Should I have bought a GOLF GTI TCR? Or an i30 N?!

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As a first owner of a Golf GTI Clubsport S, the unveiling of the Golf GTI TCR at Worthersee GTI Festival in May 2018 piqued my interest. It soon became clear it wasn't a rival to the stripped out 'ring record car as it was far less hardcore and only available with an automatic gearbox.
However there were many things that bugged me about the Clubsport S like the lack of parking sensors, no rear seats and a few other areas where standard GTI items had been deleted. The main problem though was that yes the Clubsport S was a lot better to drive than a normal GTI but you had to drive it really hard to feel the benefits, something I couldn't do all that often. While the missing bits bugged me all the time. The GTI TCR promises to be the best ever fully specced GTI and that appealed to me a lot. Does it live up expectations? Please watch and see.
I also drive a Hyundai i30 N Performance in this video, it's not strictly a rival to a TCR as the price is £7000 less but the GTI Performance with some discount is close. I suspect that the stronger residuals of the VWs will make their PCP costs very close however and you'd really have to want the Hyundai to pay similar money to the GTI as it's (apparently) a bit better dynamically but the material quality of the cabin is frankly terrible and while you can only drive it hard every so often, you will be looking at that cheapo dash all the time as will your passenger who will not be impressed one bit.
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[@davidbrady1551]

deposit paid and receiving 192 reg (ireland) 1st week of july. pure gray with black roof, panoramic roof, tech pack, performance pack with reifnitz wheels, discover pro nav, 90% rear tints and blind spot monitor. there are only 20 cars available in Ireland and most already sold so I had to take this spec (poor me!!) thanks for the advice and love all your reviews

[@kokekan75]

How do we get invited to test these out?

[@SilverShamrock71]

I have a grey TCR parked just opposite my office window every day

[@matthewmott8966]

Hi great report on the TCR hoping that you will do a report on a Mk7 gtd I’m thinking of purchasing one but been told engine isn’t as reliable as my mk 6 gt golf? Can you let me know if worth saving a bit more for a mk7.5 ? Is it worth while ?

[@jspesh]

You driven one of these without the performance pack?

[@Spike0000]

My god..that Astra GTE!!..my mate had one back in 95/96 on an E-Reg..in white, with big purple stickers with GTE on the side of the doors going diagonally down. And..its was the era of illuminated tube-lights under the cars. He had the pink-strip-lights and as he went past at night..it subtly lit the floor up in reddy-pink. I think the seats were a sort of half dark-green leather and suede with either GTE logos on them or recaro..can't remember. It was pretty nippy..looked and sounded the part for a typical old 4-Star Petrol gas-guzzler..albeit, fuel was cheaper back then..and oddly seemed to last longer:)....

[@volkswizard]

I think that kind of GTE is what gave them a bad name, as ever clean original cars today are a few and far between but so cool. I realise unlike with VW or Ford the only Mk1 GTE I ever see is that press car in the video. Never see owners cars around though I imagine they go to shows somewhere maybe?

[@guts6157]

And your feeling between Audi S1 and gti TCR?

[@volkswizard]

Different kettles of fish Alan. Love both but S1 is a frisky ball of fire, very old school with lift of over steer and a manual box, lots of NVH and very compact. TCR is a full on modern high tech hot hatch, far faster and loses some of the S1's hilariousness as a result in exchange for cold teutonic efficiency but doesn't go too far in that direction like, say, the Mk7/7.5 Golf R. TCR would be a lot easier to live with but S1 more worthy of weekend car status (dependent on spec though, needs to have big wing and quattro pack at least).

[@davidbrady1551]

I have a 2018 GTI performance. Trading up and can't decide on a tcr or an r. What do you think?

[@volkswizard]

Mat Watson (Car Wow) said buy an R if you aren't going to drive on track, not a TCR. I say buy a TCR unless you drag race and really care about 0-60 times or need AWD. If you are a reasonably good driver TCR will be a lot more satisfying as you can have more influence on the car's behaviour.

