This used to be mine (yes the exact car in the vid) 😢 sadly sold it in 2020 after 8 years of ownership and miss it everyday. Watching the new owner drive it away broke my heart. They aren’t the fastest or the most modern but they have so much character that new cars can only dream of having. Very expensive to maintain/tax and insure but worth every penny for that beautiful vr6 engine noise. I miss my baby 😭
I am the original owner of a 2008 R32. I gave it a tune from APR, added a turbo, high capacity air intake, a Peloquin differential, improved suspension, sway bars and wheels and tires. Still only has 38,000 miles. I call it my smile machine as I can't get the grin off my face when driving it.
You’re one of the best car reviewers out there on RU-vid. Certainly one of my favourite- but you need better camera & audio equipment. I believe in time to come this channel will rocket. Good luck
I bought one a few days ago. Haven't driven it yet without breaking into a smile. Surprisingly practical as a family hatchback, the weight and 4wd gives it a nice heft (yes, just like "a baby estate car"). My only complaint would be the exhaust note: I keep wanting to hear it accelerate, and that's not great for the MPG.
Your statement at the end, that is exactly why I'm buying one. I actually purchased it a month ago. It's being restored at the moment and I'm driving it home this weekend. A review done by a true car enthusiast like you is always a joy to watch, thank you.
I know it's something everyone says about car reviewers but honestly believe you are topgear worthy, never miss a video and love you style, keep up the great work 👍
Great vid, I recently bought an alfa V6 and I love it. Forget 0-60, lap time, MPG etc. Its all about how they make you feel and the sonorous musical engine! Soon they'll all be gone or cost a fortune so, do it while you can and leave the dreary and drony in line 4 cylinder turbo until then.
Well put my friend, we use to have 3.0 s capri's back in the 80,s 3 litre v6,s which had twin individual exhausts most had silencers removed ,glorious crackle but that bass rumble next best thing to a V8 its a passion only petrol heads understand the noise !
I've been thinking about this a lot, and the GTI makes so much sense, but every time I see and hear an R32 I change my mind and think "I have to have one. I just have to".
I've had 2 and the worst part about owning one is the road tax, its stupidly high. Apart from that get the MF Display changed if you get one as the OEM one has a tenancy to have display fade because the soldering on it is terrible. Plenty of good options for fully custom MFD s for around £200-300.
Weve had one for nearly ten years. Other plus points are....generally reliable. Practical, in all weather. Keeps its value very well. If we sold ours now, we would get almost what we paid for it. Thats quite important. And yes, sounds fab.
VR6 is technically (hence the badge on the engine) a V6 engine, but because of the angle of the pistons and all of them being in the same head (volkswagen designed) it's a VR6. It's the only "V6" of it's kind, which is deserving of being called a VR6. ;)
I had one, lightly tuned, air intake, pipe. Awesome car! Loved it, and with just enough luxury too. The intake made it sound 100% better. Great review.
So your comment made me laugh because it reminded of a copper, a Wookie copper that stopped me when I was driving my MK3 VR6 like twelve years ago. He said I under took a car and was driving too fast. Then asks why does the engine make that funny noise?! So I said what noise? He stuck his lips out and made the engine sound, surprised I didn't get nicked for pissing myself laughing, true story.
my old m3 evo is 3.2 litre and has 321bhp and makes the r32 golf sound like a pathetic weakling and has way better performance,sound, handling and brakes.
The reason one would buy an R32 would be much like why one would buy an NA or NB Miata. It's not the fastest car on the road, or even in it's segment. It doesn't have the latest bells & whistles in technology. You buy it because of the feeling you get every time you start it. Because of the sound it makes. The connection you feel to the machine when in the driver's seat. Something you just can't reproduce anymore in modern cars. You buy it because you just love to drive. And like you said, if you don't understand it from having driven it, you just can't explain it. Great little review vid on a classic hot hatch.
The best car I own today, especially here in South Africa where we love noisy fast cars. At the end of the day it’s all about that vr6 and the exhaust system.
i made the transition from MK5 GTI to R32 a couple of months ago, and i must admit i agree with you, the GTI is a far better drivers car and i dont think down my favorite back lane it would be much slower, but for me there is something so special about the R32, i love to cruise in it, and that sound gives me chills, makes it all worth it, great vid man!!!
