Golf R MK7.5 alternatives

[firman]

So looking at getting out of my 2010 RR Sport and seriously considering the MK7.5 Golf R but as any sensible person would do I decided to come here and let you talk me out of it, offer alternatives and all that.
Looking at a budget of up to £25k
Ideally want the 5 door
Something useable daily
Fun
Look forward to hearing your opinions

[Baldchap]

PH will tell you they're boring and rubbish. Contemporary reviewers said it was the car they'd buy.

Test drive one and decide for yourself.

[culpz]

For me, the Golf R is the best out of the premium, 4WD hot hatches. So, if that's the recipe you want, then give one a go and see what you think. It's the one I'd have.

If you're prepared to try something FWD or RWD, the world is your oyster with that budget and looking at the rest of the recent/current crop of hatchbacks.

i30N
M140i/M240i
Megane 280/300 Trophy
Civic Type R
Leon Cupra
Focus ST

Etc...

[duckson]

M135i’s are on decent lease deals currently if that floats your boat as opposed to buying.

[griffter]

An often overlooked competitor (particularly to the Golf R estate) is the Mercedes AMG CLA250 4 matic.
Depends what you want of course, but might tick some boxes.

[jdizz]

Leon Cupra ST 4Drive - does everything very well. Would recommend.

[Hol]

firman said:

So looking at getting out of my 2010 RR Sport and seriously considering the MK7.5 Golf R but as any sensible person would do I decided to come here and let you talk me out of it, offer alternatives and all that.
Looking at a budget of up to £25k
Ideally want the 5 door
Something useable daily
Fun
Look forward to hearing your opinions

Audi S4 Estate, is within that budget (IF it doesn't need to be a hatchback).

Edited by Hol on Tuesday 23 February 14:31

[ZX10R NIN]

At 25k depreciation might be your biggest cost (especially with the new Golf R coming out) so I'd maybe go for the hottest AWD hatches:

CLA 45 Shooting Brake

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012307...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012167...

A45 Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012187...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101117...

Focus RS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011196...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101248...

RS3 a very good car with an epic drivetrain

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101178...

Also test drive the Leon Cupra with the same drivetrain as the R at the moment they're good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012197...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008172...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101268...

If you can live without AWD then these three should be on the test drive list:

308 GTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

i30N Perfomance Fastback

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

Hatch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

M140 Shadow Edition with Pro Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101168...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012117...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102169...

In truth only a test drive will tell you what'll work for you but all the above are good steers.

[Ben Lowden]

If you need something Golf size, then M140i would be my choice: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11173721

Spec looks good on this one with M Performance exhaust: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11178615

If you don't need something as big though, I find it hard to look past a Mk8 Fiesta ST-3 with the Performance Pack. Incredible value for money and so much fun at sensible speeds: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11082311

i30N is also a great shout if you want something bigger.

[finnersj]

I had a Golf R Mk 7 and loved it. Followed by an M140i which was even faster with a superb engine but ride and handling was not as resolved. Currently run Leon Cupra which is good value and full of kit but does not handle as well as the Golf. My son has a i30N which is a fun drive with a rorty exhaust and slick manual gearbox. All are great cars but the Golf was the best allounder.

Edited by finnersj on Wednesday 24th February 17:40

[XJR fan]

I would be strongly tempted by (and most probably go for) an M140 if you want a Golf R alternative. A Golf R is an excellent choice though, it does the classic fast Golf thing of being an excellent all rounder

[Wonderman]

firman said:

So looking at getting out of my 2010 RR Sport and seriously considering the MK7.5 Golf R but as any sensible person would do I decided to come here and let you talk me out of it, offer alternatives and all that.
Looking at a budget of up to £25k
Ideally want the 5 door
Something useable daily
Fun
Look forward to hearing your opinions

What other cars did you have pre RRS?
I had Golf-R (albeit estate and DSG) did ~22/23k miles and found it was meh, I didn't like the Haldex and the seat lacked leg support for me so didn't miss it when it went back. Bounced from there back to 330i grabbed back from the Mrs, MX5 then RRS and now in RS280 Cup manual which with only a few miles under the belt makes me smile more than the R did. The R is competent, but the Megane is fun (although it's also a lease so I'm not worried about residuals, it's under warranty etc)

[dunc69]

Watch this. If you ignore / don’t need the AWD (Stinger only RWD in UK), this is food for thought.

https://youtu.be/hRLO6arSp9c

Edited by dunc69 on Wednesday 24th February 21:47

[adamskie1989]

id say best to look at a leon cupra 290/300 or the estate versions just basicly a cheaper golf R

[CJ1]

I would say Audi S3. Same car underneath as the Golf but far better interior and slightly quicker 0-60.

I recon you will get a lot of recommendations for the M140i on here. In my eyes the only thing that is better in that car over the Golf R is the engine. They handle like boats and Open Diff RWD means in the real world in anything other than perfectly dry roads or a couple of months in summer the Golf R/ S3 is a quicker car.

M140i can be made into a beast though with just a few mods. But personally the R/ S3 is my choice.

[BE11 EDN]

Also take a look at the FL Mini Clubman JCWs, 300bhp & BMWs all wheel drive system.

Does have obvious drawbacks though: polarising looks, dodgy back doors, smaller boot.

Saying that, if the build materials in my wife’s Countryman PHEV (company car) are anything to go by, quality is decent.