Discussion
i recommend a Milltek now Bas. I fitted my Non res before Christmas and its opened that V6 howl up so much more!
The drone however, at certain revs, makes me want to rip it off and sling it over a wall. Generally a love hate relationship at the moment, but worth putting up with I think!
Any other plans? My plugs will be due on my next service as ive just hit 60k on mine.
The drone however, at certain revs, makes me want to rip it off and sling it over a wall. Generally a love hate relationship at the moment, but worth putting up with I think!
Any other plans? My plugs will be due on my next service as ive just hit 60k on mine.
If you're looking to get a bit more sound out without breaking the bank or ruining the standard look, the resonator mod popularised in the U.S. is well worth doing. I had zero exhausts in Kent do mine--he replaced the resonator with a 7inch long, 4.5inch dia custom resonator. It has a lot more growl to it, but because of the valve (open as standard in first and second gear, then open in 3rd-6th over 3500rpm), it's nice and quiet to use when you're not on it. The drone at 70mph is a little louder, but driving at either 65mph or 75mph is nice and quiet. I'm in ashford, Kent if you ever want to hear it.
Month 11... and a bit
I've been getting itchy feet the last couple of weeks...
Inevitably - for me - I'm feeling the urge to move on and to replace the R32. I can't put it down to logic: I still love the car; there are no bills forthcoming; and the car is in as good as condition as it's going to be during my ownership.
In fact, the idea defies logic - given how much effort and cost I've put into making it mint! But the fact is that I've never kept any car for more than 22 months.
Whatever happens, I know that I can't truly replace the R32. It's hard to convey why it's such a great steer on internet forums, where quantification and stats count for so much...and yet to truly "get" the R32 experience, you have to evaluate it through the subjective.
Yes, I can find plenty of cars that have just as much peak torque and better economy - but none of the modern turbo'd lumps will pull so seamlessly at 1,000rpm like a 3.2 V6 does. And then there's the noise...
So - the brief for a replacement has to be different. Still compact in size - but this time more comfortable, reasonably (but perhaps less) quick and with more of a family emphasis. Perhaps its time for something that in the words of Autocar "bleeds an idiosyncratic blue and yellow personality, canters to a five-pot baseline and is a safe as the Riskbanken".
I've had some great quotes on brand new and lightly used cars, which I'll be thinking about over the next few days.
I've been getting itchy feet the last couple of weeks...
Inevitably - for me - I'm feeling the urge to move on and to replace the R32. I can't put it down to logic: I still love the car; there are no bills forthcoming; and the car is in as good as condition as it's going to be during my ownership.
In fact, the idea defies logic - given how much effort and cost I've put into making it mint! But the fact is that I've never kept any car for more than 22 months.
Whatever happens, I know that I can't truly replace the R32. It's hard to convey why it's such a great steer on internet forums, where quantification and stats count for so much...and yet to truly "get" the R32 experience, you have to evaluate it through the subjective.
Yes, I can find plenty of cars that have just as much peak torque and better economy - but none of the modern turbo'd lumps will pull so seamlessly at 1,000rpm like a 3.2 V6 does. And then there's the noise...
So - the brief for a replacement has to be different. Still compact in size - but this time more comfortable, reasonably (but perhaps less) quick and with more of a family emphasis. Perhaps its time for something that in the words of Autocar "bleeds an idiosyncratic blue and yellow personality, canters to a five-pot baseline and is a safe as the Riskbanken".
I've had some great quotes on brand new and lightly used cars, which I'll be thinking about over the next few days.
Shame to read that mate. Im still in love with mine.
For me, amongst the pointers you've mentioned, its the rare factor I like too. I like the exclusivity of a sodding great big v6 shoe horned into a car that's really designed for a 2.0 Tdi lump to potter to the shops in.
Im not a fan myself, and have no idea on your budget, but a 135i could be a viable option if you want to stay with a hatch that has plenty of shove? the new 2.0 blown VAG units just don't do it for me.. although spending a weekend with a MK7 R definitely changed my perception of how stunningly quick they are. Pitty the mad deals have ended on financing one.
