My co-worker and I took an executive lunch break yesterday, and test drove the VW R32. All I can say is... DANG!

That car has very good acceleration, great handling, a GORGEOUS exhuast sound and the interior was amazing. How can this car be spec-ed so close to the Evo but have such a nice interior, with climate control and such?

In short, if you're looking at cars around the Evo price range, definitely check this one out. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

i agree... although the R32 is not really on par with the Evo nor STi as far as performance, it is no slouch and has so much better ammenities than either of the afformentioned...

The R32 is for a person who wants not only performance, but also to be comfortable while driving... and at a "budget" as well... although 30K is not "cheap" by any means, that's the price range you will be paying these days for anything with substance...

Oh yeah, that thing does have a VERY nice exhaust rumble from the factory... much better than either the Evo or STi...

 

I fail to see why it's necessary to compare the R-32 to either the Evo or the STi. The only thing the cars have in common is pricing and AWD. They are for two distinctly different consumers. There is no way I could be happy witht he performance of a car that will get blown away by 70% of the "performance" cars ont he road. The R-32 is more sport-luxury than anything else. I have driven one, and while they handle ok for the average sporty car, they make the evo's little understeer problem seem tame. The car also feels a little bloated and heavy, and I think the looks are 50/50, depending on your aesthetic views. Just looks like a Box with nice wheels and dual exhausts to me. The last car VW made that was visually appealing in my opinion was the Corrado VR6. I had a 93 with a 3.0 Ltr Oettenger stroker in it..stupid decision to sell that one. I admit the interior is superb, but I've never really cared about interiors, as long as they are functional. In the price range, for the type of car the r-32 is, I'd get an AWD G-35 sedan.


Percy

 

Only disappiontment, no turbo. I thought the R32 would essentially be a 1.8T Golf with AWD. The R32 is little different from the 1.8turbo in terms of acceleration.

 

it IS heavier... that's why it doesn't rattle over every bump and crack in the road... and you are right... they are for 2 different consumers...

so the R32 is a box on wheels, but the Corrado looked good...?

G35 AWD is not really in the price range with either of these cars though... unless you got the stripped model G35 AWD, you're still looking at about $33K... and noone buys stripper models, cause the dealers will not stock them as such...

 

a factory 1.8T is a slug compared to the 240hp V6 in the R32... even if VW brings the 2.0T with 200hp, it'll still be behind the V6...

 

I think the R32 is gorgeous. I saw a couple of them on the road and they look pretty sharp. I think for those who are looking for a badass daily driver, that's the car. The R32 Twin Turbo might be here sometime in the future. Now that car will give the evo/sti a good run. That v6 twin turbo is nasty.

 

i had some guy in an r32 trying to race me in the middle of rushhour traffic last week. i guess he was trying to show off to his girlfriend. looked and sounded pretty sweet. if i justified spending that kidn of money on a vehicle id spend it more on performance tho.

 

the car performs well for a daily driver... i mean how fast can you go on the street... you're not going to need all the power and handling the Evo has to offer daily on your commute...

i still stand by my statement that the Evo is NOT a good car as a daily driver... it's a punishing ride, unless you keep it at stock height, but then it looks retarded...

 

I have one myself. I love it, it feels tough and sharp. Girls love it and they look at it more than my EVO. It sounds so sweet and from the inside it so perfect. VW have great customer service as i bought 4 GTi's from them through the years and nothing but top notch customer service. I take my R32 to work on the weekends when i want a nice looker ride that is not going to jerk me off like my EVO. the R32 is built for a point and it made it's point. this is a German car not a Nissan so please dont compare.

Mhyar

 

Az3ar, how many miles do you have & how is the reliability? I had an 01 VR6 and loved the looks and ride, after twenty five thousand miles, lots of stuff started breaking(tranny rebuilt,T.O. bearing,broke drive shaft,ect...), but all under warranty. Finally at 40k, I traded it.

 

That seems to be the story with VWs. If you get a bad one, you get a really bad one. Some people swear by the quality and others think they are the biggest POS. JD Powers ranks them more towards the POS.

I think the R32 is a great car, great performance (better than over 90% of the cars on the road) and a great interior for the money, plus awd. It sounds like a poor mans Audi S4. Although at $30k, you can't be too poor.

Diesel, buy the R32 and put one of those twin turbo kits on it. You'd still be cheaper than the S4 and could run an 11.XX sec 1/4.

 

I had money down and was first in line in town for an R32. I wanted that car. After endless waiting, I bought an EVO instead. It wasn't just the wait. My VW friends all had nightmare stories of dealer service. Moreover, VW decided to raise the suspension and drop the HID headlights from the Euro-spec. Yeah, same old performance import car story.

After finally driving an R32 two weeks ago, I no longer have any regrets about getting the EVO. The R32 has a great interior, nice handling, and a very smooth engine. Yawn.

Seriously though, VW gave an R designation to a car that only manages 240hp from 3.2 litres? Yeah, HPA Motorsports can make twin-turbo monster out of it... for $30,000+.

Any way, I'm still convinced the R32 is the perfect daily-driver -- refined, practical, spirited, and understated. R32 owners should be proud.

 

I hated the way it looked It was 31,000 bucks for a car with under 250 hp and no where near the handling of the Evo... It was nicer inside but that doesn't make up for it IMO. Also the dealer was a jack A$$ and didn't know SH*T about his car.

 

Well I have 3000 miles on mine and no issues. I have heard some people saying that VW including jetta are crap but I had 4 GTI's and I had no issues what so ever. no I am sorry i will take that back I had one bad axle shaft and the dealer gave me a loaner and it was ready the next day. I dont know why people keep saying it not fast?? It is fast, on the track I have seen people doing QM in 14.1 and 13.9 stock. I mean of course it's not as fast as my EVO or even close but it's so much fun to drive. their is a Supercharger for it from Vortech and it makes it hell fast for $3000 only. However I will never install a SC on it. It's a nice looker car for everyday driving and picking up girls.