@@dudecena I bought one the end of last year they are so much cheeper now. Here in the UK they are310Bhp not 288Bhp like elsewhere. they arre awesome cars get yourself one you will love it
Went from an A3 hatch to this and have loved every minute. If you are buying this as a daily driver and want the occasional blast down a back road, this is the one for you. I've owned many small, sporty cars in the past (ITR, S2K, STI, Civic Si, etc.) and this is by far the best mix of comfort and sport that we get in the States.
I used to watch a lot of car reviews from various channels on CZcams. These days I find myself only watching reviews done by Tom Voelk. Every other auto journalist loves to throw their opinions into their reviews along with all least useful information. Tom gets it right every time! I love how he even includes helpful tips like test drive a few other cars before you commit to buy and throws in a little comedy as well. There is none more professional.
You might try "Thomas" on 'Autogefühl.' He, like Tom Voelk, is superb; Thomas describes cars in even more detail than Tom does as well as taking his test cars to tracks to examine firsthand their performance.
Praising yourself with faint damns aside, your reviews are indeed superb. Please keep up the good work. It will be interesting to see what you think of the new Porsche 911 to be revealed at the LA motor show this November. Cheers, Tom!
Jesse James Savagegeese makes great reviews too, he knows what he’s talking about and even brings you underneath the car! Check him out if you’re looking around for other reviewers
I bought my wife the 2018 R in the blue with DSG. We take it on weekend trips because its so practical and fun to drive. While my BMW 1M stays in the garage missing out on all the fun. The R is really that good.
I've committed to a 2019 Golf R, though I have to wait until mid-April while my spec arrives from the boat. I decided on Lapiz Blue, with the black wheel package and the DSG transmission. Your review Tom, was one of the deciding factors in seeking one out (and of course the test drive, which sealed the deal). Great review, and it tipped me in the right direction!
20k miles on my '17 no problems. Performance and handling with a tune etc still leaves me surprised and smiling every time I drive it. Very comfortable and it's always in race mode "stiffer dampening, steering etc." performs well above its price range. If I were to upgrade it would be m2, rs3 or even m3/4. However the R with upgrade goodies holds its own. For a fun daily it's a winner.
The primary problem of the R, at least here in the Pacific Northwest, is simply finding a new one to purchase. According to cars.com this morning there are none to be had within 500 miles and only six examples within a thousand miles of Seattle. When I was in the market a few months back, I found three examples for sale among six dealers in the Puget Sound area. All three were pre-ordered with the orders canceled on delivery. Only one was offered for MSRP. It sold within 24 hours to a purchaser from Oregon. The other two were priced with an additional "market adjustment" over MSRP of $2000-$4000. In contrast, I was able to negotiate a price of $32,043 (a $6000 discount from MSRP) plus ttl from a local dealer for a fully loaded Autobahn GTI, the trim most comparable to an R. That made the real world price difference between the GTI and the R at least $10,000. Didn't get AWD in the GTI, a seventh gear in the DSG, or the eye candy of the digital cockpit. I did get a sunroof not available on the R (a welcome option if you live around Seattle where we need all the sunlight we can get.) Furthermore, my GTI is about 300 lbs lighter than the R, the equivalent of carrying an NFL lineman in the back seat. So the GTI gives up a significant amount of performance in stock form but gains some in terms of nimble handling. And for less than $2000 I can eliminate much of the performance deficit with a stage one ecu tune and a tuned DSG. (BTW, despite fears to the contrary, those mods do not cancel warranty coverage or impact emissions.) Would I have chosen the R if the price difference was close to the $3000-$4000 difference in MSRP's? if I lived in Minnesota or Montana where winter roads are covered with snow rather than rain? If I spent weekends at the track rather than carving roads in the Cascades? Possibly. But none of those "ifs" applied to me. The R is a magnificent vehicle (imo) but a ten grand savings is a lot to sacrifice. As for reliability and cost of ownership, I've owned three VW's prior to my 2018 GTI including a 2012 GTI. Never had a single check engine light or a failed component in any of them. Received three years of free maintenance for my previous GTI. That's not available for my 2018 model but I do have the longest bumper-to-bumper (transferable) warranty in the industry. That provides a lot of peace of mind. I'll grant that any European vehicle requires somewhat more attention to maintenance than Asian brands. But that doesn't bother me. Unlike many American drivers I don't ignore the need for scheduled maintenance and wait for a check engine light before paying attention. It pays off in the long run. P.S. Great review as always, Tom.
A month and a half I go I bought a DSG equipped R. It was slim pickings. Manuals are plentiful. Now when I look there are none. I’m in SoCal. Check out my video on it.
It appears that VW had different distribution strategies for the R in the US and Canada in 2018. In the US I've been told by several dealers that they received only the number of R's that customers had pre-ordered prior to the model's availability. Yet I've heard from other Canadians that R's have been readily available there throughout the 2018 model year (in the wide range of colors Tom cited for 2019 in the US). I also know that R's were available in Canada months before they showed up in the US where availability was repeatedly delayed and limited. I have no inside information about why VW would have such different distribution strategies in the US and Canada but I suspect it may have to do with greater relative popularity of AWD vehicles to deal with winter driving conditions in Canada than in the US. Here the R is marketed primarily as a performance model for which customers are willing to pay a premium price. (California is the largest single market for R's in the US.) In Canada I've heard several Canadians say that they chose the R principally for its performance in snowy/icy conditions. Combined with the much smaller overall market in Canada, those factors may have led VW to provide a larger national supply of R's to Canadian dealers from an overall limited German production capacity than to the US in 2018. Now that production of 2019 models is underway, VW may be recalibrating its US strategy. The availability of color options Tom cited may be a sign of that.
@Fuzz Ball If vehicles were dogs "pedigree" might have some meaning. I had a 2012 GTI, the last model built in Germany. I loved it but my 2018 model is significantly tighter and more "planted." I attribute that to the MQB platform.
