Used 2004 Volkswagen R32 Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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Enough Said!
Plain and simple; a rocketship on wheels.
Awesome
I've had BMW's for several years and was turned off by the new 5 so I started looking further afield. I liked the 330xi, but I've already had that style 3-series. Then I discoverd the R32. It is absolutely fantastic - outperforms the 330xi, handles like its glued to the road and looks appealingly "stealthy". Interior quality equal to (or better than) a BMW, too. I drive it daily over our X5 or Z3. Actually, I look for excuses to drive it - it has reinvigorated me and made me remember why I love cars!
- Base 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $25,299704 mi away
- Base 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $17,900779 mi away
- Base 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $19,995810 mi away
Fast VW
It's not as fast as the STi or the EVO, but it's also not a street racer like the STi or the EVO. One thing's for sure, this car will not knock the fillings out of your teeth. Just read the 3/22/04 Autoweek's article on the R32 because they are right on the money.
from evo to R32
we had the evo 2003 and traded it in on the R32. it took a little while to get used to the difference between the cars. the evo had the turbo that would jump you from the start, but the R32 has the power behind it to pull you through. the turns are not quite as sharp but it can handle the city's roads alot better. i like the fact that most people pull up beside me and dont know what they are getting into, while that really didnt happen much in the evo because it was a little more flashy. all in all im really happy with the R32. we also have the leather option which the evo did not offer. its smooth, safe, and powerfull in a small package.
GREAT CAR!!!!
Owned a BMW 3-series for 2 yrs before this car which pales in comparison to my r32!. Great handling, very aggressive, and has loads of aftermarket potential. Unlike its competitors (Evo, Sti - The Evo MR does not even have ABS! Commuting kills Evos, Sti better for track) it has lots of comfort, luxury and greater power potential with the 6 cyl engine. The alloy rims, konig heated seats, awd, sunroof, and 6-speed tranny are all standard features. The fit and finish are top notch and feels like a 25-30K car. There's more to driving than 0-60 in a straight-line. If you appreciate comfort and luxury with amped performance, check out the r32 (compare it to is300, 3-series, TSX, c-class).
R32 means WOW
I just purchased a R32 and I previously owned a Mitsubishi Evolution VIII.The R32 might be slightly slower than the Evo but I have felt that the R32 drives nicer and feels more solid.Overall, I must say that the Evo VIII is way over rated and that the R32 so far is living up to my expectations.
2 1/2 week old R32
I love the car. The handling is great around any corner (ignore ramp speeds). The engine/exhaust sounds great. I think it's the best AWD coupe/compact car WITHOUT turbo and the stock system sounds better than other cars. I wish it had 30-40 more hp. to shut WRX STi and Evo owners up. Anyway, I like VW for staying conceptually sound in shape by not altering the exterior too much. On the downside, the summer tires are nice but not smart.... A/S tires would be outstanding, but I guess VW is too cheap to equip with Michelin,Falkens or Yokohamas in that profile. One more thing... quick acceleration in 1st and 2nd has to grown on you.
R32
For me, the R32 is all about easy-to- drive performance. Everything about the car - the steering, clutch, gas, gearshift, and brakes - requires only a very light touch. I find myself dipping into the throttle just to hear the engine, and zipping around turns just to feel the car cling to the road. The downside of this is that gas mileage suffers as a result. The brushed aluminum look of the interior and highly bolstered seats make seattime very enjoyable. On the downside, the wheels get dirty very quickly, and the interior is small for 4. Also, the car drones when cruising above 80mph.
Uber Golf
The combination of performance and luxury in a 2-dr hatchback in unique in the US market. An absolute blast to drive with looks that are sure to turn more than a few heads.
Better than the GTI, and AWD to boot!!
I purchased this car to replace my 1.8t GTI. I was moving from New Jersey to Montana, and wanted a sports car with AWD, to help get me to the Ski resorts in sporty style. This car is Awesome, I have owned 9 cars over the past 17 years, the last 4 cars were volkswagen's. This car is simply the best I have ever owned. Great traction in the Rain and Snow (as long as you have appropriate tires, the stock tires are NOT for winter), and a 241 hp v6 engine that is faster than most cars.
great car
Handles like a dream, deffinetly don't miss the spooling turbo of my 1.8t...VR6 3.2 more then makes up for it. All around beautiful car
VW R32: Great bang for the buck
The VW R32 cant be beat when it comes to $:options. The cars it competes against may be faster, but do not come close to the fit and finish and standard options of the R32.
