Never thought I would own one... a Golf...
Discussion
...and I’m really very impressed.
It’s a 58 plate R32 with manual gearbox.
Sadly the Z4 is going as it’s just not used much now we have a toddler, and after my wife swapped her Fiesta ST for the 335xd I’m missing having a practical hot hatch.
So my replacement is as close to a Z4 as I could get without it’s downsides (so no 1ers with no rear legroom/ boot and poor in snow )
OK I’ve bought at the top of the market and it needs some money putting into it to make it perfect, but it’s an amazing car.
A rare colour. 49k miles so feels really nice.
A decent enough spec with easy retrofit upgrades (cruise and headunit)
I kinda wish I’d known they were so good some years ago as I’d have had one sooner (probably bought one over the Fiesta ST and never bothered with the 335xd?)
The only thing I’m feeling I’m missing from the Z4 is a bit of sound generator (pipe ducting from intake to cabin, Fiesta ST had one too) to give it a better cabin noise.
The ride is sublime too. I like the way it’s chassis is coming alive a bit at normal road speeds, but then seems to gain composure as you dig more.
It feels rewarding and yet safe.
Even for EPS it’s feelsome and natural feeling with some actual life, despite being fwd.
People go on about big engines ahead of the front wheels and high polar yaw inertia but for brisk road use I really didn’t notice, but ultimately I didn’t care.
I’d test driven an M3 and M3 CS and despite its rack being quicker than an M3 (e46), I honestly couldn’t see why they’re so highly regarded.
It felt cheaper inside vs my z4 (bar the leather upgrade), while this Golf feels a better made/spec car.
More visually interesting. More spacious. Better sounding. More comfortable.
OK they’re nice cars but for the price vs the R32 they seemed poor value.
I’m just very impressed by it.
I’m instantly sad that VW made the newer ones have a 4 pot turbo, more so that they’ve over-wrought the styling and made them have 4 exhausts.
My first foray into a Golf will likely be my last.
Anyone else have an R32 and is deeply impressed by what it offers as a package?
It’s a 58 plate R32 with manual gearbox.
Sadly the Z4 is going as it’s just not used much now we have a toddler, and after my wife swapped her Fiesta ST for the 335xd I’m missing having a practical hot hatch.
So my replacement is as close to a Z4 as I could get without it’s downsides (so no 1ers with no rear legroom/ boot and poor in snow )
OK I’ve bought at the top of the market and it needs some money putting into it to make it perfect, but it’s an amazing car.
A rare colour. 49k miles so feels really nice.
A decent enough spec with easy retrofit upgrades (cruise and headunit)
I kinda wish I’d known they were so good some years ago as I’d have had one sooner (probably bought one over the Fiesta ST and never bothered with the 335xd?)
The only thing I’m feeling I’m missing from the Z4 is a bit of sound generator (pipe ducting from intake to cabin, Fiesta ST had one too) to give it a better cabin noise.
The ride is sublime too. I like the way it’s chassis is coming alive a bit at normal road speeds, but then seems to gain composure as you dig more.
It feels rewarding and yet safe.
Even for EPS it’s feelsome and natural feeling with some actual life, despite being fwd.
People go on about big engines ahead of the front wheels and high polar yaw inertia but for brisk road use I really didn’t notice, but ultimately I didn’t care.
I’d test driven an M3 and M3 CS and despite its rack being quicker than an M3 (e46), I honestly couldn’t see why they’re so highly regarded.
It felt cheaper inside vs my z4 (bar the leather upgrade), while this Golf feels a better made/spec car.
More visually interesting. More spacious. Better sounding. More comfortable.
OK they’re nice cars but for the price vs the R32 they seemed poor value.
I’m just very impressed by it.
I’m instantly sad that VW made the newer ones have a 4 pot turbo, more so that they’ve over-wrought the styling and made them have 4 exhausts.
My first foray into a Golf will likely be my last.
Anyone else have an R32 and is deeply impressed by what it offers as a package?