[@volkswizard]

on that basis you will love the TCR, no doubt about it

[@davidbrady1551]

@@Martin-yu4vz you're lucky you don't have to pay vrt also, my tcr is costing me €52000 after a 4k discount over here in Ireland. €56000 list price with performance pack, sunroof big nav, tints rear, blind spot. We are being robbed over here

[@volkswizard]

@@Martin-yu4vz Nice info, thanks Martin. The RRP is academic to a degree as the discount varies from time to time with deposit contributions coming and going. It's a shame as TCR wasn't really cheap before and if you wanted an Akrapovic you could buy one for £1712 on the aftermarket and keep your old one. www.awesomegti.com/parts/akrapovic-slip-on-line-titanium-exhaust-system-vw-golf-mk7-gti/

[@volkswizard]

@@Martin-yu4vz The R is OK but I'd pay more for a TCR as AWD just flatters the R 0-60 time and gives it grip on the couple of days of snow but it's extra weight carried all the time, needs Haldex oil changes VW main dealers will forget to tell you about and the VAQ of TCR is a lot more interactive. My issue with TCR price increase is whether I'd want to pay that much at all for a Golf.

[@mrstanhope1516]

The Astra GTE looked really good and it's been years since I saw any of that model on the road. Guess they all rusted away? I do like the TCR but not sure what they were thinking when they designed those seats and decals?

[@volkswizard]

i don't have an issue with the seats and decals, it's a 290 PS front wheel drive hot hatch so a bit of flair is acceptable. If you want dubious taste look at the Honda Civic Type R. But, as ever this is all subjective, just glad they all exist, i30 N too. Rust and theft killed Astra, shame as there is something Germanic about it and in many ways it looks a lot beefier than a Mk1 Golf GTI.

[@mrstanhope1516]

@@volkswizard The seats remind me of a car that I can't quite put my finger on. Correct on the Type R, a complete travesty of design.

[@lewisratford2908]

Great content as always and really enjoyed the video. The i30N is a great package but I will always have a problem with cars that are marketed with the Nurburgring. Developed at the Ring ? Let’s face it we will be driving these cars on uk 🇬🇧 roads all the time. That doesn’t equate in to developing a good fast road car. The reason I like the Golf like the focus st is you can put them in the sportiest settings and they are still great road cars. I guess you could ask ..do faster lap times = better road cars. Personally I would say no

[@volkswizard]

good points Lewis, thanks for commenting. Oddly Clubsport S was developed for the 'ring and set the FWD record but was very comfortable on the road as they set the suspension up so it would ride the kerbs which is bang on for our crappy roads!

[@shanea9613]

Drive the N. It changed my mine. My brother in law has one. It's awesome fun.

[@davel8byr]

I do really like these new Golfs. I have also been looking at Golf R's a lot recently but would it really be a wise move letting the Audi go for one? I don't think so. I have no reason to change cars, I don't drive the Audi enough to get bored of it - i think i am just seeing cars i like and thinking 'hmm i would quite like one of them'

[@volkswizard]

TCR probably worth it, Golf R, probably not. There are a lot of great cars around and I can see the appeal. Not sure how long this will continue for with EVs etc so fill yer boots while you can

[@jameslove888]

Pity you only had the N in sport. It’s best in N Custom with everything on full attack but the suspension in normal mode. N Custom would also have let you set up the traction control how you wanted.

[@volkswizard]

Thanks James. Unfortunately I mentioned that I wanted TC on and the chap from Hyundai suggested Sport mode. When I took it back, another chap said N Custom but there just wasn't enough time to reshoot and to be honest probably wouldn't have been worth it as the fundamentals would have been the same. Golf was driven in Normal and Sport, hard to work out which was parallel to i30N's Sport mode as that had a Normal, Sport and N mode to confuse things. Anyway no issues with i30N's dynamics, needs a 2019 mode for that interior though :)

[@jameslove888]

volkswizard N Custom would confuse what’s what even more as between having roughly three settings for suspension, exhaust, steering, ESC etc. there’s apparently 1944 different different combinations you can set from N Custom mode. Yeah the interior is lower rent than the Golf (and a lot of other cars in its class) when it comes to material quality, but then it is a lot cheaper than a GTI. Well enough screwed together, and they spent the money on the important oily stuff for it. It has an even better warranty than most Hyundai as it also covers track days.

