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Wade

· POTM June 08
Joined
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1,201 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Saw a post on another forum gushing how great the VW R32 is over the Jeep MKs (Compass & Patriot). Here is a sampling of that...

probably the best recommendation for the R32 is that my wife bought one also. his and her R32s. the neighbors hate us now. if you have two, i suppose the blue one doesn't look as gaudy. my gray one is sedate enough, until you use a few of the horses. i am told that my R32 can be heard for blocks away if i am in a hurry. comfort is as good as my old audi, maybe better. the seat is perfect for my frame, it helps to be smaller than bigger, and the precision of the R32 makes the dream of a cayman g…

The R32 is easily $10,000 more, uses premium gas, and according to VW, gets 23 MPG Highway and 18 MPG city. He must be reaching pretty deep to brag about the fact that his engine can be heard blocks away... Not impressed...
 
LOL, that doesn't even make sense as a comparison. Let's see an All Wheel Drive sports car with a hi performance 3.2L VR6 (250hp) engine vs an economy 4cyl jeep. The base R32 starts at $32,995.

Found this on it:

Powering the porky 3,547 pound R32 is a fuel-injected, 3.2 liter cast-iron V6 with four valves per cylinder. The 250 HP powerplant produces good low-end torque and excels at highway passing ability. Zero to 60 performance was recorded at 6.2 seconds on a Belkin Accelerometer during the week-long test period. The powerplant is smooth and quiet but fuel efficiency on high-test unleaded was dismal at 16 city and 21 highway (EPA 18/23).

Though the R32 uses a full-time all-wheel drive system -VW calls it 4-Motion - remember it's not an off-road unit. It's made for inclement weather only. The fact the VW has no Hi/Lo transfer case and low ground clearance are clear evidence of this.
I will say, having driven an R32 a few years ago (one of my co-workers bought one just before we both got laid-off, he got rid of it a month later as he couldn't afford to keep it), they are a blast to drive. But then it's like comparing a Porsche Boxster to a Chevy Cobalt SS. Some of the specs or perfromance numbers may be close, but clearly we're not talking about the same thing.
 
I'm pretty confident that if any comparison could be made between the VW lineup and the MK's, it would be against the Tiguan.

Unfortunately, that puppy starts at $23k, and ends north of $30k. Also, the more "capable" model is only offered in Europe.
 
Extra HP and extra cost won't get you through Minnesota snow drifts. Even Patriot's light-weight, low slung 4x4 system is a better choice for many of us. Not really a comparison worth making. Kind of like comparing sea water and soda pop. They are both liquids.
 
Why don't they compare it to the 09 WRX Hatchback that starts at 25k and has 265 HP????? That would be a better comparison to me, but wait, the old 224HP WRX was just as quick so the new one should murder the overpriced R32. I mean seriosly, he is comparing 3 totally differnt vehicles, it makes no sense. If he wants to compare it to something that is RELATED to the MKs, then lets bring the 09 Lancer reliart. It's AWD, 237 HP, 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, and oh, starts at 27000. Anywho...... Heck, why don't we just compare the R32 to the Grand Cherokee SRT-8? LOL Should work using their idea of a comparison.............
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Honestly, I believe someone was just trying to justify, to whom I don't know, that what they have is as good, fuel wise, as our Patriots. The way I see it, they're not even close...
 
What site is this one, I searched for what you posted on Yahoo, but it came up with a R32 review on AOL autos from a user Madsarro, but mentioned nothing of the MKs. Just curious LOL.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Stew,

The actual comparison was on another site, and no longer in my cache so I'd have to dig deep to find it. I posted the quote because this guy felt it important to note his engine could be heard blocks away, as if that was some badge of honor! :D
 
I own a 2008 R32 and a 2008 Patriot. Although my Patriot is a 4x2. I love my Patriot as a daily driver but the R32 is much more fun to drive. It's a strange comparison though since they are not in the same class. I agree, a Tiguan would be a better comparison. If the Tiguan were cheaper, I would have rather had that than the Patriot.
 
I own a 2008 R32 and a 2008 Patriot. Although my Patriot is a 4x2. I love my Patriot as a daily driver but the R32 is much more fun to drive. It's a strange comparison though since they are not in the same class. I agree, a Tiguan would be a better comparison. If the Tiguan were cheaper, I would have rather had that than the Patriot.
I liked the Idea of the Tiguan, until it actually showed up here. Infact Motor trend recently did a comparison where it came in dead last, mainly because of price. There turns out to be a lot of things I don't like. Starting with that price, Starting at 23k is a base model S 2WD, AWD will cost you a couple k more, the top line SEL in AWD will set you back nearly 33k for starters, MT added just a few options and it was over 37k. Second, weight, the thing is almost spot on with the Patriot in size, but weighs almost 3800 pounds. This hurts, even with the excellent 2.0 Turbo 4 with 200 HP on tap, acceleration was only slightly better than a 5 speed AWD Patriot, oh, gas mileage, 18 City and 24 highway (they averaged 19.5, but alot of that, is of corsue, testing and under the heavy foot LOL) That was an auto 4x4, but strangley enough the MPG rating for the Tiguan is the same for everyt drivetrain from the base 2WD 6 speed manual to the AWD topline car with the 6 speed auto. Oh, and 6.9 inches of ground clearance, not good at all. I like{ed} the Tiguan until spevccs and pricing came out. Oh well. When you get to comparing the MKs to other comparable vehicles the really shine. Of course, different strokes for different folks, it would be boring if everyone drove the same thing LOL.
 
I think we need to start remembering that the Patriot is just about in a class by itself and stop comparing it to vehicles obviously not in the same class like the FJ, VW R32, and the Prius.

What reasonably can be compared to the patriot, maybe the RAV4, and the Escape, and that is about it, and IMO, it kicks both of their buts.
 
I'm really confused. :confused:

Comparing a VW R32 to a MK is more like comparing a cell phone to a cordless land line phone. They both serve the same purpose, but outside of that, the comparisons end.
 
Yep, a weird comparison, indeed. Kinda like comparing a blender and a cake mixer...both used in the preparation of food, both use electricity, both have whirling blades...other than that, the cake mixer sucks for margaritas and the blender is not so good for mixing bread dough.
 
hey guys.... my cousin actually owns a mk5 r32. he really likes it a lot. but its funny cuz he asks me to let him borrow my patriot every now and then. he says he enjoys the ride and how smooth it is. its also really funny to me that he is getting one soon. i see it as having the best of both worlds. safe, comfortable and nice= Patriot. Fast show offey and nice also= VW R32.
 
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