Edited by Mr Whippy on Sunday 15th April 23:04
Hmmm I need to read the manual again on the air-con. I didn’t spot that haha.
Totally agree on the solidity and quality. And the seats are wonderful.
If they were leccy memory they’d be perfect.
I expected much less but have been blown away.
I also feel like this was a styling high point for the Golf too, at least in R32 form, and especially in Tornado Red... it looks like a 5yr old car, not 10yr+
An RS3 feels like a good move up/onwards for this kinda car... is it still as comfy though?
I know I’ve just bought it but I’m sad that already there will never be anything to replace it.
Totally agree on the solidity and quality. And the seats are wonderful.
If they were leccy memory they’d be perfect.
I expected much less but have been blown away.
I also feel like this was a styling high point for the Golf too, at least in R32 form, and especially in Tornado Red... it looks like a 5yr old car, not 10yr+
An RS3 feels like a good move up/onwards for this kinda car... is it still as comfy though?
I know I’ve just bought it but I’m sad that already there will never be anything to replace it.
Yeah the split crank pin straight six has a cool off-beat thrum to it at idle.
It’s a cool engine really. It’s torquey but revvy and light feeling, low inertia, but decent power at the revs it spins to.
Ok it’s relatively heavy and crap on fuel, but that aside it does a great job.
I’ve read Stealth do some good remaps, and will tweak throttle maps a lot on driver preference.
I’m semi-tempted if it’s OBD mappable, to buy a Stealth remap then make throttle tweaks myself to get it just right.
My list of things to fix is growing.
Today the sun highlighted this:
I think Evans Halshaw decided to let a monkey mop the car and it’s covered in holograms so that’s £250 for a correction
I’m not one for having super perfect paint, but I can’t live with that.
Also some condensation in 3rd brake light.
And new number plates stuck on with stickers... again Evans have drilled theirs in inappropriate places the plonkers!
Dave
It’s a cool engine really. It’s torquey but revvy and light feeling, low inertia, but decent power at the revs it spins to.
Ok it’s relatively heavy and crap on fuel, but that aside it does a great job.
I’ve read Stealth do some good remaps, and will tweak throttle maps a lot on driver preference.
I’m semi-tempted if it’s OBD mappable, to buy a Stealth remap then make throttle tweaks myself to get it just right.
My list of things to fix is growing.
Today the sun highlighted this:
I think Evans Halshaw decided to let a monkey mop the car and it’s covered in holograms so that’s £250 for a correction
I’m not one for having super perfect paint, but I can’t live with that.
Also some condensation in 3rd brake light.
And new number plates stuck on with stickers... again Evans have drilled theirs in inappropriate places the plonkers!
Dave
Yeah it’s sad no one makes charismatic small engines any longer.
Ie BMW have made sixes for ages then suddenly they’re only in the top models, and with turbos.
Imo VAG should have made a VR6 2.5 turbo rather than the 5 potter (or alongside it).
Then used it in the top end hatches.
Having to spend Audi RS money to access a 4 pot+ noise/quality is just daft when a 4 pot+ noise used to be available in mid range models.
I’m distinctly unimpressed with the off-paper specs of modern cars.
They read like exotica from the 90s and 00s and then you drive them and are rewarded with dullness.
I’d love to swap my 335xd for a 4dr V8 M3 for this exact reason. But my wife see’s £500+ tax and cringes, while I see £5000 a year depreciation and feel like feinting!
The R32 is clearly a car made for driving rather than playing top trumps with.
From my brief driving it’s just as fast as the 335xd at anything upto 0.85 leptons, but makes you work harder for it and gives some enjoyment to do so.
My old Z4 is still on another level for the sense of speed and cabin noise.
But I think with sensible subtle mods I can remedy that.
Currently thinking a sound-generator or equivalent feed to the bulkhead could be possible (feed in past the gateway box
), and remove bonnet liner and maybe some firewall proofing to get a bit more audio action coming in 
Ie BMW have made sixes for ages then suddenly they’re only in the top models, and with turbos.
