Convince me that I don't want a Golf GTI

[pauldun170]

god damn man, the world does not love your car. I have the same rattle--I keep forgetting to deal with it.

The one I have is the buzzing sound that happens at a specific rpm range and from the drivers seat sounds like it comes from the pillar. What's happening is that the sound that appears to come from the little speaker area of the A pillar is actually all the way back here


Look under the car in front of the passenger side rear tire and you will see the culprit.

<- Front of car


I have a "shut the f up" strap on it now.

 

[zinfamous]

awesome! thanks for the details. I actually started a thread on this about a year ago in the MK7 forums, but never followed up. It started happening on a particularly hot day, and wasn't sure if it was related to that--isn't really?--but that vibrating fuel line became the most likely culprit, I just never dealt with it. Problem is, I have the memory of a squirrel when it comes to things like this, so if it stops happening and I don't hear it for maybe 10 minutes, I will forget it existed.

I have tons of velcro and foam padding. May just try that fix in a few minutes.

 

[pauldun170]

awesome! thanks for the details. I actually started a thread on this about a year ago in the MK7 forums, but never followed up. It started happening on a particularly hot day, and wasn't sure if it was related to that--isn't really?--but that vibrating fuel line became the most likely culprit, I just never dealt with it. Problem is, I have the memory of a squirrel when it comes to things like this, so if it stops happening and I don't hear it for maybe 10 minutes, I will forget it existed.

I have tons of velcro and foam padding. May just try that fix in a few minutes.

Did you try it?

 

[Vic]

Weird thread. Speaking as someone who owns a Golf R, I just have to say the entire point of owning a Golf R is that only cool people know what you're driving, and the uncool find out the hard way.

 

[rstrohkirch]

I just have to say the entire point of owning a Golf R is that only cool people know what you're driving, and the uncool find out the hard way.

Because you broke down in front of them?

 

[Vic]

Because you broke down in front of them?

Mine has never broken down. Haters gonna hate, I guess.

 

[rstrohkirch]

Haters gonna hate, I guess.

Because we get stuck behind the broken down car and have to merge over.


I don't know anything about VW reliability

 

[zinfamous]

Did you try it?

Yes I did. Very easy. Not sure when I'll know if it works...it's been many weeks since I last heard the buzz--that, also, on a random unseasonably warm day--and nearly half of a year before that since the previous incident.

 

[pauldun170]

Because you broke down in front of them?

Golf R owners - "I may have broke down but I would like to point out that I was in FRONT of them"

 

[pauldun170]

S3 vs Golf R

 

[zinfamous]

That^ was confusing at first. Like, what is he doing comparing these 2 rather different class cars, but also why did Audi neuter the RS3 and WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 5 BANGER???!!!

Then I realized it is an S3 and not the RS3, and I'm wondering if that is something they go back and forth with every year, if the RS3 is yet to be released for this year, or if they've actually abandoned it, and the lovely 5 cylinder engine? That would suck.

But you know, I would watch that video and still opt for the Audi. I mean, it's cheaper, relatively comparable in performance (crazy though how the R smokes it, though; but I assume if an RS3 exists, it will get the same torque vectoring as the R), looks way better on the outside and the inside, and is an Audi. ...the interior of the Mk8s really annoys me. I would want to swap the steering wheels in all of them, and I just hate all of the infotainment-driven controls and capacitive buttons. This entire concept is a terrible, terrible idea, and is only dangerous.

The Audi has a fantastic interior, and real buttons for all the things you actually need. Can't really beat that very simple, standard requirement these days.


-----

Also, dropped off the car for the 24XD ECM update yesterday. Did you get that notice? It's basically an update of 24FD--the official TRD (I forget what those are called; I don't mean the Toyota racing boys group) to fix the stalling issue, which also includes a tweak to the fuel line or something. I forget. I reminded them of the history of my car (this is the same VW service shop that I brought it to, early in stallgate. and they fixed it. I think that mechanic's fix for my car became, or at least part of, what was 24FD. The tech yesterday mentioned that they did have one of the national VW master mechanics
on staff at the time. I like these guys because they never gave me any shit on the stall when I described it, and still believed me on the first drop off even though they couldn't repeat it. I got bullshit from another nearby dealership.

I did mention the buzzing from the fuel line, and my fix for it. They checked it, and installed the official kit that was made available ~2017, I believe. I still haven't looked at it, but I'll attach a photo of the service report. It gave me a chuckle....

Butt Dyno tells me that 24XD didn't give me any free horsepowers. Bummer; but then I only noticed later that they had set driving mode to normal. ....I'm usually in custom--which I set to mostly comfort but with sport settings for steering, throttle and fake engine noise (lol), so I need to spend some more time back in my usual settings.

