MCS vs Golf R32

[adamlondon]

A good friend of mine just came back from Europe today with a second-hand Golf R32. I wont lie to you, I was very jealous. I went over to his place to see the car and it was pretty awesome, and sounded even better! He knew some local private roads so he said we should take both cars out for a spin, at which point I knew I was going to get a pasting, but also wanted to see just how much quicker the R32 is.

I should also mention that my friend has taken racing driving courses at Sliverstone for a while, whilst my training has mostly been from MINI2 adventures!

The R32 has more bottom end torque so you have to keep the MCS (and mine is standard, no mods) is the high rev range to compete. I was amazed, particularly on the long stretch, but not for the reasons you may think. He could not overtake me (I started 10m ahead). Correction, he could not even close the gap, not even a bit! All the way to 120 (on afore mentioned private road). This was also pretty much a straight drag, and I thought he would be flying off after a couple of seconds, but no! The only reason I slowed down was that my windscreen was making some very strange sounds. It was a sort of splintering glass sound, and I was very worried that the screen would give (although I thought that the windscreen issue was fixed for the '04 model?). When we stopped there was no sign of any cracks in the glass at all, but this really worried me. When he went in frot on different stretches of road on the estate he could not pull away. I was so proud of my little 1.6 litre MCS, and my friend was very surprised/impressed too!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my little David and Goliath story with the class!

All the best,

Adam


PS: for those who dont know what a R32 is, its a 3.2 litre 240 bhp Golf

[minigolf]

Just in case you missed my post in "MCS - The rivals" thread ... have a squiz at this:

From the UK magazine Evo...

Quote:

I know there are still a few Mini sceptics amongst you, those who doubt a car that looks as innocent and non-aggressive can possibly possess truly formidable cross country pace. Well, all I can say is I'd still back our Cooper S Works against all but the most extreme Spec C style Impreza in a back road tussle. A recent visit to some car-nut friends proved this beyond all doubt when we swapped cars for a quick blast: pals in the S works, me in their tuned Audi RS4. Let's just say every time the big Audi paused to fill its lungs the Mini stole a few lengths, then a few more through every twist and turn. Suffice to say, though somewhat ashamed at my apparent lack of pace, I was proud of the little white car. So it would appear, were they: their own Cooper S works has just arrived...

And yeah, I know what an R32 is and their exhaust note is absolutely awesome!

[ollie c]

You'll b suprised what it does if u keep the revs up, I stuck with a pulsar GTI-R the other night, he was a bit gutted I reckon

Well done against the R32.

Ollie C

[scooperman_uk]

oh no.... someones gone and found a way for James (marriedblonde) to contribute the forum now..... we now expect him to add to this thread as he sold his MCS and bought a R32.....

as far as the R32 not getting past the MCS. it wasnt being driven properly then when i last saw James driving his, he had no problem getting past a lot of MCS's and also Harpo's turbo charged ONE D!!!

did your friend mention the MPG he gets from the R32.

[adamlondon]

Not being driven properly? My friend is a rather good driver, and we started the run with a rolling start (to avoid burning the clutch in 1st). He is very competitive and he would have loved to pass me, but he had his foot on the floor, and I had my foot on the floor, and he couldnt. He took me out in the R32 afterwards, I can can tell you that a) it is fast, and b) he knows how to drive. We were driving for over an hour, and it was the same all the way through. The R32 is faster to 30 mph, but when the cars are rolling then there was not much in it. I know that my gear-shifting thechnique is faster than his, but I don think that It would have made that much difference.

As for MPG, its a European model. I think he gets 100 miles per 26 litres (but I couldnt swear to it!)

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by adamlondon69

As for MPG, its a European model. I think he gets 100 miles per 26 litres (but I couldnt swear to it!)

I hope he does better than that 'cause that is only 17.5mpg

[adamlondon]

Yeah, but you havent seen the way he drives! When driving back through Europe (where legal) he was going flat out at 240 kph. Not too fuel friendly!

[N31L]

I agree, great car! bit podgy tho! ....Audi A3 3.2 looks better!

[Darren S]

BMW must have given you the JCW kit without telling you when you bought your mini, coz that's the only way an R32 isn't going to catch you(in a straight line anyway ).
I was behind one last week: I floored it and (I presume - and hope)he floored it, and the Golf just gradually drifted further and further into the distance.


On the topic of the Golf R32: I sat in one at last year's motorshow. Is it just me, or does anyone else who's been in one think the steering wheel is way over the top chunky?

[beej]

Well played Ad. I think the R32 is a lovely car that does the Golf brand credit, with great alloys and looking more menacing than the so-common TDIs we see around so much. I've always thought it should be compared to a Works or Hartge or BBR, especially given the price.

I only ever see black R32s though, haven't even seen any silver ones.

[ButtonIt]

MB's R32 shat all over me when we drove home from karting last time

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by Darren S

On the topic of the Golf R32: I sat in one at last year's motorshow. Is it just me, or does anyone else who's been in one think the steering wheel is way over the top chunky?

Nah, the R32 wheel is great! I'd consider retro fitting one to my GTI if the MINI wasn't about to intervene. But I like chunky wheels and the wheel on the GTI is too skinny for me. Luckily my MCS will have the 2 spoker which IMO, is a very, very nice wheel to drive with ... not at chunky as the R32 wheel mind.

[ollie c]

I reckon there big pieces of s t, probably weigh more than a branch of macdonalds!! And it will lose a bit of power through that dodgy transmission!

My mate raced one in his old renault 5 turbo worth bout a grand, and he stuck to his bumper, I was there and saw, I reckon I would do one too, and no JCW either!

Ollie

[adamlondon]

Max, how quick is your GGR MCS? The R32 0-60 is 6.6 secs on paper. Im guessing yours must be about 6.8? You are too modest!

[minigolf]

And 4motion. Oh and exhaust note.