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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#28 of 121 Re: Read the reviews [sonic0075] by eldaino Jul 05, 2007 (6:54 am)
Replying to: sonic0075 (Jul 04, 2007 10:18 pm) your first post made me happy, this one does not. dsg makes a car faster; it shifts quicker than a human can, and wether that is good or not for track duty is a different subject, since the 'fast' we are talking about here is 0-60. and no, the new r32 DOES NOT weigh less than the one you have. enjoy your r32, dont' hate on the new one. no one is making you drive it and it is stil a great ride. (not everyone is using it for the track you know. ) Replies to this message: sonic0075 (Jul 05, 2007 5:18 pm) eldaino (Jul 06, 2007 4:48 am)
#29 of 121 Re: Read the reviews [ccd1] by eldaino Jul 05, 2007 (7:00 am)
Replying to: ccd1 (Jul 03, 2007 6:10 pm) because the a3 3.2 has never been an exclusive limited edition model that will sell for close to or more than its orginal price? ( plus aside from the r32's exclusivity, its still a bit cheaper than the a3 3.2 is it not?) people come on! what other car can claim that but an old classic muscle car or exotic? plain and simple we cant just go on the a3 comparos just because they use the same engines. i belive the audi's weigh a bit more as well. (hence why an a3 2.0t is slower than a gti.) what answer is it that you are looking for? vw is going to change the fact that any of these cars exist, the pepole who want to buy one will buy it regardless if you think its not worth it. there is no sense in trying to 'decipher' this further!
#30 of 121 Re: Read the reviews [eldaino] by sonic0075 Jul 05, 2007 (5:18 pm)
Replying to: eldaino (Jul 05, 2007 6:54 am) Wow, I feel so bad for displeasing this magical person on an edmunds.com sound off board. You are correct. The new R32 is heavier (100 pounds about). It is ironic how you say that the track feel doesn't matter considering every magazine comments on the R32's track times and handling and prowess. So we will take the track out of it. You take your DSG up any windy mountain road and I take my 6 speed manual and we will see who is happier with his/her gearbox Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 06, 2007 4:48 am)
#31 of 121 Re: Read the reviews [sonic0075] by eldaino Jul 06, 2007 (4:48 am)
Replying to: sonic0075 (Jul 05, 2007 5:18 pm) I feel so bad for displeasing this magical person on an edmunds.com sound off board hope you are being sarcastic, because its no biggie, i correct misinformation all the time. no one is saying track feel doesn't 'matter'. Im just saying its not at the top of everyones list. and since most people buying the new r32 will want it for more reasons that just track times, the dsg suits it well. if track is all you are preoccupied with, then get an older r32 ,simple as that. (something that you already have done.) You take your DSG up any windy mountain road and I take my 6 speed manual and we will see who is happier with his/her gearbox i'm pretty sure that if i chose a dsg gearbox and was going up a mountain road, i'd love it just as much as you love your manual, because its to each his own. your definition of what is a good gear box is different then mine. (and a lot of other peoples, seeing as how the dsg has been celebrated much more than vw's regular manuals.) its no biggie, you enjoy what you enjoy for your reasons, and i'll do the same.