[@volkswizard]

@@jameslove888 Glad I didn't bother with N custom then. I get the fact it's well built and warranty is good and it's cheaper (to buy, but to PCP?) but interior quality needs to come higher up the list of priorities as in a showroom where people sit and fiddle and decide buying choices, the rest won't matter if it's like a Turkish 2 star hotel inside.

[@jameslove888]

volkswizard cheaper list price but PCP/finance wise the Golf is much better from that POV. Much more attractive monthlies and that’s what the majority of people are doing now. On the flip side of that, it’s meant residuals on the i30N are quite good (cheapest Performance models), haven’t really dipped below £22k much. I’d hoped the arse would fall out of them as it was their first effort into the hot hatch business, and I was very impressed on my test drive, but they haven’t so I bought a Golf. Agree that the material quality should be higher (it is in the i30s sister car the Ceed) but outside of people who’re really into cars and motoring journalists, I’d wager that most lay buyers don’t really care about how squishy the plastics are. The main touch points in the i30 like the wheel, gear knob and seats are all perfectly good and it has a good (but not great) infotainment system with the increasingly rare boon of physical shortcut buttons. They did get one thing wrong with the i30N which they’ve corrected already on the Fastback and is coming to the MY19 hatch. The ride quality was really quite firm and very, very firm in N mode but that’s been corrected somewhat with revised damping in the newer cars. Not sure if it would have been on the one you tried. Sound though has been slightly neutered with the GPF they added in 2018, not quite as raucous as the early cars.

[@volkswizard]

@@jameslove888 Thanks for clarifying that. Hyundai better pull their finger out with the next gen i30 then as competition is good (but it's not really competition right now)

[@johndearn9457]

Bit of swearing at the start 😂😂😂😂, gimme the Golf all day long

[@volkswizard]

I am really f**king sorry about that John, just got carried away in the moment 😁

[@malcolmscott4150]

Great video Andrew and that TCR is just lovely - some nice cars in background whilst you did the walk around - G Reg NSX and M1 and old Nissan Laurel? Astra GTE great car - when I lived in Edinburgh in 1990 my fave cars were the F/G Reg Nova and Astra GTEs I got to get rides in - a lot of fun although neighbours Corrado was also a fave.

[@volkswizard]

That line up was the static heritage cars. A whole video could be made just walking around those. I felt like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory.

[@alistairpowers8129]

Thanks Andrew, another great video, I heard good reports on the i30N, however the TCR is very capable as always. As a personal thing my choice would still be the Club Sport S

[@welshy8216]

I had a i30N few months ago for 48 hours. Its a good start for their 1st go at hot-hatching, On the plus side, looks really good in that colour ( performance blue ) But i just wanted to take a hammer to that stupid i-pod thing. Give it a better dash layout , something like the Golf's got, i'd have one

[@popsandbangs8858]

welshy so you don’t like screens on the top !!! Gti whole design is outdated .

[@welshy8216]

@@popsandbangs8858 If it was like Audi's pop up system, it be ok. but it isn't. It looks like Hyundai designed there's over a coffee break !!

[@popsandbangs8858]

welshy actually audi screen looks boring to this , it just simple tablet fitted there .

[@welshy8216]

@@popsandbangs8858 Whatever '' floats ya boat'' in it.. The Hyundai screen Doesn't float mine.. Witch is a shame, as rest of car is ok

[@popsandbangs8858]

welshy i knew. not all persons have the same taste

[@DougBentall]

The Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy was a real hoot. Gives the TCR a better run for its money than the i30 N.

[@volkswizard]

So many cars, so little time. At least we had time for a chat though!

[@spainter1985]

I'd choose the i30N personally, in my experience VAG quality is only skin deep. Can't deny the Golf does have a nicer interior though and if that's your priority it's hard to say otherwise.

[@popsandbangs8858]

spainter1985 in this class is all about fun not luxury.

