i'd never trust a vw. HORRIBLE stories on reliability from everyone i've known with one. as they age, they FEEL cheaper as they age as well. i'm pretty much anti-euro though... don't trust any european cars... cept mercedes... even then it's iffy.

i just don't think the car is worth anything more than like 24k. and for that price i'd rather go with a wrx.

who cares about interior? KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD, not the dashboard!!!!

if you're looking more to EXPERIENCE driving, i'd suggest the evo wholeheartedly.

vw's just too tame performance wise... that whole company has become incredibly presumptuous in the past few years.. and c'mon, it really does look like a high school guy's car.

i'm more than expecting there to be many gripes about the r32 after people get it. i'm completely convinced the evo will last longer, and have fewer overall complaints as the car ages. there's just nothing from vw in my personal experience to make me think otherwise. in the end i think it'll just fall apart, and its true colors will be shone...

also, gonzo, your list of things that the vw has going for it is pretty shallow. better interior? just about everyone has a better interior. better quality? highly motherfarking doubtful. lots of potential? still to be shown. smoother ride? yeah, which means worse handling... smaller than evo? wouldn't that mean it's more cramped? the color? that's all in the eye of the beholder. new and rare? yeah right. let the upper middle class high school guys get a whiff of this one. fun to drive? drive an evo, then tell me about "fun." a euro and you can't go wrong with euro? that's the stupidest thing i've ever heard. get over the hype; the r32 is overpriced... and in the end, you're just driving a golf. you're just paying an awful lot to be mediocre.

 

I never told him to go with the R32! My original post was that I was trying to make a similar decision, and how it was a difficult one, as each car has some aspects that appeal to me.

Anyway, personally, because i'm in the same boat, I recommend you drive them both. Im leaning towards the Evo at the moment. I like the sound of the VR6 and linear pull of the R32, and I like the looks (if anything looks like a "high school guys car" its the Evo!) but 30k for 240 hp and a higher and softer suspension than the European car (thank you again, VW), when I like to drive hard and I auto-x every weekend I can, just isn't cutting it. Also, the instant depreciation just is too much to take.

Summary, IMO: If you want to go fast, the Evo is the better car. If you care more about looks and comfort, balanced with some decent performance, R32.

 

well let us not forget that there were dynosheets on the R32 forum of VWVortex showing 174WHP on an AWD dyno. I dont want to get into a dyno argument, but the Haldex really sucks power from the ground.

You people can actually like the R32 knowing how its 'all wheel drive' works???

Original poster-
where do you see potential? i put over $2000 into my GTI with H&R coilovers, swaybars, etc. i was running 18x8s at one time, and i thought the car was pretty good on the road. I later drove an Evolution, and was blown away by how well the car cornered STOCK. this is the point i realized that i was a performance enthusiast, not a VW enthusiast.

Im not going to lie, i sold my car because the motor blew...but i would have had the same course of action if my car was still intact.

My friend is selling his 2001 GTI with an APR stg.3 setup because he wants an Evo.

Let me just tell you not to go on looks. The GTI is beautiful, especially with the 18x10s i later had on mine, but thats all you get. The Evolution is truly a better car. Dont make a $30,000 mistake.

 

Thanx agin for the replys guys.

I think the biggest reason I like the R32 so much is because it seems alot more rare/new to me. Also the thought of all that torque being on tap at idle and AWD to get it to the ground really does make for a great daily driver.

The evo on the other hand will spank it it any performance comparison.

I will drive both first and Im sure the car for me will be obvious.

You guys Rock and this forum is almost enough of a reason to get the Evo.

Anyone know of good ways to give the evo alot more low end torque? Im thinking stroker kit. Id love to see a dyno comparison between stock low end TQ and 2.3L.

 

You don't need to stroke the Evo. Many owners are getting 300 or more pounds of torque with very little invested. Ask any Evo tuner, the Evo responds to mods well. 350 whp is very easy to do.

 

Yeah but I want Low end torque (as in below 3000RPM)

 

I drove the R32 yesterday, and I own an EVO. Here is what I like and don't like about the R32.

Like:
-interior, fit and finish, real aluminum!, nice leather
-ride quality, feel solid and glued to the road, not a harsh ride
-nice grunt from engine, linear powerband and torquy
-powerful brakes

Dislikes:
-exterior (looks like an average golf)
-wheels (look boring)
-shifter is rubbery and imprecise
-fly by wire throttle response has a delay
-acceleration not stellar
-clutch pedal doesn't have a good feel (too light)

Overall, the R32 is very very nice daily driver with an excellent interior, the engine sounds wonderful and the car drives very easily and soaks up the bumps great on the road.

Compared to the EVO which is basically a much tighter, stiffer and edgier car, it feels taller with lighter and sharper steering response. The powerband isn't as linear and user friendly and the ride is bouncy and jarry (even on small bumps). The EVO loves to live in the 4k+ rev range and gets bored in traffic.

If you want a daily driver and place an emphasis on ride quality, and like a quality interior get the R32.

If you want to live everyday like you are high on caffeine and sugar and take every single corner at the fastest speeds possible get the EVO.

Make no mistake, the EVO begs to be driven fast and without apprehension. It is a love and hate relationship, there is no in-between.

Steve

 

Perfect. we think alike Steve EVO

 

thnx steve_evo,

This is the most stright up it could be. I decided that as much as I love the sound, interior, and daily driveability of the R32 (especially the LOW end torque); I cant stand DBW throttle at all and hate heavy vague feel in any part of the car.

Basicly, I loved my 2000 maxima SE 5spd because the engine was responsive and the suspension was extremely sporty for any car less then 40k at the time (except an integra but it is just too slow, I couldn't get a Type R either). I loved the tall first and second gear and loved driving it hard 99.99% of the time I owned it. The 2002-2003 maximas suck (despite more power) They are the least connected things to drive. the DBW is horrible and the handling and ride comfort/quality sux. The front limited slip causes very vaque and twitchy steering feel and the brakes even feel worse. My friends 2k2 maxima looks 99% like mine but drives much worse.

Ive concluded that the R32 is a new maxima and an evo is like my maxima was. (relatively of corse)

It is clear now as it was two years ago when I started posting here. I want an Evo.

Thnx again guys

 

You should test drive a 350Z or G35, these cars have plenty of useable torque and handle great.

I loved the G35 coupe, all except the corner entry, and mid-corner understeer, but there are ways to fix this.

Steve

 

I dont want RWD. Its AWD or nothing

 

If you test drive an EVO you will buy it

 

Contrary to popular belief, AWD cars are not superior to RWD cars in handling... so unless you plan to climb a moutain or compete in the Baja 500... you shouldn't have too much to worry about...

 

You can enter a corner hotter and certainly EXIT a turn faster then any other RWD car, That is my favorite feature on teh evo, being able to nail it around the corner, no over steer, no ubder streer, jsut a mild minor controlable slight drift.

 

So a Z06, Porsche 911, or NSX can't enter a corner hotter than an EVO and can't exit it faster either?

What about the 60/40 weight distribution of the EVO, I suppose the AWD will save it from pushing in the corner?

Again AWD does not necessarily give an advantage over RWD cars in terms of handling.