Cars.co.za seems to be the go-to YouTube channel when it comes to quality car content from South Africa. It’s always interesting to see how the car scene is in other regions of the world and this highly modified Mk V Volkswagen Golf R32 is a perfect example, as it is capable of making plenty of exotic cars cry on the drag strip.

When it comes to the best platforms for high horsepower builds, more often than not, people turn to cars like the Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo, or anything that has a Chevy LS engine. And although they are all highly capable platforms, this rather unassumingly-looking VW Golf R32 can easily give them a run for their money.

The car in question is a 2009 Mk V Golf R32, which is the last year of this generation and also the last year, in which a Golf could be had with the narrow-angle VR6 engine. In stock form, the 3.2-liter normally-aspirated unit produces 247 horsepower (184 kilowatts) and 236 pound-feet (320 Nm), which allows for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of around 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

2009 Volkswagen Mk V Golf R32 specifications

Engine

3.2-liter normally-aspirated

Power

247 HP

Torque

236 LB-FT

0 to 60 mph

5.7 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph


Jacque De Beer – the owner of the Golf R32 – bought it brand new in 2009 and almost immediately started modifying it. Before that happened, he lost his first race against a GTI. “That was the first and last race I lost”, he says. A normally aspirated engine is not the most ideal choice when going the forced induction route, as you’ll have to change a lot more parts than on something that’s already been turbocharged or supercharged (if you want to have some reliability that is).

The car had only 3,000 km (1,864 miles) on the clock when the mods started and initially ran a GT35 turbo. The engine has been fully forged and currently features a Precision 64-66 turbocharger, pistons, and connecting rods from Wossner, HPA intake manifold, 980 cc injectors, and a flex-fuel system running on E70. The car is run by two ECU - a Syvecs Seven Plus and a separate one for the E70.

Jacques says the car isn’t fully sorted out and more upgrades are in store, which means even quicker quarter-mile times, in the future. With that being said, a 10.3-second quarter-mile time is enough to give even some hypercars trouble. And since it’s a hatchback, you can also pick up four times the women than in a Lamborghini. Watch the video below to learn all the details about this mighty Golf R32, from the owner himself.