[@markturner-smith5309]

I would take Astra GTE thank you Andrew over the other thing (BMW?) you pointed at any day.

[@volkswizard]

It was a Maserati Mark, and I am with you on that 😎

[@mulv1976]

I can't help looking at the mint MK1 in the background 😍

[@stevehastings6802]

Remember going to Millbrook when I was a kid.. Going round the ring in a calibra turbo, on a scary drive in an astra gsi and off road in a frontera.. Good memories. 😊 Tcr definitely, i30n may sound good but that's about it.

[@volkswizard]

Sounds like that was GM days, it is a place of dreams for sure!

[@LangersVW]

Andrew talk about living the dream 😍😍👌🏻 I hope your doing a special feature video on the campaign, NSX and M1 😉😉😂😂

[@volkswizard]

Ha! I'd love to feature those cars but they were part of the static display. 205 GTI Mi16, 400 hp FK8 Civic Type R, Audi quattro 20v and lots of other cool rare cars were available to drive though, and I did drive one of them 😍

[@MarkSmith-io3qd]

Nice to see Luke’s Citroën BX Gti 16 Valve in the background. 👍😎

[@volkswizard]

That was cool, whose car was that?

[@keyo525]

The GTE is cool you never see them , Vauxhall was pretty cool back in the 80s , Nova was a very fun car to drive as well.

[@volkswizard]

Nova was nearly my first car, agreed to buy but HPI'd it and came back as written off, as did the next car, a Polo. Next car also a Polo was clear. Wonder how life would have turned out if I'd bought the Nova, Vauxwizard?!Or maybe not😂

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

For £41k I'd want some sheet metal changes rather than nasty black plastic addenda.

[@Don-lw4cb]

A lovely golf but ridiculously expensive!

[@volkswizard]

£41k is nuts but all you need is DCC as an option, then get a big discount from Joe Knight at TL Darby and this was definitely under £30k when the order books opened. Possibly not the same deals available now but I specced mine at £29k for a 5 door with DCC. I'd get some track day wheels and tyres separately as much cheaper that way.

[@SpikeXtreme]

I dread to think when EV's come mainstream ,how boring they will sound around the track,unless fake sound boxes are fitted but that would be crap.

[@chriskelvin248]

I agree. But ICE cars themselves have trended towards sonic dullness, so maybe we are being slowly weened, lol? Let's focus on the positives of the coming EV takeover! Chassis dynamics afforded by higher sprung to unsprung weight ratio, lower and more centrally-located centers of gravity, ability for epic "throttle" response (not acoustically of course, but ability to "one pedal" balance the car without the brakes)

[@sparkford04]

Great stuff Andrew, looks like a good day'sdriving fun. Thanks.

[@volkswizard]

Could have made it 3 days but they wouldn't let me

[@relentlesspursuit6894]

41k for that Golf is crazy money!

[@volkswizard]

Agreed but standard car plus DCC (essential) & 5 doors with discounts was £29k when I was looking which is a lot more appealing.

[@laurencemajury8422]

That BMW M1 it the background. awesome

[@volkswizard]

That filming location was no coincidence (don't forget the Nissan Bluebird!)

[@kenw1295]

Great video. Brought back wonderful memories of my visits to Millbrook at the same event. Somehow managed to wangle a few annual invites though the company car scheme. As you say like a kid in a toy shop. Trip as a passenger with the professional driver in the original Honda NSX round the bowl was awesome.

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Ken! Next time I will try and get a professional driver run in something as it sound great and the bowl needs big speeds, 100 feels like walking pace! How fast did you go? There were two original NSXs there, one red and one bronze one in the car park, both Honda UK cars.

[@manjbains1977]

I myself would buy the Gti over the i30n or even the Type R as driven new and previous model. That Audi Quattro in the background 🔥

[@volkswizard]

I drove that quattro, still can't believe it. If you are wondering what that roof shot was early on with the aerial moving around, now you know ;)

[@manjbains1977]

@@volkswizard lol. I always been a big fan of the Audi Quattro. Now so rare and worth a fortune.

[@volkswizard]

I tried to forget its value when I was driving it around the hill course.