Imo VAG should have made a VR6 2.5 turbo rather than the 5 potter (or alongside it).
Then used it in the top end hatches.
Having to spend Audi RS money to access a 4 pot+ noise/quality is just daft when a 4 pot+ noise used to be available in mid range models.
I’m distinctly unimpressed with the off-paper specs of modern cars.
They read like exotica from the 90s and 00s and then you drive them and are rewarded with dullness.
I’d love to swap my 335xd for a 4dr V8 M3 for this exact reason. But my wife see’s £500+ tax and cringes, while I see £5000 a year depreciation and feel like feinting!
The R32 is clearly a car made for driving rather than playing top trumps with.
From my brief driving it’s just as fast as the 335xd at anything upto 0.85 leptons, but makes you work harder for it and gives some enjoyment to do so.
My old Z4 is still on another level for the sense of speed and cabin noise.
But I think with sensible subtle mods I can remedy that.
Currently thinking a sound-generator or equivalent feed to the bulkhead could be possible (feed in past the gateway box
), and remove bonnet liner and maybe some firewall proofing to get a bit more audio action coming in cuprabob said:
3rd brake light is a common failure due to water ingress. The official line is that the bonded rear spoiler has to be removed amd re-bonded to replace but you can actually break the old light out and replace. Replacement costs around £50 from TPS.
Guide on how to replace without removing spoiler.
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1210...
Damn photobucket. I wonder how well their strategy backfired on them Guide on how to replace without removing spoiler.
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1210...
Better surely to host an advert every 10th load or something.
I did consider a GTi but fancied a big NA engine and AWD.
Despite 4 owners and 49k miles though, it still had jobs to be done.
Current list:
Polish out holograms
Some or all engine mounts
Source a service book and fill in
Recon alloys (no diamond cut outer)
OE discs/pads when needed (has red stuff/grooved)
A satnav/Apple play headunit
Exhaust valve mod
New key cases (wish they did a smaller no flip key)
Full service and all the trimmings/extras
I’ll wait on wheels and brakes, but the rest I want to do sooner than later or asap.
I’ll have to look into airbox tweaks and stuff.
Mostly I just miss the ability to sense the engine speed/load under 3000rpm or so.
It’s too muted to properly read.
I think I’d also like to tweak throttle linearity too to get it more consistent... but that’ll be after I’ve enjoyed it as standard first and know what I want to alter.
I did a run out in it yesterday, about 45 miles round trip for vpower and some other jobs etc.
20.2mpg
The Z4 would do 29mpg... but it’s not awd and it’s lighter too.
But still!
But hey it makes me smile. On a decent run I bet it’s ok, but hooning, eek!
Despite 4 owners and 49k miles though, it still had jobs to be done.
Current list:
Polish out holograms
Some or all engine mounts
Source a service book and fill in
Recon alloys (no diamond cut outer)
OE discs/pads when needed (has red stuff/grooved)
A satnav/Apple play headunit
Exhaust valve mod
New key cases (wish they did a smaller no flip key)
Full service and all the trimmings/extras
I’ll wait on wheels and brakes, but the rest I want to do sooner than later or asap.
I’ll have to look into airbox tweaks and stuff.
Mostly I just miss the ability to sense the engine speed/load under 3000rpm or so.
It’s too muted to properly read.
I think I’d also like to tweak throttle linearity too to get it more consistent... but that’ll be after I’ve enjoyed it as standard first and know what I want to alter.
I did a run out in it yesterday, about 45 miles round trip for vpower and some other jobs etc.
20.2mpg
The Z4 would do 29mpg... but it’s not awd and it’s lighter too.
But still!
But hey it makes me smile. On a decent run I bet it’s ok, but hooning, eek!
I had a 2.9 v6 Sierra 4x4 years ago which had 172lbft of torque and 150bhp and did 23mpg with 1300kg ish to haul around.
The R32 isn’t all that bad considering the weight and power.
I’ve read a remap can improve things... but I think a lot of the issue is it’s eagerness to rev, low noise level low down, and a weird dip in torque through 3000rpm.
