Magnum's Mk5 Golf R32

[T S Magnum]

[thread screwed by Photobucket. I have replaced some of the pics.]

Owned since August 2013, replacing a much loved but too slow Merc 190E.

I've always had a thing for Golfs - my mum had a Mk1 until it burnt to the ground(!), my first car was a Mk2 1.6 and my wife had a Mk5 diesel. Due to preceding black cars / bike it is known as 'Black Thunder 4'. Originally, I didn't want another black car but couldn't resist this particular example in the end.

I like ticking-off car boxes and this is my first 4WD, first >4 cylinders and first 'flappy paddle'. I am very impressed with the DSG, smooth motor and traction.







It's the 4th more practical stablemate my supercharged Eunos has had.



Bits the previous owner did:

'Awesome GTi' remap
Induction kit (more for sound I think)
Milltek cat-back exhaust (sound and looks)
H&R springs
Window tints
Full satnav/DVD media from the Mk6 Golf

Bits I have done:

Removed silly wheel spacers and tacky German style number plates
P Zeros all round
Aux lead in the glove box (media software would not accept a proper iPod connection after many attempts )
Replaced a dead radiator fan (common problem)
Pro detailed to start with and plenty of OCD cleaning and waxing since then
Improved the rusty wheel hubs with black caliper paint
Bilstein B8 shocks (see below)
OEM cruise control retro-fit (see below)

Other than the fan issue it's never let me down. It's a very capable and practical car but also has character. Sounds great and looks fairly subtle. I like that you don't see many of them about, unlike the GTi.

Main drawbacks are the fuel and tax but at least these keep them out of the hands of scrotes Also, like my Clio 182, it does seem to draw the unwanted attentions of boy racers and rep-mobile drivers with inadequacy issues.

Edited by T S Magnum on Tuesday 6th February 13:00

[irfan1712]

looks like a cracker and has some subtle mods on it.

Ive contemplated some sort of air filter/induction kit for my MK5 R, how does your sound? do you know what one it is?

I bet it sounds cracking with the Milltek aswell! and i also have to agree on the amount of boy racers and rep mobiles clinching on the rear bumper all the time..gets tiresome (and costly) shoeing them away! haha.

any other plans for the car? Get yourself over to the R32OC aswell

[T S Magnum]

Thanks.

The car sounds great but I've never been in another one so not sure of how it is improved (or not) by the mods. It was the previous owner's 2nd R32 and he said he did the same mods to both; more money than sense maybe but I assume the benefits are noticeable.

Pretty sure it is this Neuspeed job.

Plans beyond the above will depend on the next car strategy. I'll maybe keep tinkering but I now have another prey in my sights

[jc84]

Very nice. I think you guys might be mistaking the reps hanging off your bumpers for boy racers when they are more likely trying to keep up to hear that wonderful engine note

[eskidavies]

Picked a black 3 door up today dsg and all that ,after 7 hours ownership can't wait to go for a blat tommorow ,still getting to grips with the few ways of changing gear,excellent fun fair play.windows down foot down music ,

[T S Magnum]

Congrats. You make a good point about the shifting methods - it bugs me that the stick seems to be the wrong way (forwards for up). Have fun and keep it on the black stuff

[eskidavies]

Yeah I almost fked up today ,showing my brother backed of for a bit then threw the stick across 2nd ,3rd ,4th ,out passing a car flat out then pulled it back down ,quickly threw it it up two then ,I'll get the hang of it soon

[T S Magnum]

Last week I visited the good people at Awesome GTi. It was a hassle free morning for the Bilstein dampers and OEM cruise stalk to be fitted. They even washed the car.







The drive back via the Hartside Pass was fantastic. The dampers give a much more controlled, measured, classier ride. Very impressed and well worth the cost.

Edited by T S Magnum on Wednesday 24th September 15:57

[T S Magnum]

Excellent road trip completed:

Newcastle - Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Calais - Guildford - Stroud - Newcastle

756 miles at 27.2MPG. The Golf was a great device for the job, very capable when munching motorway miles and a lot of fun round the Cotswold lanes. The Newcastle ferry is good fun too.

Edited by T S Magnum on Sunday 1st March 08:52

[T S Magnum]

We are midway through another great trip. Staying in a health spa hotel in Daun it would be rude not to visit this place:

(still closed for the winter but behind-the-scenes tour was excellent)

Edited by T S Magnum on Friday 8th May 17:59

[T S Magnum]

Another faultless and very entertaining trip completed. 600 miles at 25.5 MPG.

A fantastic car in snowy or wet conditions.

[T S Magnum]

Busy period for the Golf. Partial respray to get it looking top notch then sadly off to temporary storage to make way for an exciting new arrival. Can't bring myself to sell it but common sense will probably win in the end!

Some amazing machines in the storage barn, fascinating place.

[Butter Face]

Great looking car, why are you putting it in storage?? I really fancy one of these for a family car/fun machine. Need to find one I can afford though!!

[Midshipracer]

Out of interest, how much is storage per week or month?

[T S Magnum]

Thanks Butterface it is great! PM me what you can afford!

In storage because I just collected my 335d and have the summer toy filling the garage already.

Storage is £72 per month.

[Midshipracer]

Please pm me where I can store my car like this. Price is right

[mikeyscott]

Looking at getting B8 dampers and h&r springs for mine, much better than OEM then?

What model H&R springs or only one type.

I'm doing a few things before leaping to an Audi S4 avant B8 I hope

[T S Magnum]

Sorry, bit delayed!

Always had H&R springs so not sure what fully standard is like. Def better to do springs and dampers of course. Felt wrong when only springs done. Pogoing all over the shop.

[C7 JFW]

This is interesting to see. I think the last Golf to have the 6 cylinder engines will become rather sought-after. I've never been sold on the amount of chrome on the front grille nor the wheels, but there's no denying it's quite a good all-rounder and it makes some terrific noises.

[T S Magnum]

The wheels are a bugger to clean but look good when finished.