Is VW screwing up......

Drahthaar · Apr 22, 2004

Needing a break from the "I got mine!" posts. I wanted to pose a question for discussion.
Is VW screwing up by making the R32 a limited edition?
I was looking for my next car when the R32 was announced. Having owned only 1 VW in my life, an air-cooled. I test drove both the 1.8T and VR6 GTIs in an attempt to get an idea of what the R32 might be like. Having done that and being unable to decide which I liked better NA torque or an FI shove. I began to think that the R32 is what the VR6 should have been all along. This would differentiate the VR6 from the 1.8T and IMHO the VR6 needs to be AWD. I would have preferred that the R32 didn't have the special body kit, special seats etc. I wanted it to be a 240 hp v6 awd version of the vr6 gti. Leave the customizing to me.
This leads to my question. Do you think VW would have been better served by making "my" version and offering it as the VR6 GTI or the current limited edition R32?

VentoVR6Girl · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

I think it would still be too expensive to be the everyday GTI VR6.

Nebby · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

Yeah, I find myself hating my Konig seats and FAT steering wheel all the time. And I hate having the best body kit on a MKIV too.

Kidding aside, for me the married guy, I need a car that comes out fully loaded and tricked out from the factory because buying a new car is no big deal (especially one that's only $30K), it's the few hundred here, few thousand there on mods that doesn't have WAF (wife approval factor). I love the fact that I have a very well appointed MKIV Golf and a full factory warranty.

pK R32 · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

Interesting question

. You do raise a fine point. I don't know the answer

, but having sold over 21 million Golf's since its introduction till mid 2002, I think VW just wanted to have fun with celebrating this last style (Mk IV) before the new bodies were pushed. Besides, as much as people like you & I enjoy having the option to customize our cars, I don't think enough people do

. VW probably couldn't justify putting the new V6 & AWD in their regular Golf line up. Afterall, I thought the Golf was always considered to be somewhat of an economy class vehicle.
But then again, the fervor over the R32 may be enough for them to think twice about future models.

pK

veedubman91 · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

i heard from a little birdy that later on down the road there might be a chance that there will be an all wheel drive option available for later vw models.
but yeah, i like the fact that my car has a lot of mods done to it so i do not have to spend that extra amount. i am going to do a couple of small mods to the car and keep it for a long time.

Modified by veedubman91 at 7:35 PM 4-22-2004

Gateway · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

5,000 is hardly a limited edition. The only reason they are making this many is, VWoA CAN'T sell more than 5,000 in one year.
If VWoA is calling it a limited edition, it's just a marketing ploy.
VWoA made 1500 337's, that car has more of a "limited edition" status than the R32/20th AE.
2 years ago 337's were flying out of dealerships. Demand was very high. Reason? Because of price, hardware and limited availability.
And to answer the question at hand, no. because the AWD and 3.2L VR6 engine would cost you the majority of the $$$.

Greanhouse · Apr 22, 2004

The 4-mo will be available in 1.8T's within a year or 2

vr6gtispeed · Apr 22, 2004

Re: (Greanhouse)

If you think about it. All of the Golfs that ever had AWD such as the MkII, MkIII, and MkIV have never carried the GTI badge so I don't mind the car not having GTI in the name. I also enjoy fixing up my car. I had a MkIII that I had fixed up and it was somewhat of my own style but I like the style of the R32 so I'm happy with the way it looks. I would like to do a few things to make it a little different from the next guy but oh well.

briang · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (nebuchadnezzar)

Quote, originally posted by nebuchadnezzar »

it's the few hundred here, few thousand there on mods that doesn't have WAF (wife approval factor).

http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
I call the WAF the FFLF (Female Fun Limitation Factor)
FFLF - When a woman asks "Do you really think you should be doing that?"
Usually heard when men are about to start something fun with "the boys"...
On topic, I think the R32 is marketed correctly...

backtoVW · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (briang)

The rest of the world has always had AWD golfs and maybe even Jetta/Boras. It is a shame they never brought them here until the end of a model run. I do think they will need to bring the AWD versions of the new cars just to compete. Right now I think their sales of all golfs and GTI's will be very slow until the new models come out. It is a good car but is starting to look pathetic compared to the competetion.
I agree that 5000 R32's is going to be pushing it. They have only shipped about half of them and some dealers here have up to a dozen on the lot that are moving very slowly. Some dealers in the Chicago area that had there whole allotment of 20ae cars sold before they were build have numerous R32s sitting on there lot. The VR6 GTI was always a slow mover compared to the 1.8T.
The 2fast 2furioius crowd all wants the turbo motors because you can make them much faster for less money. For this group the 337/20th ae is the best platform for them. It already had big brakes a bigger clutch and a hugely improved transmission (6 speed form VR6). It also had good seats and suspension. Even so after the initial backorders some of the remaining 4000 cars were sitting around until this spring.

gti0189 · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

The same 3.2L VR6 that is in the R32 is what will be in the upcoming mkV cars. This will, no doubt, be packaged as the GTI VR6 when it hits our shores. Also, it has been long anticipated that VW will offer 4Motion on the MkV cars as well.
So, BE PATIENT.

djdub · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (gti0189)

Hey guess what tho. I got an R32 you guys just fell short!

