“A nice car. But it looks a bit too aftermarket, don’t you think?” The car in question is Volkswagen’s R32, the flagship V6-powered, all-wheel-drive Golf launched in Europe in 2001. And the person asking the questions? One Rudiger Folten, the German-born designer responsible for the look of every hot Golf since the original Mk1 GTI of 1976.

The original R32, explains Rudiger, caught everyone by surprise. Spurred on by the realization that its beloved GTI had become a joke in enthusiast circles, the more focussed R32 was rushed through to production, barely pausing to have some 18-inch OZ alloys, painted brake calipers and twin exhaust pipes added. The result, as the VW design veteran admits, could have leapt straight off the pages of a modified car magazine – albeit the reader’s rides section rather than the center spread... Full Story...

car sounds like its an awesome ride i say sign me up for the 300 horse US version

FüKeNDüBiN, LI NY

Jim

Finally the US gets a better car than Europe...at least for a little while.

Quote, originally posted by 1_Slow_Jetta »

hmm 2007.. i hope i have money by then.

Me too! Just got a Jetta TDI for the wife instead of a car for me, but she did let me turbo my scirocco

Question:

Will the R36 have a very limited production run similar to the previous model, or will I actually have the chance to buy one before they are 'sold out'? Please help.

The R32 MK4 was HUGE success... why? because it was a great performing, great looking machine with a hint of snarl.

So why change that mix? doesn't make sense.. I am sure the mk5 is a superior machine, but the new look is just too high end... even the wheels are not as tough looking.
The final insult is to put 'that' chrome grill on the front...

The R32 (mk4) was a machine that I lusted for, this is just a quick golf IMO.

I am very disappointed.

Look at the cars in this class (evo, STI), and the most memorable from the past (integrale, Escort Cosworth)

too soft. !!!

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Quote, originally posted by Uk in NY »

The final insult is to put 'that' chrome grill on the front...

I'm not sure why the author referred to the grill as 'chrome', but if you look at the close-up shot of the front end (and read past posts about the car), you'll see that it is aluminum, with more of a brushed finish.

Quote, originally posted by MI_canuck »

dude - that's like winning the lottery TWICE (your wife prefers wagons *AND* hates automatics)...

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A2orange8v Getting threads locked one at a time

if VW can give a timeframe for the R36, ill sign today

Handling & performance

Interior

Exterior

If they re-skin the Mk5, it might actually be worth considering.

So does my MKIV.

That's within a nit of how much the MKIV R32 cost there.

Its sophisticated and adult. Gone is the more boy racer look of the MK4 and the tuner crowd following. No one yacking about "slamming it" or throwing a set of LM's and badgeless grilles on it. Replacing it is a vehicle that not only looks better, but performs better.

Cant wait for this car.

Modified by urinal_mint_redux at 7:04 AM 10-7-2005

It's not even out yet.

I'll take my R36 in black please - and before I pick it up please have the front metal painted black..mmm kay, thanks.

Give it some time, the R32 only just came out compared to the GTI...

if that $30K price tag on the R36 stands, I may just have to trade in...

So do we know yet if this is going to be a multi-year run car? Obviously for the R32 is was at the end of the model life, but '07 is close to the beginning for the MkV, so is it safe to say (and hope) that they'll be selling it maybe in '08, '09, etc?

Modified by mister_g60 at 11:10 AM 10-7-2005

"Right. As anyone with a background in biology knows, a human zygote is a dolphin." zukiphile