Golf R was $47,990 for a manual Grid Edition in 2018 (or $57K with inflation taken into account). The same year, the Civic Type R was about $56K driveaway (or about $66K factoring in inflation).
Neither are great deals, but the Golf R is the better deal. It’s AWD and faster. 95% of owners aren’t taking these cars to the track, and of the 5% who do, only 5% can exploit their full capabilities. So all this “ TR handles better” is just dumb marketing. In everyday driving, the Golf R is a lot nicer to daily, quicker, and a true year long vehicle due to its AWD. It’s also cheaper. CTR is way overpriced.
@@JacesOwnWorld Its not about wich car is better at this point lol.The type-r will go up in value in the upcoming years while the golf R as good as it is will be sell for cheap and be forgotten cause its gonna be considered just another vw Golf....
I drove both. I ended up with the Golf R. The mature interior items. Heated seats and steering wheel, and AWD won me over. The type R was really nice but it didn't have that fun factor like the Golf R. In USA we can still get the 6spd. It's comparable to the Type R but the type R factory is better there. 2nd is tricky at first in the golf. The Golf R as it always seems with VW needed a bigger rear sway bar and needed some better tires. Once those are done it gains what the type R has on corners and is still way faster on the straight aways. You can't beat the performance and mpg of the Golf R and awd. It's a great vehicle for whatever weather is thrown at you and can still have fun in all of it. Most Golf Rs actually dyno at 329hp. Haven't heard is thr type Rs are the same. In the end, I really think like is said in this video, it's your driving style. I much perfer the awd and long term the interior on the golf R is better for daily and road trips. The Type R has more rear room but somehow VW has done some magic and those seats and room is quite comfy even for me at 5'11 and there's rear climate control and heated seats which my 9 year old son loves.
You are right about all what you sayed golf r more fun and type r never come with sunroof I don't know why and also my opinion is the time for type r to come more power and allwheel drive sorry my English bad ❤
A sunroof would add weight, and that is where the type r shines. It’s lighter weight. Both great cars, but I prefer the Honda just due to it being more “pure”. Totally subjective. I drive a 2019 Type R and shopped it against a VW R. I think I would have been happy either way! McCormick that was a great comparison of the two newer ones.
@jkujda ok clear now thanks you are right about the weight but in my opinion it gives it more beautiful and present .I love honda I have civic 2007 r18 manual american sistem here in my country Lebanon turbo charge just 250 hp high torque very quick is faster to golf gti 5 and 6 and 7 even bmw 335 and gold r and mitsubishi evo stock and sti in fact a dangerous car on the road I love it very fun
I had the TYPE R before I brought my mustang and after having my mustang for three years which I love to bits I would have no problem going back too the TYPE R it's that's good
@@davothegreat9990 Who give a shit about off the line. Thats why I have faster cars than these off the line... And may I say: I'm too old for that shit (off the line racing). After driving F1 car, there is no fast cars either :) . Last thing, Elantra N looks... so not thank you.
I have had my FL5 Type R for 12 months now. Absolutely love the car. The only let down has been all of the rattles from the dash and other areas of the car. Some obvious cost cutting from Honda…
@@davothegreat9990 No it’s not. The previous type R was as had a larger turbo and tuned differently. New one is much more linear and less lag with the smaller turbo.
The Golf R is the clear winner in terms of price per performance in this matchup. Golf R is cheaper (low-$50k’s vs mid-to-high $60k’s+)(this is calculating real world pricing, not MSRP as everyone knows CTR’s don’t sell for MSRP), it’s faster, it has better tech, and it’s AWD.
@@van_der_lindeDAsince when do car journalist actually review something properly? Who the hell relies on their reviews and opinions? Fwd is a terrible platform
Not all dealers jack the price on the Type R. My local dealer sells them for full sticker, not a penny less or more. Civic forums can tell you where to shop.
@2seep so top gear UK reviews cars on track/road and gives performance car of the year awards but they haven't reviewed it properly? Looks like an excuse
I think you’d be very hard pressed to find people who don’t think the Civic Type R is a hot hatch. Especially when the distinction you’re trying to make is a tough one to agree with…liftbacks are, of course, hatchbacks at their core
@@chasingcars By definition a hatchback has a hatch angle of 45 degrees or more, while a liftback has an angle less than 45 degrees. Liftbacks have been around since I can remember and they were always called lift backs. I'm not sure why people are not being accurate and calling them what they are. A liftback is a design choice and is nothing positive or negative, it's just what it is. But the Type R isn't a hot hatch, it's a liftback just like my wife's Prius which nobody has ever called a hatchback. 🤣
Hmmm, I feel like powering through, as opposed to just out of, corners in a Golf R, reveals the real benefits of that RS3 diff arrangement. It requires a bit of a shift in driving style and to be fair the more tight the corner the better. Just my humble opinion and Im not a motoring journalist.
Great review Curt, like the way you covered their strengths and particulars here and there to keep things interesting. Looking forward to your comparison with the GR Corolla. I have an FL5, and tested a GR Corolla. If the Golf R came in manual I reckon I would’ve had a conundrum. For the Golf R - was there any benefit of having the HVAC digital Eg voice controlled or remote via app? Otherwise i wonder how that got checked off during design. I will say that I took the civic out at SMSP a few weeks ago, just sublime. Compares well to my outgoing 86.