 

[pauldun170]

That^ was confusing at first. Like, what is he doing comparing these 2 rather different class cars, but also why did Audi neuter the RS3 and WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 5 BANGER???!!!

Then I realized it is an S3 and not the RS3, and I'm wondering if that is something they go back and forth with every year, if the RS3 is yet to be released for this year, or if they've actually abandoned it, and the lovely 5 cylinder engine? That would suck.

But you know, I would watch that video and still opt for the Audi. I mean, it's cheaper, relatively comparable in performance (crazy though how the R smokes it, though; but I assume if an RS3 exists, it will get the same torque vectoring as the R), looks way better on the outside and the inside, and is an Audi. ...the interior of the Mk8s really annoys me. I would want to swap the steering wheels in all of them, and I just hate all of the infotainment-driven controls and capacitive buttons. This entire concept is a terrible, terrible idea, and is only dangerous.

The Audi has a fantastic interior, and real buttons for all the things you actually need. Can't really beat that very simple, standard requirement these days.


-----

Also, dropped off the car for the 24XD ECM update yesterday. Did you get that notice? It's basically an update of 24FD--the official TRD (I forget what those are called; I don't mean the Toyota racing boys group) to fix the stalling issue, which also includes a tweak to the fuel line or something. I forget. I reminded them of the history of my car (this is the same VW service shop that I brought it to, early in stallgate. and they fixed it. I think that mechanic's fix for my car became, or at least part of, what was 24FD. The tech yesterday mentioned that they did have one of the national VW master mechanics
on staff at the time. I like these guys because they never gave me any shit on the stall when I described it, and still believed me on the first drop off even though they couldn't repeat it. I got bullshit from another nearby dealership.

I did mention the buzzing from the fuel line, and my fix for it. They checked it, and installed the official kit that was made available ~2017, I believe. I still haven't looked at it, but I'll attach a photo of the service report. It gave me a chuckle....

Butt Dyno tells me that 24XD didn't give me any free horsepowers. Bummer; but then I only noticed later that they had set driving mode to normal. ....I'm usually in custom--which I set to mostly comfort but with sport settings for steering, throttle and fake engine noise (lol), so I need to spend some more time back in my usual settings.

I

Haven't received the notice yet and even when it does show I still have to decide what dealer to take it too. Considering they delivered the car to me with all tires at 50psi, not sure I want to take it to a shop that would screw up on such a basic task. Plus, there are more convenient VW dealerships by me.

 

[pauldun170]

@zinfamous

 

[rstrohkirch]

I think it's a bit funny that they went from not sandbagging their numbers on the 7.5 to doing it quite a bit on the 8. Who do they think they are, BMW?

 

[zinfamous]

I think it's a bit funny that they went from not sandbagging their numbers on the 7.5 to doing it quite a bit on the 8. Who do they think they are, BMW?

Well, I'm still waiting to see what US-spec'd Mk8 Rs can do. Granted, all Rs everywhere are still made in Wolfsburg, which is a big deal, but I know they still have to adjust power numbers and timing and blah blah to meet US standards when they ship them over here. US mk7.5 R, 2019, shipped stock at 282hp, vs Euro (in that video, same exact model year/trim) shipped at 300hp.

I don't think there has been a Golf R model year that has shared power numbers and overall performance between the Euro and US market distributed vehicles. ...and the same is true for the Wolfsburg-built GTIs vs the Mexico-built (NA market) GTIs--US is always underpowered on stock (Euro PP numbers for even the regular GTI--so not TCT or whatever--have topped out at 242hp/250tq since, I think, the mk7.5? That is available on all GTIs there. Here, the number as still not yet topped 228, in any stock form (that was the pp #, now it is just standard for all trims), but with mk8 going up to, 235 or something next year, when it is released here?

 

[JCH13]

US mk7.5 R, 2019, shipped stock at 282hp, vs Euro (in that video, same exact model year/trim) shipped at 300hp.

US and Europe have different power levels for what a HP is. Shakes out to745W for a "US HP" and 735W for a "European HP." Add in a few variances in how that HP number is normalized to atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature... and now you've explained the difference.

 

[pauldun170]

@zinfamous

 

[zinfamous]

@pauldun170
You know, I still can't do that interior of the R. Man, that is a sweet sweet car, but where it's going....I'm sorta crossing fingers that the Mk8 will start pushing out some buttons again in the next 2 or 3 years? Dunno...who knows what will be powering these things by then, anyway.

But yeah, I do like it otherwise. And, this surprised me, after finally getting around to their video on it:

And they were pretty sour on our Mk7-7.5, about 3 years ago. Not too sour, just...disappointed. Now, it's "maybe the best FWD car made" in their experience. It's good praise, and everything in this looks effing great.

