R32 discussions

Z28Driver · Dec 29, 2003

ok so by now we have probably all seen this article that goes into some detail about the US Spec R32 http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_550.shtml

and in typical VW fashion VW seems to have screwed up a good idea on paper by changing some things that were not supposed to happen. I hear one thing is a higher suspension then originally planned, and while some say it is so that the car can do well on US roads I find that hard to believe considering my 20th GTi is so low. Another thing is the price 30 grand for something that thus far has rather bland performance #'s. Lastly the thing has very few outside differences from the 20th AE GTi save for a front bumper and rear bumper.....I suppose I'll reserve final judgement until it hits US Shores for sure but right now it seems to be another case of a new VW vehicle leaving you scratch your head

Sullie · Dec 29, 2003

Z28Driver said:
ok so by now we have probably all seen this article that goes into some detail about the US Spec R32 http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_550.shtml

and in typical VW fashion VW seems to have screwed up a good idea on paper by changing some things that were not supposed to happen. I hear one thing is a higher suspension then originally planned, and while some say it is so that the car can do well on US roads I find that hard to believe considering my 20th GTi is so low. Another thing is the price 30 grand for something that thus far has rather bland performance #'s. Lastly the thing has very few outside differences from the 20th AE GTi save for a front bumper and rear bumper.....I suppose I'll reserve final judgement until it hits US Shores for sure but right now it seems to be another case of a new VW vehicle leaving you scratch your head

I like the styling, the interior, the attention to details, etc. however - when you compare this car to the WRX and STI, Lancer Evo VIII and 350Z - all cars within it's price range - from a performance standpoint - the R32 is no match. This I don't quite get. I don't know of too many people, aside from the VW diehards, that would readily give up 30k for this serious lack of horsepower. VW should have made this car closer to 300 horsepower or make the price of the car as is closer to 24k in my opinion.

ronaldmcdonald · Dec 29, 2003

Even at 24k, the R32 isn't much of a match with the standard WRX, and the turbo neon. I did like the base 1.8t gti, the 337, and the 30th ann Gti, but it's not diff to predict the r32 is going to fail miserably in such a competitive hi-po market. This poorly thought out car has no chance of suceeding.

jaycevs · Dec 29, 2003

There are buyers for it, and they are not planning on selling that many, the next golf is out shortly. I am a VW diehard, dont want to drive anything else anymore, so my opinion on this probaly does not mean much. So why do people buy an audi TT if the R32 is so bad?

VW4.0L · Dec 29, 2003

Well, they gotta save more horses from 3.2 for Passat B6 (or 4B, don't know what it's gonna be), right :wink: Or what am I going to replace W8 with??? I am sure they could extract 260 out of it with no sweat, they have their reasons not toi do it. Leave it to Germans, they know what their doing. 4mo (so that there is some traction on hot start) 6sp GTI with some horses to spare-if I were 5-8 years yonger, I would order one already :thumbup:

passaturbonium · Dec 29, 2003

Sullie said:
Z28Driver said:

ok so by now we have probably all seen this article that goes into some detail about the US Spec R32 http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_550.shtml

and in typical VW fashion VW seems to have screwed up a good idea on paper by changing some things that were not supposed to happen. I hear one thing is a higher suspension then originally planned, and while some say it is so that the car can do well on US roads I find that hard to believe considering my 20th GTi is so low. Another thing is the price 30 grand for something that thus far has rather bland performance #'s. Lastly the thing has very few outside differences from the 20th AE GTi save for a front bumper and rear bumper.....I suppose I'll reserve final judgement until it hits US Shores for sure but right now it seems to be another case of a new VW vehicle leaving you scratch your head

Click to expand...

I like the styling, the interior, the attention to details, etc. however - when you compare this car to the WRX and STI, Lancer Evo VIII and 350Z - all cars within it's price range - from a performance standpoint - the R32 is no match. This I don't quite get. I don't know of too many people, aside from the VW diehards, that would readily give up 30k for this serious lack of horsepower. VW should have made this car closer to 300 horsepower or make the price of the car as is closer to 24k in my opinion.

Come on people don't buy cars for its performance....its the package that counts. How it does everything!

Why do people buy 911s when you can have Z06 cheaper. Why do people get 100k Benzs when your STi or Vettes are faster.

Its not about performance....and VW has never been in the performance til...most are enthusiast cars with room to modify.

I look at R32 and hope that VW finally gets into performance dept....it would be nice. I still think that R32 is a great car and there is hopefully more to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Do you hear me VW?