I own both, Golf R (DSG) is faster and a better daily driver, while the Type R is a better looking car that gets lots of attention, and the manual transmission is the best out there.
An automatic that has the same power is usually always going to be a bit faster than a manual. With that said there’s a level of connectivity you get to the car with a stick shift that you simply cannot get from an automatic. Until I get to the point I can have 2 vehicles, I’ll always go manual every time. The FL5 is an amazing machine.
I drove both and him saying they both ride the same in comfort was a Joke. People are swapping the adjustable damper module from the ITS because of the harsh ride of the Civic.
@@racer247 I daily the Type R myself and it’s not harsh at all to me personally but I’ve been accustomed to driving a lot of vehicles that have stiff suspensions. I’ve had a Porsche, STi , FGT to name a few. I’ll be keeping my FL5 stock tbh.
Currently run GR7.5, which enjoy with a stage 1 boost. I was looking at the last CTR, but then the GR Yaris came along in 2021, which I impulse purchased and covers all the gaps in Golf R running, and is the most fun car I have ever 14:40 had. Slower yet quicker than the Golf most times and places on the damp UK bumpy roads. No space fir a CTR, although I admire what Honda have done (styling aside) to hone their hot hatch.
The gr Yaris struggles and only a tiny bit quicker than a GTI not sure how it's even in the same ball park of an R on pure pace 😅. A 5.3 0-100 compared to a 4.2 1 second difference in the low end. Comparing a 0.5 second difference between a Audi rs3 to a golf r the Audi pulls aways with no problem. The golf R would be pulling bus lengths on a Yaris 😅.
@@ruki9043 you are thinking in straight line acceleration terms. That is not what these cars were ever about. But I can assure you that the GR will leave the R behind, under braking, corner entry and exit speeds, ultimate lateral grip and throttle respnse. All of these ultimately make the GR quicker in anything but a straight line drag, which is of little interest. UK roads have bumps and corners that favour the GR chassis, power delivery and lighter weight. YMMV
Had previously owned Honda integra type R, Civic type R and Honda S2000 and now I own VW R and I can say it’s the biggest mistake I ever did to enter VW world. Such a poor quality and reliability compared to Hondas. Bought it brand new and so many things went wrong it’s a joke. Transfer case liking oil (replaced), water pump replaced, starter button replaced twice, seat electronics playing up, all this before car even hit 50000km, never trashed and never taken to track or drag racing. With Honda’s I never had any issues, just normal servicing and that’s it.
@@daniel.s8126 wouldn’t say rare, talked to lots of guys all have similar issues, apparently water pump is well known issue, in some countries VW even made recall in regards to issue but is OZ our government is too weak to make them do it.
Opposite story here. I have had 3 new Rs since 2014 without a single issue or failure, abd servicing has been reasonable with no replacements beyond brake pads and fluids in a total of 150,000 miles. Not had a CTR, although tempted, but have run 2 other Hondas over the years, also without failures. Am active on all the R Forums and their reputation is overall very good.
For reliability I’d take the Honda all day everyday. I love the look of the VW, it’s a beautiful machine but I don’t trust the reliability of VW compared to the samurai perfection that is Honda.
So lucky in America we got the golf R with manual transmission making it an awesome performance car that does ir all, the all wheel drive is a huge difference and after this experience, I would not take a front wheel drive car tor performance
If the RS3 still came in a manual 6spd, I would have been all over it. That 5cyl just sounds so good and typical with Audi the looks. They always are slightly ahead on the styles and the looks last longer than most cars without looking old.
@@Marbind I can ride a bicycle on rainy roads without problems. Can you follow the discussion? Nobody so far is questioning a fwd ability on wet roads.
All hot hatches are way too expensive now a days An average working person wouldn’t be able to afford a new one in the real world in my opinion But I’d have the golf all day long
@@chasingcarssure is 80+ LCT and options just have a written quote. Also have a trade of 45k for my 7.5 Wolfsburg Apr stage 2 450+ Hp which I can't plug in to the 8 and there are no Wolfsburg edition which also sucks
Both cars are at their greatest and sadly their most expensive they've ever been. In my country the FL5 is priced at €56,500.00 whereas the Golf R Performance starts at €56,900.00 without options. However, wouldn't the Clubsport GTI be a fairer comparison to the Type R? The Clubsport starts at €45,500.00 but with some options factored in, it gets you really close to the FL5's price. It would have been more interesting if the Clubsport with DCC was also thrown in the mix with these two. Without having driven any of the lot, I'd choose Honda for their renowned reliability, superior racing pedigree, subjectively more interesting looks and my own perception of the brand. It's a multifactorial decision. Unfortunately, these type of cars are not readily available to test drive, in my country at least, and some of us will also be convinced through reviews.
After lots of weird interiors over the years, the Civic has a really nice interior and looks nice outside too. If it were AWD, I'd probably have one, but since it doesn't I'm more a VW/Audi guy though I have a GR Corolla now :)
@@Marbind Straight line against a quattro system, same dynamic engineering of the RS3. 500hp on a fwd, good luck putting that power to the ground, torque steer and grip goes out the window the more it is modded.
