GOLF GTI or R32?
Discussion
They are both very good cars, it really depends what you are looking for as the character of both cars is so different.
If you can handle the poor fuel economy and the increasing tax then the R32 is the one to go for. The V6 sounds great and the 4WD gives it good grip although that V6 upfront makes it understeer quite a bit. Be aware it's a very heavy car so there is not as much performance difference to the GTI. Also, being NA it's very expensive to tune if you want to go down that route.
I have a R32 at the moment but I think under the current climate the Edition 30 GTI is the one to go for.
If you can handle the poor fuel economy and the increasing tax then the R32 is the one to go for. The V6 sounds great and the 4WD gives it good grip although that V6 upfront makes it understeer quite a bit. Be aware it's a very heavy car so there is not as much performance difference to the GTI. Also, being NA it's very expensive to tune if you want to go down that route.
I have a R32 at the moment but I think under the current climate the Edition 30 GTI is the one to go for.
Think there was a similar thread a little while ago...have been lucky enough to have lived with an R32 and GTi Edition 30 at different times over the last year.
R32: lovely creamy engine, great noise, rarity value, different and distinctive. bit heavy-footed to drive (if you know what I mean) but v quick.
Was great fun for a while, but I'm not sure I'd want to own one on an on-going basis. Glad it wasn't me having to pay for the fuel!
GTi Ed 30: nearly as quick, much more nimble, just the right amount of kit and equipment to feel special. I liked the body colour bodykit (mine was in Tornado Red) and smoked 18" multi-spoke alloys. Seriously miss it now its gone and would love another.
Can't comment on the standard GTi.
If it were my money I'd have an Ed 30 in Tornado Red.
R32: lovely creamy engine, great noise, rarity value, different and distinctive. bit heavy-footed to drive (if you know what I mean) but v quick.
Was great fun for a while, but I'm not sure I'd want to own one on an on-going basis. Glad it wasn't me having to pay for the fuel!
GTi Ed 30: nearly as quick, much more nimble, just the right amount of kit and equipment to feel special. I liked the body colour bodykit (mine was in Tornado Red) and smoked 18" multi-spoke alloys. Seriously miss it now its gone and would love another.
Can't comment on the standard GTi.
If it were my money I'd have an Ed 30 in Tornado Red.
Having owned both a MKV GTI and R32, I am in agood position to help.
My GTI was REVO'd with filter and exhaust, was very fast and coped with 250BHP nicely, just had to be progressive with the throttle - Only trouble was it got stolen!!!
I replaced it with a R32, and stuck a Milltek on it and BMC filter - Great car, fantastic soundtrack, awesome grip, but absolutely awful on fuel, even with a light foot. With the ongoing concern with the highest tax band, and the fact the the R32's seemto be dropping like a stone at the moment, I think the GTI would be the way to go.
I loved everything about the GTI, the lightness the chuckability, and when necessary - decent fuel economy, however after owning the R32 I really got used to the 4WD - So in an ideal world I would want a GTI with 4WD - hence why I have an S3 on order - The best of both worlds
Good luck with your decsion
My GTI was REVO'd with filter and exhaust, was very fast and coped with 250BHP nicely, just had to be progressive with the throttle - Only trouble was it got stolen!!!
I replaced it with a R32, and stuck a Milltek on it and BMC filter - Great car, fantastic soundtrack, awesome grip, but absolutely awful on fuel, even with a light foot. With the ongoing concern with the highest tax band, and the fact the the R32's seemto be dropping like a stone at the moment, I think the GTI would be the way to go.
I loved everything about the GTI, the lightness the chuckability, and when necessary - decent fuel economy, however after owning the R32 I really got used to the 4WD - So in an ideal world I would want a GTI with 4WD - hence why I have an S3 on order - The best of both worlds
Good luck with your decsion
ED 30 sounds like a good compromise to me.
GTI - nippy, better looking than the MK5 R32 & a better daily drive around town. 200 bhp mated to a good traction control (ESP) and front wheel drive is a good combination.
R32 - bruiser & cruiser. Sounds the puppy's plums but thirsty as well. Sure footed AWD. At its best well in excess of the speed limit, I'm reliably informed.
ED 30 - very nippy with nice alloys & a retro interior. Bit of a beast if provoked.
Is this car going to be a gift or does she get to choose? If so, I'd get her a test drive in all 3 & maybe the A3 2.0 TFSI too. I'd bet she would choose the A3 turbo...
GTI - nippy, better looking than the MK5 R32 & a better daily drive around town. 200 bhp mated to a good traction control (ESP) and front wheel drive is a good combination.
