Mk8 VW GTI Clubsport vs Mk8 VW Golf R - Which REALLY has the best POWER to WEIGHT ratio?

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Lots of people have asked why the rear wheels were moving on my Clubsport and about the tuning box so here the answers directly from Matt at Racingline;
1)Why does the dyno drive the rear wheels on my Clubsport? I know the 2 rollers are mechanically linked, what is the benefit of this? I thought more accurate drag calculation maybe?
You are correct, they are mechanically linked rollers which is why the rear wheels are turning on your Clubsport. However, it does not change the drag calculations on your dyno graph as we change the setting when swapping cars to only read the front load cell and not the rear on FWD cars.
When we dyno’d the Golf 8R, I then changed the setting to allow it to read the rear load cell as well, which then gave an accurate reading for the Golf 8R to allow for rear losses.
As it is mechanically linked, there is no way for us to lock out the rear rollers. Also a lot of cars have rear speed sensors, so if you lock out the rear and the front wheels move without the rear wheels, this will often limit power. This is one of the reasons why we have a mechanically linked dyno, as well as then having an accurate reading for 4WD and RWD cars.
2)Is the tuning box on sale yet and if so how much is it and what gains are expected?
It is not on sale yet, we’re still in the manufacturing process which has been delayed due to chip shortages and COVID. Gains wise it is very vehicle dependant, but on the Clubsport and the Golf 8R we’re seeing circa +25-30HP and +30-40Nm.
It's well known that Mk8 Golf Rs are producing significantly over the factory quoted figure of 320 PS (316 bhp) when they are tested on a dyno. I thought it would be an interesting exercise therefore to put my Mk8 Golf GTI Clubsport on a dyno and see how much over the quoted 300 PS (296 bhp) that is was producing. It's never going to produce more power than an R but could any gains over stock allow it surpass the R's 1.14 bhp per tonne power to weight ratio advantage which is a much better indicator of real world performance.
Using VW's quoted bhp & weight figures;
Mk8 Golf R weight 1551 kg = 203.74 bhp per tonne
Mk8 Golf GTI Clubsport weight 1461 kg = 202.60 bhp per tonne
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[@aldfort5781]

You said it all at the end. In the real world off the line the R is going to be better. On the twisty stuff the R is going to be better due to the torque vectoring. You said it in one of your own videos. By the same token the R is going to be easier to drive quickly. The only thing the Clubsport is going to do is perhaps stop a little faster. You should do a head to head with Matt Watson on his favourite air strip. Try to do it on a wet day. that'll show the real world difference.

[@volkswizard]

Off the line the R will kill the Clubsport but I only start off from stationary 1 or 2 times on my 25 miles commute so what happens in gear is much more important and there the 2 cars are well matched. Torque vectoring is clever but it's no substitute for a well set up front wheel drive hot hatch, an R will never be held in as high esteem as Clubsport S, Megane Trophy or Civic Type R. R is easier to drive quickly but if you think that's a positive then we clearly we have very different requirements from a hot hatch. I've been driving them for 25 years this year and I want a car that I can deploy some of that experience with to get the most of it because that's where I get the most satisfaction from driving. Nothing good ever came "easy"...

[@aldfort5781]

@@volkswizard I cut my teeth on a 205GTi and I've owned an S2000. So I know a little about what it takes to drive quickly. The S2000 in particular had a bit of a widow-maker reputation. The 205 lift of oversteer was a thing of legend back in the day. The Mk7 GTi with performance pack made way for the R. Being a little older than you I am more that happy that the R has a huge margin of safety in most situations, even when pressing on, and I am glad to be further from it's limit on public roads. Still each to their own and I'm really looking forward to seeing how that Corrado turns out. It's one car I always wanted but missed out on.

[@escos0410]

@Mr Sir why would you buy the R? You driven both?

[@peterlustig1801]

@Mr Sir R is the poor man‘s RS3 And yes with this comment i want to show how stupid Mr Sir‘s comment is

[@sleepwalker31]

The R is just that bit better. Clubsport, pp or anniversary edition will only ever be gti.

[@andrewmcivor42]

Also forgot to add....why would anyone remove the rear wash/wipe from the Golf R (or any other Golf)! What an utterly ridiculously pointless thing to do!

[@nielsdebakker3283]

Looks, for the weight it ie easier to skip breakfast.

