Have owned mine for 4 years. Bought it with 128k klms on it, and now it has 168k. I have spent on average around $2500 per year keeping it in tip top shape including timing chains, clutch and flywheel (manual) at 148k, engine transmission and strut mounts, exhaust flex pipe repair (thanks to broken engine mounts), thermostat housing, 2 O2 sensors, front control arm bushings, coolant bottle, oil level sensor, ac compressor replacement. I am now up for even more money as the small radiator fan has packed up and there is another exhaust leak that I’m yet to trace down. But I simply do not care, I would and will continue spending money that I should be saving for a house deposit on it because I just absolutely adore the car. It’s totally emotion over speed, and that’s why I think the manual suits the car more. It’s never going to win races against tuned 2.0 turbos, but you’ll be having more fun with all the noise and the manual just makes it that much more of an event. It’s so well balanced in its skill set, an easy daily with a decent boot and plenty of space, with boatloads of torque low down, power and noise up top and frankly ridiculous amounts of grip. Yet it tackles a long drive with absolutely no dramas. I’ve just returned from a holiday, 1400 klms in 10 days and it has truly made me fall in love with the car again. The best description I’ve found of the car is that it is to hot hatches what the Bentley continental is to gt cars - certainly not the fastest or most dynamic, but a beautiful car to spend time in no matter the occasion, with more than enough power and grip to make a good road more than interesting. My biggest issue is finding something to replace it with. For the money, I can’t think of any other steering wheel I’d rather sit behind.
I really relate to your description of driving the car & the way it makes you feel which for me is also quite unlike anything else I’ve ever owned. It sounds like you’ve had undergone some maintenance issues which so far I’ve not had to deal with. I just keep her serviced regularly & give her a really good run every few months. So far works a charm. I hope you continue to enjoy yours the way I enjoy mine.
"But all of you know someone that's got one of these that's had plenty of DSG issues..." I'm paraphrasing here but truer words have never been spoken 😂
Specifically an R32? I don’t hear of many with issues. Most people are mixing in other things, like the models that have the dry clutch unit. The early versions of those were not great.
I've been waiting for this review. I have a Golf Mk5 R32 with 268,000 kms and considering the age it's done ok for itself. I've got the manual box so I've avoided some of the related issues, but it's defineltly had its share of problems (AC, Suspension, bushes, front bumper clips, valve tappets, light ballests, rattley interior, etc.) Overall amazing car, but you do need money to keep these things alive.
Great honest commentary. Same goes for most 20yo Euros - you just got to keep on top of the maintenance and not be surprised that you have to replace stuff that costs a bit. For context, my daily is a 2002 Alfa 156 GTA 3.2L with just over 270,000km on it, of which I've contributed nearly 50,000km in the last two and a half years.
The 6sp DSG in these is actually extremely reliable overall. I'm still running a Mk5 GTI with 260,000km on it and the DSG has been flawless since new (as has the rest of the car for that matter). It is serviced at normal intervals and is still running the original clutch pack from brand new, despite being matched to a tuned engine for the last 160,000kms - one very impressive box. The 7sp dry DSG is the unit that gives all dual clutches their bad reputation - much less reliable are far more issues with those. Luckily anything with a GTI or R badge does not run these boxes.
Own one, 5 doors, manual. At 216.000km it has been very reliable! Only minor fixes. One of the best sounding car ever made. If you can buy one just do it.
@@Bill-ki4zf I'm in many R32 groups, most of the owners never experienced anything extremely expensive to repair. Sometimes timing chains but that's usually due to prolonged oil changes intervals
Had one since 2011, 3 door, manualc blue. Absolutely no major or minor issues. Have put 130,000km on it since I have owned it and still purrs like a kitten. Regular servicing. 98 octane. Still on the original clutch. The only problem I've ever had is the "money box" under dash compartment broke due to my own stupidity and the cup holder in the centre, the roller has broken. Also headlights are a pain in the ass to change. Avoid a DSG and learn how to drive a manual. Absolutely Brilliant car, throw in air intake upgrade and a Magna flow sports exhaust, you turn heads like you wouldn't believe. Nothing matches that exhaust note.
Loved mine, sold it at 190,000 kms. VW put a whole new DSG in it at about 2 years old, needed suspension dampers replaced and a pulley on the serpintine belt failed. Otherwise no problems. Loved this more than any car I have owned. Bought it for the sound it makes.
on my second MK5 R32 after regretting selling my first one never had an issues first one was on 130k miles and my second one is on 50k miles no other car has gave me enjoyment quite like this.... great video :)
Weird hearing there are apparently lots of DSG issues. These hardly ever have DSG issues and hardly ever see anyone that actually owns one with issues. Also a very strong and good gearbox. It’s also very easy to learn how to use it properly so you don’t find it annoying. Eg realising that it is preselecting a gear and how it is doing that. Mechanically this particular variant of the DSG hasn’t changed much and you can replace the mechatronic with a newer one and it will essentially be exactly like that newer DSG, eg faster shifts.
