What do WRX owners think of the R32 and Mazdaspeed6?
03-23-2005, 09:40 PM
#16
VIP Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,023
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
Rayker, quit while you have a chance. You are making NO friends on this thread, and the babies comment is worthy of a ban from the forum itself.
Turning to the subject at hand, no WRX sells for $24k; even at that price it is still a better car pound-for-pound than anything in that price range if your goal is a sporty sedan that can comfortably seat four. At $30k+, the R32 is clearly an STI competitor, not a WRX competitor; the STI has the R32 nailed, both on paper and on the track. AND it seats four. The STI is also (and this is obviously IMO) an immeasurably better-looking car. Dan Neil (LA Times auto writer, the best there is) described the R32 as "visual anaesthetic" -- it literally put his eyes to sleep. I have to agree; it looks like a boring little loaf of bread from the side, and from the front that shovel-nose profile is just pug-ugly. I should probably mention that I used to be a big VW fan (my first 3 cars were VWs, a Rabit, a Cabriolet and a Corrado), so I don't just say that casually.
For the record, Dan Neil described the STI as having "the battle-hardened visage of a samurai warrior," which is just about the coolest thing ever said about a car.
The Mazdaspeed 6 is a mediocre, mild family car; it isn't in the class of the R32 or WRX (or STI). While Mazda does have a few standouts in their lineup (such as the RX-8) every Mazda looks to me to be a simple clone of Yet Another Japanese Car; Mazda tends to match the competition feature-for-feature and price point to price point. I've never seen or heard a Mazda that got any emotional reaction from me whatsoever, and the Miyata I've driven just made me want to get back in my WRX. Perhaps it is an acquired taste.
Turning to the subject at hand, no WRX sells for $24k; even at that price it is still a better car pound-for-pound than anything in that price range if your goal is a sporty sedan that can comfortably seat four. At $30k+, the R32 is clearly an STI competitor, not a WRX competitor; the STI has the R32 nailed, both on paper and on the track. AND it seats four. The STI is also (and this is obviously IMO) an immeasurably better-looking car. Dan Neil (LA Times auto writer, the best there is) described the R32 as "visual anaesthetic" -- it literally put his eyes to sleep. I have to agree; it looks like a boring little loaf of bread from the side, and from the front that shovel-nose profile is just pug-ugly. I should probably mention that I used to be a big VW fan (my first 3 cars were VWs, a Rabit, a Cabriolet and a Corrado), so I don't just say that casually.
For the record, Dan Neil described the STI as having "the battle-hardened visage of a samurai warrior," which is just about the coolest thing ever said about a car.
The Mazdaspeed 6 is a mediocre, mild family car; it isn't in the class of the R32 or WRX (or STI). While Mazda does have a few standouts in their lineup (such as the RX-8) every Mazda looks to me to be a simple clone of Yet Another Japanese Car; Mazda tends to match the competition feature-for-feature and price point to price point. I've never seen or heard a Mazda that got any emotional reaction from me whatsoever, and the Miyata I've driven just made me want to get back in my WRX. Perhaps it is an acquired taste.
03-24-2005, 01:00 AM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Frederick, Md
Posts: 36
Car Info: 04 STI
Originally Posted by meilers
Rayker, quit while you have a chance. You are making NO friends on this thread, and the babies comment is worthy of a ban from the forum itself.
Turning to the subject at hand, no WRX sells for $24k; even at that price it is still a better car pound-for-pound than anything in that price range if your goal is a sporty sedan that can comfortably seat four. At $30k+, the R32 is clearly an STI competitor, not a WRX competitor; the STI has the R32 nailed, both on paper and on the track. AND it seats four. The STI is also (and this is obviously IMO) an immeasurably better-looking car. Dan Neil (LA Times auto writer, the best there is) described the R32 as "visual anaesthetic" -- it literally put his eyes to sleep. I have to agree; it looks like a boring little loaf of bread from the side, and from the front that shovel-nose profile is just pug-ugly. I should probably mention that I used to be a big VW fan (my first 3 cars were VWs, a Rabit, a Cabriolet and a Corrado), so I don't just say that casually.
For the record, Dan Neil described the STI as having "the battle-hardened visage of a samurai warrior," which is just about the coolest thing ever said about a car.
