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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#85 of 121 There are a couple of problems with this car by ccd1 Nov 13, 2007 (10:15 am)
First of all, the R32 isn't sufficiently better than the GTI to justify the added price. This has been the verdict on the A3 2.0 vs the 3.2 and the TT 2.0 vs. 3.2. The second problem is that, at around $35k, the R32 is up against some pretty stiff competition like the WRX STI, the EVO X and probably the BMW 135i, not to mention the 350Z, G35 and RX-8. The R32 will probably sell well because not many cars are being brought into the US, but I personally would not choose this car over most of the competition. VW just didn't bring enough to the table. Replies to this message: traderyin (Nov 14, 2007 12:38 pm)
#86 of 121 Re: There are a couple of problems with this car [ccd1] by traderyin Nov 14, 2007 (12:38 pm)
Replying to: ccd1 (Nov 13, 2007 10:15 am) I can't agree more, ccd1. $35k is way steep for a hot hatch. This is just an Audi TT with 6k discount. How's the performance number stack up against the Mazdaspeed 3? I think I take the MS 3 if I want a hot hatch.
#87 of 121 Out of touch? by greening Nov 14, 2007 (2:25 pm)
I'm not seeing a single car with impressive fuel efficiency. Where are you people? Accceleration? For what? Jack rabbit starts at traffic lights? We owned a car 20 years ago that got 40 MPG. We owned a car 10 years ago that got 60 MPG. Let's get with the program and the consumer and stop with the gas guzzlers. Show us a car that makes sense! Replies to this message: deepclue (Nov 18, 2007 3:44 pm)
#88 of 121 Re: Out of touch? [greening] by deepclue Nov 18, 2007 (3:44 pm)
Replying to: greening (Nov 14, 2007 2:25 pm) I bought this car two days ago, drove it to the airport, and flew out for business. I have not stopped thinking about it since! I'm dying to get back and drive it home. I was in the market for a VW GTI/Audi A3 and my eye caught a blue VW R32 still in shipping wraps. Had the dealer prep it for a test drive and fell in love with it instantly. So did my wife. The GTI needed pushing to blast off, and did so screaming; the R32 was more of a precision machine. Hyperspace acceleration was delivered with a pleasant growl instead of a scream; cornering with the 4Motion system was just perfect. The DSG transmission's paddle shifters are smooth and addictive. According to the owner's manual, the transmission even has a "drag start mode": depress brake with left foot while in "Sport" mode, rev the engine up to 3,200rpm, and let the brake go. The car then red-lines every gear by itself. Is that a statement or what. The interior is incredibly beautiful. Very sporty but very tasteful, too. The seats are gorgeous and it feels like you're being hugged. (I find them far more tasteful than the over-the-top European Recaros.) The Xenon headlights are a definite improvement over traditional halogen. Watching the beam pitch and yaw is really cool too The stereo is perhaps its weak spot. It's not "bad," but for a "premium stereo" system it's frankly disappointing. My (now former) '03 Jetta GLS 1.8T had a stock stereo that I could swear sounded better. The faint monochrome LCD display is a let-down, and the absence of iPod integration is just backwards. (It does have an Aux input, and a six-CD changer that reads MP3 discs, which I'll be sure to try.) By the way, I made the dealer what I considered a win-win offer, and within ten minutes we were doing the paperwork. $1,200 over invoice (about $500 below MSRP). Don't be fooled by mark-up antics--at the end of the day, a car is a car is a car. I don't get why people say this is not a good investment. Tell me one car that can give you a 250hp V6, AWD, a truly tasteful yet mean interior, and all the bells and whistles you can think of for $33k. I'm 35 and the Evos of the World are just not for me. And at $38k for comparable equipment (and in my opinion more bland interior), the A3 3.2 was a no-go for me.
