As someone with access to an R32 and an '03 Evo, I like the Evo much better. I switch cars with the wife sometimes and I just miss my Evo after about a day.

I will say that her R32 with the 'flapper-mod' exhaust is awesome though!!! Much better than my HKS Carbon-ti as far as sound!

 

I came from an Audi A4 1.8T Quattro...

heavy SOB, but it had a K04 kit and ECU work and some other goodies.. but there is simply no way in hell i'll ever go back, unless I need a daily driver to go 400 miles a day. The power in the evo, and the potential power in the evo is simply too much for the 1.8T arena, IMO.

 

I agree with everyone here. I still have my '00 Golf 1.8t, it's modded heavily, has had several big turbo upgrades, gutted down to 2400 pounds etc. It's still a fun car and the sound of the 3" side-exit, no muffler exhaust is simply orgasmic, but it's slower than the Evo is stock.

I still drive it when I want to go out and rip around and feel like I'm driving a go-cart, but as soon as I get the 3" TBE and Flash in the EVO, I'm sure that will change.

 

I have a good friend that is currently trying to sell his 337 to move to the EVO. He puts so much money into the GTI (easily could have paid for an EVO and had tons left over to mod)and it still struggles to keep up with a stock EVO on anything but a high speed highway pull. There interior is much better in the GTI, but the fun to drive factor and the modability of the EVO make it the easy winner.

If you want to stay stock, the 337 and R32s are great cars. I think of the R32 as the poor man's Audi S4. Both cars handle well and are fun to drive. However, when you start to mod, the VWs seem to suck up money like a t_tty dancer on Bourbon Street and the next day you wonder what you spent all your money on and was it really worth it. And I'm afraid, just like on Bourbon Street, you'll find the answer is no, especially when you are trying to explain it to your wife.

 

Yeah, Ryan has spent some cash on his 337.......pretty sad thought that he can barely keep up with my stock Evo 9 MR.

 

still own a 02 1.8t golf lightly modded, but its my "good gas mileage" car. the Evo is my stress reliever. i hate to say this no matter how much money you dump in the VW (and we know the parts are $$$$) you will get more bang for the buck with spending the money on modding the EVO.

 

I had a jazz blue 20 AE before my Evo and have not looked back! The 20AE had so many problems (The day I picked it up the drivers window fell into the door, the paint on the front lower valance was coming off, the rear deck rattled all the time and the DSM said it was normal! etc, etc,etc) and the evo has not had one (except for the clearcoat on the calipers and they where replaced under warranty) problem. I had owned a mk1 scirocco, a 95 jetta, a 99.5 mk4 GTI GLX VR6 and the 20AE and can tell you this (my own opinion of course) VW has lost something, not just a level of quality, but a connection, a connection to the North American consumer, a connection to the spirit of driving and most importantly, a emotional connection. VW's no longer stir my soul, they no longer raise my heartbeat, VW's have become homoginized.

 

Sold my Jazz Blue 20th AE for an EVO IX. Love the evo, do miss the bunny, but love the evo. The GTi was heavily moded, but the Evo is just suck a better car all the way around.

 

The MKIV GTI/Jetta is amazing

If you like ridiculous torque steer and understeer

 

Hey Louie, no mentioning names. I was trying to protect the innocent, or the not so innocent in this case.

 

R32 to Evo w/ssl. I love it and WILL NEVER buy another VW....... Fu*k I have to see them everyday Working on them for a living sucks as much as owning one
I like VW's prior to 99 back as early as 86.

 

haha, i know mine can definately lose to some guys out there, but i TOTALLY know what youre talking about! there are those guys that just think the 1.8t is like the supercar of the world, haha

 

i cannot wait to make the switch... lost interest in the gti last year after having to fix my pos o2j tranny... but now i have it parted out, and i can't wait!! soon to be yet another vw to evo owner! (after i fix my abs sensor lol)

 

80 scirocco
87 scirocco
94 Golf GL (lightly modded)
2000 Golf TDI GL (lightly modded +)
98 Getta GLX (lightly modded ++)

I loved VW's and to this day I still do to tell you the truth. I have driven a couple of fast 337's and they are super nice cars especially the interiors but peformance wise they just don't compare to the Evo IMO. I have had my car for nearly three years now and it still brings a smile to my face when I drive it. I seriously doubt that you will have any regrets.