My FIRST DRIVE in the 2021 MK8 VW Golf R!

Today I take out the new 2021 MK8 Golf R for a long awaited FIRST DRIVE! A big thank you goes to my friends at Martins VW in Basingstoke for making this possible. Full details to test drive this very car at Martins can be found below.
Book a MK8 R test drive at Martins VW!
Website: bit.ly/MartinsVW
Telephone: [phone]
Subscribe to hampshirephoto here: bit.ly/29XJyib
Visit my shop here: bit.ly/2ROYRuo
---
Music:
Epidemic Sound: player.epidemicsound.com/
---
What I use to make my videos:
Main Camera: amzn.to/2N92jhj
Back-Up Camera: amzn.to/2jg6Dl0
Microphone: amzn.to/2jmi5vK
Tripod: amzn.to/2jiUlbw
Drone: amzn.to/2iNVeoC
GoPro: amzn.to/2jk7lhl
Back-Up GoPro: amzn.to/2AwHcPH
Laptop: amzn.to/2jlrZNR
Editing Software: amzn.to/2AvwYin
---
You can also find me on:
Facebook - / hampshirephoto
Twitter - / hantsphoto
Instagram - / hampshirephotography
Snapchat - @lukepapworth
---
Thanks for watching! :-)

[@davidrossbach1578]

Might as well make the back-end look good, that's all that most other drivers will see.

[@incognitoguitars9999]

Great love. Love my 7.5 but looking forward to seeing how these evolve

[@emptyfret1]

Best review I've seen so far. Can't wait to see it here across the pond.

[@SuhailDurrani]

Waiting for it in 🇨🇦

[@jujitsusti7719]

It's absolutely amazing is the new R... brilliantly videoed also as per usual 💯👊

[@FaceliftGT]

Nice one and spot on! :). Love my MK8....so fun and fast :)

[@jaycochrane1220]

Great bit of kit

[@khaleelrana4880]

Wow looks phenomenal!

[@jonmorris1999]

Definitely a grower the mk8 sounds great btw

[@chrisward1782]

Love those roads around Overton! Great vid mate

[@hampshirephoto]

Thanks Chris!

[@phantom2k10]

i'm a bimmer guy,but i'd take this over the new m135i and a35 without even thinking twice.

[@markrhoden68]

But with the performance pack which everyone would want it would cost more than 40k and that puts it into a high tax bracket

[@BobbyJay1]

Sounds really good

[@neilwatson5864]

DPB looks great with the PP. NICE.

[@emrysjones8369]

Best review yet on the mk8 r 👌

[@hampshirephoto]

Thank you!

[@theshems7468]

That looks wicked

[@kiikokokoo]

Nice Review and a nice car! My R comes in June ‘22 😍 greeting from germany!

[@garycornwell5738]

I love it so much I have bought one 👌🏼 took 9 months for delivery though 😢 well worth the wait

[@gns942]

I love the way the rear 3/4 looks, it's a huge improvement from the previous MK7

[@markandrew7701]

Very good review ! This is progress love the instrument layout & rear spoiler . Would be great to see you take it on the track & try out drift mode . My wife’s car is due for a change & I rank this car top as a replacement .👍

[@hampshirephoto]

Thank you!

[@blakspark6825]

Should have kept the 7.5.

[@stephenhankey9684]

Black suits that car so well. The best spec I’ve seen so far for the mk8, I must admit it looks awesome! Way north of 40k I imagine for this particular car though...

[@markrhoden68]

And that puts it into a higher tax bracket which is painful

[@krane15]

All the colors look good. I just don't like a dark "black hole" interior.

[@kimboofdzners9574]

48k manual, 49/52k automatic, and some places go 5k over MSRP

[@vakula485]

Great car, I love everything EXCEPT headlights design and sensor buttons on steering wheel.

[@gabbsdad]

Wicked motor!

[@oldkid6]

Being a current owner of a MKIV R32, at first look I didn't like the MK8. Now, after seeing so many videos and reviews I must say I like it very much. I have to figure out a way to get one and at the same time not have the wife throw a fit when I tell her I'm getting one, eventually. lol

[@sheep4life97]

Hello Luke. I live in Hampshire too, with a new R. Which bit of road are you referring to in this video (your favourite) so I can thrash it too? Just been on a driving weekend in Wales and found the A4069 which has to be the best road I've ever driven. Your new R would love that! Thanks for all the content mate, really enjoy it.

[@froesesp]

Both cars do it faster than VW states, but still a good difference.

