MK5 R32 test drive

[balkanac]

Hello everyone,
I took an MK5 R32 5 door DSG Blue for a drive last night. This was the first time i drove a car with a DSG transmission.
I love how it sounds, although you can't hear too much inside. Its engine seems like it revs much more easier than mine in neutral, but under load it doesn't pull as hard as mine.
Transmission was a big suprise even in Auto mode. I couldn't believe how quickly it shifts, there is no power loss between gears. I had a nice play with the paddles, drove it in auto, sport and manual (if you can call it that) mode. Shifting up is very nice, i love it!.
But, shifting down i didn't like. It blips the trottle, but it never blips it enough so it can accept the lower gear nicely. There was always a little shud and i really hate that. It lags on takeoff, especially if you want to get going a bit quicker. Feels like the car is in neutral when stationery and then you give it power and put it in drive. There is a thud, puts it in gear and goes.
All up, i love the car, finish is awesome, ride is great (a bit softer than mine) but i just can't get over the DSG. If i ever buy an MK5 it will be a 3 door manual with recaros (can't wait)

Anyway, i just wanted to share my impressions with everyone, thanks for reading, criticism is welcome

[ranton-inc]

Hey dude..

they are a nice car..

but i dont like em

they are excellent to drive.. and nice to cruise around town in.. (maybe not fuel wise)

but they lost touch with what they had with the MKIV R32

My R is far far quicker.. its got so much more feeling to it.. its a savage beast compared to the new R..

Dont get me wrong. its nice and quick!!!.. but the New R32.. is just the new V6 4 Motion

[GoLfMan]

ive had a ride in one and wasnt impressed with the DSG at all really, manual all the way.
i love them, ive heard they arent that quick, which is a pitty

[Treza360]

I've posted it before but I'll post it again in case anyone missed it.

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55658

MkIV versus MkV R32 back to back.
MkIV 12 seconds faster at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
MkV 0.4 seconds slower at the Hockeheim Short Circuit

"...Being 12 seconds slower than its predecessor is disappointing due to the heavy weight. Also the acceleration figures show absolutely no progress compared to the Golf IV R32, no improvement at the Hockenheim short track as well.

The Golf V R32 more is a grand tourer than a sports car. It offers perfect handling, always enough power as well as a lot of fun to the every day driver especially due to the permanent 4WD which on the other hand also contributes to the high weight.

I'm still not fussed on the styling of the MkV R. The silver crap on the front looks naff and the exhaust pipes are too close together. Wheels maybe easier to keep clean too but they're not as nice as the MkIV wheels either. I just love my car.
Definitely though after the Konigs you'd have to get Recaros. While the standard seats are good they're nowhere near up to the standard of the above mentioned ones. I don't mean to be so negative.

DSG is good though. Using it in my Dad's GTI it's always fun and yeah you just pull the paddle and the revs and noise change and you go quicker. It's that seamless. It's good to that they've introduced a hill assist. A bit unnerving when it starts rolling back but you don't have a clutch to control the roll.

[jb747]

To each their own Hitman. I didn't buy a MkIV R32, but I did buy the MkV. I suspect that the very things that appeal to you about the MkIV are the same things that I don't like...

[rabbitoh]

Where's the MK5 love? IMO, each was right for the time. The MK4 was exactly what was needed, after perhaps a slightly underdone, in standard form, MK4 GTI.

Up against the latest STi and EVOs of the world, the MK5 was always going to struggle going blow for blow as an out there, rough and ready speed machine, especially given how easy the former are to upgrade. By heading down the route they did, they attracted customers like myself, who wanted speed and luxury. Something that can leave a smile on the dial after a spirited drive but also not drive you insane as a daily driver, on roads like those in Sydney.

No need to stick the boot into either Both are great cars and would happily park a MK4 alongside my MK5 if I could.

[ranton-inc]

To each their own Hitman. I didn't buy a MkIV R32, but I did buy the MkV. I suspect that the very things that appeal to you about the MkIV are the same things that I don't like...

fair comment my friend.. it would be a very boring place, this world, if we all liked the same thing!.

as far as DSG goes.. with petrol vehicles i hate it.. HOWEVER! come TDI engines i loved DSG it is very well suited to desiel (and the short but torqey rev range)

Dont get me wrong i was probably a little harsh above but to me the mKV would be my Daily Drive it is a very nice car to drive.. but lacks "feel"

and my MKIV would sit lurking in the garage waiting to jump out and eat what ever was in its way..


insaying that my occasional missfire at 3000 rpm has returned.. which could be because im running cams and stock software hummmm but thats for another thread all together!

