My friend has an 04 Golf R32 and we are usually dead even from 55 up. I want to race him from 35 but he wont because he knows those are my pulling gears and he has top end. Oh and he too always "doesnt downshift" I then say, well I didn't put it into 2nd I just mashed it and it took a second to shift so it's the same thing. I rape that car all the time, it is a very quick car, faster than the 08 GTI that's for sure.