File: 2211-Golf-R-v-WRX-ETA_4979.jpg (618 KB, 1920x1280)

618 KB JPG

I swear I saw this thread last month
either way I'll reiterate what I said then
it all depends on what you are looking for in a car
the CTR is more comparable to the Golf R in both price point and performance more than it is the GTI even though both GTI
if you are 100% prioritizing a drivers car, a track car, the road feel etc. look at the CTR
if you want something practical and more mature, more muted at the plus of a $10+ less, look at the GTI
really only look at the Golf R if AWD matters to you, you're fine with spending the extra money, and/or you want the GTI but don't want to feel like you're missing out on the performance of the GTI

but like I said previously, the best car for you is the one you like driving the most and the one you're most comfortable in
so test drive all of them because you can bench test these cars all day if you end up getting the one you liked the most on paper then, for whatever reason, ended up behind the wheel of the other car and fell in love with it you're gonna feel like you shot yourself in the foot

>>28929435
>>28929491
>both GTI
*both are FWD

golf
>understated
>mature
>more practical
>slightly more premium interior
>higher maintenance cost
ctr
>nearly as practical
>faster
>much more driver focused
>will hold its value better
>initial cost is much higher

you're not gonna really going wrong with either. I'd spring for the CTR if the $ isn't an issue

>>28929435
I didn't really like the cabin in the new golf I took for a spin the other day, otherwise it was great though

>>28929556
you could really see the VW cost cutting in action this time around
and I get it as a "trying to be the future" move but going full haptics on the buttons was a big miss
they only seemed to have doubled down on it by changing the dash into a full blown ipad on the 8.5 refresh

>>28929563
I don't get it man, it's like they are trying to ruin the whole car by making the buttons all haptic nonsense

File: IMG_7678.jpg (312 KB, 1179x1358)

312 KB JPG

Both are pigfat commuters.
You need to go sub 1000kg for fwd to be fun.
As such, picrel is your only modern choice.

File: RS125.jpg (183 KB, 1200x900)

183 KB JPG

>>28929580
Lightweight.

>>28929435
Why would you get a gti and not get the dsg? Are you poor or something?

>>28929580
It's discontinued, OP is also probably american so he can't get one anyway.
And the stock transmission feel is awful, only gets good with AT LEAST aluminum gear lever inserts and a thicker clutch pedal stopper
t. own one

>>28929563
Mk8.5 owner here. The iPad is actually a step in the right direction. It has the real estate to have persistent climate controls and shortcuts for things like TC and other important functions you want to access fast on the screen at all times. It still sucks that they're not buttons, but I can say with certainty it's not a pain in the ass to use. Also way less buggy than the Mk8 screens. Oh, and the GTIs at least have real buttons on the steering wheel once again too.

>>28929891
I tried (and did) change the radio station yesterday.
F* taking your eyes off the wheel.

>>28929891
is the 8.5 worth the extra $5-10k more than a '23-'24 mk8?

>>28929491
>>28929538
We definitely had this thread last month. OP, you aren't going to get better answers than these two, I don't have much to add except.

>golf slightly more premium interior
I disagree with this. Civic has abysmally cheap back seats and sun visor lining though.

Also, I am guessing the GTI doesn't get 22 mpg like I do in the CTR. And GTI consumables are probably cheaper and you probably start out with all seasons so you don't have to swap tires 2 times a year. Those are genuine things to consider.

At the end of the day, the GTI is fun enough unless you actually want the CTR. I went with the CTR, acquaintances have GTIs, they are fine.

>>28929899
>radio
I never experienced this because I rarely leave the android auto screen. Do you mean you were able to do it with the steering wheel skip buttons like on most cars?
>>28929901
Depends what's important to you. It was for me, because I knew that the Mk8's interior would probably bother me. The Mk8.5's doesn't so I think I made the right call.
Beware that there's no manual option and ECUs are still locked on the 8.5 though.

