Anyone got one? Interested in views vs Golf R, A45 AMG etc, as a daily transport for two plus dog when we do not need space of the T6 or the sheer brutality of the 620S. Thanks.
A friend of mine has one and it's bloody fast, circa 0 - 60 Lamborghini territory loads of pops and bangs, plenty of grip, weather I could live with one a a daily not so sure, but it's one hellever of a motor. Love it
PS he has had it two years it was a couple of years old when he got, he was going to sell it a month ago, they offered him 1k more then what he paid for it
Last edited by hilly10; 13th February 2017 at 20:04.
I test drove one in the summer. Absolute beast. A mate has an R and I found the RS more brutal and fun. Better residues as well.
Would that be the Mark 2 version? I had one of those about four years ago.Originally Posted by hilly10
I want one but the misses says no. As said beast of a car.
TBH, fun and residuals are my drivers. The R seems a bit staid. Nice car though. The Focus seems like more of an event, which is what I want. It needs to be fast, but not epically so - the Caterham does that in spades.
How about the new rs3 Audi. 400bhp
Fantastic cars. My local dealer has 2 in stock for immediate delivery so there is obviously no supply problem now. More unique and better residuals than a GolfR.
RS3 much classier though.
Not an Audi man I am afraid.
The RS is one hell of a car but for me it has to be the R and so much so I have another one coming in a few weeks, ordered in a heart beat.
In either manual or DSG it is brutally quick (maybe not quite as quick as the RS...maybe) and it is a genuinely 40mpg car when driven sensible, it offers everything and ticks many many boxes.
Clarkson J. summed the Golf R up perfectly for me.
""The word is that, to drive, this vehicle is sensational, but, better than that, it looks like the sort of Golf that your mum has. It doesn’t even get the red line on the radiator grille that you find on a GTI. You could take an R to a meeting of the Socialist Workers party and they’d embrace you as a brother. It’s that nondescript.
Which for many, many people makes it absolutely perfect.""
But then I am 51 not 21....
Pitch
I agree with much of that. I drove an R for a week just before Xmas. It reminded me of a junior Nissan GTR, a car I owned and enjoyed for a while in 2016. But, it (the Golf) was a bit grown up for me......at 53! I like my performance cars with an extrovert streak. A hatch version of my Caterham if you will. And to argue against myself, I can get 20% off a new version R @ 310hp for delivery in April. In fact, perhaps that answers the question!
Last edited by Skyman; 13th February 2017 at 20:53.
Some good deals on the 140i not too long ago, the Leon isn't too shabby either.
I test drove one at Milbrook last year. It was just great fun, plenty of noise, bags of grip and epically fast.
It's not quite as understated as the R, but for me that's a good thing. I'd say the same of the RS3. Golfs are boring so I would not want my fast hatch to look plain. That said the MK3 RS has been toned down when compared with the MK2, however it still looks different to what otherwise is a family hatch back.
I've been in a few AMG 45s. They just don't do anything for me. They don't feel fast. You know it is because of the speedo, but it doesn't feel it.
RS all the way for me.
We share a lov mate. I built my Westfield 16 years ago, 600kg, 173bhp at the rear wheels and 3:89 diff meaning 110mph max, that tells a story. I would love a Caterham but I fear (Urrrm I know) Mrs P would veto that particular desire. What's in the front???
The R....it makes sense and the new one with some nice revised bits and bobs will be lovely before the little hike in power. I have the virtual dash on my Q7 so I know what a nice touch that is and the new 7 speed DSG will be a real bonus. Wifeys is due first week in April so will be one of the first. The current, a manual, is coming up to two years old and it has been a fantastic hack and never ceases to make me smile.
I cannot recommend these little cars enough.
Pitch
So says the friend who has supplied me with most of my cars during the last 20 years! Perhaps I should listen to him. He can get me a new R for mid April. Your Westie sounds interesting.��
Lad I know just bought one.
