Goodbye R

[Ignition1]

After nearly 8 years of my R, it's time to chop it in. Things changed a lot for me in that time - house moves, two kids etc. I also no longer have full autonomy to choose what car to get next either (for now!).

 

It may sound unbelievable, but my next motor is a new Kia Sorento "Edition" hybrid 😂. They all come fully loaded now which takes the edge off a little and I do like a gadget. The space difference is immense - no more roof racks for CentreParc trips. But I will miss so many things about my R - I've become very attached to it and as lame as it may sound, I genuinely am sad about saying bye to it. It had an 'x factor' that just scratched an itch - still loved it after all that time. It's been through a lot with me and it's never put a foot wrong (well, once or twice but thankfully had warranty). 

 

There was an option to keep both but given how little we use our second car anyway, it seemed cruel to maintain an R alongside another 'main' car since both me and the Mrs usually train it to London or wherever for work. Hopefully it goes to a good owner. It's been serviced at VW from day 1, engine 100% stock from day 1, good tyres and brakes, paint waxed every month - it's been kept well. 

 

Part-ex'd in for £16k which isn't too shabby for 57,400 miles 66 plate lease spec. When I leased it new it was £28k - so lost about £1,500 a year. It was a winner.

[Booth11]

9 hours ago, Ignition1 said:

After nearly 8 years of my R, it's time to chop it in. Things changed a lot for me in that time - house moves, two kids etc. I also no longer have full autonomy to choose what car to get next either (for now!).

 

It may sound unbelievable, but my next motor is a new Kia Sorento "Edition" hybrid 😂. They all come fully loaded now which takes the edge off a little and I do like a gadget. The space difference is immense - no more roof racks for CentreParc trips. But I will miss so many things about my R - I've become very attached to it and as lame as it may sound, I genuinely am sad about saying bye to it. It had an 'x factor' that just scratched an itch - still loved it after all that time. It's been through a lot with me and it's never put a foot wrong (well, once or twice but thankfully had warranty). 

 

There was an option to keep both but given how little we use our second car anyway, it seemed cruel to maintain an R alongside another 'main' car since both me and the Mrs usually train it to London or wherever for work. Hopefully it goes to a good owner. It's been serviced at VW from day 1, engine 100% stock from day 1, good tyres and brakes, paint waxed every month - it's been kept well. 

 

Part-ex'd in for £16k which isn't too shabby for 57,400 miles 66 plate lease spec. When I leased it new it was £28k - so lost about £1,500 a year. It was a winner.

8 years is a long time and quite the end of an era with your R.  Must be mixed feelings saying goodbye to it, but life dictates change doesn’t it!   So lovely to read of a good long ownership with few issues.  Hopefully the Kia will continue that trend even if it might be a somewhat different experience.  😄

 

Best of luck with the change and no need to be a stranger to the forum that you’ve contributed handsomely to over the years - let us know how it goes in the future and whether or not you miss your R.  😂

[NRW]

11 hours ago, Ignition1 said:

Part-ex'd in for £16k which isn't too shabby for 57,400 miles 66 plate lease spec. When I leased it new it was £28k - so lost about £1,500 a year. It was a winner.

Impressive figures Mil.  Hope to equal them. You clearly had a good thing with your R Wagon or it would have gone much, much sooner.  I managed nearly 7 in a GTI, and that was a wrench. Hope you enjoy the capability and capacity of the Sorrento - but likely there’ll always be a little candle for an R?
Good luck for the future.

[Ignition1]

Thanks @Booth11 and @NRW. Certainly will stick around on these forums and contribute where I can. Though not sure I have the heart to update my signature to "Gone: Golf R. Current: a Kia bloody Sorento" 😂

 

I have no doubt I'll miss my R a lot. And probably will regret not holding onto it. But if I think it through logically, it is for the best. I'll pour one out, light a candle, create a shrine and set an anniversary reminder for 15th June.

 

I'm looking forward to a more relaxed drive in the Sorento - after years of dodging potholes, parking at least 50 metres away from the nearest car and disturbing the peace in general - I have none of those worries at least. Oh and I found out yesterday (as I've done next to zero research on the thing) it has a windscreen HUD and ventilated nappa leather seats OOOOOoooooo

[Ignition1]

Golf R has gone

 

Did a few long drives in the ol' Sorento. It's amazing how much I got used to the R's power after so long - when I first got my R it used to snap my head back. But over the years I could predict it better and it actually just felt normal. On Top Gear they used to say things like "wow you'll never get bored of this power" - but I know that's a lie, any car will feel 'normal' after using it for so long. Even I think a Chiron or Nevera...not that those cars will ever be used as a daily!

