Just to clarify the detail of this thread:
Whilst the front brake pads of GTI (and derivatives of the GTI spec system which use the ATE FN3 caliper) and R32 (along with associated 345mm transverse engine fitments using the beefier ATE FNRG-57 caliper) may look fundamentally similar - they are not interchangable <sp?> (as you have already established). The primary difference between the two is the metal spring clip on the inner pad which fits inside the caliper piston. On the GTI, it has a 54mm dia piston, whereas the R32 has a piston diameter of 57mm.