[ryem3]

Pretty funny and some may find it crazy. Just sold my 2011 Porsche turbo. I shopped the m4, but came to the conclusion that it was a joke to turn in my car and only get an m4 for nearly the same amount of money. So, I was totally drawn to the m2 for the money. Over $20k less and just as fast. But then many of my friends with exotics also got golf Rs and are totally happy with them. Delighted in fact. It then occurred to me I could get a great winter car, the golf AND an m2 for about the same amount of money as the turbo! Yes, the turbo is the king of the hill, but the combo of cars will be fun. Just fun. For this thread, the R is not to be underestimated, it is really a great car. The simple APR tune gives you 60 hp with stock exhaust. I'm going to try fun instead of fastest for a while.

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by ryem3

Pretty funny and some may find it crazy. Just sold my 2011 Porsche turbo. I shopped the m4, but came to the conclusion that it was a joke to turn in my car and only get an m4 for nearly the same amount of money. So, I was totally drawn to the m2 for the money. Over $20k less and just as fast. But then many of my friends with exotics also got golf Rs and are totally happy with them. Delighted in fact. It then occurred to me I could get a great winter car, the golf AND an m2 for about the same amount of money as the turbo! Yes, the turbo is the king of the hill, but the combo of cars will be fun. Just fun. For this thread, the R is not to be underestimated, it is really a great car. The simple APR tune gives you 60 hp with stock exhaust. I'm going to try fun instead of fastest for a while.

BY ALL MEANS, man - go for it. As I stated many times: my M235i (and if you can get M2 - even more) is a great car, but the "underestimated" Golf R is a perfect complementary. In many aspects more than that - it's just simply, plain BETTER!

And please don't take my words as coming from a VW fanboy at his 20s - I'm over 61, and never had a VW before the R in my entire life. But did have several BMWs...

Piotr

[koastal]

Couple of extremely worked over VW R's were at the track the other day. One was doing 58's whilst the unmolested M2 did 60,s

[Yellowflash21]

M perf suspension + breaks, and it's in same time league

[Benzima]

Why comparing the two cars when I can have both

Both great cars with different DNA in my opinion.

[Spinnetti]

I plan to get a M2 next summer, but funny part is I'm worried about modability - the VAG stuff makes huge gains/cc with simple mods - way more than BMW... I wish I could get the M2 with the new VAG TTRS 5pot That said, though not an R, I'm driving a hotrodded beetle that spins the tires through 3rd gear; just feeling like the M2 will feel a bit more "special".. Here's to finding out!

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Spinnetti

I plan to get a M2 next summer, but funny part is I'm worried about modability - the VAG stuff makes huge gains/cc with simple mods - way more than BMW... I wish I could get the M2 with the new VAG TTRS 5pot That said, though not an R, I'm driving a hotrodded beetle that spins the tires through 3rd gear; just feeling like the M2 will feel a bit more "special".. Here's to finding out!

RS3 should be even money with the M2. Maybe not your cup of tea though, won't be as much fun in the twisties.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

RS3 should be even money with the M2. Maybe not your cup of tea though, won't be as much fun in the twisties.

I'm definately a VAG fan, but by the spy shots, the RS3 looks very ordinary. If they gave me the clubsport at M2 money I'd be all over it, but since that doesn't look likely, M2 it is!

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Spinnetti

I'm definately a VAG fan, but by the spy shots, the RS3 looks very ordinary. If they gave me the clubsport at M2 money I'd be all over it, but since that doesn't look likely, M2 it is!

I'm concerned about the looks too would have to see it in the flesh. The interior will be nice, the virtual cockpit is pretty sick for those that like it. Exterior is kind of blah but it's an Audi after all. I'm hoping with an aggressive color combo i.e. Black with red leather or something would spice it up. I don't like the S3 in most colors actually but think it looks pretty sharp in Sepang.

[Lp01]

Originally Posted by 228JB4

However some people will say it's not a true M car simply because it doesn't have an S coded engine.

Have read this many times...

