It’s more common to see a Mk4 Golf on its last leg than one that’s showroom fresh these days, but this flawless example on Bring A Trailer is not like other girls. This is likely the cleanest R32 on the market right now, being one of 1,743 in this paint color, with a mere 710 miles on the odometer, no accidents on the CarFax, and one owner– I wonder if it still smells like Crayons. But spending virtually all 20 of its years parked up in a garage is far from the original purpose of the R32.
We recently pleaded for someone to buy and actually drive this ultra-low-mile Dodge Neon SRT-4, and we come to you with a similar plea for this immaculate R32. While it is great to see a rare showroom-perfect example of this AWD VR6-powered hot hatch, these cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed.
When new, this R32 cost around $30,000. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $50,000 in 2023 money. The current bid for this car early in its bid cycle sits at $75,000, but the $1250 annual appreciation doesn’t necessarily warrant locking the car away for nearly 20 years and driving it what averages out to about 36 miles per year.
Preserving rare works of automotive art can be lucrative and important for history and, in even rarer, cases can be a significant investment. A clean 2004 Golf R32 with a six-speed manual transmission is a rare car, but it is not an immediate choice for a collector. At least keep a DSG-equipped model muzzled like this instead of a manual; this car was meant to be driven and enjoyed.
The VR6 motor under the hood of this shining Deep Blue Pearl Effect R32 has one of the most unique exhaust notes around, with VR6 fans likening the sound to that of a Star Wars Wookiee in the best possible way. Looking through the posting leaves us wishing to hear that fresh VR6 Wookiee shriek echoing through the canyons, heel-and-toe shifting to get the most out of the platform.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re glad to see a Mk4 R32 that’s not clapped out or listed on Craigslist with a blown motor, but there’s a balance between locking a car up and never enjoying it and having 300,000 miles, seven owners and four accidents. That balance is called respecting the driving machine and maintaining it while still driving it and enjoying the ride.
