I'm shopping for a VW: 08 GTi vs R32

[ourlee]

What will I be missing out on if I pass on a R32 and get the less expensive GTi? I talked to APR today, the chip brings the HP on the 2.0 to mid 200s, so other than the awd, what's the advantage?
thanks.

[DarkNeo]

VR6

[BlixaBargeld]

AWD and sound. Feels more stable.

Objective take the GTI unless you need or want AWD. Subjective for me the GTI wasn't even in the top 5 ( R32 feels more like a GT versus a hooligan car)

[helement2003]

What will I be missing out on if I pass on a R32 and get the less expensive GTi? I talked to APR today, the chip brings the HP on the 2.0 to mid 200s, so other than the awd, what's the advantage?
thanks.

I owned a 2007 GTI and now have a 2008 R32. Besides the obvious AWD and VR6, there are a few other little things you miss out on if you get a GTI:

-Auto headlights
-Auto wipers
-Auto dimming rear view mirror

I must say, the R32 power delivery is much nicer than the 2.0T, though it feels just about as quick. You can tell the R is heavier, just by how it handles, but the fun of blasting out of a corner early and heavy on the throttle is

I suppose this all comes down to how much the price difference is on the cars you're looking at, as well as personal preference.

EDIT - I see you're in Jersey. Will this be your DD? Snow/rain + AWD = R32 as my final decision.

[Slave IV]

As everyone mentioned...main thing is AWD and the VR6. Those two things make a huge difference in everyday driving to me though. What will you be missing if you get the R32? Option for manual and potential for easy modding/big power...but that power will only be put down to the front wheels and the GTi already comes close to the limit of what is really useable in a FWD car.

When we went shopping for our R32, we looked at MKVI GTIs and TDI's but it was a no-brainer to us...Wanted automatic transmission, don't really care about gas mileage (the advantage of TDI) and didn't see the value in paying around the same price for a GTI compared to an R32.

I had a chance to drive my friend's Stage 2+ MKV GTI with PSS10's for a while and although I liked having boost, I was very happy to get back into my stock R32 and there is no way I would ever consider trading it for the setup he had.

[oidoglr]

You're gonna spend more on gas.

[zevion]

You're gonna spend more on gas.

But happily

[12w0]

^ that's for damn sure!

i look at the gas pump and..

[ourlee]

Hilarious

[Howboutcha C'mon]

The R32 is a cooler car.

[sixteen10]

The R32 is a cooler car.

jesus , understatement much?

[ceese]

The question you should be asking yourself is not GTI vs R32 - it's R32 vs Audi A3 3.2. Pretty much the same car from a drivetrain engine POV. I'm helping a friend search for one or the other right now and was surprised to see that the A3s haven't held their value as well as the R32s and tend to be a little less expensive for the same miles.

VR6 = no replacement for displacement :-)

[sixteen10]

The question you should be asking yourself is not GTI vs R32 - it's R32 vs Audi A3 3.2. Pretty much the same car from a drivetrain engine POV. I'm helping a friend search for one or the other right now and was surprised to see that the A3s haven't held their value as well as the R32s and tend to be a little less expensive for the same miles.

VR6 = no replacement for displacement :-)

I do like the A3 , particularly CleanA3's specimen , however it just doesn't have the allure of the R32.

[NorEastVW]

OP- have you driven both, yet? I owned a MKV GTI prior to picking up my R32. Both are great cars and I think this thread already outlines most of the key differences between the two.

See if you can't arrange back-to-back drives in each - it will be the best way to get the overall feel for both / decide which best fits your own preferences

[g60rabbit]

What will I be missing out on if I pass on a R32 and get the less expensive GTi? I talked to APR today, the chip brings the HP on the 2.0 to mid 200s, so other than the awd, what's the advantage?
thanks.

My wife has an 08 GTI. I have an 08 R32.

What do I wish my R32 has that my wifes GTI has?? 4 doors. Thats it.

Its amazing how much better the R32 feels on the highway and onramps ect.

I never have to worry about wheel spin or anything with the awd.

I LOVE the GTI but the R32 is just a bit better in every category minus MPG.

Stock to stock though I would say the DSG and 2.0T setup does feel a bit smoother then the setup in the R32.

[ceese]

I do like the A3 , particularly CleanA3's specimen , however it just doesn't have the allure of the R32.

