Golf R32 or Edition 30 - Are they any good?

[baz1985]

The cheaper alternative is the A3 8P 3.2. Nicer interior too.

[va1o]

baz1985 said:

The cheaper alternative is the A3 8P 3.2. Nicer interior too.

Condition of most the early examples I've seen is shocking, a lot of them have fallen into the hands of people that can't afford the running costs and decorate with Halfords 'Sport V6' badges...

[Dave Hedgehog]

va1o said:

baz1985 said:

The cheaper alternative is the A3 8P 3.2. Nicer interior too.

Condition of most the early examples I've seen is shocking, a lot of them have fallen into the hands of people that can't afford the running costs and decorate with Halfords 'Sport V6' badges...

thats probably the biggest factor for the R32, its becoming a cult car (especially the mkIV) so they tend to go to petrol heads

[Soovy]

dasherdiablo1 said:

Well I have been hunting the classifieds for an R32 and have phoned up about a dozen and all of them have at least one of the following; missing/dodgy service history or at least 5 owners.

I can't understand this because it isn't exactly expensive to maintain them- everyone goes on about the haldex service being missed so I thought it was because it was expensive- but no- it's £78 at my local Main dealer- that's less than a tank of petrol!

I've even called up about main dealer cars and on checking the services that have been done some are on the long life plan and not annually as recommended. One main dealer told me some R32s are on long life and some on annual but it depends on the car- this seems very strange to me.

I'm beginning to think the r32 is not the right car as there don't appear to be many that have been loved.

This moves me onto the Ed30 which I also can't find a decent one at a decent price for similar reasons

I test drove a normal gti and it was ok but definitely a bit lacking in the power department- I also hated the way that the iPod interface in the armrest is rubbish for two reasons- firstly an iPhone doesn't fit because the armrest is too shallow so it sticks proud and also because the way you select the songs through the head unit it laughable- it treats it like a cd and you can't see any titles- I've had real cheapo rental cars like Kia, Hyundai and Nissan that utilise a much better interface.

One thing Iove about the gti are the optional 18" Monza 2 alloys- and yet again I have seem some terrible refurbs at the. Aim dealers where they have either painted them silver or dark grey all over which absolutely ruins the shadow line look- I'm thinking for the future this means I won't be able to get untouched ones refinished as. We if I were to clip them.

Edited by dasherdiablo1 on Sunday 7th October 09:40

I need five doors, mate, so I could be persuaded to part with mine.

March 2008, DSG, 36k miles, FULL VWSH (on 10k/12 month intervals), VW warranty, new 2012 VW Nav and hifi/Ipod system, 4 brand new Contis, just had big 40k service at VW (150 miles ago).

Xenons
Elec sunroof
ISOFIX
LUX pack

Silver
Black leather




It's really pretty mint.

Edited by Soovy on Monday 8th October 09:52

[the-photographer]

dasherdiablo1 said:

Well I have been hunting the classifieds for an R32 and have phoned up about a dozen and all of them have at least one of the following; missing/dodgy service history or at least 5 owners.

This moves me onto the Ed30 which I also can't find a decent one at a decent price for similar reasons

I test drove a normal gti and it was ok but definitely a bit lacking in the power department- I also hated the way that the iPod interface in the armrest is rubbish for two reasons- firstly an iPhone doesn't fit because the armrest is too shallow so it sticks proud and also because the way you select the songs through the head unit it laughable- it treats it like a cd and you can't see any titles- I've had real cheapo rental cars like Kia, Hyundai and Nissan that utilise a much better interface.

One thing Iove about the gti are the optional 18" Monza 2 alloys- and yet again I have seem some terrible refurbs at the. Aim dealers where they have either painted them silver or dark grey all over which absolutely ruins the shadow line look- I'm thinking for the future this means I won't be able to get untouched ones refinished as. We if I were to clip them.

Edited by dasherdiablo1 on Sunday 7th October 09:40

I know more about the GTI, but there should be a better choice of R32 cars on the specialist forums.

For an ED30, I quickly found this one
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
which is the type of owner/condition I would be looking for.

The MK5 headunits were never good for Ipod, you could retro-fit a RCD300/RCD310 from the MK6 with MDI cable. You may need the CCM module upgraded on earlier cars and the nice colours screen (RCD500/RNS500) are a theft risk.

