We already know almost everything there is about the Golf GTI and R. That's why we got a little bitter when Top Gear UK did a drag race between the two several years after they became available. But this Quick Take from Auto Guide caught our attention because it features an R in the same red you usually see on the GTI.
The reviewer is a girl, and she speaks the language. Not only that, but she also speaks the language. We'll have to do a background check to ensure we are prepared for the next time another one of her videos gets featured. Anyway, she says the drive behind this review is that 2016 is the first model year when you can have the Golf R ith a DSG gearbox.
In America, this a clear source of concern, as the twin-clutch automatic could take away the dynamism and driver engagement. Weirdly, things are the other way around in Europe, where most GTIs and Rs are ordered in Automatic form. Without America, we wouldn't have a manual in the TT RS, the S5 and some of the BMW M cars. But that's another story!
So what about the conclusions of this review? Well, Auto Guide's reviewer says the R comes alive when you engage the Race driving mode, and the exhaust becomes more noticeable. Of course, we all know that's many due to the Soundaktor system, which is like an electric drum that pushes sound onto the windshield. It has nothing to do with the engine, but it does encourage you to drive faster, much like a game that's really easy to play.
She also tells us that the Golf R is best ordered with the manual, as you would save $1000. But the way we see it, the automatic gearbox is just the thing you nee to differentiate the Volkswagen from a Subaru WRX STI. The car world doesn't revolve around being able to use a clutch to have fun; sometimes, you can pay so that you don't have to.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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