[@DrivingWithBen]

So great to see your make-a-wish come true by having a sunroof to put a GoPro on 🤪

[@outdoor4x412]

Very nice car and good video mate 👍 Might be worth taking your draggy with you when you test drive cars to get real time numbers 👍 Also the rough price on that car would be good to know as well 👍 But like I said enjoy your videos keep up the good work 👍👍

[@richiebtime489]

Think the metallic black is perfect for the car

[@ultimatestorm3158]

Yeah I believe lapiz blue was beat for the 7.5

[@kirksmith347]

Most people who knock the Mk8 are just parroting what they read or watch. They haven't driven one or sat in one. I'll reserve judgement until I do both. We don't get this in the states till later this year.

[@BougieButler]

I can’t wait any longer. I’ve started saving 🤠

[@pauloavrd]

I tested the GTE and the GTI and i still hate the mk8. Wouldnt buy it, wouldnt advice anyone to buy it. Nothing to do with the engine and performance, its just the usability with the touchscreen controls, the hideous infotainment, that ridiculous peanut for gear change and the horrible exterior design that has nothing of a golf that threw me away. Example: Cornering hard, or sometimes just by some sort of a distraction driving normaly, i just kept pressing touchscreen controls on the steering wheel, and they are very sensitive. This is ridiculous and vw should have never have gone this way. There was nothing wrong with the physical buttons. I cant purchase a car just for the engine. I have to like the entire package and this package sucks, and im a vw golf fanboy. Good engines, trash design and usabilty.

[@henryviiifake8244]

Most of the critique I've seen is purely about the *interior* - a grips shared with the Mk8 GTi and Mk8 base Golf. The decision to use single-piece capacitive steering wheel buttons may be politely described as an "interesting" one (cynics would call it an embarassing cost saving meausre), but the air-con controls are *unquestionably* less ergonomic and more fussy to use, which is a potential safety hazard in a performance car. At best, it's divisive. I'm yet to hear _anyone_ complain about it's ability to chew up any B-road at the speed limit, or how well it goes down track in almost any weather.

[@krane15]

I remember doing research on the Golf GTI from way back and I felt it was terribly boring. Still I felt I had to drive it first before making a decision. Once I did, I knew I had to have one. Because they were so rare at the time, I ended up getting the sedan version (GLI), but I loved every minute of it. In fact, I'd go for long drives because it was so much fun.

[@Jv9569]

I just recently bought a mk5 so it’s nice to see they didn’t go too far from that design; I’d get that 2021 for sure if not the 7.5 R in the future.

[@andrewmontague2636]

Mk5 is wonderful, still my favourite GTI. R32 is brilliant, GT still looks cool too

[@DaleSteel]

This is the best sounding opf car of this category

[@hampshirephoto]

Agreed

[@jamielegg8553]

🤔I30n

[@DaleSteel]

@@jamielegg8553 accepted

[@jamielegg8553]

@@DaleSteel haha only argument is that the R is higher category like maybe the GTI is the competitor cos the i30n is unreal

[@i.s.3458]

Tbh that's not saying much, almost all 4 cylinders now sound trash

[@ma77bc]

Car looks amazing... I'm just not sure how I feel about the boxy look in the rear. It's all I really think about and notice when looking at it.

[@sandrosilvatopogolfgtiegti2969]

Top show golf mk8 R mk7 GTI alemão top demais sou apaixonado por GOLF 😍👏👏👏

[@GFCxKELLY]

Just bought a 16 mk7 golf r. It’s near 5 year old now but has 20k miles and absolutely love it, could never imagine owning one and could never afford one new, I’ll probably keep it 4 years and hopefully by then I can afford the mk8 r. In the meantime the 7 r is still a great car and has aged very well for being 1.5 generations old now

[@Tommy-ku3sg]

So glad I found this channel. Been binge watching all day 😂👏🏼

[@justinlins4720]

Wonder if the new brake system will fit directly on to MK7 R's... Awesome review keep it up...

[@Alex-wl1je]

Yes it will. So long as you use 18 inch wheels and above

[@WilliamsPhotos587]

i want those seats in my mk7 r

[@richardhaas9519]

Give me analogs and buttons any day.

[@andygamer608]

It is great with a akrapovic exhaust

[@MLumar]

I prefer the mk7.5 golf interior, beautiful exterior design

[@optimalan2855]

Completely agree,hope 8.5 will solve the interior design

[@KiranPatel-fk1pg]

@@optimalan2855 I doubt it, the 8.5 won't be different enough to fix this horrendous baby SUV looking thing. Golfs are gonna be ugly from now on.

