Bizarre car question – A6 v Golf R?

and being that driving in the UK is really no fun at all,

I’m assuming you’ve never driven around Torridon/Assynt region? That’s where the majority of my personal miles get clocked up and i definitely wouldn’t call the driving dull 🙂

Loddrik, i actually spotted an M135i today. It’s definitely growing on me. Looks much better in it’s hooligan guise.

Haha! I love mine, frighteningly fast and I don’t actually mind the looks what so ever, much uglier cars out there!

driving in the UK is really no fun at all

Hah.. rather depends on where you drive. If you are referring to speed limits, then driving in Germany isn’t exactly what you’d call ‘fun’ – just lots of dickhead salesmen being dangerous.

If you can run the R then go for it. It’s only 2 years and so long as you’re in a sensible job with no risk of losing it and have planned to lose the money then so be it.

I bought a brand new GTi at 21 because I could and yes it cost a lot to buy, a lot to run and a LOT to insure, it was fantastic fun and something I don’t regret doing.

I think, if I’m honest with myself, as much as I love the Golf, it’s probably not the most appealing car to be in for 5 hours on a Friday night after work. Perhaps it would be ok for me, but not for my passenger.

That moves me back to a proper engine in something a bit more comfortable and practical…a 2008ish 335/535 or A4/6 3.0. I need to drive these. It’s where my search started, but they’re harder to get a test drive of. I’d jump at the chance of an S4/S5/S6, but the after market warranties are silly money compared to the 335/535.

That said, i was surprised at how comfortable the Golf R was around glasgow’s less than perfect roads.

That said, i was surprised at how comfortable the Golf R was around glasgow’s less than perfect roads.

My MK7 Golf is supremely comfortable and I’ve spent 4-5 hour stints driving in it with no issues at all. The suspension on the R will be harder but is well damped. With DSG it should become a lot better.

The RADAR cruise is a life saver on long boring motorway journeys.

Hah.. rather depends on where you drive. If you are referring to speed limits, then driving in Germany isn’t exactly what you’d call ‘fun’ – just lots of dickhead salesmen being dangerous.

Interesting – the driving std is way better than the UK – on autobahns. They do get a bit ego driven at junctions ….

My MK7 Golf is supremely comfortable and I’ve spent 4 hours stints driving in it with no issues at all. The suspension on the R will be harder but is well damped. With DSG it should become a lot better.

The R can also be put into Eco mode, which i believe shuts down the baffles on the exhausts (or something like that, I couldn’t hear him too well because i kept pressing the thing under my right foot that made everything go noisy 🙂 )

Once it’s in eco mode it’s actually pretty quiet too. Road noise at 70mph is a world apart from a 5 series or A6 though (obviously). Which is a concern for my passenger.

the driving std is way better than the UK – on autobahns.

😯

Admittedly, i’ve only clocked up 1.5k on the autobahn in germany/austria, but my impression wasn’t a good one. Full of idiots and people half asleep. Granted, it’s probably still an improvement on UK motorway driving skills! France on the other hand……

I have clocked up about 1.5 years worth of the autobahns – inc 1k in a day. The biggest danger is the out of germany people who outside lane hog. The Germans tend not to do it as a) the police are not impressed b) neither are other drivers. If you do it, they will not show you a lot of kindness.
Road rage is illegal(as is tailgating) – no gesticulations etc, so they just get one with driving. More than can be said about the std of driving here.

If you want really rubbish drivers then go to Belgium – they seem to have issues.

I got my Scirocco R earlier this year. Absolutely love it! Great just tootling along averaging c.32mpg, but it’s at its best when driven. Crazy fast and puts a grin on my face every single day. When it comes to time to change the Scirocco I’ll be tempted to have a look at the Golf R.

[/url]My Photo Stream-57 by -N Paul Evans-[/img]

I have to disagree. I reckon driving standards are better in the uk than everywhere I’ve driven. (N America, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

For what it’s worth I have had a 2009 A6 3L diesel Quattro since 2009. It’s the longest I’ve ever kept a car, and I recently decided not to change it any time soon. It’s my first diesel, but the engine does seem to suit it well. I have had 2 litre diesel A6s as courtesy cars and there is a world of difference between the two engines.

