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Focus RS vs. Golf R

12918 Views 30 Replies 15 Participants Last post by egoflux, May 10, 2017

gio

Discussion Starter · Dec 31, 2015

Hi guys. I'm starting this thread about the RS against the golf R.

I know the RS is going to outperform the R in many ways, but I'm still considering the R for my the next hot hatch. I would really like to hear your thoughts about it.

The RS seems great performance-wise but I think the R still has the edge for what concerns quality. I was riding shotgun in a R the other day and the interior is simply amazing (just like any other VW, IMO). When I sat in the Focus RS at the LA Auto Show it felt like a really cheap, poorly built car. Same feeling that I had when I test drove the FoST. Not just the overall quality, but also the design of the gauges and the main console looked like a Kia from the mid 2000s.

I'm young and I work really hard for my money (who doesn't?) and I'm afraid to buy a car that it's awesome when I track it but it makes me regret to have spent all those money on it when I drive it on a daily basis. I still have a few months to think about it and I would like to make up my mind before the RS gets out. Let me know what you think!

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FNH

· #2 · Dec 31, 2015

gio said:
Hi guys. I'm starting this thread about the RS against the golf R.

I know the RS is going to outperform the R in many ways, but I'm still considering the R for my the next hot hatch. I would really like to hear your thoughts about it.

The RS seems great performance-wise but I think the R still has the edge for what concerns quality. I was riding shotgun in a R the other day and the interior is simply amazing (just like any other VW, IMO). When I sat in the Focus RS at the LA Auto Show it felt like a really cheap, poorly built car. Same feeling that I had when I test drove the FoST. Not just the overall quality, but also the design of the gauges and the main console looked like a Kia from the mid 2000s.

I'm young and I work really hard for my money (who doesn't?) and I'm afraid to buy a car that it's awesome when I track it but it makes me regret to have spent all those money on it when I drive it on a daily basis. I still have a few months to think about it and I would like to make up my mind before the RS gets out. Let me know what you think!

A shoddy interior is true of most American cars so you won't find many interiors that one would consider quality. From my perspective, the only American cars with a nice interior are Cadillac's. I have a CTS-V with great performance and a great interior (for a station wagon) but I paid a premium for that.

Corvettes are amazing cars to drive, they have crappy interiors unfortunately. Want better than corvette performance with a nice interior? Welcome to Porsche territory and a lot more money

You have to ask yourself though, do you want performance or a nice interior? If it is the latter you should probably not be buying either a Focus RS or a Golf R. There are cars out there with much nicer interiors for a lot less money.

If you want AWD performance then you will have to give up that interior unless you want to spend AMG money. I used to drive a Subaru STI, talk about a crappy interior! That AWD performance was great though.

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NJboneless

· #3 · Dec 31, 2015

FNH said:
A shoddy interior is true of most American cars so you won't find many interiors that one would consider quality. From my perspective, the only American cars with a nice interior are Cadillac's. I have a CTS-V with great performance and a great interior (for a station wagon) but I paid a premium for that.

Corvettes are amazing cars to drive, they have crappy interiors unfortunately. Want better than corvette performance with a nice interior? Welcome to Porsche territory and a lot more money

You have to ask yourself though, do you want performance or a nice interior? If it is the latter you should probably not be buying either a Focus RS or a Golf R. There are cars out there with much nicer interiors for a lot less money.

If you want AWD performance then you will have to give up that interior unless you want to spend AMG money. I used to drive a Subaru STI, talk about a crappy interior! That AWD performance was great though.

Totally agree. But we can still compare crappy interiors with other crappy interiors...right?

I currently drive an Impreza sport limited (so technically the "highest end" trim in Subarus) but the interior (almost identical to the new WRXs/STIs) is very cheap and plasticy. For as much as I want a premium interior, I understand that the Focus RS is not going to give me that either....But I think it will be a worth while trade-off

I decided to buy the RS over competing cars like the Golf R for the AWD, as I do a lot of winter driving. That for me was the deciding factor, and is worth a lot to me. But the Golf R is a very solid hatch, and their interiors are pretty well refined considering their price and performance. If they offered an AWD solution I think I would almost be leaning towards one of them.

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gio

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 1, 2016

FNH said:
You have to ask yourself though, do you want performance or a nice interior? If it is the latter you should probably not be buying either a Focus RS or a Golf R. There are cars out there with much nicer interiors for a lot less money.

If you want AWD performance then you will have to give up that interior unless you want to spend AMG money. I used to drive a Subaru STI, talk about a crappy interior! That AWD performance was great though.

I know what you mean. I definitely want performance over nice interiors but at the same time I don't want to pay over $36K (assuming 0 markup) for a car that feels cheap. That would really piss me off. Given that I live in LA, I have a feeling that I would truly enjoy the RS only when I take it to the track, once or twice a month. I think the Golf R would deliver a very similar performance for canyon craving days/daily driving and a much more refined experience when I drive it to work every morning.

