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Old 11-18-2012, 11:15 PM   #1
SCRAPPYDO
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Default Golf R purchase tomorrow

Well I have been holding off buying a new car since March. But now is the time to make my decision. I have been going back and forth on the 13 STI and the 13 Golf R for many many weeks. THe STI is definitely where my heart is. Always has been since I sold my 2006 modded STI. It was such a great car. Very raw and connected. FAst forward 6 years, and I have a 4 year old and another kid on the way in February. I could not be any happier. So with that being said, the 2000 Tundra I have been driving since I sold my 2011 WRX has been a great vehicle, but its time in my life is at an end.

The case for the Golf R is compelling. I have taken 2 test drives that equates to about 40 minutes in the car. I have posted about the fabulous suspension, the amazing seats, and the incredible brakes. I have complimented the car on its ample room and well laid out interior. The engine makes power smoothly and sounds good while it does it. The SHifter is just amazing. The technical features of the Golf are FAR and beyond the STI (with the exception of the lack of home link.. which is weird).

Now cons. Well the reliability of the Golf will not match the STI. No doubt about that. But the VW dealer is only about 8 miles away, where the Subaru dealer is 46 miles (on a toll route). THe golf is not as raw and connected as the STI. And that is actually quite a drawback. The Golf is not as fast as the WRX or STI from an acceleration point of view

I want to buy an STI again, it will be my 8th subaru since 2000. It would look good next to my 2007 Outback XT. It is a familiar and comforting car to own. But I have to force myself to think logically as I ask myself the question: CAn a die hard Subaru guy be happy with a VW? Right now, it seems buying the 2013 STI after owning a well modded 2011 WRX just feels like I am buying the same car again. (even though they are next to nothing alike mechanically)

The Golf R is a better Daily Driver in every conceivable and measurable category. It has better seats, better materials, more room inside, better ride quality, better stereo, more advanced keyless features, better MPG, lower price tag, and a solid build feel.

The STI is a more focused track car, whose limits are higher than the golfs in braking and acceleration.

Stepping back, I only do about 2 to 3 track days a year, and they are just purely for fun. The last time I went I took my 2011 WRX and completely destroyed the stock brakes in 20 minutes. The STI and Golf R will probably not have that issue.

So again, tomorrow I get the keys to a Golf R, and shortly after a complete comprehensive review will follow.

Having an APR tuning shop 20 minutes from my house does not hurt either...

STay tuned for a golf R review!
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Old 11-18-2012, 11:26 PM   #2
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Can't say it's what I'd have chosen simply because of the notorious reliability issues, but it sounds like you know that going in and have lots of other reasons for choosing it.

Hope you like it!
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Old 11-18-2012, 11:49 PM   #3
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Meh, enjoy, but I never regret any day that I turn the key on my STi.
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Old 11-18-2012, 11:53 PM   #4
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It is all about what moves you and it sounds like the Golf R does just that for you! Keep us updated with the reliability as well.
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Old 11-19-2012, 02:36 AM   #5
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I was a VW guy until I got a Subaru... The Golf has always been a great platform; I have a hopped up MKI GTI sitting in the driveway at the moment. Enjoy!
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Old 11-19-2012, 07:16 AM   #6
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The brakes on the Golf are quite large. They make my brakes look tiny! My friend bought one and with 100 miles on it he ragged it all the way out and was banging every shift really hard. Made me laugh, but it seemed like a great car that is lots of fun.
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Old 11-19-2012, 07:40 AM   #7
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There are two types of performance; perceived performance and actual performance. To me, perceived performance is the exact balance of what you need or desire, even if it's not the top performer in reality. It sounds like you've weighed out your decision.

You are of course on a Subaru forum where Subaru love is high. That being said, I'm not unreasonable and I am pretty well versed in cars. I have love for cars of all makes. With all of this in mind, I personally would never buy a VW because of their reliability, or lack thereof. Don't get me wrong, the Golf R offers incredible features wrapped in a very cool looking package. I just hope your ownership experience is everything you hope it will be. I would spend my money elsewhere but I'm happy for you and can't wait to read your reviews.
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:04 AM   #8
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Perhaps the most well written and unbiased reviews I have ever read on NASIOC in 5 years. Kudos and thanks!

Yeah, the reliability is what really scares me. Everything else I am fairly confident in. What I did not post is what exactly I am looking for in my next car. That would have been useful as it would put my words in more context.

I was looking for a car that would slot in between the WRX and STI performance wise. The Golf R is very quick. Would give any WRX a run for its money in a straight line. And my initial test drive told me that the Golf R is a far better handling car than a stock WRX is, even with its all season tires.

However, a WRX can be made much better with a handful of mods. Wheels, tires, sway bars, and brakes to name a few. But, and this is where the Golf R leaps above the stock WRX for me. I do not want to have to dump 4000 dollars of mods into a car to make it enjoyable. The Golf R is VERY good right out of the box. And if it needs more power, then an APR flash is only 499 and 15 minutes away from 305 HP.