[@jimjamthebananaman1]

I dont see the appeal with the Hyundai. People say that it sounds better etc but at the end of the day the quality of it is very mediocre in comparison to any VW hot hatch and itll lose its value dramatically within the first year or two. I'll stick with VW I think

[@volkswizard]

I do need to have a closer look at depreciation and finance costs (guaranteed future value will relate to both). The VW accountants have been very slick saving costs with the Mk7 and maybe deep down it's no different to the Hyundai but if you have a partner who doesn't care how well it goes around corners and wants the interior to be "a nice place to be" they are going to be very disappointed. I want a nice interior first and good dynamics second because I can only enjoy the chassis etc once in a blue moon but the interior I am sat in 100% of the time. Hyundai clearly didn't head hunt anyone from Audi when it came to the interior even though they did for a lot of other areas (exterior design primarily).

[@dipinroad3641]

I haven't driven the Hyundai but one good thing on its arrival here in Australia is that VW immediately dropped their prices on the GTI and R.

[@volkswizard]

@@dipinroad3641 With discounts which are readily available in the UK, the Hyundai is too close to GTI Performance. And if you want an auto, there is only one choice...

[@Quattro_Joe]

Great video. Especially loved the GTE 😍😍😍😍

[@Junesba]

GTI! But not because of the badge of the i30n, but because of VW’s aftermarket support and how parts from the MQB platform just fit to each other like legos.

[@volkswizard]

MQB also means VW can make a better car for the same or less than rivals - forget the RRP, check out the Car Wow deals on GTI Performance and even TCR and you will see what I mean, then order one from @jmkdeals :)

[@stevesje71]

Great review and comparison with the Hyundai 👍

[@volkswizard]

Thanks stevesje71 👍👍

[@1980venom]

I love the TCR so much... I need one asap

[@chubbybrown4real]

Man.. That Nissan Bluebird 👍

[@volkswizard]

I know! Got to say TCR was boring compared to the other stuff - next year I'm going to film all those cars from my youth!

[@chubbybrown4real]

@@volkswizard when you had one of those off the clock you knew you were shifting,the Primera 2.0 was the same.

[@volkswizard]

I got overtaken on Donington's Craner Curves in my stripped out roll caged Mk2 GTI 16v by a lunatic in a red Primera GT (2.0) - will never forget it

[@chrismaddison4602]

The interior buttons are very German not far Eastern! The interior in the i30N will be what the mk8 golf will be judging by the TRoc. You can get an i30N for 24k so it's around 5k cheaper than the golf.

[@volkswizard]

Is that an I30N Performance though? GTI Performance has been £25k brand new discounted and coming to end of run with new car sales dwindling I can't see it being any dearer right now. Anyway PCP is apparently less for Golf as depreciation is less severe which matters much more than RRP. The switches vary, the ones in the doors for mirrors are 1980 Honda Accord and make me cringe when I see them in the vid. I've read reviews after making the video and again and again interior is criticised. If Mk8 is that bad then vote with your feet and buy something else *as long as* the interior is better and the PCP costs are the same or less. I'm ready to shoot VW down as they aren't my favorite brand right now but in every significant criteria against the Mk7.5 GTI Performance the I30N Performance just can't compete which is a shame as VW need a challenger to kick them up the ***

[@chrismaddison4602]

@@volkswizard yes that's the i30N performance. Discounts at the minute on the GTi are really poor compared to what they were. I'm thinking of changing my 7gti pp, don't particularly want an R and can't see anything else that ticks all the boxes that I've got. VW know this so can pretty much do whatever they want as far as cost is concerned. The mk8 looks terrible from all the pictures and videos that are available and it's gone the same way as the focus which looks horrendous.

[@volkswizard]

Every change in Golf design has looked a bit odd initially (mk4 to mk5 is the one I recall as it looked like an MPV in comparison) but they've not messed it up yet. 7/7.5 is a very cohesive design and I think Mk8 will just be a bit of fiddling but we shall see. I don't actually mind the Focus and think it looks better than the old one. Did you edit that post? I wasn't going to argue about reliability and issues but Golf 7 GTI is 6 years old now while i30 N is 18 months so let's reassess in 4.5 😉👍

[@advancelast1740]

I love that TCR. But I’m sitting here thinking, ‘I’m 59 and my body has aches and pains it never used to have’....Mercedes E220 it is 😥.

