Buying a mk4 r32

[seanos]

Hey all,

I am going through the process of getting a first car! So far I have narrowed it down to either a mk4 r32 or 04 liberty gt wagon. So, basically i want a bit of room in the back to transport my bike and other sporting equipment, and also go places very quickly!

Anyway, i had a look at a r32 the other day, and noticed that it was reasonably difficult to fold down the rear seats. We had to remove the head rests, and once folded, they dont go all the way down. The seller mentioned that the back rest can come off??? THen, later on, i heard from a VW car salesman that the seat shelf comes out to allow the back rest to come all the way down??? I have searched the internet but cant find anything about it.

I thought the liberty gt was a decent car, until i got into the r32! Now i just have to justify to myself that it will be practical enough...

Cheers

[McDub]

yeah the seat part you sit on should simply lift off completely (very easy), then the rear seats go forward so that the back of the seats become an extension of the boot floor. At least the gti is like that, the R32 has leather seats but i can't imagine it wouldn't work the same way, but would need someone to confirm. but yeah as always, you take off the rear head rests.

[gareth_oau]

dont worry about rear boot space for your bike.

buy the R32, and one of these:

http://www.saris.com/p-299-bones-3-bike.aspx

they fit on the back of virtually any car and transport 3 bikes, without the need for a towbar!

[h100vw]

You should be able to lift the seat bases up and fold the backrests flat. Have a look in the owners manual for the instructions. Taking out the headrests will be required too.

Same on my S3 and mk4's that I had owned before.

Gavin

[seanos]

Yeah, that looks pretty decent. I would be puting a roof rack on it anyway for surfboards and things, but when I'm just taking my bike somewhere, it would be optimal if i could just throw it in the back...

Also, whilst im at it. The guy had goodyear f1s fitted, and they were making some serious road noise. Its done 77000ks, and was thinking it might be something else that might be a bit worn out. Wheres the best place in Melbourne to get it checked out before i buy it?

[Treza360]

I can say 100% that the rear seats will fold down flat in the R32. The bases pull out forward and pivit to allow the the rear seat back to fall flat. There is however the clips for the bases which leave an indent in the seat backs and if left for extended periods of time will dent the leather permanently (like mine, previous owner ).

However if you are even remotely tall the seat bases will have to removed completely as the front seat/s won't go back far enough (it's touch and go for my seat and I'm only 172cm).

I know of at least one cyclist who used to regularly carry bikes in his R before he traded it in. He also had a TST rear strut brace which he would take out with an allen key to fit the bikes in.

Looking at that bike rack I can't quite work out how it installs but I think you'll still have great difficulty fitting it due to the style of the R32 rear bumper. There is no tow bar option or anything like that under the bumper and it goes down quite far and has several insets which would make things difficult.

I would say to go down the Subaru Liberty wagon route, it has much more room and is a lot easier to fit things in. Plus you can go a proper tow bar and/or bike rack install as well.

Cheers,
Trent

[seanos]

So, is it easy to remove the seat bases?

Also, i can put roof racks on it right?

[Treza360]

So, is it easy to remove the seat bases?
Also, i can put roof racks on it right?

Seat bases are easy as to remove. Just flip them out and push the metal arms together and they come out. Should take you no more than 2 minutes.

As for roof racks, I've no idea if they fit. It's a smaller body shell than the 5 doors remember. However we are talking about a unique limited edition hot hatch here. It'd be such a shame to ruin the look and potentially the paint work with roof racks and putting stuff up there. I don't know how well the interior will take to having a bike scuffing up the interior either.

Cheers,
Trent

[sir_camel]

I was quite dissappointed at the .:R's lack of space inside the back. Can't fit golf clubs in without seats down (was easy in my 205) and also can't find racks that arn't drill in roofracks (mate is a Rola agent). So if i wanna ride my bike the girlfriend throws mine and hers in her astra. If you are set on taking a bike in it i'd be shooting for the Subaru.
For me driving is more important than biking so i'm not too unhappy; but i just thought it would be better than it is at taking stuff inside.

[sir_camel]

As for roof racks, I've no idea if they fit. It's a smaller body shell than the 5 doors remember. However we are talking about a unique limited edition hot hatch here. It'd be such a shame to ruin the look and potentially the paint work with roof racks and putting stuff up there. I don't know how well the interior will take to having a bike scuffing up the interior either.

Cheers,
Trent

Also agree with that...

[seanos]

Thats the kind of practical advice I didnt want to hear!

Is there any issues with screw in racks other than having holes in your roof?

[dubbed]

Surely there's some fancy Thule roof racks for the R that doesn't require drilling...

[Manaz]

Is there any issues with screw in racks other than having holes in your roof?

That'd be issue enough for me not to do it...

[seanos]

Found this:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2300806&page=1

Appears to be a few options available

[JVLR32]

have you bought a car yet?