@@robadcock65 I'll take your word about your experience with a BMW Z4 but comparing a previous generation BMW Z4 built in the US to a current generation VW built in Mexico strikes me as comparing apples to lawn chairs. Completely different vehicles, different manufacturers, different generations. Literally the only common feature is that BMW and VW are both based in Germany.
There were many chances for people to purchase the Golf R as they hit lots around March in my NW area. Many people held out for Dealers to drop markups. Also it was in talks that the Golf R could be getting a nice power boost (my guess would be to rival the Focus RS). Then Ford announced that they would cut that vehicle out of their line-up and a couple months later it was released that the 2019 Golf R would have 288hp, 4 less than the 2018's. In a day or two, the 5 available within a reasonable distance were sold. That being said, I purchased a 2018 VW GTI SE w/ DSG in March. Owned it for about 5 months and put 8k miles on it before it was involved in a crash. I didn't have the DCC, but it was still a blast to drive and I was commuting more than the average driver at that time. After the GTI, I purchased a 2018 VW Golf R 6-speed in September that I've been driving for a little over a month now. There wasn't many options specially for the color I wanted when I purchased. You can't really go wrong with either transmission option. The DSG is going to be quicker, there's no doubt about that. The 6-speed is always going to be more fun when you find yourself on a curvy road. You can feel the similarities between the two in the corners, but with the 4motion in the R, I feel braver pushing it around corners (summer tires help a lot). Now, I haven't owned the R for very long nor did I own the GTI for very long. If i had to do it all over again, as long as my budget allowed for it, I'd pick the R. Why? In my opinion it's the best overall package when factoring in power, handling, economy, interior, equipment, and experience. I also wouldn't be sad about getting a GTI as it shares a lot of the great interior and driving feel. I also can't stand the interior in the competitors haha.
Great review and spot on. I've had my 2018 Golf R since April '18; I'm now enjoying it via my new job in Germany. As mentioned, having somewhere to enjoy the extra performance helps. When I put it in sport mode on the Autobahn, I can keep up with just about anything.
Agreed, that lack of the pano sunroof stops this from being on my list. I had been scouring the internet trying to find a pre-owned one and could not find one to eventually learn it was not offered. Had something to do with the US crash testing. Still watched this review because Tom always does a great job and he did again here. Thank you!
same. I would buy this yesterday if it had a pano sunroof (also why no heated steering wheel option for us in cold climates is a head scratcher). I guess VW doesn't want my money.
I'm actually thrilled you can get a top range R model without a sunroof. On all Golfs, the sun comes right through the sunroof screen and it's like sitting under a heat lamp if you live in Florida. Likewise for Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, SoCal, anywhere the sun beats down. If VW had a sunroof screen that blocks out the light entirely when closed, that would be awesome but the Germans don't seem to think anyone lives in a hot climate. Also many VW owners have trouble with leaking sunroofs, especially the panoramic type. Check out the forums. Tons of complaints. VW has had a continuous problem with this they can't seem to solve. So the no sunroof on the top of the line R is perfect.
I'm a GTI owner and I really hope to get this car some day. They just don't have enticing financing options which is understandable since they don't have a hard time selling these. Oh well.
@@supergarball you sold a car, because it did not have a sunroof? did you not know that this car did not have one, when buying it? what kinda logic is that. i sold my last car, because after 2 years i have discovered it was a diesel. what a bummer.
I had a GTI with a sunroof and it was totaled, so i got an R afterwards. I personally started hating that sunroof, the shade wasn’t opaque so it would still let some sun/heat through (which is the opposite of what you want in Los Angeles). The shade would also creep open constantly while driving. I don’t miss it. It did look cool though
@@blue-ck9ns i love the golf R for not having a sun/moon roof. I have own 3 different cars with moon/sun roof all of then started to leak! and there are stupidly expensive to fix no mater the brand of the car.
I have no idea why Tom doesn’t have 500,000 subscribers. As far as I am concerned, He is right up there with Alex and Sofyan, and Tom adds a dash of humor to boot.
I've had several generations of GTI's before finally buying an R. I have same car as in the video but with the Pretoria wheels, perhaps my favourite VW wheels up to now. The AWD is exactly what I need for Canadian prairie Winters. Hakka R-2's + fresh snow = a good time. The R is built in Germany and the fit and finish is beautiful, the performance equal to my old TTS. The only drawback for me is that the styling is a bit too base Golf, they needed to make it a bit more special. (wider flares/wheels/tires, more power, etc)
It's a "sleeper"... Leave it that way. You can upgrade after a bit, and it will blow away most (if not all) very expensive high performance cars... That's my plan.... I've been driving for close to 50 years, and have owned (and driven) some high performance cars. I had a '72 Celica ST many years ago. With the work I did on it, and some tweaking from Lakeshore Toyota in Toronto, that car was a blast to drive.. Then, I had an '85 Mustang GT. With that Mustang, I beat a Porsche 911SC on the 401 back in '85. My '18 Golf R (stock) is faster then anything I've previously owned, and I now toy with Hemi's and Mustang GT's. As Bill says "Stage 1 at 375HP". And that's just a starting point. Check out Arthur's 600HP Golf R video... Now, I'm considering driving my Golf R to Central America, to retire. It's tropical/warm and inexpensive to live there, but they do have a Rainy Season. No snow, but you cannot beat the AWD system in this car, no matter the weather....
I feel like some Washington drivers have regressed. Swerving in their lanes, not using turn signals, going 20 mph under the limit when it's raining. I don't remember seeing so many bad drivers 10 years ago.
$40K for a Golf R - No remote start, No Pano-SunRoof - No Alcantara seat option - No Fog Lights - No Folding mirrors - Less HP than the European version - I also believe the R should have a more aggressive hood to differentiate from the GTI. IMO anyway.
