Suggestions for second car
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 426
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Suggestions for second car
So I seem to be growing up having had an offer accepted on a house. Which is a good thing, but means I will have a lot of changes from my current situation. I have been happily renting in Central London with my S tucked up in the corner of a secure underground carpark when not being taken for weekend hoon.
Alas, after the house move my S will become a bit of street furtniture and I can foresee tears over parking bumps and knocks which she has avoided so far.
Enough of the chatter and on to the point. I promised my girlfriend (read me) a second car which is a little more practical and something easier for her to drive (but something that needs to be fun).
Criteria is as follows:
Must be hatch or saloon
5 door preferable but not essential, boot space is more of a priority
Relatively quick
Would like something solid underfoot in the wet
Insurance needs to be same as S or cheaper
Would rather be on the side of prestige than boy racer
Budget - under £10k would be perfect, could stretch to £15k for something special
Shower me with ideas..
Currently Mk4 VW Golf R32 tops the list... anyone have any experience?
Alas, after the house move my S will become a bit of street furtniture and I can foresee tears over parking bumps and knocks which she has avoided so far.
Enough of the chatter and on to the point. I promised my girlfriend (read me) a second car which is a little more practical and something easier for her to drive (but something that needs to be fun).
Criteria is as follows:
Must be hatch or saloon
5 door preferable but not essential, boot space is more of a priority
Relatively quick
Would like something solid underfoot in the wet
Insurance needs to be same as S or cheaper
Would rather be on the side of prestige than boy racer
Budget - under £10k would be perfect, could stretch to £15k for something special
Shower me with ideas..
Currently Mk4 VW Golf R32 tops the list... anyone have any experience?
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Nottinghamshire
I owned a 2004 Mk4 3 dr from new back in 2004. I had a great time with it, speed wise it felt quicker off the mark than the s2k I had previously owned but ran out of puff when the s2k was getting in its stride. Handling wise it felt good for quite a heavy car and I could chuck it around quite a bit. I could drive it quicker cross country due to obvious reasons, Haldex awd etc.
You will struggle to find a decent one and prices seem to of held quite well considering they were 24k new (with options). I think there were around 2000 uk models bought in. Fuel consumption was around 22 mpg around town up to 28 on a motorway. The koeneg seats are really comfortable and supportive but the bum cushion on the full leather can look saggy and the edges of the seat can wear as with most sports seats. The interior materials I felt looked alot nicer and better quality to the mk 5. The stereo I remember was appauling but Im sure that can be sorted. All in all I liked it a lot so if you can find a mint one Im sure a) you will have a decent car and b) you should not loose too much on it as they will always have the low volume appeal.
You will struggle to find a decent one and prices seem to of held quite well considering they were 24k new (with options). I think there were around 2000 uk models bought in. Fuel consumption was around 22 mpg around town up to 28 on a motorway. The koeneg seats are really comfortable and supportive but the bum cushion on the full leather can look saggy and the edges of the seat can wear as with most sports seats. The interior materials I felt looked alot nicer and better quality to the mk 5. The stereo I remember was appauling but Im sure that can be sorted. All in all I liked it a lot so if you can find a mint one Im sure a) you will have a decent car and b) you should not loose too much on it as they will always have the low volume appeal.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
Thanks for the suggestions and thanks for your insight mole. Some of your comments match the observations Ive seen.
Mk4 R32s seem to hold price very well, especially 5 door models. I was considering one back in early 07 when I bought my S. I paid £20k for my 05 plate S back then, and a 53 plate R32 would have been had for £15k or so if I recall correctly. Now my S is probably worth £12k and a mint 53 plate R32 is about the same price, so feel a little miffed. But that said in my opinion the exterior of the Mk5 R32 is hideous compared to the Mk4, I havent seen the interiors of either in the flesh.
I dont do track days and although I like a quick flick up through the gears from time to time, a b road bomber that is reliable would suit me (I mean the girlfriend) well.
Are there any particulars to watch out for in terms of maintenance and remedial measures? I looked for an R32 forum and found a few, non as informative as S2K. The parting thoughts I have is that most of the light blue coloured cars have been neglected due to owners not being able to afford the upkeep (sweeping generalisation), some can have flat spots at 2k rpm and 4.5krpm, but a (free?) remap from VW seems to have fixed the issue. Aside from that theres the usual haldex servicing requirements....
On the subject of remaps, AMD remap seems quite appealing if the VW one hasnt been done.
In the back of my mind Im wondering whether I should look for an S4 for around £15k, but know id always hanker after and RS4. And Id love an E46 M3, but £15k wouldnt buy quality, and insurance and servicing would be steep for what is going to be an even less used second car than my S.
Mk4 R32s seem to hold price very well, especially 5 door models. I was considering one back in early 07 when I bought my S. I paid £20k for my 05 plate S back then, and a 53 plate R32 would have been had for £15k or so if I recall correctly. Now my S is probably worth £12k and a mint 53 plate R32 is about the same price, so feel a little miffed. But that said in my opinion the exterior of the Mk5 R32 is hideous compared to the Mk4, I havent seen the interiors of either in the flesh.
I dont do track days and although I like a quick flick up through the gears from time to time, a b road bomber that is reliable would suit me (I mean the girlfriend) well.
