Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

[cam_wmh]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

I used to think so for 10+ yrs. But the twin clutch setups changed my mind.

I sure woudn't turn down a GTR just because it only comes in auto transmission either.

I'm just saying bring both over so people can have choice. More sales that way too.

I got to drive a Ferrari 360 Modena w/F1 paddles, just a few months ago.
As incredibly fun as that thing was, I missed the clutch and shifter. Gave my uncle grief for buying the feminine version He's like it's faster!!!
yeah.. ya.. ya...

I'm also highly doubtful they bring both. There's just not enough total units (~5,000) brought over to sustain the manufacturing of both a slush box & stick. In addition the 2 vs 4 door. I really want the 4 door with a 6 speed stick. I can compromise with a 2 door, but will not with the DSG. If they bring it over with DSG, I'm going Subaru -- or perhaps look harder for one of those rumoured 2010 A3Q's with a stick.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

For me I think the timing and price are the biggest issues, not sure I want to pay probably close to 40K and maybe wait another year or more to get the car.

I would also prefer the 4 door manual. I don't mind DSG and I understand the technical benefits of it but for me I am just itching to get into a manual again after years of the Smart's sequential shifting, my Dad's R8 with R-Tronic and his TT 3.2 with DSG before that, time to do the work myself again.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

yea the R8 was cool with the rtronic but something seemed off when you drove it and just bumped the shifter up or down.. needs manual i think.. but still a BLAST to be in ahhahaha

[eirjordan337]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

might take some heat here, but I'm just coming off a B6 A4 5spd and sharing a car with the wife (auto) until getting a new car in the spring - gotta say its sorta like the infamous 'Ron Popeel' line "set it and forget it".

I do miss the control and the interaction, but when traffic is crappy, snow is everywhere and everyone is going 35km...well there's just not much to miss.

My first try on a R-tronic kind of drive was in a client's Gallardo Superleggera earlier this year in spring - something I will NEVER forget! My main focus was on the insane speed, intense engine sound, and the fact that I couldn't stop laughing like a maniac while breaking speed laws in a blink of an eye.

That being said, I don't think you can really compare the Auto's from the ones of 'yore' as the new ones like DSG and R-Tronic are pretty fun in their own ways- like launch control is very interesting - I would be very hesitant to try something similar on a 300K car and break the manual.

But it comes down to car itself, driving a sleepy car....like my first car a 83HP 91 Toyota Tercel...I really couldn't care if was manual or auto...it was zzZZzzz....

Anyways I'd take the GTI-R in any fashion possible.

'Pics for clicks' - bad pictures but it wasn't planned

[The Brice]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

VOTE FOR THE R

Not that it necessarily means anything but here's a poll on interest for the R from vortex, and word is that VWoA is going to check it out. I would love to see it get shipped over to NA!
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4678773

[twisted by dezign]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

I want the 5 door manual!

[Deuce]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Latest I've seen on the R is on CanadianDriver.com (posted today). Apparently, they're showing the car at the Montreal International Auto Show happening right now. Anyhow, here's what they have to say about it:

"Volkswagen’s high-performance Golf R makes its North American debut in Montreal. The all-wheel drive, 265-horsepower variant of the venerable compact isn’t a sure thing here just yet; VW says it chose Montreal to unveil the car based on the city’s love for motorsports, so it may get a green light if show-goers respond positively."

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Yes they are showing it as a 'concept' and gauging interest and reaction. My thoughts are that it has been green lit for the US, now just seeing if it is worthwhile to bring a few more for Canada.

[Deuce]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Yes they are showing it as a 'concept' and gauging interest and reaction. My thoughts are that it has been green lit for the US, now just seeing if it is worthwhile to bring a few more for Canada.

With that said... what's your opinion on the timing? Considering the .:R cars have always been launched towards the end of the model cycle... I'm thinking it's wishful thinking to see this car in production anytime soon (ie. likely a 2012 model at the earliest?).

P.S. Just found this on CanadianDriver.com as well. However... the "when"... is missing. Doh!