This was probably a naif marketing mistake from bmw. The M2 engine is considerably modified and BMW could have just throw a new engine code and this discussion would never be

Seriously, when is a modified engine entitled to have a new code? Is there any rule on how many and type of modifications are enough or sufficient to say it is a variant? Don't think so...

It is like growing a small stack of sand, grain by grain, and asking someone to say "its big" when it stops being a small and starts "being" big. There's no such grain of sand that will make the difference between a subjectively small stack and a (also subjective) big stack.

[c1pher]

Agree. They could have given it an S code of some sort, but chose not to. I find that curious since it does break with tradition. And why is the M235/M240 so perilously close in performance? BMW slathered M badges all over that car too. It make me think the real M2 is coming in the form of a CSL and this is all marketing to sell cars. That is what they are in business in after all.

Not saying the M2 isn't awesome or that it doesn't deserve to be an M.

[thewubwub]

Looks and sound department, the M2 already wins hands down...

[Imola3]

Originally Posted by thewubwub

Looks and sound department, the M2 already wins hands down...

My biggest complaint about my R is the lack of exhaust noise, doing a resonator delete helps a lot apparently, maybe I'll try that before getting my M2.

[ryem3]

Originally Posted by Imola3

My biggest complaint about my R is the lack of exhaust noise, doing a resonator delete helps a lot apparently, maybe I'll try that before getting my M2.

Agreed. Thinking about the downpipe, but they can cause issues. Watch out for the cat backs, some sound like crap.
Pretty funny, I just got a 2015 R and am waiting for an M2 as well! I'm debating whether or not the pre s55 m2 will have enough excitement over the R.

[3Si]

I had an R32 back in the days and sat in many new Rs during track events. While it is a very good car for daily commute, it is not even close to an M2 on the track. The latest Gen Haldex is much improved but it is still an understeer tire shredding machine when you push it hard. I'd pick a Focus RS over the R in a heartbeat, the interior is blah, but it has way more character than the R IMO.

[bartginger]

I own an M235i, am waiting for an allocation for an M2, and had the chance to drive a brand new 2017 Golf R manual this afternoon. For starters, the Golf R in red with its 19" alloys was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. I really wanted to like it, particularly since it was going to cost $41,114 w/o tax and license (took about 1 minute for the dealer to drop the $5,000 markup on it). The car has the typical Mark VII interior, which is to say it is excellent, and visibility out the front is better than the 2 series. The steering has only slightly better feel than the M235i, but what was really disappointing was the acceleration off the line, even in "Race" or Sport mode or whatever VW calls it. It felt REALLY slow to get going - once moving it was fine, but there is that slightly agricultural 4 cylinder sound that really does not appeal to me after owning so many inline sixes. Then, I got back in the M235i and the decision was made instantly for me. The 235i is so much quicker off the line, and just feels better to me. I wanted to buy that car so badly; it just looked so good, but in the end I think I will be (much) better off with the M2, or even the M235i if I have to keep it.

[kezm2]

Are Golf R's stolen much in the US? I'm sure it's isolated incidents but a Golf R is well targeted car in the UK. People getting yanked out of them, masked gangs breaking in houses etc. I'd hate to not buy something because of a what if scenario but when you know a car attracts that kind of attention it might give you pause for thought.

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by kezm2

Are Golf R's stolen much in the US? I'm sure it's isolated incidents but a Golf R is well targeted car in the UK. People getting yanked out of them, masked gangs breaking in houses etc. I'd hate to not buy something because of a what if scenario but when you know a car attracts that kind of attention it might give you pause for thought.

No, because gun violence..... lol.. actually no, because its a Niche car here, appreciated by very few, certainly not theives. The theives generally would grab Hellcats, Corvettes, Mustangs etc.... but in reality here were the tops in 2014 - all boring; they just grab what's most available.

1996 Honda Accord.
1998 Honda Civic.
2006 Ford F-Series pickup (full-size)
1999 Chevrolet Pickup (full-size)
1991 Toyota Camry.
2004 Dodge Pickup (full-size)
2000 Dodge Caravan.
2013 Nissan Altima.