Article Comments - 2008 VW R32 First Drive and Follow-Up Test

121 messages, Last post on Aug 19, 2009 at 3:27 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen R32, Hatchback

First Drive: 2008 Volkswagen R32 - You need to really like German hatchbacks to appreciate the R32's combination of performance and upscale comfort. If you don't, you won't. (more)

Follow-Up Test: 2008 Volkswagen R32 - If pinpoint refinement is your overriding priority in hot-hatch selection, the 2008 VW R32 is the obvious choice. But some will find it too thoroughly baked. (more)

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#2 of 121 Re: Article Comments - 2008 VW R32 First Drive [KarenS] by eljefe68 Jun 29, 2007 (11:52 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Jun 29, 2007 9:02 am) The R32 has always been an interesting car to me, and the previous generation was a legitimate step up in performance over the 1.8T GTIs it shared the showroom with. However, now that 2.0T GTIs are around and folks like Car and Driver are getting 0-60 times of 6.2 seconds, the new R32 is not appearing to be much of an upgrade. Sure, the VR6 sounds sweet and AWD will give it great handling, but how many are really going to want to pay more for a car that is no faster or at worst slower? Replies to this message: rwr1 (Jul 14, 2007 5:57 pm) eldaino (Jul 16, 2007 9:29 am)
#3 of 121 no scepticism here, just curiosity... by xgc75 Jun 29, 2007 (2:54 pm)
I've driven some VR6's in the past, two of which were MkIII and MkIV Golf R32s. I'm all for these cars, they really do own their own segment of the market if by driving personality alone. Which, for good reason, has granted them a loyal if not steadfast following of 'Dub heads. What will be interesting to me is if this tight niche accepts this R32, given that it is a rarity to find a VR6 in a new VW these days; yet few modern (MkV chassis) VWs actually do appeal to them due to a new (and clunky) brand image. So we'll see? I'll be watching intently...
#4 of 121 It's a VW so it will fall apart after 12,000 miles by ttbuyer Jun 29, 2007 (8:23 pm)
VW's are terrible cars. I'm sure this overpriced Rabbit is a hoot to drive but after about 9 months you'll be sorry you didn't buy Japanese. I had a 1999 VW. Worst car I ever owed except for a 1977 Fiat X1/9. A lot less fun than the Fiat too. Buyer beware! Replies to this message: xgc75 (Jun 30, 2007 6:31 am) eldaino (Jul 02, 2007 9:03 am) sonic0075 (Jul 02, 2007 6:29 pm)
#5 of 121 If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... by kurtamaxxxguy Jun 29, 2007 (8:59 pm)
then why are the orders for it flying about at VW dealers? VW USA, which by now should clearly understand what its USA customers want, would benefit greatly from bringing over a few more R32's here. Then again, perhaps they __want__ their dealers to enjoy one of the few mega_markup opportunities around? And degrading an AWD car because it's a measly 0.2 sec slower than its understandably lighter FWD version seems very shortsighted. The AWD is going to perform in places that will leave the GTI stuck, or worse. That comparison reminds me of recent C&D comparo comparing a bunch of hatchbacks under wintery conditions. While heaping praise on the GTI, just like you did, they found it helpless in the snow. So, to get around in the snowy areas -and- get a decent amount of sport to boot, they drove the only AWD in their test, a Subie! As for the Edmunds R32 article, it __was__ helpful and interesting! Please keep 'em comming! Replies to this message: eljefe68 (Jul 02, 2007 6:54 am) 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 6:39 am) 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 7:59 am) and 3 more...
#6 of 121 Re: It's a VW so it will fall apart after 12,000 miles [ttbuyer] by xgc75 Jun 30, 2007 (6:31 am)
Replying to: ttbuyer (Jun 29, 2007 8:23 pm) I own a '99 Passat 1.8T 5spd with 230,000 miles, all original parts save a half axle, clutch and control arm. I haven't spent more than $800 maintaining this car, and I take good care of it like an owner should. What about VWs falling apart?
