RE: SOTW: Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V
Discussion
I drove a number of 8 & 16 valve versions whilst going through my (fairly lengthy) Golf GTI phase.
IMHO these suffered from properly crap suspension and chassis bushing which made them feel, especially the steering, weighty, unresponsive and un-involving to drive - even with the torque lazy but still great VR6.
Not a weight issue, more VW unsuccessfully trying to rival others in ride quality and failing to to take account of the dynamics expected from a GTI and properly failing in both.
IMHO these suffered from properly crap suspension and chassis bushing which made them feel, especially the steering, weighty, unresponsive and un-involving to drive - even with the torque lazy but still great VR6.
Not a weight issue, more VW unsuccessfully trying to rival others in ride quality and failing to to take account of the dynamics expected from a GTI and properly failing in both.
VeeDub Geezer said:
I personally rate the Mk3 quite highly. It is the strongest all-rounder of all the Golfs. It has some of the rawness of the Mk2, but adds some of the luxury and mod cons from the Mk4.
Exactly how I've always summed it up, having owned a Mk2 8v, Mk3 8v and a VR6. Loved my Mk3 8v until a 'bargain' VR6 and it's superior power seduced me. Can't help but think the Mk3 16v would've been ideal so this is a great shed
PistonBroker said:
VeeDub Geezer said:
I personally rate the Mk3 quite highly. It is the strongest all-rounder of all the Golfs. It has some of the rawness of the Mk2, but adds some of the luxury and mod cons from the Mk4.
Exactly how I've always summed it up, having owned a Mk2 8v, Mk3 8v and a VR6. Loved my Mk3 8v until a 'bargain' VR6 and it's superior power seduced me. Can't help but think the Mk3 16v would've been ideal so this is a great shed
As a car, they're fine - as a hot hatch, they're laughably crap. They feel heavy and slow, they have little willingness to change direction etc.
OK, most cars had moved away from the rawness of the Mk2 GTi/205 GTi etc. by this time - but VW had really focussed on everything BUT the performance and handling with the MK3 GTi and it's easy to see when you drive one.
They aren't even particularly reliable for a VW in my experience - you'd never buy a MK3 to 'drive'.
jof said:
I drove a number of 8 & 16 valve versions whilst going through my (fairly lengthy) Golf GTI phase.
IMHO these suffered from properly crap suspension and chassis bushing which made them feel, especially the steering, weighty, unresponsive and un-involving to drive - even with the torque lazy but still great VR6.
Not a weight issue, more VW unsuccessfully trying to rival others in ride quality and failing to to take account of the dynamics expected from a GTI and properly failing in both.
Agreed. The standard VR6 dampers are poor quality. A set of Konis or Bilsteins transform the car.IMHO these suffered from properly crap suspension and chassis bushing which made them feel, especially the steering, weighty, unresponsive and un-involving to drive - even with the torque lazy but still great VR6.
Not a weight issue, more VW unsuccessfully trying to rival others in ride quality and failing to to take account of the dynamics expected from a GTI and properly failing in both.
SS7
I had a MK1 cabrio Gti and a big bumper mkII Gti 16v. MKI great, MKII ok but never understood the hype. Never been in a MKIII, but I hope it is better than the MKIV GTI that I drove a mate had bought. I think it had the same non-turbo 20v motor my Passat-Estate-at-the-time had, I swear the Passat was nicer to drive, Disgrace to wear a GTi badge that one. The plot was definitely lost by then!!
p4cks said:
Back in the day I bypassed one of these completely and went for an Ibiza GTI 16v. Same engine, better suspension and weighed less. Rally pedigree too.
(please excuse the colour)
Recently sold an 8v Biza. I actually prefer the SOHC (golf 3 driveline) as the 16v had the flywheel and gearbox from a VR6 which was a horrible combination.(please excuse the colour)
In the past I've had Golf 2 GTI's in both 8 and 16v and honestly the KR 16v has so much more character than the ABF it's unreal.
Also owned a vento which handled much better than the golf 3 but unlike the Biza the 2L engine felt wanting in that.
My pick is the MK2 in any format as it has the perfect match of performance and refinement. The MK1 is too raw for day to day!
