Sick of touchscreens, piped-in engine noises, and chimes to alert you of everything?  Would you rather impress your friends by loading your 6 favorite CD’s from your favorite CD book?  How about playing an actual mixed tape cassette over the sound of one of the most legendary exhaust notes of all time?

 

This… is a 2004 Volkswagen R32 in Black Magic Pearl.  Volkswagen sent over just 5,000 (750 in black) of these naturally-aspirated 3.2L VR6-powered AWD hatchbacks in the very first iteration of their R-series golfs.  A manual 6-speed gearbox, chunky steering wheel, and supportive Recaro seats round out the driver touch points.  This particular car is outfitted with leather seats, moon roof, and the premium sound package.  Full service history, promotional poster (numbered 13 of 5000) and the original manual with pen are still with the car.  Sale can include an additional set of stock Aristos wheels with Michelin winter tires (new in 2023).

 

This 3-owner car has been well-maintained and comes with its full service history.  The first owner collected every magazine article and pre-ordered the car well before its release date.  After 10 years and 48,000 miles, it was sold to a VW salesperson who owned it for 2 months as he decided to keep a Mitsubishi EVO instead of this R32.  I used the car as my daily until 2023, when it was retired to “toy” status.

 

The car now has 174,XXX miles on it.  During the 13 years I have owned the car, as things broke, they were replaced with OEM or OEM+ parts.  I did not set out to mod the car, but I would say the car is now in a modded state.  Major services include:  timing chains done at 115K and a new clutch at 135K.  At ~150K, the suspension was given a full refresh with KW V2 coilovers, front and rear sway bars, control arms, and basically any associated bushing or wear item on the suspension was replaced with OEM+ parts.  In 2023, aftermarket cams were installed while replacing the valve cover seal.  The engine bay was cleaned thoroughly at his time.

 

Summer and winter tires were new in 2023. New wheel bearings, rotors all around, and new rear calipers were also done at this service.  Haldex system has been maintained and engine oil changes were done regularly.

 

 

Modifications:

APR Tune:  Stock / 91 / 93 (~270 Hp)

Techtonics Tuning (264/260) camshafts  (~13 Hp)

Cone-style cold air intake.

Custom manifold, downpipe, and midpipe.  Muffler and cat back is also aftermarket.

KW V2 Coilovers

H&R sway bars

Rear seat delete (interior parts have been stored, seatbelts are gone)

Summer wheels painted black, winter wheels are still stock. 

Wheel spacers (10mm/15mm flush fitment kit), black wheel bolts

VX Tuning LED headlights

 

 

Known Issues:

Rusty rocker panels.  Passenger side is worse, but both sides are affected.  See pics.

Torn seats.  See pics.  The sun finally cracked them this past year.

Rock chips in hood (see pics), various scratches.

Some rust near hatch release, driver’s side window.

Brights indicated as “ON” even though they are not.

Headliner is not perfect – let’s call it wavy in places, but still 97% adhered to roof.

Carfax will show an accident.  I rear-ended another driver at about 5mph (passenger front).  No frame damage.  Headlight, hood, and quarter panel replaced/repaired.

Slow leak in one winter tire