2008 Volkswagen R32 | Retro Review

I don't know what the world may need, but a Mk5 R32 is a good start for me!
Show 2711 | Original Airdate 11-09-2007
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[@MrMander85]

Former MotorWeek intern here. I’m driving the car in some of the shots. This was fun to see…and that R32 was a lot of fun to drive. 🙂

[@jeffreypaul9428]

That's awesome!

[@pc248m]

Ever since I was a kid back in the late 90s I’ve always wanted to work for this company

[@djowhite]

Trust me, it still is.....

[@dontelindsey5846]

Are you still in the industry?

[@MrMander85]

@@dontelindsey5846 No, unfortunately I’m not. Cars will forever be a hobby and passion of mine, though. Just picked up a new Miata Club late last year and I’m having fun with it.

[@sfb706]

Man I love motorweek so much, the style takes me back to simpler times.

[@TobyCostaRica]

One of the best sounding vehicles

[@executiverobbery]

It is amazing how within 10 years of 2000, most car brands had at least 3 turbocharged model in their lineup. Another 10 years and naturally aspirated engines are a dying breed now.

[@roddydykes7053]

And they’re all way too small displacement for the size of the vehicle they’re powering

[@bmstylee]

@@roddydykes7053 I just don't get it. My 5.3L Silverado has been bulletproof with over 83k on the clock while my dad's Ecoboost needed turbos as 50k.

[@fp5495]

They're not dying. In fact, all the car companies have aggressively scaled back their EV projections and development because of slipping sales. Plus, the government scaled back their EV mileage rule which is a win for ICE cars.

[@peteyification]

Posting this during the weekend of Wookies in the Woods? Great timing 👍👍

[@dbddecosta]

I had the same immediate thought..love mw...21117

[@kowalski5599]

Oh hey, it's my car. MK5 is a very nice platform. Great looking and timeless, which is why I've owned mine for over a decade.😊

[@Spheredalai]

same background music they used in saab viggen road test, that's how much they adored the r32

[@thumperjdm]

2008? You could put some LED headlights on it, and still sell it in 2024. Timeless good looks on that car!

[@fc872e1]

So true

[@Tireguy90]

Agreed.

[@JayMartel24]

Only if it looked like that in this video today

[@RetroKingOG]

True put some LEDs and sell it for less than 10 grand. Because the majority will look at this as an old Volkswagen that may have issues, and won’t pay sh*t!

[@dontelindsey5846]

​@@RetroKingOGtbh most can't tell the difference

[@nickval5962]

Badass VW, the R32 is a sharp machine.

[@mikejohnson699]

I had a blue one

[@cmair77]

I loved that car back in the day, still looking good.

[@lilredexptsc]

Well, this couldn’t have came at a better time. I just picked up my own R32 that needs a little love. I can’t wait to experience this car the way it was intended. It managed to make it home from over 4 hours away. It’s going in for some maintenance and some TLC this coming on the 20th. I’m very excited to own number 2199 of 5000.

[@MarkMeadows90]

I had the nice opportunity to drive a 2004 R32 back in 2018. I loved every bit of the car, except the straight piped exhaust. It was LOUD! Driving it on the road was a bit annoying, but fun regardless.

[@RickGTI2019]

VW’s are a timeless art form. Thanks, RickGTI….. 🌴

[@fp5495]

2:09 when engines actually made tuned sounds instead of the digitally manipulated sounds coming from the speakers accompanied by forced farts from the exhaust pipe. Just a pure 24-valve narrow-angle V6 melody. I had a VR6 GTI, and the noises from the engine on the inside were just as satisfying. After all, VW pioneered the Sounddaktor that basically enhanced the rumble coming from the engine. It was pure, not emulated like you find in too many cars today.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Still looks great by today’s standards!👌😎👍

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

Very beautiful and great car

[@Zachman676]

Such a timeless design

[@flurpoid]

I love the R32 but man it's insane how they managed to make a small 2-door hatch weigh 3500lbs unladen.

[@Spiritcr1jsher]

Awd , iron block and higher end interior.

[@bmstylee]

High end? It doesn't look any nicer than the Escape Limited I had back then.

[@stevemcgowen]

@@bmstylee It was comparable to Audis back then. Escape was literally rental car quality.

[@Spiritcr1jsher]

@bmstylee I didn't say " high end" , i said higher end. Also millions of people and 100s of reviews since it came out agree the quality was much higher on this car than any other in its class. On par with audi

[@skiptastic1000]

Iron block and that heavy DSG

[@christopherlam2558]

Engine sounds great in these! Although the Camry/Aurion from the same era was faster

[@PortersGarage]

I miss 2 door Vw hatchbacks. Had 7 GTIs over the years, always wanted an R32 but never made it happen.