[@andrewmcivor42]

@@nielsdebakker3283 looks? It looks daft! Just looks like it was pulled off by vandals & the owner couldn't be bothered to replace it🤣

[@vroomgc]

@@andrewmcivor42 Ya I've seen other guys do this on GTI's , not too many on R's and I agree it looks stupid.

[@Wakendorf91]

why would someone delete the wipers at the back??

[@faustinaadu2284]

That was an informative yet great video. I think the Golf R has more potential. Get in on a Dyno again once it has 6000 or more miles because people are saying it can get 350 to 360HP

[@suttonspeshul5585]

Literally no chance it's gaining 20 30bhp from breaking in. Seen one run 340 but it can also depend on the dyno also they run similar 100-200 times so this all seems about right

[@macpdm]

That R is stunning. Perhaps im just old but I like a rear wiper. I get it though aesthetically it looks very clean.

[@wrashid89]

Their Golf R is a beauty

[@wrashid89]

As is your Clubsport Andy!

[@mitchjames9350]

To bad it’s so expensive and a bit heavy.

[@user-xm6ro1ep5d]

Appreciate your depth and knowledge There's more one can get with an R than with a CS, and that's been proven not just by your videos but others

[@sszhao11]

You get more torque throughout the rpm with R. So it will be noticeably faster. My GTI already have trouble putting down stock 220HP even with summer tire. R would be my choice

[@andrewmcivor42]

Interesting comparison - although the power to weight ratio is minimal, the R will be better, out in the real world. I don't really see the GTi Clubsport & the R as being direct competitors anyway - they have slightly different target markets. You can't get the Clubsport as an estate (no complaints from me there!) for a start! The R is a better "day to day" car, whereas the Clubsport is probably more of a harder edged "weekend" kind of car - having said that, the price difference (R is ridiculously overpriced in the Mk 8) would certainly give me food for thought if I wasn't looking for an estate. The mods on the R are largely irrelevant - very few people would modify a new car like that (& invalidate the VW warranty at the same time..). Maybe in a few years though... The big brakes/wheels basically make that R useless during the winter - even the standard Mk 8 can't take anything smaller than an 18" wheel, I think? I can get 17" Dijons onto my 7.5 R estate no problem (although they do look utterly crap, to be fair!) - keeps me going in the depths of winter. That bonnet strut mod though.....I'm expecting that on your own Clubsport soon!!

[@sleepwalker31]

Very good comparison. Definitely be going from a mk7 to a mk8 R

[@stevesje71]

As with the mk7 clubsport S and 7.5 R performance pack the mk8 cars are still having rotors on the floating discs for right side only, meaning the left side rotors are going in reverse. It’s very poor as on a track day the discs will run at a different temperature. We are paying a premium for the mk8. Vw please use left and right dedicated discs with directional rotor cooling!!

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Great comparison!! Set my mind on the R then...

[@volkswizard]

There is no bad choice 😁

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Indeed. Pls Keep the Mk8 content coming!

[@srea064]

Good results for the Club Sport. Notice the rear wheels were spinning, is the Club Sport AWD?

[@m65456566]

Amazing how it’s been tested on wheel horse power and it’s more than what official figure of 320ps! Looking forward to my new mk8 golf R!

[@SgHawk144]

Figures on the graph were crank power, not wheel.

[@KING0SISQO]

I’m after the one where I can get a manual gearbox and sunroof. I don’t care about weight, I am not in a Grand Prix competition

[@AUDIDOIT]

Really enjoyed this comparison. Your Clubby looked lovely on the rollers, the silver looks lovely. Quite something a gain there on standard map power for both machines. Personally I would take the lighter weight clubsport over the R everyday of the week. But I respect and understand also why people would choose the R over the clubsport, if you are into all weather traction and off the line performance. Keep up the great work Andrew, love the video's and the way you present and deliver your content.

[@volkswizard]

Thanks for the kind words Damien, yes indeed there is no bad choice and come the winter a might quite fancy an R but on the dry roads of summer, not much can touch the CS for excitement

[@viator1987]

Dude... It's not even a close race. Not on a track, or a quarter-mile. You nuts?

[@cfbm125]

Great video!, good strong figures too, there was no way it was going to be lower than VW rate it. ☺️

[@volkswizard]

Autocar said CS 45 was as fast as you'd ever need your hot hatch to be so suspected it was going to be a bit fruitier than 300 PS

[@JakobusVdL]

Is there any risk to the car, engine or gearbox in doing dynomometer runs? And why with the front wheel drive GTi do you have the rear wheels on rollers? And goodness me, the Mk8 is carrying a bit of weight compared to the 5/6 or 7. What happened there?

