Golf R32 or Golf Edition 30 *mk5 dsg*?

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Soldato
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I'm posting this thread as I would like opinions on the Golf R32 MK5 against the MK5 GTI (Edition 30).

I have £8k to spend and as I've been doing my research both of these models seem to be around similiar price. The ads of sale which I have viewed seem to show that r32's are better equipped than the Edition 30's. 5 Doors is a must.

I know what to look out for on each model (common faults, etc), though before I go heart over head I am wondering from your experiences if anybody has them which will be the better buy? As I've read countless threads everyone seems to say the Edition 30 is the better buy.

I am undecided on which to purchase.

R32

Pros:

* Specs are decent, xenons, heated leather seats, nav, some have recaro wingbacks seats in the budget I have.
* 4WD
* Noise
* Seem to have character
* N/A so not much to go wrong
* Launch and grip
* Chain driven

Cons:

* Running costs such as fuel are expensive for performance on offer
* Later cars are £500? To tax a year
* Not much tuning unless you go F/I
* Haldex/DSG issues may arise if not been serviced correctly (though that's something I can investigate when viewing)

Edition 30

Pros:

* Tuning is relatively easy for not a lot of money. Can be made into very quick cars
* Running costs are reasonable for performance on offer
* More cars for sale
* DSG farts
**Possibly find a decent Pirelli for exclusivity - though some are stupidly expensive for the most if I want exclusivity**

Cons:

* Some are not that well spec'd for the price they're demanding.
* 2WD FWD
* Doesn't look very special (at least to me),
* No sense of occasion out of the box
* Turbo etc, so more to be careful of.
* cambelt driven

I've never owned a turbo petrol car, so not sure if I'd enjoy it. I do prefer N/A even to the tdi I own at the moment.

Again, both appeal to me, I'm not going in thinking the R32 is a rocket ship. Having had some fun with one I didn't find it very fast though the noise is what's swaying me the most, with the looks.

Drove a GTI with a stage 2 apr and that was silly quick for the 10 mins I drove it. Other then that I didn't find it very special to drive even after the upgrades.

So any advice is appreciated, to help me decide.

TL;DR - Have £8k, want a golf mk5. GTI Edition 30 or R32.
 
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I looked into the R32 op but they seem massively overpriced for what they are in fact I’m sure the prices have gone up over the last 18 months because it has the 3.2 v6. Your talking 7k for a reasonable mileage good 2006 which is just not worth it for a 11yr old car IMO.
I like N/A engines I even prefer my slower ST220 power delivery to the Torque and Turbo delivery of the ST225 I had as you just can’t beat winding a car up to 7k revs without the power dropping.
As for the edition 30 yes they map incredibly well like the Cupra k1 but at the end of the day to most people they just look the same as a 10 yr old GTI which now looks incredibly dated. Imo on looks the R32 in that blue with the nicer alloys and central twin exhausts and noise really all look and sound better than the edition 30 ever will
 
bloodiedathame said:
I'd be asking myself if either of those R effected by the emissions scandal. If so, avoid at this point in time (2.0 golf estate mk5 owner).
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Not that I can see on the internet. Only affected diesels.

Jumper118 said:
as this is ocuk motors. i think a w8 passat for £5000 and £3000 to fix and fuel it is the best option.
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Like the practically of a hatchback. Though an R36 estate wouldn't go a miss if it wasn't over budget.

Currently, looking at cars to go view. Luckily a dealer near me has an R32, so I'll probably go see that to get a feel.

@neocon I would have thought the R32 is more reliable due to not having a turbo and stuff.
 
You’d get DSG farts on a DSG R32 as well :)

My folks had a mk5 R32 a while ago now, and I’ve had an A3 3.2 DSG which is reasonably similar, and loved driving both.
 
@Ev0, I see you can with a spark cut ecu map. Good to know, thanks for that.

@Armageus I prefer the shape of the Golf to the A3. Never really liked the A3 shape to be honest.

@MSTRBKR See, I'm used to driving with the lump of torque that comes in early with a diesel engine. I know the power is linear with petrol turbo's even more so with a map though I guess not having experienced one for a while, how linear it is.
 
I was looking at the A3 3.2 mainly because they're cheaper than the Golf, but ended up with a 130i instead which I'd ruled out initially due to looks.

Now I don't think it's bad looking at all :p

But yeah you'll get a nice 265bhp inline 6 engine, with better economy than the R32 and hopefully one with xenon etc.
 
In all honesty, after hearing of the troubles my work colleague has had with her DSG equipped Skoda VRS (6 weeks off the road and counting, apparently unrepairable and now needs a whole new gearbox) I'd be tempted by an Edition 30 with a manual 'box.
 
MSTRBKR said:
The mk5 GTI engine is the same as in my yeti (though different power outputs) and it’s really quite linear.
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Don't think it is? Yeti only comes with the 1.8TSI and that's not the same engine as the 1.8T in the Mk4 GTI I don't think. Mk5 GTI is the 2.0TFSI.
 
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