RE: Tell Me I'm Wrong: VW Golf R32 (Mk4)
Discussion
TORQ said:
That my friend is very interesting. Good stats.
Just looked at the full list here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj59/features/...Some interesting ones:
Golf R32 1:30.4
Vauxhall VXR8 1:31.3
BMW M3 1:31.8
BMW 535d 1:31.8
Nissan 350Z 1:31.8
BMW 130 1:31.9
FRS Mk1 1:32.2
Honda Civic Type-R 1:33.5
Ford Focus ST 1:34.9
Not so bad for an overweight dullsmobile
DanDC5 said:
Nothing to do with cars depresses me more than this sentence. It seems to be the default comparison compared to every other hot hatch and is hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread when really it's a dull characterless engine that's no more tunable than any other turbo lump and the 'bargain big power' certainly isn't as easy to get as people think.
Agreed. Remapping a 1.8T doesn't change the fact the tiny little turbo runs out of puff at 5000rpm. The 20V head was also waste of development costs as Yamaha were able to get more flow from the 16V head it designed for the 2.0 TSI engine, which is the engine to have if remapping floats one's boat. That genuinely is a great engine.I tried the MK4 and thought is was a nice car but a cruiser. Certainly not a bad thing and with the engine it felt much more grown up and was very well screwed together. Handling was pretty good once you got used to it but to compare it or the MK5 to a GTI is missing the point. I have a MKV R32 at the moment and have nothing but praise for it.
So you're not wrong, but you're not right either.
So you're not wrong, but you're not right either.
dele said:
All I see in this thread are people trying to justify why they bought an R32 to themselves
Totally agree, their pride is so easily dented and they get very defensive, see this thread for more great examples...http://www.r32oc.com/topic/23294-raced-a-renaultsp...
jamesghwilson said:
After recently joining twitter, the first person I followed was you Chris. The main reason being I agree with you. Not that I have driven a lot of the cars in question, unless I've had the opportunity, but mainly I rely on reviews. The VR6 now is a popular boy-racer machine, boasting a great sound and torque to match - but that's it. It's for shallow, superficial people who imo have no interest in driving as an entity.
The golf has always been too expensive, not particularly desirable and performance lacking from a 3.2 (intentionally limited?)
Given the other cars on offer for the same price and driving experience, no way. Wasn't the Escort Cosworth a similar price when it came out? Not as discreet/elegant, but a damn sight more fun.
Your assumption about the type of owner is laughable. Do you really believe that people who buy a relatively low volume, top of the range models are non car enthusiasts and if that really is the case that is different to any other top of the range car from any manufacturer?.The golf has always been too expensive, not particularly desirable and performance lacking from a 3.2 (intentionally limited?)
Given the other cars on offer for the same price and driving experience, no way. Wasn't the Escort Cosworth a similar price when it came out? Not as discreet/elegant, but a damn sight more fun.
Do you have similar views for all M3/M5/RS4/6 etc owners to?
For what it's worth the Golf VR6 was £5k cheaper than a basic Cosworth in 1992 but you may or not be aware that a Corrado 2.9 VR6 has quicker in gear acceleration than a cosworth and was cheaper.
aka_kerrly said:
The MK5 R32 managed a 01:30.4 around TG track which puts it faster than a VX220 Turbo and only 0.3s slower than a Monaro VXR which according to PH and my own experience is a rapid motor!
Possibly a slightly anomalous result there;http://www.fastestlaps.com/comparisons/vw_golf_mk_...
Darren61 said:
dele said:
All I see in this thread are people trying to justify why they bought an R32 to themselves
Totally agree, their pride is so easily dented and they get very defensive, see this thread for more great examples...http://www.r32oc.com/topic/23294-raced-a-renaultsp...
aka_kerrly said:
Note in terms of speed the mk4 R32 managed a 1:33.3 around the Top Gear track, faster than FN2 Civic Type R, A Megane 225, Alfa 147 GTV
A variety of wether conditions makes this pointless adding to the fact -R32 - 4WD/250BHP
FN2 Civic - FWD/197BHP
Megane 225 - FWD/222BHP (No LSD/Cup Chassis)
147 GTA - FWD/250BHP
Poor comparison mate.
DanDC5 said:
Nothing to do with cars depresses me more than this sentence. It seems to be the default comparison compared to every other hot hatch and is hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread when really it's a dull characterless engine that's no more tunable than any other turbo lump and the 'bargain big power' certainly isn't as easy to get as people think.
Really? Dull? you cant of driven one.. the 18T was used widely across the VAG range cant be all that bad or they wouldnt of sold millions of them... 150BP to 200+Bhp (Golf dependant on charger AUM/AUQ) 225bhp to 265Bhp on TT/S3 for £300-ish seem pretty good value... BAM & AGU variants with forged internals, larger gudgeon Pins would go 300+ on standard internals... power was/is pretty easy to gain....Monkey...its a f
king Golf. It isnt desirable in any way shape or form to anybody.
