VW GTi or R32...?

I have driven both, but prefer the GTi 6 speed stick over the R32 6 speed DCS...does anyone have either and if so, what do you think of it as a daily driver?

 

If you are looking at getting a new one, why not think about that same amount of money on a Ferrari or a Porsche??? An R32 costs what $34k? You could actually get a decent Ferrari and a really nice Porsche for that kind of money...

James

 

comes down to cost of ownership, also its a status thing, VW are not very in your face, plus it will come with a warranty, and piece of mind.

 

I have driven both, I dont think the R32 is worth it. The GTi is great for a daily and more than you will need for daily use

 

You can get an R32 for much less than $34K now. VW dealers who have more than one available have been very aggressive, especially on the east coast. That being said, the performance numbers are not that much better for the R32 vs the GTI and mileage is much worse on the R32. However, the exhaust note on the R32 almost makes up for that. I would only go with the R32 if you were able to get it for $30K or less. VW has sold a little more than 3,000 R32's out of a total of 5,000. I would think pricing will continue to fall but that is just a guess.

parkerfe - I have driven both and I would go with the R32 if price and gas mileage is not an issue. The reasons being AWD, more torque, more exclusivity and hopefully a higher resale value(%wise). I have had a stick on all of my cars and I drive mostly city miles. That is why I am considering a car with the DSG Transmission. Have you considered a used 04 R32? That only came with a standard 6 speed Manual. I drove that car and absolutely loved it. It had 240HP was quick and sounded great.

 

I agree about the DSG around town but there is still no feeling like rowing through the gears on a car.

Go with an older R32 or the new GTI...or mabye consider an audi TT....Just not the 1.8T's!

 

I chose the R32 over the GTI because it is all german. The R32 is my 7th VW and I've only had problems with the VWs which were assembled or had parts from non-german countries.

BTW: The R32 is my daily driver - The F and P cars are for the weekend.

Take care!

 

In regards to getting a new fully loaded R32 for less than $30K would be difficult on the west coast based on my experience.

My Porsche/VW/Audi dealer offered me the R32 at invoice (>$31K) only after I bought a GT3 RS from them.

 

I already own my 6th Ferrari, a BB512i. I am looking to replace my current e60 M5 daily driver with something that gets better fuel economy and I am tired of the SMG system...I'm ready to get back to shifting on my own. I also plan to teach my now 14 year old how to drive with my next daily driver so it must have an antiquated-proper foot clutch. I am also tired of spending $900+ per month for gas for my gas hog 12mpg M5! I owned a 993 as a daily driver a few years back and never warmed up to the Porsche experience.

 

Yes the west coast dealers have not been nearly as aggressive. The midwest have not been either. There are deals out there though. People have talked about them on vwvortex.com

I think it says a lot if a Porsche/ Ferrari owner uses an R32 as his daily driver. I am glad you are enjoying it. If I can get a deal on one I may end up with one as well. Pricing for the previous generation R32 has held up quite well. Hopefully, it will be the same case for the 08 R32.

 

Forget this shifting yourself business. The DSG is brilliant. It does exactly what you want it to do.

 

I drove a GTI a few weeks back and really liked it. The DSG works great once you are off the line and the turbo kicks in, before that I found it to be a bit slow.
The only complain I've heard is that the car rattles after some miles. Other than that it's a gerat car.

 

Well, shockingly I was not able to read your mind and didn't click on your profile... Clearly you have the F and P car action handled and if you can afford a 512 and a 993 as a daily driver get the R...completely German made and a really cool car for sure...

As for the Porsche experience...well, we have an AWESOME club here in Austin (frankly ALL of the Texas regions are AWESOME) and we do TONS of track stuff, and parties, etc. etc., the cars are quite fast, quite reliable (in general, more so that most of my friends Ferrari's anyway) and certainly recognized if not lusted after as much as the F-cars... But to each his own, that is why there is chocolate and vanilla.

That said, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 512BBi's! Those cars are just BEAUTIFUL!

James

 

Off topic - In regards to not warming up to Porsches, try a GT3/RS. The GT3/RS was made me buy another Porsche after 15+/- years.

 

I stopped by the VW dealer this afternoon and they are already taking orders for the 2009 GTi which is rumored to have a 260hp 2.0 liter turbo four. A 2.0 liter TDI will be offered as well with ~200hp along with a GTi convertible... it appears my options for a new fun economical daily driver are increasing

 

I forgot to mention just how much fun the GTi is to drive...so far it trumps the 2008 model R32, EVO , STi, TL Type S, G35, Mugen Civic and G6(YUCK!) I have test driven over the last two months in the smiles per mile factor...the GTi is really worth a test drive if you're looking for a fun 30mph daily driver ...