It all adds up to make you feel it needs revving to get going when really it’s pretty brisk changing at 2500rpm.
I just need to investigate my engine mounts though, I’m sure one of them is buggered.
Just that lower one is a subframe off job... why haha!
Tempted to stick in a powerflex filler till I can get over to Overboost at Heckmondwike for a full service and check over!
The R32 isn’t all that bad considering the weight and power.
I’ve read a remap can improve things... but I think a lot of the issue is it’s eagerness to rev, low noise level low down, and a weird dip in torque through 3000rpm.
It all adds up to make you feel it needs revving to get going when really it’s pretty brisk changing at 2500rpm.
I just need to investigate my engine mounts though, I’m sure one of them is buggered.
Just that lower one is a subframe off job... why haha!
Tempted to stick in a powerflex filler till I can get over to Overboost at Heckmondwike for a full service and check over!
Hey yeah I remember that run out.
996 Turbo, Testarossa, 106 Rallye, Cerbera, Tamora, Z4, Puma, errr...
It was a great run out, I now live on that route too, so great roads to enjoy decent cars
It’s definitely R32 country in winter. The car just needs hardening up a fraction.
Mainly just low end noise and throttle mapping I’d say, and bushing refresh.
I just unplugged the exhaust valve so I’ll see what that does.
Yeah my niggles list is growing.
The Golf V is clearly very good but they’re 10 years old now so need maintenance!
I bet the ST220 was a nice steer. A car I wish I’d got at some point but never did.
I kinda looked at one 2.5yrs ago after my wife sold her Cougar 2.
We’d looked at R32 then, and ST220, but tax and mpg put us off so we got a new Fiesta ST instead.
That was a hoot of a car, but quite small and 3dr so useless for a family use car imo. You could manage but a Golf V is in another league.
996 Turbo, Testarossa, 106 Rallye, Cerbera, Tamora, Z4, Puma, errr...
It was a great run out, I now live on that route too, so great roads to enjoy decent cars
It’s definitely R32 country in winter. The car just needs hardening up a fraction.
Mainly just low end noise and throttle mapping I’d say, and bushing refresh.
I just unplugged the exhaust valve so I’ll see what that does.
Yeah my niggles list is growing.
The Golf V is clearly very good but they’re 10 years old now so need maintenance!
I bet the ST220 was a nice steer. A car I wish I’d got at some point but never did.
I kinda looked at one 2.5yrs ago after my wife sold her Cougar 2.
We’d looked at R32 then, and ST220, but tax and mpg put us off so we got a new Fiesta ST instead.
That was a hoot of a car, but quite small and 3dr so useless for a family use car imo. You could manage but a Golf V is in another league.
Edited by Mr Whippy on Friday 20th April 21:03
I’ve seen Stealth remaps are well rated.
I’m quite familiar with tuning, and I’m very familiar with the emotional and subjective qualities of throttle mapping and torque curve shape, so I’d likely get a Stealth map to sort the general tuning, then DIY the throttle and torque limiter.
If you look at the oem torque curve it has a big lump at 2500rpm but then loses torque to 3500rpm ish then rises again.
Falling torque with rpm so early must by why it feels so flat and gutless.
It just needs a constantly rising curve to peak and it’d feel lots better.
It could be the twin length manifold swapovers etc, but it must be mostly fixable with time and tinkering.
But as with everything, best to tweak slowly and appreciate good standard first... so money into getting it good standard first is key... then I can tweak fairly away from good standard
I’m quite familiar with tuning, and I’m very familiar with the emotional and subjective qualities of throttle mapping and torque curve shape, so I’d likely get a Stealth map to sort the general tuning, then DIY the throttle and torque limiter.
If you look at the oem torque curve it has a big lump at 2500rpm but then loses torque to 3500rpm ish then rises again.
Falling torque with rpm so early must by why it feels so flat and gutless.
It just needs a constantly rising curve to peak and it’d feel lots better.
