Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › VW R32, what do you think?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

VW R32, what do you think?

post #1 of 47
2/27/08 at 10:32pm
Thread Starter 
I drove the new VW R32. I never expected it to be so much fun. And, it has more HP and growl than a Boxster.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 47
2/27/08 at 11:19pm
Nice car for the money. Too cute, though.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 47
2/27/08 at 11:20pm
Great car with a lot of pep.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 47
2/28/08 at 12:03am
i like the r32. i looked at it but ended up on the other side of the dealership with audi. although i never drove the GTI or R32, i drove a TT with the 3.2L and found it had decent power, but the 2.0 Turbo was much more peppy and fun to drive. I would make sure to drive a 2.0T GTI before making up your mind. I decided I would prefer a more sporty car that was more finnished than the VW. Although my TT with the small engine and no quattro ended up being around the same price as an R32 with the big engine and all wheel drive, it's hard to beat the styling of the new TT. The interior is a spitting image of the R8. One option i would have made sure to get is the magnetic ride. Still kicking myself for not getting it.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 47
2/28/08 at 1:09am
Lots of power and FWD really don't go well together.

--Andre
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 47
2/28/08 at 1:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Yew View Post
Lots of power and FWD really don't go well together.

--Andre

R32 has Haldex AWD system. I test drove the R32 in Nov. and the best part of the car was the new dual clutch DSG. DSG paddle shifter was so quick the R32 was like a F1 car. Even in automatic mode the DSG was incredibly smooth.

The R32 is well equipped and the V-6 has a timing chain for lower maintenance.

Still, I couldn't pull the trigger and pay $33k for a super Golf. The R32 is a steal compared to the Audi versions but keep in mind it is still a VW. With any VW your gonna deal with inconsistant reliability, terrible dealer network and customer service.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 47
2/28/08 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by UMass View Post
R32 has Haldex AWD system.

Oops. My mistake. In that case, it sounds like an interesting car.

--Andre
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 47
2/28/08 at 12:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy View Post
And, it has more HP and growl than a Boxster.
The bolded part is wrong, unless you're talking 2004 or earlier non-S boxsters. Of course, the Boxster is twice the price, so it's kind of a weird comparison to start with.

Also, there are cars that offer a lot better performance for the money (Evolution, or WRX STI). It's up to you whether you want to deal with the rice-boy image...
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 47
2/28/08 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by UMass View Post
With any VW your gonna deal with inconsistant reliability, terrible dealer network and customer service.

Quoted for truth.

Jon.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 47
2/28/08 at 12:44pm
I have the GTI and I think the whole golf platform is great but for 35k I would really go for the new STI unless you really want a DGI transmission. You lose may lose a little in the looks department but you gain alot in the speed and handling. In addition the subaru will be cheaper to maintain and more reliable.

Even with all that, I'd rather drive around a RE32 than a bottom of the barrel audi a4 or 3 series.

In the end if you want to pay 35k for a hot hatch for the performence aspect you may as well buy the fastest one you can (the STI) but if want the understated image of the RE32 then no one can say its the wrong choice.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 47
2/28/08 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by UMass View Post
With any VW your gonna deal with inconsistant reliability, terrible dealer network and customer service.

My wife has owned 4 VW GTI's and Golfs over many years and she has not found that to be the case.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 47
2/28/08 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy View Post
My wife has owned 4 VW GTI's and Golfs over many years and she has not found that to be the case.
I've had lots of cars over the years but one of my favorites was a Volkswagen diesel that I had when I was in graduate school. I put well over 200,000 miles on it. I've had other Volkswagen, too, that were great cars.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 47
2/28/08 at 4:59pm
I like the idea of a porky engined AWD Golf but I think it is probably too heavy to be fun. But I would not mind driving one around for a bit (as long as it were under warranty )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serg View Post
I have the GTI and I think the whole golf platform is great but for 35k I would really go for the new STI unless you really want a DGI transmission. You lose may lose a little in the looks department but you gain alot in the speed and handling. In addition the subaru will be cheaper to maintain and more reliable. Even with all that, I'd rather drive around a RE32 than a bottom of the barrel audi a4 or 3 series. In the end if you want to pay 35k for a hot hatch for the performence aspect you may as well buy the fastest one you can (the STI) but if want the understated image of the RE32 then no one can say its the wrong choice.
I agree, an STI station wagon would be nicer in my view
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 47
2/28/08 at 5:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by UMass View Post
the best part of the car was the new dual clutch DSG. DSG paddle shifter was so quick the R32 was like a F1 car. Even in automatic mode the DSG was incredibly smooth.

So true! Best part about these cars is the DSG.

And I would agree, the GTI/R32 feel quite heavy. Test drive the TT and you will def. feel the difference, as the TT's body, as a majority, is aluminum.

For those who aren't aware, the DSG is a manual transmission (not fluid based like automatics). this tranny utalizes dual clutches. One clutch operates 1/3/5 while the other handles R/2/4/6. As you a driving in one gear, the computer anticipates the next gear that you are likely to need. The second clutch will preselect that gear. In auto mode, the computer will engage the next gear at the correct time. In manual mode, you can input your next gear selection via stearing wheel mounted paddles or using the gear shifter (ala tiptronic). It is very responsive and overall, quite impressive.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 47
2/28/08 at 5:19pm
Skalgore and Serg,

I've been a fan of the STI's for some time now, but aside from the upgraded interior and performance features, I just cannot get past the looks of the new model.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › VW R32, what do you think?