What do you do when you are handed the
key to a Volkswagen Golf R? You head straight for the nearest B road
of course. Within half an hour I was already on Jalan Gombak, headed
towards Genting Sempah and beyond. I think if you had the time any of
you would do the same thing if you had a R with you.
So what is a Golf R? It is basically a
Mk 7 Golf with a lot of extras. More than even the GTI. Aside from
some blue bits inside and a slightly different bodykit outside, it
gets a heavily tuned EA888 2.0liter FSI engine which makes 280PS and
380Nm torque making it do a tested 5 seconds from 0 to 100kmh and
onwards to a speed limited 250kmh. UK models make 296ps and an even
faster 0-100kmh time by 0.2secs. It also has a 6 speed dual clutch
gearbox that sends power via a Haldex all wheel drive system. This
adaptive control system with advanced electronic diff lock (XDS) is
mostly front wheel drive but can channel as much power to the rear
wheels when needed (electronically/hydraulically). So it is a Golf
GTI with a lot of extra horses as well as extra drive wheels when
needed. Of course, you also get other R tuning bits, like a different
suspension setup, more equipment and even more noise compared to the
GTI (courtesy of a Soundaktor – a resonator built into the bulkhead
that amplifies sound into the cabin). And that synthetised sound
actually works fabulously well especially in RACE mode. The R makes a
very fine impersonation of either a Subaru Impreza or a V8 engine
with its burble and rumble. I personally find it adding to the
driving experience as the sound adds to the drama.
On the old road from Gombak to Bentong,
the R, at slightly higher than normal speeds feels like a normal Golf
GTI. But there is Adaptive Chassis Control in the R though. This,
especially in Race driving mode (there are various modes, from ECO to
RACE) will firm the already firm dampers even more, add more throttle
response and steering weighting. So whilst the R will feel like a
front wheel drive GTI, it adds another dimension when the going gets
tough especially when the road conditions are slippery.
The day I took the R up the windy B
road towards Genting it rained earlier. This meant a road that was
damp throughout and would actually be a nice test of the R's
capabilities. The thing about the ridiculous firm suspension is that
at low speeds the ride is quite bad. This feeling is amplified by the
19inch rubber band tyres this 5 door (with the full R Tech Pack).
Every time you hit a pothole that is deeper than an inch or so the
loud thump felt as if I just lost RM2,000 or the price of having to
replace a wheel or a tyre. It is that harsh. So in and around what
felt like terrorist bombed roads of the Klang Valley, I take extra
precaution by paying attention to the road surfaces. However, once
you pile on the speed, the ride actually smoothens out and it just
feels like it glides over the bumps, humps and potholes. Actually the
faster you go, the better it is. The only problem with this is that
you need to drive the R fast everywhere then. Or be very, very
careful when driving slowly.
But back to driving the R flat out. It
is actually very, very good. On a very tight and bumpy B road the R
is so at home taking the corners as fast or as flat out as you dare.
Grip levels are so darn high that most will never ever know when it
will let go. It has very little understeer (only approaching its very
high cornering limits), does not nose dive under braking and does not
roll much during corners. This makes it a very nice car to punt
around indeed.
Let me try to give an example, the R
arrives with a tight 90degree corner going uphill in sight, you can
either leave it in fourth at around 110kmh, flick the flappy pedals
down a gear to third, lift off the power, tap the brakes just prior
to turn in (The R is by no means unsettled at this stage – as it
does not nose dive or roll a lot remember). Just before mid corner,
or before the apex, you're already feeding in power through the
throttle pedal like what you would do in a all wheel drive rally
special. When exiting you can actually floor the pedal to the metal
and the tail would actually come into play, swinging round whilst the
rear wheels come into play via its electronically controlled diffs.
It is amazing as whilst you are straightening the R out, you can feel
power shuffling around and you rocket out of the corner only to find
the next one just a second or so away.
Everything feels almost perfect. In
terms of power delivery, lighting quick gearshifts from the dual
clutch gearbox and steering that actually works well in placing the
car where you want it. I would actually liked the steering to have an
even quicker ratio so that it allows the tail to come into play
earlier (so that I could have more tail out antics, like when you're
driving a Lancer Evo 7-9) but for most of the time, it is rewarding.
So bloody rewarding. The chassis is so driver adjustable and
responsive that you want to drive the car more and more.
Gombak to Genting Sempah was despatched
in under fifteen minutes. A personal record actually. The R has the
right size, the right suspension setup and almost the right amount of
power to conquer most tight mountainside roads. The 280PS felt just
about right for most people (of course, after another run I felt it
could use 20 more horses – but don't listen to me here, this is
'expert pro' level bragging going on here).
The R could be the fastest point to
point hatchback that money can buy. Of course, there's the manic
Mercedes Benz A45. That has 355 PS to play with. That also costs more
than RM350,000. This has a price tag of under RM260,000. You can't
beat the R for offering the best value for your money. Maybe you
could look at a Renault Megane RS 265. That may have a sweeter
chassis but less poke and less practicality of this five door R.
Of course, just remember to watch out
for potholes almost all of the time or you may eventually need to get
new fillings for your teeth or wear a back brace after a while. Or
you COULD drive fast all of the time which is impossible as you may
get RM2.6billion worth of speeding tickets or end up hugging a tree
or lamp post somewhere.
The harsh ride and Soundaktor tuned
noise reminded me and a few of my friends on how 'Subaru Impreza' the
R is. This rawness is amazing considering that it is a Volkswagen. Of
course the premium looking and feeling interior will remind you that
it is a Golf. And for that, I think this is the best and most
Japanese rally special German car I have driven to date. Amazingly
and unbelievably true.
Note: For a Mk6 R owner's take
on the Mk7 R, do read Firdaus Asri's review here. I have to state
again that he got the wrong R after driving his car and this R here. I have driven both R cars back to back and in
the case of the Mk6 R, you should buy a Mk6 GTI as I've stated in an earlier article. That is more
entertaining. In the case of Mk6 R vs Mk7 R, the Mk7 is light years
better in terms of chassis dynamics, power delivery and overall feel.
Enuff said.
Volkswagen Golf R Mk7 5 door with Tech Pack
Pros: Handling, practicality (hey, it's a five door hatch), noise (artificial or not adds to the excitement), stunning overall performance, superb drive experience
Cons: ride is ridiculously firm on the 19inch wheels, price (whilst value for money for its performance, is still expensive), no full bucket recliners like the officially imported Mk6 R (it seems the seats were somewhat too tight for most that bought the 6 R so VW Malaysia chose to bring the 7 R with the normal Recaro seats instead)
Conclusion: The only Golf that I would ever think of owning. BUT with great power comes great maintenance bills. So be aware of what you are getting into if you buy what is essentially the most competent point to point car that you can buy under RM300,000 in Malaysia. Practical too in five door form. And so surprisingly like a Japanese rally special instead of a continental hot hatch.
SPECIFICATION
Price as tested
Volkswagen Golf R (5-door Tech Pack) 206 kW (280PS) TSI - RM291,888.00
2.0liter TSI turbocharged
Power: 280ps
Torque: 380Nm
Unladen Weight: 1495kg
0-100kmh: 5.0seconds (Tested)
Max Speed: 250kmh
Fuel Consumption : 12.1liters/100km avg. (tested)
| Engine & Gear Box |
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| Interior |
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| Exterior |
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| Safety |
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| Tech Pack |
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