[@LoveLikeaHurricane]

Now looking back at it, i feel this was the better car than the GTI....however, i would prefer it to be FWD as the haldex wasn't all that great.

[@wavelength1970]

I still have one of these!!!!

[@JayMartel24]

Always loved the look of them I would have had a white one with white rims

[@sv_cheats1970]

Oh god I feel old I remember seeing the mk5 as a toddler, and the legendary mk5 GTI adverts in the early days of YT

[@fleuger99]

I had a grey one of these and it was fun to drive, sounded great doing it and in winter with snow tires was a snow monster. I had it for five years before selling it on. Pity VW doesn't make cars like this anymore. Now the R is a 4 cylinder which sucks!

[@Canadian_Gamer]

Sexy as all hell. Back when the R model was something special.

[@lllateralus]

My 2017 Golf R is very special!

[@MishtahPoog]

The R models are still just as special. The only element they "lost" is the V6 engine. I say "lost" because all of the I4 engines that replaced the VR6 in Golf Rs have been more powerful. I'll concede that the sound isn't as good, though.

[@timothyforce1949]

I had a 2008 GTI in this same color. Posted better numbers than this R32 (by GPS device). Ended up having a Stage 1 APR tune installed. GTI ran like a champ. I miss that car.

[@kgthegreatone943]

Sweet car

[@thekhakiobserver3128]

The previous R32 looked better, but that motor sounds superb. That's good power & with a more modern transaxle you could probably get sub 6 performance. Nice interior for the time!

[@grabacoffee1204]

My favorite car in any NFS games.

[@jakechappell9241]

That noise 😮‍💨

[@stevemcgowen]

I see R36 rolling around here in Prague all the time.

[@ggj1987]

The Passat? The police in your country had a whole fleet of them

[@user-cj4sm8hv9y]

Hatchback Magic

[@TheRyansLion]

Since 2008 is now “retro” please upload the 8th generation civic si video!

[@AxxonJaxxon666]

“At least until the next one…” not many more followed unfortunately

[@MishtahPoog]

They still make them. . .? They dropped the "32" at the end, but they still sell the Golf R as of 2024 and beyond.

[@nandernugget]

2008 is retro now 😭

[@dbddecosta]

God i love MW retro...

[@gabrielv.4358]

is this like "acelerados" in BRazil

[@brilliantradience]

Top Gear Power Lap Mk5 1: 30.4 Mk4 1: 33.3

[@TonicofSonic]

Amazing. They built an NA v6 AWD that was slower than a NA i4 FF civic SI.

[@madmandan1982]

Not only that. They managed to give you a manual shift option for the double clutch transmission that has you pushing the stick forward to shift up. Only Volkswagen...

[@landyachtfan79]

Any more '80's & '90's stuff? DNCP's, features, etc.?!! It's just that I don't consider road tests that were done when I was working at the job I still have to be Retro.

[@MWBenDavis]

You got 2 more weeks of new stuff then we reset back to 1981. The model years progress each week

[@MWBenDavis]

…or at least the show season progresses every week. Sometimes the model years don’t play nice

[@landyachtfan79]

Good, @@MWBenDavis. Off topic, but when I first saw your SN, I thought it said Miles Davis.

[@JohnEvans-ct6mz]

It’s too bad every one of these I see now is completely destroyed. They usually have over 200k miles and the bodies are just rotted through. Hopefully there are a few collectors out there keeping the miles down and preserving their one of only 5000 model.

[@bmstylee]

Depends on where it was living. Pretty much anything where road salt or water exists is scrap by now. I'm just happy my 2017 Silverado isn't rusting yet. 7 Cleveland winters are hard on body panels no matter how hard you try.

[@JohnEvans-ct6mz]

@@bmstylee I live in Buffalo, so I fully understand your pain. I work for VW and any mk5 Golf/Jetta just rots away. We’ve processed so many corrosion claims (they have a 10 year unlimited mileage rust through warranty) it’s ridiculous. Pretty awesome your truck is doing well. I used to work for GM too, the brake lines on the GMT 800 Silverados and fuel senders on every truck, hated them all. 😂

[@bmstylee]

@@JohnEvans-ct6mz salt kills everything. Rear wheel openings and cab corners are things I keep a watch on. I'm a bit OCD about my truck. Hasn't missed a service and I've been able to do the big mods myself. Rough Country leveling kit with 33" BFG KO/2, Banks Monster exhaust, Corsa cold air kit, and soon as cash allows a programmer. I can't afford a classic to work on so my daily is my project

[@gsxellence]

I miss the first one mk4, it was faster and more agressive.

