Indulging in a little pyrotechnic fun isn't exactly an uncommon pastime on the Fourth, but the folks in my town take the tradition a little more seriously than most. Whether it's passionate patriotism, alcohol-fueled over-enthusiasm, or a little bit of both, nearly every family spends what seems like half their annual income amassing a Cold War-scale stockpile of colorful explosives to set off on the beach. Well aware of my own epic clumsiness, I've been content in the past to watch from afar, but this year I've decided it's my civic duty to help celebrate the country's birthday.
Essentially a GTI with the volume turned up to 11, the Golf R packs a high-output version of VW Group's trusty 2.0-liter turbocharged four with 256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque - gains of 56 ponies and 36 lb-ft over the GTI. That power is transferred to all four wheels through a proper six-speed manual, while upsized brakes and a stiffer suspension are also part of the R treatment.
Getting out on the road, the first aspect of the Golf R that draws attention is the transmission. While its throws are slightly long, the shifter falls easily to hand and moves through the gears with well-oiled precision. The clutch is a trusty ally - light and communicative in a way that encourages spirited driving, while also making stop-and-go crawling nearly slushbox-easy (a good thing when trying desperately to navigate away from parades).
Following the coast-hugging curves of 127 as it heads northward, I make my way into the fishing community of Gloucester. Made famous by the book (and subsequent film) The Perfect Storm, Gloucester was once a primary fishing center and also built a sizable chunk of the ships used to fight the Revolutionary War. Its maritime roots can still be glimpsed through the numerous decaying docks and warehouses strewn along the shore, though increased competition, over-fishing and regulation have taken their toll on the local industries.
Winding through the holiday crowds on main street, the Golf R elicits only a few second glances from passersby. Rather than grabbing attention with The Fast and the Furious-style scoops and spoilers, Volkswagen chose to differentiate the range-topping Golf from its kin with subtle touches such as special wheels, slighter larger front air intakes and center-mounted dual exhaust outlets. The changes are also minimal inside, which isn't a big issue as the GTI's simple yet high-quality interior wouldn't look out of place in a vehicle costing far more.
After stopping to admire the iconic Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial, which honors the thousands of local fisherman who have perished in the Atlantic over the centuries, I take a detour past the abandoned (and supposedly haunted) settlement of Dogtown. First inhabited more than a century before the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, Dogtown was appealing to early settlers because its rocky, uneven hills afforded good protection from unfriendly natives and - I'm not making this up - marauding pirates.
As time is becoming scarce, I aim the Golf R down flag-lined backstreets towards the highway and the fireworks bounty that lies ahead. A quick on-ramp blitz reveals the 2.0-liter has plenty of power, provided you keep the revs up - things don't really get started in earnest until the tach needle sweeps past 2,500 rpm. The steering, which was accurate if a bit numb in the twisties, necessitates few corrections to keep the car in line on the interstate.
When I finally make it over the Granite State border and into the store, I'm greeted by a scene of patriotic pandemonium. People of all shapes, sizes and tattoo designs are filling shopping carts to the brim with absurdly named explosives like "Annihilator Big Daddy," "Fear in My Enemies' Eyes" and "Ninjas of the Night." After weighing my options, I settle on a promisingly-large and brightly colored set called "This is Americ" and head to the register. There's a buy one, get one free special today? Hell, give me "Uncle Abe's Grand Finale."
I load my spoils into the trunk, crank up The Dead's U.S. Blues and get ready to wind the Golf R out on the way to home.