[Tim]

there is no comparing a mk5 chassis to a mk4 one!
Also if u line the 2 up side by side the mk4 R32 although nice does look quite dated

I think my Bias is showing through. But then again. I think my MK3 VR6 is more fun to drive than either of those 2 anyways

[Steve]

But, shifting down i didn't like. It blips the trottle, but it never blips it enough so it can accept the lower gear nicely. There was always a little shud and i really hate that. It lags on takeoff, especially if you want to get going a bit quicker.

I agree with the down shifts. In our GTI, I have to be really careful when I change down if I want to avoid a jerky shift. Usually, that means changing down at a higher RPM than what I'd do if I wasn't trying to avoid it. Change too low, and the gearbox/ecu/car/god just doesn't rev the engine enough, and the ride suffers - a lot. I think 'sport' mode fixes that but I rarely drive it in anything but 'manual' mode.

Get it flush, though, and it's as smooth as my new golf clubs (or butter)!

The lag on take off happens too, although with the GTI I tend to give it a bit more poke when nothing happens and chirp the front wheels a bit. It's not turbo lag, just the gearbox being slow.

[Jester_Fu]

I agree with the Mk4 looking dated. The unfortunate thing about the Mk4 R is that it came right as they finished with the Mk4 body style. This means the car looks very dated, IMO. The seats, though they might be supportive and all the rest, also look extremely 80's hyper car. The current pics floating around o nthe new Mk6 show a much more subtle styling change which, IMO, i going to help the Mk5 R look good for longer than the Mk4 did - despite it's more 'aggressive' looks in the eye's of it's owners

I always liked the Mk4 R for performance, but the price wasn't in my league when new. I'm pretty happy i didn't go that route as the Mk5 is a much better all round package. If you want boy racer, there's plenty of suspension upgrades you can stick in to get it there. The chassis in the Mk5 is *meant* to be more rigid, so i think with a small investment in Haldex, shocks, springs and sway bars the Mk4 would be given a serious run. Power and torque wise there's sweet FA in it. Same with 0-100km/h times. The only thing really letting the new R down in outright performance stakes, IMO, is the softer ride.

Isn't the price between the two, new for new, also in favour of the new R? Somewhere around 8k on the base 3dr manual?

It's also interesting with car tests that the majority indicate the new R is as fast or faster than the previous model. The one test i keep seeing posted by the Mk4 R owners above is the only one i've read that suggest the new R is significantly slower...

[ranton-inc]

ive driven both and the mkIV killed the MKV

and about the dated look. dont get me started.

[hatzenbach]

I originally wanted a MKiv but waited till i had more money and then bought the MKV.

I liked the look better.

on my way home from work i dont do laps of the nurburgring worrying why I 12 secs slower.

I sit in traffic and cruise along with all the other cars on the road.

the MKV is more refined and looks far updated from the MKIV.

I could have still bought a MKIV and gone for the more rawness of that model,but since im not a racecar driver or driving round town pretending to be one, the five was a natural choice.

I have been on GTG's thru various forums and I have never found an issue with DSG on downshift. Blips on downshift fine.

[Tim]

also didnt australian delivered mk4 r32s come with the crappy US suspension package?

[Jester_Fu]

ive driven both and the mkIV killed the MKV

and about the dated look. dont get me started.

Yes... and you're providing a technical and unbiased opinoin based on timing and benchmarked trials. Nice work on that Hey, you know, rather than measunring the size of our wangs online... why not head back to the Mk4 forum and circle jerk about how the old stuff is better than the new stuff

[bailey78]

Yes... and you're providing a technical and unbiased opinoin based on timing and benchmarked trials. Nice work on that Hey, you know, rather than measunring the size of our wangs online... why not head back to the Mk4 forum and circle jerk about how the old stuff is better than the new stuff

*giggles*

I'm staying out of this. Don't see why some guys can't respect that they are both great cars. Just so happens that one of them is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier to live with as a daily driver. Also just so happens that its the one that I bought.

*considers going into the Mk4 forum and starting a thread canning the Mk4 R for its crude ride, peeling buttons, dated interior, inferiority to the STI's and Evo's of the time, etc.*

*reconsiders....I won't as i'm not an insecure jerk*