VW R32
3256 lbs
240hp
3.2L

'05 MCS
2678 lbs
171 hp
1.6L SC
+16%
+HAI
+1 passenger

With a variety of pulls (dead stop, 30mph, 60mph) the MCS edged out the R32 every time. Guess I have a Wed. build

We switched cars and did the exact same runs with similar results, and after driving the brick on wheels (the R32) I'm glad I spent 5K less on the MCS...Although I do like the seats in the R32...

 

I was wondering this exact scenario the other day when a guy with one parked next to my MCS and said we should see which is faster. all I could say is 'I'm sure it would be a good race either way". those seats are awesome in the R32 though.

 

... the R32 would rock the house!

That AWD system is the ONLY thing which makes me envious! IF we had that system, (without the weight associated!) the MINI would be truly unstoppable!

The current R32 was always reviewed as a 'gentlemans' Golf, not a rally monster like the EVO or STi. I'm not surprised an MCS can pull on it...

I'd like to see a MCS GTP up against it as well.. that'd be a good race!

Check this out:

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/conversion_twinturbo.htm

Although the R32 may be slow, the engine is a brick sht house if it can handle more than DOUBLE its std hp and not explode!

RM2k5

 

Don't get me wrong...I am impressed by the R32 in a lot of ways. My dad owns a 2.0L golf, and the R32 is a different car. It is very refined, and quiet and feels very peppy for it's weight. It's handling could use some work (most VW's always had a squishy stock suspension), but it was still fun to drive. Keep in mind that with a chip in the R32 this would have been a different story altogether.

 

i like those R32's.

 

R32s rock, it wuz my first pick b4 da MINI

 

R32's and MCS's both make some really cool sounds.

 

I love the R32's but not the weight and price associated with them.

 

In before lock!!


Something to contribute, our cars still surprise me to this date.

 

In the newest issue of road and track there is a comparison with a JCW cooper s, new civic si and the new GTI. Interesting read with alot of specs. I like the old R32. Im not a huge fan of the new front ends of the VW's.

 

i always loved the r32s..
but never thought the minis could pull on it..
impressive.

I guess I will play along when i see one of them on the road next time..

 

Doesn't surprise me a bit. The R32 is way more of an fun, high speed autobahn commuter than anything else IMHO. As released in NA, it doesn't really feel like it was designed to be the best performer at any one thing (IE:dragster, rally cross, whatever), but rather to give a pretty fun and safe taste of that performance with a smooth, solid feel throughout. 110 mph felt like about like 85-90 mph feels like in my MCS the majority of the time so far. Once you get the hang of the Haldex differential, they can be very fun on twisting roads and hills as well as the highway. They are definitely tubby though, seriously underdampened, and equipped with OE rubber that tends to roll over at the vaguest hint of taking the car sideways.

As far as the price goes, I would've payed about $2K more for an MCS at MSRP than I did for my R32 once I added the comparable options. The MCS I wound up buying turned up $500 more expensive with leatherette seats that make the car smell kind of funny to me and leave alot to be desired in the bolstering department coming out of the Konig seats.

Don't get me wrong, I am loving the MCS so far (just finished my break in today ) and was definitely feeling some misgivings about the R32 (consistent 20MPG, a tendency for me to drive it way too high over the speed limit on the highway, the afformentioned porkiness and plodding), but I had a ton of fun in it and will continue to remember it fondly.

 

i pulled on R32s several times, and i backed out from buying one and bought the MINI, up untill today question myself, because the R32 is so refined, yet not exciting as the Mini, and suprisingly more reliable. loved the Recaros honestly

 

no doubt, they look like integra front ends.....

 

^^x2

 

The thing about the R32 is what can it become with mods.... can you tune the suspension, add horsepower....I think so.... what would 20K worth of mods look like on an R32?

 

Like a dot on the horizon out of the windshield of a stock MCS

The HPA stage II twin turbo kit supposedly brings the R32 north of 550hp at the crank and from what I had read on VWVortex will do 0-60mph in under 4 seconds. Last I had read, they were charging $30K for the whole deal installed which included uprated tranny, suspension, brakes, etc. in addition to the turbos/IC/engine mods.

I never drove an HPA R32, and would have no interest in owning one as a daily driver, but it would be pretty cool to have a sleeper hatchaback that would smoke alot of Ferraris/Lambos/Porsches that cost over twice as much.

 

Install some Recaros or the like --- I just put some SRDs in my MCS and feel the car is transformed. The stock "sport" seats are the worst thing about the MCS imho.

 

u feel tha same way huh!
i hate tha fact that vw has taken a turn into tha ricer stylin' it looks cheap now, they need to wise up & stick to their rootzzz b4 they loose what little market they have here in tha states, i wont buy a new GEN. vw lookin' like that!!