If it wasn't an A3 for me it would have been an 08 gray R32 or an S4 Avant - There are things I like about both cars - six of one half dozen of the other. You R32 guys tend to focus more on performance mods than the A3 forum guys do which is why I like to visit.

I'm not familiar with CleanA3's car.

The GTI is a nice car - more affordable to mod on the initial mods but the R32 and VR6 cars in general are more fun to drive in my opinion.

[mk5_R32#3828]

you will miss the opportunity to have this conversation...
Hey is that a gti?
No its an r32....
oh... is it fast?
nope hahahaha

But yea you defiantly get more car and driving it everyday thats what i wanted compared to the gti,
i went to the dealer to test drive a 08 gti dsg and after test driving both the r there was no way i could pass up on it. Good luck with the decision

[thesharkman]

The question you should be asking yourself is not GTI vs R32 - it's R32 vs Audi A3 3.2. Pretty much the same car from a drivetrain engine POV. I'm helping a friend search for one or the other right now and was surprised to see that the A3s haven't held their value as well as the R32s and tend to be a little less expensive for the same miles.

VR6 = no replacement for displacement :-)

like the A3s, but as the R is my daily driver, i had to take back seat room into account due to having to drive two kids around. the R has ALOT more room in back; i immediately saw this fact when a 6'7" salesman fit in the back of the R just fine. this is the case even w/ two doors.

shark ~

[BlixaBargeld]

Closed > just get the one YOU like more

[rethnug]

I owned a '06 GTI (2door w/ DSG) for 3 years, and just bought a '08 TR R32 (for not much less than a new GTI). The GTI is a nice car, but the way the R32 accelerates out of tight corners (and the VR6 sound) are on a different level, if you can live with the sorry gas mileage...

[ceese]

I owned a '06 GTI (2door w/ DSG) for 3 years, and just bought a '08 TR R32 (for not much less than a new GTI). The GTI is a nice car, but the way the R32 accelerates out of tight corners (and the VR6 sound) are on a different level, if you can live with the sorry gas mileage...

[ourlee]

it never dawned on me this would get bad gas mileage. def. a deal breaker for me. now i'm leaning toward building a GTD out of a 6 speed tdi MVl.

thx for the replies guys, it helped very much.

rick

[ceese]

it never dawned on me this would get bad gas mileage. def. a deal breaker for me. now i'm leaning toward building a GTD out of a 6 speed tdi MVl.

thx for the replies guys, it helped very much.

rick

It's not a question of it getting bad gas mileage it's that the GTI gets better and the 2.0T guys tend to point out that fact every chance they get.

[Howboutcha C'mon]

The price of gasoline is only heading uphill from here - this is a great time to enjoy driving something that sucks it down and shoots you forward

[g60rabbit]

it never dawned on me this would get bad gas mileage. def. a deal breaker for me. now i'm leaning toward building a GTD out of a 6 speed tdi MVl.

thx for the replies guys, it helped very much.

rick

An MK6 TDI with mods will cost how much?

Possibly negating the savings on gas, still wont match the R in performance, and still will be fwd?

Do you drive a lot?

[vigs12]

as pointed out. VR6. end of story.

in regards to gas milage.

Ferrari's dont get good milage either.

[Saabstory02]

it never dawned on me this would get bad gas mileage. def. a deal breaker for me. now i'm leaning toward building a GTD out of a 6 speed tdi MVl.

thx for the replies guys, it helped very much.

rick

I put over 100K on my R32 in 3 years of ownership. I commute 125 miles a day and coach youth soccer so 3-4 times I week I was running back out to practices or games. I love the R32 more than any car I've ever owned to date, and still miss it to this day, the only reason I sold it was the fuel economy. I also own an 09 GTI which is my wife's daily.

That said; I traded my R in on a Golf TDI and I do love this car. It is definitely lacking in a few key areas (AWD, Acceleration, etc) but overall it is a really nice, well-built car and feels very similar to the R in day-to-day driving scenarios. At 125+ miles a day the difference in cost is staggering; I now have a new car payment instead of a used car payment, but the fuel savings of this car over the .:R quite honestly pays for itself. I spend more than $300 a month less on the TDI than I did on the .:R, all costs included.

Now to the big question... what is your commute like? If you drive less than 50-60 miles a day; get the .:R. Don't question, just do it. The feel, power, sound, comforts and amenities are all better than any other Golf body car on the road, hands down. At 50-60 miles per day or less, your savings on a GTI or TDI will be negligable so there isn't much point in buying the lower trim levels.