>>28929967
what's different with the Mk8 interior besides the different dash screen?
unless you're talking specifically about the GTI which apparently has analog buttons on the steering wheel now which is nice it's pretty gay they didn't do that to the R as well
I know there's no manual with the refresh and I know it's heretical because it's /o/ but I am going to get a DSG any which way as I've been seeing their manual is pretty mediocre and the performance gap between the DSG and manual is bigger than most other cars with an option for both
probably the only car it'd choose auto over manual that being said I've never drove a DSG before, apparently there's some dos and don'ts like heavily advising not to inch forward by taking the foot off of the brakes and rolling

them getting new method of encrypting the ECU does suck though
if I do get an R I'm not even planning on dropping a tune/remap on it for awhile but there are some minor things I'd still like to do to it that apparently you can't do in the mk8.5 yet like unlocking the IQ headlights and swapping the tailights for the euro spec ones with full function

File: OIP-1054302777.jpg (24 KB, 474x266)

24 KB JPG

>>28929580
I saw one today. Why is it as tall as the Zafira it was tailgating?

>>28930001
Different dash screen and steering wheel buttons is pretty much it. I know that probably doesn't sound like much but it's just that much better, since it governs so many drive functions as well as climate control. They outsourced it to Android whereas the older infotainment was in-house, so that's a perfectly logical reason for the leap in quality of life if you ask me. The audio and temperature sliders are also illuminated now, which is how it should have been from the start obviously.

>>28930001
I am afraid to remap on the CTR - whole point of it was to be reliable, and it's enough power stock for anything other than pulls, and I don't want to give myself any excuses to do pulls.

I am guessing GTs still pull on chipped CTR.

>>28930167
from what I've been seeing, yeah Golf tunes are still popular and they get good results
the community swears up and down a stage 1 tune doesn't compromise reliability
I can somewhat see that with the EA888 being as old as it is people know how to get a lot of it now
the biggest problem on those still seem to be the cooling system primarily the water pump

I don't know much about messing with the ECU when it comes to the CTR but I imagine with it being a purpose built track car Honda coded the ECU to take the powertrain right up to its limit before performance being reliability takes a hit

>>28930069
sounds like good QoL updates I just don't know about paying $45k-50k for it
I imagine I'm just going to end up with a mk8 and, if the 5cyl Golf R turns out to be a meme (whichbit probably is), just trade up to the 8.5 down the road instead, when tuners reliably crack the 8.5's ECU so I can at least get europe's Golf headlight and tail light function

>>28930007
so normal sized white persons can pilot it

File: IMG_7780.jpg (217 KB, 2120x811)

217 KB JPG

>>28930007

>>28930167
>I am guessing GTIs still pull on chipped CTR.
no not all all especially the manuals
stock GTIs can't even pull on CTRs let alone chipped ones
a stage 1 GTI simply puts it close to the level of a CTR and that's really only straight line speed
on top of that the manual for the GTI can't really handle extra power like the DSG can so if you're tuning the GTI the stock clutch needs upgrading at the bare minimum

>>28930221
And that's not even the sport which is slammed like 2cm from factory

>>28929435
I would NEVER pay that much money for a FWD car.

>>28930221
funny, it looks even smaller in >>28929580

>>28930474
GTs. V8 Mustang GTs.

Of course GTIs don't pull on a CTR, it's not even close. I think that's the key difference - CTRs can bully V8 Mustangs on a track, GTIs can't, which is what makes it a different class of car. GTIs are snappy for what they are though.

>>28929435
I coerced my GF into getting a 26' GTI autobahn.
The fuckin' thing is amazing. I cannot wait for the warranty to expire to throw a stage 1 on it. Im stuck between a Golf R or M3P for myself. Something about a 328-500hp 54k daily sounds very nice. The buttons, touchscreen, ambient lighting and tablet baby display are eye candy for a passenger.

>>28929435
I recommend some sub-$5k shitbox as your "first manual car".
>>28930758
This, too. Especially.
>>28931351
>The buttons, touchscreen, ambient lighting and tablet baby display are eye candy for a passenger.
If your passenger is a vapid consumerist NPC, maybe. That sounds disgusting, I'd rather stare at leather and wood grain patterns and the outside world.

