[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by M Car Chris

GT4 will be... the Cayman that sticks it to the 911.

Not bloody likely, at least not to the GT3. And I say this having a GT4 on order- I'd love to be surprised.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

Not bloody likely, at least not to the GT3. And I say this having a GT4 on order- I'd love to be surprised.

Really I think a Cayman GT4 is going to have great shot up again the entry 911, obviously no where neat to the GT3/RR/Turbo/Turbo S!!

[den525]

Strange thread... Golf R is not even close to the M235i... why would it be a M2 competitor?

[swifty]

Originally Posted by den525

Strange thread... Golf R is not even close to the M235i... why would it be a M2 competitor?

I think everyone should read this Top Gear article on the MK7 R before assuming it doesn't compare. They chose the Golf R ahead of the F80 M4 and Stingray but obviously below the P1 & 918.

Here is the article: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1ybp8744u...l-Page%201.PNG

I personally love the driving my N/A m3 year round including the winters here but I'd have no issues picking the R over the 235i for daily use. Now over an M2, I highly doubt it unless I need 4 doors and something economical.

[Lt1camaro]

Originally Posted by swifty

I think everyone should read this Top Gear article on the MK7 R before assuming it doesn't compare. They chose the Golf R ahead of the F80 M4 and Stingray but obviously below the P1 & 918.

Here is the article: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1ybp8744u...l-Page%201.PNG

I personally love the driving my N/A m3 year round including the winters here but I'd have no issues picking the R over the 235i for daily use. Now over an M2, I highly doubt it unless I need 4 doors and something economical.

Link is down, any other links you could provide?

[UpNcOmINg!]

The Golf 7R has its merit as a HIGHLY versatile car.
i think as a comfy DD its hard to match the R.
0-100 its incredibly quick
tunability is INCREDIBLE
5 doors so its ideal
good fuel consumption
packs a punch when you need it.

But it lacks feeling and outright Joy to the car. Really is a dead piece of machinery unfortunately. Only way you know you going fast is if you check the speedo all the time.
I don't know. There are many cars I'd choose over it, but not many deliver everything as well as the R. That's for damn sure.
Good price point for such a complete package too

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by den525

Strange thread... Golf R is not even close to the M235i... why would it be a M2 competitor?

Yes not in the true sense but slightest bit of damp/wet and the M2 will be behind for sure!

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by swifty

I think everyone should read this Top Gear article on the MK7 R before assuming it doesn't compare. They chose the Golf R ahead of the F80 M4 and Stingray but obviously below the P1 & 918.

Here is the article: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1ybp8744u...l-Page%201.PNG

I personally love the driving my N/A m3 year round including the winters here but I'd have no issues picking the R over the 235i for daily use. Now over an M2, I highly doubt it unless I need 4 doors and something economical.

Agreed and thank you.

I wholly agree the Golf R should not be a competitor to the M2 but it's vastly cheaper and has as I said in the OP received incredible reviews universally. It has been preferred to M3/4s and M235is so it has become a competitor and if conditions are less than perfect it's also a straight line threat for pace.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by Lt1camaro

Link is down, any other links you could provide?

Try this ...

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1ybp8744u...l-Page%201.PNG

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by abp689

What did you think of the M235 to the Golf R?

I don't have my M235i yet (will be here only in March), but - as far as the F10 with the 4-banger I had - it's a much better car "in terms of driving engagement"; in fact this is why I sold my 528xi and ordered the M235i.

Compared to the R, my 528xi was just too big, too heavy, looking gorgeous and prestigious but when I tried to drive it close to the limits, it started behaving dangerously (understeering all of a sudden, or needing twice as long distance to stop as the R does, not to mention the throttle lags that were never cured and nearly cost me a serious crash more than once, etc.). On the other hand, the R has tons of grip, is absolutely neutral in cornering behavior, has no lags of any sort, is tossable and obedient; you just have to drive it fast but doing so, you still feel safe.

Of course we're on the M2 forum, so no comparison between my R and what M2 is going to be - but I hope the M235i will actually be quite comparable. So you might ask why 2 similar cars? Well - I share them with my wife, plus I miss RWD when driving AWD while AWD is sometimes good for Polish winters...

