R32 or GTI Pirelli?

[Golf Houso]

R32, the lack in performance potential is made up for in handling, safety and the character of the 3.2L motor. And I doubt that in the medium term that the Pirelli or the R32 would be much off in used price either, if not the same.

[kryten2001]

be warned though...once bitten by the power/modding bug its game over!

Amen, Brother!

[PirelliAC]

I have a pirelli gti with the APR treatment and I won't get into that at the moment and I sold a 2006 R32 for it. Hands down the R32 is a better car!

The pirelli is capable of keeping up with the evo's and sti's now. Modifying cars can be a head . I would take my R32 back any day

[AusScare]

I would take my R32 back any day

How come? We want all the yummy details..lol

4wd? Engine? Noise? Looks?

[WEDEL.1]

I have a pirelli gti with the APR treatment and I won't get into that at the moment and I sold a 2006 R32 for it. Hands down the R32 is a better car!

The pirelli is capable of keeping up with the evo's and sti's now. Modifying cars can be a head . I would take my R32 back any day

I have to say (although I don't own either) I agree with you. I would have the R32 and listen to that engine.

Will it be worth more now that the V6 is dead?

Maris

[jb747]

A factor for me would be the fuel economy, it seems in the real world the R's are using a fair bit more petrol, and seem to return about the 12 mark.

For the first 10,000 kms mine returned an overall figure of roughly 10.2 lt/100. It has been slowly decreasing, and at 24,000 kms is now down to 9.7.

[Mr Messy]

I'd go the R.
Look at the overseas MKIV market... the 150hp and 180hp GTIs aren't revered nearly as much as the R32. For a good reason too, it's speshal.

Plus you can't have a manual 'relli. DSG is a fun toy but long term? no thanks.
Make mine a black R32 three door manual with a straight through exhaust. Omnomnomnom.

[kryten2001]

For the first 10,000 kms mine returned an overall figure of roughly 10.2 lt/100. It has been slowly decreasing, and at 24,000 kms is now down to 9.7.

I can't get close to that in my relli.

But come on, is an extra litre or two per HUNDRED k's really that big a deal when you're talking dropping 50-60 large on a car?

If you do 500k's a week, that's what, $6? It's hardly justification! Pick the car you like, fuel economy is so close it's barely worth arguing over.

You may as well buy a GT sport if you're in it for the economy.

Both are thumbs up, but both very different.

[kryten2001]

Look at the overseas MKIV market... the 150hp and 180hp GTIs aren't revered nearly as much as the R32. For a good reason too, it's speshal.

Yeah, but no offense to Mk4 GTI owners, the Mk4 GTI is not a Mk5.

The R32 was way better in the Mk4, but I don't think it's such an obvious choice in a Mk5, let alone a Pirelli Mk5.

Remember the choice is Mk5 Pirelli vs R32.. Not a standard GTI, and certainly not a Mk4.

But yeah I agree, very different cars.

[jb747]

You may as well buy a GT sport if you're in it for the economy.

Both are thumbs up, but both very different.

Quite true. I only made the comment because the figure mentioned by another poster wasn't in accordance with what we achieve.

On the other hand, I'm sure any of us can make any car from the VW range uneconomical by heavy use of the right foot.

[Mr Messy]

Yeah, but no offense to Mk4 GTI owners, the Mk4 GTI is not a Mk5.

None taken. I realise the Mk4 is soft and that the relationship between Mk4 Gti vs R32 is different to the relationship between the MkV cars.

BUT

Is the Mk4 R32>GTI gap partially percieved to be so because the R32 was a totally new and awesome concept when it came out, compared to the Mk5 which was the next chapter in an established theme?

Probably not lol.

IMO while the Pirelli does get some sexy bits over the GTI, it isn't as special as an .:R because the the R has the soon-to-be-dead V6, all wheel drive and sextacular seats.

The 'relli is still a great car though

But yeah I agree, very different cars.

Absolutely. And both are fantastic, with very different characters.

[Nardi330]

because the the R has the ....sextacular seats.

those recaros are optional which cost your left arm and leg.

otherwise the standard seat on R32 is very similar, if not identical to a GTI with leather option.

[kryten2001]

Absolutely. And both are fantastic, with very different characters.

Well, at least we can all agree we like Volkswagens!

[3mwC0up]

I'm debating the same choice atm. Leaning towards the .:R for a few reasons:
1. no turbo lag
2. AWD
3. Stock performance (MOST people will not buy a modded car so boosting the GTI is a quick way to drop your resale value)

[Treza360]

Pirelli. No wait. R32. No wait. Pirelli. No wait. etc etc etc...
Thinking about it it's such a hard choice.

The R32, well it has that engine and the sound that goes with it. It has the Haldex AWD system. On the flip side it doesn't look anywhere near as good as the Pirelli or a normal GTI (my opinion of course). It also has that cushy grand tourer suspension which is not as precise and direct as the GTIs and Pirellis.

The Pirelli, well it has a nice little sound as well, just not as good as the R32. It's a much better looking vehicle than the R mainly due to not having the silver nose and the not quite rightly placed exhaust (my opinion of course). It also has all those nice special edition shiny bits and pieces attached. On the down side even though it's got a sportier suspension setup after driving a normal GTI and my R, AWD has it all over FWD.

At the end of the day and it still stands for me, I'd keep my MkIV over pretty much anything short of an M3, AMG63 or RS4.

But if I had to choose between the two I think I'd go the...

Pirelli. No wait. A three door R32 (with Recaros)...
For the moment anyway (flip a coin)...

Cheers,
Trent