I’ve had a MK8 R wagon for almost 2 years and have loved it! Admittedly it’s not cheap but there’s now no such thing as a cheap car these days. Yeah the haptic controls are not as good as buttons but you do get used to it. Besides a couple of faults with lane assist and the gear selector happening it’s been a fantastic family daily driver. Has averaged about 9L with mixed driving and it’s tuned. It’s overall been a fantastic car to own and enjoyable to drive every time! Love it
I own this car and I am not sure why everyone who test drive this car is so negative about the touch screen and the buttons on the steering wheel and the Aircon and volume controls. I never had an issue at all working with them and just took one day to get used to it. The car is very well designed and even the interior looks still fresh to me after having this car for almost 2 years now.
The test drivers' feedback might have caused all that hassle. Typically, a test driver doesn't live with the car; they just drive it for a few hours. It's understandable that it might be confusing initially. However, I wonder why there isn't the same level of criticism directed at Teslas, which, in comparison to VWs, tend to have more inconveniences.
I’ve own 7.5 R such a good car Now I own the my 8 Golf r Amazing hot hatch price little expensive but for the price great performance As per the buttons you get use to it not as bad as people think it is Entertainment system had software updates No different to other modern vehicles Love my car and having so much fun
Love my R!!!!! '23 20th anniversary edition and it is an absolute blast. Great daily to and from work, dropping the kids, or hooning around on a track day, it takes it all in stride even in horrible weather, the snowy winters in Toronto, Canada.....
I recently test drove one along with the s3. Here are my thoughts. Golf r: Driving this thing was amazing. Feels so much faster then the s3 even though it’s only 20nm more with same kw. Maybe something to do with the way the gears are tuned and the torque vectoring. The interior was a shocking place to be. It really is very bad. It was an instant no for me. Especially for the stupid price it’s going for. S3: Interior fit and finish were absolutely outstanding. Not a fan of the gloss black inside the cabin as it attracts a lot of dust and finger prints. It drives very similar to the golf r and is plenty of power for the street. In sport mode the thing becomes a weapon. I ended up negotiating a deal where I got the Audi s3 for cheaper then a golf r and am the happy owner of this beautiful machine. 😍.
I do not work ,I am a kid ,I watch these reviews and your other videos for entertainment but your promos are thee best, they are not too long nor dull.
I drove this car last week in the UK and was super impressed by the performance on the motorway. I’m not worried about displays and all the other set ups, to be honest, I loved everything about the car except for having no wireless Apple car play and android auto. Definitely buying one!
I had a Mk 8 GTI (before Cupra landed in Australia) and yes - you get used to the infotainment / volume / climate controls very quickly. Looking forward to the ‘8.5’ coming out next year!
Great review mate. I had a MK5 GTI of which I sold to a friend when it had 300,000 km on the dial. He drove it for a few years and passed it on when it had 400,000 km on the dial. That GTI was my favourite car and I've had over 30 cars.
Love the Golf R, have owned two, but the prices are getting ridiculous. I remember buying my MK7 for $55K brand new on the road. Now we're well past $70K with on-roads, and tbh at that price i'd be looking to save a bit more money and just get a luxury car.
Just curious, is that USD? I bought a 2024 DSG Golf R in Edmonton, Canada a couple weeks ago with a few dealer extras and 7 year warranty for $64K CAD out the door, which converted is a little under $47K USD.
I have now own my mk8 GTI for a year. And yes I got used to the infotainment system within a week, and I am actually quite like this design. Only complain is the piano black centre console, but it looks good😝.
I got used to the Haptic Touch almost immediately. Reviewers have made WAY too big of a deal of that.. It all actually works very well. I’ve owned the car for 6 months and I have NEVER “accidentally” tapped the “R” or the heated steering wheel button. It’s a great car
Used to be able to get an RS3 for not much more than $70,000… they’re now over $100,000 optioned up, so yeah, it’s getting too expensive for what it is. My 2015 FGX XR8 was only a tick over $60,000 for way more performance… car pricing has gone mental, and way above inflation in my opinion 🤷♂️
Does it really have more performance? Golf R does 0-100 quicker and also quarter mile quicker. Presumably would smash the XR8 in the bends. Also a much nicer car overall in terms of appointment. Also, there has been a lot of inflation since 2015. The 2024 equivalent to 60,000 is approx 79,000.
@@coreyw427 I just agreed in general principal that car prices are too expensive. No point comparing a 2015 falcon at all as it lacks so many features ,tech and appointment to the 2024 Golf it isnt even funny. And it is slower everywhere while using twice the fuel in the process.
Have owned a MK7.5 R for 7 years fantastic car it was so well equipped, even had what they now call IQ lights. In the last 3 years, I have had a Stage 1 tune and suspension enhancements. Now 275 kW 520 Nm a seriously quick car 0-100 in the high 3s, a supremely safe platform and easy to improve. Eagerly waiting to see the MK8.5 R due June 26 could be tempted to upgrade. Probably the best supported platform atm.
We have a 2023 Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition. We love it. It is a great daily driver for all kinds of road conditions. I was able to clock 4.4 sec 0 to 60 MPH (97 KPH) on a soaking wet road in the middle of a down pour. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a daily driver that is a lot of fun.
