Neil_M
RMS Regular
- Messages
- 4,766
With the Mini (R53 Cooper S) about to go up for sale it was time to look for a replacement.
My initial thoughts were to go for a german estate and while a very practical car to use for life's courier requirements and daily driving duties, it's also something I would have used to tow the Civic to and from Kirkistown.
I couldn't really find anything that floated my boat. So I ended up looking at A6's and 5 series saloons. I did find a clinker of an E60, however the dealer was less than honest so that was ignored.
I came back to looking at hot hatches. The Mk2 Focus ST became a contender, as did an Edition 30 GTI. However many were wrecked and not quite something I wanted to put any money into. During the searches of Mk5 Golfs, the odd R32 cropped up.
I spotted the car I ended up with, seen the aftermarket wheels, stickers and closed the advert. The following day over several beers and a Chinese a mate suggested the same R32 again. Slightly hazy from the day before, we took a lap down to see the car. Isn't that the best way to pick a car?
We spent a good hour looking round it. Underneath the aftermarket wheels and "interesting" additional decals, a very lucrative project was hiding. A full detailed history was supplied with the car, mechanically it didn't seem to need anything. The body work needed a little tidy, the leather and interior needed a detail and the wheels could be changed. Most of these things I can do myself, partnered with the low miles a deal was done and the car was bought.
The interior is in pretty good shape. Bar a few decals that will be removed.
Don't worry the stickers on the rear window and side skirts didn't last long, even when the car was parked up.
The fuel filler cap was about to grow legs.
The exhausts were given a very quick once over... I should have these like a mirror in due course.
Her first real drive after getting a tank of super was a blast down the motorway to the Cars & Coffee meet at PMG Autocare. It was a pretty crap day and I was running late, so a brisk drive down the motorway provided a good test of the car. She just woofled down the motorway, heated seats on, totally sure footed.
Parked up at PMG.
The wheels are dirt magnets!
During a break in work, the VW badges on the key were replaced. A nice wee cheap detail.
On a similar topic, the spare key had rabies... So it was stripped and moved into a new housing.
Thats one shot of the commute to work, not bad at all.
The rear wiper bolt cover was split too. It was replaced with a genuine item after a coat of Gtechniq C4.
If you are anything like me you will have researched any car you buy and read many reviews. Based on reviews and opinions of others you always tend to focus on the negatives. Many comparisons are made to the Mk5 Golf GTi, I honestly found the GTi a little too much of a jack of all trades and master of none (I well appreciate that goes against many reviews). The noise, looks and character of the R32 along with it's sure footedness make for a very special daily. Best of all part prices are very cheap, many many boxes are ticked with this car.
Here are some period YouTube reviews from TopGear and 5th Gear. Naturally Tiff's driving style emanates my daily commute.
The next plans are to give the body work a bit of protection for the remainder of the winter months and add some sheen back to the paint. A good service, engine bay detail, interior detail, remove some of the previous owners tweaks and change the wheels.
Ultimately she will be a daily. So I won't go too mad on it...
Only kidding, full steam ahead, let the rebuild commence!
My initial thoughts were to go for a german estate and while a very practical car to use for life's courier requirements and daily driving duties, it's also something I would have used to tow the Civic to and from Kirkistown.
I couldn't really find anything that floated my boat. So I ended up looking at A6's and 5 series saloons. I did find a clinker of an E60, however the dealer was less than honest so that was ignored.
I came back to looking at hot hatches. The Mk2 Focus ST became a contender, as did an Edition 30 GTI. However many were wrecked and not quite something I wanted to put any money into. During the searches of Mk5 Golfs, the odd R32 cropped up.
I spotted the car I ended up with, seen the aftermarket wheels, stickers and closed the advert. The following day over several beers and a Chinese a mate suggested the same R32 again. Slightly hazy from the day before, we took a lap down to see the car. Isn't that the best way to pick a car?
We spent a good hour looking round it. Underneath the aftermarket wheels and "interesting" additional decals, a very lucrative project was hiding. A full detailed history was supplied with the car, mechanically it didn't seem to need anything. The body work needed a little tidy, the leather and interior needed a detail and the wheels could be changed. Most of these things I can do myself, partnered with the low miles a deal was done and the car was bought.
The interior is in pretty good shape. Bar a few decals that will be removed.
Don't worry the stickers on the rear window and side skirts didn't last long, even when the car was parked up.
The fuel filler cap was about to grow legs.
The exhausts were given a very quick once over... I should have these like a mirror in due course.
Her first real drive after getting a tank of super was a blast down the motorway to the Cars & Coffee meet at PMG Autocare. It was a pretty crap day and I was running late, so a brisk drive down the motorway provided a good test of the car. She just woofled down the motorway, heated seats on, totally sure footed.
Parked up at PMG.
The wheels are dirt magnets!
During a break in work, the VW badges on the key were replaced. A nice wee cheap detail.
On a similar topic, the spare key had rabies... So it was stripped and moved into a new housing.
Thats one shot of the commute to work, not bad at all.
The rear wiper bolt cover was split too. It was replaced with a genuine item after a coat of Gtechniq C4.
If you are anything like me you will have researched any car you buy and read many reviews. Based on reviews and opinions of others you always tend to focus on the negatives. Many comparisons are made to the Mk5 Golf GTi, I honestly found the GTi a little too much of a jack of all trades and master of none (I well appreciate that goes against many reviews). The noise, looks and character of the R32 along with it's sure footedness make for a very special daily. Best of all part prices are very cheap, many many boxes are ticked with this car.
Here are some period YouTube reviews from TopGear and 5th Gear. Naturally Tiff's driving style emanates my daily commute.
The next plans are to give the body work a bit of protection for the remainder of the winter months and add some sheen back to the paint. A good service, engine bay detail, interior detail, remove some of the previous owners tweaks and change the wheels.
Ultimately she will be a daily. So I won't go too mad on it...
Only kidding, full steam ahead, let the rebuild commence!
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