325i vs MK5 R32

gman3msport · 01-19-2013, 04:08 PM

Had my golf r32 for two years and it was a great car with all the toys, dsg, heated leather, electric everything but was quite pricey to own so thought it was time for a change and bought a BMW 325i last week. I did try the 320i but it didn't really do anything for me and new I would have probably got bored or it in a couple of weeks. Soon as I drove the 325i it put a smile on my face straight away and has done every time I have drove it since. Compared to the golf it feels smoother, quieter and is more comfortable over the bumpy crappy roads, not sure if its quicker or slower than the golf tbh it feels about the same. One thing I'm sure about though is that it is definitely better on fuel than the golf. I've been dreading the snow because I know how bad these can be and new I would be cursing myself if I get stuck and a r32 drives past me but so far so good! Not really missing the golf at all, so the BMW is cheaper to run, more comfortable and looks great too. Just need to get saving for the list of mods that I want to do to it.

Mwp4me · 01-19-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman3msport

Had my golf r32 for two years and it was a great car with all the toys, dsg, heated leather, electric everything but was quite pricey to own so thought it was time for a change and bought a BMW 325i last week. I did try the 320i but it didn't really do anything for me and new I would have probably got bored or it in a couple of weeks. Soon as I drove the 325i it put a smile on my face straight away and has done every time I have drove it since. Compared to the golf it feels smoother, quieter and is more comfortable over the bumpy crappy roads, not sure if its quicker or slower than the golf tbh it feels about the same. One thing I'm sure about though is that it is definitely better on fuel than the golf. I've been dreading the snow because I know how bad these can be and new I would be cursing myself if I get stuck and a r32 drives past me but so far so good! Not really missing the golf at all, so the BMW is cheaper to run, more comfortable and looks great too. Just need to get saving for the list of mods that I want to do to it.

Done the same mate, come from a '58' plate R32 and 25th Anniversary to a E92 320i 'M' Sport.
The R32 was fully loaded but I didn't think it was that fast. My Edition 30 before that was a lot faster.

I know where people are coming from on the "is the 320i underpowered" and I did think long about this, however I love mine and it's more than enough for me.

i'm a bit more of a relaxed driver now not going everywhere like a bat out of hell.

And as well 170PS is not slow.

Best bit is my wife has stopped complaining about my driving in my noisy engined VW's. She loves the BM like I do and says how quiet it is.

Enjoy your new car mate.

gman3msport · 01-19-2013, 04:21 PM

Sorry for the spelling mistakes, had a few bee

eeers!

Robin330i · 01-19-2013, 04:50 PM

My wife has a Mk4 R32 and if we swapped that for a 320 or 325 then we'd miss the power for sure!!

The_Bear_Yid · 01-19-2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin330i

My wife has a Mk4 R32 and if we swapped that for a 320 or 325 then we'd miss the power for sure!!

150bhp p/ton v 162bhp p/ton. Not much in it unless my calculations are way off.

takumichinoku · 01-19-2013, 05:14 PM

R32's sound good. Powerful yes. Fast? Not in the slightest! big lumpy old engine. Took one for a test drive before I bought my previous S3 and it's so underwhelming. But then again my mate has a 320i and is complaining 24/7 about how slow they are. Still would rather own the Beemer

Mwp4me · 01-19-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takumichinoku

R32's sound good. Powerful yes. Fast? Not in the slightest! big lumpy old engine. Took one for a test drive before I bought my previous S3 and it's so underwhelming. But then again my mate has a 320i and is complaining 24/7 about how slow they are. Still would rather own the Beemer

I'm with you, R32 was all sound and not much go. My GTi Edition 30 [with S3 engine on board] was way faster.
You have to know how to drive the 320i. Tell your mate to apply firm pressure on the gas and it responds well.

Wack your foot in the carpet and so little will happen you think someone's nicked the engine.

Sparky68 · 01-19-2013, 06:26 PM

I had a FBO Focus ST running 320bhp before the 335, the pleasure and feel of the 335 is worth every penny of what i spent.

gman3msport · 01-19-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky68

I had a FBO Focus ST running 320bhp before the 335, the pleasure and feel of the 335 is worth every penny of what i spent.

Yeh agree, the golf was a great all rounder in all conditions but the BMW just feels that bit better quality.

Mwp4me · 01-19-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman3msport

Yeh agree, the golf was a great all rounder in all conditions but the BMW just feels that bit better quality.

+1

rick63 · 01-19-2013, 09:39 PM

You must of owned some poor r32 . Great car yeh tax and fuel not great but more go than a 325 for sure , the e92 also has a big lump to pull around The car !

The_Bear_Yid · 01-20-2013, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick63

You must of owned some poor r32 . Great car yeh tax and fuel not great but more go than a 325 for sure , the e92 also has a big lump to pull around The car !

The R32 doesn't? It weighs about 90kg more lol.

gman3msport · 01-20-2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick63

You must of owned some poor r32 . Great car yeh tax and fuel not great but more go than a 325 for sure , the e92 also has a big lump to pull around The car !

Deffo not a poor R I owned it was a one owner with 27k on the clock with the dsg box, I'm not saying it wasn't fast just that the BMW is a little more refined. :-)

Phil325i · 01-20-2013, 09:27 AM

Interesting thread. I toyed with a late R32 before I bought my 325i E92. I loved the fact the VW narrow six is bullet proof (unlike the BMW six, from what I read on this forum!). However the sky-high road tax and poor economy clinched it for me.

Having got to know the 325, I would also say it has more rear room and a bigger boot than the Golf (and in my view looks stunning in comparison with a boxy hatchback). But I can't agree that it rode better than the R32 (at least not until my Ohlins kit arrived!).

gman3msport · 01-20-2013, 01:43 PM

I lowered my golf which made the ride fairly hard, I used to clinch every time I went over small bumps or potholes in the road and although I still feel them in the BM, its not as harsh as the golf.