Would be nice if you could also show a little go pro screen on the side when you are cornering the car to give us perspective of what the speed was and real understanding of the performance and handling
Cheers Paul for the excellent review, the golf R is my dream car and I came close to buying 1 and ended up buying the Tiguan R which is amazing and your review of that got me interested
I’ve owned mine since August 2022 and love it ! If i was to be critical though i would prefer separate controls for the AC. The other disappointment was the stock sound system, due to supposed chip shortages there was no HK system available and the stock system was worse than what’s in my daughters 05 Corolla, seriously. Its been upgraded since to FOCAL. BTW, I love the clean look of the haptic controls which took all of about a day to master. I wouldn’t go back to buttons, they look dated. And JFYI, the console lid also ratchets up and down for height adjustment ! And Finally Paul. You forgot to mention how good the DSG operates, even at low speeds !!😉
What I do not like is the heat and sunlight coming from the moonroof. That small whippy net does not block enough, I find myself reaching out to close the net, when it is already in the closed position. I am planning on ceramic tint the glass.
Sorry if this comes across as a dumb question but is the way you do 80-120 the best way to show it? You often say it's to simulate overtaking, so would it not be better to be cruising at 80 and then floor it rather than already flooring it?
My first car was a 1961 Volkswagen Beetle. In my opinion, they have got more expensive but not better. The current model is almost eye watering pricewise.
As a "generational" Golf R owner I'm about to purchase number 3 previously driving 6 x Subaru WRX/STI .I am a bit disappointed with the buttons but the rest is terrific.
Having owned the mk7.5 Golf R, I have a sweet spot for the Golf R, but they are now way too expensive. I'm not keen on a EV, but gee, the new Model 3 Performance is so close to the Golf R price and considerable quicker. VW really need to catch up with the times.
Drive one (2024 version) almost daily. They are actually not “touch sensitive” buttons - you need to click it … no issue with them at all. Touch screen fast and crisp. Climate slider, takes a week or 2, then you can operate without looking( like how you do with knobs). The drawback is the sunroof, I found it tricky to operate while driving. Performance is decent - there’s hidden mode ,down (D)your gear selector twice, it will intensify the normal sports mode (but not as aggressive as Race mode)
Owner of a 2023 Tiguan R-Line, (very similar interior before other in the comments kill me), I've gotten use to the haptic buttons no dramas and would prefer them to the other options and at night those buttons all have light up options so easy to see at night.
For me, a hot hatch represents affordable fun that can also do the mundane day to day stuff. At 75k, the R (and other hatches at this price point) is 20k beyond what the humble hot hatch should cost in 2024.
I have a 7.5 R Wolfsburg Wagon, it’s incredible and hasn’t got the niggles with the entertainment system in the 8 that you are referring to. I actually think it also looks better than the 8.
I had an S3 15 years ago that cost about $80K; given the time elapsed since then, I don't think that it's too expensive. More power out of the EA288 now; a well proven engine.
Looking for a 2nd car a standard golf was an option. So off we went to the dealership, they had all the car boots open and browsing at a golf realised it was actually a polo. The polo is now about the size of older model golfs. So, as the golf entry level is the same price as a Polo GTI we or should I say the wife bought the polo gti.
Suggest two long important improvements to your video reporting 1. The new Ranger/Amarok V6 do not have a centre differential and is thus not have a full 4wd system on sealed surfaces, but is similar to the AWD systems on Hyundais/Kias/Tiguans where a clutch engages the drive shaft/differential of the non-driving wheels in case of slippage…..utes/suv’s with full 4wd have centre differentials e.g. like the old Amarok, Triton, Prado, old Everest that have a much better 4WD system on sealed surfaces as all 4 wheels are always engaged. 2. The ‘Australian tuned’ suspensions for utes are often praised, just to be proved as mediocre in the wave tests…..time to get real or get non-Australian tuned utes for comparison…
Absolutely enjoy your segments, I'd love to see a review on the outgoing BMW M135I XDRIVE, on paper has a fair wack of torque at 450nm, be keen to see your review on this.
As an owner of the Sonata N Line, I’ve been waiting for a review as well, it doesn’t get as much love as the N models on here, it is just about bang on in terms of features and performance as the i30 N (Hatch, Sedan)
@@mharro88 when I talk about performance, I’m talking about straight line performance, it’s just a vague expression, I understand the Sonata isn’t a track focused sedan, just a quick sporty family sedan similar to the oldschool VE Commodore’s
Hoping to pick up a 6MT mk8 by the end of the month. There are 80 new (50 of which are manuals) within a 25km radius of me (Edmonton, Alberta , Canada). In today’s marked they just aren’t moving off the dealer lots. Time will tell if they actually want to sell one at a reasonable price. I’m in my early 50s and my knees are still OK so got to try get the manual while they are still available. Cheers, great review.