The Golf R went on order in Germany last fall, starting at a price of €36,400. Volkswagen Canada said it brought the concept to Montreal to gauge public reaction, and solicit feedback in order to determine consumer desirability of a premium performance model such as the Golf R Concept in the Canadian market.

[eirjordan337]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

So its the fate of the R going to be decided heavily on what the people in Montreal think or is there something more to it?

I guess we shouldn't expect to the see R in the Edmonton Auto Show then?

I really have no idea how it works. Any ideas or better yet, industry insights?

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

One would think it should be shown at more than one show, so maybe we will see it around the circuit a bit.

I do think this car will be at least a 2011 model but 2012 is not entirely out of the question IMO. No way I would want to wait hence why I am going to be happy with my 2010 GTI.

[cam_wmh]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Actually, of all Canadian cities for it to be unveiled, I'm most happy it's in Montreal. They are more european (worldly) influenced, ie; more likely to request the manual over dsg.

I'm jet lagged, and a lil irritable, as I just got home from Bali, and finished unpacking... BUT.. Anywhere else but fat & lazy North America, and we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[Deuce]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

I hope we see this in the Calgary Show in March. I'll be giving it a serious look if it does. And yes... for the love of God... return to a manual tranny! Please!

[Deuce]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Let the reviews begin. First up: Car & Driver
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t_drive_review



2010 Volkswagen Golf R - First Drive Review
The most spectacular Golf of all is fantastic but pricey. Will we get the chance to buy one?
BY JENS MEINERS
January 2010

Volkswagen sure knows how to please. The new, sixth-generation Golf is one of the best compact cars, a great-handling hatchback that’s comfortable, too. And we think the sportiest Golf, the 200-hp GTI, is even better—witness its inclusion on the 2010 10Best list. (The previous GTI, based on the Golf V, made the 10Best roster the three years before that.) Now Wolfsburg is adding the Golf R, an all-wheel-drive variant that is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive Golf ever.

If you follow the logic of previous über-Golf naming schemes, this Golf R should be called the R20; its predecessors were both called R32 on account of their 3.2-liter V-6 powerplants. But Volkswagen has recently announced that it will be starting a special R performance division, akin to Audi’s Quattro and BMW’s M subsidiaries, and so expect all super-VWs to carry the single-letter badge going forward.

More From Less

In comparison to the two R32 models, the new car loses two cylinders but is up 30 hp, being powered by a 270-horse, 2.0-liter turbocharged four, with maximum boost cranked up to 17 psi. In the new Golf R, all 270 hp arrives at 6000 rpm; maximum torque is 258 lb-ft, available from 2500 to 5000 rpm. Two gearboxes are available in Europe, including a slick-shifting six-speed manual and the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automated manual. The last R32 offered in the U.S. was DSG-only, and there’s no word from VW as to whether that strategy would change.

In real-world driving, the Golf R is supremely competent. OK, that’s an understatement, as acceleration in the lower three gears is vicious: the 0-to-62-mph sprint is conquered in a claimed 5.7 seconds, 0.6 second quicker than the time posted by a 2010 GTI in a recent comparo. The R’s DSG transmission, with its seamless shifts, shaves another 0.2 second despite its additional 50-ish pounds and parasitic power losses from the hydraulic clutches. At higher and admittedly superlegal velocities, the R bites a bit less, but pulls well up to its 155-mph governor—a symbolic sign of modesty, since the car theoretically could squeeze out just an additional 5 mph. So the Golf R is a quick car, but if you are acquainted with real sports cars, you won't be overwhelmed. More specifically, it definitely feels quicker than the front-drive, 200-hp GTI, but it's not in another league.

You might expect that the R and GTI would share an engine, only differing in tune, but you’d be mistaken. The GTI's Audi-developed EA888 2.0-liter turbo four is not yet sturdy enough to handle the power and torque required for the Golf R, and so the burlier model keeps the older, VW-developed EA113 engine architecture. It’s the same as that found in the Audi S3, the Golf R's twin brother, which is fine with us—the EA113 does everything right. Fuel consumption drops sharply compared to the old Golf R32. It is rated at 28 mpg in the European cycle, and to see mileage drop below 20 mpg, you’ll need to become pretty, uh, conspicuous to local constabulary. We saw 19 mpg from the most recent R32 in a comparison test of performance compacts.

