As an acknowledged GTI fan, and someone with only a little wheel time in the new top-model R32 (which VW has been shamefully withholding from U.S. buyers for some two years), I rudely shoved my way to the front of the signup line and snatched the keys for an extended romp with VeeDub's hottest hatch.
The immediate impression upon climbing aboard the R32 is how sumptuous it is. This may be a small, two-door hatchback, but it's lavishly equipped: heated leather sport seats (they're simply fabulous), dual-zone climate control, Sirius Satellite Radio, glass moonroof, cool "F1" flat-bottom leather wheel, optional navigation. The cockpit fits me like a wetsuit; it's tight but -- for me at least -- ideally proportioned. I love the meaty feel of the three-spoke wheel, the right-on placement of the dead pedal, the icy glow of the blue instruments. The radio is a little slow to respond to tuning inputs, and the climate-control dials feel a bit cheap, but, c'mon -- these are trifling quibbles. This is how you build an enthusiast-car cockpit.
Instead of the GTI's 2.0-liter turbo four, as you likely know, the R32 boasts VW's narrow-angle, 3.2-liter V-6 -- producing 250 horsepower (up 50 hp over the GTI) and 236 pound-feet of torque (up 29 pound-feet). While the 2.0 has just a bit of turbo lag, the 3.2, of course, has none. It revs sweetly and pulls hard, putting all of its might down without hiccups -- thanks to standard 4Motion all-wheel drive. Performance is increased over the GTI, but not as much as you might; the AWD system and larger engine, among other things, add roughly 300 pounds to the bottom line. You don't notice the added mass so much in straight-line sprints, but you do in corners. Whereas the GTI is a scalpel on twisting roads -- neat, precise, light to the touch -- the R32 is a power saw: it does its work effortlessly, but it's a more brutal tool and you'll flex your muscles more moving it around. The ride is also stiffer than I remembered from my earlier quick drive -- not harsh, but you'll never forget you're piloting an enthusiast's car.
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