you are correct on that, new GTIs and R32s MKVs are made in Germany so it should be made with German quality ( better reliability i'm guessing ), not from outsourcing mexico factories like the older VWs were. Only 5000 R32s are being shipped to the US. I read roughly 1000 which are taken for already. DSG does shift faster than a manual but however you do lose out the manual driving experience. Since the GTI turbo is detuned from the factory, these cars have a lot of potential by merely spending a little as $600 for a Giac/APR chip/reflash which already gives you +40 - 50 HP and TQ. One thing i don't like about the new GTIs are no LSD, all cars around its class comes with it e.g Civic SI / Mini cooper / Mazdaspeed 3

 

i really wish the rx8 was actually more of a tuners car..like what mazda had everyone believing. i have an 04 so i was one of the first to get one. i always trusted mazda to have tunable cars..the rx8 was a huge dissapointment...especially when the claimed hp just kept going downhill. i guess i should call myself lucky..i have one of those rare cars that dyno a whoooping 190rwhp stock... BUT regardless ive learned to love the car for what it is....and for what it is..its a damn good car but not what i was originally looking for when i preordered it....ive had 2 rx7s in the past so being the diehard rotor head that i am...had to get the 8. but for now ill keep the 8 until something else tickles my pickle....but the r32 will still remain an option.

 

project_dork,
What do you mean by a "tuners car"?

 

the RX series have all been well known for their abilities to gain large amounts of power. the rx8 is no joke when it comes to the cornering aspects...but it falls extremely short with its straight line abilities.... even the mazdaspeed rx8 has virtually no engine improvements while as other speed version like the 3, mx5 and even the 6 all have significant increases in power(shows their ability to be tuned). whereas the the speed8 was left out in the cold. ive come to a conclusion that the rx8 is one of those purists cars that should be left untouched..with an exception of a few body and suspension mods.

 

If you've ever driven on a track and messed around with suspension settings, you'll realize that suspension tuning makes a BIG difference in lap times. Depending on the technicality of the track, suspension/handling more than offset the power deficiency.

I hear you along with others that RX-8 is currently underpowered among consumer perceived competition, but it's not like there are no aftermarket power adding solutions. If you've got the cash, give Mazsport a call and they'll set you up with decent straight line power.

 

yeah...the rx8 could be tuners car...if your extremely rich..^_^

 

The GTI and GLI dont have a LSD persay, they have an equivillant of one built into the car, I forgot what it was called I'd have to get the manual from the car later today, but it does the exact same thing as an LSD.

 

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymak...agen2008.shtml

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymake/Mazda2008.shtml

2 mpg diff works out to about $300/year savings. (Assumptions: $3.00/gal, 15K mi/yr)

If $300 a year seems like big savings, do it.

 

Not really. They use ESP (electronic stability program), like our DSC. They still could benefit quite a bit from an LSD to pull out of those corners. Mazdaspeed3 uses both LSD and DSC.

 

The B5 Passat (1998 - 2004) was made in Germany but it is far from being a quality automobile. If the VW's made outside of Germany have even lower quality then I pity those who bought them.

 

Think of it this way. The fact you are looking to replace the 8 says it all. I've owned many cars and with that came many trips to look at other cars. I have not once thought about owning another car because of the fact I love my 8. That's it. Just weigh out your own choices.

 

I wouldn't be holding my breath that the car being made in Germany will make any difference. None of the German made cars manufactures rate better then half way up the list in terms of quality and most are hanging around the bottom. Mercedes was rated the worst I believe.

Also where a car was made has little impact on it's quality these days. Toyotas are rated well no matter were they are built. It is the engineering, management and component testing that is largely to credit for increased reliability.

 

I'm not a fan of the new VW GTI/R32 look, so for that amount of money, I would get a used STI. The whole "rx8 gas mileage sucks" isn't the greatest reason for getting a new car. You will take a bigger loss selling your car than you will ever get back from gas savings in the R32.

 

is the ESP on the newer models cause mine doesnt have that. Mine is an 02 1.8t jetta and it has ASR (Anti-slip regulation) which is the traction control and something else which I can't remember off the top of my head nothing about ESP though.

 

It also had a **** load of wheel hop.

I know from experience.

 

yeah, I'm on radials and i still break the jetta loose even in 2nd gear. The wheel hop is unbearable in 1st as the car makes you feel like the world is gonna end. And my jetta hasnt been tuned for the mods on it yet...I think the car is gonna fall apart from the wheel hop.

 

I'm quite certain ESP is standard on all new GTI and Jetta GLIs.

I don't know about ASRs but it sounds like some kind of traction control. The sensors for anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction controls (TSC or ASR(?)), and stability programs (ESP/DSC), all use similar sensors to detect wheel slip. These are all electronic. The difference between all three from my understanding is how the algorithm that reacts to these sensors.

LSD on the other hand mechanically limits slippage. So yes, ESP can be used to emulate LSD, but it feels very different and thus performs differently.

 

Okay, well as I said I was refferring to mine which is the MKIV not MKV so I don't have the ESP I have ASR which is traction control but when I get a hold of my manual I will clarify what the other thing is.

 

yeah i would trade it the r32 is AWD and its a rare car i think there was only like 1500 made or something like that

 

i would get the mk4 r32 its a 6 speed and it has the vr6 3.2L engine in it they hold their re-sale value if you want to know more about them talk to my brother he knows alot of information on volkswagens his AIM is a gasoline fire

 

The VW auto clutch setup is totally high tech, but there is no better feeling than banging through the gears manually.

 

My cousin used to drive a MKIV GTI and she used to beat my *** up and down the section of the road we take to go work everyday, except maybe 5 times in which I called her when she was trying to shift and she mis-shifted

well, I ended up bussing her *** ever so often because the gti apparently does not like to be tinkered, let alone f..ked with in anyway shape or form

and as most of you have pointed out, its a great car and all, VW just didn't up the little things, my cousin's car had to at the LEAST overheat like 10 times over the span of 8 months that she kept it
one time she raced me some hose clamp or something came undone and I can see water trailing behind her car

thats all I'm saying, anything good luck