 

But I really noticed how much I acclimatised to the R because suddenly, gaps to overtake or change lane on a motorway that used to seem completely do-able with a poke of the throttle now look impossible because of how damn slow the SUV is to pick up speed. The compromise is despite being nearly 2.2 tons unladen and full of people and stuff it returned 43mpg without trying. I reckon if I step back into an R in 3 months, it'll be snapping my head again.

 

Also braking power - even when my R had end of life brakes they were still sharp. The Sorento's are - no other word for it - ***t.

 

There you go. Something you never thought you'd see - a head-to-head review between the Golf R and a Kia Sorento 😂

[Booth11]

33 minutes ago, Ignition1 said:

There you go. Something you never thought you'd see - a head-to-head review between the Golf R and a Kia Sorento 😂

😂  Life is full of surprises!  😁

 

You do get used to the R power and handling etc and it becomes total the norm until you get into a 1.0 courtesy car or, as word has it - a Kia Sorrento.  😄

[J03]

I'm sorry for your loss (of power)! 8 Years is a good long stint though! 

 

I understand the power is a big change (I was driving a courtesy car around for a month and a half recently), but how's the change in comfort?!

 

...Gotta find the positives in this! 😂

[Martin2]

Cooled seats is a huge positive in this weather.  I’m sure there will be more….. OK, space is one, I halve an irrational hatred for roofbars and roof boxes so if you don‘t need one anymore that can only be a good thing.

 

I’m sure you’ll get used to it and I’m finding the engineering / technical side of a hybrid to be quite interesting and had a very ‘wafty’ electric only run to the station this morning.

[Ignition1]

49 minutes ago, J03 said:

I'm sorry for your loss (of power)! 8 Years is a good long stint though! 

 

I understand the power is a big change (I was driving a courtesy car around for a month and a half recently), but how's the change in comfort?!

 

...Gotta find the positives in this! 😂

 

😂 now you're asking me to really stretch my imagination here...positives. Erm...

 

But no, in all seriousness there are definitely pluses. Cooled seats are something I'd always want now, and the boot space is very convenient. Some of the conveniences are good with the cameras, ridiculous amount of USB ports, cupholders everywhere. It moves your seat back when you open the driver's door to make it easier to get in and out of you know. I have actually used the "ghost ride" feature (it's called something else of course) but where you can make it go forward and back using the key fob - I was squashed in a little in a parking bay and use it to get it out so I could open the door comfortably. It does spoil me a bit. 

 

It's also quiet...some would say too quiet. And it corners like a bean bag. I could turn it into a 90 degree and I'd still be at 45 when I hit the tree. Also it beeps and lights up at me constantly - "oh! you've got into the car with the key - 3 beeps for you! But if you didn't have your key it's 5 beeps and 2 warning lights, no seatbelt gets you 7 different pitch beeps and I won't start"

 

Wait, you said positives right?

[Ignition1]

23 minutes ago, Martin2 said:

Cooled seats is a huge positive in this weather.  I’m sure there will be more….. OK, space is one, I halve an irrational hatred for roofbars and roof boxes so if you don‘t need one anymore that can only be a good thing.

 

I’m sure you’ll get used to it and I’m finding the engineering / technical side of a hybrid to be quite interesting and had a very ‘wafty’ electric only run to the station this morning.

 

It still has roof bars although they're in black which hides them better - but yes, can't see myself needing a roof box with the boot space. It is a technically impressive engine in that sense - it doesn't feel like I'm in an Uber / Prius - which was my biggest worry.

[Booth11]

Cooled seats and HUD both brilliant options.  But you do know you can get these on an 8R….

 

😉

 

(I have both on mine) 

[Ignition1]

1 hour ago, Booth11 said:

Cooled seats and HUD both brilliant options.  But you do know you can get these on an 8R….

 

😉

 

(I have both on mine) 

 

I was about to add you get most of that kit on an R anyway if you spec it out. Can't say an 8R was an option - not because I didn't want one, but I didn't have the choice on shortlists this time round haha.