I bought one in 2018. I am in love with it! For the first time in my life, I’m putting money into a used car! This one will be with me until the end...❤️
I guess you discovered that R32 beats the SS and XR6s and XR8s at the lights on normal roads by now. Runs out of puff around 100kmh but slays the V8s on the streets below that. Not bad for an engine half the size.
Had a Octavia VRS 2.0tfsi and loved it with revo stage one it felt just as fast as the R32 but power delivery is completely different. Now have a low mileage mk5 R32 and every drive is theater with the noise. 991 GTS couldn't shake me off on the damp twistys in Cheddar Gorge. Not everyones cup of tea but I wont sell the R32 if I can help it. Great review!
I was at the start of a dual carriageway one day and already up to 80mph thinking what's the point of going any faster when these two irresponsible R32 owners past me as if I was parked. For a moment I was annoyed but then some flames popped out of the front runners car and the other was giving it death only a few feet behind so I immediately applauded them, the sound was intoxicating and I can still see them soon hitting the horizon never to be seen again. When the right one comes along you can count me in, thanks lads :-)
First off, love the car...I am in the process of buying one right now. As to why it sounds like it does? I looked all through, well almost, your viewer's comments and no one had answered it. So here you go. It has to do with the single head design. Having only one head and still being a narrow V shape, 3 cylinders have longer intake ports with shorter exhaust ports, while the other 3 have short intake ports and long exhaust ports. This creates harmonics in the sound of the sucking and blowing of the engine. It also give the engine a flatter torque curve.
Love seeing the different options other countries got in Australia all mk5 R32s has leather seats and almost impossible to find one without a sunroof. We never got the cheaper non leather interior on them
What a great real honest review. As you say, you dont buy a R32 for anything other than the joy factor and the becoming rarity of these wonderfully engineered beasts. Thanks chap!
Good honest review Sir... I'd like to add my experience, I have had the GTI & R32. I must say the R32 just gave me that little piece of mind when with its 4 motion, I found the GTI wheel spinning alot from a stand still. Around the city it would have to be the GTI, other than that R32 all day.
Ace video mate. Should try one with a DSG gearbox, it totally transforms the car. Plus the road tax is a much more reasonable £540. Best car I've owned. Had it nearly 6 years, and still makes me smile every time I open up that garage door.
Yes very true, sick of all the paddle shift crap too no one can truly learn to handle a car properly without a manual gearbox thats why all the kids that buy new stuff them into hedges.
bang on.i have one and yeah it’s not the quickest and costs a lot to run but it’s got something about it.my pet hate is the RS3.built to me for the exact reasons you state
Great video, you nailed it. I bought this car last week in the states. I chose it over a 2015 Autobahn, I'm so glad that I did. Everytime I hear my R32 start up or accelerate I smile. It's the perfect balance between cruising and playing
He's absolutely right and 110% the reason I bought my R32 in 2007 and still drive registration R325 HA* every day. It is irreplaceable and should never be compared ( as some wrongly do) to a Golf R. Its not the same type of vehicle apart from the fact that in their heyday you still rarely saw an R32 amongst all the Golfs on the road yet today every 4th Golf I see on the road is a Golf R. Driving my R32 still draws looks from those in the know whilst you don't have to wait long on any street corner before another Golf R comes along. And now of course they have started appreciating in value. Will I ever get rid of it?. Probably not. I will never find another vehicle that has given me reliability with sure footed-ness for the past 12 years. Nothing major has ever gone wrong and it has been regularly service by a VW main dealer and of course.. there is that exhaust note you unleash when you drop two clicks at 70mph on the paddles of the DSG box and the bellows just open and she goes....
I really enjoy my R32, would enjoy it more if I had the Manual 6 speed over the DSG, but its fantastic in the winter months when ice and snow are on the road.
Fantastic video & review! I have a completely standard 3 door manual R32 in this colour and I absolutely love it! I have had the car for over 6 years now and have no plans to sell it. As you rightly say they are extremely well engineered and feel very solid on the road. You do buy these cars with your heart rather than your head but I would say this to anyone who is looking to get one..... Make sure you do your sums first in terms of running and owning costs as you may well be in for a shock!! BUT if you can afford it I guarantee that you love it too. It will put a smile on your face, give that feel good factor and turn heads no matter where it goes. Happy motoring.
