just found out today while browsing through the detroit auto show stuff and saw a video clip of the STi unveiling process and my mouth dropped.
This is my first post to i-club but i am a member of www.vwvortex.com a similar site, in brief i have a Supercharged 1997 GTI VR6 with a crap load of mods that i wont bore you guys with..... anyway what i have not seen mentioned on here is the Volkswagen Golf R32, VW's answer into the All wheel drive sport compact market.
my GTI is for sale and i had my sights set on the R32, a 3.2L V6 241hp 6 speed hatchback with all kinds of other goodies, but no turbo, no WRC proven parts like the STi and a price tag to come in around $30-$32k they are saying, car is coming out later this year and has been on sale in Europe since earlier this year.
I know the VW will beat the pants off the STi when it comes to Interior treatments and finishes that is a strong point of theirs thanks to Audi. But for that price the R32 does not even compare to the STi. i love the current WRX and considered getting one when it first came out, i know many people that have them modified and stock and love them.

i want to know when this STi is coming out, the VW is said to arrive in August but as last as december, production numbers will be around 4000 cars. VW has also said they may not inclue HIDs and their Climatronic system on the US cars compared to the Eurospec ones. Now i am a VW/Audi guy at heart but this STi has me completely in a stir. I cannot fathom spending $30k on a brand that i love, if i know for maybe even a little more money there is a car on the market with 60 more HP, and a fun turbo to play with.
tell me what you think and treat a new guy nice.

 

I have a V6 passat and people that haven't been in a VW for a long time would be surprizes witht the overall quality especially the interior.

The R32 looks nice but for the money the Sti will kill it. I have not seen the official US price or the HP (I thought it would be like 222 HP). Even with 241 HP it will be more in the performance ballpark of the standard WRX or 350Z. But at a price disadvantage.

The VW is on the same price range as the STi but 60 HP less. The STi is a match for M3 (at least in 0-60), the WV is a match for the 330Ci.

If you want luxury get the VW if you want max performance the STi is the winner.

 

I am also an Audi owner, currently waiting for an STi, and I can't wait. The audi VX interior I thin is the best in the automotive industry, especially compared to other cars in the lower priced competition. However, the R32 engine is going to be put into the TT and other cars and it will come in both single and twin turbocharged versions. But, as you all said, the pricing point is already high. Not to mention that the next generation TT will ber priced to compete with the M3 and the Boxter (around 50 K). I just can't justify paying 50K for car that will come from the factory with 320-340 hp when you could get something faster and better performing for 20K less....

P.S. Nice looking GTI...

 

thanks for the comments fellas, glad to see no one really trashed the VW after all its not a Honda

i will take an extreme close look at both mentioned cars this weekend a the Detroit show and then see about pricing and availability dates when they are confirmed.

by the way my GTI in the above pic is for sale

Brian

 

What is the matter with honda?

I think your car looks nice for starts.
As far as Audi goes when I'm in the market for a Luxury car I'll be on my way to an Audi dealership. I would love to look out my window and see a ALMS TT and an RS6 sitting beside an STI no doubt.
the thing is they are selling to different markets the target market for audi/vw isn't the same for subaru (till we get the B4).

 

is it just me or is your dub lower in the front then in the back... What motor does it have and what is done to it

 

Honda knows how to make engines take my S2000 with 120 hp/liter normally aspirated. 9000 rpm redline. Also has the best shifter I've ever experienced.

 

my car is a VR6 GTI with a Z-engineering supercharged, 220whp and 200 lb-ft torque, car is a lil lower in the front , i set the coilovers that way, looks more aggressive and handles a lil better that way.

not a fan of the S2000 achieving power at the extreme range of the RPM band is not fun, low end torque and HP is where its at.

 

I hear that. Once you go german you don't want any thing else. Look at the Rx7 that make a 180 hp per liter.

 

have you tried to sell it on www.vwvortex.com or www.audiworld.com or www.audizine. I'm a member at all of these so let me know if I can help.

 

yeah im a member of vortex and audi world, and have tried to sell it on vortex, im actually gonna part it out i decided

Well i went to the auto show yesterday and heavily looked at the STi and R32, lady said the STi would be available in June and run between $33-34k thats a bit steep.

The R32 will run around $28k which is more of what i can handle, I dont really plan to mod either car depending on my decision, i already did that with my GTI and now that im selling it am losing a ton of money but thats OK.

I think i end up picking the R32 over the STi because of price and comfort. I know VW is an all around nice car, not just focusing on all out performance like the STi, the VW will be a better every day drivers car with all of the interior comforts that i know will be better than the STi, i also think if i do decide to mod either motor, i know i can bolt on a supercharger to the 3.2L V6 in the VW and get it to around 300hp for about 4grand which would put me at the price of the STi, but i dont think i will do that, If i got the STi i have heard that motor can probably only be pushed another 30-50hp until you gotta go into the internals so it could handle the boost.

Also the biggest factor i think is the FUN factor. I'm a stable and known member of the VW community, and have made a ton of friends threw going to VW only shows and have gained respect at Import shows where i was 1 of only a few VWs there. I dont see the Subaru community being anything like the Dub one, and that is something i would miss out a lot on.

I do have pics that i'm about to put up of both cars on my image station site, maybe i will post them up in this thread later.
Brian