I thought the R32 in question was the R32 Skyline too! But GT has one of those already (the R32 Skyline). Either you're road racing them amateur style, or you're practicing up for drifting in GT4. Maybe if you like "Initial D," you're wishing you were one of the "Night Kids," racing a black R32 Skyline.
But in this case, I don't know if it's safe to call the VW Golf lineup the most underrated compacts. I got into one at the Houston Auto Show this year. Based on performance (and seeing one in action on "Car and Driver Television," I think the R32 is kind of a small car with a beastly engine. Or for the "screw Japanese cars, long live American cars," I guess an American example would be the Hemi Dart. But here, looks like the R32 Golf is a mean little machine.
As far as the Renaul Avantine goes, I don't think it's all that ugly. I normally don't say this, but even if it looks ugly, I'm sure it can still perform on the track, because GT4 races aren't high-speed beauty contests. Since we're on Renault, you may as well hope you get the Espace F1, or a Renault Avantine LM complete with a Renault or Ferrari V10 making 700-1,000 hp!
The R32 is as far as I see it a completely different kettle of fish to the earlier GTi's. It is several hundred kilograms heavier, so although it has the extra power to overcome this, it is never going to be endowed with lightning responses... I see the R32 as more of a true GT car with comfort and refinement as higher priorities than handling finesse and fun. Still an appealing car don't get me wrong, just not blessed with the same intimacy that the older cars offered.
