COTD - 15/01/25

Today’s topic of discussion is the car that redefined what a hot hatch could be. Launched in 2003, the R32 wasn’t just another souped-up Golf; it was a beast with a big heart and the first VW to wear the now-iconic “R” badge. It’s the car that made people take hot hatches seriously.

You might be thinking, ‘this just looks like a Golf! What’s so special?’. Under the bonnet, you’ve got a 3.2L naturally aspirated VR6 engine, pushing out 237hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.

For a Golf, that was outrageous back in the day. 0-60? 6.4 seconds, thanks to the 4Motion AWD system that put the power down like a champ. And the sound—oh man, that VR6 growl is something else. Deep, throaty, and absolutely addictive.

If you haven’t heard an R32 in person, I urge you to.

The R32 wasn’t just quick in a straight line; it had handling to match. The AWD gave it amazing grip, and the suspension was tuned just right—firm enough for corners but not punishing on a daily drive.

And here’s the kicker: it was the first production car to come with a dual-clutch DSG gearbox as an option. That tech would go on to revolutionise performance cars, but the R32 had it first.

The MK4 R32 wasn’t just a fast Golf. It was the most powerful Golf ever made at the time and showed that VW could build a car that was as fun on a backroad as it was comfortable on a commute. Plus, it paved the way for every R-badged VW that came after it.

Only 5,000 MK4 R32s were built for Europe, making it a rare gem. The R32 wasn’t just a car—it was a game-changer for VW and the hot hatch world. New, these things cost just under £24,000.

Now? Examples range anywhere from £10,000 to over £28,000, with exceptional examples exceeding that - one sold in the USA for over $100,000!!

What’s your take? Is the R32 the ultimate Golf, or does another model steal the crown? Let me know! 🏁

As usual, award yourself a gold star if you guessed today’s car right, but I’m enjoying keeping it mixed up! ⭐️

Hopefully, you’ve read this far. If you have, thank you - but I need to know, did you enjoy T&T weekly yesterday?

If you said no, I haven’t taken it personally, I would just appreciate an email/instagram DM (@torquetoast) to let me know!

That’ll be it from me today - see you at 6am sharp tomorrow!

Love,

Angus