I cant answer you R5GTT, but I'll just chuck my tuppence in here on the R32/standard brake thing. I have a standard Ed30, road use only, and I was horrified with the standard front brake set up. My problem was that increased brake pedal pressure (in those emergency "oh sheeeet" moments), had no effect on stopping power, it was like pressing on a lump of wood. I wondered if I had a problem, put on new discs, pads, checked everything - same terrible braking. Fine for 30 to 40 mph town use, but nothing else, and in my opinion dangerous for emergencies.
Swapped to R32 calipers with braided hoses and 340mm TTS discs - halleluyah! Brakes again! (I came from a MK2 G60, with standard 280mm front brakes and single pot calipers, so that it was I am comparing to) .
Yes, the calipers are heavier, but the only difference I initially noted was on steering feel, no big deal at all.
Weirdly the R32 pad area looks to be the same as in the standard ED30 caliper, the huge caliper size difference is due to a supporting framework around the caliper, i presume to reduce twist , allowing more braking force to be applied. Plus of course the force is being applied to a 340mm disc, not a tiny little 312mm, and perhaps the caliper piston is bigger.
Well worth putting the brakes on.
(Presumably VW had run out of money on the ED30 and ignored the brakes, the R32 only has 20 bhp more, is heavier, but came with bigger front and bigger rear brakes as standard. )