To me the Golf R's more direct comparison is the WRX. Some would say the GTI, but the FWD nature of that car to me makes it too different.

Okay, so anyway, it is about T minus 8 hours until I go to the VW dealership. This will be my first German car. I will make sure I introduce myself to the service manager when I am there.

I advise people on buying cars all the time. And if there is anything I preach to people is this. Be honest with yourself. Do you buy a car as an appliance, or as a source of joy. Be honest with yourself. How will this car actually get used? Be honest with yourself. Know how much you want to spend and do not exceed that. There will be times your head and your heart will cloud your judgement. And if your are truly honest with yourself, you can help navigate those waters. Should you buy a car that comes with a boat load of compromises so you can enjoy it for 1% of the driving you actually do. Or should you buy a car for the 99% of the driving you do?

My decision to buy the Golf R is just that. It is a car that fits my life right now 99% of the time, that will still allow me to have a bunch of fun on those 1% days.
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:18 AM   #9
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Having the dealer 8 miles away will really help you a lot. When I had my 2 Audis, I only had about 12 miles and the dealer was pretty much on my way to work. Really worked great and the only drawback was when I'd get out of work, I would forget which A4 (or S4) was mine, because I drove loaner cars so much. Hopefully your R will be in the shop less than my S4 was (exactly 50% of the time I owned the car). What I don't quite understand is why anyone in Houston (or Florida or socal) would ever buy an AWD car. The hit on efficiency, power to the wheels and fuel mileage really makes you pay a premium for something that I always look at as a way to be able to get up my driveway in the winter. But...whatever. Tight hatches are certainly fun. I drove my son's CRX to work today and it's a blast to drive. Good luck with the car. Post a picture when you pick it up.....or maybe pics of the loaner cars.
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:23 AM   #10
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i canceled my order for a 2013 wrx and bought a golf tdi... cant say i am at all happy with it... i should have bought the subaru. It is not roomier, but yes... it does have nice seats and the bluetooth system is cool. handling is good but i already have issues with my brand new golf with only 6k miles on it which makes me super concerned about owning it for another 4 years. My first issues started before I even made the first payment 45miles per gallon is the only thing i have come to enjoy from this car. dont make the same mistake i made. I know the tdi and golf R are very different but they are very much so the same.
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:36 AM   #11
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I own a 2012 WRX, and recently test drove the Golf R just to see what the fuss is all about. I agree with pretty much everything you said, especially the smooooth shifter. The one thing I hate about my WRX is the shifter (even with the SPT bits it's nowhere close). But here's a thought since you are worried about reliability and don't plan on modding - how about negotiating a lease? MK7 will be out by the time you return this in time for the warranty to expire and you can decide whether you really like living with a VW. My 2 cents, congrats and hope you're happy with your purchase! Happy hooning this holiday season
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Old 11-19-2012, 08:36 AM   #12
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Jack makes a great point. If there is no real need for AWD (I'm sure you've weighed this decision out), there are a lot of other hot hatch options I personally would consider, such as the MazdaSpeed 3 (I've owned and meh) or, more interestingly, the Ford Focus ST. Those both offer similar technical options with less concerns for reliability. Ford has also stepped its game up big time. Everything from features to build quality are now impressive. Maybe look it over if you haven't already. It's not too late!
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Old 11-19-2012, 09:34 AM   #13
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Another vote for a "I sold my Subaru and bought a .... instead" sub-forum.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:06 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack ffr1846 View Post
Having the dealer 8 miles away will really help you a lot. When I had my 2 Audis, I only had about 12 miles and the dealer was pretty much on my way to work. Really worked great and the only drawback was when I'd get out of work, I would forget which A4 (or S4) was mine, because I drove loaner cars so much. Hopefully your R will be in the shop less than my S4 was (exactly 50% of the time I owned the car). What I don't quite understand is why anyone in Houston (or Florida or socal) would ever buy an AWD car. The hit on efficiency, power to the wheels and fuel mileage really makes you pay a premium for something that I always look at as a way to be able to get up my driveway in the winter. But...whatever. Tight hatches are certainly fun. I drove my son's CRX to work today and it's a blast to drive. Good luck with the car. Post a picture when you pick it up.....or maybe pics of the loaner cars.
Have you seen the rain we get in Fla during the summers? During monsoon season the roads are like driving on ice. The freeways are especially treacherous. Even front wheel drive cars are skittish and subject to Hydro plane. So there is plenty of reason to own an AWD car down here. And let me tell you there is not a rainy day in Fla that i dont thank the car gods for my AWD STI. The AWD takes the stress out of having to worry about my car along with the other geniuses on the road.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:09 AM   #15
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Good luck to you scrappy. I had my mk6 gti for exactly a year and was glad to be rid of it. It was a good car,no doubt, but i felt very disconnected from it. It did most of what i wanted it to do very well that made it almost boring to drive. Not sure if that makes sense but its how i felt. The only thing i miss about it is the interior.....damn those seats were great.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:10 AM   #16
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How do they compare (R and WRX) in terms of initial cost and cost of insurance, any big difference there?
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:12 AM   #17
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Decipher.

