Rabid

Which is it to be the insult posts or the lame old 'schools out' gambit? Do try and make your mind up.

As for 'coming and going' I've been here far longer than your join date as 'Misty'. I'll still be here making dead heads like you look stupid long after you admit defeat and go crying into your beer..........

misty

Beer? Beer? Only poor people drink beer! 12 year old single malt for me cocker!!
So lets get this straight. You claim to have been on here for over three years, yet your post count is so low??? Not much to say then have you. What's up do the rest let you get away with saying what you want without retort?
dave

Rabid

12 year old single malt? Wow- impressive. Which 12 year old single malt exactly?
Beer like wine can be one of the more interesting and complex alcoholic drinks but we'll put your obvious ignorance to one side for now.

As for post count only a55holes are obsessed with that and only a very stupid man(you) is unable to work out from the evidence before him that not everyone uses the same user name ad infinitum.

Pumpkin

Personally I prefer the R32 - I like the looks.

Pumpkin (Joined 1999. Post count circa 700)

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Pumpkin, you didn't say whether you liked beer or not.

I didn't know the R32 had a 5 door option, does the A3 3.2?

Simon S3

Yes it does, as the Sportback model.

PS, I found the 1 series good to drive but very impractical as well. The R32 is a cracker though.

billythekid

I went the other way, got a 130i M sport. Dont have kids so the back seats are not needed so space issue is fine with me. Done 4,000 miles now and really happy with it. The only minor downside is on British roads its very harsh re suspension as you say, but for me its not a reason not to buy, its just a bit annoying. On French roads though its amazing. My mate runs an M3 and he could not believe how quick and tight the 130i was whilst over there, so much so he would seriously consider changing considering 55 reg cars can be had for 20-21k..

Still, R32, good choice and I would have either tbh, just happened the 130i M I got was available, in the spec I wanted and at a very good price.

Re the sound yes its not very loud but 130i M owners will be able to buy Hartge exhaust kit from the end of the year

Pumpkin

lol. I've never been a beer drinker. However I do drink cider (fulfills 1 of the 5 portions of fruit & veg), but finding decent cider in most shops is difficult - unless you stoop to tramp/teenager White Lightening!

Simon S3

Isn`t this mainly down to the run flat tyres though?

I`ve seen the used values of 130i`s and they look a fine buy, I just wish they had a little more space in the rear and better access.

billythekid

The overall ride will be improved by changing to normal tyres but I think the springs are still very stiff, IIRC the springs on the 130 SE are quite a bit softer. We had a 120d as a loan car whilst the mrs car was in for warranty and that was a lot softer - quite nice, but when you put your foot down it was like

billythekid

Forgot to say, for the first time in over 300,000 miles I had a flat the other day. Drove the car around 12 miles to the local dealer with 0psi in the front right. Could easily drive at 50mph only had to remember to slow down a bit more for left hand bends but other than that was very impressive.

£180 for a new tyre though!

Called a mate of mine who owns a tyre company - he could get it for £150 but not for 2 days!

dtriggs

The run flats dont help but the car is very stiffly sprung as well, as you say. Just wasnt quite comfortable for the roads I usually use.

Ref R32 5 door vs 3 door - I would prefer a 5 door but couldnt get the spec I wanted at the moment for a decent price - I also prefer the 3 door look much more. Eventually decided on the rare occasion my kids go in my car I figure it wont be too much of a bother and there is actually plenty of room. So went for the 3 door.

I could have saved and got the old shape A3 but I wouldnt be happy unless it was new shape - and they were more expensive than the R32s !!

DavidChief

I've got a 130i SE and I'm very happy with it. The setup is quite soft, but it is very good on back roads. The car is very compact, easy round town but a bit of an animal when you want it to be. It's also very, very comfortable on the motorway.

I think of it as a stealth, comfortable, more practical Clio V6.

^Qwerty^

I would have bought an R32 (five door) over and above the A3 I got, but for the fact that I couldn't get a towbar fitted to the Golf

Both me and the Mrs prefered the look of the R32, especially in that nice deep pearl blue colour, and we would have liked a five door car.

Agree about VW dealers - all the ones I've used or tried to use so far have been complete tossers, especially the dealership in Leeds who take the biscuit.

Decent 1 series wasn't available at the time of purchase, so couldn't compare.

lozgti

Nice car the Golf.Still can't come to terms with the 1 series looks though I am sure it drives well.

Good deal on the Fabia too.Only lost 3k in 2 yrs!

AudiLover

Audi S3 sportback is coming.

dtriggs

Lozgti - actually I bought it for £9250 19 months ago so I did pretty well.

wall

Seriously thinking about getting a new R32 myself.

Have been looking at replacing the CooperS with another hatch but bigger and more powerful ...

130M was the first choice but then put off by looks (subjective of course), price and rear seats room

the new Clio RenaultSport seemed a good package but no bigger than CooperS, little more power, and not "luxurious" and "prestigious" enough

new Civic R will drive well and be well made but IMO looks like a spaceship toy from the '80s (again subjective)

So I think R32 will be: great mix of performance, practicality and understated but muscular looks (IMO), decent value for what you get too, and amazing sound.

In the next few weeks I will place the order, black 5 door with recaros: anyone know if DSG is worth going for? Never driven it but read it's supposed to actually make it slightly faster than manual, and works well apparently.

Wall

dtriggs

I decided against the DSG as it didnt really suit the use I was going to make of the car. Great if you do alot of longer journeys or sit in traffic but personally I prefer a manual box on such a car. The DSG apparently can change gear quicker than you can so 0-60 is faster, but I still prefer a manual.

AudiLover

bw are now making a 135ti. That car could pave the way for a RS3. Supposedly we will be seeing a new top of the line golf in a few years, yet I doubt it will arrive in MK5 form.

wall

Hi, with what the 130M costs I think the price of a 135 with some add-ons would be unjustifiable (for me) for what really is a relatively small hatch, and I still don't like the looks (subjective of course).

RS3 (if / when it comes) I'd say will cost WAAAY more than the R32 (a new R32 with SatNav and DSG is already stretching my budget).

New top golf ... now that would be a big worry (also for depreciation reasons) but the new R32 has been out less than a year, so I doubt they'll have a new "super golf" out before 2-3 years (usual model life span 3-4 years ... Imprezas and Evos excluded ).

W

DavidChief

I think a 135 is very unlikely. The 130i has already pushed the price to the limit of what people would pay for a car of this type.

AudiLover

135i spyphoto