[@jaywhitney789]

Christ that Golf R is 😎🤙

[@ThomasHarrisonLord]

Woah, casual BTCC race-winning TDI Seat at 10:11!

[@chrismaddison4602]

It was interesting to see the R didn't have the Racingline hose and presume the turbo elbow on either. Seems a waste of money putting the fancy intake on for 4bhp too.

[@lastnamefirstname520]

Its a demo car, thats used to show how it looks on the 8. Elbow / muffler delete is not yet available for this engine (plus you cant really notice them when theyre fitted anyway)

[@chrismaddison4602]

@@lastnamefirstname520 you can't see the turbo elbow but you'd definitely see the hose. Hose and turbo elbow are probably giving the same gains as the r600 and cost far less. Muffler delete seems pointless by all accounts.

[@vroomgc]

@@chrismaddison4602 100% agree with your assessment. I have an R and did the hose and turbo elbow and opened up the OEM intake a bit and it made a nice noticeable improvement :) Turbo muffler delete is pretty much useless except for some extra noise

[@downshiftpedal]

My GTi is also dyno at 265ps in Germany

[@andrzeja3027]

as an owner of a 2021 S3 I just want to say that till very last moment I was between R and S3. for me R is better looking outside but what decided was that you spend time inside the car and from that perspective S3 is so much better, so much better screens infotainment, physical buttons ect. so S3 won because of the interior. I had 7.5 GTI and in that gen the difference vs S3 previous gen was not that much noticeable but now its huge.

[@specops]

so wait is the 440 ish bhp the Golf R made on the dyno at the crank or what it is putting down on the ground? I thought that specialist guy said it was at the crank - But I thought BHP ment power to the ground?

[@volkswizard]

BHP is just a measurement scale so can be either to the ground or crank. It's like mph can be a car or a plane.

[@Andrew-mb8nq]

Smashed a clubsport just yesterday actually, didn't put up much of a fight at all really!

[@einfelder8262]

I smashed a mandarin yesterday, no resistance at all.

[@Andrew-mb8nq]

@@einfelder8262 😂

[@mphokholong8545]

🤣

[@Theurgicnick]

Literally nothing between the R and Clubsport for in gear pull and BHP/ton figures, plus the Clubsport is for sure the more involving drive. Saying that an R is just the go-to all weather weapon. Great vid once again Andrew. Keep the Mk8 content coming. Keeps me entertained while I wait for mine to arrive!

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Nicholas, much appreciated. Hope yours won't be too long now 🤞

[@abtcup]

Maybe VW needs to come out with a "S" version of the Clubsport like the Mk7. Can the Mk8 R beat the Mk7 CSS's ring time?

[@C6SuperchargedZR1]

No, it's a bit slower. Mk7 CS S is a beast

[@simonvazquez6751]

Good watch, I mistook the black piece of fabric blowing round on the R section as a rat 🐭

[@volkswizard]

We weren't in Birmingham 😉

[@37rmstrong]

I have the same strut tower mount. It's actually a noticeable change. I was surprised. It's very interesting about the Dyno. I knew it calculating real horsepower and then figured in the driver from the accessories and the transmission. However I didn't know how it did it. Good power figures. I wonder what they can do with bolt ONS and no tune. Intercooler, downpipe etc.

[@CaptHotah]

Really wished they would have still made the Scirocco R but with all this new tech from the Golf R 😭

[@Keka-vg3ut]

I'd take it over a golf any day even with less power than the golf r It's just beautiful

[@bongofury3176]

Do a comparison of driving out of Buxton in a snow storm...R every time for me

[@volkswizard]

Depends, stick winter tyres on a Clubsport and it will do a pretty good job in snow and be much safer especially under braking than any AWD on normal summer tyres. Sure an R on winters will be amazing but most owner think wrongly that AWD is all they need.

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Let’s get strapping down… well it is friday night 😝

[@GeronimoBiggles]

Do you think they will update the interior with actual knobs?

[@colinw1591]

A real shame you can't get the R in Reflex Silver.... that modified version would look so much better.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

Yes, white is a baffling choice when you're spending £40k.

