Buying help needed please (MK5 R32)

[MK Ultra]

Hi,

I've now sold the GTI and am looking to buy R32. Just thought I'd post to see if there's anything I should look out for? I've borrowed one previously from a friend and loved it.

Are there any common faults/weak points? Anything in particular I should be checking on the test drive/visit? Does the engine suffer from any well known faults/failures? Any big differences in service intervals between the GTI and R32?

The other question is the 4wheel drive. How do you service the Haldex? What parts are needed and how often are you supposed service it?

The other thing that is doing my nut in is the spec.

The must have list;
5door DSG
FSH/Good Condition/HPI Clear
Heated leather
Xenon's
Blue

The really would like list;
Sat Nav
2007 or above model.

What also be a realistic price for one? Had a look through classifieds and there's a few 06-07 on there priced around 10-11k. Is this the right price or would you think there's space to negotiate? Also do you think an R32 will hold it's value well?

Thanks.

[Theoldfm]

Watching with interest..

[Flying machine]

Brilliant cars, if I only had one of the three cars that I drive it would be that one. Does everything well and with little drama, except the wonderful exhaust note. Haldex (i think) oil for 4wd needs changing at 40k. Mine is an early 09 3 door dsg in blue and other than high tax and a bit thirsty I would struggle to pick fault with it. As to residuals, who knows - tbh I'm not too fussed. I'm sure you could get a good one for 11k though

[ensignia]

MK Ultra said:

Hi,

I've now sold the GTI and am looking to buy R32. Just thought I'd post to see if there's anything I should look out for? I've borrowed one previously from a friend and loved it.

Are there any common faults/weak points? Anything in particular I should be checking on the test drive/visit? Does the engine suffer from any well known faults/failures? Any big differences in service intervals between the GTI and R32?

The other question is the 4wheel drive. How do you service the Haldex? What parts are needed and how often are you supposed service it?

The other thing that is doing my nut in is the spec.

The must have list;
5door DSG
FSH/Good Condition/HPI Clear
Heated leather
Xenon's
Blue

The really would like list;
Sat Nav
2007 or above model.

What also be a realistic price for one? Had a look through classifieds and there's a few 06-07 on there priced around 10-11k. Is this the right price or would you think there's space to negotiate? Also do you think an R32 will hold it's value well?

Thanks.

The 3.2 engine is generally very strong, and unless it's been ran low on oil or hammered when cold, it will be bulletproof. Haldex needs to be serviced every 40k I think, it's just an oil and filter change as far as I'm aware.

5 doors aren't as popular as 3 doors so are slightly cheaper and the DSG box was fairly common, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one. Deep Blue Pearl was also popular so finding a combination of all 3 should be straightforward enough.

They all have xenons (bi-xenons no less) and heated seats, and virtually all have leathers (cloth was a no cost option IIRC). Price wise 10k will get you a good one with reasonable miles. A cursory glance on Autotrader came up with a 56 plate on 73k for £8,695, 07 on 84k for £8,900 and 56 on 35k for £9,950

[Dave Hedgehog]

earlier fan controllers blew the ECU (i had 2 sets lol) but they should all be fixed now

there pretty bullet proof but suffer from the Achilles heal of all VAGs - coil packs, you can normally spot they are going as they feel down on power and a bit rough (should be silky smooth), and there not expensive.

i got 20mpg and 20k miles from a set of front discs and pads

put 50k miles on mine, still adore it today, the engine has so much soul

Do not drive them like a FWD car, drive them like a scooby, slow in, trailing throttle, stamp on the loud pedal on the apex and BOOOOM here she goes, great fun

[SBN]

I'm debating a move from bmw rwd so I can get newer car for a lot less that buying another bmw and the r32 and gti are inconsideration

I drove a dsg vrs octavia yesterday and even in the dry when you stamp on it the wheels do spin a lot! So would a r32 have a more planted feel?

[Dave Hedgehog]

SBN said:

I'm debating a move from bmw rwd so I can get newer car for a lot less that buying another bmw and the r32 and gti are inconsideration

I drove a dsg vrs octavia yesterday and even in the dry when you stamp on it the wheels do spin a lot! So would a r32 have a more planted feel?

very hard to spin the wheels in an R32 unless your going really mental in the wet, i drove mine every day in the worst of the snow we had in 2010 on performance tyres, even had to use the front bumper as a snow plow

there are haldex mods as well that will push power permanently to the rear for a more RWD car feel

[the stigs dad]

Great cars, personally I prefer the mk4 r32 with a 6 speed manual 'box. The haldex needs an oil change at 20k and oil and filter at 40k on the mk4: the mk5 is just oil and filter every 40k. A must have mod is a haldex performance controller which improves the drive massively by sending more power to the rear and reacting faster than standard.

Dsg oil needs changing every 40k too.

With a remap, milltek and induction kit these are awesome cars. I'd also recommend a unibrace ub and xb for the mk5, and the audi s3 8L upper/lower strut braces for the mk4.

