This VW Golf VR5 Sounds Like the World's Slowest Lambo

Back in the early 00's VW went a bit mad and made some extremely odd engines. One of them was the 2.3 VR5 engine found in this Golf and it makes for one of the most characterful VW's I've ever driven.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:44 Exterior
0:58 Drivetrain
1:39 Interior
2:37 Driving Experience
5:51 Outro
Thanks for Watching!

[@TheFatSandwhich]

5 Cylinder's are some of the best sounding engines on the planet.

[@KiwiCarLife]

For sure

[@rockefeller63]

Right after V8 😁

[@TheFatSandwhich]

@@rockefeller63 There's not really much unique sound to a V8. a V8 is a V8, some sound great and some sound meh

[@dennis-br6vr]

​@@TheFatSandwhichnot true at all. New corvette z06 sounds insane. Same goes for gt 350. The s65 is also insane.

[@TheFatSandwhich]

@@dennis-br6vr the Z06 is a flatplane V8 which does sound very good, but is the Ferrari sound that they’ve had for decades. The others are just the classic V8 sound.

[@A8D92]

Its good if its slow. Means you can actually enjoy the full rev range and don't need a runway like in the lambo v10 etc.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah for sure

[@louvendran7273]

This car is mint. Compliments to the owner. It's got Recaros not the R32 seats which are Koenig and a Jetta cluster. Lol, that's why I asked you to review mine. I have the 2.8 4MOTION, tuned, 6speed manual with a short shifter, high flow cats, custom exhaust & Koni suspension on 18 inch Rotiforms. Still have a few mods to complete though. The VR6 is addictive. Glad you liked it.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh awesome yeah keen to see how an r32 goes for sure! One of my favourite cars

[@hamish5889]

Cheers man, miss this car even after moving into a r32

[@spadgm]

Haha, went into this vid with low expectations of this car, but that looked a hoot, and that sound is miles better than a lot of the modern cars that sound like vacuum cleaners!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah absolutely man

[@hamish5889]

Thanks for saying such nice things about the car I built! I’ve now got myself a blue r32 mk4. You’re welcome to review it. Been waiting so long for this video!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh epic yeah definitely keen man! Hit me up on insta @kiwicarlife.yt

[@calamityyy]

I had one of these a couple years ago, manual VR5 with 170hp, in Black Magic Pearl with full black leather interior just like this one. I had put a sportier rear muffler on it and it sounded amazing. It's nice to experience it again in this video. I wish VW still made the Golf with 5 cylinder engines. I'd buy a MK7 Golf with a 5 cylinder engine in a heartbeat.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man it’s awesome

[@nickzom]

​@@KiwiCarLife we never got a 5 cylinder golf or Jetta in America until the mk5 came out with the 2.5. we got a bunch of different vr6s though

[@12345678939218]

the smile this video put on me when i ear that sound proves that cars are much more than performance numbers, amazing.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Mm yes good noise

[@jasontunnicliffe8913]

Recognized that road straight away. Awesome to see you up in waiwera!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yep!

[@shamusilsley1989]

Cheers for the review! VR5 forever!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yuuuurs thanks for letting me review it man!

[@MrTruthwillout]

I have the same engine tuned in a 2002 New Beetle. The shock on peoples faces when it goes by is worth filming.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Hahahah that’s awesome

[@TheWeedugs]

That thing sounds great! I just fitted a motorcycle can to mine , just need to pick up a clamp and exhaust hanger tomorrow and take it for a rip! Worth mentioning that these engines have two banks of intake manifolds, so it changes from one length of manifold to another at about 4200rpm. So its got good torque low down and then a bit more get up after 4200rpm. These are great cars for hauling along the motorway, but if it had a 6th gear that would be great!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Very nice yeah it sounds awesome

[@barron204]

What a great sounding engine. Nice car.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Indeed

[@VW25]

Good man for testing these UK models I'm looking at and they look sweet

[@KiwiCarLife]

Mm yes would recommend

[@cozifpv2069]

It's funny you do a video on this, because I was looking at these for hours the other night. 😅

[@KiwiCarLife]

Haha purchase!

[@cozifpv2069]

@@KiwiCarLife I'll get saving 😅

[@purrability]

These things don’t sound like a RS5. The base tune is very similar but the vr5s are a lot rougher, deeper and much louder. I drove a Golf V5 once with straight pipe exhaust and I still hear that noise in my head. It is bloody addictive, yeah you can call me traumatized. 😂 P.S. They are a bit slow when stock but you can give it some old school tuning and it will happily rev way passed 7.5k with 210-220 hp output. This is modern hothatch territory.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice

[@Brokenbaker44]

The Mk4 GTI could be ordered also with the VR5 engine - at least on europe. Basically the only ever GTI with a 5 cylinder. They are super rare. I have one and it’s awesome 🤩 … and actually not so slow … decent daily driver with a lot of fun. Basically a fuel to sound machine 😜

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh true that would be ideal

[@shahzadmahmood2516]

This car has the raspy sound like the scooby, without the Turbo or the Supercharger. Best sounding one I heard, I have one too, so responsive it amazes me too 🥰

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice

[@bobbyfraser9515]

Ive got a Bora v5 and i love it. It's not that slow haha and the sound at 4000 revs is spectacular 👌 😊

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooooh yes

[@Sk0die]

This golf in the video looks quicker than my 1.8t golf with its 150hp stock map. Ofc With a custom map its a different story, but extra power will not make mine sound as good as a V5!

[@renielquevedo2183]

Sounds amazing!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooh yeah

[@exajoules]

wow and in such a good condition man i love old cars

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooh yeah

[@neiloconnor9349]

Thanks. Fun video. I've been mostly a VW driver since the 1980s, bot new and used cars. I missed out on the VR5. VR6 era. Traded in a nice 2014 VW GTI (purchased new) for a more practical used Tiguan in 2020, It got horrible mileage, and was pokey slow. I replaced it in 2021 with a 2017 VW Alltrack SEL. I love it. Now I only regret that I was never able to own a TDI VW. I may look for a used one.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice man!

[@wesa101mapena9]

That sound dream car stuff💯

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yuuurs

[@Caleb__main]

I used to want one of these because of the sound but never brought one because its a VW

[@victorwilks88]

lol

[@HunterLord458]

Understandable. Das auto.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Haha apparently these ones are actually reasonably reliable

[@mladennikolic8612]

@@KiwiCarLife yes they are

[@jaydehart2170]

Sounds like you missed out cause they’re pretty solid reliable cars

[@emilmrkeberg9523]

Insaine sound.. I love it!

[@KiwiCarLife]

It’s awesome aye

[@s.schwarz4864]

.... yesssss, sounds amazing!!!!!!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooh yeah

[@garynz345]

watching this i suddenly miss my old R32 so much!!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Mmm good vehicles

[@callanstates4966]

This is the car i have with decat an straight pipe😆Sounds MINT👌🏼

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man the vr5’s sound awesome

[@jonyszkiewicz]

Lovely car, lovely engine. If anyone needs a coolant crack pipe for one of these (pipe between the water pipe and t-stat) they are NLA and i've just fabricated a few out of aluminium.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice

[@denzi_moto07]

Definitely sounds almighty 😄. In South Africa we only got this combo in the jetta and not golf🤔. I only see the jetta 4's with the v5

[@KiwiCarLife]

It sounds awesome aye

[@denzi_moto07]

@@KiwiCarLife definitely something special. A RS3 is tooo expensive, is definitely faster, powerful and sounds amazing 🔥🔥🔥. But will definitely have a v5 swapped something 😄

[@Viktor43103]

I have The VR5 also and it with Haldex , its have 3 door and 6 speed Manuel gearbox here in Sweden and also green metalic. Engine code AQN so 170whp. White-Full leather seats its fun to drive also in winter to drift

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ooh yes that’s excellent drifting in the snow

[@AB-80X]

I had a blast with my Mk 4 VR5. And the build quality of the car was immaculate.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yesss good strong well built car

[@JimnyVR5]

VR5s are great! Power of a 4 cylinder with the fuel consumption of a 6 cylinder

[@KiwiCarLife]

HAHAHAHHA

[@5cylinder91]

power of a 3, consumption of an 8 more like.

[@sleepercell9926]

I had me of these years ago. Loved the thing. Not sure why they even bothered make the mk4 GTI when they had this car. Quick enough and felt really special.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah absolutely man

[@EugenernatorVideos]

holy shit that sounds so good

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ikr

[@keep_it_low_bro]

VWs my first love 💙

[@KiwiCarLife]

Good strong cars

[@hamish5889]

i miss this car....even while owning an r32

[@KiwiCarLife]

Good vehicle

[@stefantrojer6135]

Top sound

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh absolutely

[@JonathanDMichael]

Oh my! You weren’t clickbaiting when you said it sounds like a lambo 😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah mate

[@patrickcannell2258]

Almost sounds like the old 5 cylinder in line Audi. It was a magnificent engine.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yesss it sounds excellent

[@durmiss]

pair it with a big single and you have an amazing daily :)

[@KiwiCarLife]

Even as it is it’s good

[@jasonw98]

This is the closest you get for an inline 5 in a VW

[@KiwiCarLife]

Basically yeah

[@evilpanther990]

What about the 07k

[@Birmingham_racing]

Always loved how they sound shame they were slow

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeahh true

[@ninomarevicmusic]

My father had Audi 80 with 2.3 V5 engine in the 90s, this sound almost the same sa that engine!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah it would do

[@JamesGadbury]

The Audi would have been a straight 5 👍

[@PetrosV5]

The Seat Toledo V5 was better equiped, more beautifull and cheaper. So, better get this to have this amazing engine.