The Mazdaspeed 6 is a mediocre, mild family car; it isn't in the class of the R32 or WRX (or STI). While Mazda does have a few standouts in their lineup (such as the RX-8) every Mazda looks to me to be a simple clone of Yet Another Japanese Car; Mazda tends to match the competition feature-for-feature and price point to price point. I've never seen or heard a Mazda that got any emotional reaction from me whatsoever, and the Miyata I've driven just made me want to get back in my WRX. Perhaps it is an acquired taste.
Turning to the subject at hand, no WRX sells for $24k; even at that price it is still a better car pound-for-pound than anything in that price range if your goal is a sporty sedan that can comfortably seat four. At $30k+, the R32 is clearly an STI competitor, not a WRX competitor; the STI has the R32 nailed, both on paper and on the track. AND it seats four. The STI is also (and this is obviously IMO) an immeasurably better-looking car. Dan Neil (LA Times auto writer, the best there is) described the R32 as "visual anaesthetic" -- it literally put his eyes to sleep. I have to agree; it looks like a boring little loaf of bread from the side, and from the front that shovel-nose profile is just pug-ugly. I should probably mention that I used to be a big VW fan (my first 3 cars were VWs, a Rabit, a Cabriolet and a Corrado), so I don't just say that casually.
For the record, Dan Neil described the STI as having "the battle-hardened visage of a samurai warrior," which is just about the coolest thing ever said about a car.
The Mazdaspeed 6 is a mediocre, mild family car; it isn't in the class of the R32 or WRX (or STI). While Mazda does have a few standouts in their lineup (such as the RX-8) every Mazda looks to me to be a simple clone of Yet Another Japanese Car; Mazda tends to match the competition feature-for-feature and price point to price point. I've never seen or heard a Mazda that got any emotional reaction from me whatsoever, and the Miyata I've driven just made me want to get back in my WRX. Perhaps it is an acquired taste.
No WRX sell's for 24k+? Do you really even know your cars? Obviously not considering you're influenced by what stupid bought off magazine editor's have to say. The R32 was not meant to compete with the STI/EVO thats why it was made in a limited amount!! That's like saying the 337/20th AE was against the WRX.. the upcoming R is going to be in their class.
03-24-2005, 01:31 AM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 15
too bad
Originally Posted by rayker
Im not here to bs
Originally Posted by rayker
im here to state facts.
03-24-2005, 08:26 AM
#19
Originally Posted by rayker
For starters I don't care about "E-friends" Im not here to bs and make friend im here to state facts and listen to others that do the same. I THAT is grounds for banning then sign me up for the express plan.
No WRX sell's for 24k+? Do you really even know your cars? Obviously not considering you're influenced by what stupid bought off magazine editor's have to say. The R32 was not meant to compete with the STI/EVO thats why it was made in a limited amount!! That's like saying the 337/20th AE was against the WRX.. the upcoming R is going to be in their class.
No WRX sell's for 24k+? Do you really even know your cars? Obviously not considering you're influenced by what stupid bought off magazine editor's have to say. The R32 was not meant to compete with the STI/EVO thats why it was made in a limited amount!! That's like saying the 337/20th AE was against the WRX.. the upcoming R is going to be in their class.
I had asumptions for a long time, but I pretty much nailed the fact that this guy is a little kid that lives in my town who is an owner of a german car, that comes on here just to be a tool to all of us because he know's I post here. Mostly because of jealosy that I can fund my own project that rapes his more expensive german counterpart. Probably why most of the only topics he posts in are ones that I'm in. Also if you search for, XSTI, you will find that it probably came off the same router or IP address. They also both started a fight a while ago in the Mid atlantic thread, to figure out what my name was, becasue they desribed my car as about as absolute as you could only if you stood right beside it and or knew all that was done to it. So basically you can delete them and any knowledge of their existence because they are just on here to pick fights with people. I really hope that's all the further it has to go. Also to you guys, I suggest you come to my house and get any of your stuff that you don't want me to throw out, and have fun playing counterstrike.
03-24-2005, 09:00 AM
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,402
Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Originally Posted by rayker
You've probably only seen audi's with the so- called "not functioning properly" tails thats because some people are idiots and forget to turn the rear fog off...oh wait thats just one of the many safety features on an Audi.