You don’t need any of that garbage. Just more stuff to break. As for the engine performance, the European version and North American have the same engine. Just go to you local vw dealership and ask them to change the ECU to European tune.
ive had a 16 R with DCC and DSG for a year now. I put maybe 2k miles on it a year. I have it tuned to stage 2, with a dsg tune. Removed my resonator and threw on some pilot super sports. The car is fantastic. Very civil and predictable.
The first iteration of the MK7 Golf R wasn't worth it, but I drove the 7.5 R and it is worth it. I honestly think Volkswagen flashed the Haldex because its way more aggressive in the 7.5 and the new seven speed DSG is way more fun to shift.
7:37 ~ _"You probably won't ever be buying 5 packs of T.P."_ Oh! The irony. A lot of folks did just that in America in March of 2020. And, we all know why. *But* getting back to the 2018 VW Golf R.... I would never buy a 2022 version. Yes, the horrible info-tainment system is one reason. But also the massively tall mountain peaks paddle-shifters on the DSG version. The 2018 paddle-shifters are the right size, without looking goofy. Sure is going to be a fun time trying to find one of these used that hasn't been abused.
Excellent review! The R doesn't necessarily do any 1 thing better than it’s competitors - but it scores high enough across the board that, as a whole, it’s a pretty amazing vehicle. You may not get the ‘boy racer’ look, if that’s something you are after, but the payback is you can park it (or drive) anywhere and 99.99% of the population will just see a Golf, not something that attracts unwanted attention. In terms of refinement it’s miles ahead of others in it’s segment. IMO the current R hardware should just be a GTI trim level, VW should put something outrageous under the hood like the award winning 5 cyl. 400 hp Audi motor and call THAT the R.
No sunroof on the R model is a dealbreaker for me. I'm one who actually enjoys having a sunroof. It's funny how in Europe, they do have a sunroof but not here in North America. Nice one Volkswagen. Nice one.
I missed your car reviews since the NYT dropped (?) you, Tom,. Now I'm happy to see you again. You are a great and very literate car reviewer. I'll be looking forward to your future reviews.
Thats true with the SPD, i have Lotus Exige S and they have overlooked my car at times..but with my mk7 gti, i have been pulled over once for trying to get away from a bad driver that kept on braking for no reason but SPD let me off with a warning since i havent had a ticket since 2004.
What was the NYT thinking when they hired prog racist haters like Sarah Jeong? If you aren't familiar with Ms Jeong, please GOOGLE her to see her anti-male, anti-white, anti-police Twitter posts.
You raised the subject of the leftist, lying prog NYT, Einstein. Naturally, a troll like yourself is incapable of noting creatures like the vicious racist Jeong recently hired by the NYT. If you are incapable of discussing a topic, then don't broach it, sunshine. FYI, the NYT displayed its profound ignorance both in dropping Tom and in hiring inflammatory racists & sexists like Jeong, Einstein. Go back to your Antifa/BLM meetings, prog.
"missed their breakfast at the pharmacy..." "Go back to Fox News..." Rather puerile attempts at ad hominem jibes. Surely you can do better if you just try a bit harder. My modest proposal would be that we just stick to cars rather than bringing up the NYT or Fox (of which I believe is too uncritical of the right) or some other political subject in future. Regrettably, the latest hire to the NYT' editorial board, Sarah Jeong, epitomizes their racist/sexist identity politics. For example, her tweets include: "CANCEL WHITE PEOPLE!" "It's sick how much I enjoying being cruel to old, white men." "Whites are like dogs pissing on fire hydrants." " White cops are fascists and should be killed." and many, many more in the same vein. The editorial board of a newspaper is indeed its voice; any reference to what has become a reprehensible, racist, sexist rag like the NYT utterly obsessed with identity politics is likely to raise controversy. Substitute "black" for "white" and "women" for "men" in Jeong's tweets; she would probably be charged with hate crimes. If you take the trouble to research Jeong, Blow, et al racists at the NYT you will perhaps need the palliatives offered by a pharmacy. Do enjoy your breakfast at the pharmacy, Richard. That said, shall we just move on to agree that we both like cars and appreciate Tom's excellent reviews? It's quite unlikely that we are ever going to agree on characters like Jeong & Blow, much less their employer. Have a pleasant evening, Richard.
The wheel spokes on either side of the car face in apposite directions, I have the same issue with my Hyundai. I originally thought the spoke design was to make it more fuel efficient, then I discovered the differences when cleaning the car, oops that theory went out the window.
YOLO, yes it's worth if you're an enthusiasts, financially it's the worse, lol. I know, I have a '19 R. Will be taking my R to the Nurburgring this March with a few upgraded parts. (Brakes & Tires)
I live in northern canada and it not a problem with the right tires although i have a touareg for winter so the r stays in the garage all winter hehehehe
I like this and a challenger srt. Odd cross shopping I know. Probably go with the Golf R. At age 60, I think it's just more practical for my daily use.
But one can't get one of these for $40K, and that's the problem. Glad you mentioned the "R" is more for the track, I've watched a number of theses GTI vs R videos and of course diff people have diff opinions, and the biggest question remains; is the R worth the extra $10K? And the only way to answer that is, if you have $10K extra to spend then go for it, if not, then the GTI is pretty awesome(I own one), a perfectly good everyday driver with plenty of storage space and plenty of power for some driving fun!
It's good to see that you selected an appropriate filming location for your review of the Golf R, well outside of the city. I'd be curious to know if you have a preference between Golf GTI and Golf R.
I think only the buyer can make that decision Eric. The practical midwest raised boy in me would go with the GTI simply because it's unwise to unleash the full potential of the R on city streets (and even on country roads where there might be bicyclists around any sharp corner your cutting the apex on). Then again, I do like the idea of AWD, especially on wet Seattle streets. Which then brings me back AGAIN to you can't use all the performance of the R on a day to day basis. BUT, on the track.... As you can see, I could go on all day long. For most people it will be the financials that make the decision.
Motorweek of old. Yes the good old days. You are my favorite reviewer right now. It would be great if you did a comparison of the Golf R vs the BMW X2 M35i.