#32 of 121 Re: If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... [eljefe68] by 40valves Jul 06, 2007 (6:39 am)
Replying to: eljefe68 (Jul 02, 2007 6:54 am) Why, how and where is everyone getting the idea that this car is slower?! The 200hp FWD GTI is pulling a high "14" in the 1/4 mile. 0-60 it's in the 6 second range. The R32 is a low "14" second car in the 1/4 mile. As a matter of fact a lot of the 2004 R32's posted 1/4 times in the "13.9" second range when at the track. It's 0-60 time is in the 5's. I'm not so sure about you but when something is a half a second or a full second quicker than its counterpart or competitor...that's a life time in racing...and its a good accomplishment. Now equipped with the DSG transmission, and 10hp more...the new R32 is definitely the better car than the regular GTI. As far as a price difference, if you opt out a regular GTI without Navigation, but everything else...you fall in the $27k range. The R32 is only $5k more than that, without Navigation. So it's not a big difference when you consider the motor, the AWD, and the extra engineering that goes into the car. cya Replies to this message: 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 7:59 am) eldaino (Jul 09, 2007 10:12 am) tcrawley1 (Jul 12, 2007 9:40 am) bananadan (Jul 13, 2007 9:36 pm)
#33 of 121 Re: If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... [40valves] by 40valves Jul 06, 2007 (7:59 am)
Replying to: 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 6:39 am) One other thing I forgot to mention, and by the way, I went back and read the rest of the comments from you folks and jeeese! You all whine way too much. If you don't like the darned car, don't buy it. But I digress... Regarding the Modifications you can make to any 2.0T. Sure, there are plenty and yes they yield a ton of HP for you. However, you will still have a Front Wheel Drive car. This becomes a HUGE proglem as you give it more Horsepower. Torque steer and wheel spin become a negative trait of Front Wheel Drive cars with TOO MUCH POWER! Enter in the AWD system for the R32...problem solved. So if you want a 4 banger with a hamster wheel attached to it, so you can FLASH the ECU for more PSI, be my guest. It has always and forever will be the case that you pay more for displacement. Regarding the EVOs and STIs of the world. You have seen that the body style on these cars are changing. They represented too much of a BOY RACER image. Yes they are powerful and yadda, yadda, yadda...but they don't have the all around characteristics that the VW has. Not to mention the cost of the EVO is going up...high 30's...not sure about the STI but with the way it looks now - its kind of ugly. Never the less the R32 represents such a great car to me that I'm considering trading my 2004 AUDI S4 in on it. The R32 is pretty much in a class by itself...so get over it if you don't like it. Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 09, 2007 10:12 am) tcrawley1 (Jul 12, 2007 9:40 am) bananadan (Jul 13, 2007 9:36 pm)
#34 of 121 Re: If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... [40valves] by eldaino Jul 09, 2007 (10:12 am)
Replying to: 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 7:59 am) good post, totally agree! but granted that you can get a gti without any packgages and just the dsg for less than 25k represents a big difference in price. the upgrades are totally worth it, but again, not totally do-able for everyone wanting a performance vee dub.
#35 of 121 tell me why by lukea Jul 09, 2007 (8:40 pm)
Are any of you really interested in the car? If so, please post why you like it and avoid all of the shots that people have been taking. I have one on order and here is what made it for me: No "boy racer" cop bait image. Comfort over go kart handling and ride. I have traded HP for comfort here but can chip it and do a few things if I feel it does not have enough. (What's enough)? Between the excellent chassis tuning and the AWD, I can put 700 miles on it in a day and arrive in a relaxed, comfortable state of mind. It is that ability to smoothly eat up the miles that I appreciate. It has enough power to get the job done without buzzing the engine. Go for a ride in an EVO and you will get my point - can you imagine 700 miles through the mountains in one? Please, tell me what YOU like about the car. Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 10, 2007 6:53 am)
#36 of 121 Re: tell me why [lukea] by eldaino Jul 10, 2007 (6:53 am)
Replying to: lukea (Jul 09, 2007 8:40 pm) everything you just mentioned! actually, don't let the tourer image get you down; i was watching a review from top gear and they test drove the r32 and could not stop commenting on how hard it griped the pavement, and clocked it around the track FASTER than a 1 series with the m sport package, and even faster than the revered previous gen r32. all this PLUS the comfort and everday luxury and driveablility that you mentioned. This car is fantastic! and the engine...oh man what a sound!
#37 of 121 Re: If the R32 is not much of an upgrade... [40valves] by tcrawley1 Jul 12, 2007 (9:40 am)
Replying to: 40valves (Jul 06, 2007 7:59 am) I don't like hatches if it was a sedan or coupe it might be worth it to me,as far as trading an S4 for a hatch! I wouldn't even consider it. The R32 is for hatch lovers who don't like torque steer, which isn't a bad thing just not for me. Replies to this message: bananadan (Jul 13, 2007 9:36 pm)