VW R32 /BMW 130i MSport
#1
VW R32 /BMW 130i MSport
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.
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.
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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.
That is if I had to choose a current VAG group V6 hatch.
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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
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
#6
Originally Posted by 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.
That is if I had to choose a current VAG group V6 hatch.
Good article here
http://www.justgofaster.com/Articles....aspx#Comments
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Originally Posted by 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
Good article here
http://www.justgofaster.com/Articles....aspx#Comments
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#9
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
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
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Originally Posted by 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
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
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.
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'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.
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.
dave
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Originally Posted by dtriggs
... for my 04 plate Fabia vRS with 21k miles ...
How does the low down torque compare to the Fabia?
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Apology accepted. I didn't say what car I drove.
dave
Last edited by misty; 14 August 2006 at 06:35 PM.
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Originally Posted by 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
dave
Quite what the Impreza has to do with a thread in 'other marques' about the R32 I'm at a loss to understand though.
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Originally Posted by misty
Because of your quote, " I prefer Q cars, to tacky performance cars!" I was wondering what car you drove.
dave
dave
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.
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Originally Posted by misty
What's an "onject"?
dave
dave
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Originally Posted by misty
they do a 4/5 door R32 yes!
dave
dave
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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.
dave
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What's a "dickhole"? You low-life-lying-four-flushing-snipe nosed-crimson faced-sack-of-****...
dave
dave
Last edited by misty; 14 August 2006 at 08:22 PM.
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Originally Posted by misty
What's a "dickhole"? You low-life-lying-four-flushing-snipe nosed-crimson faced-sack-of-****...
dave
dave
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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
dave