Cool Wall: 2002-2004 Volkswagen Golf R32

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2002-2004 Volkswagen Golf R32


  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
1,091
United States
United States
Poll 1518: 2002-2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 nominated by @Neddo

Body Style: 3 door hatchback, 5 door hatchback
Engine: 3.2 VR6
Power: 241 hp at 6250 rpm
Torque: 236 lb-ft at 2800-3200 rpm
Weight: 1460 kg
Transmission: 6 speed manual, 6 speed dual clutch DSG automatic
Drivetrain: 4Motion 4WD
Additional info: in USA its called just R32
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I've always had a dislike for the Golf, especially the newer they get. The Mk8 is literally worse than the Mk7 for example. But, I cannot hate the absolute balls-to-the-wall insanity of shoving an oversized 6-pot into a car that has no business possessing such an engine. I wish more cars took this ethos.
 
In person? These are perfect. Even by the sky high standards of VR6 motors, out of the box they sound absurd:



Like they came straight from Wolfsburg with a Corsa exhaust on them. An angry screaming bundle of snakes; not heard so viciously in a normal car since the original Taurus SHO and something that can go hit for hit with an NSX.

And the body. After an increasingly lardy maturation period for the Golf since Guigaro's original it was a bolt of lightning to the Mk IV; which was a somewhat better-proportioned but nonetheless hopelessly dumpy car whose best looking example was probably the Cabriolet (itself just a Mk III with a Mk IV front end on it); all under a rather hopeless lardass chassis that no amount of VW throwing more and more power at could hope to help help.




So what if they threw even more power at it? Retuned the suspension even beyond the improved 4Motion setup. Chiseled out those aerodynamics. Take the 18s that already perfectly fit the wheel wells of the GTI, and push them as far out to the fenders as possible. Lower the car. Stance it from the factory. Double up the pipes for a glorious stereo VR6 soundtrack. Give it a mean look, a presence that no hot hatch of the time short of an M Coupe could hope to compare to. In person they are stunning; and a crazy transformation from the 98% similar normal-ass Mk IV. A BTCC car for the road. And finally, finally, the Mk IV will get props for driving fun. Yeah, it's absurdly heavy for a car that is dwarfed by a contemporary 911. To weigh 3300 pounds while being so small is pure insanity. Yeah the fuel economy is piss poor, even for the standards of the time where nobody cared. No, it wasn't that much faster than the 25th Anniversary Mk IV GTI or (especially) the VR6 4Motion in a straight line; most of which of those that are still on the road undoubtedly have been modified to ape the R32. Yes, it's the poster dream car for every new member on VWVortex with a TDi automatic. No, I don't think I would want to be tasked with keeping it on the road.









Who cares? 10 Joses out of 10.
 
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Honestly, I don't give the Volkswagen Golf enough credit, and I should give it more. Most people still stand behind their Honda Civics or whatever as fabulous "Hot Hatches." Although I don't consider the Golf as the most bonkers hot hatch ever (Renault Clio V6), the Golf is a purely awesome ride. I feel like I'm disrespecting it if I don't go Sub-Zero, so I'll make that my call for this car- Sub-Zero.
 
I really think that this and the MK5 R32 are the best performance Golfs ever made, this one in particular is really neat and it reminds me of the HPA tuned one from GT4.
SZ
 
Style-wise, the mk4 was a return to form for the Golf after the disappointing mk2 & 3 (and pretty much every Golf since). This, however, is the least successful version. The bigger bumpers giving it a blobby-ness the standard car manages to avoid for the most part.

One the plus side, it is decently quick, 4wd and has a delicious V6. On balance cool.
 
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