Fiat Coupe Club UK

VW Golf R Estate

Posted By: Trappy

VW Golf R Estate - 05/04/2018 13:57

I’ve been meaning to put a review of the Golf R up on here for a while but, somehow, haven’t felt I know it well enough yet. Having been pushing on in it a bit more over the last few weeks, I think I’ve realised why that is… So, here goes!

Dr Jekyll and Mr… Hide

Looks / image
It’s a Golf and an estate version at that. You’ve all seen a Golf - it’s like one of those with a few rather subtle exterior tweaks… and four exhausts. Despite this supposedly dull exterior, it does seem to stand out. Drivers of other performance car spot it a mile off and tend to let you through / start behaving which is not something I used to see in the coop (which often led to great hilarity…). It certainly isn’t a sleeper in that respect. Golf R’s aren’t that rare of course, but the estate version seems to be – I quite like that. It also seems to pull off the four exhaust thing better too to my eyes. I don’t think it has the cheap lease hot hatch image either. I like to think of it as a modern day Audi RS2.

Interior / toys
Again, it’s a Golf so this is all very good. Build quality is ‘nice’. Every surface you touch / feel as the driver feels ‘right’ if not expensive. Cloth seats are a bit naff for a £35k car though but they’re incredibly comfortable / supportive and probably more grippy than leather would be anyway. The steering wheel feels great too even if the flat bottom that seems to be a current trend seems a bit pointless. The infotainment is very good, though I have nothing to compare it to in fairness. It doesn’t feel like a gimmick and has lots of useful features to play about with so it does all I could want it to really. The virtual dash is probably worth a mention. At first it seems like a great piece of kit, offering the choice of a wide range of views and options to show all sorts of information. You quickly realise that the upshot of this is that you can’t see all of it at once… which is annoying. More functionality / customisation would be better and I expect later versions to offer this.

Adaptive Cruise Control is my favourite of the modern car toys. This beauty will match the speed of the car in front (up to a limit you set like normal cruise control) braking right down to a stop if required. It will pull away on its own for a second or two after that but if it takes longer to move, you need to give the throttle a jab to get it moving again. It makes traffic a doddle. There are even five different distance settings and each of these increases the gap as the speed rises. It’s a little jerky around walking speed but no more so than when you’re a passenger in another car. I suspect it’s that whole ‘bracing yourself subconsciously’ as the driver thing going on?

Performance / engine
There is another thing that’s new to me - the combination of AWD, DSG and a launch control programme  It’s important to state that these car review sites that make a meal of the various buttons to be pressed are mostly exaggerating. You’ll likely be in Race mode already anyway and the DSG box will be in Sport if you’re out doing some spirited driving. Then it’s just a matter of switching off the ESC, nailing the brake pedal, flooring the throttle and then side-stepping the brake. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, lots of cars will be faster, but this is the only time I get that same giddy feeling the coop gave me (when it was rolling). This thing really does go! I’ll get the VBOX Performance box on it soon for some numbers but it’s well under the 4.9s quoted and would murder the coop on any surface. It’s basically E46 M3 performance when rolling from 30-120mph for reference, after that the bimmer would have the legs. In 20vT money, that’s a 290-300bhp hybrid.

The tractability of the engine is also worthy of note. 295lbs/ft from under 3,000rpm up to 6,200rpm feels amazing. The boost threshold then is much lower than a coop with ~300bhp would be and yet it still pulls well to 6,500rpm where a lot of modern 2.0l turbos have long since given up. Only after that does it become a little breathless but it’s a very linear delivery with no perceivable torque spikes. There are some pops and farts if you play with the throttle / gears and the DSG ‘farts’ on up-shifts at full chat add some much needed drama to the drive.

Fuel economy
The trip says 27mpg overall after 2,500 miles so far and I see no reason why VW would lie about such a thing wink I’ve seen as high as 35mpg on the drive to work where the coop would get 26mpg. Considering it’s a lot heavier, that’s pretty impressive. On a decent cruise at 55-60mph, it’ll do 45mpg, helped no doubt by the absurdly long 7th gear doing 34mph/1,000rpms – it’d do 232mph if it had the power!

Ride / Handling
Ride quality is the best I’ve experienced save for a local E class Merc cab I jump in sometimes. For the level of performance on offer, I have no complaints. Over bumps that made me wonder if I’d written off the Coop there’s little more than a thud.