[@djowhite]

As a Mk5 owner, genuinely curious how the Mk4 is faster? Has a more aggressive look for sure, but on paper the Mk5 is quicker, and it crushes the Mk4 on the top gear lap if that's any guide.

[@brilliantradience]

Mk5 Top Gear power lap 1:30.4 Mk4 1:33.3

[@ADUSN]

I love seeing these cars. The 4 door GTI's are so boring.

[@bmstylee]

It's small, practical transportation for the EU market where they don't have 8 lane highways the size of Wyoming like we do here. Something the size of a new Ranger, Tacoma, or Colorado would be to big over there. My Silverado would be terrifying to drive in most of Europe.

[@davidaubin3902]

I’d take this or a WRX STI

[@bmstylee]

No Lancer Evo X?

[@roddydykes7053]

I like how John said this wouldn’t scare an STi or Evo

[@johnathanstevens1702]

All this car needed was a turbo or supercharger to make the subies and evos 2nd guess

[@gabrielv.4358]

The thumbnail looks like Forza or something lol

[@AndersonFilhotin]

Uau é muito da hora 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎤🎤

[@brilliantradience]

Have 100k miles on mine and no major problems The VR6 has gives this car a lot of charm

[@Darylrb1983]

That's really good to read.

[@skiptastic1000]

How 'bout them timing chains and tensioners ?

[@retrocompaq5212]

@@skiptastic1000 another 40k miles and its gone, like the dual mass flywheel, the dsg transmission, the metal on the doors, front fenders and the rear hatch too

[@superleggera1900]

@@skiptastic1000 I have a Mk4 R, and had to do those at 194k miles.

[@brilliantradience]

@@skiptastic1000 Gonna check for stretch but regardless the manual says it must be done by 120k

[@nybotor1]

Since when was 2008 "retro"?

[@bmstylee]

It's almost 15 years ago. Makes it retro to me.

[@acerimmer8338]

@@bmstylee *16 years

[@bmstylee]

@@acerimmer8338 ooops. Math is hard sometimes 😁

[@Defy_Convention]

Raced one of these back in the day with my HHR SS, slightly pulled away from him, Americans beat the Germans even in top spec.

[@roddydykes7053]

Does anyone really want an HHR though?

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

Golf

[@brilliantradience]

Auditory narcotic

[@lochzoch8987]

The r32 should make a comeback. Wouldn’t that be neat?

[@ensignjimmy3237]

Don’t give them any ideas. I’m sure there’s an EV SUV somewhere in the pipeline they need a name for.

[@jeffc7486]

They kinda did but not the one we wanted. The golf R.

[@Lrules364]

VW has had their heads up their asses for like a decade. The refuse to listen to their customers, keep putting out poor quality products, and are trying their best to force EVs onto the general public. The fact is that the people currently running the show hate cars, and would rather see you take a bus to work. And EV bus.

[@churchyandfriends]

Yes, but only if it had a twin turbo V6 or a normally aspirated small block V8. 4 cylinders are cliche and boring.

[@bmstylee]

And how do you propose fitting a small block on there. Even something as compact as an LS/LT or a pushrod 5.0L Ford isn't fitting in there without massive fabrication. Unless you are thinking about the Renault Sport Clio V6 or the mid engine Lamborghini v10 concept they did.

[@mitch9521]

Imagine buying this "flagship" golf just to get clapped by an NPI SN95 Mustang LMAO

[@znismo1]

Such a disappointment, even for its time. Worse R32 ever made

[@KingsCounsel]

*To all the HATERS I have the car!* 😂

[@headliner733]

Didn't like em then don't like em now. Little egg cars 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Thankyou_3]

Proven VR6? 😂😂😂😂 Absolute garbage. Unreliable and very expensive.

[@MemeWiki71]

I have one 164k miles no mayor problems and i driveee it just change the oils in time and all of that its not a toyota at the end of the day

[@kaibaumgartner7721]

It’ll get walked by an Accord V6 6 speed from 2003 😂

[@beretka1389]

For me best golf ever.... real gasoline engine like american muscle

[@retrocompaq5212]

like 80's american muscle because 250hp is not much

[@bmstylee]

80hp/L isn't bad. By that amount a 5.0L V8 would be making 400 which is pretty solid