@Driven Car Reviews Thank you for your reply. Your review of the X2 M35i is how I got here. That is a great review. It is good to see you liked that car too. Which one do you like more, the Golf R or the X2 M35i?
The commentator speaks a lot ... where the experience of acceleration and stability and show the possibilities of the car and also a sports car without traditional hand brakes where fun
Wut? The T-Roc is awful. Tiny inside, loads of plastic, none of the interesting options, wierd looks and mediocre handling. The Tiguan is a much better car. Although I think the US would deserve the GTI engine option.
@@charlottetownspud7903, senior moment? Funny.... I'm 63, and I chose the DSG, because it's faster. And I have owned many Manual cars over my years. Nothing wrong with wanting to work through the gears of a Manual, if that's what turns your crank... But Automatics are faster... And I like going fast....
@@kraenk12 "Huge Difference"...it's 4bhp! Although actually any European Golf R sold since June 2018 has a quoted 296 BHP- they reduced the power output to meet new WLTP Emissions standards.
another trim/car which is a favorite among pirates...Civic Type Rrrr, and Veloster Rrrr-spec are two others. Long live the CD player and the manual...thanks for the tip that troopers (at least in the PNW) look for GTIs and stupid driving; good think my Mk4 GTI looks looks like a 2-door golf
Mate I have 2016 Golf R: My spec has 19 inch pretorias, panoramic sunroof, dyn audio sound system, reverse parking camera. So pan sunroof is available but more so on the european models as mine is..
Review for Americans, so funny. "The only option dual clutch called the DSG... " and "prefers Premium" - the last one too funny. That's it, I keep care of my gray cells.
Im a simple man,this is my dream car
Same. It's obtainable, still have a hard time spending that much on a car...
@@dudecena I bought one the end of last year they are so much cheeper now. Here in the UK they are310Bhp not 288Bhp like elsewhere.
they arre awesome cars get yourself one you will love it
Yet too complicated for the American market because this car isn’t made anymore and the new one will probably be impossible to find a huge markups.
Same here!
Went from an A3 hatch to this and have loved every minute. If you are buying this as a daily driver and want the occasional blast down a back road, this is the one for you. I've owned many small, sporty cars in the past (ITR, S2K, STI, Civic Si, etc.) and this is by far the best mix of comfort and sport that we get in the States.
Unsurprisingly, Tom Voelk's reviews being top-notch, I like.
I don't watch any other reviews. Thank, you Tom.
I used to watch a lot of car reviews from various channels on CZcams. These days I find myself only watching reviews done by Tom Voelk. Every other auto journalist loves to throw their opinions into their reviews along with all least useful information. Tom gets it right every time! I love how he even includes helpful tips like test drive a few other cars before you commit to buy and throws in a little comedy as well. There is none more professional.
You might try "Thomas" on 'Autogefühl.' He, like Tom Voelk, is superb; Thomas describes cars in even more detail than Tom does as well as taking his test cars to tracks to examine firsthand their performance.
Oh, I screw up sometimes (the Bang and Olufsen sound system gaffe on the McLaren is just one example). I do try though.
Praising yourself with faint damns aside, your reviews are indeed superb. Please keep up the good work. It will be interesting to see what you think of the new Porsche 911 to be revealed at the LA motor show this November. Cheers, Tom!
Jesse James Savagegeese makes great reviews too, he knows what he’s talking about and even brings you underneath the car! Check him out if you’re looking around for other reviewers
Savagegeese is straight up the best car reviewer on CZcams.
I bought my wife the 2018 R in the blue with DSG. We take it on weekend trips because its so practical and fun to drive. While my BMW 1M stays in the garage missing out on all the fun. The R is really that good.
That toilet paper joke didnt hold up......
(Its March 2020)
nailed it haha best apoco car when needing TP XD
nailed it!
I've committed to a 2019 Golf R, though I have to wait until mid-April while my spec arrives from the boat.
I decided on Lapiz Blue, with the black wheel package and the DSG transmission. Your review Tom, was one of the deciding factors in seeking one out (and of course the test drive, which sealed the deal). Great review, and it tipped me in the right direction!
Love my 7.5 R, k i have the Manual , here in the uk, with 310hp.
i just got one love it. now you have had yours 2 years have you done any upgrades?
@@PsyMongSki I have changed it now Mate, have a dsg gti at the moment.
20k miles on my '17 no problems. Performance and handling with a tune etc still leaves me surprised and smiling every time I drive it. Very comfortable and it's always in race mode "stiffer dampening, steering etc." performs well above its price range. If I were to upgrade it would be m2, rs3 or even m3/4. However the R with upgrade goodies holds its own. For a fun daily it's a winner.
The primary problem of the R, at least here in the Pacific Northwest, is simply finding a new one to purchase. According to cars.com this morning there are none to be had within 500 miles and only six examples within a thousand miles of Seattle. When I was in the market a few months back, I found three examples for sale among six dealers in the Puget Sound area. All three were pre-ordered with the orders canceled on delivery. Only one was offered for MSRP. It sold within 24 hours to a purchaser from Oregon. The other two were priced with an additional "market adjustment" over MSRP of $2000-$4000. In contrast, I was able to negotiate a price of $32,043 (a $6000 discount from MSRP) plus ttl from a local dealer for a fully loaded Autobahn GTI, the trim most comparable to an R. That made the real world price difference between the GTI and the R at least $10,000.
Didn't get AWD in the GTI, a seventh gear in the DSG, or the eye candy of the digital cockpit. I did get a sunroof not available on the R (a welcome option if you live around Seattle where we need all the sunlight we can get.) Furthermore, my GTI is about 300 lbs lighter than the R, the equivalent of carrying an NFL lineman in the back seat. So the GTI gives up a significant amount of performance in stock form but gains some in terms of nimble handling. And for less than $2000 I can eliminate much of the performance deficit with a stage one ecu tune and a tuned DSG. (BTW, despite fears to the contrary, those mods do not cancel warranty coverage or impact emissions.)