#7 of 121 "What about VW's falling apart?" by mugwomp Jun 30, 2007 (11:43 pm)
"What about VW's falling apart?" Google' "VW" "lemon" - should keep you busy until Christmas. Replies to this message: 600kgolfgt (Jul 01, 2007 4:02 pm)
#8 of 121 Don't see the big deal by ccd1 Jul 01, 2007 (9:03 am)
The R32 is the VW version of the A3 3.2. The biggest rap on the 6 cylinder A3 is that it isn't sufficiently better than the 4 cylinder model to justify the steep price increase from the 2.0T to the 3.2. Why isn't the same question being asked here and why isn't the answer the same as well???
#9 of 121 Re: "What about VW's falling apart?" [mugwomp] by 600kgolfgt Jul 01, 2007 (4:02 pm)
Replying to: mugwomp (Jun 30, 2007 11:43 pm) "What about VW's falling apart?" Google' "VW" "lemon" - should keep you busy until Christmas. Lets see, so based on that statement, every VW I've owned has been a lemon: Past VWs: 1975 VW Scirocco - 200,000 miles 1987 VW Golf GT - 624,000 miles Current VWs: 1997 VW Jetta Trek - 219,000 miles 2003 Wolfsburg Jetta 1.8T - 98,000 miles 2003 Passat GLS 1.8T - 68,000 miles So in your estimation, I've owned 25 years worth of lemons. In my estimation, you've spent too much time looking at Google (and probably too much time text messaging while driving) and not enough time learning how to properly maintain an automobile. Let me guess - you own a Japanese vehicle, right? Probably one of those Camry or Corolla owners that drive as though in a trance... People are so predictable these days...
#10 of 121 Re: If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... [kurtamaxxxguy] by eljefe68 Jul 02, 2007 (6:54 am)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jun 29, 2007 8:59 pm) I do not view the R32 with caution simply because it looks to be slower than a FWD GTI. The cost of the car, to me, is the issue. No doubt AWD has great appeal to folks in snowy regions, but is that appeal worth a $8 to $10K increase in price? I am not sure, especially in the face of new EVOs and WRX/STIs lurking on the horizon. Where in my post do I "heap praise on the GTI"? I am just stating the facts. As for that C/D review you and I reference (20 year subscriber), it is worth noting that, in addition to AWD, only the Subie had all-season tires, and the SE-R managed to get around due to its LSD. Maybe the GTI, as well as the others, would not have been so helpless if they were not on 'summer' peformance tires. Replies to this message: 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 6:39 am) 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 7:59 am) eldaino (Jul 09, 2007 10:12 am) tcrawley1 (Jul 12, 2007 9:40 am) and 1 more...
#11 of 121 None of this makes any sense!!! by ccd1 Jul 02, 2007 (8:35 am)
Let me spell this out. Inside Line reviewed the A3 3.2 and found the car to be marginally faster than the 2.0T and not even close to worth the the $5-10K premium being asked for the car. Now they review the R32 and make virtually no mention of the GTI. These are the same cars! If the added weight of the 6 cylinder engine plus AWD wipes out the performance advantage of 50 extra HP in the A3 3.2, it does the same thing in the R32! And if the extra cost of the A3 3.2 is not worth it, neither is the extra cost of the R32 because the price difference between the GTI and R32 is roughly the same as for the A3 2.0T and 3.2. Now for the final piece of the insanity. In Inside Line's review of the 2008 Audi TT, they preferred the 3.2! Why??? We are talking the same engines and drive trains! The 3.2 liter V-6 in the TT suffers from the same weight disadvantage as in the A3 and the R32 and should largely wipe out any performance advantage of the larger engine. And just like the A3 3.2/R32, the TT 3.2 should not be worth the extra money over the TT 2.0T. Replies to this message: bananadan (Jul 13, 2007 9:44 pm) eldaino (Jul 16, 2007 9:34 am)