Absolutely. I think a lot of people confuse these excellent 6sp units to the batch of cheaper 7sp dry clutch units in the base models, which did have more issues.
@@coreyw427 Good to know for the future thank you! Just checked out your channel! how much HP are you pushing and do you still have the dq250? sounds like it's shifting super fast!
I agree. My biggest issue has been brake discs and shock absorbers but have now just recently been replaced with good quality parts. Swapped my 18 inch omanyts for 19inch JR11s and without knowing it transforms the cars stance very wide but no Need for wheel spacers. Only mods I've done is Induction kit Milltek non res 19inch rims. Don't want to go silly kept all the old parts incase I sell which I won't 😂
I have owned my 190k km (bought at 170k) R32 for nearly two years and its been one of the most reliable cars I have owned. It has never caused an issue, always performed and never let me down! I have taken it to the track and the dsg seems to overheat after a little while, although it is due for a service - so I'd say that will fix it.
Great car - also keep an eye out for the near identical Audi A3 3.2 versions. Slightly less of a hoon factor and they make a great sleeper. Oh - and I love the sound of the 3.2 as I have it in my Passat AWD - the little brother to the mighty R36.
My 2 bobs worth & an bit extra 😆 Firstly thanks for the video. You guys & the Auto Expert John Cadogan are the only motoring journalists in Australia whose opinions I take seriously. The R32 is a car that is appreciated by the few that know & goes unrecognised by the majority. Whilst it was nice of the owner to give you his R32 as you point out this is a high mileage example that has clearly had a rough life. It’s a shame you couldn’t have sourced a better low km example that had been cared for from day dot. If you are spending up to $10k a year on maintenance you clearly have not done your research & spent a few extra dollars to purchase a worthy example. Mine is a 3 door manual with 95kms on it. I also am lucky enough to have an excellent mechanic who is also a VAG enthusiast & without exception the car is serviced as per schedule & any repair required is done without delay. It has cost me less than $2k in that time largely for minor fixes to be expected for a car of its vintage. I had an immaculate 3 door Golf R with DSG prior & loved that car but unless you have driven or owned an R32 you won’t appreciate the fact that despite it being slower, less economical & in my eyes not as good looking as the Mk6 you cannot replicate the way driving it makes you feel compared to a four pot turbo which despite being phenomenal are a dime a dozen these days. Just a trip to the shops & back makes you smile. The soundtrack is amazing even in the lower to mid range, the torque seems endless & it just feels like a big solid brute that does not have to try to make its presence felt. One reviewer I heard describe it as sounding like “a big angry wasp” as he was raving about how amazing it sounded. I think he was on the money. It just feels so incredibly planted & whilst it could smash an autobahn day in, day out the handling is incredible for its time. For me so far ownership has been a rewarding experience. They don’t & will not make cars like this anymore which is all the more reason to have one. They are a beautiful “Gentleman’s cruiser” with extras…😉 Sure there are faster fours out there but if that is your yardstick as you say AK you are missing the point. It’s a real connection between man & machine. Fantastic engineering & pure emotion are what makes the R32 the unique machine it is.
If you could get hold of an Alfa 147 GTA for a comparison of 6 cylinder hatchback magic that would be incredible. Plus well, that 6 cylinder engine in the alfa is NFSW and a true thing of beauty.
Having owned both, the R32 blows the alfa out of the water, the alfa needs AWD and talk about bad automatics I would never touch one that has the Alfa Selespeed box.
My first car that I bought with my own money was a 2009 MK5 R32 which had 50k kms. Had it for 6 years and tastefully modified it before selling it at 140k kms for a 2018 MK7.5R Only things that I had to change in 6 years of ownership was the pulleys on the serpentine belt, the PCV valve, alternator and the AC compressor. Regular servicing and not thrashing it off its guts everyday made it one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. I miss it everyday... Currently trying to find another one 😂
I have one (usa market #1430/5000), and when i bought it, it wasnt in the best shape. I've dumped a ton of money into the car to get her back to her former glory, and i dont regret it for a second. No one gets it until they drive one for themselves.
I own a 2009. It's the best daily. It's car that likes to be used. I find people who have issues don't use them frequently enough. The problems I've had are bent wheels from potholes, propshaft bearings and headlight motor seizing, water ingress from blocked sunroof drains, seized rear caliper, and some lacquer peel on the bonnet. No other problems in 2 years. I'll probably keep it forever and gradually improve it and upgrade the tech. It's still cheaper than a new car and it's much easier to spend money on a car you enjoy
My mum had low km mk5 r32 for a long long time. I remember being in it when i was very young. It was so fast and loud but unfortunately it was involved in a very bad car crash and was totalled. I will always have a soft spot for these cars despite the type of people who drive it now. Oh yeah and it was manual and the roof sagged
Have mine, DSG model, for 5 years. Only prob was leak from thermostat housing which I fixed myself. Fast enough for me - dragy 0 to 100 5.8s without using launch control, grips like mad. sounds awesome especially around buildings. Oh yeah, kills GTI s at the lights , always, thanks to the grip.