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I have a Golf R, 3 months old. tested all the major players. Its just such a great fit in all the areas. Fast enough not Just as fast as the RS in a close race. Great looks nice and understated totally classy. The interior is lovely in my opinion best in class. The best thing for me is the total quality feel . You just waft around at whatever pace you feel in absolute comfort and quality all whilst not looking a pr*ck even if I am one.
I didn't choose the RS as for the miles I do it was just a little garish and the interior was shat, but not a bad choice to make. Horses and courses.
Agree with this gent - far to garish
Agreed. The Golf is just really well finished and a nicer place to be behind the wheel.
Just to add...the VW interiors of recent i would say are a better fit, finish and quality than my 2013 3 series.
I am sure you would be very happy with the R.
The Westfield is long gone unfortunately my brother now has it and has spent thousands on the engine.
Pitch
One thing is also for sure. The FRS bubble has not lasted long. Thanks to a heads up from a member here (👍) and a call to a more local dealer, I have the choice of four cars for immediate delivery. That, to me, does not bode well for residuals. A new refresh R for £27k sounds a better, more sensible option. Got to wait until April though!
I got a new R in November last year and honestly feel is the best all round fit for this type of car. The RS is a bit quicker and sportier looking but the interior is a lower quality and you need to pay the extra for the decent seats. The A45 AMG is also quicker but does not feel it, plus it's about £15k more to buy new!
Thanks Simon. This is all stacking up one way! The FRSs I have been offered are all £36-37k, being full spec cars, which is a lot of cash compared with the R.
I would agree with everything that has been said, especially about the RS interior. I was put off as I really wanted an auto.
However after driving the RS I can't stop smiling when I think of the test drive . It brought the kid out in me. Long term the R is a better bet I suspect but it didn't have the wow factor for me.
Its got no class,but it is a rocket.
Sounds like a few girls I would have liked to know!
Or test drive a Civic Type R - even more outrageous looks, all the performance you are likely to need. I love mine :)
Not to my taste thanks.
I'm not sure the Golf R bubble will last, either. Every man and his dog seems to have an R these days from the proportionally cheap lease deals. Unless VW restricts production, or does something clever with the used lease cars, supply will be rather strong. I know a few guys at work who have Golf R's. They only have them because of the cheap lease deals. We have 5 in a car park of less than 100 cars at work.One thing is also for sure. The FRS bubble has not lasted long. Thanks to a heads up from a member here () and a call to a more local dealer, I have the choice of four cars for immediate delivery. That, to me, does not bode well for residuals. A new refresh R for £27k sounds a better, more sensible option. Got to wait until April though!
I am still in shock from the comment that the Ford has better residuals than the Golf R!!!!
To me all Fords look naff and their interiors are just awful but I am sure it goes well :) but I will take the German car every time.
I agree, but I am not banking on the R bubble (I do not think there is one tbh) as 20% off from new is a reasonable start to offset depreciation. May opt for a Club Sport instead. A bit more traditional GTI in it's values.
As I said, I am thinking the FRS residuals may be on the wane. Supply and demand have equalised.
The brother of a colleague has a mk7 R with 430+ bhp.
He's ruined it by slamming it and putting rock hard suspension on it but it hits 60 in 3.15 secs according to his on board data.
But he's only 24 so isn't too worried about ride quality etc.
Me? I'd take a standard spec R estate for the nursery run.
UK roads and a harsh suspension setup with low profile tyres not a good combination for comfort certainly
Who said anything about UK roads.😉 I have my own playground thank you.
One of the lads on my shift has just bought this....
https://www.autovogue.com/vehicle/2c...651b36f236947/
Its 375 bhp and a mountain of torque,OK it's a diseasel but it's 4wd, very competent, very economical and just about as quick on the road as anything bar a track car (which you have) plus, it takes 4 in relative comfort...
it's also 48k new, so done it's initial depreciation
I may buy one myself.....