On to the handling then. This is kind of where I got stuck for a verdict. This car makes me question what handling is. There’s little body roll, it always feels sure-footed and composed and it grips in ways you wouldn’t expect an estate car to. It even has great poise on the road and is very chuckable. There is something missing though. I found myself pushing the car occasionally, trying to find its limits, pushing a little further each time to see if I could find them, exploring the grunt out of tight corners and generally trying to get it ‘out of shape’. Each time, I’d park up and tell myself I’ll have a real mad drive on some country lanes soon. Last night, in the pouring rain, I switched the traction control off completely and gave it some beans on a variety of corners, over odd cambers and through puddles, accelerating too early in the corner, applying too much lock too quickly etc. Anything to find out how it handles. I came away wondering what the traction control does. It made no difference. Where, with the system turned on, the light would flash and slow the car, with it off, it just went a bit faster. There is no oversteer / understeer balance that I can feel. You just choose a line, floor it and let it get on with it. It will understeer if you go silly but, if you want to make decent progress, you can’t really get it wrong. That’s the problem with the car (if it is a problem) - that final piece of the driving experience seems to be hidden from the driver!

The fundamental question then: Is it fun?
I would say you absolutely can have fun driving it but, as a complete driving experience, it isn’t fun per se. I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing though. It has a niche in the market that few other cars can compete in and I genuinely love driving it. Whether driving for the sake of it, nipping to the shops or even sitting in traffic, I’m perfectly happy at the wheel. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it’s rekindled my interest in motoring. The coop is going SORN now and will be covered up for a while (we’re basically having a trial separation). Knowing that things aren’t going to keep going wrong with it while it’s having a break has already made me like the old girl again. I’ll eventually get it back on the road and I’m convinced I’ll love it all the more when I do!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 06/04/2018 08:13

Think you've just highlighted the 'handling' issue I have with most 'everyday usable' quick cars, which is ultimately what makes a car have a fun factor.

I end up thinking they're a nice cruiser, and 'OK' in the corners, but ultimately don't leave me with a silly grin on my face, so why not just have the 150 bhp TDI version... crazy

Traction control on most cars of this nature drives me nuts - so conservative on pretty much all the ones i've driven.
Posted By: Trappy

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 06/04/2018 09:08

Originally Posted By suba
Think you've just highlighted the 'handling' issue I have with most 'everyday usable' quick cars, which is ultimately what makes a car have a fun factor.

I end up thinking they're a nice cruiser, and 'OK' in the corners, but ultimately don't leave me with a silly grin on my face, so why not just have the 150 bhp TDI version... crazy

Traction control on most cars of this nature drives me nuts - so conservative on pretty much all the ones i've driven.


Can't argue with any of that really, except the Tdi part. I was originally going to get the GTE version (so at least it's still petrol) for that very reason but they stopped taking orders for them. Reasoning that I could take the coop off the road for a bit to offset the R's significantly higher running costs, I took that route.

The biggest problem with the tracton control (which is fully defeatable at least) is that every time you switch cruise control on, it's automatically re-activated rolleyes It's probably this sort of functionality that helps to keep insurance premiums down and safety rating up in VW's defence.

It isn't that intrusive to be fair though and takes only a second or two to turn it off if you want to.

One thing that must be pointed out also here though, is that you'd be hard pushed to find something as good all round, that is more fun and still allows you to chuck a 6x3x2 foot box in the boot.
Posted By: Gunzi

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 06/04/2018 10:43

Fabulous write up Trappy, great detail and an interesting read.

This year I bought a Focus RS but given what you've written it's more willing to kick it's tail out in dry or wet conditions, and so I'm in limit finding mode as to what conditions it'll oversteer vs grip.
Posted By: bezzer

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 10/04/2018 11:42

Great review Trappy. It's on the list for when I change in 18 months.....
Posted By: Trappy

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 10/04/2018 14:06

Originally Posted By bezzer
Great review Trappy. It's on the list for when I change in 18 months.....


By all accounts, the Golf 8 will be out by then with 350bhp R version. Should be a sound choice! thumb
Posted By: bezzer

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 12/04/2018 07:40

Originally Posted By Trappy

By all accounts, the Golf 8 will be out by then with 350bhp R version. Should be a sound choice! thumb


Hmmmm, interesting. I think there's also a new A45 due out in the next 18 months too. Alongside the RS3, there's going to be some serious thinking to do......
Posted By: Gunzi

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 12/04/2018 11:28

It is a great time to be a hot hatch fan!
Posted By: sugerbear

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 16/04/2018 11:50

Do you have DCC (adaptive suspension) ?
Posted By: Trappy

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 17/04/2018 07:10

Originally Posted By sugerbear
Do you have DCC (adaptive suspension) ?