#89 of 121 Re:Out of touch? by bepperb Nov 28, 2007 (7:36 am)
Are you kidding? Every vehicle doesn't need to be designed with your preferences, which from your post I assume to be high mileage and low emmisions. This is a low production vehicle designed for a different market than you are interested in. Find a more appropriate place for your comments, not performance review discussions, please. If anything, VW is out of touch with the rest of the performance oriented hatchback scene. Aren't the mazdaspeed 3 and WRX priced in the mid 20's? Of course, why people buy any small hatchback when a 2.5gt Impreza or Accord/Altima V6 Coupe can be had for 8 grand less is beyond me. For 35k one can do so much better. 135i please! Replies to this message: 600kgolfgt (Dec 21, 2007 4:56 am) byronwalter (Dec 22, 2007 9:49 am) ddburns (Dec 22, 2007 6:30 pm) and 1 more... 600kgolfgt (Dec 23, 2007 9:55 am) and 3 more... 600kgolfgt (Dec 27, 2007 11:45 am)
#90 of 121 R32 Pricing by rmorin2 Dec 09, 2007 (7:49 am)
In my area, metro DC/Baltimore, R32s are available at invoice ore even below. With the price of gas and the excellent features of the GTI, R32s are not selling like hot cakes. I am still considering one but would like to hear from owners about their experience and mileage.
#91 of 121 R32 vs. GTI w/DSG by rmorin2 Dec 09, 2007 (8:02 am)
Is the R32 worth the $10K difference in price? Try to convince me. Thanks. Replies to this message: upstatedoc (Dec 09, 2007 9:41 am) rmorin2 (Dec 19, 2007 8:40 pm) upstatedoc (Dec 10, 2007 11:50 am) johnfredc (Dec 16, 2007 6:46 pm)
#92 of 121 Re: R32 vs. GTI w/DSG [rmorin2] by upstatedoc Dec 09, 2007 (9:41 am)
Replying to: rmorin2 (Dec 09, 2007 8:02 am) Maybe drjlag could convince you, he has two of them. (see previous post) I couldn't justify it, spending $35k on a summer car. I went w/ an '08 GTI, nearly the same performance and better mileage. P.S. Why are you getting rid of the mini s? Replies to this message: rmorin2 (Dec 19, 2007 8:40 pm)
#93 of 121 Re: R32 vs. GTI w/DSG [rmorin2] by upstatedoc Dec 10, 2007 (11:50 am)
Replying to: rmorin2 (Dec 09, 2007 8:02 am) Read my test drive post from Oct. 12th. Replies to this message: johnfredc (Dec 16, 2007 6:46 pm)
#94 of 121 Re: R32 vs. GTI w/DSG [upstatedoc] by johnfredc Dec 16, 2007 (6:46 pm)
Replying to: upstatedoc (Dec 10, 2007 11:50 am) Just a follow-up to my previous post (above). My new R32 is definitely the best VW I have ever driven. It never puts its foot down wrong, always has traction, corners at high rates with total composure. I do want to add, though, that I have yet to get used to the DSG. It's that "sequential" thing that gets me. Our other car is a 5-speed Boxster, and driving it after the R32 really points up how often one skips gears while down-shifting a manual transmission. You know: 5-3, 4-2, 3-1 shifts? I haven't figured out how to make them properly with the DSG. It took me several years to get speed-shift timing perfect with a manual... maybe it will take me that long with the DSG. I especially have trouble pulling smoothly but strongly out of toll booths after approaching just below speed. Flooring it is OK for me, but rarely for my most frequent passenger. Any advice out there? I wish the display constantly showed what gear the car was in for D and S modes. Also, I've read that some Japanese cars have programmable transmissions where certain parameters can be set by the driver. The DSG needs a mode between D and S. Plus, the throttle blips on downshifting (in S or paddle mode) spin the motor too much for anything but super aggressive driving. That's the beauty of a manual transmission, guys. Easy to finesse a shift. My old VR6 was like silk. The funny thing is that the most frequent comment about my R32 is "what a beautiful car"... I guess it is! It makes GTIs look all tarted-up and over-wrought.