You decide...'04 VW R32, EVO8, or WRX

[Albert]

Another onboard the high performance AWD compact bandwagon...it's now official the R32 is coming also in 2003. Although [currently] NA it will eat into WRX and EVO sales and should should be a formidable daily driver with Audi/VW build quality. The R32 design is on the current Golf4 chassis, however an all new Golf5 chassis is due in MY04.
'04 WRX ~$25K
'04 EVO ~$28K
'04 R32 ~$28K
Something to think about ...who else is coming.

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[TonyWRX]

when did the announce that the r32 is officially comin to the states?!?!??!?!

that car is soooooo beautiful for a hatch

[wrxsvt]

Just announced in the Autoweek I got today. Looks like a sweet car from what I've seen, but nearing $30k it's going to lose the performance battles to the STi and EVO. And the Z, for that matter. Still, for the VW folk out there I'm sure it'll be a great car, and if they can price it closer to $25k it could be a legitimate performance value. At any rate, it does look pretty sharp and with a VW interior and Recaro seats (I think?) you can't go too wrong.

[Jon [in CT]]

Yes. I can barely wait for that mythical VW build quality. Whoops, I didn't wait. I've been driving my WRX for over one and a half years.

[Andrew]

i would love that vw but the compression is too high for my taste. i dont wnat to sink another 2k to have the bottom end built up so that i can use some forced induction.

[danc]

http://www.topgear.beeb.com/content/...dtests/25.html

Yes, it undercuts the Audi S3, but the Golf doesn’t quite carry the same cachet, and it certainly doesn’t have the driving edge that Imprezas and Evos offer.

Not too wild about Haldex, either.

I do wish Subaru would come up with a hatchback, though.

[lost in thought]

build quality in a vw?


you'd be better off getting the evo or the wrx in my opinion.

[b_tapper]

Neon SRT-4!!!!!!!!!

[Fuzz541]

Originally posted by lost in thought
build quality in a vw?


you'd be better off getting the evo or the wrx in my opinion.

Word. However, AFAIK, all US-bound Golfs are now built in Germany. The Beetle and Jetta variations are still built in Puebla, Mexico. Maybe that's a little consolation.

(Hint - Germans are better at making beer, too.)

[b_tapper]

The build quality was great on my jetta 4.
It just had awful electrical and engine problems

[Keisatsu]

Originally posted by b_tapper
The build quality was great on my jetta 4.
It just had awful electrical and engine problems

wouldnt that mean the build quality is poor?

IMHO it does

[Fuzz541]

Originally posted by Keisatsu


wouldnt that mean the build quality is poor?

IMHO it does

Not always, although occasionally maybe

[Albert]

As expected there is such an appreciation for anything other than S-U-B-A-R-U here. Sure it's a Subaru board but we are allowed to appreciate a splendid automobile - whoever make it? Best of all it's competition...we know what they say about competition, right.

True enough, in the '90's the build quailty of VW's coming out of Mexico needed help. However the Mexican built GTI 16V and the Euro built Corrado SLC I once owned both required less repairs and could be driven without fear of something breaking unlike
my current RS.

BTW, guess who makes the best selling car in Europe?


...the seats in the R32 I saw are made by Koning.

[b_tapper]

My '00 was very well screwed together. Just had annoying little eletrical problems. I had a freak engine, they were gonna replace it, but it got hit by a drunk so I got a Subaru.

[diediemyscooby]

EVO!

[REXLESS]

i've driven a few fast VW's but i still can't get over the chick car image. my friend had a very fast jetta wolfsburg edition chipped w/ a front mount and coilovers that hauled ass, but i still turn my head every time i pass a jetta to see if the driver is cute

[OneArmedScissor]

wrx. it can do everything

heck its comfy

girls love it.

guys love it.

i love it.

MY MOM LOVES IT.

isnt that odd?

my mother loves my car.

bugeyes...a face only milin's mother could love lol

her first good car was a scooby wagon.