@@chrisdryden1400 The Gti can be made to give more hp than the vr6, as it is turbocharged and being lighter will be quicker. So on forums you will many find such people who have these quick cars but perhaps never raced an R32 at the lights and think that accelerating fast when the car is already moving equates to the same when the cars are starting from a dig. Not so, the powerful, modded, gti will burn rubber while the R32 blasts away, perhaps to be caught up to eventually but not until illegal speed limits are reached.
always wanted one when i had a bora v6 (2.8L version of the engine), did r32 cams, remap, haldex controller and of course an exhaust etc. Loved that thing, was such a nice car to drive Nowadays the R32 a bit long in the tooth for me to be chasing electrical gremlins
You can actually replace the PCV valve with the touareg pipe, then block off the small breather on the camcover as it new pipe has an intergrated breather hole.
Our Mark 6 GTI was fully maintained by the book and never thrashed. Recently junked at just 110,000kms with severe engine blow-by as the repair quote was over $10K. Avoid unless you are a lotto winner. Buy anything else.
Man I miss my R32s, had 2 of them. Also had the R36, my brother had the Mk4 R32 as well, amazing cars, had to finally move to a Japanese wagon but as I couldn't keep up with the maintenance hahha, now I drive the Subaru liberty GT gen5, great car
I’ve been lucky enough to own two VW Golf’s, a MK1 which was old when I got it and brand new MK3. Both were the most unreliable cars I’ve ever owned by a very wide margin and I’ve owned two Alfas, one of which was an old Sud. The MK1 was the usual old car stuff mostly but the MK3 was a testament to unreliability, with a complete failure requiring a tow truck within the first week of ownership and ongoing gearbox failures rust and variety of other issues all with two years of purchase. VW Australia were a nightmare to deal with just to put the cherry on top. Never again will I make the mistake of buying a VW product which is a shame as they were both great fun to drive, which is why I bought them in the first place.
Congrats you ownede the worst version of a golf, anything mk5 and newer is great and you're missing out because you bought the old crappy versions haha
@@jamesthompson4971 A friend of mine recently bought a new VW. It’s been back multiple times for a variety of repairs. Call me a cynic but I’ll continue to not buy VW's.
I think they are very cool cars and good ones are still really nice to drive. For similar money, it's a 130i for me, reliable motors, and a great chassis.
I drove an original VR6 with front wheel drive on a wet road many years go. It gave me a new benchmark for understeer. The narrow angle v6 did sound fantastic though.
I have one 235,500 miles. It is a money pit at times. Electric and cooling system has been my issues.But the noise, connection to the road, still get stares.
I think the rear seats fold completely flat. At least on the same age Polo, the seat part is hinged and tilts upwards, allowing the backrest to fall completely flat.
@@coreyw427 well they seem to have coincided (which is no surprise given they were the same platform), in 2003. However, the R32 was German market only whereas the TT was much broader. So no, it was the TT.
I remember my Mark five golf comfortline and at the time was a great car .. no R32 as far as performance or spec of course .. I think these still look pretty cool Ristretto = yes 😂
Prefer the mk4 r32 but jeez the exhaust note is absolute sex. Still think the gti of this vintage is the superior offering but love spotting these in the wild
I had Bora 2.8L V6 4Motion tastefully modified and with a proper exhaust and cold air intake setup it both sounded amazing and went like stink. But yeah, tuck away a few thousand like everyone else is saying
If I were going to purchase a performance hatchback, I wouldn't purchase a VW Golf R32 nor a Mazda 3 MPS but rather a similarly aged Honda Civic Type R.
Great review very well done l wanted one of theses back in the day l ended up buying a mk5 GTI instead because of the fuel cost and the R32 was not that much faster but it sounds better l would buy one in 2024 as it’s only going to go up in value as it’s a V6 as well. One to keep in the garage as the school kids will think it sounds cool in the future 😂😂😂😂
Ah, the memories! Had one of these for about 3 years. Loved it but then thought I needed a V8 wagon, so traded it on a vf2 redline. Instantly regretted it. Currently in a i30 sedan n and love the sound, the modern interior, the driving dynamics and the warranty, but there's a part of me that still wants a bit of that V6 on the side. Great review Adam, Jim and team.
From the looks of it this is a fairly decent car despite the usual VW problems with the swiss cheese parts. Have to admit it's got an understated aggressive look too it despite being a hatchback which I think is pretty cool. Have to admit I think this is one of the rare European cars that Hullsy hasn't said avoid like the plague with so that says something lol. Brilliant job as always guys and as always keep up the good work and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
Strange to say it has Swiss cheese parts. Most of the important parts are far stronger than most cars. For example, the control arms on most cars are just stamped steel. On this, they’re cast iron. Can also swap to alloy to save weight if desired.