I’ve had a number of ‘performance’ cars, but the A6 is just a great car for me now. It’s big, comfy, quick enough 0-60 in 6.5 secs supposedly) so overtaking is simple, but it doesn’t feel as if you need to drive it balls out all the time to justify its existence like some other cars do. Economy is pretty reasonable for a big car too.

Only you know how to balance your requirements, but I haven’t regretted buying it at any point I don’t think.

I have to disagree. I reckon driving standards are better in the uk than everywhere I’ve driven. (N America, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

Totally agree.

What about an A5? I’ve got the 3.0 TDi S-Line Quattro and it’s superb to drive. Decent fuel economy and 0-60 in around 5.7 secs as standard. I’ve had an economy remap done on it and hence it’s a bit quicker through the gears now plus it’s around 270bhp. Tons of room in it as well. I had the mk5 Golf R32 and it’s easy quicker than that and much cheaper to run.

An A6 is far too big a car to be getting powered by a 2.0L engine. Completely gutless from what I’ve heard. It does very much depend on how you like to drive your car as well though. I’m finding that I like the driving position in the Golf better as my wife has a GTD. My old R32 being a much smaller car seemed to go round the corners quicker. When the A5 does go though I will be getting an R but I would say that its a good compromise.

I’d jump at the chance of an S4/S5/S6, but the after market warranties are silly money compared to the 335/535.

Why bother with an after market warranty then. They are a load of money, rarely pay out in any case, and if you look after your car and maintain it properly (a big % of people don’t) then why should you have problems? Modern cars rarely break for no reason.

FFS just get the Golf, the A6 is an old mans car and there’s plenty of chance to be sensible later in life.

Ive not entirely being keeping up with this thread, but I am surprised that the OP is looking at £30k cars but doesn’t know what he wants from a car. ie does he want a sports car, or something to get from A-B. Comparing the Golf with an A6 just does not compute.

I think, if I’m honest with myself, as much as I love the Golf, it’s probably not the most appealing car to be in for 5 hours on a Friday night after work. Perhaps it would be ok for me, but not for my passenger.

It will be fine, I used to do similar in an mx5 and my passenger was over 6 foot. Buy the car for you not to make others comfy. Sure the Audi will be comfier but the Golf is hardly going to feel like your passenger is sitting in a side car.

Ive not entirely being keeping up with this thread, but I am surprised that the OP is looking at £30k cars but doesn’t know what he wants from a car. ie does he want a sports car, or something to get from A-B. Comparing the Golf with an A6 just does not compute.

Try to think about it, or maybe even read the thread?

Most others have managed to get their head around the question.

Standards of driving in the UK are shocking. Its auto bullying depending on the car you are in etc. Woe to you if you use your horn or flash your lights.

In Germany only once did I encounter a prick- in a UK plate Skoda Octavia VRS who tailgated me.

Considering none of the cars the OP listed are exactly that exciting (being all, at best, warm medium/large saloons)

Maybe the Audi is a bit dull, but on what planet is a sub-5 second Golf a “not exactly exciting… …warm” car?

Late to the party, but I’ve always tried to go for experience over utility and I’ve never regretted it. Even managed to fit a bike or two in the craziest cars. I don’t drive to work though and we have a nice enough Civic for family/long-distance duties, so my priorities are maybe a bit different.

Get the Golf, OP.

Just get the R, 5 weeks ago I bought a Mk 6 😀

Standards of driving in the UK are shocking.

There are more aggressive people here, but less of other problems like say, utterly insane young lads (France) total lack of concentration (USA) or 150mph cars on a two lane road (Germany).

I had an a6 Quattro Avant 2.7TDI, great car. IMO 2.0l is too small and engine in such a big car. I would happily get another (owned it 7years 100 miles virtually no costs except regular servicing was worth about 6k when it was sold). Over the years I’ve owned 6 Golfs.