>>28931351
as in Model 3?
Golf R may not be as exhilarating as the other competitors in its class but it's a lot less sterile than an EV
you do a few EV launches and then it gets old, what you're left with now is just an appliance on wheels

>>28931480
Too bad they dont make that anymore for under 50k new. Which means you're likely staring at cracked leather and scuffed wood grain patterns and that isnt impressing anybody.. If you spend time conversing with your passenger youll notice an interior and its features alot more. I'm very pleased with how the mk 8.5 GTI looks. You can always turn it all off and just leave the digital clock on the screen.

>>28932338
Yessir model 3 performance. I see people whipping them around and it looks fun, I've test driven one and im going back tomorrow to try it again. But god is it sterile and boring youre right. I think thats my only gripe. The FSD and launch are great. Engines got soulll

>>28932429
unless it was made by a madlad in his shed an EV engine could never have soul
the EV is supposed to be the gf's car, not your own
I'm telling you novelties of a Tesla wear out fast

File: brainlet limit.png (37 KB, 586x578)

37 KB PNG

>>28932429
>Tesla
>engines got soulll

>>28932478
>>28932454
Valid responses to my shit way of communicating. It should have read "The FSD and launch are great but engines have soul"
Tesla's feel vapid and I dont even own one..
I've also heard of range anxiety with EV's. Guess its going to be a Golf R for me. Especially considering ive seen multiple m3p's and not one golf R or mk8.5 gti yet on the road here where i live. Which is poorville.

>>28932618
There are rumors of next year's Golf R getting the RS3's 5 cylinder. Is it true? Probably not but if it were to finally happen it'd be next year on the 25th anniversary of the R32 launch. Maybe worth holding out a few more months to see if it's true or not instead of pulling the trigger on one now just to see a 5 cylinder R come to fruition and now there's a chance you'll end up underwater if you try and trade up for it if your initial downpayment wasn't generous enough.

>>28931130
>>28931130
CTRs have a suprising keep up with Mustangs off the line but it just can't keep up with the top end of a V8.
Golf Rs put up an even better fight, even being able to beat them to 60 especially if chipped but, again, that V8 top end has them beat in the quarter mile.

Should I trade my stinger in for a nuGTI in a year or two

Stinger
>fast
>nice amenities
>sexxxy ttv6 with awd
>i already own it
>insurance fawking sucks
>gas efficiency is bleh which sucks ass rn
>miles are adding up
>shit ass intake fucked up my turbos so it whines even after rebuild
>cant fit my dogs or certain types of luggage even though the hatch is very nice

GTI
>efficient
>more mods and shit out there
>fwd with lsd only
>slower and i4 is mediocre
>hatch is mega practical
>nu tech seems annoying but features are comparable to stinger
>likely new or lightly used, warranty likely
>i'd have to trade into it
>probably suits my daily needs better

Help me pick fortune

>>28935240
it's always nice having a paid off car and it's hard to walk away from that
what year and how many miles on the Stinger?
did you drive a GTI yet to see if it'd be something you're fine being behind the wheel of long term?
to me the R seems more comparable to a Stinger

File: 1704136955172750.jpg (358 KB, 1080x1069)

358 KB JPG

I cant believe mutts have cheap ass mustangs and shit, and still go for a fucking golf or a civic

>>28935385
Euros have access to cheap used cpo bimmers and still go for an used gti or civic.

>>28935886
Really shows just how good GTIs and Civics are.

>>28935385
no more "and shit"
pretty much just mustangs now unless the camaro that is being revived isn't a huge piece of shit
the US abandoned the hatch and wagon market long ago in favor of pigfat SUVs and Crossovers
I'd kill somebody for a sleek sharp Dodge Omni revival that isn't a boated fat abomination but instead we get Stellantis having the gall to give the GLH trim to yet another disgusting pigfat SUV

I had a Type R but I just sold it. It's impressive in some ways but I think it only makes sense for people who have young kids and can only have one car.

>>28936024
in favor of what?
yeah it's more practical compared to a roadster but it doesn't strike me as a "little bit of everything" car as say, a Golf GTI/R

>>28929580
>nnngg
I would suzuki her swift so hard, if you know what I mean

>>28936582
no I don't

>>28929580
looks very small and light, easy to toss around etc. would probably be a great time. car's not bad either

File: 1774306201905579.jpg (20 KB, 466x659)

20 KB JPG

The only thing I have to add to this is that the people who drive are fucking faggots. In Europe atleast.

