"Volkswagen’s “driver profile selection” provides four drive modes (comfort, normal, sport, and race) that work on the throttle and transmission"
There's no sport mode, it's comfort, normal, race, and individual.
Another reason why some will choose the GTI over the R is the lack of sunroof option on the R and to a lesser extent maybe the unlocked center arm rest.
Not a fan of this car in red. It just seems too GTI to me. The Silver washes out the R accents (I guess good if you want the most "sleeper" appearance), and with the Black you lose the contrasting mirrors, rear trim pieces on back window, and the shark fin antenna on roof. So for me it's basically the two white options or the signature blue.
Personally I thought the extra cost over the GTI performance pack is well worth it, if only for the added HP and AWD. I like that it's a bit less boy racer looking than the GTI and I'm one of the few who like not having a sunroof.