While the Golf R's drinking habits are far more mature than we expected, the sound of the Golf R is decidedly adolescent. This engine makes the right noises at the right time, and although we liked the silky 3.2-liter VR6 in the R32, this four is so sweet we didn't miss those couple of pistons for a minute.

Very Capable, but No Club Racer

The Golf R’s handling is more neutral than the GTI’s, but just slightly, as the GTI's XDS electronic differential does a fairly good job minimizing the handicap of front-wheel drive. But even the Golf R can't entirely mask the front-drive roots of its chassis. If you want to drift it, you need to be aware that 100 percent of the power goes to the front wheels under normal driving, and the shift of power to the rear wheels takes a moment. Yes, VW has upgraded the all-wheel-drive system versus that used by the R32. It now works with an electrical pump and can shift almost 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels. The system reacts electronically to changing conditions, and it is quicker than the old setup. Despite that, we found it necessary several times to use the vehicle's inertia to initiate a drift.

What's more, the stability-control system can't be switched off entirely. There is an "Off" position, which lets you hang out the tail considerably, but you will inevitably reach a point where the system kicks in, even if you don't touch the brakes. VW disabled the system completely on some cars for our benefit, but the customer won’t be able to do so. The Golf R thus isn't a pure sports machine; for further evidence, consider that the DSG transmission upshifts automatically at redline in manual mode. We think it would be more appropriate to let the engine hit the rev limiter instead of second-guessing the driver’s shifting strategy.

Upscale and Well-Mannered

The Golf R’s dual personality is again emphasized by the optional DCC electronic chassis. The DCC’s "Comfort" setting softens the chassis and lightens the electromechanical power steering. The "Normal" setting is middle of the road, neither harsh nor soft, but "Sport" is what enthusiasts crave, delivering stiffer damping and sharper steering reflexes. VW says it anticipates that Golf R buyers will be far more mature than GTI buyers, desiring a comfortable long-distance cruiser that they can still take to the track every once in a while. For them, the DCC makes sense. But we’ll take it hard-core, thanks.

At a claimed 3350–3400 pounds, the Golf R is a heavy compact; the last six-speed-manual GTI we weighed rang in at 3180 pounds. Given that, we find the lighter, front-drive GTI and 265-hp Scirocco R to be more tossable. Lightweight components, such as aluminum or carbon-fiber panels, were considered for the Golf R, but ultimately dismissed to keep cost under control.

Instead of exotic materials, customers get R-exclusive styling elements, including twin central exhaust tips and lots of glossy black trim inside and out. The 18- or 19-inch Talladega-design wheels are one of the R's trademarks; they look a lot like the rollers used on the Audi RS6. The taillights are now dual L-shaped LED units, a styling element that has already trickled down to the European-market GTI and will become standard on all Golfs. There are no fog lights; VW says it needed the room to fulfill the cooling needs of the engine and transmission. (Do we sense a trend? The same reason was given for the omission of fog lamps on the 2011 BMW 335is.)

Upscale Price

At €36,400 (the equivalent of $50,790) in Germany, the Golf R is nearly $14K more expensive than the GTI. If it came to the U.S., the premium would likely be about ten grand above the GTI’s $24,215 base price. But will it make the transatlantic voyage? It was basically a done deal last year, but VW remains undecided at this point. While we crave the Golf R’s presence on U.S. shores, and we have to say that the car is damn good, its superiority may come at a price that few will be willing to pay. And so we understand VW’s hesitation—wait, what are we saying? Bring the Golf R here now.

[bonfire]

Re: Did I miss any news? GTI R to Canada?

Good review. I want a Stick end of story. Nothing like making a corner in 2nd, Apex throttle clutch shift clutch out back on the throttle. Whether that is in a GTI A4 F430 my bus. It is fun and exciting every time, no matter how fast or slow the thing is. Auto's are boring, I don't care about sitting in traffic. Is it a bit of a hassle yes? But you don't buy a 'Performance' oriented car with the idea of sitting in traffic. You buy it for those times you get to let the thing breath and drive it.