Having said that, my friends 2001 S4 has had no electrical problems to date at almost 60K miles. He does however, leak about a quart of oil from various places every 1,500 miles or so...
I've got another friend who owns an '86 4KQCS and an '87 4KQCS. The '86 has over 220K miles and the '87 has almost 200K miles. Both are on the original engine and transmission, which amazes me given their age, complexity and the level of neglect Brian has showed his cars. Of course, they have electrical gremlins, too.
03-24-2005, 10:31 AM
#21
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Frederick, Md
Posts: 36
Car Info: 04 STI
ksmh555- Telling the truth is BSing? Champion of the crude and rude? I didn't even know I was eligible..uhh thanks I guess..
BlingBlingBlue- Lol I think you just have luck with finding cars that have tails out...I've seen a ton of audi's with the left side rear fog on but never full tails, who knows.
WRX2ndregime- You're obviously a man that stands by your car and your car only and thats fine but to just exaggerate stuff to make other companies look bad isn't cool but what you all fail to realize is that Audi invented AWD so to hate on the company that paved the way for us to drive the vehicles we do today is ludicrous. Yes I got a good deal on my STI, 26,700 with a tad under 8k on it, I've seen a few around the MD/VA/DC area around that price lately.
As for you assumtions about me being someone you know (obviously hating on a friend, why else would you have things of their's?) I feel bad for this situation, what you think your friends would do to you and how you talk about them but I will PM you and get this situation resolved.
To everyone else, this is just a good discussion about different companies..no need to get carried away I mean we all drive the same car here! I just appreciate other cars just as much as my own, I guess in the words of Barry Meguier I'm "CAR CRAZY"
BlingBlingBlue- Lol I think you just have luck with finding cars that have tails out...I've seen a ton of audi's with the left side rear fog on but never full tails, who knows.
WRX2ndregime- You're obviously a man that stands by your car and your car only and thats fine but to just exaggerate stuff to make other companies look bad isn't cool but what you all fail to realize is that Audi invented AWD so to hate on the company that paved the way for us to drive the vehicles we do today is ludicrous. Yes I got a good deal on my STI, 26,700 with a tad under 8k on it, I've seen a few around the MD/VA/DC area around that price lately.
As for you assumtions about me being someone you know (obviously hating on a friend, why else would you have things of their's?) I feel bad for this situation, what you think your friends would do to you and how you talk about them but I will PM you and get this situation resolved.
To everyone else, this is just a good discussion about different companies..no need to get carried away I mean we all drive the same car here! I just appreciate other cars just as much as my own, I guess in the words of Barry Meguier I'm "CAR CRAZY"
03-24-2005, 10:27 PM
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Right and Wrong
Hi guys, just followed this link from the R32 forum. Interesting what you have to say. I have an R32 that I love. One of my best friend, and the R32s mechanic, has a 2005 STI. I can take him off the line but he passes me pretty quick and then leaves me in the dust!!! His car does weird things in the snow and rain. He is a mechanic and explained it like this, the R32 has open differentials so if a wheel looses traction it just spins, this lets the car creep forward. The STI will start to spin all four wheels and he looses control, it will shoot sideways. I can take him in the snow. There are weird issues with my R. To turn the head lights on I have to pull the swith on several times (up to 8), the rear view mirror dimmer will make it just go black sometimes, and the clock won't set. Little dumb stuff happens like handles and clips just come off in your hand. When we put the strut tower brace on we found a large plastic housing cracked in half just hanging in the engine bay. Three trips to the dealer and I give up, I can "deal" with it. Too many mods now to go there. But a few mods and the car handles like a dream. Can't quite keep up with the STI but is cost a little less, so I had money for mods. Now it brakes and turns with the STI, just can't pull like it. The R sounds soooo much sweeter. Right now the Rs suspension and brakes are wwwway ahead of my engine, that is a good thing, a lot more whoa than go. His interior looks like my dads Corolla, and the R32s is nicer than a lot of 60k+ cars I have been in. His trunk only holds a little more than my hatch, and the back seats are good for another 2 or 3 inches. I don't have a hood scope that shakes in my front line of vision and a rear fin that blocks my rear view mirror. His car makes me go looking for Porsche 911s, mine makes me want to turn the stereo up and live with it every day... To each his own.
drey
drey
03-24-2005, 10:51 PM
#24
Honestly, I've checked out an R32 and they are very nice cars. A friend of a friend has one, and I got a chance to look at it inside and out a few times. I certainly wouldn't put one down and I would definitely drive one if I got it for free (or a killer deal).