 

Have you driven a Mini Cooper S? I found that to be much more entertaining to drive than the GTi. I thought the GTi felt almost slow. I was impressed with its build quality and I actually prefer the plaid cloth seats versus the leather. I am shocked you thought the standard GTi trumps an EVO and STi. Where those cars uninvolving because their speed alone should make them more fun to drive than a GTi.

Are you concerned that if the 09 GTi has 260HP that may be too much HP for a FWD drive car. Any rumors if VW will offer AWD on the future GTi models?

 

I have driven a Mini Cooper S and it was fun too...but to me the GTi had a better overall feel to it, a higher quality interior and was quick enough. The EVO and STi were faster in pure MPH numbers, but not by the seat of the pants feeling-fun factor... and in my daily 21 mile one day commute, often in heavy traffic, the fun factor is more important than actual numbers. Regardless, the GTi is no slouch and will accelerate up to 100mph+ at will and provides loads of fun in the process. It has some pretty good brakes on it too. I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face the entire test drive. The STi and EVO interiors are far inferior to the GTi German high quality material. Plus the EVO and STi both struggle to return 18mpg in mixed use whereas the GTi will get 25mpg+ in mixed use and over 30mpg on the highway. They also cost ~$10k more than a similarly equipped and better built/higher quality material GTi. The Acura TL Type S is FWD and has 286hp, but when I test drove it I didn't perceive any torque steer when the TC was on and very little when disengage, although it was not as much fun to drive than either the GTi, EVO or STi . So I'm sure VW will build as good of a system as Acura...I know the 200hp GTi didn't even feel like a FWD car to me. As you can tell I was impressed with my recent GTi test drive. Unless something better comes out between now and Sept 2008, it looks like a 2009 GTi may just replace my gas hog M5 as my daily driver.

 

I agree with your comments about the Mini Cooper S interior. It definitely was a grade below that of the VW. I do believe the Mini Cooper S gets better gas mileage than the GTi but I do think I would prefer the extra room the GTi offers. At vwvortex.com they do not think the new GTi will have 260HP but it will have a bit more torque and some other changes for the better. I recommend you check out that site. Please keep us updated on what you decide to do.

 

If you're going to keep it stock, than the R32 is made for you. The GTI is made to upgrade and mine's far from stock! What I like about the R32 is that exhaust note and the fact that it's fourwheel drive so no torque steer which the GTI suffers from. These cars are fun to drive and almost never get weird looks from other drivers. My ex-daily was a maserati Coupe and being cut-off and stared at was a daily routine. Shame that the US market doesn't get the stick shift but with the DSG being so brillient, it makes so much sense to try out this emerging technology.

 

I will likely 'chip' it, but that's about it. The R32 is OK, but I want the better MPG of the GTi . The DSG is much better than the SMG in my M5, but I want a stick again in my daily driver. Plus I plan to teach my now 14 year old daughter how to drive in the GTi and then give it to her when she's 16 . FYI, several studies have shown that teens that drive manual three pedal cars have up to 70% fewer accidents than teens that drive auto two pedal cars.

 

Once you start "chiping" it will never end! Best to do a quality coilover because it makes a huge difference in how the car feels.
Mine's got ABT KO4's with ECU for a conservative hp270 output, KW Variant 3 coilovers, full ABT Aero package, which grounds on every speed bump. It's a slippery slope with these cars so watch out. Already got more into it than a fully loaded R32 but it's much faster anyway.

Post some pics when you do get it.

 

I think that you will be happy with a "chipped" 6-speed GTI. The nice thing about the new software flashes is that you can change them on the fly. They even have valet modes and stock for when your daughter starts to drive. Chipping is also said to increase the MPG.

I drive about 350-500 miles a week and feel very comfortable in the car. I messed around with a few rough suspensions, but have finally settled on one suitable for my needs.

Contrary to what someone else said before, the NA GTI's are actually made in Germany along with the R32's. If the R32 came in a 6MT and 4-doors (I currently have a 4-door GTI), I think I would be in one. I used to have a 2001 VR6 and quite simply, I miss the exhaust note.

I am not sure where the dealership heard about a "260hp GTI" and a "GTI convertible," usually the dealerships are the last to know. Currently in Europe there exists the Edition 30 which is a detuned Audi S3 engine that pumps out about 230hp.

If you have an specific questions, feel free to ask.

Here are a few fun clips to tide you over... APR Stage 3 2.0T - 382HP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81ciFyfBaxs&eurl=http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3816512

New GTI vs. New WRX Fifth gear shootout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwJa1fftrr0

 

The GTI convertable might be the EOS?

 

My wife wants a Jetta Wolfsburg, or MAYBE a Jetta SE, I myself like the GTi's but I can't fit
in them, seat-wise. Those seats are like Recaro's, with the side wings that jut up hard around
your thighs - problem is I am the size of your basic NFL offensive lineman - I can't plug myself
into that seat.
I may have to see if anyone around here can do seat mods, and no, I don't want to replace
the seats.

That, or the Accord for me..