Hello gents, and could I be so bold, (as a newbie) to offer a slightly alternative view-point ?
I would start by admitting that I really don`t know too much about the GTI, or R32 at this stage, as I`m just aboout to collect my (slightly) used `05 GTI on Monday, and I`ve never even driven the R32.
I can, however, offer an opinion about All-Wheel-Drives, as I`m just defecting from a Subaru STI to the Golf. As you say, the R32 will, no doubt, grip the roads very well in the current weather conditions (and the dry of course), but, in doing so, will cosset you in a way that front/rear drive cars can`t.
Surely a good thing ?, you may say, (and I wouldn`t really disagree), but what I did notice, when test-driving my prospective GTI the other day, was that it can actually be more fun to HAVE to control the slides that an AWD won`t induce ie, it can actually be more fun for the car to be slightly LESS efficient in the way it puts the power down, if that makes any sense ? (I apologise in advance if it doesn`t  ÂÂÂ
)
Don`t get me wrong, the Scooby has been devastatingly quick, in all weathers, due to its AWD system, and it never actually crossed my mind that this wasn`t the way to go, whilst I`ve been driving it, but when I drove the GTI a few days ago, I enjoyed having to
feel for the traction a bit more on the bends, and realised afterwards that I had missed this in the Scoob.
Having said all that, I`m sure you will enjoy your R32`s gents, as they look fabulous in the flesh (so to speak), so just ignore my ramblings ( :embarassed:) and enjoy your AWD`s...................................Good luck. ÂÂÂ