We used to laugh at americans when they said "There is no replacement for displacement" Nowadays we finally get it. A naturally aspirated bigger engine is more satisfying and a turbo 4. As someone who use to mock that I'd like to say I was wrong
Not sure if you ever had them over there, but over here you could get the Audi A3 with the 3.2 in, and they hardly cost anything compared to the R32. Debatable a better made car too.
130i. The driving experience is a whole different thing. Or a 147 GTA. Audi 3.2 A3 is a better car nowadays (much better interior for a start) and because it doesn’t have the fancy badge, they are WAY cheaper. Also TT 3.2, the OG is based on the MkIV and is more raw. The MkII TT is lighter and much better made. There’s also the much cheaper C320 coupe / compact thing. But really, the 130i in manual over these 100% of the time.
Sup Adam, wanted to ask you about the Passat B8, does it mean if it has parking sensors on both front fenders, it comes with 360 parking sensors or not?
It has aftermarket (but OEM Valeo) led lights which are from LHD model. You can switch it around but this person hasn’t. Strangely is not mentioned that these are not the stock lights.
LOL, I'd only ever buy one if I could sell it profit straight after. The quote "as reliable as a politicians promise" comes to mind. Another great quote that comes to mind, "a fool and their money are easily parted" sorry Alex.
A great car in its day... but it's time for this one to retire, respectfully. If you know how to do most of the maintenance yourself, you'll probably have a great time. If, like me, you do not... then avoid this.
Owned the original R 2004 MK4 R32 with two doors and six on the floor the way a sports car should be. Not the four door dsg popcorn 🍿fart machines VW makes now. Long live the VR6! Wish 😢 I didn't lose my R to a flood 😢
I'm working in VW for 10 years now, the number one problem with this car is the owner 😔❤.
Have owned mine for 4 years. Bought it with 128k klms on it, and now it has 168k. I have spent on average around $2500 per year keeping it in tip top shape including timing chains, clutch and flywheel (manual) at 148k, engine transmission and strut mounts, exhaust flex pipe repair (thanks to broken engine mounts), thermostat housing, 2 O2 sensors, front control arm bushings, coolant bottle, oil level sensor, ac compressor replacement. I am now up for even more money as the small radiator fan has packed up and there is another exhaust leak that I’m yet to trace down. But I simply do not care, I would and will continue spending money that I should be saving for a house deposit on it because I just absolutely adore the car.
It’s totally emotion over speed, and that’s why I think the manual suits the car more. It’s never going to win races against tuned 2.0 turbos, but you’ll be having more fun with all the noise and the manual just makes it that much more of an event.
It’s so well balanced in its skill set, an easy daily with a decent boot and plenty of space, with boatloads of torque low down, power and noise up top and frankly ridiculous amounts of grip. Yet it tackles a long drive with absolutely no dramas. I’ve just returned from a holiday, 1400 klms in 10 days and it has truly made me fall in love with the car again.
The best description I’ve found of the car is that it is to hot hatches what the Bentley continental is to gt cars - certainly not the fastest or most dynamic, but a beautiful car to spend time in no matter the occasion, with more than enough power and grip to make a good road more than interesting.
My biggest issue is finding something to replace it with. For the money, I can’t think of any other steering wheel I’d rather sit behind.
Also living with a packed up secondary fan. Found one reasonably cheap and a UA-cam video showing how to easily change it.
Well aren’t you a silly boy.
@@rc70ys have a sook champ
all of those parts you mentioned in the beginning are serviced every few years...? you buying the non-oem? lol
I really relate to your description of driving the car & the way it makes you feel which for me is also quite unlike anything else I’ve ever owned. It sounds like you’ve had undergone some maintenance issues which so far I’ve not had to deal with. I just keep her serviced regularly & give her a really good run every few months. So far works a charm. I hope you continue to enjoy yours the way I enjoy mine.
"But all of you know someone that's got one of these that's had plenty of DSG issues..." I'm paraphrasing here but truer words have never been spoken 😂
Specifically an R32? I don’t hear of many with issues. Most people are mixing in other things, like the models that have the dry clutch unit. The early versions of those were not great.
I've been waiting for this review.
I have a Golf Mk5 R32 with 268,000 kms and considering the age it's
done ok for itself. I've got the manual box so I've avoided some of the related issues,
but it's defineltly had its share of problems (AC, Suspension, bushes, front bumper clips, valve tappets, light ballests, rattley interior, etc.)
Overall amazing car, but you do need money to keep these things alive.
Great honest commentary. Same goes for most 20yo Euros - you just got to keep on top of the maintenance and not be surprised that you have to replace stuff that costs a bit. For context, my daily is a 2002 Alfa 156 GTA 3.2L with just over 270,000km on it, of which I've contributed nearly 50,000km in the last two and a half years.