Hello from Calgary.... Great RUN in Hockey for you guys....I'm not a REAL Hockey Junkie... CARS on the other hand... too much!! I just got myself a MK8 Golf R 6MT...ALL BLACK in the dealership I was in, and bought from they had this GTI all specked up...including the 20th Anniversary Black wheels...complete with the R logo on them....weird.... I asked that they swap them to MY BLACK with the Silver wheels which are not the standard ones BLACK and SILVER... I got the all silver wheels and Hankook rubber.... BLUE R logos so it really POPS... SO FAR IM LOVING IT.... picking up groceries with 300 hp.... and Superunleaded prices..... I eat less, since moving from a Hybrid.... Right.... the haptic panel is not a pain for me either is the buttons on the wheel.... I've not turned on the heated wheel...or have I, the CAR....I think is Possessed.... (Like Christine) (Stephen King) unless it heats the wheel when it's a certain temp outside.... lately it's been a tad on the chilly.... I'm waiting for SUMMER.... Black unfortunately is a DUST MAG.... Let me know if you GOT one and which color..... Good Luck!! $$$$+
@@MiCoopRS I’m originally from England and haven’t acquired the taste for Ice Hockey, I’m kinda glad it’s all over since my wife doesn’t spend hours shouting profanities at the TV anymore 😂 . Congrats on the Black R, imo all 3 colors look fantastic but my choice would be the white with the older Estoril wheels. The black looks so aggressive and I love it but my wife has a black ford edge so I want something differently coloured and it is such a pain to keep looking clean. Did you by chance pick up your R from VW in Sherwood Park? Went there a little while ago and saw a GTI in the showroom that had the 20th edition R wheels (all black Estorils) with R center caps. I remember saying to the sales dude that it looked great but was kind of odd on a GTI. Anyway, I haven’t purchased yet. There’s still a crap ton of new mk8 available up here so I’m holding on until later this year. Amazing vehicle (test drove 2 24s and a 22) but still think they are over priced 🤷♂️. I’m also still enjoying driving my pretty much mint 2010 mazda3 GT sport (2.5L 6MT hatch), would love the R but I would really miss my Gen2 3. Cheers
@@HughRussell06 You have a car that is worth a lot of money, it is supposed to be sporty.....and you want it to go unnoticed. I don't understand anything.
How much cheaper would this car be if it didn’t have the gimmicky drift mode technology, and how much extra does that technology add to the service costs?
In Australia, there is a huge gap between the prices of the A45S and RS3 to that of the Golf R. The A45S/RS3 are much more expensive. The A45S is about AUD$54,000 more expensive. The Mercedes A45S hatch is about AUD$131,000 drive-away (A35 about $95,000 drive-away) , the Audi RS3 is about $111,000 drive-away (S3 is about $85,000 drive-away). Whilst the VW Golf R is about normally about $77,000 drive-away (but VW currently has an offer of $74,000). Cheers.
@@nicholasmatthews5989 no a45s sells for the sticker of 130, a lot more on the 100-110 mark similar to the rs3. Once you spec out a golf r it’s really not that much cheaper than two cars with way more performance. A year or two old a45s you can get for mid 80s, with more performance and an interior leagues ahead.
Unsure why my previous reply is not posting, nobody pays 130k for an a45s or an m2, more between 100-110, and the difference in performance is immense. A slightly used a45s is in the mid 80s and far superior interior and performance. A fully speced golf r with the stealerships lie “there’s no stock price” were easily in the 80s.
If they have real torque and power (like this one) and an interior with a good array of latest features, I'd pay the price rather than getting a gutless hatch. However your review suggests this interior may not be one I would pay that amount for - maybe after the updates?
Hi Paul we are thinking 130 n performance and golf 8 r what do you think worth golf r worth of 12000 what would you go for please Paul we are happy about the golf r thanks paul
Owner of a MY23 Golf R 20Y AE, yes you do get used to the haptic feed back wheel, would I prefer buttons; yes, but after a week its fine. Piano black interior still sucks tho.
Glossy surfaces are med to cover the cheap plastics, so nobody knows, yet at the same time in my opionion the glossy surfaces should be restricted, because they are very dangerous during the sunny days.
The mk8 R is big step up from the previous generation in terms of performance the way it puts the power down is Realy cool. I test drove the audi s3 same year as the mk8 R and its night and day difference. R is way better in my opinion to drive.
I very nearly bought one of these as an upgrade from my 7.5 Golf R. I ended up with Civic Type R instead. Regardless of how quick the Golf R was, I always found it a little boring. The Type R is just a truly magnificent car to drive by comparison. Very interested to see what the update for the Golf brings.
Any vehicle that has a lot of side bolstering built into the seats, will make seat entry / exit, a bit harder… U need to try it for yourself. Exhaust noise More in sports mode But European regulations have got very tough on this in recent years, so nothing from factory is particularly loud nowadays But Aftermarket mods to exhaust can make it as loud as u want… But, if u go too loud, u won’t pass rego, and Police will defect the vehicle
I always thought you were a youtuber working for yourself. This channel is nothing but your success. So not sure you are working for someone else's channel. For your popularity it wouldn't have been harder to find cars to test too.
70k for a Golf…. are they for real, what are with these modern day new vehicles being so ridiculously overpriced. I get the performance is great but the i30 N is way more bang for your buck and just as fast. Sure because the Golf R has AWD it rockets off the line but true real world performance lies in the roll on acceleration, you’re not going to be using launch control at every red light to drag race everyone and to be honest this isn’t 15-20k worth extra in the performance category over an i30 N (Sedan or Hatch) in terms of mid-range punch, there’s barely anything between the two as this has more drivetrain loss. And as terms for luxury, no one buys a Golf for luxury so that alone isn’t worth the price tag, make this car around the 55-60k mark and it’ll be exceptional, but some dealers are asking well over 80 to 90k which is just outlandish.
I kind of agree with you, yes it is overpriced but so is the i30n, at its price it should be awd. Unfortunately all cars today are overpriced, the cheap cars are expensive and expensive cars, well they just bend you over, no lube.
@@smiddysmidton8313 being 0.3 seconds quicker in a roll on isn’t exactly a league above. Even the 0-100 is only 0.5 seconds difference, that to me isn’t 20k extra in terms of performance.