Hehe jus kiddin dudes...Hopefully they make R32'S in the future though. I would love to see what they look like in the new mkV's.
peAce,
D

peppeVR6 · Apr 22, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (djdub)

Wait for the Audi A3 3.2 V6. If the 3 door comes to the US. I saw one in Italy and man is it beautiful. No body kit, no special seats. Just the engine and a nice new Audi body.

La FF · Apr 23, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (Drahthaar)

I thoguht all vr6 models in europe came AWD and the same gauges as the r32, plus the optional HID lights and 220 hp vr6 engine, i know the boras had AWD with a VR6 and 6 SPD.

La FF · Apr 23, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (djdub)

call the dealer i was told that the R was going to be the sport version of VW's, so within 2 years or so , there will be an R version of the passat as well as the golf. I love my 99.5 Jetta vr6 i only wish they had one for the jetta. And i do think the r32 lacks power they should of had at least 250 - 290 hp for a v6 engine.

sgtpeper · Apr 23, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (La FF)

Well truth be told when that concept convertible was shown the head of vw said somethin like thats the direction he wants to see the company go...
I really want an R32 but I do have mixed feelings about it all of a sudden... I do agree that while i did enjoy driving it and it was fast - they should have squeezed more poer out of it. I think that wouldve just made more sense... But VW is always conservative.... I dunno Im sick and rambling

Thanks
Jeff

jamie@vwvortex · Apr 23, 2004

Re: Is VW screwing up...... (peppeVR6)

Quote, originally posted by peppeVR6 »

Wait for the Audi A3 3.2 V6. If the 3 door comes to the US. I saw one in Italy and man is it beautiful. No body kit, no special seats. Just the engine and a nice new Audi body.

And expect to pay $35k minimum *if* this particular combination ever shows up here.
And no, there won't be any more 4motion Golf/Jetta models for at least 2-3 years.
-jamie

cootscoot5 · Apr 23, 2004

Re: (Greanhouse)

cootscoot5 · Apr 23, 2004

Re: (Greanhouse)

Quote, originally posted by Greanhouse »

The 4-mo will be available in 1.8T's within a year or 2

there will be no 1.8t's in the mkV's, they will have 2.0t

sdpauly · Apr 23, 2004

Re: (cootscoot5)

yeah, I also heard that the 3.2L VR6 will be the new standard GTI VR6

But I wouldn't buy it for a couple years at least...
I make it a rule, I NEVER buy a car the first year of a new body style. I prefer to buy a car on the last year of it's model run. I believe that by then they have worked most of the bugs out. Whereas with a new body/engine combo there are bound to be more flaws and, over time, they get worked out. Until the next bodystyle change...
I have a 98 VR6 (totally stock) . That was the last year of the MKIII. And it has been one of the most fun and reliable cars I've ever owned. Just an all around great car. Maybe not the fastest in a drag race, but it can hold it's own. And, with a good set of performance tires, can outhandle much 'sportier' cars.
Before that, I had a 91 Z28 that I had modded the hell out of. 5.7L, 5-spd, headers, exhaust, chip, clutch, air intake, posi rear... Now, that car ****1n rolled out!!

...but it wasnt without it's problems. toward the end there, it was in the shop every other month costing me 300 bucks or more.
The VW has been not much slower, and way more reliable. Except those damn window regulators. I have had to have my driver's side replaced twice and the passenger side, once. I mean, I could see once or twice.. but 3 times?? But, then again, thats been my ONLY problem with the car. Other that a few rattles and squeaks... but my Camaro rattled too.
I'm looking fwd to getting my silver R32 at the end of this month. And maybe in 2 or 3 years, I will sell the R and buy a MKV GTI with a 3.2L AWD

I hope they have fixed the damn window problem by the end of the MKIV.
...or maybe I will be able to afford an S4 by then

-pauly

Modified by sdpauly at 5:16 AM 4-23-2004

Modified by sdpauly at 5:18 AM 4-23-2004

Is VW screwing up......

Drahthaar

VentoVR6Girl

Nebby

pK R32

veedubman91

Gateway

Greanhouse

vr6gtispeed

briang

backtoVW

gti0189

djdub

peppeVR6

La FF

La FF

sgtpeper

jamie@vwvortex

cootscoot5

cootscoot5

sdpauly

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities