VW Golf/Rabbit R36: White Prototype, Dubbed "Golf RS"

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
  • 50 comments
  • 3,723 views
Yes, yes, true enough. Still doesn't keep me from wanting to see a VAG car in WRC. other than Skoda and SEAT, that is.
 
Jim Prower
Yes, yes, true enough. Still doesn't keep me from wanting to see a VAG car in WRC. other than Skoda and SEAT, that is.
Click to expand...

Aren't they testing a Polo S2000 Rallycar? 270HP NA I4 > 300HP Turbo.

(check out the thread I made in the WRC subforum for some vids...)
 
Waitaminute. This thing will weigh 3635 lbs and someone wants to call it an "RS"? Name a Golf that weighs 200 lbs. more than a 5-series BMW and only 105 lbs. lighter than Mercedes E350... a Rennensport?

Proof positive Germans indeed have a sense of humor. What's next, a Phaeton GT1? Maybe a Touareg CSL? :lol:


M
 
and looks better than any of those that you mentioned. looks do matter, and I'd take this over any bimmer/merc. in addition, those weights are mere estimations and guesses..
 
///M-Spec
Maybe a Touareg CSL? :lol:
Click to expand...
That would actually be pretty awesome.


I'm also wondering: What will this cost? The R32 costs as much as the Ubaru and Evo, right? So, what will this cost? 40 grand? Seems a little overpriced, but I can't see VW selling this for under $5,000 more than the R32.
 
I believe the previous R32 went on-sale for about $30K, and I would assume the same for the MKV models that should be showing up soon. So, I doubt it would be too much of a stretch to see the price increase north of $35K, but I doubt it would go any higher than $40K. Either way, VW fans are insane, and they would pay anything for a high-performance limited-edition model like this.

...Problem is, they haven't said if it will come to America or not. I'd hope so, but then again, they gave us the shaft with the Passat R36.
 
Jim Prower
Which puts it into Evo/STi comparison territory, but it's HEAVIER. Which is where it fails against the japanese screamers: VW's gonna have to have something to prove, (aggressive gear ratios? Uber-sticky tires?) or the RS's gonna fall flat on it's face.

Which is why I want to see the R20t. or, perhaps, the WRabbit. How about a Twincharged, 300HP, 2.0l I-4 to an AWD system and DSG?
Click to expand...

I think this will do well (improved looks aside). VW did a fantastic job with the Mk4 R32, and it was the best Golf in years. The Mk5 Golf is massively improved (despite being heavier), so I have high hopes for the R36. I think it will be a solid counterpoint to the more manic, less luxurious Evo & STI, especially if the Impreza really does go all-hatchback.

But I still feel VW has no business making this car. They claim VW is supposed to move upmarket as a luxury brand, but they keep making small cars that out-sport their siblings at Audi. The more things change....
 
Leonidae
and looks better than any of those that you mentioned. looks do matter, and I'd take this over any bimmer/merc. in addition, those weights are mere estimations and guesses..
Click to expand...

I think you're not understanding the point of my comparison. This isn't a beauty contest. When the 'RS' name goes on a German car, it usually signifies a hardcore, driver focused, pure, lightweight sports car/coupe. The very finest example of this of course is the Porsche RS. Every RS uses extensive weight saving measures and was always lighter than the 911 it was based on.

So when you stick the RS moniker on a hot hatch that weighs in the neighborhood of a contemporary saloon car, IT LOSES IT'S MEANING and becomes a something of a joke.

As for the weight being an educated guess, I have looked over YSSMAN's numbers and don't see any fault with his reasoning. He could add the supposed 485 extra pounds for the VR6 and 4 Motion drivetrain to a base Golf/Rabbit instead of the heavier GTI, but we're talking maybe a 100 lb. difference, tops.

The Mk. V R32 weighed as much as the larger E46 M3, so I doubt the "RS" would tip the scales any lighter than 3,450 lbs.

Once again for clarity: for it's size this is going to be a HEAVY car. Call it anything other than an RS and I wouldn't say a thing. Call it a Golf "GT-S". Call it a "G70 Limited". Call it a "338". "RS" just doesn't suit this car.


