At least I think that's what it is...

Every week I run into this guy on the way home from work. It's lowered, has some sort of exhaust on it and sounds mean as shit. I’ve seen him launch the car a couple of times and he can definitely leave some rubber behind.

We've gone at it a couple of times, and I've always pulled on him, but in the lower gears he really puts up a fight. 3rd gear plus, I just start to pull.


Last night I was limping home on my spare (gotta get that fixed tomorrow) and he pulled up next to me. I know he wanted to run again, but he certainly saw my disability and didn't antagonize me or anything. Seems like a nice guy...


Anyway... What's the story with these cars? I finally saw the rear of it and I swore it said something like R32, but it look to be almost written in cursive. . It certainly looked like a GTI.

How fast can those things ? There's no way it's stock. Just curious.

 

If he was laying rubber probably just a hopped up GTI not an R32. R32's are AWD so not much rubber hits the road they just go.

R32's really are not that fast. But there are plenty of GTI's with a lot of work done that will lay a patch or 2 down on the road.

 

Wait... So there is something called a R32?

Got pics?

If I see the rear I'll be sure what it is...

 

The R32's are pretty fast. There are lots of aftermarket parts for the VW's so you never know what he has done. Unless he gets something drastic like a turbo, i don't think you have to worry about him beating you. They are fun to drive though. I had a 99 GTI VR6. Only 173hp, but with the low weight, that thing could move.

 

OK, it's a R32

I found a couple images that confirmed it.


So what's the story with the R32???

 

I thought the car had some speed....

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=2

 

It is the best platform to work off of as far as small VW's go, IMHO. A little pricey, but a good package.

 

Yeah nice car, but if compared to EVO and STI not quite enough juice. Is over a second behind them both to 60.

Much more livable inside and handles awesome.

 

just make sure you don't run into the Turbo R32.....guy around where i live has one. Sounds mean as hell and is so fast. The car is a blast to drive.

 

I'm sure if he had a turbo, he would have walked past me... But running low 14s is nothing to sneeze at.


He gets off the line so damn fast. I have to play catch up sometimes...

 

stock...the engine has 250ftlbs and good trq down low so i'm not suprised. The car is nice and if i had to get something fun it'd be that or the s2k.

 

you have a G35c 6spd 298hp right and RWD. You should be blowing him away unless he does have a turbo and every other bolt-on. Those VW can be modded more than almost any other car out there. I know a guy in California that has a VW performace shop and races them too. He told me he had a R32 turbo putting down 900+HP! I have no reason not to believe him he is a customer of mine. That is unusual of course and he bored everything and had NOS too. But still that nuts. You should wave that guy over one day and talk about what he has under the hood. It may be surprising to see.

 

If only it wasnt 30k. I would rather get a 337 edition or 25th anniversary GTI and upgrade the turbo. A nicely tuned 1.8t should smoke the heavier AWD R32.

 

I have the '03 model, so I'm 280hp/270trq w/ RWD

The R32 stock is 240hp/236trq PLUS AWD

It's a 14.3ish car, I'm a 14.1-2... So I doubt I should be blowing him away.

 

the price kills it for me. I paid 19k for my gti and for the money loved the car, too bad it got totaled 8 months later.

 

R32 are fun cars, i wouldnt mind picking one up used.

Oh and he could have a stock exhaust, they are pretty loud.

 

For as little as it is, it sure carries some weight.

I like the R32 overall styling wise and what I've read as far as handling goes

 

R32 is a porker, i think its around 3300 pounds

 

Anyone see the HPA Stage 3 R32? They hit 202 mph in it, and ran the quarter in high 11's, I think?? But the package costs like 70 grand.

Total sleeper, though.