dtriggs

Test drove both VW R32 and BMW 130i m sport on the weekend. Having researched I had got it down to these 2 and so arranged a back to back test drive at nearby garages.

Drove the Bmw first. Very comfortable straight away, but a bit oppressive and dark. Pedals offset as well, which was irritating. Very nice and smooth, free revving etc, pretty fast too although didnt feel as quick as tests and figures suggest. This may have been deceptive but in a hot hatch I want a feeling of speed ! Noise was non existent too. Handled nicely on the smoother roads, but was bucking and kicking on the bumpier country roads. Boot was small and rear seats not for adults, but the front had plenty of room. Overall I liked it but couldnt justify £23/25,000 for a year old depending on spec.

Then on to the VW. Nicer looking I felt, harder to get comfortable but after a little work it was good. I dont like floor mounted pedals but this one seemed better angled, so was ok. Much better cabin with more light, more space and overall much better feel. Noise was great and it felt fast immediately. Ride was so much smoother than Bmw but seemed to handle just as well too - so why is the Bmw so harsh ? The boot not alot bigger I reckon but more accessible and the rear seats are so much more spacious. The dealers was excellent too and really pulled out all the stops to help.

Ultimately I have bought the R32 - Grey 55 plate with 14000 miles with almost all options incl sat nav, phone, leather etc - it did hurt spending so much on a mere Golf but they gave me £8000 for my 04 plate Fabia vRS with 21k miles (and cracked windscreen, smashed fog, dented rear bumper) so deal done.

Ultimately it came down to the feel really as although the practicalities are important they arent what I was buying the car for - and the VW felt like a car of this type should feel like - fast and exciting.

AudiLover

good choice.

Rabid

Personally I'd have gone for an S Line Spec A3 over the Golf. IMO the Golf feels cheap in comparison and looks tacky as **** with that grill on it. Also the alloy design is awful.
That is if I had to choose a current VAG group V6 hatch.

Diablo

I love comparisons like this where rear seat space is such an issue

Moving on, the BMW is harsh because of the run flats. Agreed cabin is lighter in the Golf - the 1 series has a very low slung feel. BMW's quality (although not at Audi levels) is better.

The 130i is the faster of the two, but the Golfs 4 motion will be safer in the wet.

They seem to polarise opinions.

Interesting that you found VW dealer to be excellent. Thats the first tme I've ever read that about a VW dealer on scoobynet

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Piccies ?

TurboBoost

I wonder whether the 3.2 A3s will drop much more with the new S3 coming out? Should be decent value at 15 grand.

Good article here
http://www.justgofaster.com/Articles....aspx#Comments

Rabid

A good article indeed, the old pre facelift A3 3.2V6's offer amazing value at 15K from an Audi dealer. Haggling should see a high spec 2004 car at that price. A 2005 car a grand more. Looks like very good value next to the pig ugly golf.

TurboBoost

The R32 is a good drive though, I really liked it. They sound lovely as well. Shame about the wheels and grille.

dtriggs

Ref Rear space - course it has an effect when you have kids, but not (as I said) the deciding factor.

Ref A3 - personally cant stand them - not sure why - just dont - and the local Audi dealers really are *****

R32 grill/wheels - I really like them...maybe I am strange...

Will post piccy when I get it

Rabid

I'm sure lots of R32 owners like the way they look, that's presumably part of why they bought one.
Agreed about the Audi dealers, like most other VW Audi Group garages, total and utter *****.
The A3 is though as I'm sure you know based on the same platform but just uses higher quality materials. The beauty about the old A3 3.2V6 is that it looks just like a 1.6. I prefer Q cars to tacky 'performance' cars.

misty

Sorry. What car did you say you drove?
dave

Rabid

Apology accepted. I didn't say what car I drove.

Jamesemt

Bloody hell mate, you are going to spend a lot more time in petrol stations

How does the low down torque compare to the Fabia?

misty

I asked just in case you drove a scooby mate? I mean lets be honest, they don't come much "tackier" do they??
dave

Rabid

I don't and in the case of pathetic spoiler/sticker and gold wheel sporting versions I agree- obviously.

Quite what the Impreza has to do with a thread in 'other marques' about the R32 I'm at a loss to understand though.

misty

Because of your quote, " I prefer Q cars, to tacky performance cars!" I was wondering what car you drove.
dave

Rabid

The fact I prefer Q cars to 'tacky performance cars' doesn't mean I haven't and don't own both.

BTW my definition of 'tacky performance cars' may or may not match with your own. I do though find it hard to understand why someone's choice of car or any other onject has any relevance to their critical faculty.

misty

What's an "onject"?
dave

image doctor

Is the R32 a 4 door?

misty

they do a 4/5 door R32 yes!
dave

image doctor

It was just the comment about the 130 being cramped in the back, I would have assumed a family guy would want a 4 door.

Rabid

It's a typo, if you need anything else that's bleeding obvious explained to you (left from right for example) feel free to ask.

Rabid

The 5 door R32 is even worse looking than the 3 door. I don't know why but the MKV GTI manages to look far better proportioned than the R32 which looks terribly ungainly from whichever angle you look at it. The exhaust on the R32 is a joke as well.

misty

I was being facetious you numpty!!!
dave

Rabid

So was I, dickhole.

misty

What's a "dickhole"? You low-life-lying-four-flushing-snipe nosed-crimson faced-sack-of-****...
dave

Rabid

The type of bed wetting sh1tsack who needs to edit his insults.

wolfie28

Ah yet another Scoobynet thread destroyed .

dtriggs good choice in my opinion, enjoy driving it .

Wolfie.

misty

I edited to save your embarrassment you tosser.. Whats up can't you spell ****!
dave

misty

Look pal I've been on here that long I've seen your type (excuse the pun!) come and go with the breeze! I can always tell when the schools are on holiday! Still won't be long now and you'll be back behind your desk doing your sums eh?
dave