For real, really appreciate how honest your feedback is, mate! 😄
The 6sp DSG in these is actually extremely reliable overall. I'm still running a Mk5 GTI with 260,000km on it and the DSG has been flawless since new (as has the rest of the car for that matter). It is serviced at normal intervals and is still running the original clutch pack from brand new, despite being matched to a tuned engine for the last 160,000kms - one very impressive box. The 7sp dry DSG is the unit that gives all dual clutches their bad reputation - much less reliable are far more issues with those. Luckily anything with a GTI or R badge does not run these boxes.
This^
nice, i also have a dsg at 333k km 😂
@@J3ombjoe Stock timing chain? any other issues with the car during that time or has it been faultless !
@@rjj00 yes still stock, only changed the turbo at 300k
Own one, 5 doors, manual. At 216.000km it has been very reliable! Only minor fixes. One of the best sounding car ever made. If you can buy one just do it.
Maybe you were just lucky.
@@Bill-ki4zf I'm in many R32 groups, most of the owners never experienced anything extremely expensive to repair. Sometimes timing chains but that's usually due to prolonged oil changes intervals
Had one since 2011, 3 door, manualc blue. Absolutely no major or minor issues. Have put 130,000km on it since I have owned it and still purrs like a kitten. Regular servicing. 98 octane. Still on the original clutch. The only problem I've ever had is the "money box" under dash compartment broke due to my own stupidity and the cup holder in the centre, the roller has broken. Also headlights are a pain in the ass to change.
Avoid a DSG and learn how to drive a manual.
Absolutely Brilliant car, throw in air intake upgrade and a Magna flow sports exhaust, you turn heads like you wouldn't believe. Nothing matches that exhaust note.
Loved mine, sold it at 190,000 kms. VW put a whole new DSG in it at about 2 years old, needed suspension dampers replaced and a pulley on the serpintine belt failed. Otherwise no problems. Loved this more than any car I have owned. Bought it for the sound it makes.
A whole new dsg? Isn't that like $10k?
on my second MK5 R32 after regretting selling my first one never had an issues first one was on 130k miles and my second one is on 50k miles no other car has gave me enjoyment quite like this.... great video :)
Weird hearing there are apparently lots of DSG issues. These hardly ever have DSG issues and hardly ever see anyone that actually owns one with issues. Also a very strong and good gearbox. It’s also very easy to learn how to use it properly so you don’t find it annoying. Eg realising that it is preselecting a gear and how it is doing that. Mechanically this particular variant of the DSG hasn’t changed much and you can replace the mechatronic with a newer one and it will essentially be exactly like that newer DSG, eg faster shifts.
Absolutely. I think a lot of people confuse these excellent 6sp units to the batch of cheaper 7sp dry clutch units in the base models, which did have more issues.
@@olly1oo6 💯 particularly the early dry clutch units
Any more info on this new mechatronics unit? is it still for dq250 or from dq500. is it plug and play
@@rjj00 DQ250, just newer revision. Most R32s are Cxx but the latest revision is Fxx. It’s improved in many ways over the old ones.
@@coreyw427 Good to know for the future thank you! Just checked out your channel! how much HP are you pushing and do you still have the dq250? sounds like it's shifting super fast!
9:55 it is missing the beer bottle opener!!
Your $10,000 a year to maintain comment is completely invalid. There is not a single R32 on the planet that costs $10,000 a year to maintain.
I agree. My biggest issue has been brake discs and shock absorbers but have now just recently been replaced with good quality parts.
Swapped my 18 inch omanyts for 19inch JR11s and without knowing it transforms the cars stance very wide but no Need for wheel spacers.
Only mods I've done is
Induction kit
Milltek non res
19inch rims.
Don't want to go silly kept all the old parts incase I sell which I won't 😂
Typical Aussie fear mongering reviewer....
And yes I'm an Aussie.
My dream ride... Hello from South African
For the record, this is by far my favorite car channel, you should invest in an intro and some catchy hooks
My R32 doesn't have a sunroof. My first one did, but I think it's the best solution to blocked sunroof drains.
I have owned my 190k km (bought at 170k) R32 for nearly two years and its been one of the most reliable cars I have owned. It has never caused an issue, always performed and never let me down!
I have taken it to the track and the dsg seems to overheat after a little while, although it is due for a service - so I'd say that will fix it.
DSG really needs a cooler for track use. It only has an oil to water heat exchanger which is more to help heat up the DSG than to cool it down.
still outright the best car i’ve owned to date! anyone looking to buy one should 100% go ahead with it!!
Great car - also keep an eye out for the near identical Audi A3 3.2 versions.
Slightly less of a hoon factor and they make a great sleeper.
Oh - and I love the sound of the 3.2 as I have it in my Passat AWD - the little brother to the mighty R36.
My 2 bobs worth & an bit extra 😆 Firstly thanks for the video. You guys & the Auto Expert John Cadogan are the only motoring journalists in Australia whose opinions I take seriously.
The R32 is a car that is appreciated by the few that know & goes unrecognised by the majority.
Whilst it was nice of the owner to give you his R32 as you point out this is a high mileage example that has clearly had a rough life. It’s a shame you couldn’t have sourced a better low km example that had been cared for from day dot.
