Today’s find is something of a sleeper, but in the best tradition of the sleeping, is a real beauty. Sending 420 hp to the wheels, its combination of subtle cues, factory options, and the quality of the build combine to make it the thinking enthusiast’s Golf.

Now, we can all point to ludicrous horsepower figures, I know. 600? 800. 1,000, why not? But this car was actually put on a dyno, so you can take that 420 hp to the bank. And it features good parts. So, 420 is a good number. An honest number. And one that, in the immortal words of Shakespeare, is “plenty.”


But I’m starting to sound like Farah, so I’ll try to stop myself. Unlike the wrapped and ridiculous cars he likes to claim are sleepers, though, this is a genuine sleeper. Apart from the wheels and the blacked out badge, there’s little to warn onlookers of this car’s dirty little secret.

Better yet, it’s a two-door, no-sunroof, manual. That’s the enthusiast trifecta and will earn you the admiration and (better yet) envy of the in-crowd.


Purchased as a track car, user davidfromphoenix is selling this car as a result of "life events" before much track action could be had. Unfortunately, that means he’s not in a hurry to sell. That, along with this being the spring (the season of plenty, both in terms of cars and prices), are conspiring to raise the price of this Golf R to $27,500. Sure, it’s a lot, but it’s also a lot of car.

Check it out in the classified section and read a fuller list of mods below:

-APR Full Stage 3 GTX turbo kit 
-APR Intercooler
-APR Carbonio Intake
-APR FSI High Pressure Fuel Pump 
-APR 3" Downpipe & Exhaust w/ Black tips
-APR Runner Flap Delete 
-South Bend stage 3 Clutch & lightweight flywheel
-Spullen short shifter & cable bushings 
-Spullen spherical catch can
-Sport RR 36way adjustable Coilovers w/ camber plates 
-Epic Euro Tubular control arms w/ Hemi joints
-Whiteline Front & Rear Sway 
-Whiteline swayer end links 
-HPA Haldex Controller
-ECS slotted rotors 
-ECS steel braided rear brake lines 
-EBC yellow brake pads
-Smoked Cherry LED euro taillights 
-APR rear wiper delete 
-Vent Boost Gauge w/pod
-18x8 Enkei pf01 
-Michelin Pilot Super Sports 235/35/18