But, to sum the R vs. F10 528xi comparison up: the R is a hooligan making me feel 20 years younger; the F10 (with this little engine) was just boring. Sure it was more comfortable in those long distance trips of mine, but only to my body - to my mind and mood, it was simply tiring.

Oh, and look here:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?...mc&usp=sharing

[Bohemoth]

Rolls Royce Phantom

0-62 over 5 seconds

Might as well buy a Golf R...😂

Long story short the cars aren't similar other than 0-62 times, its a poor comparison. Quality costs money.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Bohemoth

Rolls Royce Phantom

0-62 over 5 seconds

Might as well buy a Golf R...��

Long story short the cars aren't similar other than 0-62 times, its a poor comparison. Quality costs money.

Ok newbie so we wont see any magazines or web pages or any reviews of the Golf R vs M2 got it thanks for your expertise Not like there's been any comparison to the M235i either I guess.......or magazine reviews with an M4 in the same comparisons test!.....oh no wait yes there have been. I did not say they are similar cars.

Long story short the cars will get compared. People posting above already talked about cross shopping.

[BMW269]

Ford Focus RS is IMO a more close rival to the M2, as both are performance driven, Golf R is for badge whores.

[den525]

Originally Posted by M Car Chris

Yes not in the true sense but slightest bit of damp/wet and the M2 will be behind for sure!

I still don't think the R is a competition at all. Its a great hot hatch, but apart from 0-100 which is comparable, the AWD is good in wet conditions. That's about it.

You jump into the M235i vs R it's day and night in terms of cabin feel and quality. If you want 4 doors get a M135i.

Apart from that AWD system, I don't think it's in the same league at all. S3 on the other hand is a completely different story, same engine and chassis but a much better interior.

All these "REVIEWS" so called by professionals, is ridiculous, every test is on a track, on closed roads. Everything is about driving and handling. YES I also love driving, but reviewers need to review more on day to day use.

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by den525

All these "REVIEWS" so called by professionals, is ridiculous, every test is on a track, on closed roads. Everything is about driving and handling. YES I also love driving, but reviewers need to review more on day to day use.

Reviews aside, my R is used as a DD by my wife and she is more than happy (never taking advantage of all the grip, handling capabilities or power it offers). On the other hand, now that I don't have another car (my F10 sold, and the M235i only coming in March) - I do my long business trips in the R, and the adrenaline it injects into my veins makes me a much happier driver than I used to be behind the wheel of the 528xi.

I'm hoping the M235i will offer the best of the two worlds - being as powerful as the R yet more refined (not as luxurious as the F10, but certainly more civilized). So, in this sense they are comparable, though it's probably difficult to say which is "better"... Of course, there is no comparison with the coming M2 - maybe the R400 yes, but not the R in its current form.

[ORIGIN M.]

Few people will ever cross shop these cars.

After owning several VW AG products I am never going back.

Start counting the bad coil packs, the burnt out fucking light bulbs, and if that's not enough, you deserve a bloody VW.

[den525]

Originally Posted by moldcad

Reviews aside, my R is used as a DD by my wife and she is more than happy (never taking advantage of all the grip, handling capabilities or power it offers). On the other hand, now that I don't have another car (my F10 sold, and the M235i only coming in March) - I do my long business trips in the R, and the adrenaline it injects into my veins makes me a much happier driver than I used to be behind the wheel of the 528xi.

I'm hoping the M235i will offer the best of the two worlds - being as powerful as the R yet more refined (not as luxurious as the F10, but certainly more civilized). So, in this sense they are comparable, though it's probably difficult to say which is "better"... Of course, there is no comparison with the coming M2 - maybe the R400 yes, but not the R in its current form.

Oh don't get me wrong. A golf is still a very competent car. It's a hot hatch, of course you're still going to enjoy driving it.

I've owned a MK5 gti pirelli, and I found that more enjoyable to drive than the MK7, its not as fast, but built quality seemed better, and there actually hasn't been that much improvement through the generations... which is probably what I'm disappointed about that car.

