ran with my friend tonight. has bone stock VW R32. I got bone stock '96 M3.

those that arent familiar R32 is 3.2L VR6 240hp AWD

first two runs are from 3rd gear at 60mph. as soon we hit it i start inching very slowly. as end of the 3rd approaches i have 1/2 car length. shift into 4th and i start pulling more, but very slowly. we both shut down ~ 115mph or so at the end of 4th. in both pulls i had about 2 car lengths at the end of 4th gear.

3rd run was both in 4th gear from 65mph (his advantage as he has short ratio 6-speed, whereas my gears are longer). dead even to 90mph, then i start pulling very slowly. by end of 4th i have about car length.

overall nice clean runs.

just one more thing to note-- R32 exhuast=SEX

hed probably have you from a dig tho, but id still rather have the m3

R32 0-60mph 6.0 sec
'95-99 M3 0-60mph 5.4-5.7

but to 30mph he would probably eat me alive coz of AWD.

haha probably

nice races.

outcome sounds right.

i don't know about a 6.0 0-60 (i think someone who knows how to drive an r32 does a little better), but good job.

thats Car & Driver data so the same could be said of M3. anyhow, C&D drivers are pretty good and they usually get fastest times out of cars (in comparison to other magazine drivers).

I ran one from 60-120 or so, he got on in a bit before me and got slightly ahead but I caught him and put almost 1 cl on him to 120 or so. That's in an e34 540 auto, with dinan chip. I know from a dig they'd destroy me but at high speeds m60>vr6, so I reckon the m3 of the same year would pretty much take its lunch money.

i could take the time and try to find other magazines that have the r32 in the 5's, but i can't right now...maybe later.

i think magazine times are complete bullshit. they are a good benchmark but not more.

i can't see a stock m3 going faster than 5.4. that in itself is rare. the r32 and the m3 run similar 1/4mi times. the vw certainly does't gain ground as speed increases, so it's all in the launch. i would say 0-60 is pretty close. 0-30 is roughly 1st gear for the r32. if you think a car with awd and a 6 speed is going to only be ahead from 0-30 i would have to disagree.

R32 0-60mph 6.0 sec
'95-99 M3 0-60mph 5.4-5.7

but to 30mph he would probably eat me alive coz of AWD.
I really doubt you'd get eaten alive due to the AWD. Neither car has enough HP that they need AWD to get it all to the ground. Specifically, in this case, the M3 doesn't have enough HP that it would overpower its rear tires and cause a lack of traction. All it takes is working the clutch correctly. If anything, the drivetrain loss of the AWD on the R32 is going to make it slower 0-30 IMHO.

E36 M3 running 5.4 0-60mph in C&D article


http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3043/m3article6mi9.jpg

E36 M3 running 5.6 sec

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8990/m3article5mu6.jpg

to my knowledge none of the most popular magazines (CD, RT, MT) managed to squezze more than 5.8sec out of the R32. Usually it was between 5.8-6.2 sec, whereas M3 consistently had 5.4-5.7 times.

3500 lb R32 is probably putting down 185-190whp with AWD drivetrain losses

vs

3200 lb M3 putting down 200-205whp or so with lesser RWD losses

..and as stated above, you can slam 1st gear in M3 just as you can in R32.

to my knowledge none of the most popular magazines (CD, RT, MT) managed to squezze more than 5.8sec out of the R32. Usually it was between 5.8-6.2 sec, whereas M3 consistently had 5.4-5.7 times.

3500 lb R32 is probably putting down 185-190whp with AWD drivetrain losses

vs

3200 lb M3 putting down 200-205whp or so with lesser RWD losses

..and as stated above, you can slam 1st gear in M3 just as you can in R32.

actually, the bad 0-60mph times is due to the car needing to get into third to hit 60 whereas the M3 can do it in two. If this wasn't the case, the R32 would also be seeing 5.4 0-60mph times. The R32 is actually 3330lbs and has been whp rated anywhere from 190-205whp. Most R32 owners are seeing 205-210whp with just a free mod known as the exhaust mod which opens up a flapper that restricts noise and air flow through the exhaust. Others with a chip, intake, and this exhaust mod have been able to produce 225-230whp. The R32 doesn't lose as much hp as many think because of its drivetrain because though it does act as an AWD car when traction is an issue, it acts as a FWD car when traction is not an issue.

The launch is the greatest advantage to the R32. I usually think stock for stock with equal drivers, the R32 should be about 1mph slower trap speed wise in the quarter, but ahead or relatively neck to neck when it comes to finishing the quarter mile with the m3. But a few mods and the R32 will shine, where a few owners with just chip intake and exhaust (+rear seat taken out) have managed to get times closer to 13.2 @ 101-103mph. :) Even one guy that has a chip intake exhaust and cams and some weight reduction managed a 12.8@105-106mph.

Actually a stock R32 puts down around 220hp and 210 tq because the haldex system only engages the rear wheels when the front start to spin.
And these cars are only about 3350lbs, but thats without a driver. Ive seen a few with just intake run high 13's to low 14's but I think their kind of tricky to launch.

weight of an R32 - 3400 lb. i was off by 100lb. in similar matter M3 are rarely 3200lb, more like 3100lb and most sources report as 3170lb depending whether they weigh them with full tank of gas or half or 1/4.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_Exterior.aspx?year=2004&make=Volkswagen&model=R32&trimid=-1

http://www.caranddriver.com/shortroadtests/8413/volkswagen-r32-page2.html

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0501_compact_sport_comparison/r32_specs.html

actually, the bad 0-60mph times is due to the car needing to get into third to hit 60 whereas the M3 can do it in two. If this wasn't the case, the R32 would also be seeing 5.4 0-60mph times.
right, but 0-60mph is what it is. in similar matter i could say, well if M3 had 2900lb it could be in low 5s.

btw, i forgot to mention R32 that i raced had flapper mod on. i dont really consider it a big mod so i put "battle of stockers".

sounds like a good old german car race both amazing cars, you guys should have raced through some curvy back roads thats what both the cars are made for.

If you car is stock how does it put down 227whp??

If you car is stock how does it put down 227whp??

thats for his 95 m3 i believe...he raced him inthe stock 96, just going by what the info given in the first post and his sig

r32 exhaust does =Sex

0-60 time is all about GEARING.

it means little... however, they use it as a benchmark to help sell.


trap speed is all about power.

I wasted an R32 once in my E30 318is. Got a thumbs up from the driver :)
















































BTW, it had an S50 in it ;)

man I didnt realize the R32's weighed that much!!! What pigs.....they are the size of my couch.

race him from 40 mph in 2nd.