R32 - bruiser & cruiser. Sounds the puppy's plums but thirsty as well. Sure footed AWD. At its best well in excess of the speed limit, I'm reliably informed.
ED 30 - very nippy with nice alloys & a retro interior. Bit of a beast if provoked.
Is this car going to be a gift or does she get to choose? If so, I'd get her a test drive in all 3 & maybe the A3 2.0 TFSI too. I'd bet she would choose the A3 turbo...
Both cars have different characters,despite looking quite similar.The GTI is good fun,almost kart like to drive,whereas the R32 is very surefooted,powerful without thrashing the nuts off it,and makes a great sound.
I would say try both and see which you like better.We have owned a mk5 R32 for nearly 2 years now(my partner drives it most of the time),and still love it as much as the day we picked it up.In fact my partner likes it so much there is no other car at any price she would swap it for!
I would say try both and see which you like better.We have owned a mk5 R32 for nearly 2 years now(my partner drives it most of the time),and still love it as much as the day we picked it up.In fact my partner likes it so much there is no other car at any price she would swap it for!
Rob S said:
GTI... R32 looks like a dog and the price difference doesnt justify IMO!
Driven both - GTi feels faster (due to nature of turbo). For me it came down to sound - so I bought an R32.If sound is not important, buy her the GTi - it is a very capable car.
With regards to fuel economy, yes the R32 is thirsty - but lookoing at the current thread on GTi MPG, the GTi isn't as good as I thought it would be.
brisel said:
R32 - bruiser & cruiser. Sounds the puppy's plums but thirsty as well. Sure footed AWD. At its best well in excess of the speed limit, I'm reliably informed.
Not actually driven an R32 but I have an A3 3.2 which is a similar beast under the skin and the above is definitely true, a very capable high speed cruiser.
TeaVR said:
Rob S said:
GTI... R32 looks like a dog and the price difference doesnt justify IMO!
Driven both - GTi feels faster (due to nature of turbo). For me it came down to sound - so I bought an R32.If sound is not important, buy her the GTi - it is a very capable car.
With regards to fuel economy, yes the R32 is thirsty - but lookoing at the current thread on GTi MPG, the GTi isn't as good as I thought it would be.
Agreed, R32 sounds the dogs. However the looks are subjective (I dislike the bling), and 4WD isn't THAT useful 95% of the time (especially if its the MRS' daily drive and she's not a racing driver). Oh, and road tax might get painful in the next few years for all but the earliest MKV R32s.
Targarama said:
TeaVR said:
Rob S said:
GTI... R32 looks like a dog and the price difference doesnt justify IMO!
Driven both - GTi feels faster (due to nature of turbo). For me it came down to sound - so I bought an R32.If sound is not important, buy her the GTi - it is a very capable car.
With regards to fuel economy, yes the R32 is thirsty - but lookoing at the current thread on GTi MPG, the GTi isn't as good as I thought it would be.
Agreed, R32 sounds the dogs. However the looks are subjective (I dislike the bling), and 4WD isn't THAT useful 95% of the time (especially if its the MRS' daily drive and she's not a racing driver). Oh, and road tax might get painful in the next few years for all but the earliest MKV R32s.
Targarama said:
TeaVR said:
Rob S said:
GTI... R32 looks like a dog and the price difference doesnt justify IMO!
Driven both - GTi feels faster (due to nature of turbo). For me it came down to sound - so I bought an R32.If sound is not important, buy her the GTi - it is a very capable car.
With regards to fuel economy, yes the R32 is thirsty - but lookoing at the current thread on GTi MPG, the GTi isn't as good as I thought it would be.
Agreed, R32 sounds the dogs. However the looks are subjective (I dislike the bling), and 4WD isn't THAT useful 95% of the time (especially if its the MRS' daily drive and she's not a racing driver). Oh, and road tax might get painful in the next few years for all but the earliest MKV R32s.
Secondly not only is the 4WD not that useful... its not even really 4WD is it... the system only kicks in when it detects a loss of traction so its FWD for 95% of the time really
Targarama said:
TeaVR said:
Rob S said:
GTI... R32 looks like a dog and the price difference doesnt justify IMO!
Driven both - GTi feels faster (due to nature of turbo). For me it came down to sound - so I bought an R32.If sound is not important, buy her the GTi - it is a very capable car.
With regards to fuel economy, yes the R32 is thirsty - but lookoing at the current thread on GTi MPG, the GTi isn't as good as I thought it would be.
Agreed, R32 sounds the dogs. However the looks are subjective (I dislike the bling), and 4WD isn't THAT useful 95% of the time (especially if its the MRS' daily drive and she's not a racing driver). Oh, and road tax might get painful in the next few years for all but the earliest MKV R32s.
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