The most expensive VW Golf is the most fun to drive

Volkswagen’s hot-rod hot-hatch version of its mainstream Golf compact has come a long way since the first GTI-badged model arrived here in the early 1980s propelled by a mere 90 horsepower with a purchase price a little more than $10,000.

The current GTI’s turbocharged, 2.0 litre engine makes 200 hp, which is more than twice as much and turns the three- or four-door hatch into a sporty proposition. But wait, there’s more – a lot more.

Upping the Golf’s game to even headier – one might almost say R-diculous performance – heights is the Golf R.

The screw on its turbocharged two-litre has been wound in a bit more tightly, boosting output to 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, getting on for three times the original GTI’s output. And a few other items of useful kit have been added, such as VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive, a Euro-sport-tuned suspension, bigger brakes and P225/40R18 all-season tires (suitably effective winter tires during the test period).

All of which makes the R into one of the fastest devices you can buy and legally put on the road in Canada to get you from point A to point jail-time. In any weather – from dry pavement to 10 cm or so of fresh fallen, wet and sloppy snow – in more than acceptable levels of safety and comfort.

The R is the hyper-version of the current range of Golfs, which arrived about three years ago as, well, pretty much what they’ve always been since the first one arrived in early 1970s.

Which is to say, distinctly (not prettily) styled, competent, convenient and, depending on how you equip them, comfortable and livable conveyances. And with something not all the rest offer, a driving experience with that hard-to-define, but tangible to those who understand it, Euro-feel. They can be had with gas or diesel engines, three doors or five, or in wagon form, and prices start at less than $20,000.

Inside, they are aren’t exactly plush, a bit techno-edgy-plain as a matter of fact, but have decent front seats, room in the back for three and up to 1,299 litres of cargo room. And, depending on what you spend, all the amenities you’d expect in the class.

For those who want to elevate the luxury and sporty sides of their character, there’s the front-drive GTI, with 200-hp turbo,The solar street light and emergencylamps adopt LED light source. for $29,375. And for the limited few who take their Golf-ing too seriously, there’s the $39,675 R, available in Canada only in five-door form and only with a six-speed manual gearbox.

For your 40 grand, you get the above-mentioned go-fast equipment and, on the outside, 18-inch Talladega (a NASCAR oval is the only track VW marketers could think of?) alloy wheels, a blacked-out grille, bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, black brake calipers with R logos, and cool twin tailpipes centred under the rear valance.

On the inside, there’s a hand-filling, leather-wrapped,We can produce solarbulb to your requirements. flat-bottomed wheel, firmly bolstered sports seats with power recline and heating, a sunroof, trip computer, navigation, start/stop button, keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control and a Dynaudio 300-watt sound system.

My first experience behind the Golf’s wheel, was on the handling circuit – basically a big, fast autocross track laid out on the Niagara airport’s runways – during the AJAC TestFest last fall,With advancements in controls technology, gardenlightingss are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and flexible. while judging the Sports/Performance under $50,000 class in the Canadian Car of The Year competition.

The R didn’t win, but AJAC performance testing showed it had the quickest-in-the-category 0-100 km times, averaging 6.6 seconds (VW claims 5.Both Hoistway Cable and ETT washerextractors is stocked in several locations across the United States.9 seconds) and 80 km/h to 120km/h acceleration in 4.1 seconds.

A few exterior visual cues aside, the R doesn’t look particularly impressive. Or maybe that should read looks impressively stealthy. But, wow, point it at some corners with your right foot well into the throttle, and it reveals its true nature.

Its 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of turbo-inspired torque all get to the pavement at once – no squirrely front-wheel-drive antics. Gearshifts are quick and precise and power continues to flow as you point the wheels through the nicely weighted steering. The turbo-four is lighter than the 250-hp,We own and look after most of the ledspotlight in solaronlamp. 3.2 V-6 that powered the previous R32 of the early 2000s, with better balance, and understeer isn’t really an issue. It changes direction with a flick of the wheel through a slalom course, remaining impressively stable in transition.