Picking up the Golf R

A weird but good problem to have is when a car you own, but don't feel attached to, decides to stop functioning! Why? That means one thing, perfect reason for a new car baby! I decided to get the 2016 VW Golf R for several reasons top amongst which are: 4 wheel drive (for winter driving), the overall practicality of the car as an everyday driver and of course the accessible performance! [Accessible performance for me means the ability to tap into the a car's potential while not risking life & limb or breaking the law...by too much at-least].

I picked the Golf up from Evanston, IL (Just north of Chicago). 1st owner with only 62 miles on it, I wanted to do it right. I had a good conversation with the dealer and after hours of reading online (and a few more minutes of reading the owners manual) I knew what the engine break-in period was. I had to stay patient. No hammering till 1,000 miles (1210 for me, I wanted to be 21% further into the safe zone?). It was an exercise in patience if ever there was one. It was like foreplay.

I drove the car 1000 miles in the first 8 days. I drove from Chicago to Green Bay. Then to Milwaukee and back the very following weekend. I gave everyone a ride anywhere they were going. The first time I really put my foot down I swear the onboard screen almost said "Worth the wait, eh?". The power is nice, not overwhelming but definitely enough to give a fizzy feeling in the southern regions. The car sounds great, breaks phenomenally, and turns on a dime. Thank you Wisconsin for having an obsession with roundabouts!

The Golf R's party piece has to be the way it pulls out of corners. If you're in the right gear (which the car will punish you if not) it catapults out of turns. The seats do a great job holding you in and are comfortable too. I did a 650+ mile road trip in a hair under 10 hrs and aside from a slight numb-bum I had no complaints (and I'm 6'4").

What makes the car pleasurable:
The light heartedness of driving it; It's an entry level performance car with an everyday driver attitude. It's happy rolling around town and in traffic and when the roads open up the car gives a good thrill. The steering gets tighter at speed, it always feels planted, and the front end sticks in the turns.
Reactions; With the exception of the few that know what it is, no one notices the car for what it is (outside or in). Which makes for a greater surprise when I give friends & family a ride or hand them the keys and tell them to floor it. It's not scary but it's definitely unexpected.
Attitude: The car has a bit of a Resting Bitch Face....which makes it look grumpier than Garfield, but it always instills in me this "Go Anywhere Do Anything" attitude when driving.

All-in-all I love this car. It's fun and works as advertised :P. Well done VW. 3574 miles in 44 days and the rush & excitement has yet to fade away or show signs of diminishing.

At a truck stop outside Chicago to scarf down some Burger King and take in the car

Yes those are driving gloves...my apologies. Clock was 5 hours late and pre-set German House music was interesting