R32's - any good?
Discussion
Hi
I am looking at getting a R32 for the wife and wondered what people thought of them. She currently has a Polo TDI so likes the VW set up and as i'm going to be driving this one a fair bit we hoped the R32 would help meet both our requirements (mine being obvious as i own a TVR T350....)
Appreciate any thoughts. They look good value to me (seen one we like for around 17k for a 57 plate with <18k on the clock) but wondered if i'm missing anything on them
Cheers all
Dan
I am looking at getting a R32 for the wife and wondered what people thought of them. She currently has a Polo TDI so likes the VW set up and as i'm going to be driving this one a fair bit we hoped the R32 would help meet both our requirements (mine being obvious as i own a TVR T350....)
Appreciate any thoughts. They look good value to me (seen one we like for around 17k for a 57 plate with <18k on the clock) but wondered if i'm missing anything on them
Cheers all
Dan
Edited by TVR newbie on Friday 26th February 22:53
I've had mine for about 3 weeks. First impressions are that it goes very well, sounds absolutely great, is very comfortable and has all the practicality of any other Golf. Very happy with it.
Try Googling the Fifth Gear and Top Gear test drives for Tiff and Jeremy's views - both very positive.
I'm just getting used to mine. I was up in the Cotswolds last weekend and had great fun slinging it round some country roads. They come in for some criticism on here (dull, nose heavy etc) but in my view it's a very accomplished and well-rounded package.
Try Googling the Fifth Gear and Top Gear test drives for Tiff and Jeremy's views - both very positive.
I'm just getting used to mine. I was up in the Cotswolds last weekend and had great fun slinging it round some country roads. They come in for some criticism on here (dull, nose heavy etc) but in my view it's a very accomplished and well-rounded package.
Cheers guys. They really appeal to us both although have told her that her weekly petrol bill will almost double.....not the most practical choice of car i guess but that's the cost of driving something more fun in my eyes.
We are looking at a 57 plate with 14k miles on it that's up for about 17.5k. Do people think this is reasonable given it is with a VW dealer. We will look to p/x her polo at the same time so am hoping i can get a little more off the R32 (or a decent p/x on the polo).
I can't see much value falling off in the next 2/3 years from this or am i much mistaken? (although we are not buying it for it's resale value)
Cheers all
We are looking at a 57 plate with 14k miles on it that's up for about 17.5k. Do people think this is reasonable given it is with a VW dealer. We will look to p/x her polo at the same time so am hoping i can get a little more off the R32 (or a decent p/x on the polo).
I can't see much value falling off in the next 2/3 years from this or am i much mistaken? (although we are not buying it for it's resale value)
Cheers all
I assume it's a manual, rather than DSG? If so, £17k to £17.5 is probably about right for a main dealer (DSG would probably be a grand or so more). As you say, it all comes down to "cost to change" and the deal they'll do on the p/ex.
I paid about £18.5k for mine - 58 plate, manual, 3,500 miles.
As for future values: well it certainly seems that R32 prices hold up very well, both for the Mk IV and the Mk V. Obviously, they're not being made anymore and so the MkV R32 is the last of the VR6 engined Golfs. The new Golf R (the 2 ltr turbo-charged one) has a list price over £30k (more like £35k with a sensible list of options) and in that context a low-mileage 2 year old Mk5 R32 for half the price looks like good value to me!
I paid about £18.5k for mine - 58 plate, manual, 3,500 miles.
As for future values: well it certainly seems that R32 prices hold up very well, both for the Mk IV and the Mk V. Obviously, they're not being made anymore and so the MkV R32 is the last of the VR6 engined Golfs. The new Golf R (the 2 ltr turbo-charged one) has a list price over £30k (more like £35k with a sensible list of options) and in that context a low-mileage 2 year old Mk5 R32 for half the price looks like good value to me!
Funny thing. I just bought one the day before last. To me the noise and smooth power delivery made it the choice over the GTI. The moment I took it for a test drive I knew I couldn't buy the GTI. I also liked the idea of it being rare. Only 5,000 in the US...
That and the interior does seem to be a bit more focused on the driver and built with a greater degree of cost. Now all I need to do is figure out what all these buttons do!
That and the interior does seem to be a bit more focused on the driver and built with a greater degree of cost. Now all I need to do is figure out what all these buttons do!
Hub said:
The only real advantage over the GTi to justify the extra running costs is the noise IMO - so if she won't really appreciate that then a GTi (Edition 30?) may be better!