[@MrRonan3]

I had 2 golf R’s both in reflex silver A Mk6 then a 7. I tried ti order a 7.5 In reflex silver. VW had stopped that Colour so sold the 7 managed to get one Of the last TCR left in Australia. But enjoyed the R more,

[@vroomgc]

@@MrRonan3 Yes I would think going from an R to a GTI would feel like you are missing something.

[@antonthompson7838]

That’s strange that he says that the Golf R had 333bhp and with the mods it’s 339bhp, when dyno after dyno I’ve seen 339bhp on brand new Golf R’s which maybe you’ve seen too.

[@volkswizard]

Different dynos produce different readings. The important thing here is that the two cars were tested on the same dyno, we weren't comparing these cars' figures to those from other dynos as that would be pointless, we were just comparing the one car to the other.

[@Bobby_Vang]

The Clubsport may be more exciting stock because of weight but as with my MK7 GTI once you start getting into the deeper end of tuning the two front tires just won't keep traction. So I assume if you just want to enjoy a nice stock to stage 2 daily fun car you'd get the Clubsport. If you were planning to go big turbo and you'd want the R. Each car has something their good at. I made a mistake not getting the R for the Mk7 generation, definitely getting the R this Mk8 generation.

[@volkswizard]

I think Mk8 has much better traction that Mk7 7.5, I can spin these earlier cars up in the dry but Mk8 CS doesn't do that. Obviously if you tune a CS it will be undriveable but honestly it's as fast you need for the road and pretty damn rapid on track too.

[@stevesje71]

Enjoyed your video Andrew, I think I’d have the clubsport over the R. I’m still missing my clubsport S

[@volkswizard]

You and me both!

[@stevesje71]

@@volkswizard I bought the TCR a year ago which I’ve barely driven because of work. It’s a great car but not in the same league as a Clubsport S. Sometimes I do think shall I sell the TCR and my mk4 or mk5 r32 and buy another CSS?

[@shadyninja1]

I thought that the clubsport was front wheel drive only. On the Dyno I saw all wheels moving

[@volkswizard]

The front and rear rollers are mechanically linked. This assume is better as it measures drag from the rear axle too

[@shadyninja1]

@@volkswizard is it four wheel drive or front wheel drive?

[@mohammadkhan8567]

@@shadyninja1 front

[@dj331]

So the R is the one to chose for the predominantly wet and twisty roads of the U.K. then.

[@volkswizard]

I've not had any issues with wet traction with my Eagle F1 Assymetric 5 tyres, the VAQ diff makes a big difference, far better than in the 7/7.5s. I've not had a winter yet (got the car in March) but in the wet, the car actually comes alive and you can revel in the superior steering feel and drive up to the limits of grip which remain high. R might be faster but is it more fun at sane speeds? Doubt it, and with a hot hatch that surely is the priority, not all weather ability.

[@mohammadkhan8567]

@@volkswizard i had a cupra 290 with pilot sports with the front vaq diff, and a mk7.5 golf r, honestly in the wet they aint even close, doesnt matter what you do you cant mitigate that constant wheelspin in the wet putting 300hp through fronts on a wet surfact always gonna be way slower on throttle

[@luddejohannesen6465]

Great video! Both cars are amazing! I just picked ut my mk8 R here in Norway because of the long winters. Do you Know what difference the tuning module is making on the R? And is it availeble to buy? Great content again!

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Ludde! I'll do a review with the tuning box active soon but I think it was about 20-25 PS. It's probably still in development but have a look at www.racingline.com/ and see if it's there👍

[@robertsparks7290]

Really interesting - but @volkswizard - why did the rear wheels turn while it was on the rolling road?

[@volkswizard]

Someone has asked this already - the front and rear rollers are mechanically linked so (I assume) you get a more accurate representation of transmission drag as the rear wheels contribute to that and the dyno measures that on the "coast down" after the power run.

[@stupot8572]

I put a set of Racingline R360, gunmetal grey (same as the R in this vid) wheels onto my pure white MK8 Golf GTi and had the mirror caps painted gloss black. No DCC, and not lowered. Looks way better than stock anyway. The car replaces a 2020 Audi S3 sportback, and I'm still blown away by how much better the GTi rides and handles in comparison, despite obviously being down on power and FWD only.

[@volkswizard]

They've done some great work on Mk8 chassis. I left Racingline with 4 white boxes in the boot and a big bill....😉

[@stupot8572]

@@volkswizard haha. Yea, VW have done an awesome job. Was also gona say, I went with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 5's after watching your 'new wheels' vid. They're pretty decent too.

