I agree with Candyman and PKLIMO. If you now about the Golf R in the US, you are a car nut. VW will not show R as a on their web site until November 29, 2011 so most people do not even know that VW will be selling the R. We are getting one of the first 600 imported to the US because we put cash down to get our space in line in May 2011. My wife and I want a 6 speed over the electronic dual clutch even though it will likely be slower because we have always like shifting over automatics. I know the computer can shift faster than I can but I do not realy care. We plan to drive and enjoy our R on the road with little or no time on the track. I am buying the R because it will out perform, cost less, and will be more fun then owning a BMW 328 or Audi A4 quatro. In the US can not buy a A3 with quatro with the 6 speed manual so I can not compare it to the R, but if it were available, it would be more. I do not plan to any modifications, at least not while it is under warranty because it has all the power I need. I am probably older than most of you at this site, I will be 65 in November, but I am still a car nut. Our second car is a 98 Mustang Cobra Convertible (5 speed). It is funny that many of you talk about the high cost for the R over the GTI, but there are several threads on this site where people have built very fast GTIs and R where the owners have spent way more than $36,500. These cars are probably great cars for drag racing, street racing, etc but I assume they are not driven daily, for long trips, or in bad weather. They and many of us think these modifed GTIs and R are great and most cases the owners are not concerned with the cost because they are making their car just the way they want it. In my case the R is great the way it is, I think it is a good buy for me, so I am buying a R.