Should you buy an R32 Mk4 Golf? | Ownership Pros and Cons
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Firstly, welcome back to 2PJZ after almost a month and a half of no videos! I truly apologise for the delay but due to a heatwave, a broken air con and working heaps I struggled to find time to film.
But alas, here we are! The long anticipated R32 ownership review video. How thirsty is it? Is there enough room? Is it actually a decent car? Find out in this video...
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Music:
Dignity by Liberty Life
Back Again by Thomas Grensen
I have a 2008 MK5 R32 and your comment of your modification budget is being used a preventive mainteance is right on the money. I think it knows when I have wheel money saved up.
Jeff Thurston thanks Jeff! Yeah it’s the unfortunate truth haha
@@2PJZ Its not a hard car to work on. Buy a basic tool kit and you'll save a bomb. I've owned 3 BMW M3's couldnt have afforded them without getting my hands dirty
There are no cons to owning an 04 R32.
@@MementoMori-xx5qo Smiles per gallon. THe sound from this car is worth every penny of burnt up fuel. Foot down,big smile. What more do you want from your car.
Fuel economy.
David Ryan it’s a 3.2 V6 not a Prius. You could get much better mpg but as an all round package I think it’s fine
Joe Mcevoy Nope. I have owned 2 VW GTI’S and a mk5 r32. Sorry the fuel economy sucks.
David Ryan does the GTI sound anything like the R32. Eh no. Do you loose some mpg and gain on the sonorous howl of the V6. Loosen the purse strings a bit it ain’t that bad.
There were 4,000 imported into the USA in 2004 - no advertising, no brochures. I lucked into a Reflex Silver - super fun car - especially with the flapper mod *grins*
Sorry to be off topic but does anyone know a trick to get back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost my login password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@Keaton Aiden instablaster ;)
I bought this car used for 12k. Put easily 10k in it for repairs. Love this car...it's addictive. But it's a major expense to work on.
Jim C that is 100% ACCURATE. Ive owned TWO of them and i know alllll about what will need to eventually be replaced etc
@@redline350zHR Really...what is so expensive? I've had several VR6 and 4Motion cars such as Touregs...what is so unique to these mini beasts?
robert feller random stuff..timing chains, heater core, etc all 10 hr jobs
Could you tell more? Looking to buy one currently
There's no con's owning a 2004 Golf MK4 R32 nothing but happiness when driving one. Owned one and loved the six years I had her until a bad weather storm took her away ....wish I still had mine 😢
Bought mine with 13 test drive miles on it. Still driving it in 2020. Almost 200k miles.
I’m curious, When did you do chain guides and clutch?
"grab one before they turn into a collector's car"
they already are. one for selling 20k in the classifieds up here in Canada :P
Great job on the vid and of course, I'm jealous
One for 16,000 in chicago
8k in the uk
@@DAGZTERGAMING is that a high price in uk?
Cutler Sneckner not too bad no
Paused at 4:20 to say this. I've owned my r32 for almost 10 years and I always said I would never upgrade the exhaust, but that lasted about 6 months and a purchased a magnaflow cat back and haven't looked back since. They sound epic with aftermarket exhaust!
Here in UK I've had my Mk5 R32 since new in 2007.. 130,000miles. Still love it.. nothing comparable in current VW range without spending wrong side of £38,000. for a Golf R , which is in no way the same vehicle at all..Still gets admiring glances from VW owners new and old and other drivers. .The R32 is a vehicle that commands a lot of respect . Only one major issue in 2015.. DSG mechatronics unit failed and had to have factory replacement. Ouchhh!
Other than out just regular service items you would expect. And that exhaust note.. Still original factory exhaust and everyone knows when I am arriving . Jeremy Clarkson even stated that it is one of the best factory sounding exhaust notes every made..
10 years driving it, upgrading it, still loving it..
They are fairly reliable. Saw one for sale here in the states with 643,000km.
thats crazy
Mine has only 220 000 km....
@@theincredibledorian have you had any issues with yours being 220000km?
@@Earth_By_Boardusual maintenance, springs at 200 000km, it has 232000 now.
theincredibledorian still a good reliable car?
Hard to come across any videos on mk4 r32’s- good job. I purchased one in December last year with only 26500 kms. Residing in Sydney. Lovely beast- my pride and joy, especially given the kms and condition.
I love the R32. I have loved them since I had my first 1.8t and seen one driving in my area. I now went back to MK4 and got a GLI VR6 24v.. I'm working my way to one lol. Great vid
Test a 24v once, owned a mk3 12v vr6, I own a mk3 vr6, but want a mk5 r32.
