Basically, you were buying a higher-end Audi TT in a Golf body. I could never figure out why they were so expensive, or why they hold their value so well.

 

or why the are so heavy for their size

 

Nope, the true market value of a used 04 R32 with 43k miles is $19,520 private party, $21,823 trade in, $23,827 dealer retail, and $24,843 if it's considered to be certified.

For comparsion the true market value of a used Evo of the same year with the same amount of miles and same color is $21,160 private party, $22,693 trade in, $24,073 dealer retail, and $24,989 if it's considered to be certified.

 

Yeah, Audi's are priced pretty high also. I checked out a 06 Audi A3 today and the price for that was a little over $33,000. Then I looked at an A4 with the S-line package that was around $40,000 . Nice cars but for that kind of money I'll shop else where like Infiniti or Lexus. Heck a nicely equipped Mercedes C230 is cheaper.

 

Quote your source

 

I guess for the same reason someone would choose one bottle of Dom Perignon over a six-pack of Colt 45. Some people have taste, and aren't just looking to get loaded.

 

uh... i thought the .:R36 was coming?.... well I was cruising around today and I .. happened to see a blue R crusing by.... the exhaust!!!... I was crying for that sound.... they just sound so good....it made my car sound like....@$$ for awhile... plus that thing was turbo'd.... WTF..... SICK!!!... well I had an 02 gti 1.8t before i got this evo! that's why i kinda fell in love with the .:R

 

As a former coupe quattro, S2, S4 and GTi driver (and a current evo driver), I am impressed with the handling of the R32 on road course.
Not the fastest straight line car, but if you like hatchback style, solid feel and performance, german feel and build quality and a nice interior, it's a good option.
Regarding turbos, you can do some solid custom work to those cars for 7 or 8k. The 400 or so whp on a german engine is not the same as 400whp on a japanese engine. Those who have driven them understand.

 

With pleasure....www.edmunds.com under TMV (True Market Value). Very straight forward and very reliable source.

 

True, but if the bottle of Don Perignon was 30k and the six-pack of Colt 45 was 20k, taste probably would get tossed out the window in favor of getting loaded on a budget.

Someone paying 30k for a Evo is looking for all out performance either at the track or unfortunately in the streets and could normally careless about style (although I like the style of my Evo). Someone paying 30k for a R32 is looking for slight performance I guess and a little bit of style.....nothing wrong with that IMO, I just didn't want to pay that much for it knowing that I would want more out of it performance wise and it's features to me just didn't justify the 30k price tag.

 

one of my friends has a 2004 r32 and it is alright. it is mostly front wheel drive though b/c it has crappy haldex awd. i would keep my evo over it anyday. actually my friend in his stock 04 r32 raced my friend who has a stock 06 gti and the gti driver was just learning how to drive stick but he still won. it might be that we are at 7k of altitude and the turbo helped out that much or something.

 

Because the AWD drivetrain weighs a sh*tload. Not to mention, look how posh the interior is. It's loaded with power-this, power-that, options out the ***, etc.

The R32 was made for luxury-sport, unlike the Evo and STi/STI. I dunno about the Evo, but the STi/STI was even fitted with forged wheels that weigh no more than 16.5 lbs. Pretty light for a factory wheel. Look for anything lighter and expect to pay a pretty penny. Most factory wheels probably weigh about 20-23 lbs. No, that doesn't seem like a lot, but weight surely adds up.

 

When I heard the retail price on the R32 I nearly fell out of my chair. "$28,000? YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME!" I would pay $25,000 for one.

 

Yeah, when I was looking to pick up a daily driver I wanted to get a R32 but the asking prices on used ones were insane. I ended up getting a 20th AE GTi for about $10k less instead. A used R32 wasn't worth $27-28k to me.

 

Hell, no! You definitely made the right choice! With the 20th AE you get the looks of the R32, but just without the AWD and the V6. You do get the same suspension, correct?