everyone is familiar with its performance specs, why proof it again to your friends and family?
I’m a huge Golf fan, it’s all the car you ever need. This is so much more thou. For me this is the greatest hatchback ever made. I’ll be getting a used one in 3 or 4 years when I’ve settled my mark 7.5 R. I’m not bothered that an A45 or RS3 has more power, this is the king. People will disagree but I don’t give a flying fuck
@@patrickbateman6885 i understand what you are saying but do you not think it should be more than just the driving experience (very very important I know), but the way the driver has to interact with the interior needs to be a positive experience. What are your thoughts on the pricing? Do you not think that they are taking the piss a bit?
I have a 7:5 unicorn map to 380hp. I see nothing here to tempt a change, having configured the same spec as mine com8ng out at £47k. No way VW. My Yaris GR arrives in March. 7.5 is a keeper.
Is the seating position lower than the MK7? Also do you know if the steering wheel position has changed? Only real problem with my MK7 is the seat doesn't get low enough and the steering wheel is angled a bit too high upwards.
I fairly impressed by the new Golf R. I still believe that the GTI 8 is the better value for anyone who is not going to track it. Even the GTI 8 top trim is much much less expensive then the R.....
So the drift mode comes with performance pack or u can just order dcc and u will get all of the drive modes ? Also can you change ambient light or they are just a blue like in an old version ?
@@hiiiofficial8306 It's the other way around. As a mk7 GTI owner, I had high expectations for the GTI needless to say, and it did not disappoint. But the interior let me down on both cars. Last gen I preferred the look of the R, this time, the GTI looks better imo. Either way, this gen looks more fun which was my only complaint of the Mk7
I hate the 8, well all the other 8’s apart from this. This looks decent in this spec but the price is absolutely ridiculous. Still no gas strut either 😆
I'm not sure why, but that spoiler really adds to the Golf R's style so much for me. Only thing I'm not a fan of is the touch screen infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster. I'm more for the analog style.
Thanks Thomas for a great review, as usual. Lots have been waiting for this in the UK, who are considering Mk8 R ownership. Costs lots but offers on several fronts. I’ll stay with my 7.5R for some time yet tho😀
Great review. I’m wondering whether you can buy the car without that subwoofer in the lower trunk. I fill that area in my Version 7 R with tools and other gear. Don’t think I can give that space up for an upgraded sound system. I also don’t like the new touch controls. Might stick with my 2016
So you can get pops and crackles in an Particulate filter world. Well done VW. Only thing that was coming across and maybe just the mic was the heavily synthesised engine sound. Fantastic review, refreshing a you tuber not making the video more about them, all about the car. Can’t wait til it goes up against my fk8
Key looks exactly like the one from the Skoda Octavia. I was concerned about scratches too on this high gloss surface. Actually it is some kind of TPU/Silicone/soft plastic. After 3 months of use (+ other keys in the same pocket) it shows no scratches or wear. Good technical solution, feels good in the hand.
Great review, very calm, measured and informative. I currently own an R 7.5 and before that the R 7.0 but I won't be getting the 8 ....why ? The coloured seat inserts at the shoulders look cheap and absolutely ruin the interior. VW have also gone way too heavy on the touch buttons and not using proper switch gear. Also only in Blue/Black/White paint ? I want grey ...give me grey !!
Great vid Thomas. I like the car door closing comparison and key shape similarities within the car 😀 In your opinion how does this compare to the latest BMW M135i ?
@@ivanjovanovic362 Meh, not really. I have a Mk7.5 GTI myself and I've been contemplating going to the MK8 Golf R once it's here in the US. Overall, the car should perform better and handle better. I also quite like the new interior.
@@jrmt6 I agree the looks of the interior is nicer. The functionality however is not. VW going to to those capacitive buttons and your hvac and seat heaters being built into the infotainment to me is a bit step backwards. Im sure it is a better handling car and faster as well but the lack of physical buttons to me is a real off putter.
LoL. This VW looks like a Cheap Kia. Especially because of the ugly rear spoiler and all of the plastic used inside. They should have put a 5 or 6 cilinder 2.5 to 3.5L semi electric engine with 450hp in this car. 300 is average these days. Also sad al car makers use cheap small 4 cil sub 2.0L engines these days. And sell them overpriced. A 2.0 was a starter engjne 15 years ago. (This golf Sounds like crap btw) edit: and thes capacitive buttons are cheap and annoying if you ask me. Fingerprint magnets. And is you sweat slightly it doesnt work very well. Entertainment system is crap also. How can they sell this (slow ass software ) crap in 2020? LOL. A 50 euro 10 inch tablet is faster than this slow outdated crap. And this car costs 60 g's?? What a ripoff!!
@ Thomas, hi there do you think the longer paddle shifts behind the steering wheel fitted to this new 2021 GOLF R is an improvement over the small paddle shifts fitted to the Standard GTI and GTI Clubsport? And do you know why VW only changed the paddle shifter on the GOLF R only?
Hi, does this Golf R in the video have the standard seats or the optional Nappa leather seats? Does the seat memory feature (for the right seat) exist only in the optional Nappa leather seats or do you get the memory feature also with the standard seats?
The engine sound in the cabin seems quite different from the current Golf R , more high pitched I'd say..not sure if it's the mic or not but sure sounds different to the 7.5
Great car. I have an S3 and I wonder why the DSG shifter and sport aka drive select physical buttons have disappeared these days in place of a switch and a touchscreen. Doesn’t seem to make much sense, especially when it takes your attention from the road. B&O would be nice in this btw. Hopefully VAG start to move back to physical buttons (as they have on Audis with the climate control) and add sport modes to physical buttons in the lower half of the steering wheel (like they have on the TTRS for example) along with stop/start.
Love the car, but hate all the touch slider stuff. Slide to open the moonroof too? Why? LOL I'd be so paranoid wondering which touch panel is going to die first.
What's been done to the front headlight corners? It looks like they've changed it a bit so that the part that extends past the top corner of the light is darker, definitely looks better less noticeable. Hope they get rid of that (and the terrible all touch infotainment/climate system) in the midcycle refresh.
Hi, since the Golf R Mk 8 is not yet available in Canada I cannot test it so here's a small question: Over rough pavement, what which one is more comfortable between the Golf R Mk8 with DCC in Comfort mode and a Mercedes CLA250 WITHOUT adaptive damper? Thank you in advance. P.S. Thank you for amazing reviews as usual!
Car performance seems great! The Interior and infotainment system... fail I think. It feels it'll really annoy you especially if it's lagging. The seats look nice... leather tends to look bad once it's worn in. Lack of physical buttons and the steering wheel capacitive buttons seem like a let down... the question is, is it worth waiting for this to arrive to see for myself or go for the mk7.5? what are peoples thoughts?