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Invest some money with your local Osteopath then buy the VW 😂 😂

[@staceyismine]

Love this car just need the market to sort its self out before getting one ⏳️

[@johndearn9457]

Loved the video, sod the swearing

[@RB-lt8kt]

A little biased! A I30N ex demo can be bought for £23k to £24k and a Golf TCR 30k plus used? The Golf interior is a bit better and yes the Hyundai isn't special enough inside. However the Golf costs more to insure and there are options to add like Audi's etc. The Hyundai comes fully spec'd and on a track the TCR and I30N are very similar. The brakes on the i30N are awesome and the car is set for track use with warranty that covers non timed track use for 5 years. Also the i30N has a valve exhaust as standard that makes all other standard hot hatches sound like vacuum cleaners. The i30N is for driving...From one happy I30N driver LOL

[@Madmini67]

41grand for a golf? Omg , I love golf GTI's , fancy the mk7 one myself , but that is a shitload of money for a tarted up golf!

[@volkswizard]

You can get a decent Mk7 Performance for £15k and that will give you 90% of the TCR's dynamic repertoire so you know what do to ;)

[@bardenegri21]

Good stuff

[@Julia-xz7vb]

Just seen this video, excellent demo. VW should have you on the payroll 😂 I tried to buy one 18m ago but as usual massive fail from vw dealer... sent me out on gridlocked test route, with some idiot who had no idea plus they cba to even clean all their random sh@t out of the demo car including someone’s child seats (major put off), or clean it (rant over). I would have been more likely to buy after watching this 😂 😂. Don’t even mention H word in same video 😂

[@antonthompson7838]

I was really expecting to be blown away by the interior of the i30 N, but no them plastics look cheap and nasty, I was expecting a digital cockpit too but no and it really does look dated and tired when the Golf 8 TCR comes out it’s gonna look sick. I’m ordering a Golf this month not a sporty one though I’m poor I don’t have £41k to blow, no I’ll be getting a much more sensible Golf 8 Style 1.5eTSI 150PS +16PS Electrical Boost with DSG for a tad under £30k

[@davonpointer2310]

I’ve never really taken to Far Eastern cars, particularly from a design point of view, they’ve never looked quite right to me... Golf TCR would get my vote.

[@popsandbangs8858]

Actually if you care that much about interiors !!! It’s easy pay more and get gti tcr , in my opinion i choose the i30N because its much fun car and better than tcr in performance.

[@volkswizard]

I care about interiors because you are always inside the car but rarely able to benefit from the dynamic advantage of an I30N on our congested roads. GTI Performance is closer to I30N in price/performance and still has a better interior and can be had in manual too. TCR isn't really competition but it was fun driving both of them, Hyundai included👍

[@popsandbangs8858]

volkswizard as i told you “ if you just care much about interior pay more and get the TCR . “

[@MarkSmith-io3qd]

And Rob Drapers Citroën XM 2.0i behind you. 😎

[@volkswizard]

Are these customer cars not heritage cars from Citroen? I believe anyone could have driven the BX when parked in that area but might be wrong.

[@MarkSmith-io3qd]

volkswizard They’re just members of the general public, albeit members of the Citroën Car Club. I’ve got a BX Gti 16 Valve as well as an XM. Bit of a Citroën fan, well the older stuff. If you look for Citroën Car Club on Facebook you’ll also see that Citroën is celebrating its Centenary this year and is having an event near Coventry next week.

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Mark, sounds cool, great cars 👍👍

[@kevdavies3445]

Another good vid Golf feels more special

[@kevinjohnstone8719]

I30n miles better drive than a golf gti. Golf tcr you tested was £44k! Who would pay that for a golf?