[@johngraydon506]

Definately agree 👍

[@kadiritu]

They should put physical buttons. Gearbox center is useless comparing to mk7.5

[@olley1ify]

Great car and review but personally feeling tbe clubsport 45 out of them all

[@Baba--yaga31]

357mm disc not 257 my guy love the video though looks awesome in the black 👌

[@hampshirephoto]

Yeah sorry, my mistake lol

[@upbeatmantis86]

Yes its 357mm not 257mm lol

[@granthaley867]

Great review!

[@hampshirephoto]

Thanks!

[@shinmentakezo2994]

Some people say the VW Design is boring and everybody is entilted to their opionen but I really like the Golf, T-Roc and Passat Design, also the Tiguan and Touareg look great!

[@krane15]

Boring no, conservative yes. But I prefer conservative. A car I wouldn't be embarrassed to have drop me off at the symphony. Now if I can just disable those exhaust pops.

[@krane15]

One man's boring is another man's conservative.

[@kwillee93]

Strange others have stated the 0-60 time of the mk8 GTI is 5.3 seconds in the DSG

[@johnstannard8366]

Love mine......

[@sanches990]

Granted I never watched the whole video but within the fist 6 minutes and no mention of the GTI club sport which I believe is quite relevant esp if we’re talking about performance. It’s a very underrated car. Great video

[@augustinedennis4865]

Well Beamer,you cannot win every thing. But ,of course you can try.Good try.i too tried the Beamer.Nice little car,but after 85 years,I’m a golf man.

[@ChrisW444]

Really enjoyed that, well I do all your stuff but given that I have had my eye on a new Golf R to replace my 2014 Golf Gti all the more so. I have seen lots of reviews and I don't think the power and driving experience is in doubt but most reviews I have seen have not been that keen on the interior and functionality of the controls. You didn't really mention that which is fine but it does make me think that you are being a bit protective about that or others are way off the mark. I expect I wouldn't be disappointed and it would be an improvement but it is putting me off buying one. I was all set for blue too but loved the look of the black one you drove. I hope you don't think this is critcal, like i said your content is great. I expect the only way to know if to test drive one and see for myself re the interior. COVID has been putting a stop to that over the last few months. Keep the vids coming.

[@edxlee]

man i wish i could upgrade my MK7 GTI to the MK8 R one day.. really want AWD and the extra power for my next purchase.. 🤞

[@gabrielflores1149]

Happy that I can get this in the US, in manual, fully loaded (except the exhaust) for just 44k USD. Unhappy the manual only has 7 more tq than the GTI lol.

[@philipguacci6452]

Even if Aussie fans can get this car in 2022! And that's a big if.I think the price will exceed $70k. The Akoprovic exhaust may not even be offered. We have missed the boat, literally. Thanks for sharing.Cheers.

[@KiranPatel-fk1pg]

There's no point getting one down here. For this price you can get a lightly used rs3. 7.5 is the peak for VW I reckon.

[@eppyz]

I like the new R but not a fan of the interior. I don't care much for LCD Gauge Clusters or all the touch sensitive stuff. Guess I am old fashioned and just like buttons and actual switches with physical gauges. Love everything else about it though, GTI included.😎 If I am not mistaken the MK8 does NOT use the Haldex AWD system.

[@Rocketed12]

No mention of the torque vectoring, which is the highlight of this car 🤷

[@johngraydon506]

Does it have the dreaful plastic fins on water pump, with likely surround plastic water pump in this model.. a weak point for many in mk 7 GTI PM

[@cowboysmfoo2]

One correction this golf R doesn’t not use the haldex system anymore. It uses new 4Motion all wheel drive system with rear differential

[@leedorey1490]

Not keen on the haptic rubbish but externally it looks good. Glad to see my favourite stretch of road from Kingsclere to Overton on film 👍 I do like VW and have an R line Tiguan for everyday, the weekender is a Lotus Exige. Have you ever driven one?

[@krane15]

Just to be clear, the R line is a visual appearance upgrade. There is also an Tiguan R which has the same identical "performance package" as the Golf R although not as quick since it is taller and heavier.

[@lukemead5276]

Prefer the mk7, but still nice. Good video luke.

[@hampshirephoto]

Thanks mate!

[@jamesrichardson4604]

Carlow timed one at 3.94 sec to 60, and company's have rolling road one at 340bhp.

[@ISOLATICN1]

I know why did VW lie once again. Some people have filmed them pulling 347 on dyno lmao. They wonder why it’s faster than a 310hp civic 🙄😂

[@jamesrichardson4604]

@@ISOLATICN1 it's not just power , golf R has superior traction with 4 wheel drive compared to front wheel drive.

