evo #86 - BMW 130i vs Golf V R32

[TT]

http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_01.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_01.jpg) http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_02.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_02.jpg)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_03.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_03.jpg) http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_04.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_04.jpg)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_05.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_05.jpg) http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_06.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_06.jpg)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_07.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_07.jpg) http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/thumbs/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_08.jpg (http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/503/evo86bmw1vsgolfr32_08.jpg)

[leo_26782]

Great scan. Thanks :D

Didn't read it all, but it seems that they prefer the BMW :twisted: Also, VW is overstating their car's power :? ???

[dutchmasterflex]

I'd cough up the extra loot for the 1-series if i were in the market..

thanks for another great scan.. one after the other, keep em coming :)

[dingo]

Thanks for the scan, not a bad read.

My choice would definately be the R32, I love the 4WD and it looks 100 times better than the 130i. :D

....Also, VW is overstating their car's power :? ???

the car had done less than 1000km so that may have played a part, although the BMW didn't have this problem. :?

[SPEEDCORE]

Hard call, they're very similar specs.

The BMW tho gets very expensive once you start adding all the options.

[JoeHahn]

I'm thinking that the BHP figure on the R32 was so low because of <1000km on the clock and drive train loss due to the 4WD? Wow - shows how much motoring journos are just in it for the fun. The Golf understeers blah blah blah and the 1 series is so easy to drive blah blah blah. Losing by a whole second to a car with considerably less BHP, you go BMW :P

[Zarkoff500]

Does anyone know if those dyno numbers are at the wheels or did they perform some sort of correction? If the BMW was putting out 250 bhp at the wheels then it would be putting out much more at the crank (closer to 300).

[TT]

it's not at the wheel: here is what they answer to a reader in issue #87:

... this is the closest we can get to a reliable indipendent figure. To work out drivetrain losses accurately, the Dyno Dynamics system measures the tractive force and uses computer models which factor-in the exact drivetrain configuration. It also uses sensors in the air intake with correction factors for air temperature, pressure and humidity. Finely grooved rollers and an effective tie-down system virtually eliminate wheelspin. The rig we use has been tested up to 1750 bhp

[1zippo1]

With the tumbnails it's easier to save the articles for me, thx TT.

Interesting comparson, I didn't think they would find the R32 just as good as the 130i. And I really didn't expect that the R32 was faster round the track. The BMW has got more hp, is 160kg lighter and well it's a BMW.

Thx for all the effort you put into this TT.

[SPEEDCORE]

After the TopGear review of both of them, it seems they got the same results, Golf faster than 130i around a track.

Showing how cramped the back of the BMW is I wouldnt get one. The Golf still has the same lovely sound from the old R32 but I dunno about the styling, the GTI looks better.