[@Tracertme]

Really enjoyed the video clearly the best car to buy is yours and run the higher octane. I prefer the looks of yours really, especially the wheels, I would entertain this car if it was not a lite hybrid. All VAG products more or less given the common parts bin are using more of this high gloss plastic trim which looks really cheap and marks even worse, and the gadget stuff is all gimmicks and plagued with poor software testing. It’s a real shame all I constantly see is manufacturers reducing cost when all I want is an emotive drive which smacks of quality engineering and finish. I would even pay more for a slower car.

[@davidpegg4516]

Would be interesting to see how much less hp you would make using standard fuel. Interesting video though.

[@robtoogood201]

For UK weather, the R is the king!

[@volkswizard]

True, but is that really a priority for a hot hatch though?

[@MarcraM82]

@@volkswizard yes it means you can push the limits much more on non favourable conditions in the R.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

I agree about Tesco momentum I’ve tested a few fuels in my 130i now and I thought esso supreme would be the best for mpg at least given it’s 0 ethanol but Tesco was actually slightly better

[@DM-fn7je]

Nice content, the R needs the performance spoiler otherwise it looks too much like an R line

[@volkswizard]

Yes indeed Dan, Performance Pack is a bit of a no brainer - just glad you got the spoiler on the CS as standard, probably because it helps distinguish it over 245 GTI

[@Chris-fg2qh]

So much love for the Racingline dyno cell ❤

[@volkswizard]

They told me it was photogenic but I didn't expect it to be **that** photogenic 😍

[@Chris-fg2qh]

@@volkswizard Yeah the lighting just works so well too! Great video by the way 👌

[@saltandsham]

Good video. I was going to get a GTI CS but ended up with a BMW M340i a few weeks ago

[@volkswizard]

I blame that Joe Achilles 😃

[@saltandsham]

@@volkswizard yeah its so hard deciding what car to buy. My top 5 list was VW and BMW in the end the extra boot space was important to me. I wanted to be able to put a mountain bike in the car, the golf and series 1 was a little short. After having a few fast cars without 4x4 all my friends with 4x4 said how much better it was in the winter months it was down to the Golf CS, R or M340I.....

[@kcmsterpce]

@@saltandsham It was an easy choice for me, because in March I couldn't get an R until at least December, and the CS was available mid-June. I was using a rental. BMW had nothing in stock that I was interested in, with at least a 6 month wait. So.... CS it was! I'm very happy with it, though.

[@saltandsham]

@@kcmsterpce Nice one. I honestly couldn't choose between them, but boot space and wheels won the BMW over for me. We should all enjoy them before electric becomes the new normal 8-)

[@AB-nv7bz]

That stock r turbo has a lot more to give. Notice how u get 1500rpm of peak power. Also shocked this dude doesn’t know how a dyno works

[@vestexl]

Great comparasion!. Would like to know if they sell this R600 carbon bcs i cant find anywhere. Is something they made for them or is public?

[@scottt.4596]

Great content! Thanks 🙏🏻 Would love more content related to bolt-on items and if they actually add power.

[@volkswizard]

Hey Scott, glad you enjoyed it. Dynoing bolt on stuff is a good idea but dynos are usually owned by tuners so bit of a can worms there. If I had my own dyno that I could control the results of and perform the tests scientifically then that would work, maybe one day!

[@Pete7.5R]

Geekery at its finest 🤓👍 and that R looks far better than standard 😎

[@volkswizard]

I will take that as a compliment (as I am sure Racingline will for your other comment too) 👍

[@kevdavies3445]

great vid interesting

[@volkswizard]

Glad you enjoyed it kev

[@maverick4177]

All very good but cars aren’t driven on dynos, figures are just figures In terms of useable power and grip the R will always be better in most scenarios Well… until it meets an RS3 🤣

[@volkswizard]

Depends what you mean by better which for me isn't faster but more exciting and engaging, as the reviews reflect, the Clubsport is "better" in that scenario which for a hot hatch is a very significant one.

[@maverick4177]

@@volkswizard ah but of course, but Andy we all know you have a real distain for the R since you owned the MK7 version 😂 it is very obvious you are not a fan

[@davothegreat9990]

Rs3 will cost more...... Don't see the logic here. Different price bracket...