Everyone and their faggot mom drives one of these gti cuck boxes, comes to car meets with their little black golf gti with stage 1 downpipe + tune and thinks they're hot shit.

I fucking hate those people, i fucking hate the sound of those lame shit boxes and i fucking hate the dsg cuck trannies in them.

Fuck them.

i have a gti but i work for honda and drive ctrs all the time. both are fun. to own/mod? gti. racekar trackdays and a bunch of anime stickers? ctr

>>28938242
What do you drive?

Owned a Mk8 GTI manual & R DSG for about a year each. GTI stick shift commits the cardinal sin of shifting at its speed not yours. Coming from my Miata which shifted as fast as my arm could move, the GTI gearbox has a hard cap on how quick it goes into gear. Especially the 1-2 shift.
DSG was a good transmission but my 23MY Golf R was an absolute fucking basket case that was stuck in the dealer six times over the course of the year. Got out of it but still weirdly miss it to this day.
I did enjoy how GTI ran on 87, the only real enthusiast car that runs on regular you can buy nowadays.

>>28938913
Black golf gti with stage 2 burble tune and a downpipe

File: 2023-Dodge-Challenger-SRT(...).png (2.91 MB, 2000x1334)

2.91 MB PNG

>first manual car
why do you faggots alway decide on some fwd econobox?

>>28939109
probably because a rwd manual econobox is either non-existent or obscenely priced

>>28939113
why does it have to be an econobox
just fuckin finance anything man, you only have one life, are you going to wait until youre 60 when mr steinberg finally awards you with enough shekels for you to enjoy life ?

You should get a used late model Honda civic sport with the NA 2.0 and manual tranny.
Ctr is stupidly expensive and the vw will break endlessly

>>28939120
it's my first car bro, not my only car. i'll gungame my way up to a better car when i have a steadier and higher income

File: k0sfsebb79bf1.jpg (86 KB, 640x797)

86 KB JPG

>>28939120
thank you for the advice, La'Travondarius

>>28939555
67!!!!!!!!!!!

>>28939065
>GTI stick shift commits the cardinal sin of shifting at its speed not yours
goddamn they are even making the manuals gay now?
also what was wrong with the Golf R?

GTI 50th Edition just took the spot on the burgerking from the CTR fwiw

>>28929538
>ctr
what fuckass abbreviate type r as ctr

>>28942964
you mean it doesn't stand for crash: team racing?

>>28936024
well I deal with one of those 2 things amd it ain't the kids so I'm game

>>28929435
Mk7 R owner here
17 dsg car
Bought at 11k
Currently 106k
Basic maintenance mostly - fluids/filters/plugs/brakes/tires.. been very reliable surprisingly for a VW
But the rear damper bushings are toast, can hear them popping over uneven surfaces now. But for 106k miles that's to be expected. Haven't had to do a waterpump/turbo/intake valve seals/other typical higher mileage shit. But I dont run it very hard and ive always done maintenance preemptively. 5k oil change intervals. Car is unitronic ecu stage 1 91 file and stage 1 tcu with intercooler/charge pipes/elbow/intake. Also gotta p3 gauge. If vw puts the data evo in the mk9 R im totally buying one cuz ive thoroughly loved this car for point and shoot and practicality and reliability. Its a bit boring though. Don't expect bmw m2 manual thrills out of this car

>>28940437
You have to keep in mind the transmissions been gay for decades. The six speed transverse is still fundamentally the same box they were using in the Mk5. VW just fucks around with the gear ratios for each gen.
The two critical failures for my R was the rear diff exploding and the engine thermostat dying (which left me stranded for 2 hrs on the freeway). Everything else was miscellaneous build quality issues like weather stripping coming off or tie rod boots that were torn.
What I didn’t have a problem with was the reliability of the electronics though. For how bad a rap the early Mk8’s had the software experience was stable and snappy for the the GTI and R.

I want a fun practical daily with an interior thats a nice place to be. Always liked the base GTI cloth seats. Willing to pay $34k. Should I get a GTI?