Agreed and the ED30 is just as quick as the R32 in the real world, point to point. And it goes without saying that the ED30 can also be 'mapped' to give considerably more power than the R32.And continuing to kick the R32 whilst it's down, it has a shallow boot compared to the GTI because of the rear diff and it's a porky car at 1500Kg too, so that 250hp has a lot of work to do.
There's a little more to the R32 than it's engine though. Compared to the 4 pot GTIs, it feels beefier on the road (and therefore more reassuring for the missus), quieter, smoother, better interior, better seats, better brakes, more grip, more traction, and most importantly - more character, a LOT more.
As good as the TFSI 4 pot is (if a little torque shy past 4500rpm) it's just completely boring (imo) and sounds like a sewing machine at idle. The R32 engine has a sense of occasion every time you drive it and the exhaust barks from the DSG downshifts are very addictive!
It's a shame the new R won't be getting Audi's excellent 5 pot motor, which would help restore the character of the 6 pot's departure. I think VW have missed a trick there.
You can't put a price on how a car makes you feel and for me, the R32 makes you feel a lot more special than the GTI. The R32 is unique among the MK4 and 5 Golfs. The GTI is just one of millions of 4 pot Golfs.
Well we took a gamble and went for it so thank you for all your help and opinions. We did consider a GTI given the thoughts we read but i think the last comment above that a R32 is just that bit more special and different won it for us. Oh that and the lovely sound it makes.....
Hopefully we'll have many years of fun driving...(well fun for me but safe and reliable for the missus....)
cheers all
Hopefully we'll have many years of fun driving...(well fun for me but safe and reliable for the missus....)
cheers all
I've had mine (mk v, '08, dsg) since November.
I went for the R32 for the extra traction on icy roads (which we get a lot up here. -11 and frozen snow on the roads when I left the house today. 3 degrees and sunny at work, 35 miles away).
Traction is superb, it really is. It doesn't feel as fast as I would really like, it's too damn heavy. It can be a bit understeery although you can make pretty damn quick progress by staying smooth on the controls. I believe a haldex controller will fix that but, tbh, I'd be looking at increasing power before doing that.
DSG box took a week or so to get used to but now it's ace.
Pros:
Very characterful engine, nice delivery
Sounds nice
Very tractable
Very comfortable and spacious
Very subtle
It doesn't have an Audi badge
Cons:
Not easily/cheaply tunable
Too heavy
Bit thirsty (I get 20-25mpg ish)
Wish I'd got one with heated seats.
Don't like the shiny grill and may get round to having it sprayed to match the body.
I love mine, it's almost perfect for my purposes. I'd happily have had a GTI which is maybe slightly more nimble and a lot more tunable but really wanted 4wd. Glad I did.
Haven't had it on track yet (15th March will be first time for the car).
I'll probably keep it till the warranty expires and FI it.
Maybe not, more likely get a Golf R.
I went for the R32 for the extra traction on icy roads (which we get a lot up here. -11 and frozen snow on the roads when I left the house today. 3 degrees and sunny at work, 35 miles away).
Traction is superb, it really is. It doesn't feel as fast as I would really like, it's too damn heavy. It can be a bit understeery although you can make pretty damn quick progress by staying smooth on the controls. I believe a haldex controller will fix that but, tbh, I'd be looking at increasing power before doing that.
DSG box took a week or so to get used to but now it's ace.
Pros:
Very characterful engine, nice delivery
Sounds nice
Very tractable
Very comfortable and spacious
Very subtle
It doesn't have an Audi badge
Cons:
Not easily/cheaply tunable
Too heavy
Bit thirsty (I get 20-25mpg ish)
Wish I'd got one with heated seats.
Don't like the shiny grill and may get round to having it sprayed to match the body.
I love mine, it's almost perfect for my purposes. I'd happily have had a GTI which is maybe slightly more nimble and a lot more tunable but really wanted 4wd. Glad I did.
Haven't had it on track yet (15th March will be first time for the car).
I'll probably keep it till the warranty expires and FI it.
Maybe not, more likely get a Golf R.Edited by Lefty Two Drams on Wednesday 3rd March 12:54
VAG1 said:
dibbly_dobbler said:
Sorry to butt in chaps - do the R32s come with adaptive suspension ? Come to that do any Golfs have it ?
Cheers, DD
Adaptive as in the optional extra in the new golfs? If so then no, none of the Mk5s had this..Cheers, DD
Edited by VAG1 on Wednesday 3rd March 16:11
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