A3 3.2 vs R32 - Difference?

[emzino]

Seeing alot of "R32's are crazy fast but so expensive! There the best" nowdays but I can't help but think that, doesn't the A3 3.2 v6 have the same engine as the R32...

If so, does the R32 have anything over the A3 3.2 other than special branding etc. I mean I can see A3 3.2's go for as little as 15k used on PistonHeads, I think that's a bargain for such a beast of a car!

OR

is there something that i'm missing...

Please enlighten me =)

 

[jasaudi]

The A3 3.2 is a superb car. I was going to say that the A3 is heavier, but it isn't, it is 30kg lighter.

I think that there is an awful lot in here around image and the Golf has got very high street cred and is loved by all the motoring journalists. One might even suggest that it is a case of the emperor's new clothes, buut that would be a bit naughty as it is a superb car

But the A3 is nicer

 

[Skittler]

...but please don't shout about it, or everyone will want one

 

[james0808]

But the A3 is nicer

Why is it?
I'd take the R32 anyday.

 

[grebowski]

As far as I know the engines are identical, but with different ECUs, there has been a discussion and I think we established the brakes are the same too, I love to have a drive in a new R32 to see if the suspension is any better than my pre-face lift 2005 s-line!!!

 

[Shao_khan]

I drove the R32 before goign for my S3 and TBH having owned a MK4 R32 was pretty disappointed with the MK5 version. In all honesty I thought they were aiming back at the old 4mo market, heavy front end, slightly softer suspension - for me it certainly want the package that the MK4 version was.

In quality terms, I dont think you can even get close to comparing the interiors af the cars - I thought when VW launched the MK5 Golf they took a serious step back in interior quality, and for me it just doesnt stack up against opposition like the A3. I would be suprised if a 3.2 A3 wasnt quicker in many day to day situations than the R32 because it doesnt have the transmission loss of the 4wd.

I was lookign for a 'sporty' hatch and TBH Ifelt that the S3 and Golt GTI ed30 were both better than the R32, the S3 for me being the better all around package.

 

[Randomjim]

I would be suprised if a 3.2 A3 wasnt quicker in many day to day situations than the R32 because it doesnt have the transmission loss of the 4wd.

A3 3.2's are all quattros aren't they?

 

[Boydie]

the 3.2's are slow, big and heavy - yes they do have 255bhp or there abouts but round a track they are not very hot at all!

i would take a golf gti or 2.0tfsi A3 over a 3.2 - or, if you were planning on buying a brand new 3.2, i would consider an S3

 

[Wes G]

Yup-I think they are? The reason I got one was at the time I had about 15k to spend on a replacement car and I could have got a mk4 R32 (240PS) or the A3 (250ps)-not much difference but for me its not so in your face styling as the R32-I must be getting old!!!

 

[Wes G]

I thought the comparison was between the 3.2 & R32...we know they are both heavy fat ***** cars...but that was`nt the question.

 

[Boydie]

i personally like the styling of the 3.2 A3 - not so fussed on the R32

i wish the mk5 r32 had the mk4 r32 styling! so much nicer i think!

 

[KRL]

Yes they both use the Haldex system like the S3. I do not think the difference is much between the two cars. I have driven both and for me the main difference was with the exhaust sound. It is much more audiable in the R32 which makes it sound nicer and gives the car more sporting intentions. Nothing a Milltek could not sort out on the A3 though.

 

[grebowski]

I think the 3.2 makes a great cruiser, relaxing drive on long runs with plenty of overtaking power, its no track day car! I'm not a fan of the R32 looks too "bling" for me, I'm withholding my opinoins on the the S3 till I get a chance to drive one, but on the looks alone I think Audi have got it spot on!

 

[jasaudi]

The difference between the A3 and the VW is in the interior quality in my humble opinion. A friend has the the golf and I have the A3 and his view is that the A3 has a higher quality feel about the whole cabin.

I think that ultimately it comes down to your styling preference and the golf may be aimed at the younger driver.

As for the A3 being a cruising car I would agree, I don't think you would buy it as a hot hatch per se as it doesn't really sit in that camp. I think you buy it as a smaller car which is a wolf in sheeps clothing and has the power there when you need it for normal driving and the ability to get you out of (or into) trouble when you need it to

I have had mine from new since May and I have no regrets and find the engine noise a delight to listen to and the 4wd a pleasure when the weather is foul in difficult road conditions.