Why is it that car journos never talk about long term reliability issues, VW engines are notorious for intake tract carbonisation. Direct injection without port injection was always going to be a disaster. But hey VW stopped caring about its customers decades ago…
So they improve the infotainment hardware & software with the '25 facelift, but grew the stupid screen to gargantuan proportions, STILL left the climate controls in touchscreen menus, STILL didn't add a volume knob, and though they replaced the haptic controls on OTHER models' steering wheels, they remain on the R, apparently because they didn't want to design a new wheel for it. Also we were getting 6MT option in USA through '24, now gone for '25, which will disappoint a LOT of people here, including me, who will now stick to my '19 Mk7.5, whereas I had been considering replacing it with a '25.
@@CarExpertAus can’t blame um after the shit review from Carsguide. That was comical, he got slaughtered in the comments. After watching A review from out of spec and after my brief test drive I did, I don’t think they have anything to worry about. But you are the best ozzy reviewer out that so I’m sure you will do it justice. After the tripe around from channel 7 saying thousands of teslas are unsold, upon me checking the real stats only 164 unsold teslas in Oz. We need to be very clear and honest around Tesla cars and the company. Stay real and get channel 7 to take you off the fud story they run.
Yes, It is getting too expensive! But then, what isn’t since the pandemic started! At least it does a reasonable job in putting the two AWD Hyundai Ionic 5 models into some perspective.
Sorry Paul, curious, why is this car allowed a lightbar, yet the new Kia EV5 you mentioned its lightbar had to be removed for the Australian market? So strange
Yes it's massively overpriced given its competition. It's quick but definitely not the best hot hatch. On track the Civic Type R, GR Corolla and I30N sedan or more playful and engaging than this. Even the sister brands Cupra Leon vzx is more raw to drive. Definitely the most refined/comfortable though and AWD makes it handy I guess. Also the facelift has just as much piano black. The infotainment is better though , the one in this is a horror show.
The speedo moved to the bottom corner due to the drive mode they changed to. It took me a minute to realise that but yea.. stuff moves around on the digital displays they have these days
Beautiful car fun to drive, I did have one, but they are not in the league of some other German vehicles!. But 80 thousand aud way way too much for the new model “outrageous” really. A used BMW 330e comes to mind!?
I’ve had a MK8 R wagon for almost 2 years and have loved it! Admittedly it’s not cheap but there’s now no such thing as a cheap car these days. Yeah the haptic controls are not as good as buttons but you do get used to it. Besides a couple of faults with lane assist and the gear selector happening it’s been a fantastic family daily driver. Has averaged about 9L with mixed driving and it’s tuned.
It’s overall been a fantastic car to own and enjoyable to drive every time! Love it
I own this car and I am not sure why everyone who test drive this car is so negative about the touch screen and the buttons on the steering wheel and the Aircon and volume controls. I never had an issue at all working with them and just took one day to get used to it. The car is very well designed and even the interior looks still fresh to me after having this car for almost 2 years now.
Sure you do
If it wasn't any problem, Then VW wouldn't go to all the cost & R&D to change it all in the update.
The test drivers' feedback might have caused all that hassle. Typically, a test driver doesn't live with the car; they just drive it for a few hours. It's understandable that it might be confusing initially. However, I wonder why there isn't the same level of criticism directed at Teslas, which, in comparison to VWs, tend to have more inconveniences.
The thing is majority hates the design and they are going back to less touch design.
@@purplehazeffc Cause stupid car reviewers don't know how to operate basic tech.
I’ve own 7.5 R such a good car
Now I own the my 8 Golf r
Amazing hot hatch price little expensive but for the price great performance
As per the buttons you get use to it
not as bad as people think it is
Entertainment system had software updates
No different to other modern vehicles
Love my car and having so much fun
Love my R!!!!! '23 20th anniversary edition and it is an absolute blast. Great daily to and from work, dropping the kids, or hooning around on a track day, it takes it all in stride even in horrible weather, the snowy winters in Toronto, Canada.....
You should do a 1 hot lap time test with all the cars you test drive to see how quick they are in comparison to each other in different categories.
I recently test drove one along with the s3. Here are my thoughts.
Golf r: Driving this thing was amazing. Feels so much faster then the s3 even though it’s only 20nm more with same kw. Maybe something to do with the way the gears are tuned and the torque vectoring. The interior was a shocking place to be. It really is very bad. It was an instant no for me. Especially for the stupid price it’s going for.
S3: Interior fit and finish were absolutely outstanding. Not a fan of the gloss black inside the cabin as it attracts a lot of dust and finger prints. It drives very similar to the golf r and is plenty of power for the street. In sport mode the thing becomes a weapon. I ended up negotiating a deal where I got the Audi s3 for cheaper then a golf r and am the happy owner of this beautiful machine. 😍.
Totally agree with you mate , also an s3 2022 owner , absolute Weapon , paired with the right mods is a bonus , fun and capable on track !
@@rykophilippou1866 100%. Only problem now is having the restraint to not tune it 😫
How much did you pay for the s3?
@@gymclasshero88 75k
@@Ibz87lol the golf r costs a lot less than 75k
Love your honest reviews, because you point out the pluses and importantly the minuses. Every single thing has pluses and minuses.
I do not work ,I am a kid ,I watch these reviews and your other videos for entertainment but your promos are thee best, they are not too long nor dull.
I drove this car last week in the UK and was super impressed by the performance on the motorway. I’m not worried about displays and all the other set ups, to be honest, I loved everything about the car except for having no wireless Apple car play and android auto. Definitely buying one!
I own one in Canada and use wireless android carplay or whatever it's called everytime I drive it. Is it deactivated in the UK or something?
Hey Paul love the work ! Seeing as golf R is reviewed please please full review on the 2024 Audi s3 ! As an owner , awsome car !
