New job = new car...multiple questions

[TG328]

soon enough i will finally be in the market for my first real car purchase. VW has always been my niche so i have a few questions about the mkv r32.

1. With the flappy paddles, are these cars still fun to drive? i do not know how to drive stick, and am nervous about learning, so this car seems like a decent alternative? i want to enjoy driving my car though.

2. with the flappy paddle, do you still truely "hear your car" through gear changes and down shifting, hoping some of you understand what im asking haha

3. are they reliable? my 1.8t was a disaster, spent entirely too much money fixing it, above all else. this is most important.

4. with bolt ons , how much power will i generally be looking at?

thank you very much everyone!

[Mr_Peach]

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes
4. Not much.

[VR64ANT]

You must watch top gear. Dsg is fun. Not as fun as a manual. Deep breaking into a corner is a piece of cake. But I still miss having a manual. That is until I sit in traffic the next morning. Go drive one. Learn to drive a manual then compare. Power? Doesnt come cheap.

[jwbekens]

soon enough i will finally be in the market for my first real car purchase. VW has always been my niche so i have a few questions about the mkv r32.

1. With the flappy paddles, are these cars still fun to drive? .........

2. with the flappy paddle, do you still truely "hear your car" through gear changes and down shifting, hoping some of you understand what im asking haha

3. are they reliable? my 1.8t was a disaster, spent entirely too much money fixing it, above all else. this is most important.

4. with bolt ons , how much power will i generally be looking at?

thank you very much everyone!

1. A blast to drive. Takes most of us a few months to really master the use of the DSG in manual or S modes. Go drive a new GTI or a TDI Golf. You will have an idea of what it is like. Love having DSG on my .:R32 and TDI Golf.

2. The VR6 is intoxicating with stock or aftermarket exhaust, especially when downshifting. There is a noise pipe that sends engine sound into the cabin.

3. If the DSG and fuel tank recall are done, one only has to worry about belt tensioners and rare flywheel failures. Oh, and bubbled tires on bad roads with pot holes on stock tire sizes of all manufactures. There have been minor/major electrical gremlins, too. DSG maintenance is every 40K miles and so is Haldex fluid change.

4. Not a lot of extra power available with exhaust and intake changes. Do you really need it? United Motorsports DSG/engine combo seems to be a reasonable way to go (or other tune such as GIAC or APR or HPA) for 5-15 HP throughout the powerband, but that's about it. Can get some speed with reducing unsprung weight but that is big bucks.

Drive the .:R2. You will know if it is for you. If you are in need of a frugal car, get a TDI Golf. If you don't worry about MPG, an .:R32 may be what you want.

[ceese]

The 3.2 is about as reliable of an engine as they come. DSG is a great (if not the best IMO) transmission but like any car you need to make sure you keep up with the scheduled transmission services and they come in 35k mile increments instead of 60k miles like automatics.

As far as DSG vs manual for fun to drive. Different but I wouldn't say one is more fun than the other. If you get really good on a manual it's like you are a part of the car, with a DSG and its fast shifting its more like the car is an extention of you if that makes sense. There are many reasons Formula cars have switched to dual clutch computerized transmissions from manuals and it's also nice to just be able to just stick it in drive mode when you are in traffic.

IMO you can't go wrong with any of the AWD VR6 cars.

[#2430R32]

The flappy paddles are very fun. However, spend some time driving it in S (sport) mode first before you start flapping away. The DSG is really nice. But learning the quirks of it takes some playing with. But the MKV R32 is one of the best cars I have ever driven (especially under $30k). The AWD grips and goes.
Yes, to questions 2 and 3.
Question 4, bolt on power is very pricey. But there are a lot of ways to make it your own.

Go test drive one. Good luck.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ceese]

Drive the .:R2. You will know if it is for you. If you are in need of a frugal car, get a TDI Golf. If you don't worry about MPG, an .:R32 may be what you want.

Saw that you have an 04 SVO - any pictures of that anywhere? That's one fun RWD car and you don't see too many of them anymore.

[afunnysmell]

Dem flappy paddlez doe.

[Howboutcha C'mon]

DSG has been love/hate for me - but usually I absolutely love it. I've driven manual for the majority of my years behind the wheel and while it is almost always fun - you can't beat the options and fluidity of the DSG. The majority of my love for this car is that the pairing of the DSG and the VR6 seems almost flawless (I'm not saying that I wouldn't love it with a 6MT as well though).

However - it definitely isn't for everyone. There will always be the purist standpoint, but for somebody who doesn't know how to drive manual - a DSG may a perfect medium. I can't even begin to comprehend how much money has been wasted on replacement clutches for capable cars due to people thinking that they are suddenly Dom Toretto because they suddenly opted for a sport model.