@@Marbind while the ECU is doing traction control on your fwd, the Golf R is balls to the walls on all four... While Type R is enabling it, Golf R is turning it off 🥱 The same traction control the Hodaah guys when doing their AWD conversion 🤣😂😂 What a future!
I have a full M car (m4 comp) and Golf R, I’m going to sound old but I like the Golf more for daily. As it’s smaller and more road compliant (horrible roads in my country sometimes!). Though when it’s time to Drive 100% BMW.
I have a MK7 Golf R manual. I love it. I put a deposit on a FL5 Type R without even test driving it (as it was a pre-order). After putting my ego aside, I later backed out as $72,900 is just way too steep. These cars are getting way too expensive. The MK8 Golf R is being $85K it is way overpriced and auto only, even though the US market still comes in manual. For similar money would rather by a low kms used BMW M2 manual.
Not even close. Golf R all the way. It's a straight beast. I've had mine for a year, and never once has someone tried to step to it. Others just know, but don't admit that it has some crazy performance. The thing is a pocket rocket.
@@WES-GR4PESfor two persons, it’s ok as daily run around, and hatch space, even with 4wd, with seats down is quite good. but it doesn’t really like going slow pottering stuff, as it’s an eager puppy.
Yeah, when he said they were about the same. I laughed, maybe the roads are much better where he lives. In the US, people are swapping modules with the ITS. 😂
@@racer247 it’s ok. Having read numerous glowing road tests by world renowned drivers and journalists I’m happy with their opinion rather than the ‘google’ experts. Also, having spent time driving the FK8 and FL5 and having owned two of the former which has the stiffer ride, i can vouch for how supple the suspension is for a car that outhandles anything in its class
@@racer247 went for a test drive and even the Honda dealer looked at me after the test drive and said… Yea I know it’s a stiff ride 🤪 are you looking for a daily drive or a weekender😄
@@jdmguy44 we also have the i30n hatch. They're different cars. The sedan is a completely new and superior, lighter platform. You're absolutely clueless.
@@mharro88 Sorry looks like I've touched a nerve with a Hyundai fanboy. Your clueless if think a junky Hyundai is better than a Type R Honda! A CTR costs more for a reason.
@@jdmguy44 I never said it's better anywhere? Lol I said it's about 99% of what a CTR is for 18k less. I said Hyundai motorsport is more relevant than Honda Motorsport in 2024 and that's a fact.
Golf for me. The Civic I could never do given the styling alone. Its doing a bad job of trying to look like a transformer spaceship. (sorry - I fast forwarded to the end....!)
Very difficult point to argue these days. The market decides what cars are in what segments. Buyers seemingly long ago decided they mostly wanted their hot hatch with an auto - hence why Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen and others have poured money into developing decent automatics for them.
@@chasingcars Couldn't think of anything I would want less in a hot hatch than an automatic gearbox. While manuals exist I will take one. And I did! Two actually...
False again from a random kid on the internet that forgot to research before he typed lol. MK8 Golf R’s come with 6spd manuals too lol. So this is another W for the Golf R, as consumers have a thing called a “choice” between manual or dual clutch, aka DSG.
" there's no other car that can challenge these two for the price" Lol yes there is , the i30n sedan. It's neck and neck with the type r on track for 20k less and probably more fun to drive than all of them
@@chasingcars I would say the I30n sedan hangs with them for sure it's about 95% of the type r and certainly feels more balanced and playful than the golf r, better steering rack as well, plenty of reviews out there showing that , savagegeese one of them where they had professional TCR drivers track them a long with the GR corolla. Nearly every video on here will show you that head to head on track they're close. Throttlehouse had it finish quicker than the golf r and last generations type R and that was a manual which is slower than the DCT. If you're talking about the hatch than I'm with you but the sedan is considerably better. "Hardware" isn't everything. So to suggest nothing else can challenge them in the performance to price ratio is just rubbish really or you haven't driven it on track long enough.
I don’t understand how you found the FL5 less exciting - golf R feels dynamically boring, although improved this generation. FL5 is like a live wire and much more entertaining (and faster) on track. It does have a playful chassis - if anything better than the FK8
Why oay iver the odds for the type r and its over inflated price. buy the used 10th edition.i personally think the 10th styling despite being out their is better than the over oriced 11th edition.. how can honda justify such a mark uo from the 10th to 11th edition when its the same engine bu different turbeo and styling.. Grab the 10th edition.. and alter what you require.. it will still be cheaper than the 11th. And as people have stated.. will people really use on the tracks.. .. most wont hence why i got the 10th edition Honda civic sport plus...
Neither of them! The civic is just too much of a show off. I would get a slightly older golf GTI with a manual transmission. Which is much more useable than either of these two.
3 месяца назад
Honda for the win as usual...and who paid 80k......😅😅😅😅😅NOT me.....