If you are spending up to $10k a year on maintenance you clearly have not done your research & spent a few extra dollars to purchase a worthy example.
Mine is a 3 door manual with 95kms on it. I also am lucky enough to have an excellent mechanic who is also a VAG enthusiast & without exception the car is serviced as per schedule & any repair required is done without delay. It has cost me less than $2k in that time largely for minor fixes to be expected for a car of its vintage.
I had an immaculate 3 door Golf R with DSG prior & loved that car but unless you have driven or owned an R32 you won’t appreciate the fact that despite it being slower, less economical & in my eyes not as good looking as the Mk6 you cannot replicate the way driving it makes you feel compared to a four pot turbo which despite being phenomenal are a dime a dozen these days.
Just a trip to the shops & back makes you smile. The soundtrack is amazing even in the lower to mid range, the torque seems endless & it just feels like a big solid brute that does not have to try to make its presence felt. One reviewer I heard describe it as sounding like “a big angry wasp” as he was raving about how amazing it sounded. I think he was on the money.
It just feels so incredibly planted & whilst it could smash an autobahn day in, day out the handling is incredible for its time.
For me so far ownership has been a rewarding experience. They don’t & will not make cars like this anymore which is all the more reason to have one. They are a beautiful “Gentleman’s cruiser” with extras…😉
Sure there are faster fours out there but if that is your yardstick as you say AK you are missing the point. It’s a real connection between man & machine. Fantastic engineering & pure emotion are what makes the R32 the unique machine it is.
If you could get hold of an Alfa 147 GTA for a comparison of 6 cylinder hatchback magic that would be incredible. Plus well, that 6 cylinder engine in the alfa is NFSW and a true thing of beauty.
Having owned both, the R32 blows the alfa out of the water, the alfa needs AWD and talk about bad automatics I would never touch one that has the Alfa Selespeed box.
That 👉 poker gets me every time 😂
😅😅
My first car that I bought with my own money was a 2009 MK5 R32 which had 50k kms.
Had it for 6 years and tastefully modified it before selling it at 140k kms for a 2018 MK7.5R
Only things that I had to change in 6 years of ownership was the pulleys on the serpentine belt, the PCV valve, alternator and the AC compressor. Regular servicing and not thrashing it off its guts everyday made it one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned.
I miss it everyday... Currently trying to find another one 😂
I have one (usa market #1430/5000), and when i bought it, it wasnt in the best shape. I've dumped a ton of money into the car to get her back to her former glory, and i dont regret it for a second. No one gets it until they drive one for themselves.
Another example of a high mileage Volkswagen that performs well and is reliable
I own a 2009. It's the best daily. It's car that likes to be used. I find people who have issues don't use them frequently enough. The problems I've had are bent wheels from potholes, propshaft bearings and headlight motor seizing, water ingress from blocked sunroof drains, seized rear caliper, and some lacquer peel on the bonnet. No other problems in 2 years. I'll probably keep it forever and gradually improve it and upgrade the tech. It's still cheaper than a new car and it's much easier to spend money on a car you enjoy
I sold my R32 few years ago but I bought it back.. I dont pay much in maintience. Working good acually never done any repair. Just service every year.
My mum had low km mk5 r32 for a long long time. I remember being in it when i was very young. It was so fast and loud but unfortunately it was involved in a very bad car crash and was totalled. I will always have a soft spot for these cars despite the type of people who drive it now. Oh yeah and it was manual and the roof sagged
I'm happy with my 2014 Lancer GSR Sportback. I could mod it if I want, but she's perfect as she is for my daily use.
Great Video ..... should review a 147 GTA 😀
Lovin these hot hatch reviews i grew up witn ! Look forward to a 130i reviEew! And no I dont have one to review 😅
I'm not sure about other parts of the world.. But here in South America this car has held up its value in a way that seems to be unbelievable
Have mine, DSG model, for 5 years. Only prob was leak from thermostat housing which I fixed myself. Fast enough for me - dragy 0 to 100 5.8s without using launch control, grips like mad. sounds awesome especially around buildings. Oh yeah, kills GTI s at the lights , always, thanks to the grip.
Be embarrassing if it didn’t, like why even mention that
Cos cocky high boosted GTI owners love saying the R32 is slower. Yeah on a track, not on the street.
@@ossiebalboa5617 I don’t think I have ever heard anybody say that, ever
@@chrisdryden1400everybody says it
@@chrisdryden1400 The Gti can be made to give more hp than the vr6, as it is turbocharged and being lighter will be quicker. So on forums you will many find such people who have these quick cars but perhaps never raced an R32 at the lights and think that accelerating fast when the car is already moving equates to the same when the cars are starting from a dig. Not so, the powerful, modded, gti will burn rubber while the R32 blasts away, perhaps to be caught up to eventually but not until illegal speed limits are reached.
always wanted one when i had a bora v6 (2.8L version of the engine), did r32 cams, remap, haldex controller and of course an exhaust etc.
