2008 Volkswagen R32 Review

After a four-year absence, Volkswagen’s R32 returns to the U.S. market for 2008 with a 250-horsepower six-cylinder engine, the brand’s Direct Shift Gearbox automatic transmission, standard front-side and side-curtain airbags, and standard features aplenty for the starting price of $33,630. If you want one, act quickly!

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX STI

For the price, the R32 delivers in terms of style, quality, and overall appeal. What we fault is a powertrain needing a few more horses and handling dynamics that could use some fine tuning at the limits – precisely where the bulk of R32 buyers will likely venture.

There seem to be three types of people in the world – those who don’t get it, those who are proficient, and the experts. It’s these basic categorizations that dictate our personal and professional goals, which in turn affect how much we study and learn, the time we take to practice and the effort we expend in a variety of activities. In short, it’s about finding something we enjoy, something we can excel at, and sometimes that requires finding a niche – a unique angle all our own.

It’s a concept that translates to the world of cars. Take sport compacts as an example. Currently, there’s a battle going on between Mitsubishi and Subaru, as the Evolution continues to swap paint with the WRX STI. These are the established kings of affordable boosted hot rodding. However, with its launch of the 2008 R32, Volkswagen is carving out its own niche, taking aim at the crowd just left of center. If the R32 had a tagline, it would probably read something like this: If you can’t beat them in performance, beat them in style and refinement.

A quick check of 0-60 mph times proves that the R32 won’t win a drag race against its main competitors, and we can say after a week of testing that its handling doesn’t quite measure up either. But this Volkswagen is an immensely fun toy, and thoroughly trounces its competition with its luxurious materials, relatively sophisticated styling, and fully loaded price of about $35,000. Rather than trying to outrun it’s the Evo and STI, the R32 aims to outclass those heavyweights, and for buyers who don’t spend their days speeding from red lights and every weekend at the track, it might be time to start thinking Volkswagen.  

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For shoppers interested in the 2008 R32, Volkswagen has made the ordering process quick and simple, meaning you get to the business of shredding pavement much quicker. There are no trim variants – it’s just the R32, which starts at $33,650 including a $660 destination charge. That price is in line with notable competitors including the redesigned Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru WRX STI.

Before you start thinking that 33 grand buys a GTI with a bigger engine and all-wheel-drive and little else, take a gander at what’s included on the R32’s list of standard features: bi-xenon headlights, front-side and side-curtain airbags, leather upholstery, a power moonroof, heated seats and mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, and a premium audio system with a six-disc CD changer and Sirius satellite radio. Heck, even front and rear floor mats are standard. If that sounds like a long list of equipment, well, it is. That’s the point – the R32 is delivered essentially loaded.  

There are two options to consider, only one of which costs you anything. The $1,800 navigation/audio system replaces the standard unit and adds an iPod adaptor but drops the six-disc CD changer. You can also replace standard performance tires with a set of 225/40R18 all-seasons, a swap that won’t add a cent to the sticker’s bottom line. Our test car had the nav system and standard rubber for a total price of $35,450. For the added convenience and simple iPod connection, we think the $1,800 is worth the price of admission.

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With a price and appearance that suggest the R32 is packing more heat than the already-impressive GTI, Volkswagen had no choice but to deliver on the goods. At the core of this racy VeeDub is a 3.2-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 250 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 236 lb.-ft. of torque at only 2,500 rpm. (Direct Shift Gearbox) automatic transmission accented by a manual shift feature on the center knob and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. This dual-clutch transmission, also used in Audi products, lets the driver cruise in normal Drive mode like a traditional automatic; however, with a flick of the gear knob Juan Pablo-wannabes can hold low gears for aggressive driving, or use the paddles that execute immediate shifts with rev-matching blips of the throttle. A manual transmission is not available.

Behind the scenes is the brand’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, capable of transferring up to 100 percent of the engine’s output to the rear wheels when necessary. Those wheels, by the way, are 18-inch, 20-spoke alloys wrapped in standard 225/40 performance rubber; all-season tires carrying the same measurements are a no-charge option and would likely be preferred by R32 buyers who find themselves traveling in inclement weather.

Other hardware bits include a MacPherson strut front suspension, an independent multi-link rear suspension, and the safety of antilock vented disc brakes and an electronic brake-pressure distribution system.