Come to NZ & I’ll take you for a drive.
Paul

The AWD is at home in Iowa winters just as it is on dry summer streets. The GTI had snow tires, but it just wasn’t the same. I picked up mine in January of this year for just a hair above $28,500 – way worth it over a fully loaded GTI or a rather rediculous 40k for a A3 S-line.

Insurance wise, this is much more reasonable to insure than an Evo or an STi (love em BTW), especially for 25 yr old like me.

I don’t care what people say, but comparing a standard GTI at like $27K to a SENTRA SPEC V at $20K….$7K difference…uhhh…for what? Is it that much better? Not to me after I drove them.

—

Way off here, dude.

Just built a standard GTI. Price: $23,300
Just built a standard Sentra Spec V. Price: $21,130

Having driven both, I personally think the GTI is much more fun to drive and is generally more of a drivers car. Plus, with its turbo engine, there are many after-market chipping options with the GTI. And don’t forget the option of a DSG on the GTI. Not my bag, personally, but it is incredible technology.

Finally, this…

–Torque–
Sentra Spec V: 180 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
GTI MkV: 207 lb-ft @ 1,800-5,000

AND

–Curb Weight–
Sentra Spec V: 3,048 lbs
GTI MkV: 3,213 lbs

Only 150 lbs difference in weight and the GTI having a lot more “pop” from its extra torque over much broader range than the Sentra.

I think the Sentra Spec V is a fine car. But the GTI spanks it as a driver’s car, IMO.

Taft

Looks like you and I have the same feelings about the R32. My admiration for the car continues to grow the more I drive it. I still can’t wait to drive it to work everyday. Of course I live in Kentucky so there are lots fun open roads to play on.

Nozferatu:

I am not really not sure I follow what you are saying. The car really doesn’t have that much torque. Only 236 ft/lbs. True it does kick in early though. I guess if you think the car feels faster then it is I have a question for you. What is more important, beating teenage boys in drag races or the enjoyment you get from the way a car feels everyday when you drive it? I average about 80 – 90 mph on my way to work everyday and I enjoy every minute of it. That is as fast as I need to go if I want to keep my license.

Also, what are the overly complicated add-ons you’re referring to? Automatic door locks and climate control?

To each his own. I’ve owned a VR6 GTI 24v…a total PIG of a car.

As for your accident comment…there are so many factors involving an accident…just merely stating that you hit an Accord and you walked away doesn’t mean much. What year was the other car? Etc? Weight places a role but I don’t doubt for a minute that Honda’s engineering is far, far, far more competent that VW’s…in anything. There’s a reason why Honda’s look like crap when they get into accidents…because they take the loads of an accident so you don’t take them. I highly doubt you hit a new Honda Accord and if you say you did, I honestly wouldn’t believe you.

German cars are in general over designed, overweight, inefficient piles. They fool people into thinking they are fast because they have low end torque. They fool people into thinking they are advanced by offering extremely and overly complicated add-ons that turn into complete nightmares a few years down the road.

I think VW has lost its way anyway…it should be making small, efficient, fun cars that give very good fuel mileage, very simple, very low cost.

Instead, they make cars for pretentious yuppies who think it’s cool to drive around in a overweight barge.

The GTI has DSG.

That’s true if you don’t want the DSG and all the other options that come standard on the R32. Personally, I like a fully loaded car. Again, maybe because I am getting old, but I love the DSG!

Glad you like the R32, but the real competitor to this car is the GTI.

It’s not that much slower, handles beautifully and costs a lot less.

1. Some of the prices quoted on here are crazy. I just bought my R32 for invoice which was under 32K. Compare that to the new STI 38K+ with the BBS wheels and fog lamps. I agree that the STI is a better performer, but that would have added $150 to my monthly payment.
2. A comparably loaded GTI was 28K so to me the R32 was work the extra 3 – 4K for the V6 and the 4Motion. Also, what is all this talk about Audis? The A3 S line last time I looked was 42K so that is not really in the same price range to me. Basically, what I have seen is that for every 5k you are adding about $100 to your monthly payment on a 5 year loan. So $200 more a month is a lot of money to me to pay for the Audi. All though I have to say I like the idea of a 4 door.
3. I am 44 years old and felt stupid driving my STI with the hood scoop and huge whale tail. I know Subaru has fixed that with the current model, but at a cost. At my age I like the stealth nature of the R32. I don’t feel silly pulling up to the office everyday in this car like I sometimes did with the STI. However, the young guys all lusted over the STI which did feel good.
4. It’s got a European appeal that the Japanese cars just don’t have. It just feels cool and more sophisticated. The straight forward controls are really a pleasure and easy to use when driving the car.
5. I’ll take the added comfort over the hard edged performance. This car is plenty fast to get you in trouble with the law. When I had my STI I use to hit 100mph every day and I knew I was just asking for trouble. In the real world do you really need a car that fast?

For me the R32 is comfortable, sporty, and because it’s a hatchback it has the utility I need for my lifestyle. I couldn’t be happier with the car.

Contrary to comments above The Audi 3.2 is not the same car at all. It’s engine is the refined lightweight aluminium block version. R32 is heavy iron block VR6 and therefore has the engine note that makes this car a superexotic toy.

For those who dig the R32, price and weight is not everything.

And the price…MY GOD..$37K I saw it priced at a dealership…who in their right freaking mind, who is not ingestion mushrooms NOT of the edible garden variety, would pay for this POS?

Come on…German cars are being seriously overkill and obnoxious.

I don’t care what people say, but comparing a standard GTI at like $27K to a SENTRA SPEC V at $20K….$7K difference…uhhh…for what? Is it that much better? Not to me after I drove them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjtTuBTJYSc

Granted: R32 makes a great GT. But wouldn’t you really rather have an Audi?

Apparently the 2.0T is good for up to 350hp without needing to be opened although I suspect I would miss 4WD with that kind of power.

The 2.0TDi matches the R32 for torque with only 140hp, the 170 beats it.

My old man has a mint ‘04 as his daily driver. It’s rough-riding, twitchy on the throttle and brakes, and never ceases to bring a grin to my face in every way. He paid a whopping $25k and change for it, and he has recently been offered over $20k for it from a dealer (you can probably do better privately).

Here’s a kicker: In his area (Baltimore), the dealer says the requests for used MkIV versions have grown with the intro of the MkV. So the new one is such a letdown, people are clamoring for the old one (better price and true 6-speed).

That’s the only significant advantage the R32 has over the GTI for me. Though I wouldn’t mind having the 6-cylinder’s extra torque.

My GTI is totally stock, and I’ve been back to the dealer with the check engine light on 4 times in the past year.

I was close to buying a 2006 Jetta GLI last year until the salesman spent twice as much time selling me on the parts & service department than the car itself. That didn’t say good things about reliability IMO.

As for the “low ego emissions” aspect. I don’t really buy it. The two VW dealerships in town are “Royal” and “Aristocrat”. The time I spent at Royal I sensed a lot of excess ego from the staff. Sure it’s more smug than brash, but that’s not necessarily better.

Still, once I’m over my Mustang GT (or gas gets way too expensive) I’d try a GTI or R32 if they had a good lease deal.

I liked my Civic Si and would like another hatch, but it’s got to have torque this time and I would like to give DSG a try. Maybe by then other manufacturers will have their dual-clutch gearboxes to market.

regarding the box, i admit to never having driven the DSG (i’ve driven the SMG, ugh), but there’s something about choosing how to let out the clutch that an autobox will never give you. I think . . .