The GLI VR6 24V is a special car in its own right.
Had a Jetta GLI 24v VR6, definitely a fun car that's what got me into VW and VR6.
Now I Got a 2008 VW R32
Own a black mk 4 R32 here in New Zealand since 2015, best car i have ever invested in and surprisingly reliable. Drives like a go-kart on steroids!! Just remember to keep up to date with important mileage specific oil services on the haldex unit and gearbox / diff systems and it will keep rotating the planet backwards every time you pull away ;-)
Top review man very honest, thumbs up from your over the ditch R32 owner
Cheers bro!
Nice review. Well, if you live in a part of the world where you have nice hot warm weather.,.then you don’t have to upgrade and replace your exhaust.
Maveric073 how so
ohmygodqt Omgqt rust
Lurgen you nailed it! 👍🏼
I had a Ferrari 355 and this R32 , it was as rewarding as the Ferrari if not even better. A special car.
I have been watching Vida on this car for 3 monthes now because I'm obsessed and you happened to be one of them 😂
Forget buying parts in Australia, a few weeks ago I replaced the clutch and dual-mass flywheel in my MKIV Golf. Price of parts here ranged from $1250 to $2000, I got a Sachs OEM kit from UK on Ebay for $460 AUD INCLUDING delivery that took 2 weeks. Learn to do your own servicing and repairs, getting VCDS will save you a lot.
Same thing happened to me. I never noticed R32's, or even respected them. Until I got my Mk5, completely changed my opinion of this awesome little hatch!
Great quality video! I hope you'll be putting out more R32 videos!
Blaylock1988 plenty more to come! Subscribe and turn notifications on so you never miss out
I got a mk4 r32 tornado red with 60,000 miles on it I love it so much yes parts are expensive for the r model the only problems I have is a common known problem with the clear coat and my flex pipes crack other than that it's the best vw built hands down and I've owned plenty of vws
I feel like you have a natural talent at making videos, nice presenting.
You look better with a beard too.
The last great design from VW.
Bullshit
the last non garbage vw
@WhyOWhy Is there one? The MKIV DESIGN WHETHER r32 or my OWN 03 MKIV V6 24 VAL Jetta AND ITS GTI. MY engine is no slouch compared to my 1.8LT. i held out for this 2003 "VR6" engine. Its not truly badged but i still love it.
@martin i never had the pleasure but didnt they continue badging R32's with the MK5 or MK6? the styling lost me post MK4. i even waited to find a 'very special MK4 JETTA' that ive 'overly coveted.' 2003 jetta VR6 was the top dog. i broke one rule but its 'FULLY loaded' its my 1st auto TRANS from VW. Everyone who loves the BDF engine knows its an actual V6. A 24 valve V6 - its misbadged for 2 years by VW intentionally. So its a fun quick little thing stock and natural aspiration..
That VR6 sound alone is a massive pro. Oh, man.
I've got a 2005 Golf GTi MK4 1.8T, Manual Trans in the U.S. It's a left side driver. I love these cars. I have about 120,000 miles on mine, and I'm going to keep and take care of this car for a long time to come. It's not as easy to find these body styles in good condition anymore. I'm not letting mine go. Still want to do some upgrade to it as well.
Yes, the car is very good. I have it on Poland. The engine - 1.8T is perfect for this car. Now i have 320 000 km, and im still driving!
0:37 just realized even if your steering wheel is on the wrong side.. it matches the logo.. cause if you peak out to overtake they can see it too XD
I've had no end of problems with mine, even had the timing chain snap causing catastrophic engine failure, £2500 to rebuild. I've still got it though and I still enjoy it
600 bhp in and R. What an incredible motor. Eager to see the audi TTRS on living life fast.
The blue model is the coolest one
lmao---very clever
Thumbs up just for the engine sound
Yeah... My 01 gti vr6 needed a timing chain job😰
Good solid review. Coming from a mk4 r32 owner in the Uk. One thing I don't like is the very sensitive throttle response.
My R32 has 115,000 miles on it and still has original exhaust... and I live in NY. My front fenders due need replacing and as rust has started to eat through the paint from salty roads although is garaged but I drive it all winter with snow tires. It has been such a great car for for 14 years and actually has been very low maintenance overall and the engine is still going as strong as the day I bought it. Has never leaked oil and I have beaten the hell out of it driving in and out of NYC. Thinking about selling it but I think I will have a tough time parting with it :( The wife hates it, being a passenger is not the same as being the driver as it's a very firm ride. installed bilstein shocks, lowered it a bit and chipped it as well. Such a great little car still has the original clutch, exhaust, rims... Nice review and enjoy your ride I know you will!