Would I have chosen the R if the price difference was close to the $3000-$4000 difference in MSRP's? if I lived in Minnesota or Montana where winter roads are covered with snow rather than rain? If I spent weekends at the track rather than carving roads in the Cascades? Possibly. But none of those "ifs" applied to me. The R is a magnificent vehicle (imo) but a ten grand savings is a lot to sacrifice.
As for reliability and cost of ownership, I've owned three VW's prior to my 2018 GTI including a 2012 GTI. Never had a single check engine light or a failed component in any of them. Received three years of free maintenance for my previous GTI. That's not available for my 2018 model but I do have the longest bumper-to-bumper (transferable) warranty in the industry. That provides a lot of peace of mind. I'll grant that any European vehicle requires somewhat more attention to maintenance than Asian brands. But that doesn't bother me. Unlike many American drivers I don't ignore the need for scheduled maintenance and wait for a check engine light before paying attention. It pays off in the long run.
P.S. Great review as always, Tom.
Great post Stephan, thanks for sharing. Hope you're enjoying your GTI (and its sunroof in our dreary part of the world).
A month and a half I go I bought a DSG equipped R. It was slim pickings. Manuals are plentiful. Now when I look there are none. I’m in SoCal. Check out my video on it.
Lots of Rs available in Canada
It appears that VW had different distribution strategies for the R in the US and Canada in 2018. In the US I've been told by several dealers that they received only the number of R's that customers had pre-ordered prior to the model's availability. Yet I've heard from other Canadians that R's have been readily available there throughout the 2018 model year (in the wide range of colors Tom cited for 2019 in the US). I also know that R's were available in Canada months before they showed up in the US where availability was repeatedly delayed and limited.
I have no inside information about why VW would have such different distribution strategies in the US and Canada but I suspect it may have to do with greater relative popularity of AWD vehicles to deal with winter driving conditions in Canada than in the US. Here the R is marketed primarily as a performance model for which customers are willing to pay a premium price. (California is the largest single market for R's in the US.) In Canada I've heard several Canadians say that they chose the R principally for its performance in snowy/icy conditions.
Combined with the much smaller overall market in Canada, those factors may have led VW to provide a larger national supply of R's to Canadian dealers from an overall limited German production capacity than to the US in 2018. Now that production of 2019 models is underway, VW may be recalibrating its US strategy. The availability of color options Tom cited may be a sign of that.
Awesome post!!
Pretty sure the R is produced in Germany. Huge reason to buy one.
kraenk12: Only if you believe robots located in Germany are superior to the same robots located in Mexico.
@Fuzz Ball If vehicles were dogs "pedigree" might have some meaning. I had a 2012 GTI, the last model built in Germany. I loved it but my 2018 model is significantly tighter and more "planted." I attribute that to the MQB platform.
It is and yes, I do trust the German production line over the one in Mexico.
@@zeppelin7238 Any actual evidence or simple xenophobia?
@@robadcock65 I'll take your word about your experience with a BMW Z4 but comparing a previous generation BMW Z4 built in the US to a current generation VW built in Mexico strikes me as comparing apples to lawn chairs. Completely different vehicles, different manufacturers, different generations. Literally the only common feature is that BMW and VW are both based in Germany.
"Talk like a pirate" "Don't be stupid" Two phrases you just don't get from all the other car reviewers! :) Great stuff as always Tom!
There were many chances for people to purchase the Golf R as they hit lots around March in my NW area. Many people held out for Dealers to drop markups. Also it was in talks that the Golf R could be getting a nice power boost (my guess would be to rival the Focus RS). Then Ford announced that they would cut that vehicle out of their line-up and a couple months later it was released that the 2019 Golf R would have 288hp, 4 less than the 2018's. In a day or two, the 5 available within a reasonable distance were sold.
That being said, I purchased a 2018 VW GTI SE w/ DSG in March. Owned it for about 5 months and put 8k miles on it before it was involved in a crash. I didn't have the DCC, but it was still a blast to drive and I was commuting more than the average driver at that time.
After the GTI, I purchased a 2018 VW Golf R 6-speed in September that I've been driving for a little over a month now. There wasn't many options specially for the color I wanted when I purchased. You can't really go wrong with either transmission option. The DSG is going to be quicker, there's no doubt about that. The 6-speed is always going to be more fun when you find yourself on a curvy road. You can feel the similarities between the two in the corners, but with the 4motion in the R, I feel braver pushing it around corners (summer tires help a lot).
Now, I haven't owned the R for very long nor did I own the GTI for very long. If i had to do it all over again, as long as my budget allowed for it, I'd pick the R. Why? In my opinion it's the best overall package when factoring in power, handling, economy, interior, equipment, and experience. I also wouldn't be sad about getting a GTI as it shares a lot of the great interior and driving feel. I also can't stand the interior in the competitors haha.
Great review and spot on. I've had my 2018 Golf R since April '18; I'm now enjoying it via my new job in Germany. As mentioned, having somewhere to enjoy the extra performance helps. When I put it in sport mode on the Autobahn, I can keep up with just about anything.
Great to hear it👍
Love this car. I've got a 6MT with an APR-1 kit. The thing is ballistic and a joy to drive.
Agreed, that lack of the pano sunroof stops this from being on my list. I had been scouring the internet trying to find a pre-owned one and could not find one to eventually learn it was not offered. Had something to do with the US crash testing. Still watched this review because Tom always does a great job and he did again here. Thank you!
simonisable I’m sure, but it’s not a race car, so it really doesn’t matter. Only a high level pro driver would notice.
same. I would buy this yesterday if it had a pano sunroof (also why no heated steering wheel option for us in cold climates is a head scratcher). I guess VW doesn't want my money.
@@jazzquire, Canadians do not need heated steering wheels...
