Mk5 R32

I've owned a series of VW's including Golfs both in GTI and VR6 guise. I recently bought a mk6 GTI which is very similar to the mk5 (sometimes referred to as a mk5.5 they are so similar in underpinning). I almost bought a mk5 R32 but wanted to try a ligher more agile and GTI like car again. Here are my thoughts...

GTI is nimbler.
GTI is more tunable than the R32 so faster if this is done.
GTI feels more of a drivers car.
R32 feels more planted.
R32 sounds lovely.
R32 may be subject to scene tax but you get it back again when you sell it.
R32 is an unusual beast - large N/A engine with 4WD in a hatchback - not many cars like that.
R32 after March 2006 has silly high car vehicle excise duty.
R32 has more traction.
GTI is probably cheaper to insure.

I really do enjoy driving the GTI. It does everything well. Generally most people accept that the GTI is the better all round car. But if I were to buy again then I'd get the R32. But I keep flip-flopping betwen 4cyl turbo and V6 cars. Drive both and see how you feel.

celliott said:
You'll have a lot more fun in a GTI, especially with a Stage1 remap which will transform the car. I can highly recommend bluefin, had my MK6 GTI mapped for over a year now (260bhp) and grin every time I drive it.
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How much did the remap cost?
 
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If it is a DSG V6 you want then the A3 is far better value. Same car, just thousands cheaper!
For me it is a GTI. Newer car for the money, no stupid >£450 tax disc.
I am only really saying the same as other people have already said.
I am put off by the market value of the R32 as I feel I can get better/newer cars of similar performance for the money.


You have really got to want an R32. If you do, then buy one as it won't be a let down.
 
mattyfez said:
The awd/4 x4 is the thinking mans choice, drivechain power loss maybe, but youll be able to tank it round corners a lot better. Map it and win win.
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Mapping it is largely pointless even with supporting mods until you go forced induction. You'll get maybe 10-15bhp out of it if you're lucky.
On the plus side if you do spend the ~£4-5k to supercharge it or I think slightly more to turbo it the engines can take a lot of punishment. The 2.8L will need uprated injectors at about 300bhp but IIRC that's all until about 350bhp.

86JR said:
Jumping on bandwagons only works when you get the facts right, it was not an S3 it was a stage 2+ 280hp A3.
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I ask again, what usage pattern? I averaged just over 25mpg over the first 5.5k miles of ownership (haven't got round to updating the next year or so yet). It's probably dropped a bit this year due to more city driving but seriously, I'd not expect that low from a 2L turbo in comparison to a larger and probably heavier V6.
 
A3 3.2 V6 is you want a cheaper R32

Same engine, 4wd, noise etc. Just no scene tax, plenty of money spare for the extra fuel cost.

If you are set on a golf then GTi or ED30 all the way, it's just a more flexible car all round.
 
If I was to go down the R32 route (which I wont on a running cost / performance basis), it would HAVE to be the mk4. It is just a MUCH nicer looking motor. It stands out more. There is nothing special looking about the mk5. The only real difference visually is the center tail-pipes.

Either way though, it will be a disappointment unless you really lust after an R32. For you budget you should manage a far nicer, more capable motor. For example this :

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ge/1/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new?logcode=p

Still under the 10k budget, has sat-nav, bluetooth, xenons etc... Faster out the box, stick a JB4 on it and you will have a proper weapon (360+ BHP and still under budget). SE spec coupes were very well specced, only real difference between that and M-Sport was the bumpers and wheels, has all the xenons and stuff.
 
Clearly they're not appropriate for this budget, but in general -

Not to shout out my own car (well a little) but I do think the 4motions are much underappreciated cars. You totally avoid the scene tax of the R32 and get a very capable motor that shares most of its components with the R32 without some of the "look at me" which is also nice IMO as it makes it less worry to park in dodgy places. If you're feeling down on power/brakes you can even get in a supercharger conversion for the cost of the scene tax.
 
You'd never get that money back though, which is something you can't say about the R32. Plus you're talking mk4 vs mk5 (I know you've recognised that) which, even though it's long in the tooth now still looks much fresher than the mk4.

The Vr6 4mo is quite a good budget but capable car, not much more than that though imo.
 
Lots of useful replies, thanks guys.

There don't seem to be many Ed30s for sale unfortunately, I suppose this is to be expected. I'll keep looking though.

Fair few R32s about, but they all seem to be highish mileage. Is this something I should be wary of? I suppose 60-70k for the age of car isn't bad. Haven't seen any for sale at VW dealers either, which surprised me.
 
rodenal said:
You'd never get that money back though, which is something you can't say about the R32. Plus you're talking mk4 vs mk5 (I know you've recognised that) which, even though it's long in the tooth now still looks much fresher than the mk4.

The Vr6 4mo is quite a good budget but capable car, not much more than that though imo.
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Yeah true, the R32s are always going to be silly prices whereas a supercharged 4mo is worth about as much as a 4mo and a McDonald's.
 
Vision said:
Lots of useful replies, thanks guys.

There don't seem to be many Ed30s for sale unfortunately, I suppose this is to be expected. I'll keep looking though.

Fair few R32s about, but they all seem to be highish mileage. Is this something I should be wary of? I suppose 60-70k for the age of car isn't bad. Haven't seen any for sale at VW dealers either, which surprised me.
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60-70k is what i'd call low miles tbh, it's entirely up to you but generally speaking if you steer clear of 100k+ (when you'll be selling it) you don't take much of a value hit. Staying outside of the real outliers like 20k cars or 200k cars anyway
 
sovietspybob said:
How do the A3 3.2's stack up against the R32? They were a lot cheaper the last time i looked.
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I have an early A3 3.2 dsg, my folks used to have a mk5 R32 manual a while ago which I drove a fair bit so have some reference for comparison.

A3 is a bit softer but a lot cheaper, plus I prefer the interior over the Golf. Exterior of the Golf looks more sporty with the A3 being a bit too understated maybe.

But there isn't that much between the two, apart from the price ;)

Paid less than 4k for mine and its been great, love it.
 
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