ChrisBuer Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Right guys / gals, I’ve reached a crossroads and need your advice. After my visit to APS today, they confirmed that the oil levels I said I was burning seemed high, even though within VW tolerance. They also advised me that the cam conversion that I’ve been waiting for since last year would not be a sensible move just in case I did have a problem with the engine. Therefore the only real option would be to take the car back to VW AGAIN and get them to investigate. According to Ed, the only real conclusive check would be to dismantle the engine and see if there was a problem. However as I’m within the VW tolerance, I’m not sure this would be covered under warranty. Firstly I’m NOT prepared to lose my car again for another month while they mess about with it. Secondly although I’m within VW tolerance (1 litre per every 625 miles – which I think is very excessive), because I’ve already had one engine blow following an oil issue, I’m totally lost confidence in the car. Put it this way, I will be selling the car before the warranty runs out as I have no confidence in it any more. Therefore I reach a crossroads with what to do. Do I. 1. Get VW to investigate again, potentially losing the car for another month (it’s only done 11000 miles as well!!), plus possibly not being able to have the checks carried out under warranty. 2. Cut my losses and sell the car now and buy something else? Right now, I just want to sell because I’m fed up with it to be quite honest. I can’t get my cams put in which is a biggy for me as I’d like the car to be quicker. APS have also said that I’ll spend thousands on the car trying to get it quicker whereas if I bought a turbo car, it would be cheaper to mod. So, (nearly there haha) I’m thinking of: Option 1: Trade in for an Audi S3. I get the turbo, the BOSE system (the stereo is also something else I’ve been looking to change on the Golf) and all the extras. Chip along will get me over 300bhp, plus my anti roll bars and short shifter will go directly on. This option will probably cost me around 9k. Option 2: If I can find it, buy an ED30 GTI (I don’t think I will get one, but I’m getting a call back on Monday to find out). Again, this can take all of the above mods, plus APS say that I can get my R32 Milltek on there without any problems at all. Also because it’s a de-tuned Audi S3 engine, the chip along will harness 300bhp+ making it a very capable car in gear. This option will probably cost around 2-3k. Option 3: Buy a Golf GTI (same spec as my car) and have APS tune it which will make around 280bhp and a LOT more torque than my R32! I can pretty much swap like for like so financially this option makes the most sense. Right I think I’m done rambling. Oh just to add that I’ve just bought a house and I get married in two years time, so I do need to think not only the best long term option, but also the finances do come into it. Sorry for the long post, but hopefully someone will be able to help me out on this one as I’ve been awake most of the night mulling over it. Cheers all Chris. (I'll post this in both GTI and R32 forums to get a varied response). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 would you be able to tolerate a fwd vs awd car? for what it's worth, you can get a new high spec ed30 from here but it's a bit pricey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winrya Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 After running an alfa for a couple of years, i hated that it drank oil, had to check it every couple of weeks, drive isnt flat and it was a pain trying to calculate the max level. Was a relief to get into a car that didnt drink. I would not be happy that the r32 is drinking oil, although within tolerance, most others dont drink so for me that shows the problem. It seems other than this prob, you love the car. I would give vw the chance to fix it (if can be done under warranty), get a good courtesy car and if they fix it then your happy with no outlay. If they cant fix it then i'd go standard gti or s3. A remap on a standard gti takes it to the max power i would be happy to put through front wheel drive, and for me i dont like the ed30 alloys. Plus as its a smaller turbo, its more responsive at low revs with no lag. S3 is also a lovely car but is alot for a hatch, i know margins are small with these cars but they rate the r32 better than the s3 and the gti better than the r32. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winrya Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] would you be able to tolerate a fwd vs awd car? for what it's worth, you can get a new high spec ed30 from here but it's a bit pricey... [/ QUOTE ] i presume thats an import then. Wheels looks well nice, great colour combination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 yes, the black monzas suggest that it's an import as they not available from the factory for the UK market... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBuer Posted April 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Cheers for the feedback. Just to say that the engine in the ED30 is the same as the S3's engine, albeit a de-tuned version, so it would be the car to have. The way I feel at the moment is that I really don't know if I can stomach going through all these engine checks again with VW as I did it all last year. I just want a car that works well and that I don't need to worry about! Going from AWD to FWD is of no concern at all because my driving is smooth enough not to notice the benefit of AWD on the road. I never hammer it out of corners nor off the line and in the wet I'm very smooth and progressive. Put it this way, as a daily drive, I don't notice the difference between the R32 and my old Cooper S Works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 with just a remap on the ed30 you could get 300bhp+ or be more adventureous and go for 330bhp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 If you were to go for the Ed30 and remap, Chris, I would seriously consider upgrading the suspension and possibly brakes - It just makes a difference to the handling and compliments the extra power. It's a slippery slope though - As you already know! I know you've done the Don Palmer course and know what you're doing, so I'd be happy to let you have a drive in mine if we ever get to the same TSN meet. Btw, I'm doing the Drivetrain course in a couple of weeks. Ultimately, again as you already know, it'll be down to test driving various cars to make a final decision. It'll be interesting to hear what you do decide and your thoughts along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 In your situation I would go for the S3. The tuning / BHP you want to achieve has already been done OEM style so no warranty issues. You would have a new car with 3 years cover....plus you have 4wd. Not sure if there is a new A3 due though - may be worth a check Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 How about an oettinger A3?: HERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 What spec are you after in a GTI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I would sell it if it was me. Not sure what i would get then though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiller Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Christ,what a dilemma,although the options are all good cars.On your oil use problem have you considered setting up a thread for other R32 owners(and possibly A3 3.2 owners)to enter their oil consumption figures so you can print it off or show online to the dealer to show him that it is unusual for these engines to use so much oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmerpalmer Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 if you do not feel the need for AWD, then try to get hold of an ED30 S3 & ED30 both v quick, but at the end of the day, my driving style is like yours, so did not need AWD. However, as others have said, there is a limit (i think) to how much power can go thro the front wheels. Power without control = In the real world, there may be little difference between S3 & Ed30 performance, and the money you save buying a ED30, you could have a fantastic holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prt57 Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 I looked at buying an R32 for nearly a year and if my chosen garage had come up with a good deal I would have bought one. I liked the sound very much but I kept on thinking that I was expecting more regarding the power. I also did not like the interior of the MK V compared to my GTI 1.8T. Last summer people started to talk about the S3 and I wondered could I wait. Well I did and the day after the S3 demo arrived at the dealer I had a spin followed straight away by a spin in an R32. I had the S3 for 2 hours the next day and then went straight into the dealer and ordered one. I am pleased that I waited for the S3! prt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medway Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 prt57 What swung it for you in coming to your decision between S3/R32? Was it the interior or the drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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