Mk4 r32 is a lower tax band and rarer, more driver focused. The mk5 is more refined and luxurious (are more were made/sold).

Engines are chain driven so no expensive cambelt to worry about but do check for rattles as a chain replacement is costly. On the whole these vr6 engines are solid and deliver silky smooth power with a fantastic soundtrack, 10k servicing is recommended. Poly bushing the car is well worth doing if its done high mileage as the bushes do get a hard time.

Whatever you get you won't be dissappointed.

• If you want a cheaper alternative that look at the v6 4motion which is alot cheaper, with a few choice mods these are 95% as good but for less than 50% of the price*

Edited by the stigs dad on Saturday 24th November 10:05

[the stigs dad]

Dave Hedgehog said:

Do not drive them like a FWD car, drive them like a scooby, slow in, trailing throttle, stamp on the loud pedal on the apex and BOOOOM here she goes, great fun

Dave had you upgraded the haldex? Can you elaborate on the "drive like a scooby"?

Thanks

[cuprabob]

All the information you want can be found at www.r32oc.com

On the MK5 Haldex gets serviced every 40k miles and consists of an oil change in a filter. At the same mileage the DSG also gets an oil change and a filter.

Cloth is standard and not heated unless it has the winter pack. Most cars have the optional leather interior which is heated.

Cloth and leather Recaros were also an option, the former is very rare.

Edited by cuprabob on Saturday 24th November 10:26

[blearyeyedboy]

SBN said:

I drove a dsg vrs octavia yesterday and even in the dry when you stamp on it the wheels do spin a lot! So would a r32 have a more planted feel?

Off topic but my VRS did that before swapping from Yokohama S306's to Conti ContactSport 3's. Tyres make a world of difference.

[the stigs dad]

SBN said:

I drove a dsg vrs octavia yesterday and even in the dry when you stamp on it the wheels do spin a lot! So would a r32 have a more planted feel?

The r32 will not wheelspin or torque steer in the wet or dry: instead it launches extremely quickly and feels absolutely planted; more so with the sport or race haldex upgrade.

Edited by the stigs dad on Saturday 24th November 10:50

[HoggyR32]

I own a MK5 R32 and honestly can't fault it! Comfy, quick enough, practical, looks good and that exhaust note.....well!

Unfortunately mine may have to got due to the impending new build starting next year. Which is a shame because I genuinely don't know what I'd replace it with. I'd probably end up getting one again when funds permit. But until I HAVE to sell it I'll hang onto it.

Go have a drive in one mate, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Unlight]

Watch out for the climate control failing - seems to be a common problem and a very expensive fix!

Front arches may show signs of rust (common on the mk5 golf) but should be covered under warranty.

Heated seats weren't standard on cloth - so you'll need the winter pack option added if you do decide to go for the cloth seats/recaros.

[MK Ultra]

Thanks for the replies.

Leather seats are a must as I had them in the previous car and cannot live without (same as DSG).

I've got my mind set on an R32, I have a budget of 10K and am hoping to get a nice example in preferred spec.

As I understand it, Haldex + DSG service every 40k.

I have driven one before and loved it but am quite fussy with spec. Just going to have to keep looking around for the right one.

[the stigs dad]

Plenty of good ones out there, happy hunting!

[cuprabob]

A couple of nice ones for sale on r32oc around your budget

[Emeye]

I will be interesting to see how you get on going from gti to R32 as IMO they are quite different cars.

I had two manual Mk5 Gtis, loved them, but when I tried my mate's DSG R32 it just did not do it for me, apart from the soundtrack. But then again I didn't like the DSG gti when I drove it, so maybe it was just the gearbox.

My mate used to be a serial car changer just like me, but he still has his R32 after a few years, so that must say something!

And IIRC, people tried to steal his R32 twice by breaking into his house, yet no one ever tried nicking my Gtis!

[chr15b]

That would be me.

6-9 months was previous average, 3.5 years now and no desire to change for at least another couple.

Love the car, it's everything I wanted in one package. Wanted a bigger engined car before petrol went really silly and my funds diverted elsewhere. Wanted comfort, lots of toys, I actually wanted auto and dsg is the best implementation of it I've used yet. Wanted good performance and handling. Wanted a nice car but something I wouldn't feel out of place in.

Different people have different priorities and likes, but for me it's the perfect car, and I'd really struggle to find a replacement for it.

[Emeye]

chr15b said:

That would be me.

6-9 months was previous average, 3.5 years now and no desire to change for at least another couple.

Love the car, it's everything I wanted in one package. Wanted a bigger engined car before petrol went really silly and my funds diverted elsewhere. Wanted comfort, lots of toys, I actually wanted auto and dsg is the best implementation of it I've used yet. Wanted good performance and handling. Wanted a nice car but something I wouldn't feel out of place in.

Different people have different priorities and likes, but for me it's the perfect car, and I'd really struggle to find a replacement for it.

Shame for the OP that you don't want to sell yours, as it's pretty close to his perfect spec!