Loved that thing, was such a nice car to drive
Nowadays the R32 a bit long in the tooth for me to be chasing electrical gremlins
You can actually replace the PCV valve with the touareg pipe, then block off the small breather on the camcover as it new pipe has an intergrated breather hole.
The first Seat Leon in 2000, was the first VAG to use the rear hatch marque badge as the lock mech actuator. It was a manual latch in the first ones
Finally!!! Thanks for the review.
Our Mark 6 GTI was fully maintained by the book and never thrashed. Recently junked at just 110,000kms with severe engine blow-by as the repair quote was over $10K. Avoid unless you are a lotto winner. Buy anything else.
Man I miss my R32s, had 2 of them. Also had the R36, my brother had the Mk4 R32 as well, amazing cars, had to finally move to a Japanese wagon but as I couldn't keep up with the maintenance hahha, now I drive the Subaru liberty GT gen5, great car
I’ve been lucky enough to own two VW Golf’s, a MK1 which was old when I got it and brand new MK3. Both were the most unreliable cars I’ve ever owned by a very wide margin and I’ve owned two Alfas, one of which was an old Sud. The MK1 was the usual old car stuff mostly but the MK3 was a testament to unreliability, with a complete failure requiring a tow truck within the first week of ownership and ongoing gearbox failures rust and variety of other issues all with two years of purchase. VW Australia were a nightmare to deal with just to put the cherry on top.
Never again will I make the mistake of buying a VW product which is a shame as they were both great fun to drive, which is why I bought them in the first place.
Congrats you ownede the worst version of a golf, anything mk5 and newer is great and you're missing out because you bought the old crappy versions haha
@@jamesthompson4971 A friend of mine recently bought a new VW. It’s been back multiple times for a variety of repairs. Call me a cynic but I’ll continue to not buy VW's.
I think they are very cool cars and good ones are still really nice to drive. For similar money, it's a 130i for me, reliable motors, and a great chassis.
Owned mine for 8 years and only required minor fixes. Could be lucky but if you look after it you will get rewarded.
I drove an original VR6 with front wheel drive on a wet road many years go. It gave me a new benchmark for understeer. The narrow angle v6 did sound fantastic though.
No such issues with the R32 AWD
@@jamesthompson4971 I suspect not. Bit wow was the original fwd car a handful.
We sadly didn’t get the manual mk5 r32 here in the states.
The Mk5 R32 Golf and the Renault Clio V6 are 2 hatches we'll never have ever again.
Mine had 260,000ks and drives like it did off the showroom floor, small weep from gasket but it is almost 20 years old!
I have one 235,500 miles. It is a money pit at times. Electric and cooling system has been my issues.But the noise, connection to the road, still get stares.
My wife had the Audi TT VR6 8J. She loved it. Sounds awesome and looks better.
I think the rear seats fold completely flat. At least on the same age Polo, the seat part is hinged and tilts upwards, allowing the backrest to fall completely flat.
Awesome vid! Been waiting on this one.
The very first DSG was in the MK4 R32.
I thought they only came as a manual?
Actually it was the TT VR6.
@@mattdebyl8806No, German market MK4 R32
@@coreyw427 well they seem to have coincided (which is no surprise given they were the same platform), in 2003. However, the R32 was German market only whereas the TT was much broader. So no, it was the TT.
@@mattdebyl8806 Lol it doesn’t matter what market it’s in. It matters what is first. And that is the Mk4 R32 🤷♂️
with mine, the cooling system was an absolute nightmare, BEWARE leaking coolant!
this one (my car) needed all the cooling lines replaced recently. absolute nightmare when they age!
They sound great.
I remember my Mark five golf comfortline and at the time was a great car .. no R32 as far as performance or spec of course .. I think these still look pretty cool
Ristretto = yes 😂
Prefer the mk4 r32 but jeez the exhaust note is absolute sex. Still think the gti of this vintage is the superior offering but love spotting these in the wild
Adam's gonna come over and fit those wipers himself, and hell he might even dj your wedding too
Could definitely do that, they’re that easy to fit…
Can you review more regular and affordable cars, like you used to do? Car's under $15,000, non-sports cars etc.
Love your reviews though!
I had Bora 2.8L V6 4Motion tastefully modified and with a proper exhaust and cold air intake setup it both sounded amazing and went like stink. But yeah, tuck away a few thousand like everyone else is saying
@12:53 iconic chewbacca hahaha
Sound of VR6 ❤
That’s a rough looking R32!
2 door manual is 👌
I sold mine at 25,000km because of DSG issues.
What issues
Can you make a video on the regular golf 5? If not can you do a video on the regular mk4?
Hello Down under from Up above
These are a great car, that engine is magic, the sound is magic. And then they stuck a VW badge on it.
What exactly is that suppose to mean
Dang! Very informative and entertaining :)
If I were going to purchase a performance hatchback, I wouldn't purchase a VW Golf R32 nor a Mazda 3 MPS but rather a similarly aged Honda Civic Type R.