IMO R32 looks 10 times better then STI or EVO.....or any NEON ever will. From the design stand point and uniqueness this car shynes! I love it....

Peace haters

:lol:

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Z28Driver · Dec 29, 2003

VW doesn't hear you...this is only further proof they are completely out of touch with the consumer.....rumored #'s for this thing are 0-60 in 6.5 seconds...if thats the case its not performance its just an expensive lowered SUV

ronaldmcdonald · Dec 29, 2003

Yeah i agree ppl buy a car for the whole package. I think qualities such as luxury, prestige (as in the name badge, and prob good servicing like you get at Lexus, Acura, or Mercedes), design, and practicality are also what some ppl would take into acct when buying a car.

I guess design is subjective, so maybe there's not much point in argueing that. Although imo, neither the STi, EVO, R32, 350Z are very visually appealing cars at all. Otherwise, I can't see how the R32 stands out in any other areas. You don't get much prestige with a VW, reliability is always a risk factor, and the practicality just isn't there with a 2-door hatch compared to it's mostly 4-door competitors. Then again, the $30k price range arena is really tough! You get to niche where you're also competing with entry level 3-series and G35's (which seems like what 80% of ppl get if they want a 30k sport/luxury car).

But hey, back to the 'entire package' idea, I think a more logical solution would be to bring the R32 as Audi A3/S3 clone instead w/ a similar price. You're essenstially sharing the same platform, so the car doesn't have to be much more expensive. But at the same time, you're getting an Audi badge. Even if reliability is so-so, at least you have the relief of better servicing (and maybe also better resale). With a luxury brand, i think most buyers are willing to settle for less performance. I know I would be much more apt to buy an A3 w/ the R32's performance, given that price and all other factors were held constant.

StormChaser404 · Dec 30, 2003

They can't bring the R32 over an an A3 becaudse we ARE getting the REAL A3 for 2004. We're getting the 2004 A3 5-door...

Sullie · Dec 30, 2003

passaturbonium said:
Come on people don't buy cars for its performance....its the package that counts. How it does everything!

Why do people buy 911s when you can have Z06 cheaper. Why do people get 100k Benzs when your STi or Vettes are faster.

Its not about performance....and VW has never been in the performance til...most are enthusiast cars with room to modify.

I look at R32 and hope that VW finally gets into performance dept....it would be nice. I still think that R32 is a great car and there is hopefully more to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Do you hear me VW?

IMO R32 looks 10 times better then STI or EVO.....or any NEON ever will. From the design stand point and uniqueness this car shynes! I love it....

Peace haters :lol:

Hater??? - come on now please dude - I've taken more gruff on here merely "suggesting" a VW than most have!

I know people mod their VW's and I like the R32 quite a bit there, I just think they can and should do better for the money right out of the box (without having to buy expensive mods) is all I was getting at. I wouldn't change anything else about it.

I know people buy cars as a status thing but to me the R32 is less of a status symbol than a WRX STi or Evo VIII - just my opinon - because MOST people look at it and think "oh, a Golf". The less clueless think "oh, neat GTI" but VW folks and more informed think "oh wow R32 - sweet" - like you and I.

But you know, personally, I like the R32 A LOT and I like it's styling A LOT more than the cars mentioned (WRX/EVO) but I guess that's why I'm on the VW boards and not the Subie/Mitsu boards.

I would just _hate_ getting blown away at the stop light by a WRX or EVO in my 30k R32, that's all I was getting at.

Peace right back at ya!

1Point8T · Dec 30, 2003

The R32 is an autobahn cruiser… not sure how much it means to us in America though. :suspicio:

I’ve read many great reviews about the R32 in Evo and other British magazines. Its performance figures aren’t impressive, and the fact that a 5-door is not available really sucks. I would rather wait for the Golf V than get the R32.

Medrosje · Dec 30, 2003

ain't it a shame that the majority of people that buy these limited edition cars are just fad-sters, and not "enthusiasts". That's who buys the majority of these cars and therefore the companies cater to their needs (hence, the softer suspension, etc.).

Sullie · Dec 30, 2003

Medrosje said:
ain't it a shame that the majority of people that buy these limited edition cars are just fad-sters, and not "enthusiasts". That's who buys the majority of these cars and therefore the companies cater to their needs (hence, the softer suspension, etc.).