MTV · 01-20-2013, 02:06 PM

If you think a 325 is an upgrade from an R32... you're smoking some good stuff my man

Mwp4me · 01-20-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTV

If you think a 325 is an upgrade from an R32... you're smoking some good stuff my man

Just sold my '52 plate' 337. Felt a lot more faster than my '58' plate R32.

gman3msport · 01-20-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTV

If you think a 325 is an upgrade from an R32... you're smoking some good stuff my man

Nevr said it was a upgrade! You must be smoking the good stuff! What I said was it is a more comfortable ride and cheaper to run than the golf. I paid 1k less for the BM for what I sold my golf for, both same year and the BMW has 10k less miles so I know I wasn't upgrading.

Mwp4me · 01-20-2013, 03:23 PM

+1

Why don't people read the OP post!!

Baffles me. Ask a reasonable question and you get answers about something totally different.

takumichinoku · 01-20-2013, 03:27 PM

The only things the OP said were that its abit more comfortable and cheaper to run. He didn't state that it was an upgrade or a downgrade. Pay attention!

gman3msport · 01-20-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takumichinoku

The only things the OP said were that its abit more comfortable and cheaper to run. He didn't state that it was an upgrade or a downgrade. Pay attention!

Well said

01-19-2013, 04:08 PM	#1
gman3msport Private First Class 12 Rep 181 Posts Drives: E90 325i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	325i vs MK5 R32 Had my golf r32 for two years and it was a great car with all the toys, dsg, heated leather, electric everything but was quite pricey to own so thought it was time for a change and bought a BMW 325i last week. I did try the 320i but it didn't really do anything for me and new I would have probably got bored or it in a couple of weeks. Soon as I drove the 325i it put a smile on my face straight away and has done every time I have drove it since. Compared to the golf it feels smoother, quieter and is more comfortable over the bumpy crappy roads, not sure if its quicker or slower than the golf tbh it feels about the same. One thing I'm sure about though is that it is definitely better on fuel than the golf. I've been dreading the snow because I know how bad these can be and new I would be cursing myself if I get stuck and a r32 drives past me but so far so good! Not really missing the golf at all, so the BMW is cheaper to run, more comfortable and looks great too. Just need to get saving for the list of mods that I want to do to it.
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01-19-2013, 04:21 PM	#3
gman3msport Private First Class 12 Rep 181 Posts Drives: E90 325i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	Sorry for the spelling mistakes, had a few beeeeers!
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01-19-2013, 04:50 PM	#4
Robin330i Lieutenant 36 Rep 512 Posts Drives: E90 330i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (2)	My wife has a Mk4 R32 and if we swapped that for a 320 or 325 then we'd miss the power for sure!! __________________ E90 330i M Sport - Honda S2000
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01-19-2013, 05:14 PM	#6
takumichinoku First Lieutenant 83 Rep 387 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	R32's sound good. Powerful yes. Fast? Not in the slightest! big lumpy old engine. Took one for a test drive before I bought my previous S3 and it's so underwhelming. But then again my mate has a 320i and is complaining 24/7 about how slow they are. Still would rather own the Beemer
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01-19-2013, 06:26 PM	#8
Sparky68 Brigadier General 684 Rep 4,261 Posts Drives: 2016 M2 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cambs UK iTrader: (11) Garage List 2016 BMW M2 [0.50] 2017 BMW F30 330D [0.00] 2014 M135 [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	I had a FBO Focus ST running 320bhp before the 335, the pleasure and feel of the 335 is worth every penny of what i spent. __________________ OG M2 7sp DCT Masata FMIC - Masata Boost Pipe - Cobra Catless DP - Powervalve Exhaust - Devilsown Methanol Injection BM3 Stage 2
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01-19-2013, 09:39 PM	#11
rick63 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 49 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	You must of owned some poor r32 . Great car yeh tax and fuel not great but more go than a 325 for sure , the e92 also has a big lump to pull around The car !
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01-20-2013, 09:27 AM	#14
Phil325i Brigadier General 615 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	Interesting thread. I toyed with a late R32 before I bought my 325i E92. I loved the fact the VW narrow six is bullet proof (unlike the BMW six, from what I read on this forum!). However the sky-high road tax and poor economy clinched it for me. Having got to know the 325, I would also say it has more rear room and a bigger boot than the Golf (and in my view looks stunning in comparison with a boxy hatchback). But I can't agree that it rode better than the R32 (at least not until my Ohlins kit arrived!). __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
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01-20-2013, 01:43 PM	#15
gman3msport Private First Class 12 Rep 181 Posts Drives: E90 325i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: manchester iTrader: (0)	I lowered my golf which made the ride fairly hard, I used to clinch every time I went over small bumps or potholes in the road and although I still feel them in the BM, its not as harsh as the golf.
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01-20-2013, 02:06 PM	#16
MTV Banned 241 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: E60 M5, Volvo S60R Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1)	If you think a 325 is an upgrade from an R32... you're smoking some good stuff my man
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01-20-2013, 03:23 PM	#19
Mwp4me Banned 10 Rep 235 Posts Drives: E92 320i M Sport Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cumbria iTrader: (0)	+1 Why don't people read the OP post!! Baffles me. Ask a reasonable question and you get answers about something totally different.
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01-20-2013, 03:27 PM	#20
takumichinoku First Lieutenant 83 Rep 387 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	The only things the OP said were that its abit more comfortable and cheaper to run. He didn't state that it was an upgrade or a downgrade. Pay attention!
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