My Golf GTI (manual) versus R32 DSG review

[Just_me]

Ok ,just back from my Audi/VW dealer. I testdrove a GTI for 15 minutes and a R32 for 15 minutes so here are my quick impressions.

Golf GTI [Manuell], fwd, 200 hp

Positive
+ not much wheel spin full acceleration
+ fun car to drive
+ engine
+ acceleration

Negative
- Engine sound, its okey but not more
- Steering feedback


Golf R32 [DSG], AWD, 250 hp

Positive
+Engine sound
+ DSG

Negative
- Acceleration
- Price


It was nice to not see much wheelspinn in the GTI although big engine and FWD. I saw antispinn flashing by in first and second gear but you didn't feel it much and it wasn't annoying. Nice engine with a nice punch at high reevs.
Compared to R32 the engine noise is lame, R32 sounds a lot better
I recently drove my Mum's BMW 1er and the steering feedback is not close to my Mums car, here Golf is behind in both GTI and R32.
Despite the bigger engine R32 didn't feel faster, nothing feels different from the GTI.
DSG is fun, smooth gearchanges in automatic mode but not perfect. Slow downshifts compared to SMG. The manual mode is more fun, check the display to see what gear you are in and decide when you want to shift gear on your own. The paddles is annoying at the beginning ( you get used to it after a while) since they are stuck on the steering wheel, one time I hit downshift when I wanted to upshift but thank God the DSG helped me out and automaticely upshifted, smart gearbox

So which one should I buy? Easily the GTI, price difference between GTI and R32 is not worth it.
So GTI for me, manuall or DSG? I dont know but since I'm saving cash compared to R32, I happily pay extra for DSG.

Winner : Golf GTI

While I was out driving the GTI I said to myself not to stop and take pictures so I didnt. When I drove the R32 I felt I had to stop and take a quick picture so I did but quickly jumped back in the car

So here is the one and only picture I took, Golf R32. I took more pictures at my Audi instead, the mighty R8 bit another thread for that

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Here are my R8 , S3, TT photos after my visit at my Audi dealer:
http://www.germancarzone.com/audi-lo...tml#post183457

[Yannis]

Thanks.

[BMW_Dude]

You seem to agree with all the reviews, the GTI is a better car than the R32!

Although in the wet, the 4WD R32 would leave the GTI for dead!

[ree]

Thanks for this short review of both cars. I would also go for the GTI - the R32 is to heavy and who really needs a 6 cylinder engine in such a car...?!

[Mr. M]

Thanks for the review, Andreas!

The GTI is definitely my pick too, it's the more agile one for the daily drive. Another picking point of the R32 is its fuel consumption. BTW, I'm surprised you said there wasn't much wheel spin. Just a little hard tap on the throttle and the wheels on our GTI test car chipped! It was a great feeling, befitting a hot hatch.

My dad and I test drove a Golf GT today... Stay tuned...

[Just_me]

Originally Posted by Mirage77

Just a little hard tap on the throttle and the wheels on our GTI test car chipped! It was a great feeling, befitting a hot hatch.

maybe mine had better tires?
It was only in first and second gear the antispinn light flashed but it wasnt annoying and jerky.

But Goddamn downshift in DSG were SLOW I hope BMW has improved that on their new ZSG for M3.

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by Just_me

maybe mine had better tires?
It was only in first and second gear the antispinn light flashed but it wasnt annoying and jerky.

But Goddamn downshift in DSG were SLOW I hope BMW has improved that on their new ZSG for M3.

Yupp the DSG in the GTI isn't as rapid as SMG but I think it was pretty alright anyway. More then good for such a cheap racer.

[Just_me]

I drove the Audi TT 2.0 TFSI on Saturday. We have lots of rain in Sweden and it was only the FWD version. The yellow light, ESP, were blinking all the time when you accelerate. Unfortuanly the 2.0 version dont come with quattro the salesman told me, that sucks, especially in a weather like we have today in Sweden.
Its not easy to get a good impression when it was such a rainy day but the car was a lot nicer than the Audi A3 2.0 TDI I drove earlier.

Here is the Audi TT me and my friend testdrove, grey with red interior.

[Centurion]

Overall how does the TT compared with the GTI, more fun to drive?

[phaeton]

Good Review