That fender audio is fantastic btw
I'm actually thrilled you can get a top range R model without a sunroof. On all Golfs, the sun comes right through the sunroof screen and it's like sitting under a heat lamp if you live in Florida. Likewise for Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, SoCal, anywhere the sun beats down. If VW had a sunroof screen that blocks out the light entirely when closed, that would be awesome but the Germans don't seem to think anyone lives in a hot climate. Also many VW owners have trouble with leaking sunroofs, especially the panoramic type. Check out the forums. Tons of complaints. VW has had a continuous problem with this they can't seem to solve. So the no sunroof on the top of the line R is perfect.
Gary Brown No problem so far with my panoramic roof leaking but agree they
need a better shade cover as here in Australia the sun beats down.
I'm a GTI owner and I really hope to get this car some day. They just don't have enticing financing options which is understandable since they don't have a hard time selling these. Oh well.
Why would you finance a car? If you can't afford it then don't buy it.
You always have some of the best reviews ! Thank you for that
No panoramic roof in the U.S version, really?
That sucks.
Right! For $40K I better get a sunroof at the very least!
gureno19 It’s one reason I sold mine after 2 years.
@@supergarball you sold a car, because it did not have a sunroof? did you not know that this car did not have one, when buying it? what kinda logic is that.
i sold my last car, because after 2 years i have discovered it was a diesel. what a bummer.
I had a GTI with a sunroof and it was totaled, so i got an R afterwards. I personally started hating that sunroof, the shade wasn’t opaque so it would still let some sun/heat through (which is the opposite of what you want in Los Angeles). The shade would also creep open constantly while driving. I don’t miss it. It did look cool though
@@blue-ck9ns i love the golf R for not having a sun/moon roof. I have own 3 different cars with moon/sun roof all of then started to leak! and there are stupidly expensive to fix no mater the brand of the car.
Yes I did raid my retirement savings got a 2019 golf r .. it’s so darn good I had too lol..
Oh really. Great choice. I just ordered mine too yesterday. Take care👍👍👌
Bro, i am looking for one as well.
i love the feeling when i get pinned back intobthe seat on acceleration
Does the R makes u feel that?
I have no idea why Tom doesn’t have 500,000 subscribers. As far as I am concerned, He is right up there with Alex and Sofyan, and Tom adds a dash of humor to boot.
I've been seeing this kind of comment a lot lately. I blame it on the Russians.
Must have been that scathing Lada Vesta review
I asked myself the same! he should be well above 500k,.. 1million wouldn’t be unusual either. His reviews are on par with Motor week in my opinion
What a great video. Thanks for posting this. Love the Golf R.
This review is up there with the legendary MotorWeek reviews. Well done.
Except that I don't have a logo polo shirt...
I've had several generations of GTI's before finally buying an R. I have same car as in the video but with the Pretoria wheels, perhaps my favourite VW wheels up to now.
The AWD is exactly what I need for Canadian prairie Winters. Hakka R-2's + fresh snow = a good time.
The R is built in Germany and the fit and finish is beautiful, the performance equal to my old TTS.
The only drawback for me is that the styling is a bit too base Golf, they needed to make it a bit more special. (wider flares/wheels/tires, more power, etc)
Will do the Unitronic Stage 1+ and at 375HP it will be perfect...
...and the bland covert styling is exactly what I want.
It's a "sleeper"... Leave it that way. You can upgrade after a bit, and it will blow away most (if not all) very expensive high performance cars... That's my plan.... I've been driving for close to 50 years, and have owned (and driven) some high performance cars. I had a '72 Celica ST many years ago. With the work I did on it, and some tweaking from Lakeshore Toyota in Toronto, that car was a blast to drive.. Then, I had an '85 Mustang GT. With that Mustang, I beat a Porsche 911SC on the 401 back in '85. My '18 Golf R (stock) is faster then anything I've previously owned, and I now toy with Hemi's and Mustang GT's. As Bill says "Stage 1 at 375HP". And that's just a starting point. Check out Arthur's 600HP Golf R video... Now, I'm considering driving my Golf R to Central America, to retire. It's tropical/warm and inexpensive to live there, but they do have a Rainy Season. No snow, but you cannot beat the AWD system in this car, no matter the weather....
I feel like some Washington drivers have regressed. Swerving in their lanes, not using turn signals, going 20 mph under the limit when it's raining.
I don't remember seeing so many bad drivers 10 years ago.
Even mother nature chips in to get s proper braking test. Yes people, that is how good this channel is.
You don't want to know what the budget for two elk is. Though it would be much more expensive to hit them...
Another great driver oriented review! A wolf in sheep's clothing is appealing for sure, but some of those Spektrum colors - WILL attract attention!!
$40K for a Golf R - No remote start, No Pano-SunRoof - No Alcantara seat option - No Fog Lights - No Folding mirrors - Less HP than the European version - I also believe the R should have a more aggressive hood to differentiate from the GTI. IMO anyway.
I agree,i can not understand why the options are so limited on a car like this
You don’t need any of that garbage. Just more stuff to break. As for the engine performance, the European version and North American have the same engine. Just go to you local vw dealership and ask them to change the ECU to European tune.
ive had a 16 R with DCC and DSG for a year now. I put maybe 2k miles on it a year. I have it tuned to stage 2, with a dsg tune. Removed my resonator and threw on some pilot super sports.
The car is fantastic. Very civil and predictable.
The first iteration of the MK7 Golf R wasn't worth it, but I drove the 7.5 R and it is worth it. I honestly think Volkswagen flashed the Haldex because its way more aggressive in the 7.5 and the new seven speed DSG is way more fun to shift.
Thats awesome👍
Since the 2018 was late to the market, and no dealer will sell a loaded R for less than $43K, I bought a loaded 2018 Audi S3 for $46K. 😊
Sounds like a smart move.
Fantastic review!
Tom, I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t do any off-road/ditch testing with this one. Your prior Golf reviews have been MUCH more comprehensive.
And with all-wheel drive, right? I should have been back in the corn field with this one to see if I could get out of the mud.
Thank you for being comprehensive and yet keeping the videos to a reasonable length.
