Originally Posted by john_pifer
I've seen a few folks say that the Golf R is "better". I don't think either car is "better". They're just different. The Golf is more expensive, more complex, heavier by over 200 lbs, and less powerful. Its design is also more conservative, which appeals to some, and, naturally, being that it's thousands of dollars more expensive, has some interior materials that are higher quality.
A lot of people have strong opinions about the CTR's styling. Personally I don't find it unattractive, especially considering the performance it's capable of.
When you look at the performance numbers the Honda is capable of laying down, it's amazing what they've been able to achieve with a FWD car. I like that the CTR is lightweight, powerful, and relatively simple in comparison to, say, a Golf R or an STi. It's also likely to be more reliable than either.
Yeah, as an R owner, I totally agree. Truth be told the GTI Clubsport is probably the better comparison to the Type R. While it's not available in the US, one can get there by bolting on a bigger hair dryer, a tune and some suspension mods. If you're looking for peak FWD performance, those 2 cars would be it.
The R doesn't feel nearly as fast--even when you're going really fast! Even compared to my GTI, it has a more subdued feel when being driven hard. And that's not for everyone either.
There is is one big advantage that the R has though if performance is your thing: headroom. With the Type R, you're really going to be limited as to how much more power you car really add to it and still have it be reasonable to drive. The R (if you have the DSG) can pretty easily achieve 400+ HP/ft-lb of torque with a basic tune and light bolt ons, and the stock internals seem good to 500HP. It's a cast iron block with a sealed deck, so it's going to be able to handle more power with fewer modifications. More importantly though, you'll be able to get that extra power to the ground! A 450 hp Golf R with a TCU tune and Wavetrac differential is probably going to destroy a Type-R in pretty much any situation, simply due to traction.
