2008 Volkswagen Golf R32

Guide price: £6,000 - £8,000

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

• 250hp naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6

• Full main dealer service history

• Clean MOT pass in March 2023

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Right from the get-go back in 1974 – were you even born then? – the Volkswagen Golf has always been a brilliant all-rounder. However, even the most rabid followers will admit that some of the GTI performance derivatives in the first four Golf generations hardly warmed the blue touchpaper, let alone lit it.

The R32 put that slightly awkward reputation to bed when it joined the Mk 4 Golf range in 2002. It was powered by Volkswagen’s narrow-angle V6, an engine that had been delivering a lot of speed for not a lot of money since the 2.8 litre version first appeared in the Mk 3 Golf VR6 back in the early 1990s,

At the end of 2005, two years into the production run of the gen-five Golf, VW updated the R32 concept with a new version of the 3.2 litre V6 that put out nearly 250hp, 25 percent more than the 2.0 four-cylinder unit in the contemporary GTI could muster. It was good power too, creamy and linear. With an aftermarket exhaust bolted on in place of the standard centre-mounted twin-pipe system it sounded incredible.

Nicely weighted electric power steering teamed up brilliantly with a Haldex all-wheel drive system that routed power to the back wheels for nailed-on handling. If you showed the R32 a series of bends with a crash stop at the end you found that it was more than capable of out-performing not just the Golf GTI but also high-profile rivals like Audi’s RS4.

The gen-five R32 turned out to be the last Golf to have a big, naturally aspirated motor. Its replacement, the 2.0 FSI turbo four-powered Golf R, went well enough but lacked much of the old car’s character, leaving more than a few owners wishing they hadn’t traded in their R32s. If you’re one of those regretful ex-owners, or if you just like the idea of an era-ending car that may well appreciate over the coming years, you should be paying close attention to this properly used and well looked after manual example.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

A fully stamped up Volkswagen main dealer service book comes with the car along with two keys.

The most recent oil and inspection service was on 28 March 2023 at 129,627 miles, a week after the car passed its MOT test with no advisories. Moving back through the book we see a mix of major/full and minor/interim/inspection/oil change services in March ’22 (118k), Oct ’20 (104k), May ’19 (89k), June ‘18 (78k), August ’17 (67k), Dec ’16 (55k), May ’16 (45k), May ’14 (34k), June ’13 (27k), May ’12 (24k), Feb ’11 (22k), Sept ’10 (18k), and Sept ’09 (10k). Brake fluid changes were carried out in July ’21 (111k), May ’19 (89k), May ’16 (44k) and June ’13 (26k), while the important Haldex fluid change has been done twice, at 91k in July 2019 and at 44k in May 2016.

The last MOT test in March ’23 at 129,000 miles was advisory-free.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

The R32 was a range-topping car so there was no skimping on equipment. That meant heated leather seats, dual climate control, auto xenon lights, auto wipers, sat nav, Bluetooth, and hands-free audio.

The owner describes the interior as being in very good condition, with the usual light wear on the driver’s seat bolster and some detachment of the headlining in the sunglasses holder area.

𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿

There are small patches of corrosion on the leading edges of both sills. The paintwork is very good, with only a couple of small fixes on both front wings that were done by a previous owner. There’s also a little lacquer peel on the rear plastic trim (driver’s side) and on two of the wheels. The other two wheels are in near-perfect condition.

Model experts will of course know that the standard gen-five R32 didn’t have a black grille. The original silver grille is held by the owner and will be supplied with the car. In every other respect the car is completely standard.

𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹

A recent VCDS scan showed no faults. The timing chains are well within factory tolerances. The tyres are new Dunlop Sport Maxxes.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆

The idea of a big naturally aspirated engine under the bonnet of a Golf still excites and can surely only increase in allure as motoring moves through smaller turbocharged engines to the hum and whine of all-electric powerplants.

This R32 isn’t perfect. It’s a car that’s been driven rather than left to moulder under a cover. but the bodywork flaws should be easily rectifiable. According to the owner, it drives perfectly – and that the most important thing for any fan of fast Golfs.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Stronua near Fort Augustus in Scotland, between Fort William and Inverness. What a collection drive that promises to be.