[@nicholasheys4061]

Did they say anything about potential gains in bhp for CS if these guys did remap ?? I’m not sure if I do or don’t at this stage whats your opinion

[@volkswizard]

Nobody has yet mapped the ECU on a Mk8 GTI or R but tuning box was about 20 hp more that stock on R (around 360) I think so CS will be similar.

[@simonturner2867]

@@volkswizard a couple of companies have managed to mapped them now and with stg1 map they are making close to 400hp

[@reds005]

They’ve made a lovely job of that R. Sleek as you like

[@MrGingerninja1989]

If you also factor in drive train loss of the 4wd system, I’d expect the clubsport to have the edge rolling

[@nicktabor2393]

I am tempted by the R with Racing line mods . 😃

[@honestreview1043]

I know this would never be the case but imagine if a R was cheaper to buy than the clubsport which one would you buy?

[@sleepwalker31]

A good question

[@demoney9540]

Any golf R looks better than your clubsport. You compare your clubsport with basically better cars, it's quite funny. You even complain about the R's engine cover😂🙊

[@volkswizard]

Not going to argue over what looks better as it's subjective, I can express my opinion in my video can't I? You are better off writing to evo magazine to complain about the unbiased experts there giving the "better" Golf R 3/5 when the Clubsport got 4/5... www.evo.co.uk/contact-us

[@VarandasMD]

Making more power than claimed isn’t surprising on most VAG turbo engines. It has been like that since at least the mk4 TDI and the mk5 TFSI. BMW engines also make more power than claimed on many models.

[@DavidRamseyIII]

Does the club sport have those hideous red tartan seats? That’s a non starter

[@MarcraM82]

Just trying to figure out which car is uglier....

[@miljanivanko2312]

Great video as always...Do you think we will see R+ or R Edition 20 soon,because in 2022, is 20th anniversary of Golf R?

[@sunshine101spooger]

This may be stupid but why were the rear wheels of the GTI moving in the Dyno?

[@chrisjd1984]

Can someone answer this guys question I want to know too

[@volkswizard]

Someone please correct be of I am wrong but my understanding is that the dyno rollers are mechanically linked so four wheel drive cars drive them "as one" - 2 wheel drive cars then drive their rear wheels via the dyno which is taken into account by the transmission loss calculator. When you drive a front wheel drive car on the road, the rear wheels create friction/drag so it's actually more realistic if the dyno replicates this. I should point out this is a special dyno for developing software rather than the typical dyno tuners have so it works differently.

[@cfbm125]

@@volkswizard as well as what’s been said above, I’m pretty sure I heard somewhere that modern cars also have a brain fart if they detect that the rears are not spinning when being run up.

[@chrisjd1984]

@@volkswizard awww now that answers all the questions at once thanks mate appreciated that 👍

[@xtremeelectronics2862]

👍👍

[@briandouglas1182]

Vw has a history of the numbers on paper being less than the real world dyno results.

[@volkswizard]

That's the best way around isn't it Brian?!

[@briandouglas1182]

@@volkswizard when it comes to insurance it helps. But bragging rights, not so. You would have to carry around your dyno sheet in the glove box and pull it out when its necessary. Especially if your caught in the middle JDM fan fest.

[@butchmeister80]

So the R is quicker than gti. Looks better to in white.

[@volkswizard]

How this translates to actual performance is the next challenge. Need to drag race and in gear test and brake test Clubsport and R to really see the differences. Track test would be good too

[@bikersparky]

Love all those racing line caps, so much better than the oem cheap plastic

[@volkswizard]

Agreed CAL!

[@James-yl3kk]

I thought the Rs rear wheels only had drive when the front lost traction? Or is that how old haldex worked?

[@volkswizard]

No, that's still true. The dyno rollers at the front drive the rear wheels which prevents centre diff issues which can happen even if Haldex is deactivated.

[@James-yl3kk]

They should have a visual display to let you know the power distribution across the wheels while driving. I always wondered while driving the R I had if the rear was engaged or not.

[@dj331]

@@James-yl3kk on my R when you look at the power distribution In the digital cockpit , it’s always showing power going to the rear even on light acceleration

[@James-yl3kk]

@@dj331 is that in the mk8?

[@hueva1234]

Waited a while for this 🤩

[@volkswizard]

Hope it was worth it Ameen!

[@hueva1234]

@@volkswizard definitely was!

