The VW Golf R: BRILLIANT but BORING? 

I’ve had my mk7.5 R for a couple of years as a daily and love it, fast, reliable, cheap to run, versatile, comfortable, not flashy. Maybe it’s more for people like me in my mid 40’s, with a nice 991.1 GTS for the weekends.

Out of the 7 Golfs I've had the R is by far the best

this chanel is so under rated

Finally another video 🙌🏻 keep posting Jack 2019 your year mate.

I have never ! Ever agreed so much with a carrevieuw in my life before. I owned 3 gti’s i drove them with love. This time i will go for the R. In august. I cant wait

Got mine about 10 days ago. Best car ever.

Jack Whitehall actually talks sense.

The golf r takes a lot more commitment to drive fast vs other golfs. I’ll chicken out before the golf r does. Might make a difference that mine is APR stage 2. Standard, no drama, but APR bring it to life. I also own the V6 version which is much more naughty in sound, but I feel the same connection to both

Wicked review. Can't wait until I pick up my new golf r next week. Just placed an order on a 19 rs5..... And then I woke up.

Great car but there's nothing like a vr6 engine nevermind the 3.2 liter

I only bought my first VW back in Feb to replace a crashed Gen 5 Legacy 2.5 and I am enamored with all things Golf. My only wish is that we get the Golf R Estate here in the US like you get in Europe/UK. A 300+hp Estate with AWD is just sweet!

Going from a SRT Charger to the R, the understatedness of the R was welcomed.

As a golf r32 owner everything you said on the review of it is right.. it makes no sense,, but,, the sound is addictive and it's quick enough, I've had quite a few golf r's in my sights and they don't get far but the r is obviously quicker. I paid 5k for my r32 so worth noting the bigger performance costs you 3x more. Wait a few years and the golf r will be 10-8k and a defo must have for that money..

Another great, if brief review. Always had VW GTI's, and I agree apart from.the R32 Mk5, they all looked a bit bland. The emotion of the R32 and its engine still sets the bar for me.

It's probably worth mentioning that you're driving the 7.5, not the 7. Not saying its a completely different car but there are some pretty key differences...more power, face-lifted styling, 7-speed dsg vs. 6 speed, new infotainment and digital dash- and a used 7.5 will set you back about £30k if you're lucky. Otherwise, a pretty good review.

Said exactly what I think of it. I'll be sticking to the GTI, definitely feels lot more fun all round. Maybe when I'm a bit older I'll settle down for an R 🤔

Great to see the R32 making an appearance again and was good to hear a side by side comparison on exhaust note comparing the two. We have spoke at length about my feelings towards the mk7 and mk7.5 R. Have to admit the cabin looks great even more so now with the lcd screens etc. It just seems like the more practical car over the R32. Definitely more refined that's for sure. If the R32 wasn't so damn expensive to keep on the road i would have both!! Maybe one day but you know me Jack i simply cant part with it i have been in love for over 6 years!! Keep up the good work mate!

The analysis is so true. My previous VW Sirocco R (man.) was way more fun compared to my new Golf R (DSG). I don't understand why VW stopped developing the Sirocco.

Nice review, I just did the same review Jack, our launch scene is almost identical !

The beauty of it is how demure it is especially in indium gray and the English town wheels, it’s definitely for the older enthusiasts 40’s and up. I love mines completely stock not even tinted

Clear and concise review... well done. As a Golf R 7.5 driver myself I totally agree... however 3-door, manual is more involving.

MK6 is a reworked MK5, MK7 is a whole new car

Yep. Golf R does everything right. Then that makes it boring?

I’d pick the mk7 gti over the R just because the interior and exterior looks way better

It must be boring cause it’s quite practical and jack of all trades. Engine sounds rubbish but all the toys as standard such as apple car play and the entertainment system are a bonus. I like mine but I’m 50 and I can still see why younger people would prefer the Civic or the Renault.

I have just purchased (leased ) theGolf R 7.5 wagon. Quite rare here in Australia. Very nice vehicle and easy to drive. Previous car was a WRX 2016. The Wrx was far more engaging to drive with the 6 speed manual and superior in cornering to the R.

Nice video but the Mk 7 R came out in 2014 so only 5 years old , had mine since new, it's a great all rounder , not shouty , more mature , perhaps less fun than a type R but a different type of hot hatch , try a modded one and then see if you think they are boring with 400 bhp!

You can get early R’s for new fiesta money but don’t expect to run them on fiesta budget money, I’ve known four people buy R’s; one new, one nearly knew and two are early cars and the two older ones have had big bills, tires, brake disks & pads, and one of them had suspension and gearbox issues. The lack of electric seats (small niggle) but on a £50k car new is just vw being mean on the spec. Against the new C classes and 3 series the golf as an all round package is easily bettered.

Intelligent, informative reviews. Impressed. Keep it up :)

If you own a R and can afford £3k fit a complete Akrapovic System 👍

I love how normal it looks

Waiting for my R to show up, went with the manual transmission. We don't get the TCR in the USA, so choices were R, Focus RS or CTR. Of the bunch, the R was the clear winner as a daily driver. So much nicer inside than the other two, much better warranty and AWD (I live in Colorado) vs FWD for the CTR. Plus the CTR is way too fugly for me...

Just a quick note the R32 didn’t precede the mk7 R the mk6 R did as the R32 was mk5

Great cars for those who don’t want the fast and furious looks and rock hard rides. Even in the sportiest setting they remain a great fast road car. Boring ? Maybe not as dynamically engaging as a Renault or Type R but it’s so brilliant at doing everything else well. You either get it or you don’t!