7:37 ~ _"You probably won't ever be buying 5 packs of T.P."_
Oh! The irony. A lot of folks did just that in America in March of 2020. And, we all know why. *But* getting back to the 2018 VW Golf R.... I would never buy a 2022 version. Yes, the horrible info-tainment system is one reason. But also the massively tall mountain peaks paddle-shifters on the DSG version. The 2018 paddle-shifters are the right size, without looking goofy. Sure is going to be a fun time trying to find one of these used that hasn't been abused.
Golf R. Fits nicely between a smidge and a tad.
Heroic cornering abilities keep the R on the road through corners, unlike the GTI. Tom says from experience.
Wow! A very underrated channel! I really enjoyed this video! 👍🏻🔥
Excellent review!
The R doesn't necessarily do any 1 thing better than it’s competitors - but it scores high enough across the board that, as a whole, it’s a pretty amazing vehicle. You may not get the ‘boy racer’ look, if that’s something you are after, but the payback is you can park it (or drive) anywhere and 99.99% of the population will just see a Golf, not something that attracts unwanted attention. In terms of refinement it’s miles ahead of others in it’s segment. IMO the current R hardware should just be a GTI trim level, VW should put something outrageous under the hood like the award winning 5 cyl. 400 hp Audi motor and call THAT the R.
What a quality review from a relatively unknown channel! I subscribe to that!
No sunroof on the R model is a dealbreaker for me. I'm one who actually enjoys having a sunroof. It's funny how in Europe, they do have a sunroof but not here in North America. Nice one Volkswagen. Nice one.
I love it! That will be my next car for sure. I don't have any more doubts about it.
80k congrats
I missed your car reviews since the NYT dropped (?) you, Tom,. Now I'm happy to see you again. You are a great and very literate car reviewer. I'll be looking forward to your future reviews.
Welcome to the best kept secret on CZcams Jacob. I still write for NYT, but I don't do the review videos for them.
Thank you.
Pretty awesome review. Feel like I am watching "Motorweek" of old. Thanks
i love it when ET comes for a visit, i know it's harder on Tom, but worth the effort!
Best words of wisdom... "Don't be stupid" :)
Thank you for the tip at the end!
Thats true with the SPD, i have Lotus Exige S and they have overlooked my car at times..but with my mk7 gti, i have been pulled over once for trying to get away from a bad driver that kept on braking for no reason but SPD let me off with a warning since i havent had a ticket since 2004.
So "don't be stupid"... That ending had me laughing lol
Always fun to watch
Another example of why Driven is the best car review on the web period. What was the New York Times thinking when they dropped Tom?
What was the NYT thinking when they hired prog racist haters like Sarah Jeong? If you aren't familiar with Ms Jeong, please GOOGLE her to see her anti-male, anti-white, anti-police Twitter posts.
The subject was Tom Voelk. Go back to Fox News.
You raised the subject of the leftist, lying prog NYT, Einstein. Naturally, a troll like yourself is incapable of noting creatures like the vicious racist Jeong recently hired by the NYT. If you are incapable of discussing a topic, then don't broach it, sunshine. FYI, the NYT displayed its profound ignorance both in dropping Tom and in hiring inflammatory racists & sexists like Jeong, Einstein. Go back to your Antifa/BLM meetings, prog.
ed johnson : Wow. Looks like somebody missed their breakfast at the pharmacy again.
"missed their breakfast at the pharmacy..." "Go back to Fox News..." Rather puerile attempts at ad hominem jibes. Surely you can do better if you just try a bit harder.
My modest proposal would be that we just stick to cars rather than bringing up the NYT or Fox (of which I believe is too uncritical of the right) or some other political subject in future.
Regrettably, the latest hire to the NYT' editorial board, Sarah Jeong, epitomizes their racist/sexist identity politics. For example, her tweets include:
"CANCEL WHITE PEOPLE!"
"It's sick how much I enjoying being cruel to old, white men."
"Whites are like dogs pissing on fire hydrants."
" White cops are fascists and should be killed." and many, many more in the same vein.
The editorial board of a newspaper is indeed its voice; any reference to what has become a reprehensible, racist, sexist rag like the NYT utterly obsessed with identity politics is likely to raise controversy. Substitute "black" for "white" and "women" for "men" in Jeong's tweets; she would probably be charged with hate crimes.
If you take the trouble to research Jeong, Blow, et al racists at the NYT you will perhaps need the palliatives offered by a pharmacy. Do enjoy your breakfast at the pharmacy, Richard.
That said, shall we just move on to agree that we both like cars and appreciate Tom's excellent reviews? It's quite unlikely that we are ever going to agree on characters like Jeong & Blow, much less their employer.
Have a pleasant evening, Richard.
The wheel spokes on either side of the car face in apposite directions, I have the same issue with my Hyundai. I originally thought the spoke design was to make it more fuel efficient, then I discovered the differences when cleaning the car, oops that theory went out the window.
I've had mine for 9 months now and it's been brilliant. Unfortunately being in Australia we get the detuned version too.
Always great scenery
“You probably won’t be buying 5 packs of TP”.... Wrong! Lol. Who knew?
Awesome video 👍🍹🍻 glad I got mine same color but 6 speed fun for my taste :-)
YOLO, yes it's worth if you're an enthusiasts, financially it's the worse, lol. I know, I have a '19 R. Will be taking my R to the Nurburgring this March with a few upgraded parts. (Brakes & Tires)
My next car as I have had nine Subaru's.......and it's time for a change.
Join the dark side! You wont be disappointed...I know im not ;)
You won’t be disappointed...it is a great car because it does daily way better than the others (including Subaru).
The only thing I worry about is the ground clearance in the snow up here. It can get pretty deep and that's why I have a Crosstrek.
I live in northern canada and it not a problem with the right tires although i have a touareg for winter so the r stays in the garage all winter hehehehe
I'm in a similar boat. Going to trade my 06 WRX in on an R next year after buying a house
I like this and a challenger srt. Odd cross shopping I know. Probably go with the Golf R. At age 60, I think it's just more practical for my daily use.
