Depends on what something thinks "better" is in an AWD system. I've never liked VW. But I've always championed there AWD system because "back in the day", when the evos and STi's were all vomiting there $40K drivelines up all over the track on 12.80 cars, companies like APR had VR6 swapped turbo AWD bugs that ran high 10's with no driveline failures. One article I read, made it a point to mention they launched the car at the drag strip 52 times that day and it never missed a beat with a 6-speed manual. At the sametime, John Shepard was going really fast in a DSM, but changed his transfer case after every other run, and changed his trans every track event ( dsm/evo, same crap at that race level ).
Kinda showed me that while VW was incapable of building an AWD car that had power, it def had a stout awd system.
A personal friend of mine had a twin turbo 2.7L V6 S4 and it actually pulled the front wheels off the ground one night on the street. They sold it because the turbo's were too small to live and it was crazy expensive to repair/replace them. Again... Crappy engine stuff, but awesome AWD. Seems like maybe they got there heads out of there butts and built a motor that can really make some power now though. And the DSG is... Well... Its the best in its class by..... INFINITE.
The RS ??... Well... Its yet to be seen, but I worried about the reliability of its fancy pants techno super club GSK AWD setup. Being "better" based on your performance with stock parts on stock tires with a stock clutch is one thing, but think it will be able to go 10.80 52 times in a day at the drag strip without failing ?
My worries were compounded when I read in Spain they were over heating the rear diff on the focus RS.
I'm sorry.... Maybe I expect too much. My "duty cycle" expectation is "100% DC". Essp on a bone stock car. "Ohhhh, you drifted it too much". Wait...? I'm sorry, wasn't it in DRIFT MODE !!!? When its in "cruise control" mode, is it going to over heat the motor on the free way?
Anyway... Blown away by the Golf R if its true that car goes 12.0 with a damn filter, cooler, and a 93tune. You guys realize that means it would go 11.50 on better tires and a custom E30-E50 tune on a cold night... With a cat and stock down pipe... Wow.... Way to make me eat all the bad things I've said about you VW !!