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

120 messages, Last post on Apr 14, 2009 at 10:26 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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#41 of 120 Re: Article Comments - 2008 VW R32 First Drive [eljefe68] by rwr1 Jul 14, 2007 (6:57 pm)
Replying to: eljefe68 (Jun 29, 2007 12:52 pm) You say " how many are going to want to pay more for a car that is no faster or at worst slower" . I for one! I ordered a United Grey 2008 R32. It is already built and somewhere between the factory in Germany and the dealer in Seattle. VW says it will arrive the end of Aug. I can't wait. By my calculations the R32 is only $3900 more expensive - I took the GTI and added ground effects package (which the R32 has!), sunroof, leather interior, DSG, and the cheapest 18' spoked rims for a total of $29,065. I would buy it even if it had the same performance as a GTI because of the AWD and the VR6. However, it is faster! The same magazine that had the GTI 0-60 at 6.2 sec had the R32 0-60 at 5.8sec! That is a huge difference! The English VW site says 0-60 times for 3 door are - GTI 6-speed 7.2: GTI DSG 6.9; GTI 30th Anniversary (230hp) 6-speed 6.8; GTI 30th Anniversary DSG 6.6; R32 6.5sec; R32 DSG 6.2sec. Do you think VW makes up these figures? Or that some ill-informed people on this site have the real info - I don't think so! I have driven the Mk V GTI DSG and it is a great car - for a turbo and for a front wheel drive! Lastly, don't think the R32 is only for young people - I am 62 and hadicapped from a motorcycle accident - if it didn't have a DSG, I wouldn't be buying it. Also I think very strongly about this - I am trading a Lexus is300 hatchback for the R32! Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 16, 2007 10:29 am)
#42 of 120 Re: Article Comments - 2008 VW R32 First Drive [rwr1] by eldaino Jul 16, 2007 (10:29 am)
Replying to: rwr1 (Jul 14, 2007 6:57 pm) congrats on your purchase and enjoy!
#43 of 120 Re: None of this makes any sense!!! [bananadan] by eldaino Jul 16, 2007 (10:34 am)
Replying to: bananadan (Jul 13, 2007 10:44 pm) if you think the gti has turbo lag, you have not driven many modern turbo charged cars. If you have, you would be much more kind to the gti's very VERY small shortcomings. while the lag is there, its not as huge of a deal as you are making it out to be. Is the the 3.2? no its not. but its still one heck of an engine. drive any other turbocharged car that competes with the gti (wrx, mazdaspeed3 etc) and then we can discuss the true nature of 'turbo lag'.
#44 of 120 wrt 2008... by kurtamaxxxguy Jul 20, 2007 (11:26 pm)
..are they sold out yet ? And do their interiors come in anything other than black ? Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 23, 2007 9:55 am)
#45 of 120 Re: wrt 2008... [kurtamaxxxguy] by eldaino Jul 23, 2007 (9:55 am)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jul 20, 2007 11:26 pm) i don't think they are, maybe almost half of them, which is saying alot, given the fact that they have not even hit dealer lots yet. I think that black is the only color available. But then again i dont think any other color really suits the car.
#46 of 120 2008 4 door R32 in the U.S. by joi Jul 23, 2007 (12:56 pm)
Hi, This is my first post. I'm trying to find a 5 door not too large hatchback with all wheel drive that doesn't look too much like a wagon, has pep, and good handling. Don't want an SUV. So I've come up with just about 2 choices: Volvo V50 Audi A3 Then I saw the 4 door R32 which is exactly what I'm looking for but see that 4 door isn't being marketed in U.S. Does anyone have any ideas about how to go about getting one? Can an overseas purchase be delivered to U.S. if it's not marketed here? Thanks Replies to this message: eldaino (Jul 24, 2007 6:45 am) allaneq (Jul 29, 2007 6:31 am)
#47 of 120 Re: 2008 4 door R32 in the U.S. [joi] by eldaino Jul 24, 2007 (6:45 am)
Replying to: joi (Jul 23, 2007 12:56 pm) you should be able to, but it might be right hand drive, and it is going to cost you a pretty penny. Replies to this message: allaneq (Jul 29, 2007 6:31 am)
#48 of 120 Re: 2008 4 door R32 in the U.S. [eldaino] by allaneq Jul 29, 2007 (6:31 am)
Replying to: eldaino (Jul 24, 2007 6:45 am) Actually, that would only be true of models from a limited number of countries. Models from Germany and all of continental Europe would be left-hand drive. But they would have gauge clusters in metric, and you'd need to run it through a DOT mandated process - but honesltly once the R32 is here, that shouldn't be hard. The real catch that doing that, as well as BUYING the thing in the first place will I believe prove to be much more expensive than the comparable "domesticated" 3-door. I want a 5 door too, FWIW.
#49 of 120 Actually.. by kurtamaxxxguy Aug 04, 2007 (11:37 pm)
A VW R32 5 door can be had right now - it's an Audi A3 3.2 S-line. The vehicles have the same Golf Chassis, Haldex 4-Wheel drive, and engine. Audi differences (aside from # doors) include more interior colors ( VW offers black, period), an older seat design (VW has better height adjustments), fancier interior trim, lower and stiffer suspension, larger wheels, a higher price, and a tiny dealer network. VW has repeatedly said it has no intention of bringing in an AWD 5 door Golf/Rabbit/whatever they wanna name it here. That's because it would compete with the Audi.
#50 of 120 The 2008 R32 is no match for the original. by smyle12 Aug 06, 2007 (5:34 am)
Let's see. This time around LEATHER seats are NOT an option, while the STANDARD 18" wheels of the '04's ARE. It's hard to believe when you think about it. Compared to the beautiful '04's 14-spoke wheels, the '08's 10-spoke ones absolutely pale in comparison, and that's not to mention that the car itself (Rabbit) is now rather ugly compared to it's predecessor, with it's audaciously overstyled front end and bubble-butt rear. Then there's the interior, which although nice, is most certainly NOT as nice as the '04 version (and this holds true for ALL of the new Rabbits btw). I work for a VW dealership. The 2004 model's Climatic Climate Control is also a thing of the past as well. Oh and wait! Who could forget that this new R32 is now heavier, slower, gets worse fuel economy, and isn't even available with the standard 6-speed transmission in the '04 model. Hmmmmmm... the only real improvement I'm seeing here is the addition of a 6-disc CD changer, as well as 2 extra speakers, which with Volkswagen cutting its costs lately in search of greater profitablity, may STILL not sound as good as the 8-speaker Monsoon system which came standard in the '04 model, however, this I'll still need to hear and is merely speculation, although it does hold true for most of the newer VW stereo systems. Wow, I'm so glad that I'm fortunate enough to own one of 5,000 the originals. Someday, they'll surely become true collector's items. It's like when a great movie is released, there's always a sequel. Sadly, however, just like in the movies, this second time around, the R32 seems to be missing all of it's original magic and mystique, and dare I say it? Just like in the movies... it sucks. Replies to this message: eldaino (Aug 08, 2007 11:07 am) smyle12 (Aug 09, 2007 5:53 pm) eldaino (Aug 12, 2007 3:42 pm)