How would you know? These are all new cars and Honda just recently started turboing all their Honda civic models..... turbos increase your chance of failure due to increased pressure and that's why Hondas have been known to be reliable in the past. What are you gonna break with 120 ft/lbs of torque and 100hp 😂
Owned a Golf R wagon Grid Ed. ...water pump & dsg issue..lost faith in VW backing their own car....Run, dun walk...FYI..the 1st dsg interval for new dsg is 8yrs/120k km which by the time most warranty would have ran out...my dsg leaked at 60k but vw claimed its wear n tear..car never been tracked..so much for vw's reliabity...so many years or making EA888s but could'nt make A water pump that doesn't leak after 3-4 yrs.
Note: Various driving segments filmed at our private facility. 👍🏼
Can you compare yaris hybrid vs prius
Remember when they were affordable.
Golf R was $47,990 for a manual Grid Edition in 2018 (or $57K with inflation taken into account). The same year, the Civic Type R was about $56K driveaway (or about $66K factoring in inflation).
Neither are great deals, but the Golf R is the better deal. It’s AWD and faster. 95% of owners aren’t taking these cars to the track, and of the 5% who do, only 5% can exploit their full capabilities. So all this “ TR handles better” is just dumb marketing. In everyday driving, the Golf R is a lot nicer to daily, quicker, and a true year long vehicle due to its AWD. It’s also cheaper. CTR is way overpriced.
@@JacesOwnWorld Its not about wich car is better at this point lol.The type-r will go up in value in the upcoming years while the golf R as good as it is will be sell for cheap and be forgotten cause its gonna be considered just another vw Golf....
Golf R will also hold its value quite well actually!!@alpe6228
@@JacesOwnWorld There's a 95% chance you're making up those percentages...
I can't believe I live in a world where 80k Honda Civic exists 😂
Bro the NSX came out in the 90’s
@@ROVA00 bro, I said Honda Civic 😆
@@w00t777 oh yeah my bad. My brain is malfunctioning today
Canada or AAustralia hahaha. In Australia it makes sense as wages are higher too
only in Australia
I drove both. I ended up with the Golf R. The mature interior items. Heated seats and steering wheel, and AWD won me over. The type R was really nice but it didn't have that fun factor like the Golf R. In USA we can still get the 6spd. It's comparable to the Type R but the type R factory is better there. 2nd is tricky at first in the golf. The Golf R as it always seems with VW needed a bigger rear sway bar and needed some better tires. Once those are done it gains what the type R has on corners and is still way faster on the straight aways. You can't beat the performance and mpg of the Golf R and awd. It's a great vehicle for whatever weather is thrown at you and can still have fun in all of it. Most Golf Rs actually dyno at 329hp. Haven't heard is thr type Rs are the same. In the end, I really think like is said in this video, it's your driving style. I much perfer the awd and long term the interior on the golf R is better for daily and road trips. The Type R has more rear room but somehow VW has done some magic and those seats and room is quite comfy even for me at 5'11 and there's rear climate control and heated seats which my 9 year old son loves.
You are right about all what you sayed golf r more fun and type r never come with sunroof I don't know why and also my opinion is the time for type r to come more power and allwheel drive sorry my English bad ❤
A sunroof would add weight, and that is where the type r shines. It’s lighter weight. Both great cars, but I prefer the Honda just due to it being more “pure”. Totally subjective. I drive a 2019 Type R and shopped it against a VW R. I think I would have been happy either way!
McCormick that was a great comparison of the two newer ones.
@jkujda ok clear now thanks you are right about the weight but in my opinion it gives it more beautiful and present .I love honda I have civic 2007 r18 manual american sistem here in my country Lebanon turbo charge just 250 hp high torque very quick is faster to golf gti 5 and 6 and 7 even bmw 335 and gold r and mitsubishi evo stock and sti in fact a dangerous car on the road I love it very fun
Wow I was ready to bag on the golf but you made really valid points. But reliability that motor is gutless with out the turbo
@@rabihdeeb111sun roof = more weight performance bad
I had the TYPE R before I brought my mustang and after having my mustang for three years which I love to bits I would have no problem going back too the TYPE R it's that's good
Fwd wrecks it though. Especially off the mark.
@@davothegreat9990it doesnt.
Honda aced it, you barely notice thats its fwd except of the line, and even there it grips better than other fwd cars.
@@nocapproductions5471 Elantra N is fwd and destroys the ctr off the line. Not even close!
@@davothegreat9990 Who give a shit about off the line. Thats why I have faster cars than these off the line... And may I say: I'm too old for that shit (off the line racing). After driving F1 car, there is no fast cars either :) . Last thing, Elantra N looks... so not thank you.
@@davothegreat9990 it's what makes it
My head says Golf R my heart says Type R.
I have had my FL5 Type R for 12 months now. Absolutely love the car. The only let down has been all of the rattles from the dash and other areas of the car. Some obvious cost cutting from Honda…
The civic looks so good in black
Agreed
I had a 23 mk8R, if I had to do it over again, I’d go FL5 type R.
$72,600 AUD for the FL5 type R vs $85,000 for golf R 8.
Civic easily. Not only because it’s a proper manual. But because it may be the Best manual gearbox ⚙️ car on sale today,!
Elantra N is cheaper and better fwd car on the street. Ctr is horrible down low.
Porsche has better manual transmissions. So no ctr isn't the best in the world
@@davothegreat9990 No it’s not. The previous type R was as had a larger turbo and tuned differently. New one is much more linear and less lag with the smaller turbo.
