amberkell63: Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet review (2013 onwards)

Summary

VW's R department takes on a soft-top for the first time - and the resulting Golf R Cabriolet is certainly fast. But as it goes on sale for more money than an entry-level Boxster, can it possibly justify the near ?40k price?

What: Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet (2013 onwards)
Where: Nice, France
Date: February 2013
Price: ?38,770
Available: On sale now, arriving March-April 2013
Key rivals: Audi A3 Cabriolet, BMW 1 Series Convertible, MINI Convertible, Porsche Boxster

We like: fleet of foot and fast of roof, great refinement, loads of grip
We don't like: lacks involvement, ride quality questionmarks, expensive

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Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet from the back on the road (? Volkswagen)

Volkswagen

First impressions of the Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet

When the guy from the German press department says "you'd better bring your wallet to the dealership" during the pre-dinner speech, he isn't being stereotypically pragmatic. He is in fact making a joke about the new Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet's price - which is, clearly unashamedly, expensive.

How expensive? Try ?38,770. Which is costlier than an Audi TTS Roadster, a purpose built sports car with a more powerful version of the same four-cylinder turbo engine. Not to mention nearly ?1,200 more than the entry-level version of the latest Porsche Boxster. Which is an utterly brilliant car.

Something, it would seem, is amiss here

And for anyone thinking that's all very well, but those cars have only got the two seats, consider the four-seater BMW 135i M Sport Convertible: 306hp for under ?36k.

Something, it would seem, is amiss here.

Due to the nature of the Golf Cabriolet's roof-loss compensation programme, there isn't even room for the four-wheel drive system that comes as standard on the Golf R hatchback. The convertible's additional bracing gets in the way. So the R Cabriolet is front-wheel drive only, despite producing a hatch-matching 265hp.

Performance

This means it's essentially an angrier looking, more accelerative version of VW's existing fast convertible, the Golf GTI Cabriolet. Except, that's not quite the case, since the Golf R deploys an older - and tougher - 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (EA113, engine code fans), rather than the very latest unit (EA888).

And its delivery is enormously meaty

This detail is largely irrelevant from behind the wheel - and indeed under the bonnet, given the generic "TSI" cladding that dismisses any hopes of drama or desire - since you'll be thoroughly occupied eyeballing the speedo as the world blurs through the windows. The Golf R Cabriolet is seriously fast.

And its delivery is enormously meaty, propelled by a 258lb ft wall of torque that's available from 2,500rpm to 5,000rpm. You barely have to tickle the throttle to see the R lunge for the horizon like it's going for its throat. All to the bassy, woofly, whooshing soundtrack distinct to high-power VW Group turbos.

Equipped with a six-speed DSG auto as standard, 0-62mph takes a scant 6.4 seconds - nearly a whole second quicker than the 210hp GTI equivalent, which dispatches the same sprint in 7.3. Top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. Overtaking is a formality. Throw away your hairdryer now.

Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet side view driving (? Volkswagen)

Volkswagen

Ride and handling

Halving the number of driven wheels and removing the roof sounds like a recipe for a scrabbling, wobbly mess. But unless you encounter some particularly nasty road surfacing the Golf R is notably unflustered, with just a little steering wheel squirm under hard acceleration - to let you know that it's trying.

This was in the dry, of course. The combination of British weather and potholes might make things more interesting - though we doubt you'll have any serious issues. That said, the test cars were fitted with optional adaptive chassis control, with adjustable damping levels. Which isn't coming to the UK.

Pointing and squirting with?capability

We're assured that the Normal setting is - as the name suggests - close to the conventional suspension setup. We found Comfort better suited to bumpier tarmac, but so long as it's not closer to Sport it should be perfectly liveable. Regardless, the R grips and goes with zero drama, and maximum velocity.

Herein lies a problem, however. As with the lesser GTI, it's almost too good, pointing and squirting with such unflappable capability it leaves little for the enthusiastic driver to do, except push it faster and faster. And impressive though this is, it doesn't really encourage a lasting bond with the car.

Interior

As with all Golf Cabriolets, the R is based on the previous mk6 Golf platform. Seems strange, given the hatchback is now into its seventh iteration, but the convertible is run as a separate model line, and it'll be mk6 for a few years yet. The structure is extremely stiff, so we can't see this putting many buyers off.

The roof is a fully electric soft-top

While this does mean you have to make do with the older interior design, there was little wrong with this anyway. And there are enough special R embellishments to serve as a useful distraction. These include leather wrapped sports seats, aluminium detailing and contrast grey stitching.

The roof is a fully electric soft-top, takes just 9.5 seconds to fold neatly away and 11.0 seconds to resurrect. In other words, it's slick enough to make the most of the UK's scarce sunshine, especially since it's operable at up to 18mph. Enclosed refinement is excellent; top-down buffeting unobjectionally minimal.

Compared to a regular Golf, boot space is compressed to 250 litres, and limited to a letterbox-style opening. Yet with capacity unaffected by the roof position, the Cabriolet is still practical enough to use every day. Plus the rear seats fold flat so you can still load longer items.

Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet interior front cabin with roof down (? Volkswagen)

Volkswagen

Economy and safety

With a pop-up rollover protection system, convertible-specific airbags and stability control as standard, like all Golf Cabriolets the R has a five-star Euro NCAP rating. It also has bigger brakes, matching its extra performance. But it misses out on the very latest electronic gizmos, such as automatic city braking.

All things considered, it's efficient as well. CO2 emissions are rated at 190g/km, only 10g/km worse than the GTI, while claimed fuel economy is 34.4mpg. Considering the 1,640kg kerbweight and the aerodynamic compromises of the convertible design, that's really not bad.

You may even find it surprisingly economical out in the real world, especially if you leave the DSG transmission to its own devices; the engine produces so much torque that it rarely needs revving out for rapid progress.

The MSN Cars verdict

Volkswagen knows that the Golf R Cabriolet will only appeal to a very particular kind of customer, and is anticipating minute sales of around 100 a year in the UK. It's an indulgent product, not an essential one. So if it doesn't make sense to you, don't worry - you're not alone.

It's certainly fast, and the way it keeps its composure at pace is undeniably impressive. Yet, given how good the GTI Cabriolet is at a starting price of less than ?30,000, it's hard to imagine spending over ?9,000 more - even if your four-seater soft-top rocketship really must have that VW badge.

Find a used Volkswagen Golf?on Auto Trader
On Bing: see pictures of the VW Golf R

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