I wouldn’t even consider a Challenger. The build quality is way below the R. I just purchased a DSG equipped R. It’s brilliant.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy I know. The build quality (and attendant long term quality) is a main concern.
I’ve always loved these .
Where I’m from in the uk it can be optioned with a pan roof and cones stock with 310BHP?
But one can't get one of these for $40K, and that's the problem. Glad you mentioned the "R" is more for the track, I've watched a number of theses GTI vs R videos and of course diff people have diff opinions, and the biggest question remains; is the R worth the extra $10K? And the only way to answer that is, if you have $10K extra to spend then go for it, if not, then the GTI is pretty awesome(I own one), a perfectly good everyday driver with plenty of storage space and plenty of power for some driving fun!
The most salient advice: 10:21 ☺️
When the next A-class AMG comes with +300hp it will be something everyone should drive.
The R is nice. Very nice. However, I would rather pick up a used Alltrack and get an APR tune. Now that's a sleeper. ;)
It's good to see that you selected an appropriate filming location for your review of the Golf R, well outside of the city. I'd be curious to know if you have a preference between Golf GTI and Golf R.
I think only the buyer can make that decision Eric. The practical midwest raised boy in me would go with the GTI simply because it's unwise to unleash the full potential of the R on city streets (and even on country roads where there might be bicyclists around any sharp corner your cutting the apex on). Then again, I do like the idea of AWD, especially on wet Seattle streets. Which then brings me back AGAIN to you can't use all the performance of the R on a day to day basis. BUT, on the track.... As you can see, I could go on all day long. For most people it will be the financials that make the decision.
Motorweek of old. Yes the good old days. You are my favorite reviewer right now. It would be great if you did a comparison of the Golf R vs the BMW X2 M35i.
I'm not equipped to do comparisons in the way they should be done. But I just posted a M35i video. Cheers!
@Driven Car Reviews
Thank you for your reply. Your review of the X2 M35i is how I got here. That is a great review. It is good to see you liked that car too.
Which one do you like more, the Golf R or the X2 M35i?
Great, as usual Tom
I have an 2018 R WITH a panoramic sunroof here in Australia..too bad guys over there..
The commentator speaks a lot ... where the experience of acceleration and stability and show the possibilities of the car and also a sports car without traditional hand brakes where fun
Nicely done guys!
The tollet paper buying is a bit ahead of its time
Good tip at the end. :) loved the review.
Don't be stupid. Amen, great video!
It's sort of my credo.
So nice.
I’m just irked that VW won’t bring the T-Roc over here. We just get another Tiguan again. Just stuck in the dryer and shrunken a smidge
Wut? The T-Roc is awful. Tiny inside, loads of plastic, none of the interesting options, wierd looks and mediocre handling. The Tiguan is a much better car. Although I think the US would deserve the GTI engine option.
Come to California and you'll find lots of those kind of drivers. One thing that irks me the most are slow cars on fast lane... 😑
I drive in CA on occasion. On the whole, the drivers there are much better compared to WA.
Great review! At least it didn't slide off the road this time ZING! 😆
How can you say the Automastic is the only real choice? 6 speed for me is the only way to go. Maybe im just old school, or maybe just old!
No. I said it's the only "option". It is the only optional piece of equipment that can be bought on the R in the US.
@@DrivenCarReviews LOL oh my mistake, i am getting old. 41 yo and i just had a senior moment. Great review by the way! cheers
@@charlottetownspud7903, senior moment? Funny.... I'm 63, and I chose the DSG, because it's faster. And I have owned many Manual cars over my years. Nothing wrong with wanting to work through the gears of a Manual, if that's what turns your crank... But Automatics are faster... And I like going fast....
in my country the Golf R 7.5 have 310 HP
Kristof Verlinden Not true...it has 310 PS...huge difference.
1PS = 0.986hp and really the MK7 R have 300hp and the new one 310hp
7.5 have 310hp.
@@kraenk12 "Huge Difference"...it's 4bhp! Although actually any European Golf R sold since June 2018 has a quoted 296 BHP- they reduced the power output to meet new WLTP Emissions standards.
Nice car. I am considering one this side of the Atlantic (albeit we get over 300BHP and a sunroof ortion). Good to hear your views.
Weren’t you the vlogger that took a GTI off-roading? Kettle...Black!
Yup. Hydroplaned into a corn field. Operator error. I fully own that gaffe.
Great video. Subscribed.
Great review
another trim/car which is a favorite among pirates...Civic Type Rrrr, and Veloster Rrrr-spec are two others. Long live the CD player and the manual...thanks for the tip that troopers (at least in the PNW) look for GTIs and stupid driving; good think my Mk4 GTI looks looks like a 2-door golf
I love this car so much, but it's silly you can't get it with a panoramic sunroof.
I heard it's due to US and CAN import regulations. R's w/sunroof are available in Europe, Asia, and even Mexico.
Pretty sure it has manufacturing reasons. It’s produced in Europe.
Mate I have 2016 Golf R: My spec has 19 inch pretorias, panoramic sunroof, dyn audio sound system, reverse parking camera. So pan sunroof is available but more so on the european models as mine is..
no point. added weight and cost.
In middle east comes with sunroof
Love the car!
7:36
Laughs in Pandemic
In your opinon, which looks better..gti or R?
Review for Americans, so funny. "The only option dual clutch called the DSG... " and "prefers Premium" - the last one too funny. That's it, I keep care of my gray cells.
No way -- drive a TAN CAR -- flies under the radar. hehe.
Is there a Corolla hatchback review in the works?
Working on getting one but will be at least a month.
I have I golf 5 From 2005 268 Miles on iT . My dream is this Car after my golf 5
I want one in silver
I like gti
Why would you net be able to find an STI? They can be custom ordered, unlike the R.
What about Audi S3 as a competitor?