hijacking my thread:

WTB: OEM MINI take-off wheels with tires and TPMS installed, 16" or 17" just about any style. Thanks.

 

No vw's anymore for me way to many on the 5 i had:(

 

Well i work for VW so i can offer some advice about the R32. Personally i think they are FANTASTIC cars, and they sound GREAT as well! I prefer the older body style because they were offered in manual and had nicer seats than the new ones.

For the new body style i'd have to say the best thing is the brakes. I'm a little turned off by the strange silver trim on the inside of the car.

 

That's AWESOME! Wow, they do look alike! I'm actually cheating on my pending MINI order by test driving a 2009 Fit. A local dealer has one in and I had promised myself to consider ALL other cars in my deliberation process, though I can't imagine that it will win out. Good luck on whatever car you decide to buy or KEEP.

 

This thread makes me smile.

 

Now if I was thinking of duming a brand new Mini.....I'd like really think about this post....I'm just saying.

Although the "FIT" is pretty awsome.

 

I have taken my VW, 6 times to the dealership last month because of electrical issues. Whatever VW you get, electrical is a problem.

 

I stopped driving VW's when they went water cooled.

High resale value or not. You are going to lose a bunch of $$$$ to downgrade to an R32.

Good luck on your decision.

 

Had an A3 3.2 for awhile and liked it - sounded great, had good grunt and power, DSG, very nice nav/electronics and interior was well done. Our very minimal service experience was good (of course this always varies per dealer) with a nice A4 loaner - not sure if VW service is on par with Audi.

Of course since I liked the A3 and its looks I'd considering finding a nice used one to side step depreciation somewhat vs a new R32, but do what makes you happy and have fun

Edit: one very nice thing about the Haldex AWD is its programability, you can buy a module to change the bias to be more to the rear wheel as you like. Overall I really like how the car was also user programable via http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/index.html.

 

ONLY with the HPA twin turbo kit and suspension....and in white...otherwise is just a car.

 

VAG or a dealer?

 

Dealer; but VW USA HQ is right down the street. (future plans )

 

yes, that's why I asked. VAG moves slow as molasses when it comes to hiring. Better to know someone inside it seems

 

This is a matter of personal opinion, but the sound that the R32 makes is one of the sweetest, most lust-worthy engine/exhaust sounds in the entire automotive world. Kudos to the engineers at VW who tuned that car's exhaust. That alone, is worth the price of admission. Forget the head unit, this thing's got stereo exhaust pipes that are an audiophile's dream!

Great car. I have 2 gripes with it though:
1.) no manual tranny option. The DSG is really great, but I still want 100% control over which gear I'm in at all times. Period.
2.) It's a porker. Sure, that VR6 is awesome, but it still has to pull around a very heavy car...

Too bad they're a limited edition, too. I can't find one anywhere around here to test drive. They're all gone already! Bummer.

 

too funny, Im selling my R56 S and am looking at the R32 as it is more refined, mature, NOT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (ONLY) oh.......and that exhaust note OMG.
Im torn between a 135 and a R32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASyc488CYzY

 

Drewster; last heard from on 8-28-2008 maybe he is going anywhere his r32 takes him

 

this thread is funny cause i was in the market for a R32 late last yr
and i decided to get the FitS. and im happy i did. wasn't
about the price, but it was 1/2 the budget i had in mind.

which leaves me more cash to use on the next hobby car after my MCS.

 

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...-r32.html#more

GP0019 done the trip from Monterey, CA to VA then two more trips from Santa Cruz, CA to Philadelphia, PA, its a bonafide lil Grand Tourer Comfortable trip until I got to PA then kinda harsh roads there.
I would suggest the 335i or 135. If its long distance trips that concern you should either talk to folks that did the MTTS and read the MTTS threads to encourage yourself to take a MINI trip or just go from SF to NY or Seattle, what holding you back? Whats the worst that can happen, I mean I lost a wheel bolt, but replaced it in Chicago, I got a flat in Nowhere, Utah and ran the runflat for 120 miles til it could be repaired. Don't be scared, just do it. I also took a 1971 VW bus from Santa Cruz to Denver and back(the vibration) an old 75 Chevy Monte Carlo from Watsonville to Cabos and back no problems.

 

I think the most fun drive I've had is Seattle to SF in a S2000, top down all the way. That stretch of highway 505 between 5 and 80 is the autobahn of northern california.

Anyway since i started this thread, i did buy the R32. Except for starting from a dead stop, you really need to give it gas for it to go.... (yeah yeah yeah it weighs like 3500 lbs... ) i've been really happy with the car. It's my first car with an "automatic" transmission and i have to say i'm generally happy with how DSG works, it's really much smarter than a plain old automatic transmission.

 

We recently switched from MINI to VW for various reasons - one of which being distance to the dealer (1 hr 10 min vs 3 hrs 30 min). In fact, it was on the way back from the MINI dealer that we decided to stop by and test drive a few cars - Scion tC, VW GTI, Honda Civic. We drove the tC - it was okay, kind of lacking inside; and drove the GTI (where I fell in love!). Never made it to the Honda.

We ended up trading one of our cars in on an '09 Candy White GTI - with the 18" rims and sunroof package. MSRP'd for over $25k and we bought it for $23,800.

The dealer had one R32 sitting around on the lot that had been there for a long time (very long, as it turns out). Out of curiosity, I threw a ridiculously low offer at him, and he countered with another ridiculously low offer. So, we traded in the last MINI on that car.

Having recently driven a 2007 MCS, 2009 MX-5, and 2008 350Z, I can say the R32 is maybe a little sluggish in starting from a standstill. But as others have said, that exhaust note is addicting, and once the car is moving the power is effortless. The fuel economy isn't great, but it's not completely deplorable either. The interior of both the R32 and the GTI are hands down the best of any car I've driven long term, MINIs included. I know this is going to step on a few toes (and I'm not trashing the MINI, I really like the little cars) but the VW's by comparison make the MINIs seem a bit barren, less refined. The GTI has the Interlagos plaid interior, which I hated when I first saw it but have grown to appreciate. The R has the dark gray leather which is just delicious. The bells and whistles that are standard in both cars are also very nice.

Oh, for the best part of the deal - we bought the new R for $27,490 - even cheaper than a comparably equipped MINI. Right now is a great time to get one of these cars, as the market is way down on them. I could care less what the 5 year forecast is on them - I buy cars I like to drive, not that I look to sell in the future for maximum ROI. But, if that's important to you, the R is right up there with the MINIs in terms of resale value.

Anyway, this is one former MINI owner who is very pleased with both his R and his partner's new GTI. But to each his/her own Here are a couple crappy photos of the new blue beast.



(holeless grille on the way, free of charge from the dealer)