[M]

umm, vw transmissions have suck

[Guffy9]

Originally posted by M
umm, vw transmissions have suck

Now that's irony, considering you drive a WRX.

[BluSuby]

I would not rely on what people think with this one. I've thougt about it allot, and it's really tough for me to decide.

Interiors? I fear the EVO will be the worst, the VW the best, with the WRX in between.

Drivetrain? That's a toss up. My WRX has been fine, my friend has a DSM with 400 hp to crank, his is fine(ie mitsu can buld a strong trans), and the current VW's are pretty good as far as I know(Audi influenced).

Power? I think it's easier and cheaper to get more power out of a forced induction car, so with my current knowledge of the R32, I'd say the EVO & WRX win that battle.

I wouldn't throw down upward of $30k without driving all of them. I bought my WRX as soon a they came out, but there was nothing like it then. If I was buying mine early next year it would be a different story. Good luck,

Bryan

[Rev]

The R32 and the EVO should be compared to the STi IMO, not the WRX. I hear the R32 is going to cost 30k. I deffinitly like the looks of the R32 better then the current GTI, but I have never been a fan of the GTI's looks. The interior is going to be really nice, fitting of a 30k car. The Haldex AWD sytem may not be the best, but it is sooo much better then FWD. That would not stop me from buying it. I do like the V6, with 236 ft. lbs. of torque at 2800 it has me almost drooling. For someone who would rather not mod his car and deal with possible warrenty issue/problems the V6 is the thing that sets it ahead of the WRX, and whatever turbo car will be offered at the time of its arrival.

Competition is a great thing. They're comming Subaru, what do you have for us so you can counter these efforts?

[Albert]

You know, 6 months ago I would have agreed that the Evo should be compared with the STI. However, since release of preliminary USDM Evo specs I'm inclined to put it in the WRX arena - no gadgets, no 6-speed. Both cars are expected to come over less equipped, but the STI seems nicer on paper so far. I'm guessing a real USDM Evo would start at $32k. As it is right now [with the exception of it's 265hp? rating] it's in the same league as the WRX.
The USDM STI drivetrain alone seperates it from the USDM EVO... 6-speed box, STI seats and gauge cluster are to die for, eh.

One thing I've noticed that could scare away manufacturers and potentially kill this segment is North America's disillusion of endless hp gains from a sub $30k [economy] car without beefing up the entire drivetrain. The Miata was proof that big hp #'s wasn't a necessity for a fun ride.
Also, reiterated numerous time: driving an AWD car requires judicious use and finesse of the clutch pedal, however on a monthly [maybe less] basis we still read about people dumping clutches attempting all-wheel burnouts, or just trying to accelerated quicker

I'm not a big fan of the current Golf body, hopefully VW will see it fit to release the performance "R" series cars Golf and Jetta on the newer platform.

[GreatWurm]

How long will it be until Ford shapes up and releases the Focus RS for the US Market? C'Mon Ford! Everyone else is doing it!

More competition in this market is bound to be beneficial to us, the fanatical Subie fans.

[-LD]

EVO

[Broeli]

You know, 6 months ago I would have agreed that the Evo should be compared with the STI. However, since release of preliminary USDM Evo specs I'm inclined to put it in the WRX arena

The Evo WILL be in the same class as the Sti. Last time I checked the Sti didn't have the ayc/acd either. Just because one may have a 5-speed and the other a 6-speed doesn't put them in a different class. The Evo will have Brembos, Recaros, and 265hp along with the huge fmic...lighter weight than the Evo VII and better aerodynamics than the Evo VII. The ayc/acd and 6-speed aren't being brought because there may be reliablity/warranty issues with them. The duty cycle in Japan is far less than the US. The US Evo VIII will use a proven 5-speed (same that's in the VII). So it will have just as good if not better acceleration than a j-spec VII, will brake just as good, have supportive Recaro seats, a highly tuneable 4g63. It'll just lack the complicated ayc/acd...which, if you check many racers take it off or opt for the RS Evo which doesn't come standard with atc/acd,
NOW explain why it isn't an Sti competitor