Placing a 6 cylinder engine into a hatchback is always a tough ask. A traditional V layout can take up a lot of space in an already tight compartment, and it comes with a substantial weight penalty. This can negatively effect the handling, causing the car to understeer more than you’d like. Clever diffs can go some way to addressing this, but a compact engine is of utmost importance. It’s for this reason that VW created the VR6 – a narrow angle V6 designed to fit within a smaller engine block. This engine type debuted in the MK 3 Golf and made it’s way into a few other VW/Audi Group models before being shelved in favour of “more efficient” turbocharged engines. One such model was the MK 5 Golf R32, and it’s the subject of today’s post.
Like the R36 Passat, I’ve known about the MK 5 R32 for a long time and in my honest opinion, it’s the best Golf that VW has ever made. The modern Golf Rs are very fast, don’t get me wrong, but they’re kind of boring in my eyes and don’t provide the same sense of occassion. That 6 cylinder growl is a lot meatier than a plucky 4 cylinder turbo, which in turn lends itself to more enriching driving experiences. Said noise comes out of 2 exhaust pipes mounted in the middle of the rear bumper – a setup that I like a lot on a hot hatchback. It is not an aftermarket upgrade – however the exhausts themselves on this one are upgraded for a spicier sound.
So lets talk numbers. This car is powered by a 3.2 litre VR6 producing 247 HP in standard guise, sending power to all 4 wheels when the onboard computer decides that it’s necessary. It’s one of those wierd front-biased systems that pretends to be a 4-wheel drive system when it’s just front-drive with extra steps. That’s a slight drawback but it does make sense when you consider that the standard Golf is front wheel drive. In fact the entire driveline underpinned the Audi TT 3.2 and the mad Beetle RSI – a road car based on the New Beetle Cup Car. Yes, VW took the cutesy Beetle racing and turned it into angry bee.
As much as I appreciate the R32, it seems as though the wider automtoive world does not. I say this because it hasn’t appeared in many video games or car-related media, making it one of those “if you know” cars. I only recall seeing it in Midnight Club LA way back in 2010, shortly after getting my PS3. For a thinking man like myself, it’s wonderful and many owners can attest to that. The most prolific owner of this car, Nick Andrew of AR12 Gaming, has spoken many times about how much he loves the car and the joy of ownership. If not mistaken, he still owns it.
It’s sad that when someone says “R32”, they immediately think Skyline GT-R. VW’s naming convention wasn’t the best, hence why they just badged it as the R for the next generation. Of course that also marked the death of the VR6, never to return again. The good news is that the engine type does enjoy some level of aftermarket support, and with VW’s clever modular designs, it can be easy to upgrade and/or swap parts out between models. The performance may seem modest by today’s standards but for a street car, you won’t be short of thrills.
