12-09-2016, 05:26 AM | #3 |
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As pz619 I tried the s3 and Golf R but coming from a Golf GTI they didn't feel a massive leap forward.
Chose the M240i and I know I made the right choice |
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12-09-2016, 06:46 AM | #4 |
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My son in San Jose bought the Golf R when it first came out and loves it (he also has a 135i ).
I've been in it a couple of times (when I was down there for visits) and it's an absolute pocket rocket. The interior is a lot larger than the exterior would suggest. It also felt rock solid. My impression (from him) is that when it comes to fun factor, his R is equal to his track modified 135i. Can't go wrong with either.
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12-09-2016, 08:07 AM | #5 |
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I was inches away from pulling the trigger on a very low mileage 15' R before ending up with the M235i. Honestly, the R was a blast to drive and a great car overall. So happy I went with my gut feeling and got the bimmer though
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12-09-2016, 09:01 AM | #6 |
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I've driven just about everything in the segment including all of the MBQ stuff. TTS, S3, RS3, Golf R. Honestly if $$$ were a big factor the Golf R is a great option, very practical too. I just couldn't have it as my daily driver I'm 36 but look like a kid and the VW just wasn't a good look for me. Beyond that I do prefer the interior, styling, performance of the BMW.
I wouldn't buy an S3 over the R don't think it's worth the premium. TTS either, it's nice but way overpriced. The only VW product that's even remotely interesting to me is the RS3 sedan.
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12-09-2016, 09:09 AM | #7 |
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Our in-house tuner just picked up a brand new S3 and tuned it on the way home from the dealer.
It's pretty quick. I just don't like the styling as much as his 2012 S4. The Golf R is something I've wanted to drive for awhile but have not gotten around to it. |
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12-09-2016, 09:12 AM | #8 | |
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But I do like and continue to regularly drive a VW |
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12-09-2016, 09:14 AM | #9 |
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My biggest gripe w/ any of the MBQ stuff is the FWD bias. Supposedly better in the new RS3 but that's the same problem the AMG CLA has. VW's ring record aside I don't fundamentally believe in that much torque up front. I spoke with head of AMG about it at length when the CLA was launched - you can do all sorts of fancy computer traction control shit to overcome some of the problems but you're still putting bandaids on an underlying disadvantage in my mind. The C43 or xDrive setup is inherently much better w RWD bias.
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12-09-2016, 09:35 AM | #11 |
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12-09-2016, 10:03 AM | #12 |
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Paging moldcad who has both.
I think he would disagree with that comment earlier about interior quality. I went with the Golf R and was cross-shopping with the 228i at the time. If budget allowed, I would've went with the M235i. For me, there was no getting around what an absolute bargain the Golf R is in Canada (I believe it's cheaper here than anywhere else in the world). I also love the hatch utility and the shorter length allows me to fit into tight spaces living in a major city. Pretty much the only complaints I have that still bug me are lack of sunroof in North American Rs, and FWD-biased AWD. Would much rather have slight on-throttle oversteer than lift-off oversteer. Wouldn't get the Focus RS with its low-rent interior though. Overall, really happy with my decision. Still occasionally lust after the M235i/M240i though. I've done slight cosmetic mods to liven up the rather understated stock appearance. https://www.instagram.com/ko7_mk7r/ Last edited by KO7; 12-09-2016 at 10:15 AM.. |
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12-09-2016, 11:22 AM | #14 |
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To clarify, I didn't think the Golf R was a bad car. Just that the BMW was a better car. If my budget was lower I could easily be happy with a Golf R or S3. Honestly the only car that I drove when I was looking that I didn't like was the CLA45.
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12-09-2016, 11:48 AM | #15 |
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For a main DD, you can't beat a hatchback for practicality. But it will never really be a sleek coupe, and that was what I wanted. I think the VW is the king of the hot hatches.
I couldn't really take Audi seriously, since I couldn't shake the feeling that the extra money was almost all in the trappings (a glorified VW); and same as pz619, most heartily disliked the CLA (real slick looking, in a weird sort of way, but it drove like a tank and the interior was designed by Liberace). |
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12-09-2016, 12:07 PM | #16 |
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For a long time I was stuck between the R and the S3 - here in the bay area the R's are marked up to such outrageous levels that they're going for 5k over MSRP at some dealers, so the crazy price and the fact that it looks a little too much like a base Golf were dealbreakers.
The S3 is a good looking car but again, the price was silly compared to the M240i. What decided me was finally test driving the 235i and realizing just how much better it is - during my test drives with VW and Audi salesmen I kept asking their dealership's police on APR tuning because the base, untuned car is just not fun. It's sleepy, laggy and when I went WOT there was zero fun. I drove the 235i on a whim after the M4 that I was intending to buy and realized that the 2 was pretty damn close to the much more expensive M in term of fun (I had a very young sales guy who took me out to an empty industrial area and I went HARD on the test drive and loved the 2 so much I went and bought one) My wife likes the GLA so I tried the AMG GLA45 as a compromise and also didn't like that as much - all these crazy boosted 4 bangers only seem to deliver if you use launch control while the BMW has power wherever I want it |
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12-09-2016, 01:16 PM | #17 |
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For those who lease the s3 makes zero financial sense compared to the BMW. Residuals 10+ pay lower.
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12-10-2016, 10:41 PM | #19 | |
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OK, so as a person who still owns both the Golf mk7 R with Haldex AWD & DSG, and the RWD M235i with AT8 & LSD - after 2 years of driving them both - I can only repeat what I initially said, and what in many aspects reflects Chris Harris' impressions almost perfectly: - the Golf R mk7 is a great little car which - driven at 10/10 - inspires my confidence the way no other car did in my 45 years of motoring experience. Yes, it's true - it's not at all front-drive oriented, but absolutely neutral. Its chassis modes are really different between one another - and just like Chris said, the Comfort mode is actually really comfortable and relaxing, while at the other extreme - the Race mode is stiff as hell, yet not bouncy. Even its artificially generated in-cabin noise is more like a V8 muscle car engine, rather than the dull and droning sound of the M235i... - with all that said about the Golf R, I prefer my M235i. But frankly, I suspect the only reason for that is my long history of loving BMW brand and RWD cars in general. Driving the M235i can be plain more dangerous at 10/10, and perhaps just because of that it's just more thrilling... Enough said Piotr
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just sold: 2013 F10 528i xDrive my AWD beater: 2015 Golf R mk7 DSG my RWD pirate & long-distance cruiser: 2015 M235i AT8, LSD Last edited by moldcad; 12-10-2016 at 10:46 PM.. |
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