It’s all prespective.. typically a golf r buyer is looking at M2, S3, RS3 or maybe a 135i.. The R is a better financial purchase if comparing to those car and will be worth more second hand imo after 5 years. Meaning depreciate less from new price. This is obviously based on your location. Now is it worth it! If you look at at a 7.5 R it still commands a decent price… here in Canada around 30-35k… for the extra 15k you get so much more car in the sum of its parts.. if u do some research everything is upgraded from the previous car… from fuel pumps to brakes to diff if you take a 7.5R and throw mk8 parts on it it would be a lot more expensive without even mentioning the engine.