Thinking about getting a new car....low mileage VR6 or R32 ???????

[Dragon Dave 1]

I have been running a VR6 for almost two years now, so I am familiar with how much it is to run and get new parts.

I want to know how the R32 compares to the VR6 in cost to run/parts?

I know my insurance will be double but that is still only £7 - 800, so that's not going to put me off.

Any info would be great thanks.

[ThermalP4 1]

Having owned a 2003 R32 for a year I didn't find it much more expensive than the VR6.

Obviously tyres are slightly more being 18" but it all depends which tyres you buy. In the year I had mine I spent hardly anything on it as most things were done.

Brake discs can be quite expensive due to the awkward size. A few years ago not many companies made them and it was only main dealer so prices were high. But nowadays you can get them pretty much anywhere really.

Fuel consumption I found was the same; no better no worse.

Totally different cars in every way. I had to sell mine as we were buying a house so moved to a VR instead.

R32 is good all rounder out of the box whereas the VR needs money spent on suspension/engine in my opinion.

Horses for courses.

[rodney 17]

Sums it up quite nicely... Newer more grown up vs older old school charm. I preferred my VR6 with the charger when driving but... Love the R32 for the cruise/aircon/stere/4wd/brakes (LOL) etc..

Remember the R32 will cost more on tax and things other than that drive one and see what you think....

[craggsy 91]

R32 should only cost a kittle bit more than a VR6. mine was £260 at end of July.

Gotta agree with everything said so far. But never having drive a standard R32 i don't know what they are like from the factory, hopefully Billing will sort that

They are a whole different beast when FI is included.

Also I have a blue haldex controller so my haldex works better than standard.

Anyone who is at billing is welcome to come for a ride to see the duferences

[Dragon Dave 1]

I don't want a modified car, I would much prefer to keep it factory standard as far as looks go.

With the VR6, it needs to be modified, I don't like the way they look as standard, so I would need to lower it. I like the way my VR6 handles and looks at the moment, so if I buy another one it will need Koni coilovers, poly bushes and Eibach ARB's.

I like the way the R32 looks as standard and I would much prefer a car that is unmodified.

I went to test drive an R32 today. It feels like a new car. I liked it a lot. It was much more responsive in the lower rev range, which is something I really want. It feels nicer to drive. It was only a 5 min drive with the car saleman sat next to me and it was busy Friday afternoon traffic, so I didn't get to really test it.

It feels like it's a more refined car but maybe not quite as fun, maybe that opinion will change if I have the right exhaust on it. This one had a standard exhaust on it so didn't sound as good as my VR6.

What do they handle like when they are standard?

Will I need to uprate the ARB's?

Craggsy, you say it's a whole different beast when FI is included.....in what way is it different?

ThermalP4....you say that they are totaly different cars in every way...can you tell me more about what you think to the R32 in comparison to the VR.

Which car will I have more fun in?

Would I be right in thinking that a modified VR will be more fun and a standard R32 will be more comfortable, sensible and grown up but not as much fun?

[craggsy 91]

They are stupidly quick when you add a supercharger or turbo. Makes having the 4wd worthwhile as you can launch it out of corners so much earlier.

If was gonna keep it standard for fast road use then I would get ARBs and a blue haldex controller.

They are really complete as they are out of the box....it may need an update to the ECU from VW but they can tell you if it has been done.

The one you test drove what spec was it?

[craggsy 91]

Oh and ive had a modified VR for 5 yrs then went to a highly modified R32.

I wish id of bought the R32 years ago and not wasted so much money trying to make the VR as capable as a R32 out the box.....my VR was quicker in a straight line id say, but the R32 would of been away from the off due to traction issues in the VR.

R32 all day long over a VR6

[Dragon Dave 1]

The one I drove was 53 plate, completely standard with 51,000 miles on the clock.

[craggsy 91]

Same year as mine....with 19k less on it as mines just flicked over to 70k.

You really need a longer test drive to be honest....and press the ESP button to turn it off to see what it can do round corners

[J5KE F 0]

Oh and ive had a modified VR for 5 yrs then went to a highly modified R32.

I wish id of bought the R32 years ago and not wasted so much money trying to make the VR as capable as a R32 out the box.....my VR was quicker in a straight line id say' date=' but the R32 would of been away from the off due to traction issues in the VR.

R32 all day long over a VR6

[/quote']

I have to agree with Craig on that..

Ive had several charged vr's turbo and super, ive had a na r32, a mk2 with a sc r32 2wd and now a mk2 with a halde setup and a r32 turbo..

You will not regret spending a little more on the r32 as you have the 4wd, and all the creature comforts associated with!

The vr will require a small fortune spending on it to get to anywhere near the r32 in standard format let alone power upgrades.

R32 is ideal platform or v6 4motion if not..

Havig said that u want oldschool vr the mk3 has its own charms..

[ThermalP4 1]

The best thing about the R32 over the VR is the power low down. That's the one thing that bugs me about my car is that it has nothing low down; and since fitting a Neuspeed P-FLO kit it's even lasier low down due to a slight loss of torque.

The MK4 R32 is instant grunt in just about any part of the rev range. I had my remapped which on a n/a car is sometimes pointless but the difference in power delivery was amazing and the extra power I gained was quite surprising.

The one thing I have learned over the years is that I was always striving for more and more power yet when I got it I could never use it anywhere apart from track. My 2005 STI Impreza was over 400bhp and insane, but with our roads/cops/cameras we are strangled in that we can't gas it for the fear of a ticket.

I've now gone for one of my favourite looking cars once sorted and one with the best soundtrack.

I personally think the 12v 2.8 VR6 sounds better than the 24v R32 but that's just me. They both sound immense anyway.

Once you sit in a MK4 R32 and feel the seats/quality/completeness you forget the crap that people shout out about it being a slow car and that it's overpriced blah blah blah.

There are higher powered cars out there for less money but among all the imprezas (which I have respect for) Focus RSs/EVOs etc, you hardly ever see a MK4 R32 around. All the rest are ten a penny but the MK4 R32 is still quite rare on the road around my area and most areas I think.

Once I get more cash behind me i might take the plunge again, but for now I like my VR Highline.

[spadam 7]

Anyone who is at billing is welcome to come for a ride to see the duferences

Id like to take you up on that offer mate.

I dont have an R32 but do have a 4motion and i can say it is so much nicer to drive and much more responsive then the VR i had. Handling is far superior aswell and i had spent alot on the handling side of things on my VR. The 4motion is standard bar Vmaxx coilovers and miltek exahust and handles so much better then my VR with fully polybushed, coilovers, rear anti roll bar and solid engine/ gearbox mounts.

[bungy 2]

Have you considered a low mileage 4motion? 24v head and dual runner intake, galvanized body and all the mk4 creature comforts including haldex...