How does the Mk V Golf R32 compare to the S3 ??

Jimmy Parko

Jimmy Parko

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Hi

i'm considering replacing My 1999 Audi s3 for the Mk V Golf R32 i'm just worried i may regret parting with the S3 as i love everything about the car.

Has anyone driven or been in a R32?? How do they compare to the S3 in the way of performance, reliability, bulid quality & handling. If money was no object i would upgrade to the 8P S3 but i have been looking around and i'm a few ££££ short on what i want to spend..

Cheers Guys Jimmy..
 
Are you wanting to go forthe mkV or IV? As you know the Mark 4 is the same platform as the s3 and if you think the s3 is a lard **** imagine what the golf will be like with a big ol engine in it. If you ask me, it's a nice car, but the mk4 is looking more dated than any 8l s3 and it's very underpowered, performance is near identical and the s3 quicker through twisties.

The mk 5 however is much nicer, more modern, Alot newer, and some big improvements over the old one, it's a little quicker than the s3 too. If you've got the money I'd go for he newer r32, purely because it's newer, but then ya can't beat turbo power, Tis a hard one.
 
The problem with the r32 tuning cost a bomb for any real gains
And that 3.2 hanging over the front end.
Over wise there nice cars!
 
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For the same sort of cash as the mark4 r32 you could pick up a decent 3.2 8p A3
 
A mk 5 R32 would be a good move, I think there a lovely car, especially if you have dsg, instant grunt, no issues with boost leaks and the like, only down fall really and what puts me off one is the fact they like a drink, otherwise the 3.2 is a great engine
 
Just re-read the original post, I would go mk5 golf for sure
 
3.2 sounds nice but stage 1 S3 beats it on the straights without doubt....... never played on the twisties and personally think the VW interiors do look 2nd best to most Audis
 
1animal1 said:
3.2 sounds nice but stage 1 S3 beats it on the straights without doubt....... never played on the twisties and personally think the VW interiors do look 2nd best to most Audis
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be so sure that a remapped S3 will beat an R32 with 250bhp and dsg, my old chap got the new shape TT 3.2 with dsg (same power) and we have had a little play up to 70ish and I was giving it all to keep with him, certainly wouldn't of passed him, if anything the 3.2 would come even more on song as the speed increased...
 
I've only just, and I mean only just started to fall behind a mk5 r32 and mine is standard map, off a round about and he very slowly had the edge, if I was mapped it would be a different story. For higher speeds though your probably right, it will pull stronger from say 100+ I would think.

In terms of an all round car the mk5 r32 is pretty dam good, quick, sounds great, and the interior is slightly ahead of the ageing s3's. Only thing that let's it down is weight, and more so it's tuning capabilities without spending mega bucks.
 
leggy said:
I wouldn't be so sure that a remapped S3 will beat an R32 with 250bhp and dsg, my old chap got the new shape TT 3.2 with dsg (same power) and we have had a little play up to 70ish and I was giving it all to keep with him, certainly wouldn't of passed him, if anything the 3.2 would come even more on song as the speed increased...
Click to expand...

totally different to my run ins matey, no disrespect but i'd check your car - i had a play in the misus cooper S and that was edging forward on the R32 unmapped (the 1.6 turbo model)...and my stage 1 used to beat that - also had a few plays over the years with old and new R32's with same results - cant comment on current model TT as haven't played with one of those
 
Animal, my mate 'believe you met him at santspod' has a dolphin grey S3 with a revo map and we have had a couple of run ins and I've always had the edge so I doubt there's much wrong with my motor, to be fair though my old chaps tt has got a straight through Milteck zorst on it so there maybe a chance his has been mapped in the past but I honestly had nothing on him...

Not just that though, I've come across Mk5 golf gti's and scirrocco's that went well and I didn't have much on them, whether they were mapped I don't know but book times etc seem alot less meaningful when it comes to real road situations...
 
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superkarl said:
Maybe the TT was slightly lighter. I like those 3.2 TT's, probably the only one I'd have.
Click to expand...

To be fair mate I think your right, the new Audi tt 3.2 is quicker than the the mk5 R32 in the book, probably weight like you say because they both run the same power...
 
I had a play with a mk4 golf with my standard s3 nothing init
Now it's mapped r32 wouldn't keep up.
And the top end of the golf they struggle to hit 150
 
I had a play with a mk4 golf with my standard s3 nothing init
Now it's mapped r32 wouldn't keep up.
And the top end of the golf they struggle to hit 150
 
1animal1 said:
3.2 sounds nice but stage 1 S3 beats it on the straights without doubt....... never played on the twisties and personally think the VW interiors do look 2nd best to most Audis
Click to expand...
fortunatly for me you are correct here as i had a run in with the police in one and my luck was in as they had no chance keeping up to clock my speed :) just got a seat belt ticket hahaha, that was with my stage1 custom code mapp so would leave them standing now in my stage2 state of tune
 
Don't want to start a mass debate but...

The mk 4 R32 runs about 236 bhp with a manual box,

The mk 5 can be had with dsg and 250bhp which makes a big difference IMO...
 
s3_kev said:
fortunatly for me you are correct here as i had a run in with the police in one and my luck was in as they had no chance keeping up to clock my speed :) just got a seat belt ticket hahaha, that was with my stage1 custom code mapp so would leave them standing now in my stage2 state of tune
Click to expand...

the thread was going against me wasnt it haha...... cheers Kev....

