Going from my 4Runner daily to a small hatchback, what to know?
- Thread starter atalarico
- Start date
atalarico
Senior Member
Oh, ok! I'll see if the dealership has a return policy. =p har har
Car is bought and in transit. Trust me, I had a list of 5 or 6 cars I started looking at and narrowed it down to the R.
In case you're wondering...reasons why I didn't get a Subaru. Again, these are reasons I didn't, not reasons anyone else shouldn't.
1.) I'm just not into the Subaru performance "look". It's not the aesthetic I'm into right now. It's a personal preference though, not a judgment.
2.) I have physical issues that prevent me from comfortably driving a manual as my daily driver. That limited my search for automatics, and aside from high-end dual-clutch gear boxes from makers like Porsche, the DSG in the Golf R is one of the most highly regarded auto-transmissions out there.
3.) Interior of the STI just wasn't speaking to me. The R (which is basically a slightly nicer version of the interior of the GTI w/ Autobahn trim package) is very nice and laid out how I prefer it to be. However, if I was into a more racing style interior because I was planning on taking this new car the track and work, yup STI or Focus RS have that edge for sure.
4.) I'm at a point in my life where "reliability" doesn't make or break a deal. Yeah, I know Golfs aren't very reliable, but I've owned VW before and I know what I'm getting into. I'm also in a much better financial position to deal with it, and it's not like they're Range Rover bad. There's a big DIY community around these cars like the 4Runner, and my comfort level with home mechanic adventures is way higher thanks to the T4R. I've noticed that a lot of the reliability complaints, or expensive repair gripes, for VW's come from people who aren't mechanically inclined.
For example, VW owners will cry so hard over the required "DSG service" because it's well over $500. I got nervous when I was reading those complaints until I saw what exactly the DSG service is and how freakin' simply it is to do at home. It's maybe $150 in parts and fluids, and an afternoon. Boo hoo, right?
To be fair, I've known quite a few Subaru owners who constantly have problems too. I don't think they're as reliable as Toyota just with a "kick in the pants", but I'm sure they can be more reliable than a VW. That goes both ways though, as there are a lot of VW owners who have really reliable VWs too. It's a crapshoot, and I think it has a lot to do with being diligent about preventative and routine maintenance.
This isn't meant to be a mean rant or anything, I'm just a very analytical person and I've thought through all of this stuff for the last 4 or 5 months. Also, the intent of this thread isn't about what I should buy instead or why I'm wrong for getting a Golf R. I'm just more genuinely interested in people that go from SUVs to little cars and what funny observations they have or advice they can give.
Cheers!
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Owning both (well, a GTI rather than an R), this didn't seem very likely to me. Edmunds spec pages show the curb weight for the Golf R to be over 1000 lbs less than that of the 4R. The GTI is about 400 lbs lighter than the R.
atalarico
Senior Member
According to Edmunds, 2016 Golf R w DSG and DCC/Nav is 3340 and a 97 limited is 3940. I'm going with the higher weight in the 4Runner's range because Limited with locker and heavier tires and a rack.
Not sure how we're seeing two very different ranges.
According to Edmunds, 2016 Golf R w DSG and DCC/Nav is 3340 and a 97 limited is 3940. I'm going with the higher weight in the 4Runner's range because Limited with locker and heavier tires and a rack.
Not sure how we're seeing two very different ranges.
Forgetting your year, I had looked my 4R weight up... a 5th gen. Edmunds showed 4400 lbs, and ours feels like every pound is present and accounted for! My bad, apples and oranges. Congrats on your R, and enjoy it well. I may be changing my GTI for one in the next year or so.
atalarico
Senior Member
That'll do it! That's kind of crazy that the 4Runner has put on that much weight too! I guess it is a bigger truck body than the 3rd gen, and I'm sure there's a lot more going on with the components.
I'll let you know how the R is. It's been a hell of a time trying to get it at this point, but it finally arrives on Thursday. It's been such an "adventure" that I won't believe it until it shows up and the key makes the engine start.
If you can wait, I'd say wait until the R420 comes out to the US. It will hopefully drive the price of the R down a little bit, or at least help get it for under MSRP.
What year is your GTI? How has it been for you so far? I really was tempted to get a GTI every time something went wrong with trying to get an R.
Cheers!
Dog Runner
New member
Congrats on the Golf R! You will love that car, but it is quite a switch from a 4Runner as you know.
