I posted this on the VW GTI thread but they really are two different golfs.
Finally got my wife's brand new 2015 Mk7 VW Golf R (done 1,600km) on the track today.
Verdict and opinion vs 86
The Golf R:
The performance of the Golf R was amazing but...
Even with road tyres and traction control and me driving was seriously quick. got a 1:25.6 without really trying. This is about 3s a lap faster than I can do in my 86 that has all the extras (see the build thread in the footer on this post).
Caught and overtook three porsches. With a good driver using the flappy paddles and traction control off it should be low 1:20s (8-10s faster per lap than my 86) in stock form and probably quicker given the good 86 drivers are 5s quicker per lap than me.
Needs better brake pads and fluid as felt a bit spungy trying to slow it from 185kph at end of ecen the relatively short straights on our track.
Was a lot of fun but not sure I'll be able to pry it off my wife much. She couldn't be there today so I got to use it!
Versus the 86:
Different cars so it depends what you want. it was great keeping up with the Porsches for a change and not being frustrated with no power to get by people that are holding you up in the corners.
However under hard braking and around corners even with the chasis control set to "race" it still feels like a boat.
I think it is more of a challenge trying to drive the 86 fast and keeping revs up.
I can also push the 86 harder and learn without the fear of overdoing it at close to 200kph. With my 86 in particular with the Brembo brakes you do have more safety margin.
And, as much as the R costs almost twice as much as a base 86 it is still a golf. More people stop and look at a base 86 than a top of the range golf.
I still love the gokart feel of the 86 on the corners. A hatch just isn't the same. I have been driving my 86 for so long even the golf feels like a high sided van in the corners!
One is a sports car built from the ground up while the other (like many "performance cars") is a regular car with a whole heap of horsepower added and suspension tweaked etc.
Without paying a huge amount of money there's not many genuine sports cars out there. Look how much the FT1 will cost!
The Golf R is fun, but I love my 86 far more. It has character and reward driving well rather than just a heavy right foot.
Of course if you do have to get a more "family" car like I had to then the Golf R is perfect to have something you'll still enjoy driving and can take to track - the best of both worlds.