Toronado
That would actually be pretty awesome.
Click to expand...

Not as cool as a Bentley Azure Superleggera.


M
 
///M-Spec
I think you're not understanding the point of my comparison. This isn't a beauty contest. When the 'RS' name goes on a German car, it usually signifies a hardcore, driver focused, pure, lightweight sports car/coupe. The very finest example of this of course is the Porsche RS. Every RS uses extensive weight saving measures and was always lighter than the 911 it was based on.
Click to expand...

RS stands for Rennsport - which in German simply means 'racing'. So yes, it does usually signify a hardcore, driver-focused version of an existing model. But it doesn't necessarily imply a car will be lightweight too, although they usually are.

Please excuse me if i'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs ;)
 
I think most people are surprised by the RS badge, and I have to agree that I'm in that group. However, with the Passat R36 on the way, I'm beginning to doubt whether or not VW wants to use 'R36' on the Golf to cease confusion, or possibly a perceived overlap.

...I dunno. The R36 name makes the most sense (given that the R-prefix is their 'M' or 'AMG.'), but then again, RS kinda does too. I dunno. They (VW) haven't even officially given us anything...
 
In Europe at least, the 'RS' moniker is probably more likely to be associated with Ford's 'hotter' models.
 
^ I thought of that too. So I have no idea how they are going to plan on branding it. I know Ford would be happy to sue over the use of the 'RS' name...
 
Like the 'GT' moniker, 'RS' is generic enough to pass without legal action.

Ford have since the late 60's sold at least a dozen different 'RS' badged hot Escorts, Fiestas, Sierras and Focuses to have cornered the market brand awareness wise.
 
Dont forget the Camaro RS, or RallySport.

I don't want it to be called RS, go nuts in the U.S. and call it the ThunderBunny! :D
 
TheCracker
RS stands for Rennsport - which in German simply means 'racing'. So yes, it does usually signify a hardcore, driver-focused version of an existing model. But it doesn't necessarily imply a car will be lightweight too, although they usually are.

Please excuse me if i'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I did know that. But my Deutsch isn't so hot, so Rennensport with the extra en is what I remembered.

But I'm at a loss over the egg sucking... care to clue me in?

Also, can you think of any "RS" cars that were both heavier than their base counterparts AND taken with any degree of seriousness? Because a 3,600 lb. hatch wearing RS on its J-Lo makes me snicker. The same way people who live by the Riviera might snicker when they think of the '86 Buick Riviera (though not an early one.. those were actually quite nice).


M
 
turbo lag
OOooh this looks nice 👍

Look out Evo and Impreza.... :trouble:
Click to expand...


The car looks very nice indeed. I'm not a big VW fan and I don't understand all the fuzz these days around VW but this one is actually very nice 👍

But to quote the above post: With 300 HP and 1650 kg heavy, the R36 is nowhere near an EVO or Impreza...
 
///M-Spec
Yeah, I did know that. But my Deutsch isn't so hot, so Rennensport with the extra en is what I remembered.

But I'm at a loss over the egg sucking... care to clue me in?
Click to expand...

Must be just an English turn of phrase, thought it was a universal English speaking phrase. This might help:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/18/messages/50.html



///M-Spec
Also, can you think of any "RS" cars that were both heavier than their base counterparts AND taken with any degree of seriousness? Because a 3,600 lb. hatch wearing RS on its J-Lo makes me snicker. The same way people who live by the Riviera might snicker when they think of the '86 Buick Riviera (though not an early one.. those were actually quite nice).
Click to expand...

I would have thought that most of those Fords, with perhaps the exception of the earliest Escorts, were at least as heavy as, if not slightly heavier than, their 'standard' equivalents. They were generally the turbo models with plenty of plastic body kit and well spec'd inside. The RS Cosworths were certainly taken seriously - the addition of AWD on the latter Sapphire and Escort Cosworths would certainly have upped their weight. I don't remember any talk of weight saving measures back then either.
 

Latest Posts

Back