[@stevedabs5273]

Both fabulous cars that unfortunately share the same software gremlins, if your a boy racer who wants to drag race at every set of lights then the R is the one to get, drivers will go with the Clubsport every time.

[@mrrooneygeorgee6524]

The interior usability, no gas struts, no labelled engine cover, the front end. Cmon VW fix these things, otherwise it’s really one of best hot hatches out there right now.

[@samseptember6404]

What BHP do these golf R’s produce after a remap?

[@danprescott2256]

Currently no one can't remap these cars just yet

[@simonturner2867]

@@danprescott2256 there are a few about now making nearly 400hp i think devil developments is one company that map them

[@danprescott2256]

@@simonturner2867 damn that's pretty crazy

[@NiceGuyAidey]

Glad i ordered the R , No offence to anyone but i prefer the Front End , not a fan of the oversized Honey this time around .... but the delays are annoying me and i have dipped into looking at the new Rs3

[@johnguidetti5839]

Might as well go RS3 if you can pal

[@NiceGuyAidey]

@@johnguidetti5839 Yes i'm thinking more that way now, I have always been Vw man, never had an audi, but like the looks of it

[@volkswizard]

Have you priced it up? I could buy 2 CSs for the price of one RS3!

[@johnguidetti5839]

@@volkswizardNew base spec RS3 is £49,415. With a few options like metallic paint, adaptive suspension and comfort & sound pack it’s 51,570. Interested to see where you will get 2 Club-sports at £25,758?

[@NiceGuyAidey]

@@volkswizard Ive had a quick look yes, the rs3 is in a different league to the cs though.

[@ramarakeshv]

Beautiful cars. Sad can get in manual form

[@volkswizard]

The Americans get a stick shift R with a slight reduction in torque

[@rob88888]

Well this video really sums up VW Golf lovers doesn’t it 🥱

[@kennymcallister2523]

Another great video racing line r absolutely stunning 🤩

[@darrenaddyman1556]

You should see the Ecotune Gold R in Glasgow it’s an absolute beast!

[@Loopsrainforest]

My favourite mod would be a power & volume button....

[@Pete7.5R]

Got me wondering about the power to weight ratio of my 7.5R (310) manual 3 door. . .dyno run 328 bhp, weight 1429kg, I make that 229.53 bhp/tonne 🤓

[@gerardcahill3924]

Somebody just got over 340 dyno on MK8 R Archie Hamilton?

[@volkswizard]

All I can say is that some dynos are there to provide power figures for customers of tuning companies and some (like this one) are there to develop tuning parts and software - this dyno was not used for customer cars. So calibrations may vary. Also mass produced cars will all vary to some degree.

[@JonathanB007-]

Be interesting to see a drag race

[@volkswizard]

Yes it would as well as a track challenge

[@David-ju5ci]

Good video interesting result

[@volkswizard]

Thanks David!

[@jihadjoe]

IMO the wheel HP is more relevant than engine HP, because that extra power is lost in transmission (heh) anyways. In which case your Clubsport with 189.6 wheel HP per ton actually edges out the R with gets 186.9 wheel HP per ton.

[@GrahamReid34]

its just a golf?!

[@Tom-xo5qk]

Ah good… be sticking with the CS then! What strong engines these are. Cost cutting VW? Not where it matters…

[@volkswizard]

That is true! I was thinking they could have just pegged down the boost and fuel and had them way closer to quoted but for both cars with different software to be over by the same amount seems almost deliberate and surprising considering more bhp means more Co2. I'm not complaining but it would be interesting to see how much power a later built car produces to see if this is another software bug :)

[@Tom-xo5qk]

@@volkswizard I’d imagine it would shit itself in all ways under the sun if that was a software bug. It really appears that any cost saving on Golf 8 is on the ‘surface’… where the accountants can pick things out and degrade them. The true engineers (why we love VW) have really shifted 8 on from 7, as proven by your service video. I wouldn’t waste too much time speculating how much more the cost of one aluminium subframe is over a hydro bonnet strut…

[@N8KOW]

Matt Ellis & the rest of the RL team are the guys

[@davidwakelin840]

Do they have an idea of what the R with the tuning box will be running?

[@volkswizard]

Matt said it was 20-25 bhp ish above standard I think, nowhere near as much as a map. I'll be doing a full review of that car in due course.