...eh, still don't like the styling as much, lol. Golf R looks great on the outside (BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WHEEL ARCHES OMG SERIOUSLY? WHERE GO? I'm surprised no one has mentioned this? It's kinda...wtf it's like someone lasercut the sides of these things...) but the interior and the capacitive buttons, especially on the steering wheel, that really would bug me (the few capacitive buttons I use in my SE below the touchscreen annoy me more than anything, and those are the only ones and I rarely use them, anyway)

 

[DrMrLordX]

Dunno...who knows what will be powering these things by then, anyway.

VW alleges that they'll be all-electric by 2026. Will that mean the R remains gasoline-powered by then? Will there be an eGolf R? I don't know. I do not think VW will plow that much money into performance ICE development at this point. MK8 may be the last.

 

[zinfamous]

VW alleges that they'll be all-electric by 2026. Will that mean the R remains gasoline-powered by then? Will there be an eGolf R? I don't know. I do not think VW will plow that much money into performance ICE development at this point. MK8 may be the last.

Yeah, most likely. I think the GTE or whatever they were calling it has been rumored for a few years now...and I thought it had been likely to appear, in Europe at least, by now. Though it requires an entirely new platform and I imagine they want to squeeze as much life out of their ....$10 billion (or whatever it was said to have cost in development) MQB platform for Audi and VW.

 

[DrMrLordX]

btw now that I see the MSRP for the R, I want to post a retraction to my earlier commentary about the mid-engine 'Vette (particularly the older 2020 model). The R is coming it at about $10k less than I expected, which makes it a much better deal than I initially imagined. Meanwhile, 2020 LT1 Corvettes are now selling for $95k-$100k locally. I found some 2021 'Vettes for less than the 2020s!

In any case, the 'Vette is a unicorn and is also moving into a different price category than the R altogether, despite GM's attempts to keep Corvette MSRP "low".

I would still be a bit concerned with tire-and-gas costs over the long term. But saving $10k up front over what I expected is going to make it a lot easier to get into an R.

 

[Muse]

Please, someone stop me!

Ah, well, my Mazda is a 1997 626LX 2.0L (they made a 2.4L too, but my dad bought the 2.0L). I inherited the Mazda, well, my dad stopped driving and he gave it to me. My Mom's BMW went to my sister.

I drive 1/2 as much as you, and since pandemic (and I don't play golf suddenly) way less even, around 300m/year!. I actually am quad skating 5x as far as I'm driving these days.

I guess the Mazda isn't the sexiest car but TBH I really like it. It handles really well. I'm sure one reason my dad bought it is it was literally 2 tons, so it's relatively solid should there be an accident. The way I drive, an accident is unlikely.

Before I had the Mazda I had a 1983 Town and Country that my uncle gave me (it had been his). That thing drove like an aircraft carrier. I mean, horrible. The car I had before that (20 years before that, I went 20 years without a car... just bicycles and walking) was a Triumph TR4. Now that was FUN! Fate took her from me, I will not elaborate. No, it was not an accident. I will not explain...

Well, the only other cars I owned were a '57 Chevy I bought used for $200 on Maui, that had the back seat removed and a piece of plywood with a mattress in back, so it was effectively a camper. Sweet days! Before that, my first car, a VW bug. I liked it, but it suffered a totaling collision, thanks to a friend who turned out to be no so good a friend after all. He wasn't supposed to take my car much less crash it.

TBH, I have no car envy that bothers me. I think at times "I've never driven a Porsche, I'd like to have a classic 911." But then I think of the impracticality. My coupe is pretty practical. Besides, like you in the DCMA, I'd have trouble finding places to enjoy driving a Porsche. Not as much as you, but I have to face it, there's a lot more traffic on the roads these days than when I had my TR4.

I don't identify with my car. Hell, I'd like a camper, but where would I put it? A pickup too, ditto. I used to figure my next car would drive itself while I took a nap or read a book or watched a movie. Now I'm not so sure, but figure my next car will definetly not burn petroleum. You know, the global warming crisis.

Concerning a VW, I figure that scandal of them cheating on emissions systems makes them look pretty damn iffy in general. I took my Mazda for my every other week Costco trip today. Washed it first. The Japanese really gave that car a great paint job. It's amazing how good it looks after a cursory wash. I stopped washing with soap or waxing it 15 years ago, it lives outside and still looks great.

 

[zinfamous]

dude...

 

[Muse]

dude...

Uh...

 

[DrMrLordX]

Concerning a VW, I figure that scandal of them cheating on emissions systems makes them look pretty damn iffy in general.

I'm having problems sorting out what any of that has to do with the Golf R or GTI. In fact, I'm having problems sorting out what any of that has to do with this thread.