[@ISOLATICN1]

@@jamesrichardson4604 correction 4wd helps it put down its power, golf r defiantly doesn’t have better traction than type r haha don’t be daft

[@jamesrichardson4604]

@@ISOLATICN1 how can a powerful front wheel drive car have better traction than a 4 wheel drive car that's not common sense.

[@ISOLATICN1]

@@jamesrichardson4604 let me introduce you to understeer. Which we all know the golf has buckets loads. Thus less traction clearly lol

[@quoddles3411]

Think you might mean 357mm disks, not 257..?? I upgraded my MK1 Golf 16v...(long time ago now) to Mk2 Gti front disks and they were 239mm. I think the R would need a little bigger than 257..??? Great review, BTW.....I want one right now..!!!

[@HighHoeKermit]

7:34 Is that THE Overton window? That R must feel very different from that Triumph Herald you flew to Hogwarts that time!

[@Agency323]

Okay that's just funny.

[@markmartin5629]

I’m picking up my mk8 20th anniversary R in deep black later this week and it doesn’t come with the Akrapovic exhaust as they stopped doing it with the car 😢

[@catinthehat5140]

I was thinking of getting the 2022 with manual but the dsg would probably be faster

[@hithere8699]

@5:30 you mention the haldex system, I believe this is no longer the case and has been replaced by a 4 motion torque vectoring system.

[@deej628]

Accurate

[@BROWITT2010]

Glad you've been able to drive the new Mk8 R and review it. However you didn't meantion anything about the use of the touchscreens with the climate control and other vehicle settings etc? From other reviews it's been the sticking point based on how fiddly they are to use, did you find that too?

[@x1pyroveride]

The MK8 starts at 1:15 I personally love the new design of the car, the interior im more skeptical of. Im sure there is a learning curve and after messing with it for a while im sure ill get the hang of it. But ill have to wait 5-6 more months until It reaches the US; only thing i hope the infotainment can do is turn the display off/dark mode when driving at night like my f150.

[@kerpoise]

Yep. You can set it to Dark mode. And you can change it to not show any screen.

[@x1pyroveride]

@@kerpoise Awh hells yeah; Thank you for letting me know!

[@Bazza_5968]

That rear spoiler extension makes it look very like a Vauxhall Astra VXR

[@scottnodding3289]

Excellent review Luke really enjoyed the content. Car is fantastic and one that I am seriously considering....just can’t quite afford the £50,000+ for that top spec version.

[@hampshirephoto]

Thanks Scott!

[@ronaldoaissa8621]

ربي يرزقنا بوحدة كيما هذي في هذا العام أن شاء الله قريبا ان شاء الله قولو معايا امين

[@leighjones8521]

You need to edit the size of the front discs 257mm is tiny.

[@Saif0412]

Yeah, just Googled it, they are actually 357mm, which ia pretty big.

[@gtss123]

What is the drift mode ?

[@krolsky4608]

The touch controls on the steering wheel and the large blank piano black surfaces around the gauge cluster are an epic fail. Everything else seems fine.

[@davidbrady1551]

be interested to see your review of the CS. I've had a good test of each and loved both. both brilliant cars but with a €10k price difference in Ireland it's hard to justify the R at €70k plus for a bit of spec it's hard to pass the CS. I've a CS coming in July with every extra except leather at similar price to base level R and have no regrets

[@davidbrady1551]

@@EqazeHQ different sound. Both sounded nice

[@tredfxman]

Good review lad! But on a design note, still no golf beats my GTI Clubsport MK7 in my op. Will continue wait for mk9, and perhaps keep waiting long after that. In my op, what you pay for that MK8 is almost as much as for a bmw m2 competition, so i would think more than twice.

[@hampshirephoto]

Thank you!

[@mars353]

This is a great car but I expect a better interior at this price. I want to feel more like I’m in a fighter cockpit rather than a mostly empty plastic room with a chair and an iPad.

[@colinhendry3]

IMO, the mk8 rear badging is terrible. I really don’t like the centralised ‘r’ or ‘gti’ badge. It just doesn’t look right.

[@firstnamelastname6853]

No doubt brilliant to drive. The one thing i cant stand with the modern vw's are the haptic touch crap fake buttons. When im driving around im always busy with the radio buttons connecting to bluetooth or setting climate. I xan do that without taking my eyes off the road. Haptic touch does not allow u to do this which is annoying all of the time. If i could get the new golf with the old golf buttons it would be perfect

[@BlueShift815]

Half the controls don't even light up, can't see the AC touch buttons in the dark!