I didn't consider one because I have a long history with Subaru, but that doesn't mean I have to put them down. They are certainly nice.
I didn't consider one because I have a long history with Subaru, but that doesn't mean I have to put them down. They are certainly nice.
03-25-2005, 04:46 AM
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
I really liked the R32 because it was like VW's STi. The AWD is nice and I have always LOVED the guages, it is not a slow car and with some minor mods it can respond well to I think it could more than hold it's own against the competition... looks sharp. Would I pay the price for a brand new one? Nah... I think there the STi and EVO beat it out for what it is however used I think the R32 has it's advantages, correct me if I am wrong but the R32 just does not give me that "I"VE BEEN BEATEN" vibe, it seems like it would be a car you don't need to go into such dept to buy used and that is kind of nice.
03-25-2005, 07:28 AM
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by meilers
and the babies comment is worthy of a ban from the forum itself.
Originally Posted by meilers
For the record, Dan Neil described the STI as having "the battle-hardened visage of a samurai warrior," which is just about the coolest thing ever said about a car.
03-25-2005, 08:41 AM
#27
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pottstown, PA
Posts: 25
Car Info: '04 Deep Blue .:R32
I don't post here much, but I found this thread from VWvortex, so I thought I'd throw in my $0.02. No flames... just adding to the discussion and hopefully I can clear a few things up.
To the comments from two different people that the R32 is:
The R32 is much more than a standard Golf or GTI. Drive one and you'll see. It is more than the sum of its parts. Modify a regular GTI to the same equipment level as an R32 and your cost will be obscenely higher than the $30k MSRP. Its purpose is a high performance touring hatchback, not a rally car for the street.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, just some comments and related info...
This is my 2nd Mk4 VW... They've had a few problems, but nothing major...
MAF, window regulators (on a '99.5 model). These problems were addressed a while ago and aside from those two things, which were fixed, my old GTI VR6 gave me 80k good miles until I traded up to an R32. Both cars have been very reliable... Never had a time where my car left me stranded. It's a shame that there are lemons around, but hey, it can happen to any car.
The R32 doesn't cost $32k, unless you include stealership markup, which has been as high as +$5-10k. When there were lots of them at dealers, you could find them for $27-28k.
VW has some problems, but BMW and Porsche have their own as well.
The R32 is basically an Audi TT 3.2... except it's a hatchback and costs $15k less than the Audi, which is a 2-seater. The R32 performs just as well, if not slightly better, too. Audi borrowed VW's engine and transmission, while
VW borrowed Haldex, which happens to do a fantastic job in bad
weather. In no way is it "dicey" when compared to a more traditional AWD system. The R32 even uses the same suspension components as the TT up front.
At $30k, the R32 is not (was not) marketed as a direct competitor to the Evo and STi. In fact, the R32 wasn't marketed at all. However, people love to compare, so the inevitable happens... and there's nothing wrong with comparisons. They're comparable in price alone, though. The R32 was built in Europe before the new versions of the Evo and STi, so it wasn't "VW's answer" to these cars. VW could have cared less about the competition in the U.S. because there is no "hot hatch" competition. The R32's main competition is in Europe in the form of the Focus RS and other similar
hatchbacks.
If anything, the R32 falls between the WRX and the STi/Evo on the performance scale. It's a hi-po touring car and not a race car for the street, as the STi/Evo are commonly described. It can be made better, of course, with suspension and tire mods, etc. If anyone was wondering about 0-60 times, the R32 isn't geared for this. It takes 2 shifts to reach 60mph. The gearbox is designed for quick in-gear acceleration, especially at highway speeds.
There's even a race series in (I think) Australia in which the R32 more than holds its own against M3s, Evos, STIs, and other cool cars.
If anyone's interested in more info, check out the FAQ here:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1285689
I hope this info helped a little bit.
Cheers.