Of the two cars you quote I would go for the Golf. If it where me I’d get a 2.0L diesel Golf rather than a 2.0L Audi, however through in a bigger motor and Quattro and then its advantage Audi.

I had an a6 Quattro Avant 2.7TDI, great car. IMO 2.0l is too small and engine in such a big car.

Not much difference in power these days, the 2.7 had a maximum of 182 bhp and 400 Nm of torque and the new 2.0 has 170 bhp and 350 Nm of torque.

Not much difference in power these days, the 2.7 had a maximum of 182 bhp and 400 Nm of torque and the new 2.0 has 170 bhp and 350 Nm of torque.

Do they really drive the same ? I appreciate what you are saying re the numbers but I would have to be convinced.

Do they really drive the same ? I appreciate what you are saying re the numbers but I would have to be convinced.

Would be interesting to see the torque curves I agree but just something to bare in mind.

What has happened to stw? Page 4 of a car thread and no one has said Octavia? There. I said it. Vrs TSI combi would be the size of the a6 avant nearly with golf gti performance. Is not the R…. But it’s enough car that I’m surprised it hasn’t been suggested before now. In bias though….. I collected mine last weekend :D. Oh….5.5 month wait on vrs.

Octavia is 2WD, the VRS just wheel spins in the wet, not in the same league as the Golf R or Golf R32 where you can use all the power all the time.

Octavia… Vrs TSI combi would be the size of the a6 avant nearly

Don’t talk rubbish.

PS

I’ve got the 3.0 TDi S-Line Quattro

I’m dead jealous, I think the A5 is one of few current cars that are beautiful, and I bet it’s lovely with the V6. Always wanted to drive a V6 diesel.

I thought the Octavia was built on the A4 / Passat floor pan.

Another STW classic.

‘Im interested in buying x or y, and only interested in x or y, so I’d like opinions on x or y’

Cue loads of replies suggesting a, b, c, d, e, f……

I’ve got the 3.0 TDi S-Line Quattro

I’m dead jealous, I think the A5 is one of few current cars that are beautiful, and I bet it’s lovely with the V6. Always wanted to drive a V6 diesel.

Err have you ever driven one though? Looks nice sure but but it’s expensive, heavy, lacks steering feel and it pretty dull to drive. Still, with the V6 at least you’d not have any more problems loosing your place in the overtaking queue 😉

Err have you ever driven one though?

No, of course not.. not likely to either 🙂

I thought the Octavia was built on the A4 / Passat floor pan.

Afaik it’s Octavia, Golf and A4 on the same chassis, and A6, Passat and Superb on the same.

Just checked the Audi website and it seems the 2.0 is now 190ps and the 3.0 low power version 205. Given that they are so close in power output there must be enough of a difference between the two to warrant making them both.

@molgrips I think it’s the Golf/A3 (and some Seat / Skoda) which share the same chassis (A4/Passat I believe). Re V6 TDI my 2.7 was the old engine before the 3 and I was mightily impressed, pretty quick, 6 speed to work the torque, economical. 3.0 is supposed to be even better

@molgrips I think it’s the Golf/A3 (and some Seat / Skoda)

Really, I thought the Octavia was a fair bit bigger than the Golf. Mind you I was comparing the MkIV Golf with a 2012 VRS, so different generations…

I don’t think an A4 is as big as a Passat. I do however think an Octavia is as big as a Golf.

Well bugger me… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group_B_platform

Looks like the Passat and A4 *used* to be the same platform, but now they are using one extendable platform for A4s, A6s and a load of other stuff.

@footflaps – I think it may be Octavia/Passat/A4 – so yes bigger than Golf

haha – someone will come along in a minute who actually knows

Audi tend to build “small” cars on a given chasis – eg Golf vs A3, A4 vs Passat

There is no way an Octavia is the same size as a Passat.

They can now build cars on the same platform (engine orientation and layout etc) but vary the wheelbase and track however they like. Interesting idea, and it’ll end this comparison debate 🙂