Each to their own, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference and I have had many Golfs and many Audis and I didn't like the styling of the latest golf, but there is no denying that it is a superb car as all the motoring journalists clearly state. Maybe that is why I chose the Audi wouldn't want to be seen to be following the crowd.

 

[Skittler]

I agree with jasaudi all the way on this one.

The 3.2 is not a hot hatch - it's a bit too nose-heavy to be thrown around when you feel like it (the biggest downside in my opinion).

It's the way you get the power that's different over the 2.0 engine. It doesn't make one better or worse than the other - it depends how you want to use your car on the road. For me, it's way better than the 2.0 on the road - better does NOT mean faster in all situations before I get flamed - it just suits the way I want to drive.

As for the R32, then there's little difference in driving but I preferred the A3 interior and I also feel the Golf image is a bit 'young' for me these days. When I asked to choose, my team at work all want a Golf R32 but ask people of my age and they all want the A3 3.2 - go figure

It's just that little bit different from the norm, and I like it.

OK, OK, I'll admit it. I'm 40

 

[madvw]

whichever 3.2 you buy, theres only one obligatory thing to do with it, and thats supercharge it.

 

[onianbag]

for me, both cars say something completely different about the driver. the A3 says "i like nice cars and quality but arent too bothered about shouting out loud" the R32 says "wayhay look at me! i've got a fast car, go on 'ave it"

from what i know (i had an A3 3.2) the a3 is lighter and probably a bees wing quicker. but that aside, if its a question of taste - there is only one choice.

ps why does everyone say the A3.2 is 'slow and heavy' OK it may be slightly heavier than a turbo car - but come on, anyone who can say it's slow needs their head testing

 

[jasaudi]

Right, I have 2 admissions

1. I find the A3 3.2 plenty fast enough

2. Like Skittler I have gone past the 40 mark but only a little bit at 42

I agree with both onianbag and skittler it is about who you are and what you are trying to say and the A3 3.2 just says "I am comfortable in my skin and I don't need to prove anything to anyone!"

 

[tmint]

put your pipes and slippers away lads !!! you make me feel old, i got the 3.2 but im only 22. As said its a cruising car for long journeys and such, it will sit doing nice speeds on the motorway and its as quiet as if you were poodling along down the high street. ive not ridden in or driven an R32 so i wouldnt realy know the difference between the two other than what ive seen on paper.
What makes the R32 better on the track than a 3.2 A3, just the ECU?

 

[jasaudi]

Typically they have another major mechanical difference

The Nut behind the wheel

 

[Skittler]

Tmint is making me very envious.
I wish I could have afforded my A3 at 22!

 

[jasaudi]

Youth of today, don't know how lucky they are

In my day, we were tickled as punch to have hole in ground

And really lucky if we had a bit a cardboard to go over top like

 

[Boydie]

Nice having a 3.2 at 22 lol I'm 22 also but have a 2.0tdi but if I had the money for a 3.2 and insurance wasn't an issue, there would be a huge list of cars I would own before a 3.2

 

[madalex]

Fair play to the mk 5 R32 i have loved it , but i am selling it for my newly orderd s3 , its been stunning tho , i actually feel quite emotional thinking its going soon

 

[madalex]

Sounds Awesumm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88t4GEdLhg heres mine

 

[rickparmar]

Fair play to the mk 5 R32 i have loved it , but i am selling it for my newly orderd s3 , its been stunning tho , i actually feel quite emotional thinking its going soon

If i had money, i would buy that of you

 

[madalex]

If i had money, i would buy that of you

u not happy with ur new s3 ?

 

[jasaudi]

Sorry but the only thing it is missing is "BOY RACER" in big letters across the side of it

 

[madalex]

Sorry but the only thing it is missing is "BOY RACER" in big letters across the side of it

How exacly , a clean standard blue r32

 

[jasaudi]

Ah, now here is where the joys of age come in

A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, the god of cars said "let there be the Golf GTi" and there was the Golf and the Golf was good. And then as the people took up the word of the Golf there came to pass the term "hot hatch" and this was a corruption of the true word and the word was synonymous with being driven by boy racers. Now key charateristics of these tended to be darkened windows, big spoilers, big chrome exhaust pipes, big wheels and sometimes lowered.

Now the cars were superb and all other car maufacturers saw the car and saw that the car was good and they rejoiced in it and made images of it and verily they copied it and made craven images of it with big wheels, big spoilers etc. And so it was that the era of the hot hatch was born.

And so it was in the land that people lived and worked and car manufacturers developed these cars and they became fat and heavy and burdened with extras and the true word was forgotten and the god of cars was sad.