I can check both boxes, we have a 5th Gen 4Runner and my Wife has the 2015 Golf R...:high5:
I can tell you the Golf R is a very fine vehicle, I mean a very fine vehicle. I have owned a lot (I mean a lot) of cars and the Golf R is one of the best under the radar cars you can own.. Much nicer than the 3 Series I had and that includes my Rangie... I can say this, It will be a car that will be hard for us to get rid of... I will even say I enjoy that car as much as I enjoyed my D90.(albeit different reasons) And that is saying something.
We live on the 285 corridor at 9700', and the turbo on that R keeps the car moving effortlessly.
Golf R benefits:
Park it anywhere
Passing on the highway is laughable
Easily get 30 mpg on highway
My wife avg.'s 26 mpg
Currently filling up with premium for $23.00, thats awesome!
Every teen wants to race you.... That could be a negative.. It amuses my wife to no end.
It's quiet on the highway
It loves the mountain roads
Handles under 3" with snow tires better than the 4runner. Over that, 4Runner FTW.
So understated!!!!!
Golf R drawbacks:
Understated
Loves mountain roads which could lead to tickets
Maintenance, as mentioned can be pricey. We bought the oil service change package and extended warranty... You never know with DSG or VW....
Its a small car, our 70 lb Lab and beagle are cramped in the Golf.
It chews through front snow tires, our Blizzak's lasted about 8k and they are at the wear bars... Yes, they were rotated..
There is a 420 coming, to the U.S., I'm not sure, but if it is, you can make your R almost as fast with a simple tune....
Center armrest does not open, good thing there is an easy mod to do.
Enjoy your new ride!
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My GTI is a MkVI, 2011. Only has about 50,000 miles on it and (knocking on wood here) has been completely trouble-free. It's been a fun driving, versatile car, and surprisingly good for long trips. I'll likely replace it in the next year with either an R or another GTI. No real need to do so but I'm not sure a German car is going to continue to be so trouble-free.
MudPie
New member
I had a 2011 GTI with the APR Stage 1 flash. Best bang for buck I ever spent. Miss that car but love the 4R.
atalarico
Senior Member
Awesome summary. I definitely like the 285 corridor to get to some of my adventures. One of my best memories of Colorado driving was in August of 2009 on 285. I had just moved here a half a month earlier, and a friend and I were going to climb a peak very early in the morning. We were driving down from Kenosha Pass just as the sun was coming up. The South Park Valley and the surrounding peaks, it was just...wow.
Anyway, interesting note about the Blizzaks. I'm getting the WS80's, and I know that even though it's 60 and sunny in February, I'll be needing them again soon enough before the winter is done with us. 8,000 miles is no bueno for a pricey little winter tire like that. Did you get 17" or 18"? I have the 19" wheels since it's DCC/NAV, but I know the 17's are recommended for winter size.
I think I worded the subject of my thread too poorly because people keep thinking I'm getting rid of my 4Runner! My fault! Just to be clear, I'm keeping her! It feels slightly bougie to do, but it's cheap to insure, I obviously have no car payment for it, and it's in good running shape. Why the heck not, right?!
Thursday is the delivery date on my R. We shall seeeee...
atalarico
Senior Member
Good to hear. I think VW's can get a bad reputation for reliability. I feel like with proper maintenance, they do fine. People only hear about issues because it's less common for people to post online when they don't have problems. I also feel like VW might be more of an aloof ownership pool, where people don't realize you have to perform regular maintenance tasks and "accidentally" run out of oil (e.g. my idiot old boss who claimed to be a car guy and ran his engine without oil until it seized). That's all anecdotal though.
Dog Runner
New member
I never said you were getting rid of the 4R, just you'll be enjoying a new ride... I read your post. :- )
We have 18" wheels as the 17" could have a tough time clearing the brake calipers. We are also running the WS 80's... Actually, no too expensive.
I think we are going through front tires due to how the Haldex works, senses slippage of the front wheels then it engages the rear drive train. That little bit of slippage and a liberal throttle equals poor life... But = big Grins!!!!
One more small note for the Blizzaks, we need to run them until the end of May because we still get snow that late in the season. So when we have to go down to hell (the city of Denver) the warm weather is a detriment to tire life .
I see your Wings banner on the avatar, very nice because we're from the D!
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atalarico
Senior Member
Oh, weird, I thought there was something in your post about missing the 4Runner for the camping and what not! Brain is making things up again.
