Background: I have a 2011 GTI DSG w/ stage II APR, APR IC, VWR suspension & 19lb Nuespeed wheesl w/ PS2 tires. I was invited by an area VW dealer to borrow & spanking new Golf R for a day & logged 200 miles on it. The driving route included hilly remote backroads w/ both tight & wide radiused high speed sweepers. A combo of city driving w/ 80% backroads.
I loved the solid all wheel drive feel, the shear mass of the car (extra 300 lbs) and found the interior fit & finish made the R best Audi in overall German sport sedan ambience. It was charming in spades w/ the deep K04 soundtrack making it an addictive experience. On the open road & highway the powerband & close gearing made it too much work (slamming from 6th to 4th to pass) and the turbo lag is simple too much to live with. At the end of a very very spirited drive on roads I know well the Golf R was less capable than my GTi and a slouch in terms of nailing the turns at anything less than 15% slower entry speeds. The R was in every sense less a drivers car, less responsive and dare I say less "fun" in a reckless teenage sense of driving fun.
My question: What can one do to the R (APR stuff I guess) to shake off the lethargic, massive, less than interesting aspects of this car which on paper at least SHOULD be a great ride ? I ask because I am contemplating going further down the APR road w/ my GTI which seems at this point to the a very good platform OR maybe wait for the MK7's to come along.
I so wanted a R and even my wife (we are old school car loving folks w/ decades of track & street driving between us) felt the R was "an old persons car". Pretty funny from a 60 year old chick w/ a tricked out 2014 John Coopers Works Mini S & a 911. Thanks & no offense meant. Mark
I loved the solid all wheel drive feel, the shear mass of the car (extra 300 lbs) and found the interior fit & finish made the R best Audi in overall German sport sedan ambience. It was charming in spades w/ the deep K04 soundtrack making it an addictive experience. On the open road & highway the powerband & close gearing made it too much work (slamming from 6th to 4th to pass) and the turbo lag is simple too much to live with. At the end of a very very spirited drive on roads I know well the Golf R was less capable than my GTi and a slouch in terms of nailing the turns at anything less than 15% slower entry speeds. The R was in every sense less a drivers car, less responsive and dare I say less "fun" in a reckless teenage sense of driving fun.
My question: What can one do to the R (APR stuff I guess) to shake off the lethargic, massive, less than interesting aspects of this car which on paper at least SHOULD be a great ride ? I ask because I am contemplating going further down the APR road w/ my GTI which seems at this point to the a very good platform OR maybe wait for the MK7's to come along.
I so wanted a R and even my wife (we are old school car loving folks w/ decades of track & street driving between us) felt the R was "an old persons car". Pretty funny from a 60 year old chick w/ a tricked out 2014 John Coopers Works Mini S & a 911. Thanks & no offense meant. Mark