South Africa appreciates this review. This car here is every boy racer dreams to have. Once I graduate from the Gti. Thank you
Not all south africans, definitely not me....
I had a Mk 8 GTI (before Cupra landed in Australia) and yes - you get used to the infotainment / volume / climate controls very quickly.
Looking forward to the ‘8.5’ coming out next year!
Spot on got mine for a bargain
Great review mate. I had a MK5 GTI of which I sold to a friend when it had 300,000 km on the dial. He drove it for a few years and passed it on when it had 400,000 km on the dial. That GTI was my favourite car and I've had over 30 cars.
Love the Golf R, have owned two, but the prices are getting ridiculous. I remember buying my MK7 for $55K brand new on the road. Now we're well past $70K with on-roads, and tbh at that price i'd be looking to save a bit more money and just get a luxury car.
There has been a lot of inflation since then. 55k then is about 72k now, so perhaps not as different as you might think.
Just curious, is that USD?
I bought a 2024 DSG Golf R in Edmonton, Canada a couple weeks ago with a few dealer extras and 7 year warranty for $64K CAD out the door, which converted is a little under $47K USD.
@@thebrassbandit No, in Australian dollars. This is an Australian car review site.
I have now own my mk8 GTI for a year. And yes I got used to the infotainment system within a week, and I am actually quite like this design. Only complain is the piano black centre console, but it looks good😝.
I got used to the Haptic Touch almost immediately. Reviewers have made WAY too big of a deal of that.. It all actually works very well. I’ve owned the car for 6 months and I have NEVER “accidentally” tapped the “R” or the heated steering wheel button. It’s a great car
Used to be able to get an RS3 for not much more than $70,000… they’re now over $100,000 optioned up, so yeah, it’s getting too expensive for what it is. My 2015 FGX XR8 was only a tick over $60,000 for way more performance… car pricing has gone mental, and way above inflation in my opinion 🤷♂️
Does it really have more performance? Golf R does 0-100 quicker and also quarter mile quicker. Presumably would smash the XR8 in the bends. Also a much nicer car overall in terms of appointment. Also, there has been a lot of inflation since 2015. The 2024 equivalent to 60,000 is approx 79,000.
Agree on pricing but a XR8 would get whipped everywhere by a Golf R.
@@smiddysmidton8313 Not really on pricing either, if you see my other comment due to inflation it’s basically the same
@@coreyw427 I just agreed in general principal that car prices are too expensive. No point comparing a 2015 falcon at all as it lacks so many features ,tech and appointment to the 2024 Golf it isnt even funny. And it is slower everywhere while using twice the fuel in the process.
Have owned a MK7.5 R for 7 years fantastic car it was so well equipped, even had what they now call IQ lights. In the last 3 years, I have had a Stage 1 tune and suspension enhancements. Now 275 kW 520 Nm a seriously quick car 0-100 in the high 3s, a supremely safe platform and easy to improve. Eagerly waiting to see the MK8.5 R due June 26 could be tempted to upgrade. Probably the best supported platform atm.
We have a 2023 Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition. We love it. It is a great daily driver for all kinds of road conditions. I was able to clock 4.4 sec 0 to 60 MPH (97 KPH) on a soaking wet road in the middle of a down pour. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a daily driver that is a lot of fun.
Would be nice if you could also show a little go pro screen on the side when you are cornering the car to give us perspective of what the speed was and real understanding of the performance and handling
Cheers Paul for the excellent review, the golf R is my dream car and I came close to buying 1 and ended up buying the Tiguan R which is amazing and your review of that got me interested
Is that you Ben?
Great car review. I like the new vw golf R . From South Africa and I'm a big fan ❤
I’ve owned mine since August 2022 and love it !
If i was to be critical though i would prefer separate controls for the AC. The other disappointment was the stock sound system, due to supposed chip shortages there was no HK system available and the stock system was worse than what’s in my daughters 05 Corolla, seriously. Its been upgraded since to FOCAL.
BTW, I love the clean look of the haptic controls which took all of about a day to master. I wouldn’t go back to buttons, they look dated.
And JFYI, the console lid also ratchets up and down for height adjustment !
And Finally Paul. You forgot to mention how good the DSG operates, even at low speeds !!😉
What I do not like is the heat and sunlight coming from the moonroof. That small whippy net does not block enough, I find myself reaching out to close the net, when it is already in the closed position. I am planning on ceramic tint the glass.
Sorry if this comes across as a dumb question but is the way you do 80-120 the best way to show it? You often say it's to simulate overtaking, so would it not be better to be cruising at 80 and then floor it rather than already flooring it?
This is very true. I think it’s more indicative than actually replication of overtaking.😊
They should have a couple of caravans and a road train..
My first car was a 1961 Volkswagen Beetle. In my opinion, they have got more expensive but not better. The current model is almost eye watering pricewise.
As a "generational" Golf R owner I'm about to purchase number 3 previously driving 6 x Subaru WRX/STI .I am a bit disappointed with the buttons but the rest is terrific.
I own a 2024 golf R its so cool car i love it
Having owned the mk7.5 Golf R, I have a sweet spot for the Golf R, but they are now way too expensive. I'm not keen on a EV, but gee, the new Model 3 Performance is so close to the Golf R price and considerable quicker. VW really need to catch up with the times.
I’d be getting the Tesla M3P for sure.