The two tone Monza are hard to refurb, check specialist forums for advice.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

the-photographer said:

The MK5 headunits were never good for Ipod,

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

[the-photographer]

Very quickly, I dont know your budget, but here is a "new" ED30

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Together with OCD owner (exactly what you want).

[va1o]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

It will disable the CD Changer (if fitted) but not the Player itself

From memory the 2007MY onwards MK5s (with the silver button radio) can have a regular AUX lead retrofitted very cheaply as an alternative to the iPod interface discussed here. This way you control playback through the device itself rather than the head unit. Part number for the retrofit kit is 1K0 998 940

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

va1o said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

It will disable the CD Changer (if fitted) but not the Player itself

It disabled the player on mine. Dealer said it would be thus, and it was!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

va1o said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

It will disable the CD Changer (if fitted) but not the Player itself

It disabled the player on mine. Dealer said it would be thus, and it was!

in fact, it's pressing the CD button that selects iPod, so I don't see how the CD could ever work?

[Dave Hedgehog]

va1o said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

It will disable the CD Changer (if fitted) but not the Player itself

From memory the 2007MY onwards MK5s (with the silver button radio) can have a regular AUX lead retrofitted very cheaply as an alternative to the iPod interface discussed here. This way you control playback through the device itself rather than the head unit. Part number for the retrofit kit is 1K0 998 940

yep, i had it fitted to my R32, head unit CD still worked and you could control the ipod from the steering buttons

[Sir_Dave]

Plenty of R32's for sale on R32oc at the moment, & various really nice Ed30's on mk5golfgti forum. Always look to the owners clubs 1st - they do have a habit of overpricing their cars, but there is good traceability/project threads, etc to browse through.

[SuperchargedVR6]

the-photographer said:

R32 (some sterotypes here)

• 30mpg hard

Remapping them helps. I regularly saw 32mpg from mine after a map, which was an average. I even saw 35mpg when babying it. I.e. not exceeding the speed limits and changing up early. Mine was a manual.

As with all VAG 6 pots, they don't like crawling through towns over winter. This obliterates economy. Get them on a run and they are far more frugal.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Dave Hedgehog said:

va1o said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

There was a dealer fit cable, which did disable the CD player.

It will disable the CD Changer (if fitted) but not the Player itself

From memory the 2007MY onwards MK5s (with the silver button radio) can have a regular AUX lead retrofitted very cheaply as an alternative to the iPod interface discussed here. This way you control playback through the device itself rather than the head unit. Part number for the retrofit kit is 1K0 998 940

yep, i had it fitted to my R32, head unit CD still worked and you could control the ipod from the steering buttons

Mine's the old fashioned type..no buttons for me on wheel

[va1o]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Mine's the old fashioned type..no buttons for me on wheel

As in its a MK4 R32? That would make sense with the CD Player been deactivated given its a standalone unit in them.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

va1o said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Mine's the old fashioned type..no buttons for me on wheel

As in its a MK4 R32? That would make sense with the CD Player been deactivated given its a standalone unit in them.

Nope, MK5 on a 56 plate.

[Sir_Dave]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Nope, MK5 on a 56 plate.

Its not an old fashioned type then, just low spec

DSG's generally come with the MFSW and highline instruments, whereas the manuals usually come with the standard steering wheel and midline dashboard - quite rare to get the upgraded versions without flappy paddles iirc.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Sir_Dave said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Nope, MK5 on a 56 plate.

Its not an old fashioned type then, just low spec

DSG's generally come with the MFSW and highline instruments, whereas the manuals usually come with the standard steering wheel and midline dashboard - quite rare to get the upgraded versions without flappy paddles iirc.

i specced mine with most of the options except the sat nav, at the time i thought 30k was a lot for a golf (especially as i had paid 15k for a new breadvan CTR 18 months before), turns out now its a bloody bargain with the R to my spec being 42k!!! and its not as good imo

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Sir_Dave said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Nope, MK5 on a 56 plate.

Its not an old fashioned type then, just low spec

DSG's generally come with the MFSW and highline instruments, whereas the manuals usually come with the standard steering wheel and midline dashboard - quite rare to get the upgraded versions without flappy paddles iirc.

Yes, mine does have three pedals too

[FamilyDub]

Sir_Dave said:

DSG's generally come with the MFSW and highline instruments...

^^ Extra word in there, pal.

MFSW and Highline computer was standard on R32 MKV DSG models.

FWIW, most desirable extras on the MKV can be retrofitted rather easily, so I'd imagine the MKVI would be the same.