*Edit*

And to answer your other questions - you hear this car in the best way possible, especially during downshifts - and if you ever go for an aftermarket exhaust you will DEFINITELY hear the car.

I also own a 1.8T that has been the worst car (repair/maintenance wise) to have ever been signed under my family name... Even as a short term owner I don't think I am speaking to soon when I state that you will never have to worry about or deal with an R32 in the same way you would for any of those wretched 1.8T models.

[jwbekens]

Saw that you have an 84 SVO - any pictures of that anywhere? That's one fun RWD car and you don't see too many of them anymore.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but old pictures are here:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...1#post61976953
Newer pics:




Love my SVO with factory Hurst shifter and factory Koni Reds. Sure, a Honda Civic is now faster, but I love heel and toeing with it.

[RRRRR32]

soon enough i will finally be in the market for my first real car purchase. VW has always been my niche so i have a few questions about the mkv r32.

1. With the flappy paddles, are these cars still fun to drive? i do not know how to drive stick, and am nervous about learning, so this car seems like a decent alternative? i want to enjoy driving my car though.

2. with the flappy paddle, do you still truely "hear your car" through gear changes and down shifting, hoping some of you understand what im asking haha

3. are they reliable? my 1.8t was a disaster, spent entirely too much money fixing it, above all else. this is most important.

4. with bolt ons , how much power will i generally be looking at?

thank you very much everyone!

1 - I love my DSG - best of both worlds. No way to shift any faster!

2 - Sound is great stock. Add aftermarket exhaust to your liking. Some CAI's helps with the sound too - I love my EVOMs

3 - I have had a VR6 for 15 years. Pretty much bulletproof. IMO - Best engine ever. Others have chimed in on some of the other things folks are seeing. The recalls are the major things to get done.

4 - How much power do you NEED? Your call. The car is FUN out of the box!

Driving the R32 works like Viagra without a prescription!

[10Ten]

the only way i could have more fun in my car is at the track. i couldn't have more fun around town without getting arrested.

driving the DSG has its own technique. you can dumb it down and b1tch about it like 99% do, or you can learn it and become one with the machine. it took me quite some time to really get inside the thing.

when you do enough city driving you go between the paddles and control stick which i also enjoy.

if i absolutely need some clutch play, then i jump in my wife's Golf with a 5MT and thrash it with those skinny stock steelies which break grip in 2nd gear. can't do that with AWD tho.

had my car about 71k miles, since 18 miles in 2007. no major problems at all, some minor stuff covered under warranty.

finally, if you get the car then also get the United Motorsports combo flash. just know that an NA motor won't get big gains with a flash, but the torque bump and increased shift points are a must have for the MkV.

[TG328]

the only way i could have more fun in my car is at the track. i couldn't have more fun around town without getting arrested.

driving the DSG has its own technique. you can dumb it down and b1tch about it like 99% do, or you can learn it and become one with the machine. it took me quite some time to really get inside the thing.

when you do enough city driving you go between the paddles and control stick which i also enjoy.

if i absolutely need some clutch play, then i jump in my wife's Golf with a 5MT and thrash it with those skinny stock steelies which break grip in 2nd gear. can't do that with AWD tho.

had my car about 71k miles, since 18 miles in 2007. no major problems at all, some minor stuff covered under warranty.

finally, if you get the car then also get the United Motorsports combo flash. just know that an NA motor won't get big gains with a flash, but the torque bump and increased shift points are a must have for the MkV.

not trying to single one post out... but WOW, what great responses from everyone, couldnt ask for more.

some follow ups, what is everyone meaning by saying that DSG has its own technique? i thought it would be kinda easy to pick up? if its something ill have to figure out for myself just say so, and ill end the question there, its understandable.

And for those of you asking about the power im looking for, just a little more you know, to make the car stand out some, id like to be at ~300 hp... but if that isnt possible without FI, then i guess i will have to wait some time.

thanks again everyone! like i said i couldnt ask for any better responses to my questions.

[Exodusx7x]

My .02 First car I ever owned was an 03 Vr6 with the 6 speed manual. The engine was a fire breathing animal. The transmission however was trash. I then upgraded to an 08 gti with the 20.T and the "Top gear Flappy paddle gear box" I loved the crap out of that car. Then a few years later came the r32. I've wanted one since 04. The fit and finish is dead on. My Engine has 104500 and rising. I drive it moderately hard. and it has never had an issue other than wear items. Tires, Brakes, Serpentine belt. Yes stock the car can be a little quiet. but the exhaust note is great if you remove the resonator and open up the valve. As for the DSG. instant shifts are awesome but I do wish we had a manual. Although in traffic the D setting is a godsend. Personal opinion hit up youtube. Hear the car. See if anyone local will give you a ride. Or drive a Gti. Same platform minus the 2.0T and the awd of course.