Nothing can replace the golf gear change sound though 🤤
Drive one (2024 version) almost daily. They are actually not “touch sensitive” buttons - you need to click it … no issue with them at all. Touch screen fast and crisp. Climate slider, takes a week or 2, then you can operate without looking( like how you do with knobs). The drawback is the sunroof, I found it tricky to operate while driving. Performance is decent - there’s hidden mode ,down (D)your gear selector twice, it will intensify the normal sports mode (but not as aggressive as Race mode)
Owner of a 2023 Tiguan R-Line, (very similar interior before other in the comments kill me), I've gotten use to the haptic buttons no dramas and would prefer them to the other options and at night those buttons all have light up options so easy to see at night.
For me, a hot hatch represents affordable fun that can also do the mundane day to day stuff. At 75k, the R (and other hatches at this price point) is 20k beyond what the humble hot hatch should cost in 2024.
I have a 7.5 R Wolfsburg Wagon, it’s incredible and hasn’t got the niggles with the entertainment system in the 8 that you are referring to. I actually think it also looks better than the 8.
I had an S3 15 years ago that cost about $80K; given the time elapsed since then, I don't think that it's too expensive. More power out of the EA288 now; a well proven engine.
Looking for a 2nd car a standard golf was an option. So off we went to the dealership, they had all the car boots open and browsing at a golf realised it was actually a polo. The polo is now about the size of older model golfs. So, as the golf entry level is the same price as a Polo GTI we or should I say the wife bought the polo gti.
Paul’s still the man!👍
Good job. Please also include audio sound review for every car you test.
Audio is 💩
I’ve driven a few of these now and the interior feels like polo levels of luxury definitely not $60-$70k premium. Outside looks are decent though
Suggest two long important improvements to your video reporting
1. The new Ranger/Amarok V6 do not have a centre differential and is thus not have a full 4wd system on sealed surfaces, but is similar to the AWD systems on Hyundais/Kias/Tiguans where a clutch engages the drive shaft/differential of the non-driving wheels in case of slippage…..utes/suv’s with full 4wd have centre differentials e.g. like the old Amarok, Triton, Prado, old Everest that have a much better 4WD system on sealed surfaces as all 4 wheels are always engaged.
2. The ‘Australian tuned’ suspensions for utes are often praised, just to be proved as mediocre in the wave tests…..time to get real or get non-Australian tuned utes for comparison…
You need to do lap times like what top gear did back in the day haha 👍😂
Absolutely enjoy your segments, I'd love to see a review on the outgoing BMW M135I XDRIVE, on paper has a fair wack of torque at 450nm, be keen to see your review on this.
be interested to see a review on the Hyundai Sonata N line
As an owner of the Sonata N Line, I’ve been waiting for a review as well, it doesn’t get as much love as the N models on here, it is just about bang on in terms of features and performance as the i30 N (Hatch, Sedan)
@@russell3436 performance isn't even close to a i30n sedan other than straight line speed.
@@mharro88 when I talk about performance, I’m talking about straight line performance, it’s just a vague expression, I understand the Sonata isn’t a track focused sedan, just a quick sporty family sedan similar to the oldschool VE Commodore’s
Should i buy this or wait for the newer one
Hoping to pick up a 6MT mk8 by the end of the month. There are 80 new (50 of which are manuals) within a 25km radius of me (Edmonton, Alberta , Canada). In today’s marked they just aren’t moving off the dealer lots. Time will tell if they actually want to sell one at a reasonable price. I’m in my early 50s and my knees are still OK so got to try get the manual while they are still available. Cheers, great review.
Such a shame only North America and Canada gets the manual. Not even Europe does
Hello from Calgary.... Great RUN in Hockey for you guys....I'm not a REAL Hockey Junkie... CARS on the other hand... too much!! I just got myself a MK8 Golf R 6MT...ALL BLACK in the dealership I was in, and bought from they had this GTI all specked up...including the 20th Anniversary Black wheels...complete with the R logo on them....weird.... I asked that they swap them to MY BLACK with the Silver wheels which are not the standard ones BLACK and SILVER... I got the all silver wheels and Hankook rubber.... BLUE R logos so it really POPS... SO FAR IM LOVING IT.... picking up groceries with 300 hp.... and Superunleaded prices..... I eat less, since moving from a Hybrid.... Right.... the haptic panel is not a pain for me either is the buttons on the wheel.... I've not turned on the heated wheel...or have I, the CAR....I think is Possessed.... (Like Christine) (Stephen King) unless it heats the wheel when it's a certain temp outside.... lately it's been a tad on the chilly.... I'm waiting for SUMMER.... Black unfortunately is a DUST MAG.... Let me know if you GOT one and which color..... Good Luck!! $$$$+
@@MiCoopRS I’m originally from England and haven’t acquired the taste for Ice Hockey, I’m kinda glad it’s all over since my wife doesn’t spend hours shouting profanities at the TV anymore 😂 . Congrats on the Black R, imo all 3 colors look fantastic but my choice would be the white with the older Estoril wheels. The black looks so aggressive and I love it but my wife has a black ford edge so I want something differently coloured and it is such a pain to keep looking clean. Did you by chance pick up your R from VW in Sherwood Park? Went there a little while ago and saw a GTI in the showroom that had the 20th edition R wheels (all black Estorils) with R center caps. I remember saying to the sales dude that it looked great but was kind of odd on a GTI. Anyway, I haven’t purchased yet. There’s still a crap ton of new mk8 available up here so I’m holding on until later this year. Amazing vehicle (test drove 2 24s and a 22) but still think they are over priced 🤷♂️. I’m also still enjoying driving my pretty much mint 2010 mazda3 GT sport (2.5L 6MT hatch), would love the R but I would really miss my Gen2 3. Cheers
Oh yeah, happy Canada Day long weekend 🍻.