Yeah, I only went with this particular set of 17's because some other people had good luck with clearing the calipers. Apparently it can be hit or miss depending on the brand and model of wheels.
How often did you rotate the WS80s? I'm wondering if it would help to do once a month just to eek a bit more life out of that $150 tire. Good point on the grin factor though...and I definitely can't wait to find a nice open area to do a little AWD snow drifting!
The seasonality thing is definitely going to kill these tires for me. For example, this week has been 60 and sunny, and next week the same. It's only February...and I know there will still be ample dumpage in the mountains until May, and I will want to be there getting all of the face shots. It's crazy though to run a tire for what seems like 20% of conditions, but when you need them...
Yup, from Detroit proper myself, and a fan of the good ol' hockey game. Too bad the outdoor game tickets are $250 minimum, or else I'd be there!
Cheers!
It's more that VWs (like all European cars) are more complicated, have less parts availability, and are intentionally engineered to be difficult to work on often requiring special tools. Those things compound on each other to make for much higher maintenance costs, and that is the exact reason that they depreciate so much faster.
In the end each customer only gets to experience that one car so opinions are all over the map. By far the most unreliable car I have ever owned was my 3rd gen 4Runner that I just thankfully sold.
Dog Runner
New member
I know people are going to flame me for this, but I would suggest a 1500 mile rotation for those specific tires where we live. Anything over 40 degrees accelerates wear like crazy.. Yep, I said it, 1500...:yo:
We rotated around 4k... way too long for that particular car in our environment. we will be going to a 1500 mile rotation from here on out.
On a side note, from our exit on 285, to my house is 1500' of elevation and 68 wonderful turns in 5.4 miles, so we burn through tires on all of our vehicles much faster than the rest of the world.... EX, my 2015 JKUR got 21k on my original tires and they were shot... I'm expecting similar results on my new TRDP. I will know in another 3 months or so, I'm putting on about 5k per month...
Another option since you are keeping the 4R, is to swap the summer tires back on in early April and drive the 4R on snowy days...
Go Wings!!!!!
atalarico
Senior Member
Flame for that?! Why? That makes perfect sense when you factor in our very real 4 seasons in one day kind of weather (read: temps go from 20-70 in a day) and a tire that is very soft. I sure as hell don't want to go through a set of $150 tires every 1.5 winters. That's really awful...
Do you guys rotate at home? I noticed in pictures that there are lug caps of some sort and I'm wondering if that'll turn what should be a 20 minute job into 45 minutes. If it's still a quick and easy rotation, I'll probably just swap them out when the weather calls for it.
I'm trying to imagine where off of 285 you are, but that kind of describes a lot of areas around 285 I've been on. I do all sorts of dumb outdoors things that take me all over the 285 corridor (e.g. South Platte climbing areas, Lost Creek Wilderness, Staunton Rocks, Rosalie Peak up to Mt. Evans, etc.), so I'm trying to imagine which stunningly beautiful area you might be lucky enough to live in!
:cheers:
Dog Runner
New member
We don't rotate at home even though I like doing that type of stuff... It gives me an excuse to drive the R for the day and the peeps at Discount Tire rotate them in 20 minutes with those funky lugs.
Between Staunton Park and Aspen Park... Great place to call home.
Come on up, we need as many good peeps as we can get!
:beer::welcome:
Dog Runner
New member
Congrats! I know you will be thrilled with that car!
:tea:
:tea:
atalarico
Senior Member
Thanks! It's been a blast so far! It's a very different car to drive on pavement than the 4Runner. I almost feel like people have been cutting me off less and riding my bumper less in the Golf. It's weird, and probably just unrelated, but yeah.
I'm really torn on when to put on my Blizzaks though. It's been so nice in Denver that I'm forgetting it's still February and it *will* snow *a lot* again at some point. I'm also still going to need them (I think?) when I head for the hills next weekend to go riding. I'm just really liking the look of the 19" wheels, and they're really not harsh at all like I've heard some people say. I even managed to hit a well known deep sunk-in manhole cover that's on my way to work the other day and come out unscathed. It was my first time driving the R to work and I said "Don't forget about that horrendous manhole cover com...*thunk*. Yeah, that one, idiot."
Anyway, off to show the T4R a bit of love today. Replacing the plenum gaskets (which I should have done when I replaced my valve cover seals), and maybe an oil change since it'll be sitting a bit more often. When I went to take some things out of the T4R the other day I noticed the interior smell. So many good memories, and so many more to come!