That is a nice looking car to be fair.👍
The Focus RS is capable enough but for me the fit, finish and image are downsides. I would go Golf R any day of the week.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
The Focus is a young mans car The Golf is the more mature choice.
Personally I'd feel a bit conspicuous driving the Ford.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
I think that's why I like the RS
I can always wear my helmet, as in the Cat!
The RS is a great car, very fast, very capable, and very flattering, in soft mode it is just like any other car of its type, stick it in fun and it's a different car, with regard to residuals rumour is production will stop very soon.
So that'll be the German built Ford RS then!
Oops I didn't realise that but it's still a Ford and to me they are all a bit naff but I am sure it will be great fun though :)
The issue I have with the Focus RS is the same as I have had with performance Renaults and other of the hot-hatch ilk. They are, after all, based on a relatively inexpensive base model and, despite all the technical wizardry and performance, they are often just not nice places to be unless you are hooning through the countryside.
Normal driving, the type of driving you do 99% of the time can get pretty boring at the best of times but it's at least in a Golf GTI/S3 or 135i you're sitting in a nice interior with decent MMI. I've had a Renault R26 and a Clio V6 and an Integrale and the interiors were awful on all of them. My RS4 and S3 were so much nicer as were the two Golf GTI's and BMW135i I had, simply because they were well put together, didn't rattle and didn't seem to be made from leftovers from an Akai ghetto blaster. While I loved driving the Focus RS I drove (was in testing the Mustang - not for me either - and the RS was available too) its performance and aggression were really compelling, I could never live with the ergonomics and fit and finish compared to my BMW or TT.
Didn't mind the interior on my 08 RS Clio and even with Cup Pack found it less crashy than most M-sport BMWs I had. On topic I've Golf R estate (DSG) and agree it's a nice place to waft with kids in and then play when you like. At my age discrete / flexibility wins and ache free after motorways slogs is a bonus too.
Think I should have added an "at my age" too. You be surprised by the M135i I think if you haven't tried it - way better than my S3 or S-Line Audis for suspension performance on typical British roads.
The RS is for chavs and the R will get nicked.
140i or RS3 for me.
I test drove one when they first hit the dealers as I have a friend who works at the local Ford shop. At the time i had a Golf R so was interested in the comparison.
The Focus definitely feels more focussed (read as stiffer). It didn't feel any quicker than my manual R despite the extra power and in normal driving you notice little to no benefit from it's complex 4wd system, I dare say it's a different story given the room to actually use drift mode. Steering was better in the focus although the turning circle was incredibly bad, I actually had to three point turn a right hand exit off a mini roundabout it's that bad, it was extremely embarrassing.
It was quite shouty sounding and looked less reserved than the golf in the blue colour. What I did find is that it wasn't anywhere near as good as the golf at doing all things. The boot and rear seat space is rubbish (possibly an issue depending on the size of your dogs), the driving position is stupidly high, so much so that you feel like you're sitting on the car rather than in it and the interior is just not what you want from a car of that price. I try not to care about the last one but really, it's designed to look like an 80s all in one hi-fi and it's made of similar plastic.
The golf R can feel a bit like a boring choice and it can feel like a boring when you are just pootling about in it. When you wring it's neck it comes to life, lots of people fail to do that on a test drive so come away underwhelmed but there is no doubt it's a better allrounder. Get a DSG and fit a box and it will lunch most things on the road (the manual has a weak clutch).
In the end I replaced my Golf R with a cheap Cupra 290 lease. If you don't need 4wd it's a decent option. It feels a bit lighter and more lively than the R and the VAQ diff makes it feel sharper on the twisty roads, It's sort of a Golf GTi PP on steroids.. It's definitely a little less grown up than a golf R but not quite as infantile as a type R or as potentially tiresome or impractical as an RS Megane.
It would be interesting to hear what he has done to it, 430bhp is unachievable on the standard turbo and a bit low for an aftermarket turbo kit with most of them being about the 480bhp mark.
I am with you on the golf r estate.
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