Great Video. The R32 Mk4 & Mk5 are getting rare now. Especially in mint condition!!! The MK7 Golf R are everywhere, people get them on these lease deals. The only Golf R which is rare now is MK6 and fetching silly money. But nothing can beat that R32 sound!!! Love it.
The MK4,5&6 all had limited production numbers to about 5,000. The Mk4 and Were only make for one year 2004 and 2008, the mk6 2012-13. The Mk7s have higher production numbers and have been made from 2015-present. (Idk if these figures are for north America only or worldwide)
I have one and im proud to have a car like this , its not as fast but its special. But dont forget about the brakes on the R32, they are brutal. As you say it is the last of its own and there will never be a golf like this , mine is now 12 years old and i would be happy if i can keep it forever and look back at those silly days where power wasnt everything.
I have just discovered your channel today! It’s a top channel! You reviewed my actual brand new car (124 abarth) and here my loved R32 that I had the pleasure to drive for 11 years and 170k km. Heavy Golf maybe but with one of the best 6 cylinder noise ever. And now they are increasing value
@@trihardcx6743 at the time yes as there was nothing like it. Maybe the focus RS? Road tax £500, full tank of fuel £85 lasted 200-300 miles, major service £450 minor £300. Plus insurance and any repairs. Remember these cars are old now. My R I spend a lot less
Not much to compare, both good to tune. One is stronger for higher power (GTI), One lasts longer (TDI), One gets better mileage (TDI), One makes more power for less money (GTI), One sounds like shit (TDI). That's about as far as the comparisons go.
Nice review. I used to own a Mk5 GTi which was nice but sold, and later bought a used R32. Agree with everything you say. The exhaust sounds more like a 5 cylinder like the Fiat Coupe 20vT that I used to own way back when. That also made a lovely noise.
I have an R32 and you hit the nail on the head. I bought it because it was the first car I went fast in back in 2006, when I was 9 years old. I became obsessed with that vr6 noise and made sure I bought one as my first car.
As a couple of others above have said it's not a V6. It's a VR6. think of it more like a short block straight 6. There is a V angle in the engine. But both banks share 1 cylinder head. It's the reason they can shoe horn it into the front of the golf. It's why it sounds different to V6s I've had one in a 350z and it doesn't sound that great. Only other v6 I know that sounds good is the old Alfa v6.
That's what it reminded me of. I had two alfa 156s with the 2.5 V6 engine, very similar sound, and a buddy of mine had the Audi A3 3.2 V6 aswell. Could listen to those engine notes all day evey day.
I have been following this channel ever since this video came out, and come back to this video every month or so but it sparked my inner desire for the R32 ever since... there’s just something about that VR6, the character and personality it brings to a true petrolhead is unfathomable, at least for me; something so inefficient and heavy yet I’ll be splashing 10k of my savings on one by the end of the year... lol, undoubtedly fulfilling my petrol head desire yet cursing my bank account for future years to come😂 this truly is a special video, cheers Jack!
Man, you sure know how to talk about cars. Very insightful and poetic. I really appreciate your youtube channel and I can hardly wait the next review. Greetings from Romania.
I have this car, you buy it for the sound 100% . And it's different, it's also quicker than most cars around even in 2019. The running costs ain't to bad either, but your paying for that prestige rarity I suppose. I love it, I've thought about getting rid but I honestly can't think of anything that matches the sound and feel without spending ££££. So it's staying, great review by the way.
Man as a Volkswagen lover and a person who has owned several gti’s from the old school 1.8na to 1.8t to 2.0’s. I have to own a mk4 r32. The sound of that engine is pure eargasm!
Thanks for making this video. You’ve convinced me to never sell my little red rocket. I love it even more after watching and I understand its importance going forward. This is my favorite R32 video now.
I love the sound of these. I considered this but picked the Mk5 GTI. The tuning options on the turbocharged GTI swayed me. My GTI has a stage 2 map. It’s 280BHP and 200KG’s lighter. I just wish it had this sound which pitches a real trouser tent.