HOT HATCH!!
I got to drive one of these yesterday and, truth be told, the car was sold as soon as I heard the exhaust note. This will be my forth GTI (84,96,01,04) and my third VR6. I had gotten used to the power and wanted something faster for a while, but could not justify spending the extra $$ on a BMW. This car has everything the 330Ci does, plus all- wheel drive and it is $20K less!!
KICK A... VW,VW TUNERS DREAM
MY 11 TH VW.THEY SHOULD GIVE ME THIS ONE FOR FREE!!!GREW UP IN GERMANY. ANYWAY.THE BEST,THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE VW EVER MADE.HANDLING IS A DREAM,STICKS LIKE A GLUE.4 MOTION WORKS GREAT.DID SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 120 MPH ON PUBLIC ROAD AND JUST WISH THERE WAS AN AUTOBAHN SOMEWHERE NEAR BY. QUALITY SUPERB.WAY TO GO VW!!! DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A COUPE WITH SOME ...s,JAPANESE HAVE TO LEARN A LOT FROM GERMANS.DRIVE THIS ONE AND YOU WILL BE HOOKED LIKE ME. REFLEX SILVER SITTING IN MY GARAGE. SITTING AND LOOKING PREETY!
The best car I ever drove in my life.
Don't know what to say, really. I'm speechless about the performance and the looks of this car. I'm falling in love over and over every day I drive the R32. BUY ONE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!!
1 sweet R32
I was looking into buying a Subaru WRX STI, but after two test drives in each and reading as many Road&Track,Car&Driver,and any other info I could find I desided to go with the R32. I traded in my 2003 GTI VR6 that had 29,000 miles on it. That was a great car but this is a whole new beast. Once you own an all wheel drive there is just no going back. This car handles like a dream, the seats are the best I've ever been in. Cabin is put together very well and the pipes are crazy. The climit control is awsome, heated seats are so sweet on those cold winter days. I live in the central valley of California so these tire are the best. If there was one thing I would change(give me a spare tire)!!!!!
best volkswagen
simply the best car!
My R32
Alot of people buy cars based on 0-60 times.They don't think about comfort,reliability,or practicality.Usually when you buy a car you need to commute in it.Which means you need a certain amount of luxury.I test drove the EVO and STi and they very well may have faster 0-60 times,they have nowhere near the comfort,reliability,or practicallity that the R32 has.All in all this car just plain out performes the competition.
R32
This is absolutely the best car I have ever owned. I have previously owned other performance compacts such as the Integra GS-R, Integra Type-R & RSX Type- S, but this car is in its own class. AWD is great for the winter and the near 250hp will sure to keep you awake at the wheel. Drive one and you will understand....
German Build Quality!
Simply put, this car is amazing! the acceleration on this car is great, great torque in any location (watch the guy in the wrx try acceleration out of a turn....no power) the exterior of the car is beautiful and you can't beat stock 18" OZ rims, the rubbers rapping the wheels are equally amazing. the interior of the car is built with a fit and finish of a luxury car and then some! the seats are supportive the side bolstering holds you where you should be. The build quality on this car is amazing! shutting the door immediately tells you how solid this car is. and the best part, room for 5. An all around fantastic car
Outstanding car
This car is outstanding, I have been a VW owner since 1996 owning a 1990 GTI 16V, 1999 GTI VR6 and now my R32! After reading about the car I thought it was too good to be true, after buying it I was really impressed. It is quick, nimble, extremely fun to drive, very comfortable even though they are racing seats, extremely well built. Nothing seems out of place. Wheels and tire combo are perfect they hug the road very well.
R32 Greatest Car Ever
You gotta drive this car! I went from a BMW X5 4.6 to an R32. The hatch is great and provides more useable room than a big SUV. THe car is super fast. The car is sticky on the roads. THe car is so fun to drive. THe exterior is beautiful. The interior is racing style. The only down side is the carpeting is that felt type crap. I compared it to the others. It looks way better than the comparisons. It preforms better unless your a cop and need the extra 10 or so HP. This is plenty fast enough to keep the cops busy.
