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Interesting article, but it shows that straight line speed isn't everything.  I have an AUDI A4 & A6, but bought a Honda Civic as a commuter car (due to gas prices in DC).  Sure the Civic was a cute car, but did not like the drive one bit.  It feels like it's ready to washout in the wet.  I traded it in for the VW R32 just in time for DC's first snowfall -- no regrets what so ever.

The comparative cost between a GTI and R32 is minimal when you put like packages together, plus the R32s are not selling as well, so dealers are making deals.

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/0712_2007_volkswagen_mkv_gti_2008_r32_comparison/index.html  

I've been debating for 3 weeks on a replacement for my daily commuter, 05 MINI Cooper S Cabrio.  Have been going back and forth between a GTI and an R32.  A base GTI with DSG can be bought for $23.5K, best price I have found on an R32 is $32.3K, so almost a $10K difference.  I am leaning toward the GTI.  

when the R32 comes as a 4door, i'll buy one and put my son's child seat in the back seat.  and i'm probably not the only one.  much of the appeal of the Evo and the STI lies in the added utility of their 4 door design.  yes, coupes are nice looking.  but a $35k+ car is typically in the price range of those who are also in their child rearing years.  so the 2 doors doesn't cut it when a child seat comes into the picture.  VW should put their R32 efforts into 4 door hatches or Jetta wagon platforms.  at the small volumes expected of the R32, they might be surprised by the demand when applieed to a more versatile platform.  

I have always admired the R32 (and GTI) from a distance but kids (college expenses) prevented getting one.  As a substitute I bought an 04 (new) SVT Focus and put a Supercharger (Jackson Racing) with larger fuel injectors and a Ford Racing Tune (Big Boost kit).  This article highlights something I have known since completing the upgrades to the Ford, which is that once the zero to 60 passes and the 1/4 mile passes my car is just starting to come alive, just like the GTI in this test.  At 75 mph, if I move the gearbox from 6th to 3rd and slam the pedal, I easily pull away from cars like the R32, Mini Cooper S, Stock GTI and once even stopped an SRT 8 from doing a quick pull around from that speed.  The Driver was quite surprised that my car almost paced his, and did so close enough to prevent his pass in a fairly good distance (he was a jerk anyway - deserved it).  Anyway my only point is that for a front drive car it is difficult to gain improvements in 0-60 and even 1/4 mile times but there is evidence even in these numbers that something is different when you look at the terminal speed at the end of the quarter mile.  These modified front driver cars have less mass to pull around and are up past the speeds where traction is an issue.  I would imagine if you put the R32 up against the GTI on a fast sweeper of a track with very few slow turns, the GTI would walk away and continue to do so............  

The GTI is a well rounded car supported by VW.

It is availible with four doors and s still fun to drive.

The R32 is the same as buying a Corvette.

It's a purpose built race car.

Still supported by VW but a very small production run guarantees huge repair bills come repair time.

With the large size tires on it I really question how much better it would be then the GTI in the limited snowfall we see around D.C. anyway.

In DC.,when it snows,you have to wait for the plows to clear the road most of the time anyway because NOBODY CAN DRIVE IN IT.  

Included in the owners manual material are disclaimers regarding the use of performance tires in cold temperatures . All wheel drive has a distinct advantage over FWD or RWD automobiles . I owned a previous generation R32 and enjoyed it a great deal . No , it was not the quickest car but it's handling was superb . I bought my R32 used from a friend and customer . I drove the car for a year and sold it for no less than what I paid for it . I also owned a previous generation GTI six cylinder . I enjoyed that automobile as well but torque steer is present in all FWD cars and I myself do not like it .  

I too looked at the R32 because I live in New England. But, I have two kids so the extra doors on the GTi were the difference maker. BTW, they were doing invoice on the R32 so I think they're not selling as well.

My question is though - I have thought about adding a Chip to my GTi to make it a little quicker. But I figure that you can't just make one change in isolation. I'm sure I'll increase motor wear and tear overall (plus brakes etc) Thoughts?  

Jeez, people act as if you need a bus to carry a kid.  I have a top-o-the-line Britax car seat (it’s humongous) strapped in the back of a 2005 GTO to transport my five year old and regularly squeeze a goliath Peg-Perego Freestyle infant carrier in and out the other side to tote around my 9 month old.  It takes a bit of maneuvering to accomplish this but people of child rearing age should be able to handle it.

We bought a 2007 GTI 4-door for my wife and surprisingly it isn't much easier to get the mondo Italian infant carrier through its teensy rear door opening – and the shorter wheelbase makes for a snug fit.  Whatever.  Life's short.  We drive what we want and somehow each of our cars works just fine carrying a family of four including top rated child safety apparatus, groceries and gear.

It’s reassuring to hear a GTI 4-door would work for you, but it's genuinely irritating to listen to so many others moan about gas prices while insisting they need a Tahoe or Odyssey or whatever (with rear DVD entertainment system!) the minute they figure out how to reproduce.  Three or more kids?  A child with special needs?  Gotcha.  Two or less?  Don't wanna hear about it.

Irrational 400hp GTO gets 25mpg on the highway and makes a sweet baritone exhaust note that puts the baby to sleep better than anything else I know!  A modestly sized coupe or sport hatch is all the majority of modern parents with a bit of Mobil 1 coursing through their veins really need.  Versatile is what you make it.  Chill out and drive!  

I had a VW salesman that had been quite helpful
when we needed a wagon,( 2006 Passat 2.0, Pass
if you every start to loose your mind ), I ran
the same idea past him when I started seeing
reports of the new R32 as a 4-dr. in Europe.
He looked at me like I was crazy.  I think it
is the same thing that doomed GM's GTO.  They
should have brought the G8,( or called it the
Impala-SS ), and introduced 4-dr. first.  I
also believe sales would be much better with
a mix of 2-Dr. and 4-Dr. vehicles.  

I just bought my 08 r32 three months ago, right before the snow fell here in Salt Lake. Never been more happy, was thinking about the GTI esp the four door, but when i was going up hill on turns in a foot of snow while civics, gto's, and trucks alike were sliding back down nothing but safety and ease of mind popped into my mind. Plus beating up STI's on corners is a lot of fun. The ease of the DSG is superb. I would say, no snow get a GTI no question, snow get a R32 or something with a haldex AWD system.  

The GTI it's fwd while the R32 it's awd. That's why it's so expensive, besides the 3.2L engine!


Apple's market share is bigger than BMW's or Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes?  

Just got the R32 myself. Coming out of an 2004 RX8. I can't says anything about the GTI except that I think it looks a little bit better than the R32 on the exterior.

Now the R32 is something else. All I can say is just drive it!! The DSG is amazing and so is the power. I will misss the donuts in the RX8 but it is wonderful to have AWD in the snow. The interior has everything you could want and then some. I 've only had it 3 weeks and only have 500 miles on it since I'm fininshing off my lease on the RX8 but I think it's a great car for the money. Think about it, you are practically getting an Audi Quatro A4 w/3.2 for about 8000.00 less.

If performance is priority number one, get the R32, if not the GTI is not a bad back-up plan. If I were going down the GTI road I would consider the Mazda Speed3 also. I drove that crazy little machine and was very impressed. One draw back is that if you live in a four season location you will need another set of tires. The Potanzas on the mazda are just crap in the wet and slow and realy not that much better on dry pavement.

I will say that the R32 is a pig on gas if you stick your foot in it. I had one rip where I averaged 6.1 mpg. I am able to get 23 mpg in regular auto.