GTi DSG vs R32DSG

[Purgi]

Just a thought...petrol ain't gonna get any cheaper....and the mighty R seems to drink like a V8......

Not even close...

I traded a V8 for my R32. I was getting 15l/100 out of the V8. I'm getting 9.8l/100 on my 4000k R32, in fact I was doing my best to go out of my way to find a highway to get to my destination in the 8, the consumption would have been even more compared to the R32 which doesn't need a highway to achieve 10l/100. It'll likely get better once she loosens up. Based on my k's, that's ~$4000 saving pa in fuel.

One thing I was concerned about was the R32 not having the 'cruiseability' of the V8. Not a problem, the R32 is an awesome cruiser.

[Purgi]

Coming form an AWD background. The R32 does not put out the power to require AWD.

The GTI all the way, plus potential is the winner.

Even in the wet?

I picked up my R32 just before the period where it was raining just about every day. Was good for the break in period but was itching to try the launch control. Had her up to 1500ks, on route to a job at about 3am in the morning in an industrial estate and thought... it's time.

Went through the process, did a launch on a very wet road while pouring rain and not the slightest hint of wheelspin and boy did she get up and move, you'd have thought the road was bone dry. If I was to try the same launch in the XR8 it replaced, I'd probably still be there spinning my wheels and I'd suggest that the GTI wouldn't be that far behind it.

I don't know to what end the AWD helps, apparently it's FWD most of the time but the great thing about the AWD in the R32 is that it never feels like a FWD, never had the slightest hint of torque steer and haven't felt a smidgeon of understeer where FWD cars I've driven in the past have understeered horribly.

[shot]

thanks for all the comments
I must say coming from a Subaru AWD I do at times miss the traction advantage of AWD and find the GTi scrabbling for grip
as for fuel consumption I struggle to get 12l/100 at 10000 km whether it be mainly city or mixed driving so the fuel consumption on the R doesnt seem much different unless my car is particularly thirsty
I think I will have to test drive one and see

[jb747]

Coming form an AWD background. The R32 does not put out the power to require AWD.

Curious comment. It puts out more than enough to be too much if driven through the front. Behaviour is the wet is brilliant. I like its drive set up a lot.

[limmy]

my big bro has a mkv R32, and we swap cars every now and then for a day.

his comments after having my GTi for the day - feels more nimble, throw it into corners, likes the turbo pop, but wheels spin and the damn traction light keeps on flicking on the dash board.

my comments after having his r32 for the day - awd all the way, no lag, no wheelspin, but slightly heavy hitting corners, love the exhaust and V6 rumble.

for me...i dream of the day VW bring out a tuned 2.0T GTI with AWD and DSG, but if they don't, my next car will be an R spec - golf or passat.

[wwan]

my big bro has a mkv R32, and we swap cars every now and then for a day.

his comments after having my GTi for the day - feels more nimble, throw it into corners, likes the turbo pop, but wheels spin and the damn traction light keeps on flicking on the dash board.

my comments after having his r32 for the day - awd all the way, no lag, no wheelspin, but slightly heavy hitting corners, love the exhaust and V6 rumble.

for me...i dream of the day VW bring out a tuned 2.0T GTI with AWD and DSG, but if they don't, my next car will be an R spec - golf or passat.

Totally agree. My brother has a GTI and I have a R32. The GTI is a lot of fun to drive and it's the ultimate "Hot Hatch". The R32 is more like a GT, it's smoother and more refined than the GTI.

[Manaz]

Totally agree. My brother has a GTI and I have a R32. The GTI is a lot of fun to drive and it's the ultimate "Hot Hatch". The R32 is more like a GT, it's smoother and more refined than the GTI.

This is exactly why I want the R32.

[red barron]

I'm very happy with my GTI. I looked at the R32 but for the extra expense I couldn't justify it. I've done a bit over 20,000km and get between 7 - 10L/100km depending on how I drive.

[Mr R32]

I test drove both before I bought my R32. Both cars are excellent and the GTI feels (and is) the lighter of the 2. You pay for what you don't see, but feel, with an R32; the grip, the noise and the tourque. It all feels the more "grown up" of the 2 but the touring ability and that sound tipped me over the edge. It the wet, it also feels more planted and the speed it carries into corners is mind boggling In fairness I was seriously considering the GTI but price negotiations bought the 2 within less than $9k of each other. Once that happened, it was a no-brainer.

[bdl]

damn, i've now had two sleepness nights trying to work out what to get, haven't started hard bargaining yet but an R32 w/sunroof is only $7k more than an nearly equivalently optioned GTI (xenons, leather, DSG, metallic paint)

what to do . what to do . what to do .... argh! not intending to mod at all

bdl

PS: thanks to all that have posted on this forum, it bloody rocks! Only a new poster but have learnt so much in my few weeks lurking

[MS32]

this might help your decision...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/846530/golf_r32/

...but nothing beats a test drive

[bdl]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/846530/golf_r32/

...but nothing beats a test drive

thanks for the vid funnily enough when I was test driving the R32 I decided to check out the stereo, ended up putting in on for about 5 seconds max, went 'stuff this' - then opened all the windows and sunroof and started giving the v6 some boot so I could hear that sound yet again

I swear, if the R32 didn't sound like that I wouldn't even be considering it. Damn you VW.

test drove both, i remember giggling like an idiot when feeling the GTI's DSG's quick shifts for the first time, as well as hearing the pop of the turbo... the brakes felt REALLY bitey but that's probably because I am used to a v6 aussie sedan. Vehicle I was test driving was also a second hand car so maybe it had just had new brakes fitted prior to been put out for sale..

the r32 felt more like my brother's Subaru impreza - definitely heavier and more stuck to the road. couldn't get it to spin at all coming from a bigger car I'm used to the bulk and duller handling so both these Golfs are definitely a step up for me

oh, and just when I decide to be sensible and my mind sways to the GTI, all you bastard R32 drivers out there seem to fang past at full throttle. It happened at least three times today. And then I hear that exhaust note and I'm undecided yet again.

bdl

[Guest212]

R32 for the noise.

If you try and go fast in a GTI you just get booked.

Go R32. Sound fast even if you're not.

If i got another Golf it'd be an R32...

[Transporter]

thanks for the vid funnily enough when I was test driving the R32 I decided to check out the stereo, ended up putting in on for about 5 seconds max, went 'stuff this' - then opened all the windows and sunroof and started giving the v6 some boot so I could hear that sound yet again

I swear, if the R32 didn't sound like that I wouldn't even be considering it. Damn you VW.

test drove both, i remember giggling like an idiot when feeling the GTI's DSG's quick shifts for the first time, as well as hearing the pop of the turbo... the brakes felt REALLY bitey but that's probably because I am used to a v6 aussie sedan. Vehicle I was test driving was also a second hand car so maybe it had just had new brakes fitted prior to been put out for sale..

the r32 felt more like my brother's Subaru impreza - definitely heavier and more stuck to the road. couldn't get it to spin at all coming from a bigger car I'm used to the bulk and duller handling so both these Golfs are definitely a step up for me

oh, and just when I decide to be sensible and my mind sways to the GTI, all you bastard R32 drivers out there seem to fang past at full throttle. It happened at least three times today. And then I hear that exhaust note and I'm undecided yet again.

bdl

If it was me, I would by R32. Preventing regrets later on, that I should've bought R32.

[bdl]

R32 for the noise.

If you try and go fast in a GTI you just get booked.

... and it doesn't help that VW has used such small writing on the speedo?!

In the GTI i remember thinking, "crap am i at the limit already?! wtf"

bdl