I have no doubt in my mind your going to miss your R32 dearly.. very few cars have such character and soul for the money! I think you need a cup of tea, a few digestives, and a long think about what your about to do haha.
For me, amongst the pointers you've mentioned, its the rare factor I like too. I like the exclusivity of a sodding great big v6 shoe horned into a car that's really designed for a 2.0 Tdi lump to potter to the shops in.
Im not a fan myself, and have no idea on your budget, but a 135i could be a viable option if you want to stay with a hatch that has plenty of shove? the new 2.0 blown VAG units just don't do it for me.. although spending a weekend with a MK7 R definitely changed my perception of how stunningly quick they are. Pitty the mad deals have ended on financing one.
I have no doubt in my mind your going to miss your R32 dearly.. very few cars have such character and soul for the money! I think you need a cup of tea, a few digestives, and a long think about what your about to do haha.
I've decided not to make any rash decisions. 
My R32 is in a very tidy state and, as I said above, I have no rational reason to want to see it go.
What becomes more apparent as you look to replace an R32 is just how hard that task is. This is the last V6 Golf and, in the process of moving to turbo power, the newer variants have lost a whole heap of character.
I came very close to getting a Mk7 GTI and it's still the front runner, but there's no urgency.
The R32's exhaust note is somehow haunting; it's just unbelievable how this car works its way under your skin.
My R32 is in a very tidy state and, as I said above, I have no rational reason to want to see it go.
What becomes more apparent as you look to replace an R32 is just how hard that task is. This is the last V6 Golf and, in the process of moving to turbo power, the newer variants have lost a whole heap of character.
I came very close to getting a Mk7 GTI and it's still the front runner, but there's no urgency.
The R32's exhaust note is somehow haunting; it's just unbelievable how this car works its way under your skin.
Edited by Basil Hume on Friday 30th January 11:19
I've always fancied an R32 and yours looks great.
After reading your thread I can't help feeling that they are an expensive car though.
It is all relative, I have never spent more than £7k on a car myself. But, I currently own an S60 T5 that I just can't justify changing.
The Golf is probably more fun to drive, and I know the 6 pot sound is better than my 5 pot, but other than that? You have already spent more on yours in maintenance than I have mine in 3 years. The Volvo couldn't be any comfier, or any better as motorway mile eater. It does 36mpg on a run, has 310 horses to fend off any speed envy. And it is probably only worth £4k on trade in. Maybe I am caught in that trap, where a different car is too much expense to be able to justify. Maybe why so many owners of Swedish cars keep hold of them so long, the Germans are just so damn expensive.
Nice cars the R32 but I think I now recognise that maybe the grass isn't greener.
After reading your thread I can't help feeling that they are an expensive car though.
It is all relative, I have never spent more than £7k on a car myself. But, I currently own an S60 T5 that I just can't justify changing.
The Golf is probably more fun to drive, and I know the 6 pot sound is better than my 5 pot, but other than that? You have already spent more on yours in maintenance than I have mine in 3 years. The Volvo couldn't be any comfier, or any better as motorway mile eater. It does 36mpg on a run, has 310 horses to fend off any speed envy. And it is probably only worth £4k on trade in. Maybe I am caught in that trap, where a different car is too much expense to be able to justify. Maybe why so many owners of Swedish cars keep hold of them so long, the Germans are just so damn expensive.
Nice cars the R32 but I think I now recognise that maybe the grass isn't greener.
Having a 3.2 TT with the golf tee mod or whatever name ita going by now, I can fully appreciate the love.
Being a biker and thats where I get my thrill kicks, My TT was bought to be a swift, comfy cruiser and i didnt need mor want a Hatch. However its just so intoxicating to burble around. I certainly would not know how to replace it. Actually I do, Ive always said only a TTRS would replace it and I stand by that.
So in your shoes only a RS3 would do!!!
Actually i'd happily also change for a Clio V6 mmmm.