@@davothegreat9990This is NOT accurate concerning the FL5. It pulls hard in the lower rpms in every gear. It’s really torque-e tbh.
@@BStudd1182 yet can't beat the Elantra N! Can't pull that hard...🤣
Golf R anytime looks more classy❤
The Golf R is the clear winner in terms of price per performance in this matchup. Golf R is cheaper (low-$50k’s vs mid-to-high $60k’s+)(this is calculating real world pricing, not MSRP as everyone knows CTR’s don’t sell for MSRP), it’s faster, it has better tech, and it’s AWD.
I'm yet to see a proper review from distinguished car journalists stating the golf 8R is better...please send me a link
@@van_der_lindeDAsince when do car journalist actually review something properly? Who the hell relies on their reviews and opinions? Fwd is a terrible platform
Not all dealers jack the price on the Type R. My local dealer sells them for full sticker, not a penny less or more. Civic forums can tell you where to shop.
@@2seep to say FWD is a terrible platform is true, but it's also true in saying u have never driven a type R
@2seep so top gear UK reviews cars on track/road and gives performance car of the year awards but they haven't reviewed it properly? Looks like an excuse
The first problem is that the Civic Type R isn't a hatchback, it's a liftback/fastback. The Golf R is a true hatchback.
Hatchback is handy fir family duties.
@@gaycha6589 I agree that a hatchback is handy, but the Civic Type R still isn't a hatchback so this comparison isn't comparing 2 hatchbacks!
I think you’d be very hard pressed to find people who don’t think the Civic Type R is a hot hatch. Especially when the distinction you’re trying to make is a tough one to agree with…liftbacks are, of course, hatchbacks at their core
@@chasingcars By definition a hatchback has a hatch angle of 45 degrees or more, while a liftback has an angle less than 45 degrees. Liftbacks have been around since I can remember and they were always called lift backs. I'm not sure why people are not being accurate and calling them what they are. A liftback is a design choice and is nothing positive or negative, it's just what it is. But the Type R isn't a hot hatch, it's a liftback just like my wife's Prius which nobody has ever called a hatchback. 🤣
@@jimsgaragetoys The term liftback is rarely used in the UK: we call them all hatchbacks.
Civic, has the pedigree and the looks
The looks🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣to me (obviously my opinion not everyone) it's the ugliest car ever built
Its ugly especially the back boyhood racer😂
Hmmm, I feel like powering through, as opposed to just out of, corners in a Golf R, reveals the real benefits of that RS3 diff arrangement. It requires a bit of a shift in driving style and to be fair the more tight the corner the better. Just my humble opinion and Im not a motoring journalist.
No; you are right
Great review Curt, like the way you covered their strengths and particulars here and there to keep things interesting.
Looking forward to your comparison with the GR Corolla.
I have an FL5, and tested a GR Corolla. If the Golf R came in manual I reckon I would’ve had a conundrum.
For the Golf R - was there any benefit of having the HVAC digital Eg voice controlled or remote via app? Otherwise i wonder how that got checked off during design.
I will say that I took the civic out at SMSP a few weeks ago, just sublime. Compares well to my outgoing 86.
Golf has better technology with minimum modification you can unlock the beast.
Awd + hatch + 315 hp … perfect.
Golf R.
I've owned both a Mk7.5 R and an FL5 (along with a Focus RS). Great video!
I own both, Golf R (DSG) is faster and a better daily driver, while the Type R is a better looking car that gets lots of attention, and the manual transmission is the best out there.
An automatic that has the same power is usually always going to be a bit faster than a manual. With that said there’s a level of connectivity you get to the car with a stick shift that you simply cannot get from an automatic. Until I get to the point I can have 2 vehicles, I’ll always go manual every time. The FL5 is an amazing machine.
Ya for sure Honda makes an amazing manual trans. The shift weight and throw is always perfect 👌
I drove both and him saying they both ride the same in comfort was a Joke. People are swapping the adjustable damper module from the ITS because of the harsh ride of the Civic.
@@racer247 I daily the Type R myself and it’s not harsh at all to me personally but I’ve been accustomed to driving a lot of vehicles that have stiff suspensions. I’ve had a Porsche, STi , FGT to name a few. I’ll be keeping my FL5 stock tbh.
@BStudd1182 Bring it to Michigan, I've driven the CTR here and it's almost unbearable. Even " The Topher " changed his module out. 😂
Currently run GR7.5, which enjoy with a stage 1 boost. I was looking at the last CTR, but then the GR Yaris came along in 2021, which I impulse purchased and covers all the gaps in Golf R running, and is the most fun car I have ever 14:40 had. Slower yet quicker than the Golf most times and places on the damp UK bumpy roads. No space fir a CTR, although I admire what Honda have done (styling aside) to hone their hot hatch.
The gr Yaris struggles and only a tiny bit quicker than a GTI not sure how it's even in the same ball park of an R on pure pace 😅. A 5.3 0-100 compared to a 4.2 1 second difference in the low end. Comparing a 0.5 second difference between a Audi rs3 to a golf r the Audi pulls aways with no problem. The golf R would be pulling bus lengths on a Yaris 😅.
@@ruki9043 you are thinking in straight line acceleration terms. That is not what these cars were ever about. But I can assure you that the GR will leave the R behind, under braking, corner entry and exit speeds, ultimate lateral grip and throttle respnse. All of these ultimately make the GR quicker in anything but a straight line drag, which is of little interest. UK roads have bumps and corners that favour the GR chassis, power delivery and lighter weight. YMMV
Fantastic review. Completely unbiased
Great review and nicely balanced.
Honda ergonomics have always been spot on
Had previously owned Honda integra type R, Civic type R and Honda S2000 and now I own VW R and I can say it’s the biggest mistake I ever did to enter VW world. Such a poor quality and reliability compared to Hondas. Bought it brand new and so many things went wrong it’s a joke. Transfer case liking oil (replaced), water pump replaced, starter button replaced twice, seat electronics playing up, all this before car even hit 50000km, never trashed and never taken to track or drag racing. With Honda’s I never had any issues, just normal servicing and that’s it.
@@daniel.s8126 wouldn’t say rare, talked to lots of guys all have similar issues, apparently water pump is well known issue, in some countries VW even made recall in regards to issue but is OZ our government is too weak to make them do it.
Opposite story here. I have had 3 new Rs since 2014 without a single issue or failure, abd servicing has been reasonable with no replacements beyond brake pads and fluids in a total of 150,000 miles. Not had a CTR, although tempted, but have run 2 other Hondas over the years, also without failures.
Am active on all the R Forums and their reputation is overall very good.
For reliability I’d take the Honda all day everyday. I love the look of the VW, it’s a beautiful machine but I don’t trust the reliability of VW compared to the samurai perfection that is Honda.
So lucky in America we got the golf R with manual transmission making it an awesome performance car that does ir all, the all wheel drive is a huge difference and after this experience, I would not take a front wheel drive car tor performance
Great review like both cars a lot, but I decided to go a different route and purchase a 24 RS3!!
If the RS3 still came in a manual 6spd, I would have been all over it. That 5cyl just sounds so good and typical with Audi the looks. They always are slightly ahead on the styles and the looks last longer than most cars without looking old.
@robertmccormick5646 if RS3 came manual it would be on top of the list.
@Vosovogalsyncope DCT is phenomenal and so engaging with the paddles!!
Thoroughbred to describe a Type R? It's a nice car but I think that's taking it a bit far there Curt.....
The Gulf R is a full second faster than the Type R.
In a straight line.
Add turns and things change unfavorably to the Golf 😗
@@Marbind on a rainy and snowy day.... Golf R // 13:22 type r when dry
@@mazpr2025 I drive a 320hp fwd car on rainy roads without problems.
Is just stupid to drive aggressively even with awd anyway. 🤷🏻♂️
@@Marbind I can ride a bicycle on rainy roads without problems.
Can you follow the discussion?
Nobody so far is questioning a fwd ability on wet roads.
@@mazpr2025 you are joking right?
You just did it two comments ago.
😂😂😂🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Isn't the Golf Wagon no longer available? Why mention it?
Still worth mentioning in a review though? It's not like you can't still buy a second hand R wagon.
Nice car Golf R
All hot hatches are way too expensive now a days
An average working person wouldn’t be able to afford a new one in the real world in my opinion
But I’d have the golf all day long
90k for a golf r is Australia is ridiculous
Sure, but it isn’t $90K
@@chasingcarssure is 80+ LCT and options just have a written quote. Also have a trade of 45k for my 7.5 Wolfsburg Apr stage 2 450+ Hp which I can't plug in to the 8 and there are no Wolfsburg edition which also sucks
Sorry 85k or 80k for a demo without LCT
Reliability and looks goes to Type R.
Everything else Gold R. Wider customer base too as it offers Automatic trans
Ah damn, I was hoping you were comparing the manual version of the Golf R. That's what I have. Same color & everything
Both cars are at their greatest and sadly their most expensive they've ever been. In my country the FL5 is priced at €56,500.00 whereas the Golf R Performance starts at €56,900.00 without options. However, wouldn't the Clubsport GTI be a fairer comparison to the Type R? The Clubsport starts at €45,500.00 but with some options factored in, it gets you really close to the FL5's price. It would have been more interesting if the Clubsport with DCC was also thrown in the mix with these two. Without having driven any of the lot, I'd choose Honda for their renowned reliability, superior racing pedigree, subjectively more interesting looks and my own perception of the brand. It's a multifactorial decision. Unfortunately, these type of cars are not readily available to test drive, in my country at least, and some of us will also be convinced through reviews.
Civic Type R. No doubt
After lots of weird interiors over the years, the Civic has a really nice interior and looks nice outside too. If it were AWD, I'd probably have one, but since it doesn't I'm more a VW/Audi guy though I have a GR Corolla now :)
If you're an enthusiast you don't like stock cars.. Worth knowing that mod for mod the vw takes the win. A 500hp golf is beating a 500hp type r
Only simple minded people think about straight lines only 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@Marbind Straight line against a quattro system, same dynamic engineering of the RS3. 500hp on a fwd, good luck putting that power to the ground, torque steer and grip goes out the window the more it is modded.
@@psiturbo You never heard about hondata traction control?
Welcome to the future pal.