I should probably try to get my hands on a FoST and drive it around town...

FNH

· #5 · Jan 1, 2016

gio said:
I know what you mean. I definitely want performance over nice interiors but at the same time I don't want to pay over $36K (assuming 0 markup) for a car that feels cheap. That would really piss me off. Given that I live in LA, I have a feeling that I would truly enjoy the RS only when I take it to the track, once or twice a month. I think the Golf R would deliver a very similar performance for canyon craving days/daily driving and a much more refined experience when I drive it to work every morning.

I should probably try to get my hands on a FoST and drive it around town...

You are probably right

ExtremeFocus

· #6 · Jan 3, 2016

I think it's best to decide after driving both of them yourself but you'll have to wait a bit for the Focus RS to be available for test drives.

gio

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 4, 2016

ExtremeFocus said:
I think it's best to decide after driving both of them yourself but you'll have to wait a bit for the Focus RS to be available for test drives.

Time is a factor for me. I currently drive a stage 1 BMW 335i that I tracked a few times. It's literally falling apart and I wanted to get rid of it before it's time for the next big repair. I don't know when that is going to happen but I'm afraid I won't have enough time to wait until I can test drive an RS.

FNH

· #8 · Jan 4, 2016

gio said:
Time is a factor for me. I currently drive a stage 1 BMW 335i that I tracked a few times. It's literally falling apart and I wanted to get rid of it before it's time for the next big repair. I don't know when that is going to happen but I'm afraid I won't have enough time to wait until I can test drive an RS.

Waiting for an RS to test drive may be a bit of a challenge. Most of the allocation is spoken for so it will be difficult to find a dealership with one siting on the lot. Even if you do manage to find one siting on the lot, the dealership will be unlikely to let you do more than just sit in it.

If you are truly concerned about interior quality and want good performance (and can't wait for the RS release) , take a look at the used Cadillac CTS-V market. You can find decent 2009-2014 models well under $50k and they haul serious butt.

Jobber

· #9 · Jan 7, 2016

Man you're not getting a test drive in one of these things until Fall at the earliest, although i'd bet you're not getting a test drive until 2017

Reactions: 1

ExtremeFocus

· #10 · Jan 8, 2016

Let us know what you decide!

centurion

· #11 · Jan 8, 2016

At best you can get a ride along with an owner, just not sure if they'll let someone random drive it, still that will be a great experience.

Cosmonaut

· #12 · Jan 12, 2016

Isn't the Golf R cancelled due to dieselagte and whatnot? Or at least pushed back considerably?

ExtremeFocus

· #13 · Jan 14, 2016

The Golf R400? Yea, heard it was pushed back too and I don't think a new date has been announced yet so people could be waiting for the next 2-3 years.

gio

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 18, 2016 (Edited)

Hey guys. A few updates on this topic.

I called 5-6 Ford dealers in the LA area and they're all asking big mark-ups. 5k on average. One of them has already pre-sold 3 of the 4 RSes that he will get from Ford and he is, quote: "not expecting to sell the last one for less than 45 grands". I guess I'm gonna have to drive a few hundred miles away from LA if I want to get my hands on a RS for a reasonable price.

In other news, I had the chance to drive a Golf R this past weekend. It wouldn't hurt if it had a 50 more horses under the hood, but man that car goes. I really had a great time. Given the recent VW Dieselgate, it think I would be able to knock a couple grands off MSRP and get one for around 34-35K, leaving room in the budget for improvements.

If a few weeks ago I would have taken the RS in a heartbeat, now it's becoming an interesting battle for me. I can't wait to read the first reviews!

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John O

· #15 · Jan 27, 2016

The Golf R is AWD.

centurion

· #16 · Jan 28, 2016

John O said:
The Golf R is AWD.

Even better. Beats RWD.

Cosmonaut

· #17 · Jan 31, 2016

Is the Golf R separate from the Golf R 400 because I heard that wasn't happening.

gio

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 31, 2016

The Golf R400 is a different animal that no one knows much about. The "standard" Golf R is regularly being sold everywhere for about $36K.

Red Leader

· #19 · Feb 6, 2016

Having driven the R Type Golf, I was left thinking what a bland car, you put your foot on the loud pedal and there is no smile on your face. Having own many fast Fords you always know that you will smile when you press the loud pedal. Wait for the RS, I am testing one towards the end of the month and will report back. If is anything like the old RS cars it will be a great drive.

Reactions: 1

gio

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 8, 2016

Red Leader said:
Having driven the R Type Golf, I was left thinking what a bland car, you put your foot on the loud pedal and there is no smile on your face. Having own many fast Fords you always know that you will smile when you press the loud pedal. Wait for the RS, I am testing one towards the end of the month and will report back. If is anything like the old RS cars it will be a great drive.

Will do. Please let me know as soon as you drive it.

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