Er... it seems as if the Ed wants a hot rod!I've just finished reading Hot Rod magazine - so shoot me, I'm a car guy. In fact, my first job was on Custom Car in the UK and I've loved muscle cars and street rods ever since. The creativity is inspiring. Anyway, I read the editorial and had to put fingers to keyboard. You see, they're car guys too. Sure, they're older, fatter and balder but there's oil in their veins; probably Pennzoil rather than Mobil 1 ...
The editor was asking Detroit for muscle cars that were cheap, simple, tuneable and lightweight. Can you believe they want the same things as us?
It sounded like every conversation I've had with European enthusiasts over the last 10 years - particularly VW guys. After all, most German manufacturers have lightweight performance models, except VW. For me, the R32 was the last straw. I know it offers a great drive and is a good, if slightly expensive, tuning base. But hear me out. This is my formula for an Mk5 R32 alternative, and I'd like to address it to VW.
I'd start with a 2.0T developing 250hp stock, an FMIC behind a deeper front spoiler, no rear apron, no roof spoiler, aluminum hood, tailgate and fenders, 14" brake rotors with single-piston calipers on aluminum carriers, behind lightweight 18" BBS wheels, GTI suspension, Quaife LSD in a six-speed manual, no traction control, simple rack and pinion assisted steering, lightweight cloth Recaros with manual adjusters, no rear seat, no sunroof, no CD changer (just an iPod socket), we'll keep the a/c but give us darker tinted glass so we don't have to run it all the time, and carbon interior trim, reduce the sound-deadening to save weight and let us hear the engine. Give us a boost gauge by replacing the current oil temp gauge, and put oil temp back on the MFA. That won't add weight. Optional equipment need only include central locking, electric windows and mirrors, sat nav and side airbags.
This car will accelerate, brake and turn better than any of the existing models. It should also use less gas.
We don't need 4wd 99% of the time, and the hardcore who buy this car are aware of torque steer and how to deal with it.
A bigger turbo and FMIC means we can simply change the injectors and software to gain another 100hp or so. So please ensure the software has back doors so the tuners can recalibrate.
The big rotors mean braking will be powerful and consistent, and a four-piston upgrade would be all that was required.
We don't need widebody or wings; just a deeper front spoiler to accommodate the FMIC. If we want more we can add our own.
Please strip the interior. Most of us don't carry more than the girlfriend so let's delete the rear seat. Interior trim should only be lightweight carbon.
The seats should be the closest to a Recaro A8/Porsche GT3 you can find. Cover them in cloth. We can add leather if needed.