[@volkswizard]

Nobody, that very white car sold for £28k with 5k on clock a year later

[@jakejake1356]

Awesome well done mr wizard 🤙

[@mittyahmed7362]

You should but vw golf gti tcr

[@volkswizard]

I nearly bought one to commute in but decided against it in the end. I will revisit TCR in the future when they are a bit cheaper

[@mittyahmed7362]

@@volkswizard definitely expensive atm, but with the new golf mk8 2020 coming and especially the golf gti mk8 looks like a spaceship, the new mk8 has a lot to offer compared to it's rivals, the latest hatchback that has caught my eye is the new Mercedes A Class which is luxurious technology packed car. The A Class is trending right now but after the mk8 golf series release, I'll be looking forward to the new audi a3 towards end of 2020 or beginning of 2021. My final verdict: BMW - power house, ton of engine power. Audi - luxury and power combined. The best of both worlds. Mercedes Benz - complete luxury, travel in style. Overall knowledge over the past couple of years, but clocked the german cars Lastly, the vw owns audi and seat, therefore it's like the vw but improved a lot more.

[@mbingham10]

Absolutely ridiculous price for a small hatchback, looks nice though.

[@volkswizard]

Great value secondhand now, that very white car was for sale at VW for £29k recently, 4k miles, 1 owner (VW)

[@MrSupersixfour]

In sport mode!!! Wrong mode if you wanna go hardcore

[@kresa22]

I'm jealous. I think it would take three days for me to drive all the cars 😀 for me definitely Golf R 7.5 is the perfect choice.

[@johnjackson12]

Over £41k for a golf gti seems massively excessive I think, am I the only one who thinks that's absurd?

[@truthseeker8483]

I bet that Citroen GS would easily outrun all the cars in the bumpy test section..... :-D

[@ghostinthemachine76]

The TCR is priced too close to a Golf R for my liking. I’d take an R all day long. And those stickers are just awful. i30N is a great car, well priced and comes with a 5-year warranty. But I do wish manufacturers would stop sticking iPads on the dash.

[@volkswizard]

Fair enough but what's the Golf R got apart from AWD which makes it heavier and slower in every way apart from standing start and 10 hp which is negated by the weight? AWD isn't needed for a good hot hatch, look at Clubsport S, second only to a Porsche 911 R in EVO magazine's Car of the Year 2016. Winter tyres on TCR will make it better than Golf R on summers if it snows. Unless you really need AWD I don't see the appeal however good the R is in isolation.

[@ghostinthemachine76]

volkswizard Don’t the front wheel drive cars struggle to put the power down? The 0-62 times would suggest they do. And apologies, I left the comment about price before I’d heard you say about the dealer selling them for £29K. I thought they were £34K. £29K is very reasonable. I’d still prefer the R though, I’m just an R fan.

[@volkswizard]

@@ghostinthemachine76 They are hard to launch but neither car is a drag racer car at the end of the day. I never do 0-60 flat out which is where the R AWD helps but in every other driving the lighter VAQ diff of GTI Performance and TCR is all you need and it's fun to manage the often inadequate traction of ultimately a little slower. £29k is a snip but may not be available now. Used Edition 40s were still trading for that sort of cash and apart from maybe the aero kit which the TCR misses out on, it's at least as good.

[@ghostinthemachine76]

Martin Fair comments from you both. I own neither, yet. But I’m looking at getting an R because I want to get it up 400+ BHP, and a GTI with only FWD would struggle to put that sort of power down.

[@samcourt6228]

I’d have the TCR over an R any day, mainly because it looks so much more interesting. There are (were?) so e pretty healthy discounts available on the TCR when I looked into them. I ended up with an M140 though.

[@coupe6339]

I30n forme

[@andrewwright.]

No difference is there .. except the price tag, reliability, resale value, quality feel ect ect VW all day.

[@chrismaddison4602]

So you think the VW is more reliable than the i30N?? 😂

[@volkswizard]

I don't see reliability issues with Mk7 GTI. Golf R clutch is week as it's GTI spec but seems OK in GTI. I've had to replace a DSG box but only because the stupid idiots at VW dealer underfilled it. EA888 engine used in so many cars is one of the best. I'd hope the Hyundai dealers were better though but if they sold as many cars as VW would they continue to be? 5 year warranty is a nice touch but you can always extend a VW one after the 3 years (although they have stopped the option to extend it from brand new for 4/5 years for a small amount even though you can with Audi, Seat & Skoda which I think is a mistake).