Do review mk5 Golf Gti , the steering feel is what make me choose an older car despite mk7 is a faster car
I'd love to see you guys cover a Toyota Aygo, not sure if they made it to Australia.
Great review very well done l wanted one of theses back in the day l ended up buying a mk5 GTI instead because of the fuel cost and the R32 was not that much faster but it sounds better l would buy one in 2024 as it’s only going to go up in value as it’s a V6 as well. One to keep in the garage as the school kids will think it sounds cool in the future 😂😂😂😂
Come review my Subaru GT liberty Gen 5 wagon. Would love to see your review of it and also find out what goes wrong hahah
Ah, the memories!
Had one of these for about 3 years. Loved it but then thought I needed a V8 wagon, so traded it on a vf2 redline. Instantly regretted it. Currently in a i30 sedan n and love the sound, the modern interior, the driving dynamics and the warranty, but there's a part of me that still wants a bit of that V6 on the side.
Great review Adam, Jim and team.
From the looks of it this is a fairly decent car despite the usual VW problems with the swiss cheese parts.
Have to admit it's got an understated aggressive look too it despite being a hatchback which I think is pretty cool.
Have to admit I think this is one of the rare European cars that Hullsy hasn't said avoid like the plague with so that says something lol.
Brilliant job as always guys and as always keep up the good work and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
Strange to say it has Swiss cheese parts. Most of the important parts are far stronger than most cars. For example, the control arms on most cars are just stamped steel. On this, they’re cast iron. Can also swap to alloy to save weight if desired.
Buy one! You won’t regret it, I haven’t 😊
Ahhhhhh...small pretentious coffees don't come with carbs, right? I'm with you.
We used to laugh at americans when they said "There is no replacement for displacement" Nowadays we finally get it. A naturally aspirated bigger engine is more satisfying and a turbo 4.
As someone who use to mock that I'd like to say I was wrong
You should review an old 2000’s Toyota hilux, or any old tradie ute
it has garbage ignition coils and garbage wheel bearings, the only thing which surprisingly stays together is the DSG
Not sure if you ever had them over there, but over here you could get the Audi A3 with the 3.2 in, and they hardly cost anything compared to the R32. Debatable a better made car too.
No way the plastic thermostat cover is the deal breaker for me
I noticed that you didn't review any Infiniti car so I hope you will do some like for Infiniti G 2008 and infiniti qx50 and qx70
The MK5 Gti was better. Down on power, obviously. However, it handled much better through the corners.
My neighbour has one, I showed interest in it and he wouldn’t stop trying to sell it to me..
He’s mad
130i. The driving experience is a whole different thing. Or a 147 GTA. Audi 3.2 A3 is a better car nowadays (much better interior for a start) and because it doesn’t have the fancy badge, they are WAY cheaper. Also TT 3.2, the OG is based on the MkIV and is more raw. The MkII TT is lighter and much better made. There’s also the much cheaper C320 coupe / compact thing. But really, the 130i in manual over these 100% of the time.
owned a mk5 r32 for just over 2yrs was an ok car but apart from a mk4 r32 and passat r36 i wouldnt touch another vag
You guys should review the Corolla sportivio
We filmed exactly that last week. Going live soon!
Hey nice watch!
Bloody hell...my 2009 passat v6 only has 31000 miles on it😮
Why you never talk about the Jetta???
Buy a 2007 A3 3.2l VR6 dsg quattro, Audi TT Mk2 VR6 dsg quattro or manual.
Sup Adam, wanted to ask you about the Passat B8, does it mean if it has parking sensors on both front fenders, it comes with 360 parking sensors or not?
Volvo S40 review please?
Rear fog light on the left? Was that particular car originally LHD?
It has aftermarket (but OEM Valeo) led lights which are from LHD model. You can switch it around but this person hasn’t. Strangely is not mentioned that these are not the stock lights.
Don't believe the long oil life service the car is programmed with. Always change oil at 8000 km, to avoid chain problems and other gremlins
Could you please do a review on a GOLF R MK7?
ua-cam.com/video/QJJVOTcpBhU/v-deo.htmlsi=u4eco18CZRM5W-5L
They've done one.
every golf ive had broke
Skill issue
LOL, I'd only ever buy one if I could sell it profit straight after.
The quote "as reliable as a politicians promise" comes to mind.
Another great quote that comes to mind, "a fool and their money are easily parted" sorry Alex.
Ignorance at its finest
A great car in its day... but it's time for this one to retire, respectfully.
If you know how to do most of the maintenance yourself, you'll probably have a great time. If, like me, you do not... then avoid this.
What a heap of shit 305000 kms goes like a rocket and still reliable 😂
Owned the original R
2004 MK4 R32 with two doors and six on the floor the way a sports car should be. Not the four door dsg popcorn 🍿fart machines VW makes now. Long live the VR6!
Wish 😢 I didn't lose my R to a flood 😢
Is that beacon hill lol?