That is the R for you, I love it You seem like a gti person anyway they look sporty like i30 N.

mqb, variable steering, dsg, coilovers kw dcc , michelin cup 2 , front camber up -1.5degree for street = letal weapon all-rounded

Haven't tried the R, but after driving the mk7 gti performance pack version I can wholeheartedly say I'd still take the mk5 gti over it. The mk7 is so bland to drive, light steering and quiet, even in sports settings. Left me completely cold compared to my mk5. I wonder if the R is any better?

I have a stage 1 r , great car, I'm looking forward to the next RS3, the new A45s should be good to.

You should make longer videos. They feel too short

Had a Golf R for 2 years and it was a great car but I did find it a bit boring especially with DSG. I ended up selling it and going back to a peice of shit, unreliable clio 197. But I don't care I love it 😂

It's crazy you can get a used R for so cheap in the UK. Over here in America, they depreciate MUCH more slowly than the GTI... to the point that it's almost better to buy something new in many cases.

Very nice video. In my opinion the Golf R remains the king of hatchbacks in terms of price to quality ratio for that size, practicality and performance. There's only the Leon Cupra that can directly compete with the Golf R in those categories but it's not as grown up and mature as the R. On the contrary, it's got a more exotic and distinctive look, something most people can't say about the R. You should really review a Leon Cupra if you can. Cheers mate.

the R32 has an amazing sound compared to this :D But the mk VII is better in literally every other way D:

I might have to copy saqib and get one myself!

spits of jack whithall

the golf r sounds perfect, and it should be. i was deadset on buying one after driving my worn out old mk5 gti for 6 years now. but i took a brand new one for a test drive and it really didn't pull me in and i can't explain why. it is quick and very well kitted out, but the driving experience didn't quite hit it for me. i'll probably be roasted for this but i really do prefer my mk5 gti minus the obvious lack of goodies in the interior, it just still feels like a machine that i feel more connected to, the mk7 r felt like a spaceship to me, in a bad way, it was a bit too dull and dialled back. am i crazy?

Nice review 👍 I'd like to see you maybe do this again in the snow ? Then maybe the 4wd might make even more sense.... "the only car you will ever need" Jeremy Clarkson! one day I hope to own...if only to spend my Sundays polishing those exhaust tips 😉👌

The Mark V is my favourite looking car but the Mark VII is a close second.

You should be the new top gear pretender.

you cannot call a car boring until you put it on its limit which you wouldn’t of done as it’s not your car

I seriously doubt a used golf R will go down in price. The interior redesign is awful with all the digital awkward to use " buttons" and that ridiculous shifter that looks like a bean not up mention those seats and that stupid new R logo. Plus there are so few Golf R MK7's on the used market right now and the new MK7 is going to be very expensive plus that ridiculous mark up.

Great review, cheers Jack!

Your videos are great. Really enjoyed this one 👍 not convinced by the soundakator, the engine sound is not that realistic in the cabin. Might be better if you are actually sat in the cabin rather than hearing it played through you tube 🤔

This is the mk7.5 which come out 2 years ago that's why the interior looks soo good. The mk7 didn't have the virtual cockpit etc

Hi, if you can do a walk around of the golf R black editition. That would be great

this car has gone up in price then ?

Any car with a Dsg is boring

Nice vid Jack, did you ever consider a Mk5 GTI Edition 30 or Pirelli Edition?? Golf R engine in GTI with FWD and easily modifiable to 300hp. I have a Pirelli and its great, fly to Aus and you can drive it :)

These are great cars but I agree they look very boring. I don’t like the i30n either they are dull too. Must admit I like the over the top type r. At least they tried to make it look sporty and different.

Great review 👍

Great vid

Standard format boring yes but stage 3 what a sleeper brilliant car puts my old A45 to shame

Good video! 😁👌🙌

Would of been nice to see the interior

ur driving on the wrong side of the road....🙄

another great video!

Tissue box on the parcel shelf 🙄😂

fantastic video

Golf R soulless and bland albeit a good all rounder. Just very boring.

I think they all need to look like a clubsport and not i30n 🤷‍♂️

Truly wished this car had a 3.2 engine. It looks so normal yet those 4 exhaust tips are telling us "I'm fast". Practical and sporty. Too bad I got myself a s6...

Summarising quote: “If you’re looking to buy a sporty car that you plan on daily driving and you’ve got 15k or more to spend, don’t buy anything until you’ve driven one of these” Top stuff as usual Jack! Mk5 mods soon??

You need to do a vr6 review it only right now u have done a r and a r32

Your talking rubbish scarlet the i30n looks shit, 2 mins of your vid ive watched thats enuf. The golf R is the king of golfs, people want it because it is understated.....!!

I dont have no monies

No is the simple answer

How u will get such launch without 4wd! Why nagging

All golf Rs are over 300 hp

Good review that! Thanks :D

Such a fun car

If the golf R is boring because it’s 4WD why not just get a gti

Solid car 🙌🏽

Does MK7 golf R cost a lot to maintain?

M140i 👍🏻

R32 was modded and the R is stock

you been on drive tribe????

GOLF R = boring. If I got a penny for everytime I've seen one in the last 6 years I may actually afford an R. I used

Boaring!! I accept it as it is

All hot hatches should like like the i30n. Really!?? 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

i30N,, you kidding

Drive a 140i . Much more entertaining

Enjoyed the video! But the golf r7.5 is over 300, not ‘nearly 300’ 🤷🏻‍♂️

What a load of utter drivel!

Yo mama

Can't be anymore boring than your mk5 golf GTi

Hope you guys enjoy this video! Make sure to check out last week's vid on the GTI TCR if you haven't seen it - annoyingly it seems that for some reason it didn't appear in most peoples feeds when I uploaded last week: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QB-ksAci5sc.html

iPhones are shit