RE: Tell Me I'm Wrong: VW Golf R32 (Mk4)
Discussion
J4CKO said:
I always thought the R32 was nice but it was a hot hatch for someone who had money and felt they should buy a VAG product but didnt really have much of a clue about cars, the kind that liked the image but did a lot of polishing but not an awful lot of hooning, interior immaculate as well, strategically place air freshener and a driver that favours Rugby Shirts.
Well, ive owned 2x106Gtis, a caged saxo vts, a 172 cup, 182 cup, 2x 182Trophy's, 4x330i's, Z3M, e46 M3, Golf Gti Ed30, and now the R32. Probably know more about hot hatches than is healthy and do not fit your stereotype in the slightest.My R32 is currently filthy dirty having not been washed since i bought it in July, with a boot full of clio parts, a trolley jack and half a toolkit. Image wise, its a silver golf, with a silver grille, & 5 doors, it blends in with pretty much everything else on the roads. Certainly doesnt shout bellend like an Audi A3 S-Line Tdi Special black crome bling edition does.
But it sounds nice, & is the type of car that appeals to a certain type of person, the type that should probably grow up & buy a 3 series, but still wants a hot hatch that doesnt make you look like a 'boy racer'. I like it because it does most things well, except tax. Just paid £253 for 6 months lol.
As a daily, i prefer it to my M3.
Robmarriott said:
The thing I don't understand is why they command such a huge premium over the 4motion?
I wouldn't call the slowmotion dangerous!, not fast by any means but definitely not a dangerous car.
You can buy a 4motion for upwards of £1500, a cheap R32 will cost you 3 times that.
I just don't get why?
Because they're quite different cars.I wouldn't call the slowmotion dangerous!, not fast by any means but definitely not a dangerous car.
You can buy a 4motion for upwards of £1500, a cheap R32 will cost you 3 times that.
I just don't get why?
The main one being the engine - the R32 is a 3.2, 4 Motion is a 2.8.
R32 comes with 18" wheels, bigger brakes, better spec interior, different suspension / ARB setup etc.
Most of what I wanted to say has been said already. Having had a myriad of Golfs in the family, past and present I concur with Chris. The V6, both FWD and 4WD isn't as great as lauded- but all tastes are personal, others love them. The best Golfs I've ever owned have been the least assuming, a 1.1 Mk1 and a White Mk2 8V GTI - or maybe I associate their perceived greatness with an certain era in my life.
Still hanker after a MK2 with a 1.8T.
Still hanker after a MK2 with a 1.8T.
I do like VR engined Golfs, but IMO the only cars the narrow angle V6 really work well in are the Corrado and the Passat. They also did a Sharan VR6, which I've not driven.
I would probably go as far as to say that the Corrado VR6 is the best FWD car of all time with more than 4 cylinders. It's such a shame that they could never get it to work as well with the MK3 Golf, though the German 'Syncro' 4wd versions are supposed to be an improvement.
I would probably go as far as to say that the Corrado VR6 is the best FWD car of all time with more than 4 cylinders. It's such a shame that they could never get it to work as well with the MK3 Golf, though the German 'Syncro' 4wd versions are supposed to be an improvement.
I'm not sure why some of you mention cars with uprated suspension. Most, if not all cars will handle better with decent coilovers.
For a 3 litre v6 i would've expected it to be faster.
However like many cars, they require a different driving style. The mk4 golf was always a bit boatish, so required a smoother style compared with other hatches where you can really rag them and not just get understeer.
You get the same result(speed form a to b) but having a car which rewards being taken by the scruff of the neck is more fun imo.
For a 3 litre v6 i would've expected it to be faster.
However like many cars, they require a different driving style. The mk4 golf was always a bit boatish, so required a smoother style compared with other hatches where you can really rag them and not just get understeer.
You get the same result(speed form a to b) but having a car which rewards being taken by the scruff of the neck is more fun imo.