It could be the twin length manifold swapovers etc, but it must be mostly fixable with time and tinkering.
But as with everything, best to tweak slowly and appreciate good standard first... so money into getting it good standard first is key... then I can tweak fairly away from good standard
I did some vag com today and no fault codes (I cleared a bunch of random stuff for steering controls and radio, nothing new came up)
I need to double check the vag com. It was a dodgy version but official cable. Worked fine with install exe but not the modded one (device not present).
I might just buy a legit copy. And try it in win7 (no worky in XP, win10 is horrible but it worked)
So paintwork to be fixed Tuesday.
I’ve got a funny noise too, only noticeable at very light loads and engine rocking I’d say. Like a metal springy/knocking noise as the bite takes up in the clutch, or as the engine rotates.
Also had a graunchy shift in 1st > 2nd at one point.
I’ve a feeling the lower engine mount is buggered.
Tempted to just drive it gently to a full service at a specialist and have them check it out.
Also I need to sort a service book and start filling it in with known old services from VAG etc.
I need to double check the vag com. It was a dodgy version but official cable. Worked fine with install exe but not the modded one (device not present).
I might just buy a legit copy. And try it in win7 (no worky in XP, win10 is horrible but it worked)
So paintwork to be fixed Tuesday.
I’ve got a funny noise too, only noticeable at very light loads and engine rocking I’d say. Like a metal springy/knocking noise as the bite takes up in the clutch, or as the engine rotates.
Also had a graunchy shift in 1st > 2nd at one point.
I’ve a feeling the lower engine mount is buggered.
Tempted to just drive it gently to a full service at a specialist and have them check it out.
Also I need to sort a service book and start filling it in with known old services from VAG etc.
Well I’ve done a few hundred miles now.
Mostly trips in the Dales so all just fun driving, averaging 22mpg usually haha!
It’s very brisk. I can’t understand anyone thinking they’re slow.
I also had it polished up properly which set me back £250 but it now looks amazing.
Pics to follow once it stops raining or being overcast!
Next job is a big fluids/service and check over.
Also tempted to try £190 painted front wings off eBay and see if they match.
If not I’ll just store till I’m ready to do a full front end respray.
I also noticed some slight paint flaking/bubbling in the front wing/sill interface... again seems common.
Detailer guy also said paint/lacquer was reading low on rear wings behind rear windows and above wheels area.
About 80/90 um.
Probably doesn’t help if the last few traders selling it on go crazy with a mop!
Also the rear bumper has been redone in a few places.
All in all it’s ok for age and looks great... but I plan to keep it a good while so thinking to get stuff really nice now so I can enjoy it at it’s best for years to come!
Mostly trips in the Dales so all just fun driving, averaging 22mpg usually haha!
It’s very brisk. I can’t understand anyone thinking they’re slow.
I also had it polished up properly which set me back £250 but it now looks amazing.
Pics to follow once it stops raining or being overcast!
Next job is a big fluids/service and check over.
Also tempted to try £190 painted front wings off eBay and see if they match.
If not I’ll just store till I’m ready to do a full front end respray.
I also noticed some slight paint flaking/bubbling in the front wing/sill interface... again seems common.
Detailer guy also said paint/lacquer was reading low on rear wings behind rear windows and above wheels area.
About 80/90 um.
Probably doesn’t help if the last few traders selling it on go crazy with a mop!
Also the rear bumper has been redone in a few places.
All in all it’s ok for age and looks great... but I plan to keep it a good while so thinking to get stuff really nice now so I can enjoy it at it’s best for years to come!
cuprabob said:
He's already on R32oc.com using the same username...
Haha I’m so original with my username!I’ve found R32oc a bit hit and miss to be honest.
I’m not sure if it’s just me but on the iPhone I find it hard to find the active topics.
A lot of the time it feels a bit like a ghost town, and searching active topics seems to come up blank. I’ve a feeling the forum is having some technical issues too?
I think my thread here has had more R32 owners pop in than my threads at R32oc.
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