I think it's a dual edged sword because some of those folks will buy it and become new VW enthuasists. Others will buy it, trash it and move on to the next thing and continue that trend. Since it's not a new model/design, I think you'll probably see less of that with the R32. But you always get the good with the bad but I'd like to think the fad-sters are looking more towards the Type-S-mobiles, WRX's, EVO's, etc. . . . hopefully!

ronaldmcdonald · Dec 31, 2003

duandcc said:
They can't bring the R32 over an an A3 becaudse we ARE getting the REAL A3 for 2004. We're getting the 2004 A3 5-door...

yeah i know Audi plans to bring the A3 over anyways. My point was that the R32 idea (3.2VR6 motor, 4wd, recaros, 4pots brakes, lighter golf platform, etc) would prob sell a lot better if the package came in an Audi, in the form of a suped-up A3 (maybe call it the S-line A3 or S3), when Audi decides to bring over the A3. So, we still get the R32 car. Only it comes w/ an Audi shell and badge. Meanwhile, the whole VW Gti R32 idea should be scrapped alltogether, or the price should be reduced considerably.

StormChaser404 · Dec 31, 2003

Ah but the S3 WILL have all those goodies. The prediction for the 5-door S3 is: 3.2 Vr6 (possibly supercharged) , 6spd manual, quattro, 18" rims, lower tighter suspension, very mean looking...sounds like a R32 wth 4-rings...

aldolicious77 · Dec 31, 2003

i wish we could put those r32 seats in the passat

AlexDrivesAPassat · Dec 31, 2003

Are R32's out here in the US yet? I coulda sworn i saw a mustard colored VR6 4-mo 'GTI' out on the road a few weeks ago.

Maybe I'm just seeing things... :weirdo:

l5gcw0b · Jan 1, 2004

You'd think they could find better fitting seat covers for a press photo....

...and yes, I am a self admitted dash stroker.

screeech1 · Jan 2, 2004

Z28Driver said:
Another thing is the price 30 grand for something that thus far has rather bland performance #'s. Lastly the thing has very few outside differences from the 20th AE GTi save for a front bumper and rear bumper.....I suppose I'll reserve final judgement until it hits US Shores for sure but right now it seems to be another case of a new VW vehicle leaving you scratch your head

AWD, true dual exhaust system, fully independent rear suspension to name a few more of the major differences, add to that a beautiful engine with so much tuning potential. And to tell the truth, I think its worth the extra $$ just to save myself from the hideous shifter in the 20th AE :lol: Like you said, Im saving judgement until I see it and drive it. I have a deposit down on one, but will see how it performs. I think its pretty silly how much skepticism is around for no one every driving/seeing one. As for the performance #'s, something tells me 0-60 in 6.4 secs is somewhat conservative, and as we all know, 0-60 alone is only one stat to measure a car's "performance".

VWGUY4EVER · Jan 2, 2004

"0-60 alone is only one stat to measure a car's "performance".

Well put screeech. Not everyone buys a car to be the fastest on the block. Given my daily commute, I'd probably take the R32 over an Evo or STi, numbers be damned. The response & torque of the 3.2 ltr would probably be more driveable in day to day traffic than either of those would be. If I were a "weekend warior" on the track, I'd more likely opt for one of the others.

B5sport · Jan 2, 2004

Some interesting and valid points..I agree that they should have pushed up the HP on this car closer to 300

I'm assuming that the biggest difference between the R32, STI, and EVO ect will be the exceptional finish of the R32

Sullie said:
Z28Driver said:

ok so by now we have probably all seen this article that goes into some detail about the US Spec R32 http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_550.shtml

and in typical VW fashion VW seems to have screwed up a good idea on paper by changing some things that were not supposed to happen. I hear one thing is a higher suspension then originally planned, and while some say it is so that the car can do well on US roads I find that hard to believe considering my 20th GTi is so low. Another thing is the price 30 grand for something that thus far has rather bland performance #'s. Lastly the thing has very few outside differences from the 20th AE GTi save for a front bumper and rear bumper.....I suppose I'll reserve final judgement until it hits US Shores for sure but right now it seems to be another case of a new VW vehicle leaving you scratch your head

Click to expand...

I like the styling, the interior, the attention to details, etc. however - when you compare this car to the WRX and STI, Lancer Evo VIII and 350Z - all cars within it's price range - from a performance standpoint - the R32 is no match. This I don't quite get. I don't know of too many people, aside from the VW diehards, that would readily give up 30k for this serious lack of horsepower. VW should have made this car closer to 300 horsepower or make the price of the car as is closer to 24k in my opinion.

IDriveB5 · Jan 2, 2004

i sat in one at the washington auto show a couple days ago. i must say i was grinning ear to ear, until i saw the price tag. i think that a lot of people will be doing the same.

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