Are there any particulars to watch out for in terms of maintenance and remedial measures? I looked for an R32 forum and found a few, non as informative as S2K. The parting thoughts I have is that most of the light blue coloured cars have been neglected due to owners not being able to afford the upkeep (sweeping generalisation), some can have flat spots at 2k rpm and 4.5krpm, but a (free?) remap from VW seems to have fixed the issue. Aside from that theres the usual haldex servicing requirements....
On the subject of remaps, AMD remap seems quite appealing if the VW one hasnt been done.
In the back of my mind Im wondering whether I should look for an S4 for around £15k, but know id always hanker after and RS4. And Id love an E46 M3, but £15k wouldnt buy quality, and insurance and servicing would be steep for what is going to be an even less used second car than my S.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Kineton, Warwickshire
I've got to agree the front of the Mk V R32 is a little over the top...
GTI is still worth considering, also holding values pretty well. A good GTI can be bought in your budget and to be honest you lose very little in grip in any conditions compared to the R32. With these it is worth looking for leather seats and the 18" Monza II wheels...
I have a GTI Edition 30 and test drove an R32 before I bought that. Unless you want a motorway cruiser the Edition 30 is the better car (and its not much worse than the R32 at the motorways) and much less brash. The GTI handles better (as the nose is lighter) and with a basic remap will be quicker than the R32.
As I said, if you must have 4WD, then it is also worth taking a look at the A3 2.0T Quattro - same basci car as the GTI with 4WD
GTI is still worth considering, also holding values pretty well. A good GTI can be bought in your budget and to be honest you lose very little in grip in any conditions compared to the R32. With these it is worth looking for leather seats and the 18" Monza II wheels...
I have a GTI Edition 30 and test drove an R32 before I bought that. Unless you want a motorway cruiser the Edition 30 is the better car (and its not much worse than the R32 at the motorways) and much less brash. The GTI handles better (as the nose is lighter) and with a basic remap will be quicker than the R32.
As I said, if you must have 4WD, then it is also worth taking a look at the A3 2.0T Quattro - same basci car as the GTI with 4WD
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,999
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From: Nottinghamshire
Originally Posted by MrM,Oct 22 2009, 10:42 AM
Thanks for the suggestions and thanks for your insight mole. Some of your comments match the observations Ive seen.
Mk4 R32s seem to hold price very well, especially 5 door models. I was considering one back in early 07 when I bought my S. I paid £20k for my 05 plate S back then, and a 53 plate R32 would have been had for £15k or so if I recall correctly. Now my S is probably worth £12k and a mint 53 plate R32 is about the same price, so feel a little miffed. But that said in my opinion the exterior of the Mk5 R32 is hideous compared to the Mk4, I havent seen the interiors of either in the flesh.
I dont do track days and although I like a quick flick up through the gears from time to time, a b road bomber that is reliable would suit me (I mean the girlfriend) well.
Are there any particulars to watch out for in terms of maintenance and remedial measures? I looked for an R32 forum and found a few, non as informative as S2K. The parting thoughts I have is that most of the light blue coloured cars have been neglected due to owners not being able to afford the upkeep (sweeping generalisation), some can have flat spots at 2k rpm and 4.5krpm, but a (free?) remap from VW seems to have fixed the issue. Aside from that theres the usual haldex servicing requirements....
On the subject of remaps, AMD remap seems quite appealing if the VW one hasnt been done.
In the back of my mind Im wondering whether I should look for an S4 for around £15k, but know id always hanker after and RS4. And Id love an E46 M3, but £15k wouldnt buy quality, and insurance and servicing would be steep for what is going to be an even less used second car than my S.
Mk4 R32s seem to hold price very well, especially 5 door models. I was considering one back in early 07 when I bought my S. I paid £20k for my 05 plate S back then, and a 53 plate R32 would have been had for £15k or so if I recall correctly. Now my S is probably worth £12k and a mint 53 plate R32 is about the same price, so feel a little miffed. But that said in my opinion the exterior of the Mk5 R32 is hideous compared to the Mk4, I havent seen the interiors of either in the flesh.
I dont do track days and although I like a quick flick up through the gears from time to time, a b road bomber that is reliable would suit me (I mean the girlfriend) well.
Are there any particulars to watch out for in terms of maintenance and remedial measures? I looked for an R32 forum and found a few, non as informative as S2K. The parting thoughts I have is that most of the light blue coloured cars have been neglected due to owners not being able to afford the upkeep (sweeping generalisation), some can have flat spots at 2k rpm and 4.5krpm, but a (free?) remap from VW seems to have fixed the issue. Aside from that theres the usual haldex servicing requirements....
On the subject of remaps, AMD remap seems quite appealing if the VW one hasnt been done.
In the back of my mind Im wondering whether I should look for an S4 for around £15k, but know id always hanker after and RS4. And Id love an E46 M3, but £15k wouldnt buy quality, and insurance and servicing would be steep for what is going to be an even less used second car than my S.
For me the S3 looks a little bland and I am sure your money would be safer in a Mk 4 R32 providing you get a mint example. I still have the R32 key fob, brolley and pen that came with my car which I keep hold of incase I get another one day.
I also had a B7 RS4 and as soon as I drove the RS4 I thought it felt a bit like an R32 on steroids. The engine note on the r32 is fabulous too.
The only thing I would probably bear in mind is that now cars are 5 years old plus so some will be riding on worn shocks which will obviously make it drive like a pig so take a few out if you are serious and maybe budget for some decent coilovers when you buy.
The Mk 5 has actually grown on me although i hate the silver front part but without doubt the mk4 is the better looking.