I don't, no. Mine's a poverty spec one - it was available at 'short' notice so no there was no opportunity for any options. It's something I would have considered but in all honesty, it seems it's only really necessary with 19" wheels so I probably wouldn't have bothered anyway.
Posted By: Brilly1uk

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 28/08/2018 16:02

Was out for a spin in the coupe the other day, when having overtaken a few Sunday drivers on a duel carriageway, I spotted a white Golf estate up in front.
It must have spotted me, for as I approached it from some distance away, it began to steadily accelerate and stretch its legs seemingly wanting to see if I could keep up.
Only the 4 tail pipes gave it away.

Having kept a safe but steady gap between us, we both eased off and then carried on driving with normal traffic. No doubt at silly speeds 300bhp would have seen it pull away, but I was impressed with how the coupe could still hold its own and also what appeared to be the ultimate Q car.

Posted By: DavidRobot

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 28/08/2018 20:50

I’ve recently replaced my Alfa 159 with a new Golf R estate, and so far I’ve been very impressed. Totally different driving experience to the coupe, but very, very capable. And I can get the dog in the boot!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 29/08/2018 18:22

Interesting read to be fair, I've always wondered what they are like to live with, driven a few but was abit iffy with thought.. great write up.
Posted By: Trappy

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 21/09/2018 06:42

Originally Posted By Brilly1uk
Was out for a spin in the coupe the other day, when having overtaken a few Sunday drivers on a duel carriageway, I spotted a white Golf estate up in front.
It must have spotted me, for as I approached it from some distance away, it began to steadily accelerate and stretch its legs seemingly wanting to see if I could keep up.
Only the 4 tail pipes gave it away.

Having kept a safe but steady gap between us, we both eased off and then carried on driving with normal traffic. No doubt at silly speeds 300bhp would have seen it pull away, but I was impressed with how the coupe could still hold its own and also what appeared to be the ultimate Q car.



I haven't encountered a Coop while out in the Golf but I do have a pal with a standard one I'm planning to test it against soon laugh It just drives past Focus STs (MkII 2.5s) though, even tuned ones, and when rolling...

An original Audi RS3 (335bhp) had the legs on it but only just. A chap in a "440 brake" Evo IX was surprised by how long it took him to catch it too. DSG is so pronounced when you're next to a high power manual car.

I did put the Performance Box in a while back. It occasionally pauses when you launch and it did it this time so it could knock a tenth or even two off all of these times. It's a LOT faster than VW claims...

Volkswagen Golf Mk7.5 'R Soul' (2017)
0-30mph: 1.7
0-40mph: 2.4
0-50mph: 3.4
0-60mph: 4.4
0-70mph: 5.7
0-80mph: 7.2
0-90mph: 9.0
0-100mph: 11.4
0-110mph: 14.3

Calculated 60ft (18.3m): 2.12s
Calculated 60ft (18.3m): 36.2mph
Calculated 330ft (100.6m): 5.55s
Calculated 330ft (100.6m): 69.1mph
Calculated 1/8 Mile (201.1m): 8.4s
Calculated 1/8 Mile (201.1m): 86.5mph
Calculated 1000ft (301.7m): 10.91s
Calculated 1000ft (301.7m): 97.9mph
Calculated 0-400m: 12.99s
Calculated 0-400m: 105.4mph
Calculated 1/4 Mile (402.3m): 13.04s
Calculated 1/4 Mile (402.3m): 105.6mph
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 21/09/2018 18:28

No there decent too say the very least, impressive !
Posted By: Trappy

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 24/09/2018 12:22

One thing I forgot to mention is an update on the fuel economy. The Coupé has always returned 21mpg in my hands. Regardless of tune, it was 21mpg. That was an average of short journeys, driving around town and putting my foot down. When I started driving it to work and trying to be a little lighter on the throttle, it managed 26mpg.

Driving the Golf in eco mode on the same journey it would average 27-30mpg. Having now started commuting to work on the train, the Golf usage has become the same as the Coop's used to be. Town driving, short journeys (2 miles to a car park) and the occasional blat. It now returns an average of 21mpg.
Posted By: pinin_prestatyn

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 24/09/2018 16:55

My Golf GTI is far more thirsty than my coupe frown I’m spending £20 more on fuel for 70BHP less. I think a trip to Flea is in order!
Posted By: Gunzi

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 24/09/2018 18:15

Which mark Golf have you got Pinin?
Posted By: pinin_prestatyn

Re: VW Golf R Estate - 24/09/2018 18:41

It’s a MK5 Gunzi. I’ll do a little write up. Why should Trappy have all the limelight hey? laugh
© 2024 Fiat Coupe Club UK