Opinion Poll/ Next Article Idea

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
03/15/2014 at 16:55 • Filed to: None

Now that the VR6 is all but dead, should VW kill the Golf R and just make a 4Motion GTI?

DISCUSSION (21)

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 16:56

Keep the Golf R. I've always wanted them Stateside.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 17:03

Agreed. The GTI needs to be balanced. The Golf R can be insane. Go full on WRC rally hatch. More vents! More spoiler! More power! MORE POWER! EVEN. MORE. POWEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

jkm7680 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/15/2014 at 17:06

Can't wait to see one on the streets. You can always have more Powwwahhhh

Kinja'd!!!

hethoughtofcars > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 17:46

..but the Golf R is already a 4Motion turbo 4. The VR6 version back in the mid-00's didn't sell terribly well.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > hethoughtofcars
03/15/2014 at 18:01

That's the point. It's lost a big piece of its specialness.

hethoughtofcars > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 18:03

So I guess I don't understand the question. Do you mean should there just be an AWD GTI instead of the current Golf R (AWD GTI + More Power)?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 18:06

But it's not that special anymore. A big part of the appeal (at least for me) was always the VR6. If they made a 4mo GTI, I think they'd sell a lot more. If someone wanted R power, there's plenty of aftermarket ways to get there from the GTI levels...

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > hethoughtofcars
03/15/2014 at 18:09

Yeah. Get rid of the R all together, then offer 4 motion as an option on the GTI. They use different versions of the same engine, and it doesn't take much to get the GTI to R levels. All we need is 4mo.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 18:13

Yeah, but lots of Vag (Giggles uncontrollably) enthusiasts, like myself have been waiting a long time for it to get here.

Wait a second.

Kinja'd!!!

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 18:21

I like VAG as much as the next guy (lol) that's one of the reasons I'd like to see the GTI back on top of the Golf line. It's been around for 35 years (the R for only 10) and deserves better than to be second fiddle to an Audi S-Line knock off :\

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 18:24

Kinja'd!!!

My S-Line approves. That's an approving face. (Or a Cocaine face, I can't tell)

Possibly even combine the Gti and the R, to balance it out more, make the R a sub model of the Gti.

hethoughtofcars > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 18:25

Well then I guess the question is more: Is there room for a 4Motion GTI with the Golf R or would they need to cancel the Golf R to offer a 4Motion GTI? Personally I think they are probably happy with just the GTI/R. Option up a GTI and you get within a few thousand of an R. If you can, you might stretch to get the R, but I think most people who are in the market go straight for the R or straight for the GTI. Maybe there is space for a model between the two, but just like your CC question earlier it is such a small market...getting the R was already practically a gift in that VW loses money on it. They do it just for prestige/rep. So, basically, no. Keep the $36k R and the basic $26k GTI.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 18:39

I would approve of it being a GTI-R. The GTI has so much history. And the fact that they leap frog it to keep the R in the Golf line is disrespectful. Plus, I want plaid seats with 4mo lol

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 18:44

Haha, I love the Gti as a car, and I'd like to buy one in the near future, and there are so many generations behind it. It's been a really long model run, so a Golf R, with Plaid seats would be key.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 19:04

And maybe an actual "Base" R would be something they should start making. Cloth seats, less extras, 30k. I just think that there are a lot of ways the car could be more competitive. If they need to name, then they also need to make a more accessible version. I thought that could be a base GTI-4.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > hethoughtofcars
03/15/2014 at 19:10

Making a 4-mo GTI would actually allow VW to make more money on them. Economy of scales. They could just mass produce more GTI parts, which is much cheaper than making a special body kit and interior for the R.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 19:18

That's a great idea! Some higher end Audio couldn't hurt either, Pitch it into Vag!

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 22:50

Dude. I've applied to VOA so many times. It's ridiculous. I'm knowledgable of their whole product line (worked at a VW dealer for almost 2 years) and could come up with some great tweaks/additions to get them a few more sales here and there to compliment their core lineup. They've shot me down 9 times.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 22:58

Man, you sound like a good candidate, you've got some good ideas. I'm thinking of applying at Volkswagen of America Hq, because it's near me, but I hear that they are super picky. In your case, 9 times, that's overly harsh, keep going at it! They'll see the light eventually.
On the topic of jobs, I'm getting pay cuts up the ass with one of them, and I despise being a short order even part time. I might give a dealership job a shot.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > jkm7680
03/15/2014 at 23:05

I keep hoping, but I'm pretty discouraged about the prospects at this point. If you're near HQ, I'm assuming you're in NoVa. In that case, Lindsay VW would be your best bet. Liquid_popcorn works there and seems to be enjoying it.

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/15/2014 at 23:10

Yeah, I've talked to liquid_popcorn in the past. I'm going to be applying to Audi of Tyson's, or Fairfax Volkswagen. Don't be discouraged though, or you could try to take your ideas to a different car company. I'm in Prince William, so it's not that far. I probably won't end up working at Hq though.