I did actually own a MS3 before, and the nannies killed the joy for me. The way they came in was just horrible. Like an off switch for the power instead of soft stop. The focus ST was on my list, but I did not really like the way the seats fit me, and the back seat is noticeably smaller than the WRX back seat, and that means no go. But the ST did drive beautifully. I am not inherently against FWD cars if they are well thought out and well engineered. The ST has great brakes and great steering.

I think the 2013 STI is a great car. But I think for where I am at in my life, it is not the right car for me. It provides the rawness that the golf is missing, but if you look at my signature block, you can see I have a raw car already.

Stay tuned!
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:14 AM   #18
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The same reason everyone already mentioned already is the exact reason why I turned away from a Golf GTI a few months back. Though they have eye candy look and superior interior the reliability seems to be their downfall. After research Subaru's reliability I know I must have either a WRX or the STI. I have never been to a track nor consider going to one even though Miller Motorsport Park is 20min away from my house so I hope WRX is enough as my daily driver.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:17 AM   #19
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I had leased an 09 GTI and really loved the car. It did have a few service issues that took a few days to resolve but the fit and finish were great and it was fun to drive. That being said if you want to keep it for a while get the warranty. Maintenance on them are expensive, out of warranty repairs can be killer. Warranty till you trade it in makes sense. Other than that i love the R and would have got one if they weren't 36k
For a 4 door
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:44 AM   #20
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I thought the Golf R was full of nannies?

Congrats on the future purchase! They're very good looking cars and the interiors are beautiful.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:51 AM   #21
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I've owed two VWs in the past...never again.

So many electrical problems and trips to the dealership

As for the "R", looks kinda boring to me...just like every other Golf on the road.
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:51 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO View Post
Perhaps the most well written and unbiased reviews I have ever read on NASIOC in 5 years. Kudos and thanks!

Yeah, the reliability is what really scares me. Everything else I am fairly confident in. What I did not post is what exactly I am looking for in my next car. That would have been useful as it would put my words in more context.

I was looking for a car that would slot in between the WRX and STI performance wise. The Golf R is very quick. Would give any WRX a run for its money in a straight line. And my initial test drive told me that the Golf R is a far better handling car than a stock WRX is, even with its all season tires.

However, a WRX can be made much better with a handful of mods. Wheels, tires, sway bars, and brakes to name a few. But, and this is where the Golf R leaps above the stock WRX for me. I do not want to have to dump 4000 dollars of mods into a car to make it enjoyable. The Golf R is VERY good right out of the box. And if it needs more power, then an APR flash is only 499 and 15 minutes away from 305 HP.

To me the Golf R's more direct comparison is the WRX. Some would say the GTI, but the FWD nature of that car to me makes it too different.

Okay, so anyway, it is about T minus 8 hours until I go to the VW dealership. This will be my first German car. I will make sure I introduce myself to the service manager when I am there.

I advise people on buying cars all the time. And if there is anything I preach to people is this. Be honest with yourself. Do you buy a car as an appliance, or as a source of joy. Be honest with yourself. How will this car actually get used? Be honest with yourself. Know how much you want to spend and do not exceed that. There will be times your head and your heart will cloud your judgement. And if your are truly honest with yourself, you can help navigate those waters. Should you buy a car that comes with a boat load of compromises so you can enjoy it for 1% of the driving you actually do. Or should you buy a car for the 99% of the driving you do?

My decision to buy the Golf R is just that. It is a car that fits my life right now 99% of the time, that will still allow me to have a bunch of fun on those 1% days.
I don't think the R can be compared to the WRX power-wise. WRX now has the same whp as the STI. GTI isn't even close. But suspension-wise the Golf R definitely has the upper hand stock for stock.

Either way definitely sounds like you were being honest with yourself about what you really need. I hope it works out!
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Old 11-19-2012, 10:53 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkyle3 View Post

WRX now has the same whp as the STI.
Stock? In what universe?

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Old 11-19-2012, 10:56 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRXLTD View Post
Stock? In what universe?

Look at the cobb dyno database. 09+ has same whp. It is underrated from factory.

It's pretty common knowledge.
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Old 11-19-2012, 11:10 AM   #25
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You must be getting older the VW is a much nicer, cushier car overall. I'm continually amazed at how loaded up on technology and features my TDI is for not a whole lot of money. It's just not anywhere near as fast or as fun to play around with as the STI. If you have to live with one vehicle that does it all, you could do a hell of a lot worse than the Golf R.
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