^^ the point he was making, is the R model replaces the VR6/R32 line of cars. Which had big engines, high spec and weren't badged GTI. Its a different type of car. The reason it didnt come with 350 from the factory is due to the VAG line up has to be considered. Why would you pay X thousand more for a TTRS if you can get a golf with 4WD and same power etc? VW/Audi have to think of the bigger picture.
33k new? Which isnt too far off a well specced R20 I would imagine. And its a BMW, a coupe, RWD and handles like a dream and a fit bird would want to go in it. I love golfs, but spending the best part of 30k on one with whats available nowadays is crazyness
But what does that actually mean when you strip away the blurb and marketing bullsh*t? How does it work? As far as I know, Gen 2 Haldex has a higher % of throttle position activated rearwars torque distribution than Gen 1 - that is on full throttle it sends signals to give rear drive earlier than waiting for the 15 degrees of slip Gen 1 needed between front and rear to start to move power back. So the new system could be like Gen 2 Haldex, but with a different hydraulic Haldex diff, as opposed to an electrically operated one... Or it could be like the hydraulic centre diff on a 911 C4S/C4...which has no electronic input (unlikely) Or it could be something entirely different. Hell: could mean the front brakes are part energised in order to send more useful torque to the rear, in a similar way the XDS does on the front of the GTI. That sales blurb tells you nothing. VAG claimed early S3s/TTs could send 100% drive to the rear under normal driving, which was plainly utter tosh, unless both front wheels were sitting on ice at the time. I am genuinely interested in how they've done it...if they have. The information must be available, surely?
33k new without options. Have you ever looked at the standard options on a BMW? They are crap. Its pointless comparing 2nd hand cars to new cars. To keep things balanced compare new with each other. Probbaly, write a letter?
fair enough, the thread isnt supposed to be a R20 vs etc just thought I would throw in the mix what it is competing against at that price point. I wouldnt spend 30k on a car anyway, as I have a vectra, what more do i need?
probably. I like it as well, def case of help needed, because everything clarkson says is the law isnt it
you do know this long life servicing is not a good idea? so if you intend to keep the car longer than the warranty period, factor in more regular oil changes etc, i'd never keep the oil in longer than 6 months, no matter what the dealer says
it's also quicker than the RS, so it doesn't really need 300bhp to rival it like so many people have said does it? (in a straight line at least!) I'm not going to enter into the new golf/old M3/porsche debate, but i do think it's a shame there is no more top-spec V6 golf, even if the VR-based lumps are a bit old-hat now. A 2.0T just isn't as prestigious as a V6 and let's face it, most (production) turbo engines sound ghey
turbos are the future, even bmw are using them on just about all their new models, lovely big capacity NA is too ineficient these days