[@TIM612826]

Golf r looks nicer. OK is 0.0001bhp faster, but in the UK with all the shit weather, I think worth it!!! 😀

[@volkswizard]

I get that, I do really but you have to trade off how much the weather can dampen the pleasure in the CS vs how **amazing** it is to drive on a dry road

[@TIM612826]

@@volkswizardI know what your saying, front wheel drive is more engaging to drive compared to a safe 4wd especially in the dry. But hay ho, I got my clio 182 for that... Lol. I think the golf r is one of the best cars for driving in the UK, with all the wet weather we get. It's better up hills, driving over uneven surfaces potholes etc etc. The CS is still nice but not better than the r...

[@iiAmMaddoxD]

Was the 339bhp crank or wheels hp?

[@simonturner2867]

crank

[@jimmyjt16]

You should've got the R instead of that fake CS.

[@volkswizard]

Really? evo magazine is one of the most respected performance car magazines in the world and rated the Clubsport higher than the R, do you know better than them?

[@jimmyjt16]

@@volkswizard i know it's not a proper CS. Don't base your car choice of what magazine editors tell you. The R is undoubtedly the better car.

[@escos0410]

@@jimmyjt16 behave son

[@christopherwoodhead7021]

How can a 4wd car only have a 3whp loss difference to a fwd?

[@stevenhowat6735]

Clubsport is a classy machine and by far the more fun and exhilarating drive which is primarily why I’m getting one and not the R

[@volkswizard]

Horse for courses, it's good we have the choice and there is no wrong one. In 2030 things will be very different.

[@NismoHenkan]

What type of fuel did you run on? 95? 98? do not know what octanes you have in England

[@pillred5974]

He ran his (Club sport) on Tesco momentum which is 99, I don't know what the r was using.

[@volkswizard]

I think I asked about the R and it was V power or some other super

[@NorthWestEnduro]

I wonder why the R have a petrol flap that you push in? My mk8 GTE is opened from inside the car

[@volkswizard]

Why is your GTE one opened from inside the car is the question! They haven't done that since Mk5! I presume it's something to do with it being a hybrid, I bet that car cost VW a lot more to make than a GTI!

[@NorthWestEnduro]

@@volkswizard very strange 🤔. It would be interesting to see what a GTE makes on the Dyno.

[@jon_273]

​@@volkswizard Yep, the GTE has a pressurised tank and it has to depressurise before you can open the fuel flap to fill it up. The idea is so the petrol vapours are kept contained when the car is running in electric mode for extended periods.

[@escos0410]

I knew and have proven it myself. No regret what so ever when both cars where side by side new, besides. You see 10 R’s to 1 CS and that IMO is what matters. I know for a fact that ours always gets the looks and thumbs up when out and about. Me personal I just couldn’t bring myself knowing a R line looks the same as the R. I was hell bent this time getting a R too lol 😂

[@kerpoise]

There's way more CSs and GTis on the road than Rs. (mk8s). On the recent Golf mk8 FB group it was 33 clubsports to 16 Rs that people owned with 52 GTis. EDIT: I was wrong, it's about the same!

[@escos0410]

@@kerpoise not where I live, and the job I do doing between 1200/1400miles per week says different mate

[@kerpoise]

Just checked the new registrations. We're both wrong really! They're almost identical new regs this year for Rs and Clubsports. Obviously different to the MK7 R as they were super cheap on lease deals, and common as muck!

[@escos0410]

@@kerpoise I just go off what I see on the roads mate and it’s very rare I see the CS

[@kerpoise]

I go off the official UK statistics. There was more GTis registered on the road this year so far than Rs and Clubsports combined! Both stunning cars, and pretty rare at around 300 registered this year.

[@stewartlewis3503]

RacingLine's MK8 looks like it'll ride like a pile of poo on the road. Way too low and too big wheels. I've always believed on the road you want suppleness and suspension travel.

[@volkswizard]

Wheels are 19" so same as what the factory fit and it has DCC so has a comfort mode. The factory springs are quite firm so it's not impossible even with less travel it's no worse. Will drive and report back soon 👍

[@pininprestatyn]

Interesting. My little mk5 GTI weighs about 1330KG and made 272 horses after a stage 2 remap. That’s 204BHP per ton. I had a little ‘comparison’ with a MK8 R on the local bypass the other day and I kept up with him.

[@volkswizard]

When I had a 300 PS Edition 30 I did work out that things hadn't moved on much in the intervening 10 years. Only difference is the performance comes from the factory and the cars produce much lower emissions for the performance they produce.