MK5 Golf R32's?

[essexplumber]

Can't belive you can pick these up for around 11k now. Anyone own or driven one? I used to have a MK3 VR6 which was addictive if not sharp. Are the MK5's similar (sound great and pull well but are heavy and boaty)?. Also can Car Giant be trusted?

[chrissyr32]

Ive had two....lovely car...not the quickest hot hatch...but well build..subtle...and sounds awesome...Quick enough for most people IMO although the power delivery is very linear and smooth so sometimes you are going quicker than you think!!!!

Coming from a turbo Mk5 GTI the R32 felt a bit slower as you dont get the kick from the turbo..
but it was actually quicker.

VW were stingy with the original spec..so try and get one with a few toys...sat nav,leather etc etc.

I,d have another one tommorow....a late 08 if i needed one.

You wont be dissapointed....although expect top band road tax...and to get freindly with you rlocal petrol station....

[insanojackson]

followed one on a ph run out last week, had some trick exhaust on it and sounded awesome.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

11K

Dont say that


Mind you, I suppose it depends on the mileage and condition. Good ones still go forr circa £15k with not too many miles on them.

[spaceship]

They do sound amazing. Especially with a Miltek fitted.

[essexplumber]

Ive seen one in Car Giant with 57k on the clock for £12k. Are there any common issues with them? I have an alarm bell that rings in my head when I see a car in Car Giant but shirley they cant be that bad, can they?

[sklar]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Damn that sold for cheap... You've got me thinking now..

[5678]

I found the R32 rather disappointing. Underpowered for the weight of the car and slower than the mkV GTI in real world conditions. Shocking fuel economy for the performance too.

They do sound very good, but the smart money has to go on a GTI.

[baz1985]

5678 said:

I found the R32 rather disappointing. Underpowered for the weight of the car and slower than the mkV GTI in real world conditions. Shocking fuel economy for the performance too.

They do sound very good, but the smart money has to go on a GTI.

In 'wet' real world conditions, it's definitely not slower!

[carmonk]

Mate of mine just sold his, citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance. I could find a lot to do with £11K before I bought a Golf.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I love mine!

...and in all that snow last year I got places that Gti could only dream of!

[essexplumber]

carmonk said:

citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance.

Knackers!

[5678]

baz1985 said:

5678 said:

I found the R32 rather disappointing. Underpowered for the weight of the car and slower than the mkV GTI in real world conditions. Shocking fuel economy for the performance too.

They do sound very good, but the smart money has to go on a GTI.

In 'wet' real world conditions, it's definitely not slower!

It may be, but it's not going to be significantly faster either is it The R32 will only really have a traction advantage anyway. At the first corner the understeer will slow you back down.

Personally, I'd rather have the better car for the other times. Not a huge fan of pressing on in the wet.

[carmonk]

essexplumber said:

carmonk said:

citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance.

Knackers!

He is an arse though.

[5678]

carmonk said:

Mate of mine just sold his, citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance. I could find a lot to do with £11K before I bought a Golf.

I'm not alone then. I was glad to have the dealer buy mine back from me. GEtting stuck with it would have been depressing.

[baz1985]

5678 said:

baz1985 said:

5678 said:

I found the R32 rather disappointing. Underpowered for the weight of the car and slower than the mkV GTI in real world conditions. Shocking fuel economy for the performance too.

They do sound very good, but the smart money has to go on a GTI.

In 'wet' real world conditions, it's definitely not slower!

It may be, but it's not going to be significantly faster either is it The R32 will only really have a traction advantage anyway. At the first corner the understeer will slow you back down.

Personally, I'd rather have the better car for the other times. Not a huge fan of pressing on in the wet.

The GTI is the purer driver's car with respect to driving dynamics, but that doesn't makes the R32 inferior- it's simply different. The R32 has superior brakes nontheless.

[essexplumber]

5678 said:

carmonk said:

Mate of mine just sold his, citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance. I could find a lot to do with £11K before I bought a Golf.

I'm not alone then. I was glad to have the dealer buy mine back from me. GEtting stuck with it would have been depressing.

Is it that bad?

[simonej]

A friend of mine has had both a GTI and an R32. He said the GTI was the best to drive whilst the R32 felt a bit more special and sounded much better.

Having been a passenger in both I would say the GTI felt quicker. Neither are my cup of tea though!

[5678]

essexplumber said:

5678 said:

carmonk said:

Mate of mine just sold his, citing abysmal MPG and underwhelming performance. I could find a lot to do with £11K before I bought a Golf.

I'm not alone then. I was glad to have the dealer buy mine back from me. GEtting stuck with it would have been depressing.

Is it that bad?

I bought it as a nice all rounder. It just didn't do anything well enough for what I was after though. Yes, it feels a bit more special than a GTI, but it's not really "premium" i that's what you want. It doesn't handle badly, but is far from what I'd describe as nimble and precise. Then, as mentioned, the lack of turbo and the weight of the car leave it feeling slower than it actually is.

MPG was truely terrible, although my experience may be influenced by the addictive noise the car makes. Around town it was around 20mpg. Going to mid-high 20s on a run. I get that from the 650 I bought to replace it!

If you want something to track or if you like to really press on while driving, then I'd go for the GTI. Try both back to back though and see what you think.

Ah... the insurance costs between the GTI and the R32 are large too. My 650i costs less than the R32 did and is a far bit faster and of higher value. The R32 is a favourite of the car thief.

[dougc]

Someone booted one down my road last night.

Bloody hell, it sounded amazing!

Thats all I have to add.