The only drawback for the R is that it weighs as much as a small aircraft carrier. Weight saves lives though

[RRRRR32]

The only drawback for the R is that it weighs as much as a small aircraft carrier. Weight saves lives though

Amen to that one. We have seen some MKV R32's that fell victim to some pretty horrific crashes and to my knowledge, all occupants have walked away.

[Mr_Peach]

...
some follow ups, what is everyone meaning by saying that DSG has its own technique? i thought it would be kinda easy to pick up? if its something ill have to figure out for myself just say so, and ill end the question there, its understandable.

To be clear, you won't need anybody more knowledgeable to drive it home for you.

Stick it in "D", treat it normal, and anybody can drive it. I loan it out to people (wife, brother, nephew) as needed without a second thought.

The oddities, in random order:

• There really is a clutch in there. Two of them, actually. It's not a slush box.
• You can't just balance the car on the idle power at a stop on an incline. You need to use the brake, and then step off of the brake onto the throttle in a "learned timing" sort of way to get it to move off smoothly.
• Your brake pedal is your clutch pedal. You need to communicate clearly to the clutch what you intend. If you've never driven a manual, this may make no sense, or be a broader part of your learning curve.
• The DSG (dual clutch, twin clutch) works in part by anticipating your next move. If you're at 3K RPM in 2nd gear and accelerating, the DSG will 'pre-stage' 3rd gear. If instead you try to downshift into 1st gear, the DSG momentarily goes "WTF?" and sort of does nothing for a second or two.
• If you want to downshift manually in order to accelerate, learning the sequence and timing of doing so is an art. It's sort of "tip slightly into throttle, downshift, mash throttle" The "learned behavior" of lifting throttle slightly when shifting (from a manual) needs to be un-learned or re-learned differently.
• Rolling 'California stops' are the worst combination of the oddities above. You need to learn how and when to downshift to smoothly make power down around 10-15 mph before you can explode around the turn. Lots of folks have reported the DSG letting them down, sort of "stalling" just as they jump out into a traffic hole. Some of that is a DSG that needed the recall done, some is learned behavior.

[10Ten]

not trying to single one post out... but WOW, what great responses from everyone, couldnt ask for more.

some follow ups, what is everyone meaning by saying that DSG has its own technique? i thought it would be kinda easy to pick up? if its something ill have to figure out for myself just say so, and ill end the question there, its understandable.

And for those of you asking about the power im looking for, just a little more you know, to make the car stand out some, id like to be at ~300 hp... but if that isnt possible without FI, then i guess i will have to wait some time.

thanks again everyone! like i said i couldnt ask for any better responses to my questions.

Peach hit your DSG question below. there used to be a DSG Tips n Tricks thread, but that may have been dead a long time now. true the DSG is as easy as an auto, but for an enthusiast there's more to be had if you dig for it.

now, you won't go getting your 300hp w/o FI or worse. so if 300 is your minimum, there's your answer.

[BlixaBargeld]

now, you won't go getting your 300hp w/o FI or worse. so if 300 is your minimum, there's your answer.

Engine hp (250 stock) or whp (200 ?). Cams, HFC, .... Should get you around 50hp more. Powerdub had 265whp on his MK VI.
But that is the max as we know it ( unless anyone builds something with the HPA manifold)

[ceese]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but old pictures are here:

Love my SVO with factory Hurst shifter and factory Koni Reds. Sure, a Honda Civic is now faster, but I love heel and toeing with it.

I've never known anyone who's owned an R32 and hasn't had anything but love for them.

[TG328]

thanks everyone! ill look into that dsg tips and tricks thread!

[JuttyB]

2 - Sound is great stock. Add aftermarket exhaust to your liking.

3 - I have had a VR6 for 15 years. Pretty much bulletproof. IMO - Best engine ever.

4 - How much power do you NEED? Your call. The car is FUN out of the box!

Driving the R32 works like Viagra without a prescription!

I have to agree with this guy.. my friend bought a 96 passat vr6 off of my friends girlfriend.. and lets just say he beat the living piss out of it.. Learned to drive stick on it.. and when I tell you he'd come out front and beep the horn, and I'd ask him to drive.. I would have the biggest smile on my face... every. single. time. The clutch is strong, the power delivery is awesome, the NOISE is incredible, and the engine is rock solid.

[JuttyB]

Personally, I'd definitely go to a Volkswagen Dealership close to you, hop in a used VR6 if you can, or something similar to what your looking to buy. And see if it's worth your while.. I would definitely watch some youtube videos and learn to drive stick.. (I would say it makes driving the car more fun, it makes you feel like your actually driving in a sense..) My gf just bought a vw cabrio, and I taught her within a couple days.. I mean yeah she ruined her 3rd gear getting stuck on a hill and letting her car roll back down in 3rd, but I mean hey practice makes perfect, she's good now!