Volkswagen Golf R32

How does the R32 compare to the Audi TT. Neil Carey offers an insight

By Neil Carey

December 2007

I’ve been seeing how the other half live this month, having swapped my economy-class Golf for the heady business-class atmosphere of Chee’s TT. With both cars having identical 246bhp V6s driving all four wheels, I wanted to find out if there are sufficient differences to warrant the TT’s £5K premium.

A good chunk of that extra hard-earned goes on the interior, which, as soon as you lower yourself in, feels a world away from the slightly grey Golf’s. Soft, red leather and elegantly detailed controls instantly make the TT feel special, and its low roof-line makes the Golf feel like a van.

Once on the road, though, the gulf starts to close. The TT turns harder and seems ever so slightly quicker, but the Golf feels like a more malleable partner. The TT’s fierce turn-in gives the impression that it could very easily be followed by equally fierce oversteer if you misjudge your entry speed, whereas the Golf, once you’re past its slightly scruffy turn-in, just scrubs off the speed by tip-toeing into a balanced, controllable four-wheel drift.

Next month we hope to help the R32’s softening turn-in by replacing its well-used Continentals with something new. Let’s just hope the guys got it right on last month’s tyre test.

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Car Reviews: Long Term Tests

How does the R32 compare to the Audi TT. Neil Carey offers an insight

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