I have this exact car, purchased new in late 2015. Same year, color, manual trans, and 64K miles. Mine is upgraded with an APR Stage 2 tune, CAI, FMIC, and upgraded Southbend Stage 3 clutch. It is a totally different car from stock. Compared to stock, it is crazy fast with nearly 400 HP and over 400 TQ. Despite all of the added power, it is just as user-friendly as a daily driver as it was pre-mods. I have had the mods for 6 1/2 years without any related issues.

Have a 2017 MK7 R with 51k miles. APR Stage 2. love it to death! Such a good daily, and have never had issues. Do your maintenance right you will get perfect daily with no issues, even with being fully stage 2 at 390-400HP.

2024 Golf R manual loving every second of it best bang for the buck imo heated and cooled seats the infotainment takes a little but once you get it down it’s not that bad 😅

The dsg is the better car purely because of how quickly it shifts but both variants are brilliant

I have previously owned a Mk7 and Mk7.5 Gti, and bumped up to a Mk7.5 R about a year ago. I have ZERO regrets, all around great cars but the R is definitely worth the extra money.

I have a 2013 GTI and can confirm most of what he says is true. I love my car! I am going on a race track tomorrow for first time with the car and I am so excited! Recently I did a 700 mile road trip and averaged 41mpg as well which is very impressive! I bought this car last year with 72,000 miles and paid $8000 for it! which is a freaking steal. I have put new Bilstein B6 shocks on PS5 tyres and bigger pads and rotors from a porsche. I also put a stage 2 tune from IE as well as IE intake and Cobb exhaust as well as downpipe. It makes 310hp on 93 octane and is such a joy to drive!

Had a Mk7 GTI manual for 4 years and absolutely loved it. Mine was a 2016 which was the first year for Apple CarPlay, the 2015 cars which was the first model year in the US didn't have it.

Had a 7.5 R intagrated engineering stg2 tunned loved that car regret selling it . Definitely mk8 R in the near future hopefully I can retrofit buttons on the steering wheel

I recently picked up a MK7.5 6-speed for a daily, I think they have to be one of the best all-around daily drivers available. While I did consider the DSG, I was pretty adamant on a 6 speed for a new daily - being in Chicagoland, whatever I was going to get had to be AWD. That pretty much leaves you the WRX, which I wouldn't trust used, or the Golf R. So far I think I made the best decision, I can't wait to play around in the snow in this thing.

The 2016 has Apple Carplay and Android Auto. But it's wired only.

I found it odd (a tad bit funny) when you said no AppCarplay in the beginning. I don't have an S3 but just by the head unit I knew there is =P

My 2010 Evo has its original battery at 70k miles, hopefully mine doesn't die soon 😂😂

I owned a 2017 GTI manual. Have a 2016 Golf R manual as my daily now. Far better car than the GTI imo. No wheel hop. Much more confidence in the corners.

Definitely needs the euro style rear headrests

Did the US versions have a smaller infotaiment screen? My 2016 Golf R has a 8" screen and was purchesed from Canada and now in the US, but never seen Golf R in canada with a small screen as what you where driving.

I own a 7.5 R and a CT4V Blackwing, great two car garage?

If you don't service the haldex you get traction issues but not everyone knows this

My 15 mk7 R doesn't have car play need to get MIIB I think it's called

I wouldn’t even think about the new type r over the golf r, I laugh everytime I see the civic type r

mk7 generation golf r’s did not offer a sunroof as an option

The Golf 8R infotainment usability was definitely a step backward. VW probably fixes the issues with the facelift. The EA888 Gen4 in the 8R is great. I own a 7R estate and love it. Best daily so far.

Needs a sigma 6 short shifter and a super pin from diesel geek

Where will the podcasts you have recorded be available? Thank you!

That battery needs to be matched to the car !!!

Regarding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in VW Group cars... The fact that the R8 didn't have it means nothing. A brand-new Porsche Macan, Boxster or Cayman still, to this day, has only Apple CarPlay, no Android Auto. VW Group may have a lot of the same stuff across their models but are still different brands (sadly, in this case).😁

Sleeping on the Mk8 just because buttons no clicky.

You would never put all round tyres on a golf r, always performance tyres 😮

If not the golf r I would probably go for the GLI

I have a 2024 MK8 R DSG and it is phenomenal. In stock form, the MK8 is much faster and torquier than the previous gen. Where I felt like the turbo would die off at higher rpm in the MK7, the MK8 just keeps pulling. It’s a true sleeper!

Had a 2017 manual from new. Car was fun, but VW cant build a great feeling manual. Rubbery clutch. Long throws with bad feel. Sold after twelve months and 6500 miles.

2016 had apple carplay and android auto. 2015 is the only year of the mk7r without it.

2015 golf r does not have carplay 2016 and above does have carplay

That’s a volts wagon it’s not my type I don’t like it

DSG Only!!