2003 Volkswagen Golf R32

Unlike many of its R32 brethren, this is an original, authentic example and hasn’t been modified, tweaked, ‘enhanced’ or otherwise encouraged to deviate from what Gunther and Klaus intended when they finished building it somewhere in Wolfsburg in 2003.

It has been owned by the vendor, who is in the motor industry and definitely knows his way around a toolbox, since August 2011.

His mechanical knowledge and proficiency no doubt go some way to explaining the car’s very good overall condition.

The fully stamped-up service book probably has a lot to do with it as well.

Today the car has 97,560 miles under its various belts, and it looks really good for that mileage, let alone its age.

Besides, it’s really only in the UK that people consider anything approaching or over 100,000 miles to be some sort of risk.

Our European and American cousins, people who occupy far larger land masses, routinely cover much greater distances and think we’re a bit odd for attaching such significance to something as arbitrary as a number on an odometer.

The car presents very well from every angle and is reassuringly free of any significant dents or dinks that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are excellent and the doors close with all the heft and precision we’ve come to expect of Wolfsburg’s finest.

The silver paint has held up well in general, and the finish gleams and pops in the sunshine.

But, as this is a car that’s been driven and enjoyed, it’s not concours and it isn’t trying to be.

A section of the front bumper was resprayed at one point and, if you look very carefully, you’ll be able to discern a very slight mis-match in the finishes.

Staying with paint, the vendor had the roof resprayed some time ago and ensured that the job was a proper, aerial-out job and done to the highest standards.

So, with those exceptions we’ve just mentioned, the paint is original, and its impressive condition is testimony to the quality and consistency of the car’s curation.

The wheels are in reasonable condition but there are a few scuffs and scrapes in evidence and they’d no doubt respond enthusiastically to an offer of refurbishment.

The matching Goodyear Efficient Grip tyres have plenty of tread left in them but are possibly getting a little long in the tooth, particularly at the front.

There are a few micro-blisters to the paint at the top of the driver’s door, some rough and slightly crazed paint on the sills beneath both doors, and the usual number and distribution of stone chips on the bonnet, front bumper and around the ‘nose’ of the car that you’d expect to find on a vehicle that’s now 21 years old.

There’s also a small raised blister on the o/s/r wheel arch and some blistering around the inner rim of the n/s/f wheel arch.

The sunroof works and forms a tight seal.

There is a thin line of what looks like nascent delamination along the top of the windscreen.

All trim, badging, lights, lenses and exterior fixtures and fittings appear to be in fine fettle.

The condition inside is really very impressive and reflects the build quality of these robustly engineered and properly screwed-together cars.

Like so many of us in later years, the black Konig full-leather bucket seats have a few creases around the bolsters, but they are free of anything more than an age- and mileage-appropriate patina.

Their counterparts in the rear look wholly unfamiliar with human form and have probably only ever played host to the occasional bag of shopping or a coat or two.

The carpets and mats have held up very well, as have the door cards and the headlining.

The open doors reveal one or two smudges of surface rust on the door hinges.

The steering wheel is in fine fettle, as is the gear lever, save for a little wear to the leather around the top.

The dashboard is solid and free of any cracks or splits that we can see.

The vendor tells us that, as far as he’s aware, all knobs, buttons, switches, dials and toggles do what they’re supposed to do, with the exception of the CD player, which has decided to take early retirement.

The luggage bay is as clean, decent and honest as the rest of the interior.

The engine bay looks fine to us, and everything appears to be clean, dry and in its right and proper place.

The car was last serviced 800 miles ago. The vendor tells us that he has replaced the alternator, starter and rear shocks over the course of his ownership, and generally taken care of anything that needed doing outside of scheduled services and routine maintenance.

The undersides seem to be well preserved and everything we can see appears to have plenty of structural integrity.

The car’s stamped-up service book has a mixture of main dealer and specialist stamps.

The service intervals are as follows.

• Ridgeway VW – 22.7.04 – 18,389 miles
• Ridgeway VW – 14.9.06 – 41,997 miles
• Ridgeway VW – 20.10.07 – 52,444 miles
• Quirks Car Co – 17.1.10 – 68,633
• Ridgeway VW – 3.2.10 – 68,653 miles
• Halgrove Garage – 24.1.11 – 79,086
• Coalbourn Car Repairs – 18.8.12 – 85,871
• Pittstop Auto Repairs – 15.8.14 – 90,346
• Pittstop Auto Repairs – 3.8.16 – 92,255
• Pittstop Auto Repairs – 9.8.16 – 93,117
• Pittstop Auto Repairs – 31.7.17 – 93,802
• Pittstop Auto Repairs - 4.8.20 – 96,125
• Pittstop Auto Repairs – 2.8.22 – 96,844

The car comes with its original wallet of manuals and guides, a recent HPI report, all manner of bills and invoices covering routine and other work carried out over the years, and an MoT certificate that’s valid until 27.8.25.

The vendor tells us that most of the advisories mentioned at the time of the car’s current MoT have been taken care of, as you’ll see from the notes he made on the certificate print out contained in the documents section.

There’s a reason why the MK4 R32 has become a legend in its own lifetime and continues to win fans in each new generation that makes its acquaintance.

It is a brilliant driver’s car.

Unlike many other fire-breathing hot-hatches of its era, the R32 comes with the inestimable benefit of being, fundamentally, a VW Golf – and that means it doesn’t rattle, creak, feel cheap, fall to bits, turn into a mound of oxidised dust within 5 years of leaving the factory, or routinely befall any equally ignominious fate.

The car we have here today seems to us to be a thoroughly good, solid example of the model and one that has been cared-for and maintained to a high standard throughout the course of its life.

What’s not to like?

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £9,000 - £14,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Stourbridge, West Midlands. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.