StottyZr said:
dele said:
All I see in this thread are people trying to justify why they bought an R32 to themselves
Its not very difficult to justify. Its a hatchback with a naturally aspirated 3.2 litre V6 and four wheel drive, it looks and sounds fantastic.I spent a very enjoyable weekend ragging a colleague's Golf VR6 around West London (particularly memorable were the Westway flyovers and tunnels near Paddington) and then placed an order (this was back in the glorious days when you weren't forced to buy a diesel, a Pious or something electric on the company car list).
Then in quick succession I met a German colleague who was horrified by them, a go karting colleague who worshipped 200SX's and was given a payrise and another £50 pcm to spend. The VR6 order was cancelled in favour of an S14.
A mate of mine ended up buying a Corrado VR6 (to compete with my new 200 bhp 145mph bragging rights) and, although he liked the sound and grunt, thought the handling wasn't a patch on the earlier 1.8 he'd owned.
Then in quick succession I met a German colleague who was horrified by them, a go karting colleague who worshipped 200SX's and was given a payrise and another £50 pcm to spend. The VR6 order was cancelled in favour of an S14.
A mate of mine ended up buying a Corrado VR6 (to compete with my new 200 bhp 145mph bragging rights) and, although he liked the sound and grunt, thought the handling wasn't a patch on the earlier 1.8 he'd owned.
dele said:
heavy and not particularly quick
As i found with the e46 M3 though, whats the point in having a awesome fast, nice sounding car, when you dont get to drive it like it was intended half the time 
The fact that the R32 is slower than the M3 (& yet still sounds nice) is why i like it lol.I had a mk5 R32.
Great car. Really nice interior (for the money, and with Recaro seats).
Was quick enough as a daily driver.
BUT..........
It was a bit boring to drive.
I had mine for 3 years. The 'problem' I had with the car was that it was too refined. You could do 50 in it, and it would feel like you were doing 30. It was such a composed drive, that it kind of took the fun out of it for me.
I swapped the R32 for a Clio V6 2 years ago in December (was snowing the day I did the trade
). And whilst not practical, or possibly as quick on your average UK drive (given the weather we usually get here) it is a hell of a lot more fun to drive.
I think the R32 is a great car to have as a daily, but as Chris was eluding too...I think the GTI offers a 'purer' driving experience if that is what your main priority is.
Great car. Really nice interior (for the money, and with Recaro seats).
Was quick enough as a daily driver.
BUT..........
It was a bit boring to drive.
I had mine for 3 years. The 'problem' I had with the car was that it was too refined. You could do 50 in it, and it would feel like you were doing 30. It was such a composed drive, that it kind of took the fun out of it for me.
I swapped the R32 for a Clio V6 2 years ago in December (was snowing the day I did the trade
). And whilst not practical, or possibly as quick on your average UK drive (given the weather we usually get here) it is a hell of a lot more fun to drive.I think the R32 is a great car to have as a daily, but as Chris was eluding too...I think the GTI offers a 'purer' driving experience if that is what your main priority is.
WreckedGecko said:
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Lowtimer said:
The Corrado VR6 was a lovely thing with just FWD, after all, and could probably have handled the more powerful engine of the R32.
Having done such a conversion myself, I can tell you it can 
Its awesome fun.
Even without 2nd gear...
A lot of people on this forum hold VAG in contempt, but what I like about them is their insessant platform sharing means all manner of tasty modern motors can be slotted into older cars
Corrado TDI anyone? lolAs an owner of a MK5 R32 I may be biased but here's my view. The mk4 is slower, etc but still sounds ace. Iv never driven one so cannot comment further really. My Mk5 seems to get up to 70mph stupidally quick and effortlessly, 5.8 to 60 is quick, even tho some say the mk5 is slow... However yes it is heavy and I don't feel as involved in cornering as I was with my R53 cooper S. it's more of a GT than a b road riot. However the noise is IMO superb. The kit you get is great and it's a golf so it's built like a tank. I too looked at a GTi ed 30 which is probably a better all rounder but I went with my heart over head, the noise and way it goes sealed it.
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