I have a 231 m240i and had a 212 silver clubsport with black pack and every other extra. m240i is a serious car but after seeing this 8.5R in black and hearing of 0% pcp available is seems a more attractive package than bmw's 7.9% which is basically €200 a month
Every time the subject of haptic buttons comes up I always see people would rather the physical clicky buttons. Its weird to hear from the manufacturer that people want haptic.
Its also angled too much away from the passenger. Sometimes there are instances where you want your passenger to be able to see the screen without too much effort.
Is it only in black paint? Or is the "black edition" in reference to the wheels, trim, moldings, etc? Would look killer in pearl white or a charchoal grey...
I'd be the quintessential hypocrite described here to a tee if I chose to bemoan the lack of a 6 speed, but let me explain. My MK6 GTI, then MK7 Golf R that followed were my daily drivers at a time where my commute was less than fun--don't get me wrong, a solid calf workout for close to 2 hours to and fro the office daily isn't a bad thing, but the DSG boxes are just so damn good, that I could justify going that route--it never was and still isn't equivalent to a manual in a multitude of ways, except for the new gen of lazy drivers who will vouch for it because they can't drive stick and the brochure told them that the auto is faster 0-60....Go figure, when I was seriously ready to bite the bullet on a manual, and a post COVID workplace drastically limits the punishing stop and go, bumper to bumper commutes, they're gone...but, then I look at the bright side, if that's what you want to call it....I live in Canada, and we can't even get VW to install proper LED tail lights because of some wonky DOT compliance excuse, which held some weigh a decade ago, but not so much now when base model Kia's include LED-everything....regardless, as alluded to, this beauty will never make it north of the border (Canada), referring specifically to the Black Edition guise, so as I continue to yawn my way through a very affordable Rav4 soccer mom ownership (bought off lease from a family member with less than 30K in 4 years with a buyout a quarter of its market value),it might be time to "grow up" and actually choose a ride more suited for the office parking lot....and used prices on them are shockingly low, so it may be time for an S3 in 2025, and keep those RS dreams on the backburner for a later date.. Quick point, I remember reading that something around only 5% of R's, which maybe included GTIs, were purchased in manual, however, it appears that 95% of the comments seem to praise....just another example of the fact that people are more likely to complain publicly versus choosing to share their satisfactory level with the masses...
Interiors have become so ugly with all of the cheesy digital panels. Especially in the main console as design is typically square and without character.
Not even remotely worth the $65k they are asking. That Audi RS3 territory or a used RS4 -RS6! Original R, MK4 R32 VR6 will always be the best! Plus VW should've left things alone like leaving the R with two doors and six on the floor, the real VW sport car enthusiasts love manual not that pathetic DSG!
Still to make my mind up between theR and Clubsport, which definitely feels more lively and responsive to drive having! test drove both in Mk 8 versions! Maybe they have tweaked things in the 8.5 to bring the R closer, let’s hope so! Where I live is vey built up and busy so not a lot of chance to use the difference in performance
I had the same dilemma, and went with the CS. It's definitely lively and responsive to drive, I'd say it's good fun! The reason I didn't go for the R is how another reviewer described it - they are the preferred car of county lines gangs, usually with a 3D gel plate and vape smoke coming out the window!
I love it so I have brought a Golf R Black Edition in blue I think the contrast will look good my MK8GTI is black and a nightmare to keep clean it will soon be gone.😢
I bought a new black 1983 GTI when they came out, then I bought a new black 1988 GTI. Later I bought a new 1992 Corrado SLC, a new 2004 GTI VR6, and a new 2006 GTI. But those fun cars all had manual transmissions, so after driving VWs for over 50 years I'm going to have to pass on this automatic VW. I asked the salesman at my former dealership why they didn't stock manual transmissions. He said no one buys them, so I had to order my GTI. We moved and the dealership had many so manuals I asked my salesman why? He said they are the fastest sellers, we try to get as many as VW will give us. Turns out the "nobody buys them" situation is self-fulfilling when they aren't stocked.
Love the black outside (minus the ugly non aggressive wheels), hate a dark inside. I will never buy a car witha black interior. Its far too depressing, and no kids to worry about.
