2003 Volkswagen GOLF R32

Full disclosure – this car is being sold by none other than The Market’s Consignment Specialist Manager, Mr. David Hayhow.

Like everyone else on the payroll at The Market’s HQ, David lives and breathes all things automotive, is frankly obsessive about the condition of all cars (and particularly his own), and can talk for hours, and hours (and hours) about timing chains, paint codes, spark plug gaps and torque oversteer.

This, we believe, makes buying a car owned by him a rather safer option than handing your wad over to Dangerous Darren at the Acme Motor-Mart (apologies if that’s a real person and a real company).

David tells us the following.

“I found the car whilst working for Joe Macari, it was owned by one of his best clients. I first saw it in Joe’s personal underground storage facility in Fulham, parked amongst various £multimillion exotica and, having always wanted one, I asked whether I could enquire into its availability.

The seller allowed me to take it to the German Specialist Car Centre in Southfields where I had a full check over completed and, after passing to satisfaction (report is on file), I bought the car. He had it registered under his partner’s name, after having it under his own previously – so there’s one extra owner I believe than there should be.

I used it between 2017 and 2020 to commute across town mostly. It had 53,000k or so miles on the clock when I bought it.

I used it for a few months after joining The Market and then I felt it best to store it away and buy something else to preserve the mileage on it. Since 2020 it has been garage stored or occasionally used by my mother, who’s a very careful and slow driver.”

So, there you have it.

It is a very late '53 build and had all but one of the factory options; Xenon lamps, full leather interior, 5 doors, Upgraded Stereo & Sat Nav all being present, with the potentially troublesome sunroof, not (you don't want one of these anyway).

Many R32's - MKV's included - have been modified, have had new ICE installed or been lowered, etc etc. This one, aside from an aftermarket exhaust and a black to-match Apple Iphone cable running behind the dashboard (very useful, unless you're on Android), is entirely factory.

It comes with a full book of stamps from main dealers and specialists, plus a continuation service book that continues the car’s impeccable record.

We have driven the car and, entirely unsurprisingly, it starts, goes and stops exactly as you’d want it to.

It feels properly screwed together, solid and tight. It picks up speed with plenty of enthusiasm and pulls like a train in every gear. The gear change is notchy, positive and fast.

And it handles with a deftness, predictability and balance that are truly grin-inducing.

These were great driver’s car and this is a great example of the model.

Oh, and as our photographer pointed out, it makes a noise like Chewbacca shouting at someone across a ravine, thanks to a particularly, and aforementioned, throaty after-market exhaust system.

We think you’re going to like it.

This car wears its years very lightly and looks impressive from every angle.

The panels are free of any bumps, dinks, creases or ripples of significance.

The panel gaps and shut lines are consistent and even.

The doors close with the right amount of Teutonic weight and authority.

The wheels and matching tyres are good.

There are one or two paint chips on the roof and at the top rear edge of the hatchback door.

You might want to tighten a screw or two on the front grille (the section with the VW badge) as it feels slightly loose when the bonnet is open.

The windscreen has two or three chips on it, but none are in a location or of a magnitude that might challenge the successful outcome of an MoT test.

In the main, even entirely expected road rash and stone chips in the usual places (front valance, wheel arches) are largely notable for their absence.

The good news continues uninterrupted on the inside, where the general condition of the interior is far more a reflection of the car’s modest mileage than its age.

The black leather bucket seats in the front are comfortable, supportive and functional, and neither has more than a patina of light creasing to show for the passage of time.

The rear seats are equally impressive, as is the very tidy and clean boot.

The carpets, mats and headlining are all in fine fettle.

There are one or two scuffs at the base of the driver’s door card, but these look like they might capitulate if threatened with a damp cloth and some stern words.

There are a few scuffs and scratches on the black plastic ashtray unit between the front seats, around the base of the gear lever and on the trim around the centre console.

As far as we’re aware, all buttons, knobs, dials, levers, switches and stalks do what they’re supposed to do.

The grey plastic skirt under the front valance is a little ragged in places, thanks no doubt to the trend for putting ramps, sleeping policemen and obstacles the size of tank traps everywhere from the high street to supermarket car parks.

The undersides of the car look straight and true to us and everything seems to have a good deal of structural integrity.

It’s the same story in the engine bay, where all appears to be clean, dry, present and correct.

The car has an MoT certificate valid until October 26th 2023.

Its mileage today is 77,752.

The V5 shows 7 former owners but the seller told us one is a duplicate.

The mileage on the occasion of its 2007 MoT was 42,067 so, clearly, the car has been used somewhat sparingly over the years and is consequently a low-mileage example for its age.

The car’s service history is as follows, and is shown with greater detail in the image below (and in the gallery) for your information.

• VW Vindis - 04.05.05 - 17,742

• VW Vindis - 10.10.06 - 33,474

• Jack Parker - 30.10.08 - 48,391

• VW Martins - 17.11.09 - 52,420

• ATS Aldershot - 22.04.15 - 56,467

• VW Martins - 05.06.15 - 56,522

• VW Twickenham - 26.02.16 - 56,887

• 4 Rings Dartford - 06.10.17 - 58,877

• 4 Rings Dartford - 06.11.18 - 66,894

• 4 Rings Dartford - 08.02.19 - 68,075 (New Clutch)

• 4 Rings Dartford - 28.01.20 - 70,911

• 4 Rings Dartford - 23.09.20 - 77,128

• 4 Rings Dartford - 23.09.21 - 77,279

The last service was a major one and included Haldex oil and filter, brake fluid, plugs and a replaced o/s/r door latch.

The battery was new in 2020, and the air-con was re-gassed in June 2022.

The car comes with all manner of invoices, receipts and bills attesting to the fact that its various needs have been met promptly and in full whenever necessary.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

These cars were rightly lauded for their performance, handling and all-round capability when new.

This example still ticks all of those boxes and boasts an excellent history and provenance, thanks in no small part to the fact that it has been bought, maintained and owned by one of The Market’s very own specialists.

We’re happy to offer this superb vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.