Mk V GTi or R32

[w1how]

sargent salt said:

R32 = to heavy to slow. If you want to buy a car that sounds good get a M3. If you want 4x4 buy some thing fast like a Subaru. At least the GTI does'nt drive like a playstation.

Think you are talking out of your arse there.I wouldnt say for one minute that an r32 is slow-there is not a great deal in it between the r and my 997 although the Porsche is quicker.I had an M3 and yes it does sound a little better but when we are comparing new like for like then its £24k for the R32 and £40-44k for the M3 so not really a fair comparison.The dealer who sold me the car said that the car most frequently p/x'd against the R32 is the Subaru Imprezza.I drove the GTI and R32 back to back before I bought mine and felt that the R32 was the better car in all conditions-and so it should be for the extra cost.

[rhubarb]

I finally got round to organising my test drive. The nice people at the VW garage in Norwich (closest one to have 3 in stock) lent me an R32 for an hour or so. So we had a blat round some Norfolk country lanes. To be honest I thought it was ace, it did feel heavy, especially compared with the Mini which we drove up in, but boy is it quick - and yes the noise does sound fantastic (not a good reason on it's own to buy a 26k car though). I didn't hammer it like I do the mini, but it felt really sure footed - possibly a bit bulky, but there was certainly no roll, and it seemed like you could chuck it into any corner - regardless of the state of the road and you'd emerge unscathed. And best of all it gave me huge confidence over taking, knowing it had low end grunt. I was also astonished at the brakes, the demo car had done 7k miles, but there was a massive bite there - something I'l;l have to get used too. The other thing I found strnage - and somethijng I'd have to get used to is that you don't need to floor it to make progress, it's got so much power - and all quite low down, which was nice.

I think I'd tend to agree that it wasn't the most fun I've ever had in a car, and in fact driving back home away from the garage in the mini that was much more fun (although as that's owned by me, my driving style was probably a little less cautious). I didn't test drive the GTi - maybe I will - not sure yet. But I'm not really after a fun car (I've got a mini that we're keeping and a caterham for that). What I want is something that is sure footed and a bit more practical, something I can use everyday on country lanes and motorways, don't get me wrong it has to bring a smile to my face - it certainly did.

So what's the downsides? I guess the biggest is that engine - or rather it's thirst, once a week I have to go to Windsor - 250 mile round trip (once I've moved), and the other 4 days a week it'll be a 12 mile hack across Suffolk to the station - probably at some pace to get the train. Is it really going to be practical to do this or will it just end up costing me an arm and a leg?

Anyway thanks for all the feedback so far it's been really useful.

Oh and btw, my wife is totally sold on it result

[w1how]

It likes a drink-20.2mpg average on my computer but I dont hang around!My 997 averages 22.9mpg driven the same.

[sargent salt]

Yeh your right there was nothing in it between my old 1982 1.3 feista and the 997, except the porker was faster? Just feel that the R32 could have been a great car but it's just good. It does every thing well but nothing exceptionally. For 30K (when speced) not as fast as other 4 wheelers. Not as much fun as a GTI. Lets face it you would not buy 1 for the fuel ecconamy. As for the styling I have to drive past 1 every day those wheels, that grill??? May be it will grow on me??? Test drove them back to back when bought my GTI and traded my subaru in. Have another test drive booked in R32 soon so may be when re visited I'll change my mind? Only question is will it be as fun and fast as my re mapped MK5 GTI?

[alfaspiderman2]

I guess that I'm in a fortunate position where fuel ecomony doesn't matter - I get 12p a mile for under 2.0 and 16p for over so that pretty much equalises the difference between GTI and R32 consumption

main thing for me is the sound though - after ditching my Alfa for a diesel I really need my car to make a nice noise again!

[sargent salt]

Lucky sod. Don't need my car for work evan so easly get through £20 of fuel a week.

[alfaspiderman2]

flip side is company car tax though

R32 is £80/month more than the GTI...a small price to pay IMO

[4WD]

I vote for S3 (either model) or old shape R32, all with decent all motion

[alfaspiderman2]

it's a company car, so that rules out old shape S3/R32

wouldn't want another A3 (even if it's an S version)

I can't really pin down exactly how much i want to commit to my company car (as I've got another family car to finance as well and want to leave something over for that) but, for each price range I believe I've chosen the most appropriate car for me as follows...

1. Focus ST
2. Golf GTI
3. Golf R32
4. 335i

it's just a matter of deciding...

(obviously the more I spend on this car, the less there is to replace the family mobile (currently a Freelander TD4)

[slinky]

Focus ST?? NO NO NO NO NO...

Horrible! Don't do it to yourself!

[alfaspiderman2]

I know..but it's approx 25% cheaper than a similar spec GTI on my scheme which would leave more kahunas for the family mobile...e.g. a nice Tourareg (sp) would be attainable with the ST option

(and it satisfies my craving for a nice sound and more than 200 brake...which the GTI doesn't)

[slinky]

Sounds lovely, drives like shit..

Got out of that into a previous gen ST170 and I'd take the older ST170 any day of the week..

[alfaspiderman2]

each to their own but you're in the minority in saying the ST is a shit drive

(I can't comment as I'm yet to drive any of the cars on my wish-list)

[slinky]

Maybe the one I drove was a bad example.. but it really didn't deliver all it promised!

[alfaspiderman2]

could be

based on all I've read/heard, I'm inclined to discount the GTI altogether - if I want a 'cheap' option, the ST offers the best bang per buck and if I decide to splash out, the R32 is the one to go for

[smb]

alfaspiderman2 said:

could be

based on all I've read/heard, I'm inclined to discount the GTI altogether - if I want a 'cheap' option, the ST offers the best bang per buck and if I decide to splash out, the R32 is the one to go for

It costs little to have a bit of fun on a test drive, so why not try one, re the over 200bhp comment, most people who have rolling roaded recent gti, show them delivering 210 -220bhp as opposed the the 200 quoted. everyone has different tastes, whilst trying an r32 give the gti a go.

[slinky]

On our test drive of the R32, I really really gave it some stick.. In fact the guy from the dealership was encouraging me..

His advice, never buy an ex-demo R32 or GTI...

[alfaspiderman2]

sadly, I'm not due to replace my car until next Autumn so a test drive is a little premature

I will be insisting that the lease company arrange a long (unaccompanied) test drive when I do go for drives

I made a serious mistake choosing my A3 after a 15min test drive and I won't make the same mistake again

[slinky]

With the ST, we were given ten minutes and a nearly empty fuel tank..

The R32 (manual) was handed over with a full tank and see you in a couple of hours.. The DSG was accompanied due to trade plates being used, but that was still over an hour.

slinky

[alfaspiderman2]

gotta be a new car so no Cupra R

gotta be a company car so no remap

otherwise a great suggestion