Why I love my R32
I have had the car for 3 months and love every minute i am in it. Although i live in chicago the car is hybernating for the winter so come spring it will driven like crazy.
Volkswagen has a winner again...
With this car VW has finally listened to its customers who wanted a performance car. The 3.2 liter engine has been suprisingly good on gas mileage as I am getting 24 mpg.
Wicked Car
This is the best Golf ever. I am currently stationed in Germany where i can drive the car to my limits, I'm pretty sure I won't ever find it's limits.
King of the GTI
I must say Bravo! If you love performance, Then you have to try this wicked dream to drive. Just try to push the limits all wheel drive and Yul be left a little shaken but not stirred.
VW's sleeper
If you're looking for performance, and BMW-like build quality that the Asian cars can't touch, look no further! This car gets up, in any weather, and you'd be amazed at the things that will fit in the back of this thing! Performance, versatility, and a great look, the car can't be beat! The seats are amazing when cornering at the car's limit, but truth be told, they're a bit restrictive for everyday use, in my opinion. You get it all: the good, the bad and the ugly!!
Lovely Jubbly!
The Volkswagen R32 is an awsome car all round. I have owned many cars and it tops them all! I can't find any fault with it. It is so much better than a BMW!
Drawbacks Wouldn't Have Changed My Mind
Letting the clutch slip out into first gear proves to you that the R32 is a torque monger. Accelerating hard out of 1st, revving to 6K, will only take you to roughly 20 mph. Into 2nd gear (revs only drop to 5K) and the car blasts you to 40 mph. A shift to 3rd is necessary to get you to 60 under 6 secs --and there's not much left in REVs before having to shift to fourth and beyond. Cruising 80 @ 3200 Cornering is great. If you're switching from a regular sedan then the R will impress. If you've already got torsion bars and a lowered ride, then you'll look to improve the R's cornering. The hatch fits my road bike without having to remove my rear wheel. The rack fits my longboard
Best all weather car ever
The 2004 Volkswagen R32 is a keeper. WIth Nokian tires it handles superbly in all weather conditions: snow, ice, rain. My R32 has received standing ovations from fellow concert-goers and a great amount of interest from VW fans. It's my all-time favorite car.
perfect
this is the perfect car. everyone who is anyone should own this fast beautiful car. it is perfect for teens. the handling is great thing about this car. you can do like a 180 with out a blink of an eye. no concerns of flipping. that is a german car for you. this car is a 10...without doubt
High bang for buck quotient.
Fantastic car. Slightly more refined than WRX and Evo with just about matched performance. I have to laugh at those who stated they wish it has "more power." It's a hatchback with 241 bhp for crying out loud! Just shows some people are never satisfied. I am. I was actually thinking of a 350Z or a Mustang GT before buying but this car is so much more distinctive. I think this car was only in production 1 year which I like. German build quality remains unmatched in my eyes. I plan to keep as long as I can. I get punk kid racers trying to mess with me sometimes, but that's ok.
i love this car
this is an exciting car to drive fast i love the way it handles corners a high speeds
I still smile at it
I still love driving my car. The engine sound and the handling are excellent. I have had a lower suspension installed (which also weighs less); love it. It's really nice to have the Golf (GTI) get a great engine and suspension (especially independent rear) that put it back on top of the list of small performance cars. I think Volkswagen's efforts to push their products upscale is a success.
Good job VW.
Traded my '02 GTI-337 in for the .:R32, what an upgrade. The VR6 engine is smooth, great power. Love the leather interior. If you have the means - get one. My kids love it. Would buy one again.
Best Car Ever
The 2004 Volkswagen R32 is the most fun car that I have ever driven. If you ever get a chance to drive or ride in one take advantage of this. It is a real head turner. It's a true sleeper due to its styling, which is just perfect. The interior is far nicer than its competition's.
Exotic racer or grocery getter? It's both
Since 1983, my life's desire was to own a Renault R5 turbo2. I could never make the leap to owning such a specialized car - one that requires many compromises and probably many days and many dollars at the shop. Well, it's 2006 and I now own and drive my dream car everyday. But as in a previous review, this car is all about balance. The functionality of the hatchback and fold down seats makes this my activity vehicle for hauling all my mountain bike and ski gear. My insurance agent thinks I'm driving an economy car and that police officer just thinks I'm driving my son's fixed up GTI (knock on wood), and yet in my mind, I'm driving my all time favorite car - no matter what price.