Leggy, i dunno then mate, i know that my stage 1 beat the 3.2 from say 20mph onwards - perhaps you had standing still tests? this isn't debatable as i have had more than one run in
 
leggy said:
Don't want to start a mass debate but...

The mk 4 R32 runs about 236 bhp with a manual box,

The mk 5 can be had with dsg and 250bhp which makes a big difference IMO...
Click to expand...

The extra horses will defo make a difference.... the DSG will also.... but it wont make that much quicker IMO - my unofficial testing wasn't 'close' on either occasion and i had no doubt the foot was to the floor - always made a point of doing it as most 3.2 drivers think they have rockets so was a worthwhile skull :)
 
1animal1 said:
The extra horses will defo make a difference.... the DSG will also.... but it wont make that much quicker IMO - my unofficial testing wasn't 'close' on either occasion and i had no doubt the foot was to the floor - always made a point of doing it as most 3.2 drivers think they have rockets so was a worthwhile skull :)
Click to expand...

To be honest mate it's probably the dsg which is more effective than the extra few horses, that box dsg/multi-tronic :) is the bolix imo,

Going back to my run in with the old chap, one occasion was from standstill and the other was off a roundabout in 2nd, the latter I was primed and waiting :) if I hadn't then I'd of been left by the time I grabbed the right gear...

Not sure what the R32 is but the tt 3.2 is book 0-62 in 5.7secs which is about right...
 
i think your talking new TT aren't you cos the old one isnt that fast IIRC...... the multitronic box is excellent which is why im currently 8P shopping for that exact box, but it only gives the car an additional 0.2 secs 0-60 - nothing life changing
 
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With v power at like 136p Id avoid a 3.2 engine at all costs lol specially something with 4wd and weights over 1.5 tonnes!
 
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i'll second that.....8P S3's are pretty bad too, not as much as the 3.2 but i was careful today and managed 220 miles on £50!!
 
Just for reference of remapped 8L S3 vs A3 3.2 DSG, I had a 3.2 DSG 8P(driver never been on track before) follow me at Castle Coombe circuit, and he could keep up with me having never been on a track before. ok, I was 2 up in my car, but I doubt the extra person in my car would have made that much of a difference, but I really had to drive the nuts out of my car to pull a small gap. The 3.2 was totally standard!
 
My mate has a tts 08 plate that car is a rocket standard.
I'm sure that is dsg s tronic lovely car
 
they are really nice..... but try changing gear mid 'half decent' corner..... dunno if theres a nack to it but the paddles obviously follow the wheel making it a task to grab at the right point.....
 
See what your saying, I've only drive it a couple of times so ain't really pushed it hard through corners but they are so lovely balanced.
Gives you loads of confidence when driven hard
 
1animal1 said:
i think your talking new TT aren't you cos the old one isnt that fast IIRC...... the multitronic box is excellent which is why im currently 8P shopping for that exact box, but it only gives the car an additional 0.2 secs 0-60 - nothing life changing
Click to expand...


Yeah talking about the new TT as the original post was referring to the Mk5 R32, both 250bhp and available in dsg...

0.2 secs yes from standstill, was more a case of the usability of the 3.2 dsg, power is there at an instant when you want it,

I don't mean to harp on about how great the R32 is as I am an S3 fan and always will be, but they are a good quick car that shouldn't be taken for granted because you run a remap...
 
Thanks for the info guys i think i'll go and test a few R32's at the weekend and see how they fair up. i will be sad to see the S3 go but she's just getting a bit too old now

i must admit for a 1999 car she still has a better interior than most modern up market cars and she still gets a lot of looks when driving around.

I have in mind the R32 i want and i'm not going to rush buy untill i find the right one. eg Blue or Black, DSG Satnav, 3dr & Recaro's , winter pack.

I have been looking for a few weeks and think it might take a while to get the spec i want..

I just hope i wont be disapointed as i have been a little spoilt by the S3 :unsure:
 
1animal1 said:
3.2 sounds nice but stage 1 S3 beats it on the straights without doubt....... never played on the twisties and personally think the VW interiors do look 2nd best to most Audis
Click to expand...

No it doesn't, not even close: I have both, or rather I had an R32 before my S3. The immediate throttle response of the R32 makes it quick in all gears, it's far easier to react to driving conditions.

It's woeful on fuel though, and like the S3 it requires specialist maintenance including parts that are unjustifiably expensive.
 
My mate has a Mk5 R32, i drove it. Stock vs stock and modded vs modded. S3 Performance is greater, reliability well he's car is alot newer so it wins that. Build quality the s3 is almost as good as the R32, handling is identical. You should go for a Mk2 Leon Cupra, thats an epic car
 
Once had a wee drag race (up to the legal limit) against a newer-style 3.2 TT. It was from a rolling start, about 5 - 10mph. I kicked his **** (well, 2 car lengths after 200 yards). He looked displeased.
TT sounded nice though.
 
First u shouldn't be changing gear mid corner :p the r32/3.2 are fantastic cars especially when equipped with the dsg. Standard mk5 r32 will be he same as the s3 maybe a little faster, but remaps and things will throw the balance in the other direction. That's based on driving both in standard form and the s3 stage 1 mapped.

Tom
 
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