[@chrismaddison4602]

@@volkswizard water pumps, suspension creaks, leaking DCC shocks, wheel bearings and that's just for starters.

[@andrewwright.]

@@chrismaddison4602 happens on all cars

[@andrewwright.]

@@martindonohue900 try jogging on grammar po-po, don't try responding in Latin either please.

[@crocoman776]

You’re never going to convince 95% of badge snobs to go for a Hyundai, and all this video does is give uneducated people a platform to slate a car most, if not all, of them have never driven. Not a bad video btw, that’s not what I mean. 👍👍

[@volkswizard]

The thing is, it's not the badge that's the Hyundai issue, it's the quality of the interior. Yes the badge is less prestigious but you aren't going to convert VW owners by being significantly inferior in a particular area as well. I want to like it but it's a bit like choosing a hotel, you go for one that's a bit cheaper but on paper has everything a slight dearer one has, only to find that it need a fair bit of refurbishment and the rooms are a bit dated.

[@crocoman776]

I think you’re being overly harsh on the interior but you’re in a difficult (or enviable) position where you have driven and sat in many, many more cars than the average punter would. So you have so many others to compare with (whether you admit to doing that consciously or not is your business). For me, I went from a Kia Pro Ceed GT and in every way shape and form, this car is so much better. So, that’s my barometer if you like. The amount of kit this car has as standard is very good and it’s slotted in nicely in the market in my opinion. Oh, and I’d take the I30N over the 2020 M135i but thats for another video perhaps🤮

[@chrismaddison4602]

@@crocoman776 the Hyundai appears to be better screwed together than the the golf. I30N maybe doesn't have a premium interior but neither does the golf compared to an a35. My two and half year old GTi pp rattles like hell from the dash, seat belt, seats, suspension etc.

[@crocoman776]

As I say guys, it’s one of those ones where past experience and overall car experience will bias your opinion. I love the interior personally but put me in a A35 and I’d go back to the I30N and be a bit like, meh. But that’s more about always looking over the horizon and therefor never being content with the present. That’s no way to live.....

[@chrismaddison4602]

@@crocoman776 are you the same user name on the i30N owners forum by chance??

[@egzonveliji223]

Golf R

[@claudeblairy8298]

Depuis 1 mois, je suis fou de ma voiture golf gti tcr. Le seul regret qu'elle ne soit pas numérotée car limitation à 100 modèles pour la France.

[@volkswizard]

Bonjour Claude! Thanks for the comment. So just 100 TCR in the whole of France? That's interesting as here in the UK they are just a normal model in the range above GTI Performance. Not sure how many have been sold but I have a feeling it's a lot more than 100! Enjoy your car, any road trip plans for this summer?

[@__diogopaiva]

Buy the golf gti tcr!

[@volkswizard]

OK then 👍

[@pheasantpluckersson2138]

I’d rather poop in my own hands and clap than own a Hyundai of any sort

[@BenLiuChungHin]

Lol.. You drive an i30N without the N mode? Oh come on.. You complain about no mid range or pushing back in your seat when you are on the handicap Sports mode. This is such a typical Golf Fanboi review.. drive the competitor in normal mode and then saying it's crap.

[@shanea9613]

I agree. Not a like for like review. I used to be a biased golf fan boy... Then I drove a i30n. For me it's without a doubt the best choice and has a track warranty. VW give nothing like that. He may aswell have driven a regular golf if he has it in the soft mode!

[@Fatima-rd9cy]

This car is so sexyyyyy

[@DRDELTS]

42G...lol

[@martinbezak8644]

TCR is a faster car than i30n

[@volkswizard]

sure is, it’s also a lot more expensive but I still think it’s worth it if only for the interior

[@martinbezak8644]

@@volkswizard I was just responding to what you said about Hyundai dynamics :) indeed the VW costs a lot more