@@Marbind while the ECU is doing traction control on your fwd, the Golf R is balls to the walls on all four... While Type R is enabling it, Golf R is turning it off 🥱
The same traction control the Hodaah guys when doing their AWD conversion 🤣😂😂
What a future!
Golf R all the way!!!! Waiting for my 2024 6 spd to be delivered!
Type R all the day
Type R 4ever
Always❤ it wil be Honda the king of the HotHatches💪
Black is sick 😀👍
Look at all the R and GTI out there. It must be the better car, although the same crowd really want a RS3 or full M car.
I have a full M car (m4 comp) and Golf R, I’m going to sound old but I like the Golf more for daily. As it’s smaller and more road compliant (horrible roads in my country sometimes!). Though when it’s time to Drive 100% BMW.
@@FadeI2Iblack
Nice. Sounds like the Golf R and M4 have been great choices.
@@soulz23 Next time I'll get an Alpina b3. Can barely drive fast where I live (corners).
I have a MK7 Golf R manual. I love it. I put a deposit on a FL5 Type R without even test driving it (as it was a pre-order). After putting my ego aside, I later backed out as $72,900 is just way too steep. These cars are getting way too expensive. The MK8 Golf R is being $85K it is way overpriced and auto only, even though the US market still comes in manual. For similar money would rather by a low kms used BMW M2 manual.
GTI not offering manual is more surprising than the PDiddy scandal
Honda without discussion. TOP
When you have performance cars, it only makes sense to race them as well.
Golf R as a daily hands down. That’s the reality of most of us how we use our cars.
Not a chance. The Honda civic is the better car in standard form. VW have really dropped the ball over the last few years.
Golf R by a long shot! Type R is so limited, especially in rain or snow it's useless and looks more like a kids car imo!!
Golf R any day.
The Golf has better technology and with minimum modification you can unlock the beast.
Not even close. Golf R all the way. It's a straight beast. I've had mine for a year, and never once has someone tried to step to it. Others just know, but don't admit that it has some crazy performance. The thing is a pocket rocket.
Which R-Rated Hatch Is Best? GR
I have a GR and an R. GR loses on practicality big time. But that’s all.
@@gaycha6589 of course the GR loses practicality haha noting practical about a rally car lol
@@WES-GR4PESfor two persons, it’s ok as daily run around, and hatch space, even with 4wd, with seats down is quite good. but it doesn’t really like going slow pottering stuff, as it’s an eager puppy.
the civic needs serious competition its price has skyrocketed therefore there needs to be an hot hatch capable to take on the ctr competition is good
The type R as a daily driver? It’s suspension is so stiff that after an hour drive you feel like your been beaten up by Mike Tyson 😂
Yeah, when he said they were about the same. I laughed, maybe the roads are much better where he lives. In the US, people are swapping modules with the ITS. 😂
Simply not true. If you put it in Plus R then yes but normal and comfort modes are actually very comfortable.
@@tommyzoo Google " 2023 ctr fixing the annoying stiff ride " and watch. 😅🤣😂
@@racer247 it’s ok. Having read numerous glowing road tests by world renowned drivers and journalists I’m happy with their opinion rather than the ‘google’ experts. Also, having spent time driving the FK8 and FL5 and having owned two of the former which has the stiffer ride, i can vouch for how supple the suspension is for a car that outhandles anything in its class
@@racer247 went for a test drive and even the Honda dealer looked at me after the test drive and said… Yea I know it’s a stiff ride 🤪 are you looking for a daily drive or a weekender😄
Mk8R is the better car for me with much better tuning potential
Honda ❤
Golf is a better daily
Optisch unterscheiden sich beide Fahrzeuge sehr intensiv. Letztendlich ist es Geschmacksache .Fertig
The CTR is creaming all the best hot hatch awards these days in the press here the UK. Rightly so. Its an amazing car.
That's because you don't have the Elantra N there.
@@mharro88 we have the I30 N which is the same car in a hatch body style.
@@jdmguy44 we also have the i30n hatch. They're different cars.
The sedan is a completely new and superior, lighter platform. You're absolutely clueless.
@@mharro88 Sorry looks like I've touched a nerve with a Hyundai fanboy. Your clueless if think a junky Hyundai is better than a Type R Honda! A CTR costs more for a reason.
@@jdmguy44 I never said it's better anywhere? Lol I said it's about 99% of what a CTR is for 18k less.
I said Hyundai motorsport is more relevant than Honda Motorsport in 2024 and that's a fact.
Golf for me. The Civic I could never do given the styling alone. Its doing a bad job of trying to look like a transformer spaceship. (sorry - I fast forwarded to the end....!)
Then that golf was made for you
Both are 20k over MSRP ?????????
Keep your Honda for a start,VW if I had to choose
Interesting, I thought the ‘R’ in VW stood for ‘Rabbit,’ I didn’t realize it meant ‘Race Edition.’
Civic wins. Anyone who's driven one knows. Golf is auto only, so not a hot hatch. Mini luxury car.
Very difficult point to argue these days. The market decides what cars are in what segments. Buyers seemingly long ago decided they mostly wanted their hot hatch with an auto - hence why Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen and others have poured money into developing decent automatics for them.