To the comments from two different people that the R32 is:
a way overpriced GTI and too heavy & too expensive for its purposes... (the were trying to get into the ring with the Evo and STi).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, just some comments and related info...
This is my 2nd Mk4 VW... They've had a few problems, but nothing major...
MAF, window regulators (on a '99.5 model). These problems were addressed a while ago and aside from those two things, which were fixed, my old GTI VR6 gave me 80k good miles until I traded up to an R32. Both cars have been very reliable... Never had a time where my car left me stranded. It's a shame that there are lemons around, but hey, it can happen to any car.
The R32 doesn't cost $32k, unless you include stealership markup, which has been as high as +$5-10k. When there were lots of them at dealers, you could find them for $27-28k.
VW has some problems, but BMW and Porsche have their own as well.
The R32 is basically an Audi TT 3.2... except it's a hatchback and costs $15k less than the Audi, which is a 2-seater. The R32 performs just as well, if not slightly better, too. Audi borrowed VW's engine and transmission, while
VW borrowed Haldex, which happens to do a fantastic job in bad
weather. In no way is it "dicey" when compared to a more traditional AWD system. The R32 even uses the same suspension components as the TT up front.
At $30k, the R32 is not (was not) marketed as a direct competitor to the Evo and STi. In fact, the R32 wasn't marketed at all. However, people love to compare, so the inevitable happens... and there's nothing wrong with comparisons. They're comparable in price alone, though. The R32 was built in Europe before the new versions of the Evo and STi, so it wasn't "VW's answer" to these cars. VW could have cared less about the competition in the U.S. because there is no "hot hatch" competition. The R32's main competition is in Europe in the form of the Focus RS and other similar
hatchbacks.
If anything, the R32 falls between the WRX and the STi/Evo on the performance scale. It's a hi-po touring car and not a race car for the street, as the STi/Evo are commonly described. It can be made better, of course, with suspension and tire mods, etc. If anyone was wondering about 0-60 times, the R32 isn't geared for this. It takes 2 shifts to reach 60mph. The gearbox is designed for quick in-gear acceleration, especially at highway speeds.
There's even a race series in (I think) Australia in which the R32 more than holds its own against M3s, Evos, STIs, and other cool cars.
If anyone's interested in more info, check out the FAQ here:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1285689
I hope this info helped a little bit.
Cheers.
Last edited by Max Rebo; 03-25-2005 at 08:46 AM.
03-25-2005, 05:45 PM
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
STi's are sick cars and so are WRX's, if all you want is performance. but for those who think their WRX/STi are "sportier" tha R32's dont realize you are driving a Family Sedan. and the best thing about R's are you do see 15 of them a day like most people do wrx's and sti's. they only made 5k of them and thats it one year and no more and they sold them without ever putting out a commercial or feature them in a car care/performance commercial. STi=great performance and ok looks/features. R32=good performance and extremley good features and bang for the buck, 2 totally diff cars, cant really compare......just my.02
03-25-2005, 07:00 PM
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
I got rid of my 2002 WRX in favor of an R32 - mostly because my *preference* is natural aspiration (non-turbo). I loved the WRX in the snow but the R32 cannot go there where I live due to lower ground clearance (plus factory summer-only tires on the R32 start slipping if the word snow is even mentioned).
Anyhow the fact I took a huge loss on the WRX (factory stock, average miles, great condition, blaze yellow but *ugh* automatic) shows what I think of the R32. A much more adult - lower key car (and I like hatchbacks).
Never have driven a Mazdaspeed6 - so no comment on that one.
Anyhow the fact I took a huge loss on the WRX (factory stock, average miles, great condition, blaze yellow but *ugh* automatic) shows what I think of the R32. A much more adult - lower key car (and I like hatchbacks).
Never have driven a Mazdaspeed6 - so no comment on that one.
Last edited by MountainWRX; 03-25-2005 at 07:07 PM.
04-10-2005, 05:36 PM
#30
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19
Car Info: 2005 Subaru WRX
Would look at a Mazdaspeed 6 if I were considering a Legacy GT but it definitely doesn't compete with the WRX. I drove an R32 before buying my WRX and it was very comfortable but I felt more disconnected and it felt less of a driver's car than the WRX is.