Fun so far!!!
Just got it this past week. Getting it out on some back twisty roads, I'm impressed with the handling and most responsive motor. Big time fun. Way cool! WAY COOL!!!
Nice car
I really love this car
R32 IS QUALITY AND FAST!
THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY FAST BUT IS HAS THE EXTRA THAT THE OTHERS DONT. IT HAS A FEELING OF QUALITY WHEN YOU SIT IN IT AND YOU CAN TELL IT WAS MADE WELL. THE V6 IS SMOOTH WITH NO LAG THAT TURBOS HAVE. ONE DRIVE AND YOU WILL BUY THIS CAR. VW DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS ONE!
Love every minute of it!
I just bought this car 2 months ago. I'm not into brand new cars, I love to buy pre-owned cars, so, I've been looking around since March 06 for a 2004 pre-owned vehicle. Nothing drives like the R32. I test drove the Nissan 350Z, Audi TT, BMW 325i, or Lexus IS 330 and none of them gave me exactly what I wanted. When I took my 2001 Jetta VR6 into service I found this R32 not knowing what it was or how special it was at that time. I asked the salesperson for test-drive and that was it! It has the kind of drive I was looking for.
I love it!
I've only got 1,400 miles on the clock, but they've all been fun! This car is thrilling to drive. I've conqured all of the local twisty roads.
Love it!
I had waited almost 2 years for this car to come across the "Pond". Now that its here and I have it i'm amazed evertime i sit behind the wheel! Best car i've ever driven. And i've driven a lot of nice cars! This is the car of a Volkswagen Enthusiast's dreams! Test drove an Subaru STI and it was Cheezy! The .:R32 BLOWS IT AWAY!
R32 Racing
I owned a 2003 Mazdaspeed Protégé with 20k prior to the R32. The Mazda was a total "piece" which forced me to sell it after less than a year of ownership. I purchased the R32 in March '03 and have loved every minute since. It's my first 6cyl AWD vehicle and I will never go back to anything less. This car performs, looks, sounds and handles amazing. The Pipes with the baffle mode turned off sound sweet!!! German engineering kicks ass.
No problems at 47000 miles
Handles well in all weather. It took a while to find a spare that still only fits the rear. I pump the tires to 38 and have had no bubbles so far. Leans more than a BMW xi in turns, otherwise, just as fast. I fixed the rain sensor wiper problem with rain x on the sensor.
Its a 'Keeper'
I've had this car for over 1 1/2 years and it is just as much of a blast as when I first bought it. Best all 'rounder for the money in my opinion. Power is very good with lots of torque. While the stock handling is quite good a few suspension modifications turns it into a 'car on rails'.
still loving it =)
Just do the schedule service needed, and the car will give you no problem. You might need some tuning & modification for the car to run as you expected to be. You will fall in love with it once you drive it. =)
Believe the tire warning
Predictable, fast, fun. I've been pulled over three or four times and cops alway let me go, this car does not shout out "give me a ticket " but yet it will blow the doors off alot of the competitons striaght out of the wrapper. Oh yeah, If you didn't read the warning that came with tires, do it. these thing will not even track striaght if the forecast calls for snow!
Sporty with seating for four and a trunk
I bought the 2004 Volkswagen R32 after taking home a Mazda RX-8 and a Nissan 350Z. I loved both of them, but they each had their drawbacks, the Wankel engine in the RX- 8 and no storage and no back seat in the 350Z. The R32 fit the bill of what I was looking for in a car. The AWD paired up with the 3.2L V6 make this car thoroughly enjoyable. I drive a lot, and this car is very comfortable on the interstates, and in town is comfortable as well. Its exhaust note is mentioned often, and for good reason. I wanted a car that was fun to drive, but could carry my girlfriend, two dogs, and camping gear. It also needed to allow me to appear responsible. All in all, this car is a dream.
R32
pictures dont do the R32 justice, and she is well worth the price difference between the GTI (6K) for AWD, sport suspention a 3.2l vr6 6sp, naturally aspirated and had awesome potential for car builders, without having to worry about traction... engine pulls even all the way through, and the additional styling inside and out is flashy without getting you pulled over;)