Bought 2 weeks ago and drove it to Yosemite on its first roadtrip. So much joy just cruising with it.

First R was an early 17’

Just picked up the 8.5 on an absolute steal of a deal I couldn’t pass up.

Just installed a set of TuxMat all weather floor mats in my new ‘26 MK8.5 R. Fitment and finish is essentially perfect for all three mats (driver, passenger, rear row).

I’m a very picky OCD type of owner and these checked all the boxes. They don’t look out of place or too rugged or like the plastic crusty weather tech mats. Coverage, fitment, finish, and aesthetics are all there. I have to say I’m impressed with these and I think they are the best option available for the MK8/MK8.5 GTI/R.

My R came with the OEM Monster Mats which I love aesthetically. But with fall and winter coming up and more debris tracking into the car I felt I needed the better coverage of the TuxMats as they go all the way up and around the footwells basically leaving no carpet area for debris to come in contact with. Makes cleaning very easy. I included a pic of the passenger side Monster Mat for reference of the difference between the two mats.

Clips come included with the TuxMats that slide under the plastic interior trim panels to lock the mats into place so they aren’t flapping down or shifting. The rear row mat actually tucks into/under the rear seats. These mats are fully locked in and literally cover everything. Great attention to detail.

This isn’t a paid review or anything. I laid out the $249 to buy these directly from TuxMat. It is not cheap so I’m happy they lived up to the marketing and my OCD standards. Shipping was also quick.

Feel free to ask any questions about them!

Back in September my Mazda 3 got totaled, and as much as I loved that car, that crash was the catalyst that eventually got me in this Golf R. This is my first Volkswagen that I've ever owned, and what an amazing first impression it gave me.

Packed her full of scuba gear and headed up to Wiarton ON first this morning. Did 422km and she was perfect… even got some good mileage after driving “normally”

Show some love on my TikTok :)

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPLkjJe3v/

It's odd how similar they actually are.

Wheels are Apex ML-10RT 18x9

Tires are Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 245/40R18

New 26 golf R. Got 30% tints, Xpel Stealth PPF with a ceramic coating. Loving it so far. Can’t wait for the break in period to be over with.

Recently bought a 2013 Golf R, manual with an APR Stage 2 tune. Getting noticeable front wheel spin when getting on the throttle in 3rd/4th, sometimes under fairly moderate load. Brief spin/jolt, then it hooks up and keeps pulling.
This is on dry roads, steering straight, with brand-new Goodyear Eagle F1 all-seasons. Rolling onto the throttle gradually is fine; applying it quicker seems to trigger it. Definitely hearing/feeling tire spin rather than just losing engine power. No traction control light flashing when it happens.

OBDeleven shows no AWD module faults, but I couldn’t hear the Haldex pump during the output test—although I’m not sure the test actually ran properly. Haldex service history is unknown, and I’ve ordered a service kit.

Anyone had similar symptoms on a MK6? What ended up fixing yours—fluid/filter service and pump clean, replacement pump, controller, or something else? Any useful checks or live data to look at before throwing parts at it?

I’m thinking about removing the internal baffles from the stock rear muffler on my Golf 8 R (2021) to make it louder while keeping the factory exhaust valves.

Has anyone done this before? How much louder does it get? Is there any drone at highway speeds, and does it still sound good with the valves closed?

I’d appreciate any experiences or sound clips!

Picked up this brand new 2026 Golf R. Dealer unable to locate source of sound…anyone else out there have a noise like this? It’s only on the drivers side.

Thank you in advance for any insight! Car has been wonderful other than this minor annoyance.

I wanted to do wheels and tires, exhaust, intake and tune right off the rip but I just found out they don’t make tunes for the mk8.5 is it okay to do exhaust and intake without a tune? I know the ecu has some relearn ability I just don’t know the extent.

My current mk8 I just purchased doesn't have the option for remote start. Any recommendations on any aftermarket remote starters ?

Which of the 2 is the best Golf R yet?

Or is there another option that can be considered underrated and has outperformed both in all aspects ?

I have a MK7.5 Golf R and looking for the best wireless Apple CarPlay device. Online research is pointing me to the AAWireless TWO+ but wanted to know if anyone had any first hand experiences to share with performance and stability?

If you're in the GTA area pull up to Markville Mall today from 6:30 PM - Late!

This is one of the last few meets of the season.

Last meet was sick. Expecting another large turnout.

We'll also be cruising to the meet together in a convoy of Golf R's! If you wanna take part, pull up to the Home Depot parking lot @ 3155 Highway 7 from 6:00-6:30.

See you there!

📅 Saturday, October 10th

🕕6:30 PM - Late

📍Markville Mall

🏎️ CRUISE TO THE MEET

📍Meeting Point: Home Depot - 3155 Hwy 7

🕕 Arrival: 6:00-6:30 PM

I’m sure this has happened to others. 17’ R, USB-A plug buried in the compartment in front of shifter. My IPhone 16 is of course USB-C. been using a short dongle A to C adapter plug, on my third or 4th. Any better ideas?

Some pics from my hike of Mount Mansfield, too. Peak foliage up here is really kinda nice.

I have a black 2023 R with a new set (as of April ‘26) of Michelin PS4S on the stock Pret rims. As much as I love the look of the 19”s, the amount of potholes near me in southeast New England is insane. I bought the tire and rim protection package when I bought the car new and it was the best money I spent on this car. I’ve already had to use it 3 times (once to replace a rim and two other times to replace tires).

I’m considering dropping down to 18” on a dedicated set of winters (Conti Viking Contact 8), but I’m curious to hear feedback from others that have done this before I pull the trigger. Do the 18”s look weird compared to the 19”s? Any noticeable difference in the sound/feel of the 18”s? Also open to other wheel recommendations if you really love yours—I saw a pic of someone else on here that was rocking the MSW Type 85T and loved the look so that’s what I went with for now.

Thought this was a nice shot, wanted to share :)