Lance McVickar mine has 107 I live in Long Island. I’m redoing the seats this week and next year a new paint job. I was gonna sell it but my friend just bought one w only 30k miles and it looks so good that made me wanna keep mine and clean it up.
How does it drive lowered ?
I would like to lower mine just a little bit but my mechanic tells me It’s not a good idea cause the all wheel drive.
(Dis u to change the haldex oil )
Lowered is great for handling, the ride is quite stiff but I like it. Sadly mine has to go and I’m listing it tomorrow:( I just got a used S3 2015. Such a different car still getting used to it. I will miss my R a lot but I know someone else is going to enjoy it so there’s that. Caste Systems Performance installed the Bilstein coilovers, I did not go as low as it could have or as stiff. I have had know issues with the all wheel drive and the shocks have at least 45000 on them. James who owns and runs Caste has his own R32 now a R3.6 and is quite a bit lower than mine.
Lance McVickar ever sell it ? And for how much
@@crxtreme69 i was just about to ask the same thing! Im sure it was super hard to part with such an amazing and unique car. The S3 is awesome as well.
This car reminds me of the RS3. Nose heavy, but saved by it's engine and engine note.
I own an S3 8L (which is a car very similar to this, same haldex AWD, same chassis etc) and I know very well what you mean by the modification budget turning into a maintenance budget. I have owned my S3 for 3 years and its cost me £3k to keep it going.
Got a 04 red R32 with some extra mods for $5000. Hell of a deal for my dream car. Now my 86 Scirocco is jealous and I'm torn on which one I should drive on any given day because they are both my baby's and dream cars. But I drive the R32 more cause scirocco parts are getting hard to find and if some ass hat hits it ill freak out and bad things might happen to them and then it will take forever to find part to fix it.
Lord Lucifer what a steal I’ve only seen them for 15k with way room May miles and beat up
@@bobhog3969 My father owns a shop that I work at and the fellow I bought it from was a long time costumer. Every sense the day he bought the car new ive told him I want it if he was to sell it. Hes an older fellow in his 50's or 60's. Well one day he came in and said I can have it for that because thats all he would get for a trade in on a Cadillac he really wanted so I said definitely and couldn't get the cash fast enough. Lol
That's a keeper, not sure where you are at, but the red ones were the fewest brought to the U.S. (the blue ones were more numerous).
Hmm, that AU spec .:R has the standard gray headliner/pillars. On the plus side you got it with no sunroof!
Love the car. Thumbs up. I drove one last week.
The best sound exaust
Was nice seeing it in person at Penny's Hill.
S-Tuned thanks man!
2300 members of that forum but only 200 R32 have been imported to Australia, and 150 of which have been totalled...
That hurts to hear. So many drivers who shouldn't own special cars.
God dammit I've fallen in love with another Volkswagen. It started when I was looking for an SUV and my friend informed me about the Volkswagen Touareg. Well I was short on cash and couldn't afford one sign it up getting a mark 4 Jetta and now I'm in love with Mark 4s. And who can't be a mk4 fan without loving the r32?
Great video mate, cheers from Texas USA! I own one myself
juan salazar cheers bro! Appreciate the positive comment
My dream car
15.6l/100km !! I think I will keep my Mk5 GTi 2007, with me now 9 years and yes, it eats money maintenance wise. Generally 2-3000 Euro per year but so worth it ! Only wish I had not had to gift away my beloved 8V Mk2 Gti 1991at 252 000 miles as no more negative money left to even store it :-(
One con. That shitty grey roof liner they put in it.. mine is coming out for a black one this week ...
I was looking at that like WTF!??! why aint it black??
fat420cracker I know 🤦♂️ mines black now 😃
I will never sell my 4R, NEVER, have as much new car, with as much electronics am Happy it :)
My all time favorite car
My all time favorite! 😍
Honestly this is one of my dream car I drive a mk4 Jetta and it's 1.8t but I will do a vr6 swap in the far future so I get my 4 door r32;)
I love this car
Sick skyline engine yo ima probably get me a chevy too that's cool
Loved it!!
You must not put a lot of mileage on the R32 if you fill it once every two weeks. Thanks for the video.
You forget the Audi TT and Audi S3 all share similar parts too, so its not really that hard to find parts for this car tbh.
reyesz3 not s3
Nice review 👍 I’d like to ask - how tall are you??? I am 200cm and recently thinking about buying one
If u think it's good now a few mods on it makes them so much better 👌stick a K+N typhoon induction on it and a miltek exhaust 😁 then see how big the smile is👍
Any R > and gti ever made.
