Probably asked a lot - Pirelli vs R32

[gulfstream11]

absolutely 100% ditto the above post..  

edit.. last post previous page.

[E30Dom]

Thanks for the comments so far.

E30Dom, I see you've changed at some point from an R32 to an E30. Any regrets? Mind if I ask why you changed?

I'm also of mixed mind about the rarity of the Pirelli. Yes it is incredibly rare but it's "just" an E30 with different wheels/seats/badge. Wheras the R32 is "just" a mk5 but has a unique engine and drivetrain. When I drove the Pirelli I liked the nimbleness of it compared to a heavier car. But currently owning a mk4 4motion I'd really miss the 4wd. I do aave a Corrado VR6 to recapture that V6 sound though so wouldn't be going cold turkey on aural pleasure (when that thing hits 5k all hell breaks loose )

Yes I have loads of regrets selling my R32, i was getting pretty sorted... the sound is glorious, go well and the traction was soo much fun... i mean build the revs in an R32 from a t junction, dump the clutch and slingshot out with no drama/wheelspin... try that in an gti and you get wheel spin/wheel hop and understeer... Felt so uch more solid and stable, i had lightweight wheels, poly bushes, unibrace, kw v3's and h&R anti roll bars and it tracked like on rails literally.. it was quick enough, but and airfilter/exhaust makes it breath more easily... given the choice again I wouldn;t of sold it....

But saying that, after all the mods so far on the edition 30, it's becoming a little pocket rocket... and have gone too far with it now to take back tostandard and selling a stage 2 car will always be harder to get any money back... but always look at classifieds at R32, never for gtis/edition/pirellis... that must say something...

[R32UK]

Just to add to ED30DOM... I also had an R32 and went to a mk6 gti and now an ed30. I wish I still had the R32... imo its the best of the lot as an all round car. The only draw back is the mpg if you do lots of miles 

[E30Dom]

I was averaging 29mpg to which i'm averaging 32mpg with the stage 2 edition... It's really not that bad, and i had a 55 plate, so was cheaper tax, but well worth the higher tax band ;)

[Portent]

Thanks for the input guys. It's really appreciated. I'm getting around 29mpg in my mk4 4Motion and was ideally looking for better mpg... but my heart is saying R32. I must admit I did expect more of a leaning towards the GTI on a GTI forum.

[mad_pete]

Imagine I give you a box. whatever is in it you can keep.
And it will be either the Pireilli or R32 keys







In it is the R32 keys


Is your immediate emotionally response joy or disappointment ?
Based on that you have your choice. :-)

[skard]

I have asked myself the same questions lately, and ever since the realisation that an R32 is no longer a crazy option in my circumstances, I don't even look at GTI/ED30's for sale.

That doesn't mean they aren't tremendous cars, but I'd rather have the planted feel of an R32.

[maxload]

I do like the look and sound of the R32 , but knowing that my ed30 would leave an R32 in my rear view mirror , it's a no brainer for me.

[E30Dom]

You will not be dissapointed with an R32... no cam belt changes either (chains on mk5 don;t see the issues the mk4s did), but do require a haldex change i think every 20k miles...

Have you test driven both?

[RedRobin]

.
A test drive is always the decider and the choice is nearly always much more emotional and irrational than you might expect.

I love the R32 but it doesn't feel quite as nimble and is much thirstier. I seriously thought of chopping my Mk5 GTI for the Mk5 R32 when it came out and my dealer lent me one. I drove a 40-mile lap test route back-to-back but inspite of adoring the V6 sound I decided I slightly preferred my GTI. But it was close. Haldex with Race setting is a must.

[Portent]

I've driven the pirelli but not yet the r32 so will try to do that this weekend. Coming from a 4mo I'm fairly used to large na engines with haldex.

[Tamiyoman]

Late and Tidy ED30 or Pirelli deffo, R32 apart from sounding nicer cant touch either of them 

[R32UK]

I've driven the pirelli but not yet the r32 so will try to do that this weekend. Coming from a 4mo I'm fairly used to large na engines with haldex.

In which case you will realise the R32 is nicer to drive that the other 2. not only that... but its quicker too. 

[Mindyloula]

Horatio and I had a 57 plate DSG ED30 for just under a year, and we loved it.. as others have said, it is very quick, lighter than the R32 and you can really have some fun with it  . But just over a month ago the opportunity came up to get an 06 plate R32 (also DSG) which only had 13k miles and after taking it out for a test drive, the ED30 had to go.

We've had the R32 for just coming up to 6 weeks now, and whenever I look at it I can't stop smiling  , and whenever we drive it I can't stop smiling (and the sound of the engine is just awesome), and as great as the ED30 was, it didn't evoke quite that response. In terms of MPG I would say are averaging 30, have got 35 out of it so in real terms it doesn't feel much worse than the ED30. Unfortunately ours is a June 06 so has the obscene higher road tax, but it's worth it!

[maxload]

I've driven the pirelli but not yet the r32 so will try to do that this weekend. Coming from a 4mo I'm fairly used to large na engines with haldex.

In which case you will realise the R32 is nicer to drive that the other 2. not only that... but its quicker too. 

That is until you map an edition30/pirrelli in which case even at stage1 would see off an R32 no problem. The edition30/pirrelli is much more modable than the R32 which again is a no brainer