Trying to get my hands on a manual as clearly there are more dsg ones out there
Any chance of reviewing the last version of the Kia Stinger GT on this track? There is only the old version!
From the front, looks more of an R-Line if you know what I mean. Doesn’t look aggressive enough.
I guess that’s a good thing about the Golf R though, it flies more under the radar unlike ones like the i30 N and Civic Type R
@@HughRussell06agreed, that’s the point of the Golf R and always has been. It does everything.
@@HughRussell06 You have a car that is worth a lot of money, it is supposed to be sporty.....and you want it to go unnoticed. I don't understand anything.
@@Hugh.G.Rection. But the mk7 R was more aggressive than this.
How much cheaper would this car be if it didn’t have the gimmicky drift mode technology, and how much extra does that technology add to the service costs?
Price on these are insane.
It's a walk up buy car, allot of confidence in it being great.
When are you going to review the polo rline
To close in pricing to a45s and rs3, coming from a 7.5R owner. Could we get an updated a45s review?
In Australia, there is a huge gap between the prices of the A45S and RS3 to that of the Golf R. The A45S/RS3 are much more expensive. The A45S is about AUD$54,000 more expensive. The Mercedes A45S hatch is about AUD$131,000 drive-away (A35 about $95,000 drive-away) , the Audi RS3 is about $111,000 drive-away (S3 is about $85,000 drive-away). Whilst the VW Golf R is about normally about $77,000 drive-away (but VW currently has an offer of $74,000). Cheers.
@@nicholasmatthews5989 no a45s sells for the sticker of 130, a lot more on the 100-110 mark similar to the rs3. Once you spec out a golf r it’s really not that much cheaper than two cars with way more performance. A year or two old a45s you can get for mid 80s, with more performance and an interior leagues ahead.
Not even remotely close in pricing. There's at least 20-30k in it
Unsure why my previous reply is not posting, nobody pays 130k for an a45s or an m2, more between 100-110, and the difference in performance is immense. A slightly used a45s is in the mid 80s and far superior interior and performance. A fully speced golf r with the stealerships lie “there’s no stock price” were easily in the 80s.
@@jackh4787 Slightly used with 40+km on it maybe?
If they have real torque and power (like this one) and an interior with a good array of latest features, I'd pay the price rather than getting a gutless hatch. However your review suggests this interior may not be one I would pay that amount for - maybe after the updates?
Hi Paul we are thinking 130 n performance and golf 8 r what do you think worth golf r worth of 12000 what would you go for please Paul we are happy about the golf r thanks paul
Owner of a MY23 Golf R 20Y AE, yes you do get used to the haptic feed back wheel, would I prefer buttons; yes, but after a week its fine. Piano black interior still sucks tho.
Top of my list when Lotto comes through :)
Glossy surfaces are med to cover the cheap plastics, so nobody knows, yet at the same time in my opionion the glossy surfaces should be restricted, because they are very dangerous during the sunny days.
Ohh
I think 70k is being generous, I’ve seen these at the dealership well over the 80k mark, unless they’ve depreciated for the 2024 model.
The mk8 R is big step up from the previous generation in terms of performance the way it puts the power down is Realy cool. I test drove the audi s3 same year as the mk8 R and its night and day difference. R is way better in my opinion to drive.
Can you even reach the gas pedal with that seat that far back? I'm 6 foot and my knees are not in the back seat like that.
I very nearly bought one of these as an upgrade from my 7.5 Golf R. I ended up with Civic Type R instead. Regardless of how quick the Golf R was, I always found it a little boring. The Type R is just a truly magnificent car to drive by comparison. Very interested to see what the update for the Golf brings.
How easy was it to get into and out of? Is it a struggle? Will the refreshed model come with a more fruitier exhaust sound?
Depends on age I guess
Haha! If you have legs you’ll be fine.
Any vehicle that has a lot of side bolstering built into the seats, will make seat entry / exit, a bit harder…
U need to try it for yourself.
Exhaust noise
More in sports mode
But
European regulations have got very tough on this in recent years, so nothing from factory is particularly loud nowadays
But
Aftermarket mods to exhaust can make it as loud as u want…
But, if u go too loud, u won’t pass rego, and Police will defect the vehicle
80K? What’s the minimum wage in Australia? In the US that car is about $45K, which is still very expensive.
😎👍🏽 nice review
Having a firm car ride in Australia is terrible with the roads Australia has.
Wow the golf has ventilated seats, you cant even spec those on the 3 series., nice one VW👌
A very good looking car indeed but for the price now that's another story still its one of the better hatchback car out there on the road
I’m a big fan of golf r but I prefer the m4 7.5 golf r imo
Same, the frumpy face on the new gen looks pretty goofy IMO
Is this car worth it
looks like the new 8.5 did not update the buttons
It's either this or the S3 for the boring hot hatch on sale today
When was it ever the best hot hatch?
The FL5 Type R is a much better car overall. Feels way more special. Like a baby GT3RS
Are you going to review Volvo ex30 or they don't give it to you for review?
I always thought you were a youtuber working for yourself. This channel is nothing but your success. So not sure you are working for someone else's channel. For your popularity it wouldn't have been harder to find cars to test too.
Did you take the engine cover off first before you drove it ??
or just made sure you had a couple of fire extinguishers ??
That is the new version of the engine cover
Factory recall wasn't a new engine cover it was throwing the old one in the rubbish.