Yeah it's just the nature of the beast, repairs cost a bunch for mk4 r32. My r32's timing chain needs to be done(makes noise) and I won't do the job without also throwing in a new clutch which is pricey.
Archer yep that’s about a $3000 USD job all said and done
I find it strange how yours in particular has the Grey/White Pillars and headliner. In USA and EU we had R32's with Black pillars and headliner. strange!
Can you make an update video after of the year of ownership with the R32 you curious to hear how it's been for you
only con for me is the 2 doors. thats why i own a MPS (for now, want a focus rs)
Love the video. quick question, Do you know of any other modifications your R has as far as exhaust? I love the after-crackle on your exhaust. and after I did my flapper mod/switch it doesn't sound quite like yours
probably got rid of the resonator or catalytic converters
Genuinely my dude it's just the flapper mod. Everything else is stock.
Changes depending on weather conditions
Vw make the best hot hatches.
I had a r32 mk5 it was sweet
Hi from Perth, I am looking to get into one of these gems. Can you recommend what sports cats I can instal while leaving the rest stock. Also do you know what the best option is for tuning are. Many thanks.
Hi guys could anyone please help me to identify the title of the tune at the beginning of the video. Congratulations for video mate.
German cars are built for high speeds. They might not be the fastest of the mark over a standind quarter mile. Where most German cars shine is over 200km on the autobahns in Germany. Hence heavier gage steel body structures. German cars need to be driven once in a while hard to prevent carbon build up in the cylinder compartments and spark plugs. Unfortunately Australian road laws does not meet the scientific engineering requirements for german engineering.
So is this car not good for daily driving?
Not too many parts on other mk4s that you can use??? I disagree maybe the quattro system and the engine...everything else it's the same exact as any mk4...
Good, somehow this car can still pull down about 18K if low miles and in good condition, in real for a 15yo VW
dam, screw that... i get my nissan elgrand 3.5l doing 13L/100. and its fast off the line and stops well and i can hold 7 people!
vw cabrio 1999 with a r32 engine is more of a collectors item to me than this car.
Trade my 2012 gti for one
I miss my Gray MK4 R32 :{
Does this car have traction control that cannot be disengaged? God those things are annoying.
Why would you want disable traction control on a 4motion car?
It makes a big difference in terms of driving feel because ive driven cars that their traction control can be turned off and its more agile to drive. What I’m driving now is a 2006 Evo 9 and theres no traction control and its good. I like this R32 version and thinking of buying one next month, and curious about its traction control and driving feel.
buy a mk6 golf r.
TCS is good on the road in everyday situations. Sometimes, like in performance driving situations, these electronics will step in too early and slow you down. Or, funny enough, starting from a stop in the snow where the TCS kills any wheelspin and prevents the AWD from doing its job and stops you from going anywhere.
Carl Sechrist thanks for the explanation. 👍
It’s a sweet ass “rust bucket” take care of it
England; jeeze
My question is are they reliable as a daily driver. I'm looking at buying a new car but a daily toy. I'm stuck between a evo or a r32 mk4
Sure are mate! I've been driving it since November last year, it now has 203000kms on it and besides basic maintenance, my only cost has been fuel as it likes to use a fair amount
@@2PJZ cheers for the reply! I'll deffo look into one then. Evo 9 wagon has got my attention tho haha
Thanks for sharing. May I ask your height? (Interested in seat height).
VW golf on the outside Audi TT under the skin =) LOVE my mkiv R32. Mines also supercharged so an extra 100bhp to the wheels
love my one, non res with decat oh my lord.......
ah you get the grey , cream headlining.... US gets black like anniversary
I Also have this engine in my tt so a couple of cons are not the same but the biggest con is this car sounds so freaking good but the sound doesn't match the go, also besides turbo'ing it the engine is realy hard to tune, definitely if you are a person like me who likes to keep it N/A which is pricy.
Also I think the golf mk4 is not realy how to say, the mark 5 is way more grwon up than a mk4, the mk4 is to johnny/ricy.
Cons : anything else, sound, powerdelivery, icon which will only go up in value, its reliable (in my case)
What do you get mpg ? Very interested as thinking about getting one
My most recent tank which the petrol light has just come on for has got me about 14.0L/100km which is roughly 16.8mpg. I usually get around 400km (250ish miles) per tank
With my R32, I normally get around 20-25 mpg. With really careful driving I've had it at 30 mpg, but that's rare.