Anyway. Love the R32 :-)
Being a biker and thats where I get my thrill kicks, My TT was bought to be a swift, comfy cruiser and i didnt need mor want a Hatch. However its just so intoxicating to burble around. I certainly would not know how to replace it. Actually I do, Ive always said only a TTRS would replace it and I stand by that.
So in your shoes only a RS3 would do!!!
Actually i'd happily also change for a Clio V6 mmmm.
Anyway. Love the R32 :-)
RemyMartin said:
Having a 3.2 TT with the golf tee mod or whatever name ita going by now, I can fully appreciate the love.
Being a biker and thats where I get my thrill kicks, My TT was bought to be a swift, comfy cruiser and i didnt need mor want a Hatch. However its just so intoxicating to burble around. I certainly would not know how to replace it. Actually I do, Ive always said only a TTRS would replace it and I stand by that.
So in your shoes only a RS3 would do!!!
Actually i'd happily also change for a Clio V6 mmmm.
Anyway. Love the R32 :-)
That was the case for me. Wanted a similar ethos to the R32, but more punch. The RS3 was really the only thing out there. I wanted to avoid 4-pots at all costs.Being a biker and thats where I get my thrill kicks, My TT was bought to be a swift, comfy cruiser and i didnt need mor want a Hatch. However its just so intoxicating to burble around. I certainly would not know how to replace it. Actually I do, Ive always said only a TTRS would replace it and I stand by that.
So in your shoes only a RS3 would do!!!
Actually i'd happily also change for a Clio V6 mmmm.
Anyway. Love the R32 :-)
1 Year
Ok, it's a handful of days short of a year; but this is a marker enough.
I've spent some of this week (half term) with my children, doing a mix of long and short trips in the R32 - trips to the theatre, grandparents, the swimming pool etc. I love the fact that this car will melt into the background most of the time and just behave like a high-spec Golf should: easy to park, wipe-clean seats, auto wipers, sensible wing mirrors...
...and then I can drop the windows in a tunnel, blip the throttle on take-off, throw it around some roundabout - and then drop the windows in a tunnel again.
With a 1,500-mile family road trip to France coming up the summer, I have been thinking a lot lately about a more "practical" car. Let's face it: I'm driving what will be a near 7-year-old car with crap fuel economy, a compromised boot (4WD), no sat nav - and without the peace of mind given by the sort of new, warranted, breakdown-covered, sat-navigated car I'm used to in recent years.
If it didn't make such a nice noise and drive so well, the order for a Mk7 Golf GTI would be signed already.
As it is, I'm enjoying the character and lag-free urge so much that I'm finding it very hard to do so.
Ok, it's a handful of days short of a year; but this is a marker enough.
I've spent some of this week (half term) with my children, doing a mix of long and short trips in the R32 - trips to the theatre, grandparents, the swimming pool etc. I love the fact that this car will melt into the background most of the time and just behave like a high-spec Golf should: easy to park, wipe-clean seats, auto wipers, sensible wing mirrors...
...and then I can drop the windows in a tunnel, blip the throttle on take-off, throw it around some roundabout - and then drop the windows in a tunnel again.
With a 1,500-mile family road trip to France coming up the summer, I have been thinking a lot lately about a more "practical" car. Let's face it: I'm driving what will be a near 7-year-old car with crap fuel economy, a compromised boot (4WD), no sat nav - and without the peace of mind given by the sort of new, warranted, breakdown-covered, sat-navigated car I'm used to in recent years.
If it didn't make such a nice noise and drive so well, the order for a Mk7 Golf GTI would be signed already.
As it is, I'm enjoying the character and lag-free urge so much that I'm finding it very hard to do so.
Sir_Dave said:
The depreciation alone on a new Mk7 Golf would pay for a s
t load of fuel & potential repairs on this!!
I had that argument with myself when replacing my much loved Mk5 GTI with a Mk6 TDI. On running costs the advantage of something new is they are more or less fixed (particularly if it's a lease/ PCP), wheras with something older they can be completely unexpected and difficult to budget for. t load of fuel & potential repairs on this!!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff