To swap or not to swap ED30/R32

[rickyquicky]

About 6 months ago I was in the market for a sporty 'weekend' car, nothing too fancy - just a smart looking sporty car that I could use saturday and sunday going out with the missus, running errands, shopping etc, but enjoy driving whilst doing it.

Was debating between R32 and the Edition 30, ed30 seemed to tick all the boxes, so I bought one! 

The thing i'm thinking now is that considering the mileage I do, I should have just bought an R32.

Who's owned both? I've never even driven an R32...is this a case of the grass is always greener? Or should I look at doing a swap! 

I just figure that the R32 probably has a bit more 'occasion' to it, thoughts please...

[Veee-dubber]

This topic has been exhausted time and time again in terms of debate and generally raises a lot of controversy.

For me its easy... Keep the eddy!

[Pikey Motorsports]

My bro got a 32 and I got a edition30! Had the keys to it a few times.. It's hard to compare my 570hp ed30 to it now lol!

But I would say ed30 for fun, power, tuning

R32 for classier, taking ur girl out, v6 noise,

[MC71]

Mk5 Eddy or a Mk4 R32 (or both). 

[Veee-dubber]

screw paying tax on a 32!

[Andy_Ed30]

I had the same problem,  what done it for me was a £500 remap on the eddy got her close to 300bhp.

But to get 300 in the r32 your looking at around 4k!  

I would love to have one and get it supercharged, that would be a weapon!


I recommend taking one for a test drive and go from there.

[Andy_Ed30]

I had the same problem,  what done it for me was a £500 remap on the eddy got her close to 300bhp.

But to get 300 in the r32 your looking at around 4k!  

I would love to have one and get it supercharged, that would be a weapon!


I recommend taking one for a test drive and go from there.

And get a 2005/2006  cheaper tax 

[rickyquicky]

Me and the Eddy were obviously going through a rough patch lol 

I treated her to a few bits last week - edition 30 front badge, 10mm wheel spacers (it was already on eiback sportlines)

Took it for a good drive round kent countryside...

Back in love!

[Marc-5-GTI]

I took an R32 out for a test drive after i bought my GTI

I preffered the GTI.... only thing i liked more was the sound!

[xjay1337]

R32s are no faster in the real world
Less fun to drive (nose heavy) and feel more "safe"

They are quicker but not much and a remapped GTI is quicker than an R32
Don't forget the R32s are only 4wd when the fronts start to slip so most of the time they are FWD...

R32 is more of a long distance tourer. GTI a drivers car.

[Fozzy]

Having owned both and currently driving the eddy I still keep on at my other half that the mkiv r32 just put a bigger smile on my face! The noise,the big Koenig seats and DBP paint just done it for me! It was the whole package, mkv is a much more grown up car in my opinion? Still loving abit of boost by the way!! Ha

[Joesoap]

Having owned both and currently driving the eddy I still keep on at my other half that the mkiv r32 just put a bigger smile on my face! The noise,the big Koenig seats and DBP paint just done it for me! It was the whole package, mkv is a much more grown up car in my opinion? Still loving abit of boost by the way!! Ha

the sig says it all mk2's rule 

[Fozzy]

Only car I honestly never sold but when buying a house something had to give!!! Was like Phil Mitchell on a bad day when that one went! Sorry I'm going off topic here!!

[Tejinder]

R32s are no faster in the real world
Less fun to drive (nose heavy) and feel more "safe"

They are quicker but not much and a remapped GTI is quicker than an R32
Don't forget the R32s are only 4wd when the fronts start to slip so most of the time they are FWD...

R32 is more of a long distance tourer. GTI a drivers car.

In the real world AWD makes a huge difference, most of the fun is to be had up to 50-60mph/off the lights and the R32 just grips so well up to that speed in all weathers without drama and makes a great sound doing it 
And R32's are only FWD when you don't need 4WD... So you wouldn't know if you had it or not
I do agree with you though Jay, the R32 is more of a tourer/cruiser and the GTi is more of a drivers car

Having owned a R32 and driven a pirelli (basically a eddy) numerous times, I would pick the R32. Its a very hard choice but its the complete package that does it for me in the end. If you want pure speed then by all means buy a ed30 and map it (will be faster than almost any N/A R32 for 20% of the price)

So If i was in OP's situation it would have to be the R32, you don't do much mileage as you say and if you want something special (do not get me wrong an eddy is special) on the weekends then nothing will put a smile on your face like that V6 growl

[xjay1337]

I'm pretty sure if you took an ED30 around a track and an R32 around the track, the ED30 would be quicker.
R32s are only 4WD when you don't need FWD - I think you have it confused. Haldex is an electrically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch unit which only, and only, sends power to the rear wheels when the ESP/ABS system notices a difference in rotational speed between the front and rear axles.

That's why if you have Haldex it's VERY important you don't mess up the rotational diameter of the front and rear wheels, otherwise you will cook the clutches/hydraulic fluid as they are not designed to be used the whole time.

I mean ultimately the only benefit the R32 has to me is the noise! Which is very nice.
It's more expensive to run, service, drive, and in the real world unless it's sopping wet, don't much faster!

Anyway as per all the "WHAT DO I DO CAR WISE" threads that normally wind me up, try both and decide for yourself... as it's your money.