Its for repressed and oppressed dads doing a semi dull middle wage middle income middle England pissant job, wishing they were still single, wishing the wife would work and wishing their daughter would stop yakking about her fking horse.
Frankly son...yer better than this. Now knock it off and talk about decent cars. Dull ppl and their dull cars take up enough time and resource in the world, you dont need to indulge them.
king Golf. It isnt desirable in any way shape or form to anybody.Its for repressed and oppressed dads doing a semi dull middle wage middle income middle England pissant job, wishing they were still single, wishing the wife would work and wishing their daughter would stop yakking about her f
king horse.Frankly son...yer better than this. Now knock it off and talk about decent cars. Dull ppl and their dull cars take up enough time and resource in the world, you dont need to indulge them.
Character Chris. That intangible quality that means all ills are forgiven. It's the reason I prefer the S2000 to the Boxster of the same vintage, the reason why the Twizy is completely brilliant even though it's totally sh*t, and it's the reason why when I'd never ever ever ever ever even dream of buying any four-cylinder Mk4 or Mk5 Golf, I look at the R32s and know that someday if the deal was right I'd buy one.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
The OP at least didn't come across as defensive or ego bashed. I even detect a hint of respect that the Renault was able to keep pace
I agree, just read through some of the posts and you'd think that the R32 is the best car in the world, in every respect, and nothing else can match itThe R32 golf simply embody everything that I find disappointing about Golfs. I've always found the steering worryingly flat and uninformative, power that spoke louder on forums than cared to deliver in person and interiors that were tiresome and reminded me of well-loved tractors.
I accept that it's nice to have a family car with a little poke and something that's put together better than a bic made in Dagenham, but it's a shame they remind me just how bland things can be.
Still, quite nice to look at and they make quite a sexy noise when they can breathe.
I accept that it's nice to have a family car with a little poke and something that's put together better than a bic made in Dagenham, but it's a shame they remind me just how bland things can be.
Still, quite nice to look at and they make quite a sexy noise when they can breathe.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Agreed. Remapping a 1.8T doesn't change the fact the tiny little turbo runs out of puff at 5000rpm. The 20V head was also waste of development costs as Yamaha were able to get more flow from the 16V head it designed for the 2.0 TSI engine, which is the engine to have if remapping floats one's boat. That genuinely is a great engine.
Really? you know jack then.... frist thing you do on a re-map is remove the low rev limiter... they came with VVT... head flow will make virtually naff all difference on a forced induction motor... maybe help temps. the TSFI replaced the 18T for emission reasons.R32 wasted 90+hp through the drive-train, loads of torque on paper and felt like a wet handshake to drive...
Edited by Geeba on Tuesday 30th October 16:50
Edited by Geeba on Tuesday 30th October 16:52
Darren61 said:
SuperchargedVR6 said:
The OP at least didn't come across as defensive or ego bashed. I even detect a hint of respect that the Renault was able to keep pace
I agree, just read through some of the posts and you'd think that the R32 is the best car in the world, in every respect, and nothing else can match itI do find VW forums in general can be a bit rose tinted. Apart from the Corrado and the R32 engine (for it's design and sound), I have no alliegence or particular fondness of the brand.
Sir_Dave said:
TORQ said:
That my friend is very interesting. Good stats.
Just looked at the full list here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mj59/features/...Some interesting ones:
Golf R32 1:30.4
Vauxhall VXR8 1:31.3
BMW M3 1:31.8
BMW 535d 1:31.8
Nissan 350Z 1:31.8
BMW 130 1:31.9
FRS Mk1 1:32.2
Honda Civic Type-R 1:33.5
Ford Focus ST 1:34.9
Not so bad for an overweight dullsmobile
2. Drivers?
3. Tyres?
The Top Gear test track times are not a realistic benchmark. Plus, since when did efficiency and fun mean the same thing? Not that I'm saying an R35 is boring, but an M3 would be more fun around a track, equally as desirable and approximately the same value. At the end of the day, an R32 is still a Golf (Not to disrespect the original MK1 & MK2 GTI's), but the M3 is more than a 3 series.
Geeba said:
DanDC5 said:
Nothing to do with cars depresses me more than this sentence. It seems to be the default comparison compared to every other hot hatch and is hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread when really it's a dull characterless engine that's no more tunable than any other turbo lump and the 'bargain big power' certainly isn't as easy to get as people think.
Really? Dull? you cant of driven one.. the 18T was used widely across the VAG range cant be all that bad or they wouldnt of sold millions of them... 150BP to 200+Bhp (Golf dependant on charger AUM/AUQ) 225bhp to 265Bhp on TT/S3 for £300-ish seem pretty good value... BAM & AGU variants with forged internals, larger gudgeon Pins would go 300+ on standard internals... power was/is pretty easy to gain....Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff