Cars: MK7 Volkswagen GTI Versus Golf R (What To Buy?
There have been a lot of people lately asking this question. I guess enough Golf R inventory has arrived with initial demand satisfied that average buyers are walking up to a dealer and seeing both cars available. I keep seeing people ask for advice and, like this thread on Reddit, receive awful buying advice with almost everyone being completely wrong. The MK7 GTI (2015/2016 North American Model Years) is based on VWs MQB Platform. It鈥檚 modular and allows the auto company to cut costs while still allowing flexibility in various models and trims. The GTI is a turbocharged 2 liter engine with a turbo that鈥檚 larger than any other car in VW鈥檚 lineup except the Golf R and possibly the CC. It is front wheel drive with an electronically controlled limited slip differential in the Performance Pack. If you want to get a GTI that鈥檚 configured as close to the Golf R as possible, it鈥檒l be a 2016 GTI with Performance Pack & Lighting Package (adds self-adjusting HID lights that corner as well). If the GTI was all wheel drive, it may be neck and neck with Subaru鈥檚 WRX in speed.
It鈥檚 limiting factor is sending the stock power to only the front wheels. You will get wheel spin in launch control with this model. The GTI is manufactured in Puebla Mexico along with the Tiguan and other models. Let鈥檚 digress for a moment to talk about VW鈥檚 DSG transmission. Let鈥檚 continue and talk about Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). This is a technology similar to Audi Magnetic Ride. It uses a computer to control your dampers and shocks to stiffen or loosen the ride intensity to allow for a more firm or more comfortable ride. You have Comfort, Normal, Race and Individual where you can control various settings. I use Comfort when I鈥檓 driving in Mass or CT where roads are bad and Individual with all sport settings enabled except for the drive train (which is sport transmission) and I鈥檓 very happy with the Individual setup. Is DCC right for you? Test drive a GTI that has it and decide for yourself.
The MK7 Golf R (2015/2015 NA MY) is identical in every way except appearance to the 2016 Audi S3. Yes, identical. Every mechanical part is fully interchangeable, the performance specs are on par, the platform is MQB and both share the same AWD system. The S3 says 鈥淨uattro鈥?but technically, it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 the Haldex AWD system which is a front-biased system that can send up to 50% of the power to the rear wheels if it detects slip or under heavy load (like when the driver engages launch control). Quattro is full time AWD with Haldex being only part time. There鈥檚 a coupler that connects the rear wheels to the drive-shaft that activates via an electronic command from the ECU. It鈥檚 a smart system but it has faults such as understeer on tracks which is a shortcoming of front wheel drive vehicles but only slightly improved by the Haldex system.
If you want a rear wheel drive or full time all wheel drive experience, Haldex in the Golf R & S3 is not for you. It鈥檚 worth mentioning as well that the Golf R is still built in Germany. Since the Golf R and S3 are so similar, that鈥檚 worth saving for another thread. When you look at the GTI and the Golf R, the platform is the same and the Golf R interior is nicer but not more so than the GTI Autobahn. The R versus base GTI, there鈥檚 no contest that the R has a much nicer interior. Once you get the GTI with leather seats, there鈥檚 not a lot different for interior improvements. Now that we鈥檝e reviewed some of the core differences, let鈥檚 discuss specifically what engine changes are in the Golf R over GTI. I guess it鈥檚 good to compare the two in stock performance but if you go for an engine tune, these numbers completely change. Tuned, the Golf R outperforms the GTI by an even larger margin than stock. Stock, the Golf R is still winner due to AWD and increased HP and torque. Tuned, the Golf R doesn鈥檛 hold anything back.
