[Uber V8]

I need your negotiating help. So I found a rare somewhat low mileage MKIV R32 for sale....

Magic black - 67k miles - dealer asking $15,900.

I have yet to check it out, but if all is good, I'm definitely going to pick it up. Please give any insight or advice on what's the lowest negotiating point I should go for. Any proven tactics you've used other than the walk away method.

I think this one may be tricky because it's the ONLY MKIV R32 in a 500 mile radius and only 5,000 were made so they may use that as leverage.

I was thinking $16k OTD.

[DSB335d]

They may be rare, but unless you are a diehard VW fan boi I would pick a different toy. They weigh too much, stupid money to make one fast, parts cost too much and in the end it's still a VW. You could do a lot better spending that $15k on something that could be made faster, handle better etc...

[Uber V8]

^^ like what?

I know it may not be that fast, but the exhaust note had me sold!

[MrClean335i]

Dont waste your money on that crap. Save it for a BRZ or a FR-S 86

[Silver-Bolt]

Seems high for an 04. I had an 08 R32 and as already stated they are way over weight, horrible fuel economy, not fast, and expensive aftermarket. The VR6 does does sound good but for me not good enough to out weigh the negatives. I would much rather pick up a used STi.

[Uber V8]

Hmmm.... I will definitely consider your guys advice. I thought about some used STi's and Evo's but there all so abused for around 16k.

[lcrain]

I would buy the R32 for sure.

These cars still command a decent amount of money, and likely will for quite some time. It's VWs highest performing car at the time, the next gen came with dsg only which sucks and the new one has a 20.t with a bigger turbo. So awesome vr6 + 6mt = awesome fun and sound.

What are you looking to do with the car? If you want the best performance car for the money, look elsewhere. The R32 isn't going to blow the doors off anything these days. That said it is an awesome car! Looks (subjective) are still very good, those seats are freakin awesome. The engine sounds great and is much more reliable than its japanese counterparts.

I'm no expert on the prices of these (see vw vortex for comparable prices) but this seems to be pretty dead on. For ~16k there are a few other cars I would entertain, none of which would be as rare and cool as the r32. I would love to pick one of these up with those miles at that price point for a DD. Make sure it checks out, but like I said these are pretty bullet proof cars. HP will be hard to extract, but I am of the camp that fun does not always = power.

Edit: all that said, I would start looking for less than that OTD just to see how far they can go.

[Uber V8]

Originally Posted by lcrain

I would buy the R32 for sure.

These cars still command a decent amount of money, and likely will for quite some time. It's VWs highest performing car at the time, the next gen came with dsg only which sucks and the new one has a 20.t with a bigger turbo. So awesome vr6 + 6mt = awesome fun and sound.

What are you looking to do with the car? If you want the best performance car for the money, look elsewhere. The R32 isn't going to blow the doors off anything these days. That said it is an awesome car! Looks (subjective) are still very good, those seats are freakin awesome. The engine sounds great and is much more reliable than its japanese counterparts.

I'm no expert on the prices of these (see vw vortex for comparable prices) but this seems to be pretty dead on. For ~16k there are a few other cars I would entertain, none of which would be as rare and cool as the r32. I would love to pick one of these up with those miles at that price point for a DD. Make sure it checks out, but like I said these are pretty bullet proof cars. HP will be hard to extract, but I am of the camp that fun does not always = power.

Edit: all that said, I would start looking for less than that OTD just to see how far they can go.

My thoughts exactly. I'm aware the STi's and evo's are faster than the R32, but for an all around DD and one that's unmolested and sounds like an angry demon, I think it's an awesome car!

Unfortunately the one I found was sold after two days of the ad being put up

Gotta keep looking, but until then...

[Precision]

I have always loved the MKIV R32, IMO it is better than the MKV R32 mainly because you get a 6 speed. I personally would not buy one from a dealer, private sale only especially considering they are not exactly a car typically taken care of, a lot are beat up.

Not the fastest, not the best handling but just a care I have fell in love with and been in love with for quite some time. I have driven a couple of them but troll the forums like vwvortex, etc to find one not a dealer...

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by FwdFtl

^^ like what?

I know it may not be that fast, but the exhaust note had me sold!

Beetle, Audi TT, Audi A3 all have the same motor as the R32.

I agree with most that its better to get an evo/sti.

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by lcrain

I would buy the R32 for sure.

These cars still command a decent amount of money, and likely will for quite some time. It's VWs highest performing car at the time, the next gen came with dsg only which sucks and the new one has a 20.t with a bigger turbo. So awesome vr6 + 6mt = awesome fun and sound.