A good friend of mine had an 8v MK3 Golf GTi and I used it on a couple of occasions, very rarely getting to give it any real beans, eventually I had the opportunity to 'open it up', so I took a roundabout at quite a pace and it felt tight, grippy, and the steering was informative and quick. Leaving the roundabout straight on to a dual carriageway, I thought it would be rude not to see what it went like, so I went to floor it, oh, it is floored and that's all it had to offer. I'd previously driven a MK4 20v turbo (180) Golf which was said to be mapped to just over 200bhp, although quicker, it didn't feel as nice to steer as the MK3, so the 'valver' MK3 is actually quite appealing. Lighter and more fuel efficient than the VR6, but with more kick than the 8v. For this money, winner.
Hello Everyone!
Long time lurker here and I have to comment on this! I've had a 8v Mk3 for about 5 years and put well over 60k on the clock having bought the best I could find and turned it from a low milage minter into a ragged, dog eared and battered 'shed' as some workmates affectionately call it, its not that bad!!!! its been a blast but costing way too much to keep running now, (over £1100 this year so far, outside of any mot work that will need doing....... ) but its taken me everywhere you can imagine, only ever breaks down when its not vital (I'm freelance so sometimes have to leave at 4am for London/Manchester/etc so this is a real bonus) I think I've outgrown it long ago but everyone says its the coolest car out of our friends and I can't sell it, easy to say from the seat of a leased 5 Series, less so when you've just paid another bill thats more than the things worth!!!
Going to have one last summer, keep it clean, have some fun and see how bad things are next time its in its natural habitat, a four post car lift!!!!
I do love it but keeping it sweet is becoming too much of a indulgence, although my local garage are very happy with my insane love for my old motor!!
Long time lurker here and I have to comment on this! I've had a 8v Mk3 for about 5 years and put well over 60k on the clock having bought the best I could find and turned it from a low milage minter into a ragged, dog eared and battered 'shed' as some workmates affectionately call it, its not that bad!!!! its been a blast but costing way too much to keep running now, (over £1100 this year so far, outside of any mot work that will need doing....... ) but its taken me everywhere you can imagine, only ever breaks down when its not vital (I'm freelance so sometimes have to leave at 4am for London/Manchester/etc so this is a real bonus) I think I've outgrown it long ago but everyone says its the coolest car out of our friends and I can't sell it, easy to say from the seat of a leased 5 Series, less so when you've just paid another bill thats more than the things worth!!!
Going to have one last summer, keep it clean, have some fun and see how bad things are next time its in its natural habitat, a four post car lift!!!!
I do love it but keeping it sweet is becoming too much of a indulgence, although my local garage are very happy with my insane love for my old motor!!
That's cool you've got yourself a bargain there, I cant remember whats been done of the top of my head but there was a lot of things that went wrong this year, cam speed sensor, coil pack, brakelights stopped working, new relay for that, rocker gasket, tyres, ect ect, just a constant. last year it had new exhaust, waterpump, steering pump as well as a wealth of little bits. its going to need a new clutch and discs all round buy the end of the summer, the thing will charge on all day down the motorway and never miss a beat but you've got to remember Lady Diana was still alive when it was built!!!
Bought mine a couple of months ago for £400 - it's a 16V, with 160k up.
Not a very good picture, but it's quite a vibrant colour when clean. I love mine - going to change the suspension for a set of standard Bilsteins as the existing shocks are tired, and do a few other jobs as well.
It's in such good condition that I can't help but put some care into it - I've done a RR thread somewhere, which I will keep updated.
405dogvan said:
PistonBroker said:
VeeDub Geezer said:
I personally rate the Mk3 quite highly. It is the strongest all-rounder of all the Golfs. It has some of the rawness of the Mk2, but adds some of the luxury and mod cons from the Mk4.
Exactly how I've always summed it up, having owned a Mk2 8v, Mk3 8v and a VR6. Loved my Mk3 8v until a 'bargain' VR6 and it's superior power seduced me. Can't help but think the Mk3 16v would've been ideal so this is a great shed
As a car, they're fine - as a hot hatch, they're laughably crap. They feel heavy and slow, they have little willingness to change direction etc.
OK, most cars had moved away from the rawness of the Mk2 GTi/205 GTi etc. by this time - but VW had really focussed on everything BUT the performance and handling with the MK3 GTi and it's easy to see when you drive one.
They aren't even particularly reliable for a VW in my experience - you'd never buy a MK3 to 'drive'.
I loved it to bits, but I'm not sure we can class it as decent!
I had the Mk2 when I was young, free and single. Both Mk3s were owned in the first year after my daughter was born. I expect what I wanted from a warm/hot Golf was different by then. Our family car at the time - a 2.0 8v Bora - was eminently sensible. The Mk3 8v gave me enough of that sensibility with a hint of my beloved Mk2.
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