While I was looking for a new car, I was driving a Renault RS250, arguably one of the best hot hatches in the world in terms of driving, not the fastest 0-100, but the handling is amazing, and that car's interior is pretty standard, yet jumping into the Golf R, I just didn't feel any excitement, sitting in the R is bland, driving in the R feels bland, I also test drove the CLA AMG, that car to me felt bland too. Maybe I don't find precision fast 0-100 cars fun anymore.. as those two cars just didn't do it for me compared with the M235i, hard to explain I guess.

Or maybe I'm just bias towards something I've purchased... lol

[UpNcOmINg!]

Renauly RS275 FTW!!!! Best hot hatch hands effing down.
Sure its really focused but you will never ever ever ever have as much fun in a Golf EVER

[den525]

Originally Posted by UpNcOmINg!

Renauly RS275 FTW!!!! Best hot hatch hands effing down.
Sure its really focused but you will never ever ever ever have as much fun in a Golf EVER

I think Renault Sport is one of those cars any car enthusiast should own at least once.

It's one of the best handling car I've ever owned, people always ask me what's so special about them, always get divided opinions on the looks, and most of them don't like the interior, they're always puzzled what I love so much about that car.

And you know what the interior is pretty standard, the sound system is bad, speedo is weird in a french way, the day to day city driving the ride is pretty bad... but as soon as you drive it hard, the engine is amazing, the handling is out of this world.

You give me a twisty set of roads, and good luck to a 1M/M235i, TTRS, A45 AMG, Golf R. None of them would keep up.

But the thing is how often do you get that nice piece of road, no cars, no traffic? Rarer and rarer, hence the change to a M235i.

[UpNcOmINg!]

The Renaults are under-rated by those not in the know unfortunately.
They are INCREDIBLE cars to just go for a drive in and punish. Have to agree with you. In the right hands they will hurt many a car.
Look at Chris Harris' review in his Top 2014 cars video, the Renault RS275 is 0.6 seconds quicker around Porte what what in Portugal than the BMW f80 M3. From a little hot hatch. From the factory.
Say what you want, and make all the excuses you can, that is INCREDIBLY impressive.
Better than any Golf R.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by UpNcOmINg!

The Renaults are under-rated by those not in the know unfortunately.
They are INCREDIBLE cars to just go for a drive in and punish. Have to agree with you. In the right hands they will hurt many a car.
Look at Chris Harris' review in his Top 2014 cars video, the Renault RS275 is 0.6 seconds quicker around Porte what what in Portugal than the BMW f80 M3. From a little hot hatch. From the factory.
Say what you want, and make all the excuses you can, that is INCREDIBLY impressive.
Better than any Golf R.

I agree all the reviews on the Renault were full of praises but it's hardly what someone would call a daily. The car is setup for track or smoothest of roads. As one review I read few mths back put it: "far too harsh for UK roads, with the slightest imperfection sending crippling shockwaves all through the car and into the base of your spine." That's nuts!! Granted they all raved about the chassis but if BMW made the m2 or m3 that stiff and the suspension not as compliant many of us here wouldn't be driving it as a daily. Those who do, in countries similar to UK or the Canadian roads here, much respect.

So no, in that regard, I do not think there is any point in comparing a car like Renault RS to the Golf R just because they are both hatchbacks and fwd (biased).

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by UpNcOmINg!

The Renaults are under-rated by those not in the know unfortunately.
They are INCREDIBLE cars to just go for a drive in and punish. Have to agree with you. In the right hands they will hurt many a car.
Look at Chris Harris' review in his Top 2014 cars video, the Renault RS275 is 0.6 seconds quicker around Porte what what in Portugal than the BMW f80 M3. From a little hot hatch. From the factory.
Say what you want, and make all the excuses you can, that is INCREDIBLY impressive.
Better than any Golf R.

Absolutley spot on mate. Many people writing off cars as they're not in the same 'class' but that doesn't help when its a sport car and its just been beaten in a performance test.

Back to my original post, no way I'd get and 'R' but its done very well against the M235i and M4 even in comparo's. Will be pitched against the M2 by some journo's. Not saying anyone here should get one. M2 will be fast and classy and well its just an 'M' car!