So the God of cars looked down upon the earth once more and he was sad as the true Golf had lost much of its fun and so it was that God recreated that which was good in the Golf mk1 once more and he called it the Golf mk5 but with bigger engines and more safety features. And the people rejoiced for the Golf was good once more.

Now for those of us who can remember back to those halcion days, a lot of what is standard in the cars now is what made the original golf into a hot hatch and boy racer mobile. It is not a bad thing, it just puts a grin on the face that it has that little bit of irony.

 

[james0808]

Thats a nice looking car from the outside.
BOY RACER,What a load of ****.

 

[Skittler]

It's so funny...

I used to think the same when I were a lad, but unfortunately time waits for no man etc.

Jas will remember when they brought out the NEW Golf which had the 16v engine - wow! Twenty-somethings all over the country raided their savings.

This is in danger of turning into a thread about how good the old days were, but that's just not true. You can get so much more these days and that's a good thing no matter what your taste.

As Jas says, that R32 does scream Boy Racer but you probably just can't see it. Remember this is from people who've been there and done that (or in my case, not had the money but at least had friends who did). Although it may seem a long way off and highly improbable at present, one day James will be old enough to think the same.

I suspect there are many cars on Boydie's list of "what else I'd buy with £28K-£30K" but there are only 1 or 2 on mine. It does make me feel old to say it, but your taste will change.

I bet you boys still have all your hair as well

 

[klauster]

i have driven both the Mk5 R32 and the A3 3.2. I have to say that ther Golf felt more agile around the corners, while the A3 was alittle more spongy.

I use to own a Mk4 R32 and had to say I loved its looks, aggresive and a real head turner, which is always nice... It did scream boy racer and that is what I am (probably even now)

I do like to drive fast, although I dont wheel spin or rag my car when its stationery

I fell out with Golf when the new one arrived, dont like the new one at all styling wise... and the New R32 is so so tame, compared to the old one.

The new R36 sounds like it has the potential to be the R32 of old so I will wait to see

The R32 is very much an in your face car, and its quite quick, nobody likes to be called a boy racer, but im afraid youtubing yourself doing that will get you tarred with that brush...

its not the car but the driver that makes a boy racer be a boy racer...

 

[jasaudi]

Dave

How true!!!

Hair?! what is that? isn't that the stuff that grows on your back

The truth of the matter is that the cars were wonderful, but as you say the times they have changed and the cars you guys now have the opportunity to play with are superb.

I had an old mk1 and a mk2 golf and even an 8L A3 1.8 SE but the best of all was my first car a Fiat 128 1300CL (hatch back version) and I had the escort and the XR2 as well

But as you say I remember the 16valve coming out and yes it was the wow car to have

God I feel old

 

[magnus911]

I'm just chipping in so I can see my new signature...so excuse that.
I would also like to add though that my last car was an MGTF 135 (slow enough for Miss Daisy) and I tested the Mk4 R32 and the 3.2 Quattro before making my choice and I'm very happy I went with the Audi
And I'm 26 so according to this forum I should have chosen the R32?

 

[jasaudi]

better to lead than to follow - good on ya mate

 

[lesbquick]

Did someone suggest that the A3 3.2 was a motorway car for sitting in a straight line all day?

I beg to differ. Castle Combe on the 8th Sept, and at least four tracks next year will say otherwise. Plus I've just come back from Nurburg and it drove like a dream with that supposed slower Quatro showing a clean pair of heals to almost everything in the torencial rain. This car Rocks the Track.

PS I too am in the 40 plus bracket.

 

[sat1983]

I'm 22 and I did choose the A3 because of the subtlety of the model. I owned golfs and loved them but unfortunately they're everywhere these days. The A3 is more exclusive, I think Audi is in general which is why I'll stick with the brand for a long while.

 

[jasaudi]

Lesbquick

I don't think anyone particularly said it was a motorway car, I think most accept that the V6 is a heavy engine in the front of the car, but I agree with you that the car is awasome and I would go for the 3.2 again, to the extent that we are now looking to replace the A4 and I am seriously debating the 3.2 TT. Love the engine, love the handling, lve the wolf in sheep's clothing effect

 

[lesbquick]

Lesbquick

3.2 TT. Love the engine, love the handling, lve the wolf in sheep's clothing effect

Wolf in sheeps clothing keeps popping up. Nearly went for the TT myself but with 4 days to my Ring Trip and no car and no reasonably priced TT 3.2 DSG for miles I went sensible and picked the A3. Though I do prefer the higher stance, never felt right that close to the floor.