used r32 - what can i expect

[ohnoodle]

help needed

current car - mini cooper

last three cars -

m3,
z3m coupe (why did i sell it!!!?)
honda s2000

now bored with the mini and fancy a shot at a 2003 model r32. have read some previous threads, but what can i really expect?? are they good cars?

basic questions i know, but all i need is some straight-forward advice.

thanks

[drgav2005]

Hiya - maybe I'm a little biased given I've just bought an 04 plate R32 today... but they are (from my limited experience) *very* good cars indeed. I've previously owned a mark IV golf 1.8T GTi (150bhp) and an Audi S3 (210bhp) and the car certainly feels much 'meatier' than both. I've taken a couple of new mark V R32s out on test drives and was really impressed with them - but to my mind the mark IV looks much better. I think it was the Prof who said it reminds him of his 996 (another car I was lucky enough to own for 4 months)... and if it is anything like that then I can see myself holding on to it for a long time to come. Best idea though is to get yourself out for a test drive... but be careful, you may find your mini being traded in pretty quickly

[Carlt]

I have had 2 R32's, they are fantastic cars. Handle well, sound awesome (when the valve is disconnected), and look the biz. Go out and try one, dare you not to buy it

[leonski]

Hi

As Drgav has already said, go and test drive one!
I can almost guarantte that you would A.sign on the dotted line, and B.Never regret buying it!
I love mine, which I have owned for a year and I couldn't recomend one more. And like BMW's you have owned, it also has a proper lump under the bonnet.
Volkswagen Driver has a large article this month on both the 'original' and the mkV, it is forcasting the mkIV as a future classic already, which is always nice! (the prof has this article scanned and ready to mail and I am sure he wouldn't mind sending it to you)

Any specific Q/A's give me a shout, Happy shopping!

Cheers
Leon


>> Edited by leonski on Sunday 19th February 10:57

[stevieyid]

Wait for the audi RS3!

[drgav2005]

stevieyid said:

Wait for the audi RS3!

I suspect that might come in a little over budget compared to a 53 plate R32

No doubting they're nice cars... but will Audi actually set the suspension for UK roads, rather than the uber-smooth tarmac of Germany? Not if the last S3 is anything to go by... I had one for 4 months (after importing it myself from Germany) and it couldn't cope with my local pot-holed roads. 4-wheel drive is no use when none of them are touching the road

[MookMonster]

stevieyid said:

Wait for the audi RS3!

Unfotunately the RS3 is a myth. It will never happen

[MookMonster]

ohnoodle said:

now bored with the mini and fancy a shot at a 2003 model r32. have read some previous threads, but what can i really expect?? are they good cars?

I run a 2003 R32 - it is a cracking car and has never let me down. I have had several modifications made to it, but presume that you want to retain the standard engine and running gear.

Good points - it's quick, handles well, is comfortable and practical and holds its value well. Typical selling price for a 2003 R32 in good condition is around the £17K mark

Bad points - you will notice that it understeers when pushed hard into a corner, the rear wheel drive doesn't kick in as quickly as it could do (it isn't permanent 4WD, unlike the Audi Quattro). You can fix both of these problems relatively inexpensively by fitting uprated anti-roll bars from someone like www.neuspeed.com and an uprated Haldex controller from either www.awesome-gti.co.uk or www.amdtechnik.com. The uprated Haldex controller (a.k.a. Haldex PPP) chucks torque to the rear wheels much more quickly than the standard unit, so it behaves more like a permanent 4WD car.

Whatever you do, make sure you find one with a full history. High mileage isn't a problem. If you buy one on the variable service schedule (normally serviced every 20K miles), then change it to standard 10K servicing.

Make sure the car has had the #6463 ECU update applied - this got rid of a bad hesitation problem when accelerating from a standstill.

There have been a couple of problems with the cam chain tensioners on 3.2 V6, which has affected not only the R32, but all other cars in the VAG group, including the TT 3.2Q and the A3 3.2Q. Very rare, but worth being aware of.

Best of luck - and have fun...

[chrish]

I am starting to look for a car and note your target price of 17k. Lowest dealer price on VW site is 17995 as of now. Just been to see one today with 32k miles,drove really nice but its the foiart one Ive had a go in, bodywork had a few dinks even so they wont budge more than 250 off the price on the grounds they haven't had it more then a couple of weeks. I did note the paintwork on the front bumper was very pitted, no doubt the norm with a low painted bumper.

[stevieyid]

no myth www.germancarblog.com/2006/02/audi-rs3-production-confirmed.html