>>28945277
GR Corolla is a solid competitor in that category if that's the kind of car you're looking for
seats are decent and can even be suede depending on option/trim

>>28945277
Should also add I test drove a current gen Civic Type R and it was more harsh than I wanted

>>28945293
>>28945296
okay well the GR Corolla doesn't have a ride as soft as the GTI but I found it to be far better than the Type R
the Elantra N is also a car that exists but I have no thoughts on it

>>28945298
>GTI
Super nice all-rounder and can be tuned into golf r territory, much like the clubsport already is. Gotta pony up for the all wheel drive, but most don't need it in a daily unless you live in the mountains or something.
>GR corolla
Some say it's the most entertaining, but I found the looks to be weird and the interior genuinely offensive.
>CTR
Fantastic car top to bottom with a pseudo hatch for practicality, but you're paying 50k for (a good) fwd. If you have that kind of money, there are better cars in that price range.
>Elantra N
very fun car with nice amenities, though they probably went a bit too hard on the chassis. Like what commuter sedan needs a crossbrace in the trunk well lmao. Also a sedan so you lose a bit of practicality.
>Golf R
The new one is pretty fun with the changes to the awd system, but I struggle to find any below 50k for the current gen. Some prefer the GTI for being cheaper and more exciting, but neither is a bad choice. R is worth it for slightly better materials, default is38 turbo, and awd. Aesthetics are preference.

>>28945314
>but I struggle to find any below 50k for the current gen
if by current gen you mean mk8.5, sure
but you can find the mk8s go for closer to 40k if you're in the US and frankly there isn't all that much difference with the refresh
manual option is gone, different wheels, tail lights and DRLs with a big ol' ipad replacing the smaller screen on the dash, and a bit more power but just because of a different factory tune is just about it
speaking of tunes if you want to tune the R you're better off with a mk8 anyway because with the 8.5 they added more encryption that isn't fully cracked yet as far as I can tell

>>28944541
they seem to be very on or off with either absolutely nothing going wrong throughout the entirety of ownership or just about the worst things that can happen happen like the PCV valve or water pump

>>28945133
that sucks man
I see all those parts of the transmission and drivetrain have pretty frequent service intervals and for the doff to go and explode anyway bites

>>28929564
this is their attempt at trying to stay ahead of the curve and it looks like it's biting them on the ass for good reason

>>28935887
That's like saying shit like Hyundais and Kias are good because they're "top sellers". It just means that the buyers aren't too smart.
>t. FWD/trannyverse avoider (it's acceptable for a first car for a teen/cheap work beater)

>>28945752
What I learned down the line was 23MY cars coming out of the Wolfsburg plant were absolute basket cases of build quality. The rear magna diffs were originally built in a Russian factory but since Putin’s chimpout they had to move the whole factory the year before.

The Mk8R was honestly a really good car while it was on the road. Definitely a lot more playful than my current M340.

>>28948413
interesting
and here I was seeing that the 2022 models were the ones to avoid with the big electrical gremlins, primarily with the steering wheel

>>28948585
Yep 22MY GTI & R had the steering wheel issue. 23MY R’s have rear diffs known to fail (internal tsb referencing this). 24+ are pretty sorted out by all measures.
For anyone seriously considering a Mk8 it’s sound advice to avoid all ‘22, ‘23 R’s (GTI should be fine), and to buy with relative confidence anything ‘24 and newer.
If going DSG the 8.5 really does improve a ton on the usability from the 8. GTI S is actually a really solid bargain for the performance, standard kit, and the cash most dealers are willing to throw on the hood.>>28948585

>>28948641
were there '23s that weren't made at the Wolfsburg plant that I can see by looking at the VIN?
only shopping for '24s essentially leaves only a single year of the mk8 to look at
the 8.5s unfortunately are still new enough to be hovering around the $50k mark which is $10k more than what I'm willing to drop on an R amd I'd like the AWD so that checks the GTI off the list and on top of it the 8.5s got the additional ECU/TCU encryption so messing with the computers isn't going to be easy and as far as I'm aware they haven't fully been unlocked yet

>>28929435
As a Golf R driver you should get the...uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...g...get the ummmmmmmmmmmmmm

>>28950089
I agree

>tfw tuned fbo gti

It's a practical usable spaceship that is fun and i can fit an absurd amount of shit in the back

>>28936582
Please elaborate.