I don’t know if you’re responding to the OP or the poster above you, but I agree with both. If you’re buying an expensive performance car to love it, not because it performs better than its direct competitors, more power to you…
…but if your perspective on it is “I want a R32 because I really like it and it’s unique and I don’t really care how it will compare in performance dollar-for-dollar against the competitor,” you’re not going to be asking an internet forum if it’s a good car to buy, because you don’t care if it’s a good car.
I dont know about the first gen r’s but the new ones have some wierd electrical issues. Other then that and the huge price tag, there great in the snow and have gobs of power. but for 35 grand you can buy something faster and have more room. Like a g8!
If everyone bought the “best bang for your buck” car, then we’d all be driving goddamn Evo’s or C5’s.
To the OP: go drive one and see if you even like it. I’ve driven so many GTI’s and have hated every second of them, but the R32 was fun a fucking blast.
The 2004 R32 is an incredibly cool car. They drive awesome, are great fun, sound amazing, and have damn good fit and finish. My friend has one, and I’ve driven it and been driven in it a bunch. I REALLY like it. They absolutely have high resale, but that can be looked at as a good thing depending on how long you might own one. I give it my approval.
Thats where I am bloody stuck becouse of the price issue. I can get so much more with an Audi . But the R32 is different and the styling is so under the radar. It is true it seems the car is a type of investment you hope to get your money back out of if there is such a car. I just am tired of driving subies and dont get me wrong I love my 2 door coupe even more than my wrx. I just love the feel of N/A and all wheel drive.
coming from a vw guy they are pretty rad cars, I almost bought one myself. however they are going to be 5 years old this year, and why they are still low to mid 20s in price is beyond me. I really dislike the haldex awd system. but the fit and finish is nice, and the sound they make is redic.
If your bored go on youtube and type in stage 4 eip. Pretty impressive.
oh and chuck, you can get a really nice used cpo’d a4 for about the same price as an r32. I love my A4, it is the best daily ive ever had. and quattro in the buffalo snow is great. I had a TT last year in the wintertime. Haldex has this weird tendancy to oversteer then understeer. This is due to the fact that haldex (unmodded) is 85 percent FWD and 15 percent RWD, until it senses slipping, and transfers power to the rear. It is a very odd feeling.