I've owned mine for about a year and a half. I love and baby it! Water pump just started slowly leaking recently, and my intake gasket is causing the engine to run slightly lean, but I plan on taking care of those this winter. Other than that its been completely issue free. I got an amazing deal on the car, it's also Tornado Red which is a plus considering that's the rarest color. I highly recommend getting one if you seek to have a good, fun weekend car, and/or daily driver!
I have owned one of these for 7 months now. Must say it's an amazing machine. If you buy one expect it to be in and out the garage quite a lot! And if you are gonna moan about road tax prices you should maybe buy something new with good co2 emissions and good MPG, as the fuel price will shock you!
Wicked video Jack! I keep trying to decide between a Mk5 GTI and R32 - edging towards the R32 as it’s a special motor and owners I’ve spoke to seem very happy!
Jack Scarlett no worries & ive asked some friends to subscribe too, I think the channel has a lot of potential for “real world” cars - not just the supercars (which we all love watching) 👍
Would be great if they could put the V6 in the Mk8 and twin turbo it 90% of the R32 models were sold purely on the sound it made still an amazing car. 👍🏽
Absolutely great Jack had a great laugh filming with you mate hope you go far top quality as always. I'm so glad you covered the differences between this and the newer ones. 6 years of owning this beauty and we have had our ups and downs but it's worth every penny spent on it. Like you said big na hatches are dying and will soon be extinct. All the best with the channel!!
I own a Golf 7R and love it but I have a secret love affair going on with the sound of the Mark 5 R32's divine engine and the car overall. If you own one then just realise how lucky you are and that you are driving something special. Allow yourself at least one backward glance and smile at the car every day. 👍👍
The point of it was that it cruised around smoothly and effortlessly in all weather without the turbo lag of the gti or the R I now have the 7R and it's much quicker when you have a free run but when in a queue of traffic (Now all the time) I wish I had the R32 again.
Sounds good because of the staggered vr formation, it's all acoustics when it comes to the formation, pipe length, and cylinders, hight of the car too.
Many don't know the block was originally designed to be a diesel turbo, it went on the back burner and eventually they changed design. An you know what that means the block itself and the head can take a good amount of boost. Once you turbo a vr6 it then really becomes a propper monster
Im considering getting a Golf V R32, also taking in consideration the fact that the value might rise in a few years time. But for me a really huge point for getting a MKV GTi is the fact that they are alot cheaper, and with a few simple mods you can push well over 300BHP. This should be easily achievable without spending more than the R32 would initially cost. Ofcourse with such power an R32 would only see the GTi's taillights.
All true. R32 WILL go up in value and is just a wonderful, unusual car with one of the all-time great exhaust notes. GTI is dynamically as good or better in pretty much every way, slightly more fun to drive and far more tunable. Two very different, but very tempting prospects
I love my mk V R32. I tried very many GTis and the ride quality wasn't as good. If you do a drag against the GTI the 32 is way faster than its official times suggest - it the beautiful 4 wd system that catapults you forward. On out B roads in New Zealand the R32 is an absolute joy - the handling at any speed is inch perfect and it goes exactly where you point it. I find myself giggling at averaging 100kph on winding roads just steering with finger tips.
I have been looking for one for a while now and I've been mixed to decide between an r32,mk5 gti or a mk6 gti :/ I love the ending of your video and it really saddens me to think one day we may never see them on the road :,( makes me want to get an r32 and just ignore the mpg and tax for them.
I'm in the same thought about selling it, can't bring myself, think I'd rather sorn it and cover it up on drive, pull it out now and then in the future when everyone is driving electric cars lol
Best review of the R32 ever. Why? Because you said everything I wanted to hear. These are the reasons I am buying one and it's good to know I'm not (that) insane.
I've had a lot of cars and some have been special 1.9 205 gti, mr2 tbar turbo , 3 door cosworth . this is as good as the rest. a special motor and trust me they will be big money at some point
3 reasons to buy an R32. 1. 6 cylinders. 2. 3.2L 3. The Soundtrack from the engine. Owned one for 10 years and still don’t want to part with it. More road presence than the current Golf R which looks plain by comparison.
