mmarshall

Yes, I deleted the post...that was my error.

mmarshall

Yes, thanks...my error. I had already caught that, and was already deleting it when you responded.

GFerg

Sets the blueprint for this class. While this doesnt interest me and I also dislike the front, I respect it and love that they still offer a manual.

gengar

Just read the actual VW press release. A bit annoying that they're only offering the Golf R fully loaded in the US, so it includes all kinds of things like a sunroof which I would rather not have (even as a no-cost delete).

Haven't seen anything about ventilated seats, either. People were hyping that up a lot for the Mk8.

Johnhav430

Agreed, only 15 years ago one could buy a German car stripped, but with the performance underpinnings. remember the term, "Wolf in sheep's clothing."

Now, often we look at a car starting at 45k, and by the time it's equipped, it's another 20k.

Every one of our cars has a moonroof. On the SUV, it really serves no purpose, it's so small. I actually thought fully opened, maybe as a safety precaution it only opened 1/2 of the way, when we first got it. I admit I will open it on the LS430, but not on the other cars. First world problems...it's like tilt/telescope wheel. Again, all 4 cars have it. NEVER USE IT. But with the LS, the telescope motor gets sticky after 10+ years and then we either have to pull the fuse, or have the dealer code it out when ignition off, etc. Mechanical would have been better.

geko29

The R model has always been fully loaded, even going all the way back to the Mk4 R32. That, combined with gradually eliminating choices (Mk6 was available in 2 or 4 door, and with or without a technology package) has enabled them to keep the price basically flat. Part of that is using just a single shell. For the Mk7, the R was based on the eGolf body, which was exclusively a 4-door with no moonroof. Apparently for the Mk8 they've chosen a shell that does include a moonroof. There is no Mk8 eGolf anywhere, and no more base Golf in North America, so I actually wonder if the moonroof will be standard on the GTI, meaning they'll have only one body for the entire western hemisphere.

mmarshall

Did that phrase come from the Wolfsburg assembly plant?

gengar

We have different definitions of fully loaded then. To me the existence of a tech package means not fully loaded. The Mk7 Golf R was also not fully loaded as standard; it had the base trim and then the suspension/nav trim which had a driver assistance package option on top of that. The base trim was eliminated for Mk7.5.

In other markets, the Mk8 R will likely have options too. There is already a performance trim announced for Europe.

arentz07

As long as the sunroof as either optional or not available on the R, I am happy. In order to get a loaded GTI, one has to get a sunroof, and... I hate it. Mine is always making random noises, and the sun shade mechanism gets stuck often. Overall I wish I didn't have a sunroof. Really sad.

On the Mk7/7.5 R, a sunroof isn't even available in the US, so hopefully the Mk8 will follow suit.