[@K9Y750]

@@BlueShift815 now that’s stupid.

[@OSKAR-ch7jk]

This car run with OPF ?

[@enigma.b9]

Not car related...but do your shoes also get the same crease line before the big toe when you bend them 😆. I know, very random...but mind cracked in about 2 months

[@buyisanimlaba5407]

Doesn't it have black alloys?

[@harrisj2278]

Great video and I’m sure the MK8.5 when released in a few years will clean up the gen 8 even more. The one thing I don’t understand with KZbin reviewers is why has no one paid any credit to the MK3 Focus RS for a) the clutch pack trick diff in the rear and the drift mode in itself all started with Ford didn’t it?

[@x80s]

i think luke should get one in the future tune it and play around with it. i think its a good hatchback

[@hampshirephoto]

Good idea...

[@stephengrogan]

Still on the fence regarding the MK8 plus in IRL the prices on all new MK8’s has jumped to crazy crazy money 😳 €70K for a lesser spec R 🤷‍♂️

[@shiugen676]

Yeh cars here are mad expensive with VRT. I had to just bite the bullet and go for it.

[@realtalk7571]

What about all the touch buttons? Don’t you think they are less user friendly?

[@krane15]

Nobody likes haptic buttons. Nobody.

[@strikeeaglemodels1588]

Very nice looking car 😍 What to put it up against my MK2 8J REVO stage one TTs 🤔 The figures on these to cars are very similar 👍 Mine is 333bhp and 450nm 1.355 KG

[@DanJHayes]

It would be great with a manual box and proper buttons on the controls.

[@andyp5000]

When you slam the foot down on the mk8 is there a slight lag delay same as the 7/7.5 pedal box sorts this out. Does the mk8 need it ?

[@hampshirephoto]

A very slight delay yes

[@psiturbo]

Nothing a tune can't fix, all GTi Es I have driven stock have a similar delay. You can also acquire a pedal box.

[@GhostStPatrick_]

357mm*

[@GLA45Amg716]

I just sold my charger scatpack I’m waiting to get one of these babies .. 0-60 in 4 secs ru serious !? Lol awd.. yeah come here.

[@shahtsuki8464]

My dream car ❤️

[@Durresaku8]

Panoramic roof?

[@rolandgibbs9036]

I'll keep my M140i for now...

[@DanTheManc1981]

257mm drilled discs 😄 They would be tiny.

[@hampshirephoto]

😅

[@richardpowell723]

👍

[@TlouSebotja]

When I win the lottery🙏💯

[@janhorn6791]

Hi, well you've convinced, just paid a deposit on the "R " this will be my third one in a row ,think maybe it'll be my last ,

[@anUntouchable]

What material are the seats in this? leather?

[@doloresberry3144]

I believe it's velour and canvas..

[@jeffcoulter7181]

Absolutely love this car. 2 things……Drift mode, what! are we 12!! Just silly. R symbol centre back I don’t love.

[@orbitmedia9139]

Great video!! Ordered one the other day..........literally cant wait but that is what i'll have to do with a Oct / Nov delivery date (fingers crossed it doesn't move!!) Keep up the good work........Sub button pressed! 🔴👍

[@richardfrench2637]

Is delivery on time ?

[@orbitmedia9139]

Last I spoke to them it was looking like Week 50 delivery so shifted slightly but if you’re ordering one today it’s now 10 months plus (apparently)……..ordered just in time 😅

[@richardfrench2637]

I ordered mine in July with the hope of a March delivery

[@orbitmedia9139]

Oh wow, the waiting game for us both then but hoping mine won’t be too much longer but just don’t know at the moment.

[@andrewmontague2636]

Nice review, Luke. Really honest of you to say you can’t quite afford one, instead of doing like most in the same situation and saying it’s rubbish, Mk7 is better and you don’t want one! You didn’t mention if the car had DCC which I think transforms it with 15 ride settings ranging from roller skate to limo! I’m looking to replace my 7.5R and have driven both Mk8 Clubsport and R. I prefer the look of Clubsport to R if I’m honest, it’s certainly quick, brakes are fantastic and it grips very well; but I actually think that 300bhp is too much power for a fwd car. At an extra £2k (or £4K for the Performance Pack) though, you can have an R which feels so much more car for the extra money. It’s just brilliant, certainly quicker, more exciting and agile and has more ‘feel’ than my 7.5. I had no issues with the touchscreen or the haptic buttons. If anyone has any doubts check out Volkswizard’s vid where he talks about how to use the screen properly.