Tony Lyons, considering the age of the MKIV R32, understand that vehicles from this year are likely to already have significant maintenance issues, or the owners want to sell their cars before they start incurring the cost of heavy maintenance related to these cars when the odometer reaches 150K mi/241K km. The timing chain should be replaced by that point and that will be a significant cost. The suspension will need a full refresh. The interior will likely be significantly worn because of cheap rubber materials used on parts of the interior or wear on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob, etc. These are just a few issues. The cars are great vehicles, but again, I would discourage you from buying a used one. If you do, you'll pay a premium, and then afterwards, expect to budget the same amount of money you paid for the vehicle (or more), just to maintain a car this old. You really have to have a deep love of the MKIV R32 to buy one of these rare limited edition vehicles. If you really want a truly satisfying performance VW Golf, I suggest saving every penny you can, keep driving what you currently own, and budget for a late model VW Golf R. I agree that the MKIV R32 is a fantastic car, and it certainly has a prominent place in VW history, but if you aren't the original owner, stay away and save yourself a lot of maintenance headaches and their ongoing costs. The R32 is the type of car an enthusiast should buy new and NEVER sell. It's also the type of car that nobody should ever buy used after it has more than 50k miles. Disclaimer: I'm the original owner of a 2004 GTI VR6 and love the car but also recognize that it is getting older and does require some costly preventative maintenance that is more expensive than the car's book value. However, the advantage I have is that I'm the only person that has ever driven the car for 14 years. I know my particular car well and this is a big reason why I feel comfortable keeping the car for several more years. There is no guess work regarding what might have gone wrong as a result of other drivers and DIY mechanics working on the vehicle before I owned it, because I'm the original owner. You will not have that advantage. You'll also need to approach the purchase of this type of vehicle with a heavy dose of skepticism. Be extremely critical of any R32 you might consider buying. Don't buy just because it might be the only one for sale in a 5,000 mile radius. You would be doing a disservice to your wallet. I intend to keep my car until it reaches 250K miles if I can maintain it that long. At that point, who knows. Maybe it will be a collectors item that someone wants to buy since I mostly only use OEM parts to keep it as original as possible. The only aftermarket parts I use, are those that are better than factory parts but still maintain the original looks and performance characteristics of the original components. Maybe half the cars on the road will be electric by that point and only the salvage yard will want it. In any case, if I can get 20 years out of a car that originally cost me approximately $22K, I'll be a very happy man. Bottom line: don't buy an expensive car that was likely tinkered with by people who had no business tinkering with a car like the R32. You're asking for a world of misery. Drive a cheap car for several more years. Save every penny you can, and then buy a new Golf R. You won't regret it.
I too have gotten 30MPG, but it is on a level highway and careful right foot pressure
@@RedondoBeach2 Sage advice.
its a shame that a 1990 v8 1700kg holden can beat it
but that’s a V8, and a Holden 😂
@@JakeJuno totally agree LOL
For parts check out e-acca.com. They seem sketchy but are actually top notch and the prices are excellent.
Wow thats rostrevor all the videos i have seen of these have been from the US didnt realize they were so close sell me your car? Aha
I wish I could find one of these for under 30k lol
What does R32 mean?
I have no idea, but if I where to guess the R stands for race and 32 is the 3.2 litre engine.
Mr Foster jeppp
I think the R stands for race. Thats what it stands for in general for vehicle marketing but I could be wrong.
Okay.. But wasn't the MK4 that had 3.2L engine the VR6 one?
KRAUSER0130 Yes
“No need to change this exhaust, save your money for when something goes wrong, .... and trust me it will”
Pretty much tells the whole story
Car sounds amazing but is a piece of shite
Greg Schlegel whoa..thats just rude...what car are u driving? clio?
Mk7 vw gti ..... and you?
Greg Schlegel mk7 gti?! What r u, a feminist ?
Vx
not bad but have you driven a stage 2 mk2 ford RS? now what you said about your car, double that with the RS 😉
My word , the interior is .... for a supposedly sporty car.. Straight out the 1.4 base
😂 Heasted leather bucket seats, climate control, chunky leather steering wheel plus gear knob, upgraded radio and custom speedo. Sounds a lot like a enrty level mk4 golf 🙈😂
4wd is not a pro at that power level. As for the engine, BMWs S50/52/54 series was better, by a long way, and I've owned an M3 and currently own a VR6.
I absolutely love both, but the BMW I'd better.
Ask any one who has to do a clutch on one. They won't like them haha
Cons: It's slow as balls.
it doesnt stand out? Sorry but i disagree... its wider than any other golf and it stands out right away as soon u see them... i has the badges the air vents the wheels the sound.... you are a bad reviewer
its the same body shell as all mk4,s its no wider at all.