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Used 2008 Volkswagen R32 Consumer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
50 reviews

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Still Great at 25K Miles

J D Sharp, 06/04/2009
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

I wrote about my car shortly after receiving it in 2007. Here we are nearly two years later, and I still love it. No mechanical problems at all. Gas mileage is still mediocre (25mpg at very best, all highway driving, more like 18 in the city . . .) but understandable when there's so much power on tap. Seats continue to be completely supportive even after two years. Just wanted to chime in and say that the enthusiastic glow that so many of us feel right after buying a car has continued with this one. My favorite car I have ever owned, and that includes a long string of Audis, BMWs and various Japanese makes. No regrets whatever.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

42K follow up

CA, 06/12/2010
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Follow up from Sep 2008 when I bought it w/ 12k miles. I now have 42k on this car and it remains rock solid. Over time I've gotten very used to getting the most out of it without killing gas mileage. It's best on long twisty road and takes 20 mph S-turns at 60-70 mph w/o even thinking about it and is so much fun to drive. I get 23 combined and 26 highway MPG but still think it needs a taller 6th gear. It's hard to find a better AWD car. AWD and DSG maintenance is spendy and only had a strut go bad. With all that said I wonder what it would do with an additional 100 hp.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

Gas Line Problems

Chris, 07/17/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I too love this vehicle. It is sporty, functional, and fairly comfortable. However, as some of you have mentioned, I too have had this gas tank problem. My R32 was idling when it just started dumping multiple gallons of gas everywhere. The tank wasn't full and it came from the underside of the car. The VW people assure me that this problem was unique to my car. However, all the parts are back ordered. The have had my car for almost 2 weeks and said it could be 2-3 weeks more. Sounds like VW needs to admit this design flaw.

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5 out of 5 stars

2008 VW R32

jack, 06/28/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful

My wife drives a 2007 bmw 328ix and she loves her car but takes the R32 whenever she gets the chance, for a little more excitement. The complete package is almost perfectly balanced between comfort, performance, safety and can I Dare to say fuel economy. The one thing that stand out among any of the other pocket rockets on the market is the styling. No other car can really compare to the dynamic styling of this car inside and out. It is outside the box and beyond smart. I give it an 11 handling is sweet will keep up with anything on the hairpin road and the some.

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4.13 out of 5 stars

Mature fun

vincenth, 06/20/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

After taking three long test drives comparing the new EVO, STI, and R32, I decided to purchase the VW. While both the EVO and STI will out perform the R32, I felt the VW was the best overall blend of performance and comfort.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

What a great car

ITworks, 06/13/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Over the years I have owned or purchased a number of performance vehicles, a short summary: 1997 BMW M3, 2001 BMW M Coupe, 2003 Honda S2000, 2006 Porsche Boxster S. I do have to say the R32 doesn't quite hit the handling and performance of some of these cars, but it does something none of them could do (with the exception of the 97 M3) and that is provide performance and practicality. It certainly beats the M3 in bad weather because of AWD, but in pure head banging acceleration, you won't get it with the R32. What you will get is manners, knowing that the car in under your control, not the other way around, which happens when people buy too much car for their capability. The R32 is great!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

The Ultimate "Grown Up" Pocket Rocket

Tony, 11/03/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I have been wanting this car ever since it hit our shores at the end of 07, however, I didn't want to pay sticker (or more) simply b/c it was a limited edition vehicle. Ended up paying $29K for my new non nav R32. I love the styling, DSG & all wheel drive grip of the Haldex 4motion system. This car really offers the best of the "boy racer" fun, but yet the practicality of a 3 dr hatchback without all the hood scoops and large winged spoilers. The fuel economy is the only real negative; and it's not the 18 mpg in the city that bothers me, its the short cruising range of 225 to 270 mls; the answer would have been a bigger tank. Otherwise no complaints; it's a great car that I would recommend.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Engine boggs on accelleration

JC, 06/24/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Day after I bought the car it started hesitating and the car stall on me in traffic. Took the car to the dealer the next day and they said they couldn't find the problem. After taking the car several times to the dealer they finally found the problem. It took them 13 days to fix it while I was given a rental car. They replaced the "EVAPCANIST".

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Total sleeper!

Bio Two, 03/21/2009
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I tested both GTI then the R32 on the same raod and same driving style. If it was not the price tag, it will be a no brianer R32 is the one. I picked the R32 anyway. This car is super fun to drive. After getting used to the car and start pushing it, I was shocked that how much a $33000 car can do! Especially on wet road, this car car pretty much beat any moving object on the road! If you can totally master this car, you can out run most of the higher power cars on the market even with the only 250bhp. I often play with my co-worker's BMW 335i, as long as there are some turns, he will has a hard time to catch up. The sweetest feature... Lanch Control!!

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4.88 out of 5 stars

The Perfect Hatch!

Phikes, 11/06/2008
2008 Volkswagen R32 2dr Hatchback AWD (3.2L 6cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Buy this car! The build quality is in Audi territory. The interior is great (steering wheel feels fantastic in hand). The car has grip for days, the body might roll a bit but the AWD goes exactly where you want it. Not to mention one of the best shades of blue ever. And yes it is FAST! The mid range passing power is always right there. I drove both the STI and EVO, they are both faster, but that's the ONLY place they beat the R32. Both the STI and EVO have interior build quality that suggests the occupants were only an after thought.

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