What are you looking to do with the car? If you want the best performance car for the money, look elsewhere. The R32 isn't going to blow the doors off anything these days. That said it is an awesome car! Looks (subjective) are still very good, those seats are freakin awesome. The engine sounds great and is much more reliable than its japanese counterparts.

I'm no expert on the prices of these (see vw vortex for comparable prices) but this seems to be pretty dead on. For ~16k there are a few other cars I would entertain, none of which would be as rare and cool as the r32. I would love to pick one of these up with those miles at that price point for a DD. Make sure it checks out, but like I said these are pretty bullet proof cars. HP will be hard to extract, but I am of the camp that fun does not always = power.

Edit: all that said, I would start looking for less than that OTD just to see how far they can go.

Chipped GTi's are faster than R32's.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by benmoooon

Chipped GTi's are faster than R32's.

The awd on the R32 seems more appealing than a fwd GTi.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by FwdFtl

sure does make a racket with not a lot of speed.

[lcrain]

Originally Posted by benmoooon

Chipped GTi's are faster than R32's.

Great comment. I think GTIs are great, but I would rather have an R32 personally. The 2.0t chipped is very nice, but something about that vr6 is very appealing. Like I said, if speed is what your looking for dont get the r32.

[Precision]

Originally Posted by benmoooon

Chipped GTi's are faster than R32's.

and front wheel drive, and a dime a dozen and be quiet

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

The awd on the R32 seems more appealing than a fwd GTi.

Yeah, but if you were going performance, Evo & STi is a better choice right?

Originally Posted by lcrain

Great comment. I think GTIs are great, but I would rather have an R32 personally. The 2.0t chipped is very nice, but something about that vr6 is very appealing. Like I said, if speed is what your looking for dont get the r32.

Interior is virtually the same right?

Originally Posted by Precision

and front wheel drive, and a dime a dozen and be quiet

And? OP lives in Cali, AWD is not needed at all for a DD. This is a forum, a place where you have discussions.

[lcrain]

Originally Posted by benmoooon

Interior is virtually the same right?

The newer MKV R32 have essentially the same interior as the GTI. The R32 has the leather standard while it was an option in the GTI, instead of that terrible plaid.

The MKIV R32 (which is what he is looking at) on the other hand had awesome bucket seats that were far superior to anything you could get in a GTI. Also keep in mind the MKIV GTI has the 1.8t which doesn't have the same potential as the 2.0t found in the MKV. An R32 can be made fast, it just isn't as easy or cheap as an sti/evo.

[DB]

I had a 2004 R32 and it is one of my past cars that I miss most (more than my e39 m5). It doesn't matter that it is not as fast as an sti or an evo; it's an entirely different car, and it's plenty fast anyway. If you're going by straight speed vs. cost, then you buy a honda crx for $500 and throw on a supercharger and some nitrous.

The seats were amazing. The car sounded better that almost anything (m3 included I think). And it was just a pleasure to own and drive. I would gladly get another if the right one turned up.

[TimZ]

I haven't owned a r32 but i had some seat time in my cousins 04 r32 and it sure was a blast to drive. He had some exhaust mod done and nothing else, blacked out the stock wheels, it just looked nice. The bucket seats were also nice. Its not as fast as an evo or sti, like many people said, but it sure as hell does sound a lot better than one. It would be a fun daily driver, i would buy one in a heart beat if i could find a nice one.

[Sauce]

Most of the people that talk down the car car haven't driven one, if you aren't going to track it, they're AWESOME. Amazing seats, amazing engine noise, quality interior, AWD, it's super exclusive and will always be worth a good amount of money. Never, I repeat NEVER touch a 16k Evo or STi.

[b00st]

Originally Posted by Sauce

Most of the people that talk down the car car haven't driven one, if you aren't going to track it, they're AWESOME. Amazing seats, amazing engine noise, quality interior, AWD, it's super exclusive and will always be worth a good amount of money. Never, I repeat NEVER touch a 16k Evo or STi.

Why wouldn't you get an Evo for $16k? That's basically the going rate for an Evo VIII. I sold my Evo IX last year with a couple minor issues for $17k. There are deals to be had on those cars. Just do your research and know the common issues to look out for. But I do think the R32's are awesome for a decent daily car. From personal experience, they are A LOT slower than a modded Evo though. A bolt on Evo will put many car lengths on an R32 pretty quickly. Just depends on what you want out of the car though. An R32 will be way more comfortable every day than an Evo or an Sti.

[Precision]

I love BMW but most of the community is down right ignorant and stupid regarding the modified car and track scene... stupid...