[@KiwiCarLife]

We don’t get that here but it does look quite cool I must say

[@gkiin8966]

My baby❤

[@KiwiCarLife]

Very nice vehicle

[@gkiin8966]

Indeed i got a red 1 like this but mine is a 1.8 non turbo but once i get money i wanna rebuild the engine and the interior

[@corentinolivier2570]

What are those wheels please ?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Not sure I think rotiforms

[@zahidqadri5075]

eg Sir review?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Maybe one day

[@philbegas]

Which engine was this? 150bhp or 170bhp?

[@KiwiCarLife]

170

[@GunerThe]

What is the exhaust ?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Not sure

[@nativesumerian2146]

if it’s slow… just add a big turbo 😊✌️

[@KiwiCarLife]

Then you'll lose some of that N/A souund tho

[@yodo5701]

I really want a MK7 GTI

[@KiwiCarLife]

They're very godo

[@davidzebar6876]

Is it slower than the accord?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah much slower haha

[@Journey_Awaits]

I wonder why they made this and then it just disappeared. It must have been some experiment to replace 4 bangers that didn’t work out.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah probably fuel economy and complexity. Turbo 4 much cheaper and much efficient

[@FrenchJohn]

These are not R32 seats at 1:55 - These areV6 leather recaros. The R32 have Konig seats

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yes so I've discovered

[@Daryll_Flaro]

Sounds great, vr6 sounds better though lol

[@KiwiCarLife]

Hmmmmm I dunno they both sound pretty good

[@bantamsescort]

Sounds like the original 1980s Audi Quattro 5 cylinder.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah does a bit

[@ausualsuspect9639]

They are smooth..the TDI’s are the same

[@KiwiCarLife]

Lovely engines

[@isaaclouis4074]

Just sold my 5th gen Prelude for a 6spd vr6 golf

[@KiwiCarLife]

That's cool man

[@user-if4eg4kr8w]

🔊👂🏻👄Feeling like michele mouton 🥺💘 in a FWD hatchback

[@KiwiCarLife]

HAHA

[@hondamanvtec2894]

When you want to Sound fast 🤣

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah haha

[@ppppw2]

If owner sees this, clean your wheel bro, alot of oil and gunk on it. Water + microfibre

[@hamish5889]

It's sun damage bro ya knob

[@ppppw2]

@@hamish5889 sun damage on the bottom left side of the wheel hey??? sure bud. Also nice fkn attitude, typical golf owner thing to say. W4nker

[@KiwiCarLife]

Heated argument is present

[@hamish5889]

@@KiwiCarLife i was pissed. as if i could have possibly missed dirt on the steering wheel. I cleaned the life out of that car plus more, ima schleeep now

[@TheNinjaMonkey43]

It fr almost sounds like a Lamborghini V10

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah does a bit

[@daveyy2096]

Those aren't R32 seats, just standard gti recaros

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yep

[@shamusilsley1989]

They’re actually Bora 2.8 4Motion Recaros

[@jezzalowe5121]

poggers

[@KiwiCarLife]

Pog

[@ChumpyChicken2]

Since when does Kiwis say G’day? Blasphemer!

[@KiwiCarLife]

We say gidday all the time

[@EthanLeitch]

Nah nah nah mate Subaru is vape nation

[@KiwiCarLife]

Hahah

[@jamh9723]

5 cilinder pish😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yes

[@Pixels1920]

You take big gaps when speaking. Love the VR5 though.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah I try edit most of the gaps out

[@DanS436]

Not r32 seats

[@KiwiCarLife]

They are

[@17t135i]

Sorry, not R32 seats bud, Konig made the R32 seats, not recaro

[@DanS436]

@@17t135i correct

[@shamusilsley1989]

The Recaros are from a 2.8 4Motion Bora

[@victorwilks88]

lol

[@KiwiCarLife]

Lol

[@michaelarkell5437]

Got a Volkswagen Golf GTI owner calling my subaru legacy GT unrealiable, like bud, my car only has rare engine problems, your car has rust, engine, transmission, body, plastic, exhaust, wheel, electical, and any other problem that could ever exist, so shut up lol.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Aye?