Would never trust a Volkswagen factory warranty.
70k for a Golf…. are they for real, what are with these modern day new vehicles being so ridiculously overpriced.
I get the performance is great but the i30 N is way more bang for your buck and just as fast.
Sure because the Golf R has AWD it rockets off the line but true real world performance lies in the roll on acceleration, you’re not going to be using launch control at every red light to drag race everyone and to be honest this isn’t 15-20k worth extra in the performance category over an i30 N (Sedan or Hatch) in terms of mid-range punch, there’s barely anything between the two as this has more drivetrain loss. And as terms for luxury, no one buys a Golf for luxury so that alone isn’t worth the price tag, make this car around the 55-60k mark and it’ll be exceptional, but some dealers are asking well over 80 to 90k which is just outlandish.
I kind of agree with you, yes it is overpriced but so is the i30n, at its price it should be awd. Unfortunately all cars today are overpriced, the cheap cars are expensive and expensive cars, well they just bend you over, no lube.
A Golf R is a league above the i30 in performance.
@@smiddysmidton8313 being 0.3 seconds quicker in a roll on isn’t exactly a league above. Even the 0-100 is only 0.5 seconds difference, that to me isn’t 20k extra in terms of performance.
@@russell3436 performance isn’t just straight line speed.
Why is it that car journos never talk about long term reliability issues, VW engines are notorious for intake tract carbonisation. Direct injection without port injection was always going to be a disaster. But hey VW stopped caring about its customers decades ago…
The R has direct and port injection
So they improve the infotainment hardware & software with the '25 facelift, but grew the stupid screen to gargantuan proportions, STILL left the climate controls in touchscreen menus, STILL didn't add a volume knob, and though they replaced the haptic controls on OTHER models' steering wheels, they remain on the R, apparently because they didn't want to design a new wheel for it. Also we were getting 6MT option in USA through '24, now gone for '25, which will disappoint a LOT of people here, including me, who will now stick to my '19 Mk7.5, whereas I had been considering replacing it with a '25.
I’ve got a 2023 s3, the interior is far better. Actual buttons 😂. On the road no difference in performance, but more of a sleeper look. Suits me
nice looking golf r
paul can you please do the ram 1500 limited
Well, everything is expensive theses days in Australia 😱
Looks real good on the exterior but i hate the interior on this generation golf
Black seats in that Australian heat.
Like nearly every other car.
🤡
Highjacking king
Come on Paul! Where’s the 2024 Model 3P?
I think they’re too scared to give me one for an honest review 😂
@@CarExpertAus can’t blame um after the shit review from Carsguide. That was comical, he got slaughtered in the comments. After watching A review from out of spec and after my brief test drive I did, I don’t think they have anything to worry about. But you are the best ozzy reviewer out that so I’m sure you will do it justice. After the tripe around from channel 7 saying thousands of teslas are unsold, upon me checking the real stats only 164 unsold teslas in Oz. We need to be very clear and honest around Tesla cars and the company. Stay real and get channel 7 to take you off the fud story they run.
Yes, It is getting too expensive! But then, what isn’t since the pandemic started! At least it does a reasonable job in putting the two AWD Hyundai Ionic 5 models into some perspective.
Sorry Paul, curious, why is this car allowed a lightbar, yet the new Kia EV5 you mentioned its lightbar had to be removed for the Australian market? So strange
Yes you get use too all the buttons
Yes it's massively overpriced given its competition.
It's quick but definitely not the best hot hatch.
On track the Civic Type R, GR Corolla and I30N sedan or more playful and engaging than this. Even the sister brands Cupra Leon vzx is more raw to drive.
Definitely the most refined/comfortable though and AWD makes it handy I guess.
Also the facelift has just as much piano black. The infotainment is better though , the one in this is a horror show.
definitely the best looking hatchback, corolla hatchback is pretty ugly 😅
15k more than an i30N makes it a hard pill to swallow.
I understand, and I'm no big fan of golf's but I feel like this would be such a better car than the Hyundai. It almost justifies it...almost
To each their own. I look at this and say "only 15k more than the Hyundai", I would never choose the Hyundai!
it's still a hyundai lmao
@@naysay5812you should drive the Hyundai, they are very suprising
@@daweigo6851 I have, a few of the new i30s etc, feels pretty solid but the euros do everything just that little bit better
did they get into trouble with showing speeds? cannot see speedometer in this video.
I believe they use a track to test the 0-100/100-120 times.
So I don't think it's illegal unless it was done on a public road?
It’s a private track.
They can do 300 if they want.
The speedo moved to the bottom corner due to the drive mode they changed to. It took me a minute to realise that but yea.. stuff moves around on the digital displays they have these days
But don't you get quality and performance for that price quality performance
Things are too dear
Sprint time seems slow for a hot hatch
Grab an i30N instead?
Paul I love your work but your promos in every video are getting pretty tedious.
Agreed, been a subscriber since near day one and these help me carexpert are annoying.
Wait, I thought it was help me carwow
Exact copy of Carwow
I enjoy the drag races on that channel but as soon as the in-video promotion kicks in
Skip skip skip skip skip skip
He's lucky we don't just skip the video
@@Mooza1Yes! They are friends with CarWow but think of Car Expert as "Australian Car Wow" :)
Beautiful car fun to drive, I did have one, but they are not in the league of some other German vehicles!. But 80 thousand aud way way too much for the new model “outrageous” really. A used BMW 330e comes to mind!?
Glof R with more plastic 😬😔😔😔