My New Car

[veeman]

If there's room for a spare without giving up any storage space, what's the point of not including a spare?

They know that people who are looking to buy this car in the U.S. won't be dissuaded because of lack of a spare.  So why not save $40.  VW needs to get all the money they can get right now.

[2o6]

I'm still waiting for an answer to that question about the center console.

I was told because the Golf R's parking brake is electronic, the regulations for the center console are different.

[12,000 RPM]

They know that people who are looking to buy this car in the U.S. won't be dissuaded because of lack of a spare.  So why not save $40.  VW needs to get all the money they can get right now.

Plus they can make even more money from intrepid folks who do the Euro conversion

[CaminoRacer]

Plus they can make even more money from intrepid folks who do the Euro conversion

check out my EDM-tyte spare tire, yo!

[RomanChariot]

check out my EDM-tyte spare tire, yo!

It seems like it would be expensive to make a spare tire with Electrical Discharge Machining. Much better quality than a 3D printed spare though.

[Laconian]

"European"

[Char]

And what does True car say for a Golf R?  I got 38.6k for one spec'ed like OP's (which has more "must have goodies than a basic 340 m sport) and 35.3k for a comparable, lowest point of entry model.  You're still talking at least $10k or ~25% more money.

I didn't say it was cheaper - it's a better car with a working center console, it should cost more.

SOFT!

[CaminoRacer]

I didn't say it was cheaper - it's a better car with a working center console, it should cost more.

SOFT!

LOL

[SJ_GTI]

Put the spare tire and stuff in this morning. Went reasonably well...trim was a bit harder to remove than the piece from the center console fix.

And just to clarify from above, everything fits in existing space with no reduction in cargo capacity. Here is before I started this morning:



First I remove the cargo net and floor:


Then remove the subwoofer and box (which BTW is conveniently designed to fit inside the spare wheel as you will see later):


Closeup of the existing trim after subwoofer removal:


Remove the existing trim piece (happily no clips were broken during removal so i can theoretically put it back to stock if need be):


Side by side comparison of the two trim pieces:


Picture of the pieces to be installed all laid out (including putting all the tools in to the foam holder...I did test out the jack FWIW and it works fine):


Installed the new trim and the foam first:


Close up of the new foam and trim before putting in the spare:


Drop in the spare and reconnect the subwoofer:


Put the hatch floor back in:


And everything is back to normal...no sign of any changes:


Regarding the comments above...yes its dumb that it doesn't just come like this from the factory. I knew about it though. I mentioned it as an issue in the thread when I first test drove the car, but after some cursory research fixing both the center console and spare tire issues were relatively cheap and required little effort. I will say one bonus is that I now have both a spare tire as well as the "fix a flat" tools (which do come with the car in North America), so I am prepared even if more than one wheel goes flat. 

[AutobahnSHO]

That's really cool of you, and lame of them....

[CaminoRacer]

Did you have to install the engine yourself too?

[mzziaz]

So, where are you going to put the illegal drugs, the next time you return from Mexico?

[Soup DeVille]

I think VW is onto something with this some assembly required stuff. Let's the owners be more involved, you know?

Like a beginner form of kit car.

[12,000 RPM]

IT's not a beginner kit car, it's enabling enthusiasts of discerning taste to hand craft and curate their build individually.

[Soup DeVille]

IT's not a beginner kit car, it's enabling enthusiasts of discerning taste to hand craft and curate their build individually.

Oh, You write copy for catalogs in your spare time too, huh? If not you should.

[12,000 RPM]

I am a blipster, this kind of nonsense works on me.

[Rupert]

"Curate" LOL Sign of a hipster.

[12,000 RPM]

Signal your individuality.

Demonstrate your taste.

Dare to be... you.

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf R.

[Char]

He bought the kit, so he could remove it again. Now he can put "Spare tire/Kit removed" in the mods list.

[12,000 RPM]

[SVT_Power]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oklm3mV6ThE

[BimmerM3]

He bought the kit, so he could remove it again. Now he can put "Spare tire/Kit removed" in the mods list.

Nah. "Stage 1 Weight Reduction"

[CaminoRacer]

Nah. "Stage 1 Weight Reduction"

"Stage __" parts are one of my biggest pet peeves in the aftermarket industry. So F&F wannabe racer. But it sells.

[BimmerM3]

"Stage __" parts are one of my biggest pet peeves in the aftermarket industry. So F&F wannabe racer. But it sells.

It's also from the Gran Tourismo games.

[SJ_GTI]

Some random updates.

Gas mileage has been inconsistent...but maybe that is just my driving. I have had a tank as low as 19.5 MPG and as high as 23.5 MPG. My last tank (filled up yesterday) was 22.1 MPG. I only have about 1700 miles on it so only have a few fillups (usually about ~250 miles between each). The car says my overall average is 21.8 MPG, which seems reasonable.

I cannot master the clutch, still clunky going 0-1 and 1-2 unless I am really taking my time and being careful. Not sure if it is me or just the nature of the car. I have never been an expert shifter but have always gotten used to whatever car I drive after a trip or two. I simply cannot do quick shifts smoothly. I am not racing the car for the most part but it sucks when I do need to take off in a hurry and I can't do it without jerking the whole car.

On the bright side the faux AWD works really well. I have never felt any wheel spin and the car reacts much better when accelerating around turns (rather than just breaking in to a turn and coasting through). I am really happy I ended up with a small hatchback...I didn't realize how much I missed driving a small car. I thought I would regret not getting the Chevy SS but really I cannot see myself getting a car that big not that I am back in a small car. I cannot even see myself buying a car in  the 3-series/A4 range again.

I have purchased snow tires (Pirelli sottozero's, same that I had on my S4). I got 235/35R19's and will have my dad's shop put those tires on my stock wheels. I plan to buy another set of wheels between now and March to put my summer tires on. Haven't figure out exactly what wheel I am going to get, but most likely end up with some wheel that doesn't require any adapters or anything (Nuespeed, VMR, or something along those lines).

[12,000 RPM]

Glad you are enjoying the smaller car, I knew you would

[giant_mtb]

Your car shouldn't break in turns.  It shouldn't break at all. 

[MX793]

If you're accelerating through the turn, your entry speed was too low

[Eye of the Tiger]

If you're accelerating through the turn, your entry speed was too low

[SJ_GTI]

True, accelerating was the wrong word, really just meant applying the throttle. With the Golf R's faux AWD it still feels like applying throttle helps the car rotate through a turn vs with a pure FWD car applying throttle through a turn gives a feeling of plowing right in to a corner.