Answer
May 26, 2020 - 12:27 AM
Hi there
Wow, that R32 certainly will become a collector's piece in the future, because it's the last of its kind. The 3.2-litre (as used in the Golf R32 and Audi A3 3.2 quattro) is a development of the old 2.8-litre VR6 engine, which is known to be quite demanding as far as maintenance goes. The following applies to all cars equipped with engines from that family:
The timing chains and tensioners most likely have to be renewed around the 160 000 km mark;
Service them religiously according to VW's requirements;
Coil pack failures are common as they age, and those are specific only to those engines (and thus quite expensive)
And always use synthetic oil.
If the car is equipped with a DSG transmission, the gearbox also requires frequent servicing (and probably software updates) to keep it reliable, but even with all maintenance performed according to VW requirements, some faults might occur as the car ages, anyway - clutch pack failures and mechatronics unit failures aren't uncommon on ageing, early-generation DSG transmissions. And if they go wrong, it's bound to be very expensive (count on tens of thousands of Rands to repair). These are the pitfalls of owning such a rare beast, unfortunately.
If you really want that car, ensure that it has a full dealership service history (and get the repair history for that car from a VW dealership as well, using the VIN), and also add as comprehensive a mechanical warranty as you can get. This should take care of gearbox- or engine troubles if any occur, so make sure that the warranty comprehensively covers your car for those two items (read the fine print before signing).
Hope this helps!
The AskAutoTrader Team
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