VW Golf R32 (MkV) – Entry 003

David Conway    Personal, VW Golf R32 (MkV)     official r32 entry, vw golf r32

She’s on my drive!!!

I rolled into bed at 10.30pm hoping to get a good night’s sleep but it didn’t quite go as planned. The combination of excitement, nerves and anticipation kept me awake till near midnight. Despite this, I managed to get up at 5:40am ready for my four hour trip to the south coast. My farther, brother and I drove through the gates at around 10:45am and there she was, sitting waiting for me like a blue jewel (despite the drizzle). To say I was excited would be an understatement, I couldn’t stop grinning! After I’d checked the car, signed the papers and handed over the money it was time for the drive home…

I love the smell of a new car, it just smells so err… new! As I sat down in the drivers seat the first thing I noticed was how good the seats feel, sporty and hugging but not in a way that would annoy you on a daily commute. The dash is typically German, i.e. dark, classy, and tactile. The deeply sunk dials look great, the car felt really solid and well made as you would expect. The next bit I’d been really looking forward too, starting her up! With a turn of the key came a couple of whirring noises followed by the sound of distant thunder, that V6 rumble is such a turn on! A stark contrast to the feeble coughing noise of my Pug 206. The mileage on the display reads 5. Into reverse and out of the driveway, the steering is so light at low speed, it seems like the car is riding on air. Into first gear and onto the road, a dab of the breaks, wow this thing stops on a sixpence! They obviously haven’t bedded in yet but even so, the lightest touch and the speed just disappears.

First stop was at a Shell Garage where she was treated to a full tank of V Power. Nothing but the best for my girl! Clocked a few glances from fellow motorists while at the pump, nice feeling.

The journey home was mainly motorway but I made sure I changed gears every now and then, keeping the engine active. It’s so quiet at low revs, I could hear rain drops and splashes of road water at 80(ish) mph. Again, a contrast to the whining, strangled noise of my Pug. Thankfully the steering becomes reassuringly heavier at speed and has more feel. The car pulls well from 70 in sixth gear and makes changing lanes a piece of cake, a small squirt of the throttle and I’m going faster than the car approaching on the right. My days of five minute planning are now behind me.

The gearbox is truly fantastic, it’s so solid, each change slots into place with a reassuring clunk. The difference between this and the Pug’s porridge bowl is immeasurable. For me, the manual box was absolutely the right choice.

I’ve taken it steady and haven’t gone over 4000 rpm yet as she’s still only travelled 196 miles but I can already tell that this thing has oodles of grip. There was absolutely no body roll at the speeds I was travelling, it’s just so planted and stable, god I’m going to enjoy exploring the performance! My plan is to be fairly gentle up to around 400 miles and then consistently increase the rpm’s until I get to the 1000 mile marker. By this time she should be ready for naughtiness! I’ve only scratched the surface but I can see why fellow owners are so passionate about this car, it’s bloody awesome!

Today has been like all Christmas’s rolled into one, only difference is I’ve had to buy the present. Best purchase of my life!

I’ll add another entry soon, stay tuned