@@chasingcars Couldn't think of anything I would want less in a hot hatch than an automatic gearbox. While manuals exist I will take one. And I did! Two actually...
This guy gatekeeping hatchbacks with high power.
@@paulklp8262 damn straight brother!!!!
False again from a random kid on the internet that forgot to research before he typed lol. MK8 Golf R’s come with 6spd manuals too lol. So this is another W for the Golf R, as consumers have a thing called a “choice” between manual or dual clutch, aka DSG.
I saw the prices then departed 🤑🤑🤑
👎 No mention of Hyundai i30 N which is $20k less than the Golf R
Prolly cos it was not in the test.
poor comparison. the CTR commpetes with the GTi manual and not the Golf R. both are front wheel drive and 6 speed manual
Manual all day everyday I hate auto cars 😊
Neither. i30 Sedan N. Best value performance car.
And costs $20k less than the Golf R
And quicker than both of them
" there's no other car that can challenge these two for the price"
Lol yes there is , the i30n sedan. It's neck and neck with the type r on track for 20k less and probably more fun to drive than all of them
The i30 N doesn’t hang with either of these cars for handling or hardware.
@@chasingcars I would say the I30n sedan hangs with them for sure it's about 95% of the type r and certainly feels more balanced and playful than the golf r, better steering rack as well, plenty of reviews out there showing that , savagegeese one of them where they had professional TCR drivers track them a long with the GR corolla. Nearly every video on here will show you that head to head on track they're close. Throttlehouse had it finish quicker than the golf r and last generations type R and that was a manual which is slower than the DCT. If you're talking about the hatch than I'm with you but the sedan is considerably better. "Hardware" isn't everything. So to suggest nothing else can challenge them in the performance to price ratio is just rubbish really or you haven't driven it on track long enough.
While i love the civic the golf r can do the 1/4 in around 12.2sec way faster than the civic. Still love the civic tho
Would love to test drive them myself
Honda❤
Type R all the way
You never mentioned what tires the Golf R had.
I don’t understand how you found the FL5 less exciting - golf R feels dynamically boring, although improved this generation. FL5 is like a live wire and much more entertaining (and faster) on track.
It does have a playful chassis - if anything better than the FK8
If you raced the type R without the DSG, you cheated it and you know you did.
The Civic is not quicker then the type R with the DSG.
Type R any day, the only downside is the front wheel drive. The Golf R is great but longterm, unreliable and steep depreciation.
Shocked at prices
FWD = torque steer and wheel spin from a dig. No Thank You 😂
Save a load of money & get a i 30 fastback n with a Celtic remap,314 bhp,440 Nm torque for £360!
78k? 😂 for a vehicle that should cost 20k - 30k
20-30K? Totally unrealistic
One that you can't rob
Insurance which one.
Hyundai i30N guys in 6 speed manual love mine.
The Honda Civic type R all day right here Baby!!! 😂 LoL
Comparitively average cars now costing as much as our parents bought a house for. Strange times. Hopefully the 2nd hand market calms down shortly.
We are entering peak inflation, after a year or two everything will settle back to normal.
@@nocapproductions5471u think so?
@@nocapproductions5471 it will not settle
@@nocapproductions5471no it will not
Why oay iver the odds for the type r and its over inflated price.
buy the used 10th edition.i personally think the 10th styling despite being out their is better than the over oriced 11th edition.. how can honda justify such a mark uo from the 10th to 11th edition when its the same engine bu different turbeo and styling..
Grab the 10th edition.. and alter what you require.. it will still be cheaper than the 11th.
And as people have stated.. will people really use on the tracks.. .. most wont hence why i got the 10th edition Honda civic sport plus...
There is no way a vw can even come close to a Honda.
wish the CTR had all drive...
Neither of them! The civic is just too much of a show off.
I would get a slightly older golf GTI with a manual transmission. Which is much more useable than either of these two.
Honda for the win as usual...and who paid 80k......😅😅😅😅😅NOT me.....
Let's get real here for a sec ,the civic just wins !!
Global sales figures suggest otherwise. 😂😂🎉
vw reliabilty would be a problem.
So true. Civic is comparably bulletproof with K series engine and strong simple gearbox
@@chrisparr7476lol. How many k-series turbo cars do you know of lasting 200k+ miles reliably?
@@JacesOwnWorldyou tell us?
How would you know? These are all new cars and Honda just recently started turboing all their Honda civic models..... turbos increase your chance of failure due to increased pressure and that's why Hondas have been known to be reliable in the past. What are you gonna break with 120 ft/lbs of torque and 100hp 😂
Owned a Golf R wagon Grid Ed. ...water pump & dsg issue..lost faith in VW backing their own car....Run, dun walk...FYI..the 1st dsg interval for new dsg is 8yrs/120k km which by the time most warranty would have ran out...my dsg leaked at 60k but vw claimed its wear n tear..car never been tracked..so much for vw's reliabity...so many years or making EA888s but could'nt make A water pump that doesn't leak after 3-4 yrs.
Are you on a race track? No? Then WTF are you cutting corners all the time?
Shouldn't it have been civic type r vs golf gti. Both fwd duh
golf r mechanics/electronics will wear out first
Type R frame components will rust out first.
typer has the looks golf r looks like a gulf ball