If you drive more than that each day; get a GTI or a TDI as you'll definitely feel the difference in your pocket.

[ourlee]

I'm in the process of starting a new contract. I'll drive over 2k a month for the length of the job, usually these last 24 to 30 months. The last gig I bought a 2.slow 01 buggy 5 sp from my son's football coach with 60 k on it for 6 grand. I put 75k miles on it and gave it to my friend. That freakin car has 190k on it today. Pretty awesome. Point of the story is I wanted to treat myself a little this time but just can't burn that much gas, it's too wasteful IMHO. So my plan is to get a 2010 6 sp golf TDi and do H&Rs springs, koni yellows, sways if you guys tell me it needs it, a bigger rear wing, a GTI front bumper and BAM, I got a fake GTD. I read on club the chips are 40 and 60, that would be the first mod.

And then there's the TDi 13 beetle, and for $24, do you believe the focus ST gets 32 mpgs highway. I'm driving the ST in bridgewater tomorrow. That should be FUN!

[Saabstory02]

I'm in the process of starting a new contract. I'll drive over 2k a month for the length of the job, usually these last 24 to 30 months.

You'll love the TDI then, you are in a similar situation to me and I can tell you it is a great car for that type of driving. While I do drive my car spiritedly every day, I find there is nothing more enjoyable these days then seeing how high I can push the average mpg up

The last gig I bought a 2.slow 01 buggy 5 sp from my son's football coach with 60 k on it for 6 grand. I put 75k miles on it and gave it to my friend. That freakin car has 190k on it today. Pretty awesome. Point of the story is I wanted to treat myself a little this time but just can't burn that much gas, it's too wasteful IMHO. So my plan is to get a 2010 6 sp golf TDi and do H&Rs springs, koni yellows, sways if you guys tell me it needs it, a bigger rear wing, a GTI front bumper and BAM, I got a fake GTD. I read on club the chips are 40 and 60, that would be the first mod.

If AT ALL possible, skip the 2010 TDI and find an 11 or 12 model. With the HPFP issues; the 10s are far more likely to have a catastrophic failure as they had the first generation pump. There have even been a couple failures on '12 models, but not remotely like the frequency of the '10 models.

No matter which MY you get the failure rate overall is still quite low, 2-3% overall for all models; but something to keep in mind at least.


As for the mods:

• Driver Gear makes springs for these cars as well; drop is basically the same as H&Rs but they ride almost exactly like stock. Just a thought
• Rear sway will make this car much more neutral. The suspension on the TDI is "Sport" but I would say it is nearly right in the middle between a GTI and a regular Golf.
• What "chip" are you talking about?

And then there's the TDi 13 beetle, and for $24, do you believe the focus ST gets 32 mpgs highway. I'm driving the ST in bridgewater tomorrow. That should be FUN!

No. They are great fun to drive but it falls short on the mpg, as does the regular trim Focus. Real world they are averaging about 31mpg if you look on fuelly (the regular focus, not the ST). that's the nice thing about the TDI; it actually does better than its EPA estimates in most driving situations

[g60rabbit]

I'm in the process of starting a new contract. I'll drive over 2k a month for the length of the job, usually these last 24 to 30 months. The last gig I bought a 2.slow 01 buggy 5 sp from my son's football coach with 60 k on it for 6 grand. I put 75k miles on it and gave it to my friend. That freakin car has 190k on it today. Pretty awesome. Point of the story is I wanted to treat myself a little this time but just can't burn that much gas, it's too wasteful IMHO. So my plan is to get a 2010 6 sp golf TDi and do H&Rs springs, koni yellows, sways if you guys tell me it needs it, a bigger rear wing, a GTI front bumper and BAM, I got a fake GTD. I read on club the chips are 40 and 60, that would be the first mod.

And then there's the TDi 13 beetle, and for $24, do you believe the focus ST gets 32 mpgs highway. I'm driving the ST in bridgewater tomorrow. That should be FUN!

And at that point you have spent a few thousand dollars more negating fuel savings?

[ourlee]

And at that point you have spent a few thousand dollars more negating fuel savings?

I know but I have to "F" with all my cars, just can't help it, you should see my son's TJ

[JayUG]

I don't think the gas mileage is THAT bad. I drive my car every day about 30 miles average a day. And 40 bucks in the tank last me a little over a week.

[BetaOp9]

Neither.

Get an .:R36

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...&highlight=R36