RE: SOTW Special - Golf GTI 16V Bought!
Discussion
I used to own a Mk2 8v GTI and my mate had a 16v model.
I thought they seemed to share quite similar characteristics actually, it was just where in the rev range it all occurred. My 8v for example, seemed to have a "kick" to it as you revved it just like the 16v, but it would occur at 3,500 rpm, whereas the valver had its kick at about 5,000 rpm. The rev limit on the 8v was about 6,500 rpm IIRC whereas on the valver it was 7,500 rpm, but unlike the valver, there wasn't much point in revving it to the limiter, it was pretty much all over by about 5,500 rpm.
Having said this, bizarrely, I found that the 8v engine actually seemed to sound better! It sounded more aggressive and had more a deep tone to it than the 16v engine, more muscular if anything.
Pretty slow though. I suppose with all of 110 bhp it was never going to be quick, but it was quite humuliating being spanked by Golf TDIs on motorway sliproads. That said, even considering the 16v was supposed to have the best part of 30 bhp more, it didnt actually feel that much faster - it too felt quite slow to me, although the last time I was in it was a few months ago and I'd just stepped out of my ITR so that might be a little unfair, but it seriously didnt feel as quick as I was expecting, as my mate struggled to get past a Mondeo TDCI.
Having said that, I felt the Golf was living proof that cars dont have to be fast to be fun. Despite being quite slow, the Golf I had was great fun. It just felt alive and raw in a way that most modern cars simply dont. You could go at 80 mph down a country road in that and like any good sporty car, it felt like you were absolutely flying along. A lot of modern cars lack this - I remember Evo magazine saying that they felt like they were oblidged to drive a Mk5 GTI well into 3 figure speeds before it became any fun in comparison with the older stuff, and by the time you reached those speeds, its lardy weight was losing it composure. Not my idea of fun.
Good cars, but I must admit, me and my mates experience of them is not as reliable as they were made out to be.
I thought they seemed to share quite similar characteristics actually, it was just where in the rev range it all occurred. My 8v for example, seemed to have a "kick" to it as you revved it just like the 16v, but it would occur at 3,500 rpm, whereas the valver had its kick at about 5,000 rpm. The rev limit on the 8v was about 6,500 rpm IIRC whereas on the valver it was 7,500 rpm, but unlike the valver, there wasn't much point in revving it to the limiter, it was pretty much all over by about 5,500 rpm.
Having said this, bizarrely, I found that the 8v engine actually seemed to sound better! It sounded more aggressive and had more a deep tone to it than the 16v engine, more muscular if anything.
Pretty slow though. I suppose with all of 110 bhp it was never going to be quick, but it was quite humuliating being spanked by Golf TDIs on motorway sliproads. That said, even considering the 16v was supposed to have the best part of 30 bhp more, it didnt actually feel that much faster - it too felt quite slow to me, although the last time I was in it was a few months ago and I'd just stepped out of my ITR so that might be a little unfair, but it seriously didnt feel as quick as I was expecting, as my mate struggled to get past a Mondeo TDCI.
Having said that, I felt the Golf was living proof that cars dont have to be fast to be fun. Despite being quite slow, the Golf I had was great fun. It just felt alive and raw in a way that most modern cars simply dont. You could go at 80 mph down a country road in that and like any good sporty car, it felt like you were absolutely flying along. A lot of modern cars lack this - I remember Evo magazine saying that they felt like they were oblidged to drive a Mk5 GTI well into 3 figure speeds before it became any fun in comparison with the older stuff, and by the time you reached those speeds, its lardy weight was losing it composure. Not my idea of fun.
Good cars, but I must admit, me and my mates experience of them is not as reliable as they were made out to be.
One of our sales guys (software) was given one of these back in about 1983. The way the brake lights flashed when he plipped the remote was really cool in those days. I loved the way you could boot it out of roundabouts in second as if it was on tram lines and rocket propelled - is that just fond nostalgia?
minimatt1967 said:
Am I the only one who prefers non-big bumper MK2's?
Not at all. My wife's old valver from a few years ago. had a BRM 2 litre conversion, and put out 180.4 bhp
Edit: Undoubtedly I'll get a bit mocked for the 'look', but it was a pretty well sorted car. Good quality adjustable coil-over suspension, uprated eibach anti-roll bars, poly-bushed all round, uprated brakes, buckets and harnesses, and plenty more fast road and track orientated adjustments!
Edited by Altrezia on Saturday 20th September 23:45
Altrezia said:
minimatt1967 said:
Am I the only one who prefers non-big bumper MK2's?
Not at all. My wife's old valver from a few years ago. had a BRM 2 litre conversion, and put out 180.4 bhp
Edit: Undoubtedly I'll get a bit mocked for the 'look', but it was a pretty well sorted car. Good quality adjustable coil-over suspension, uprated eibach anti-roll bars, poly-bushed all round, uprated brakes, buckets and harnesses, and plenty more fast road and track orientated adjustments!
Edited by Altrezia on Saturday 20th September 23:45
from me, looks a proper sleeper 
Altrezia said:
Its not a big bumper golf. It HAS big bumpers, but were fitted later on in the cars life, sorry lads!
What are you on about??? 89 G golfs or"90" spec al had big bumpers? If the hazard switch is on the steering column its genuine!Edit..... I just looked at the pics again... It is a small bumper model the side mouldings are to small and no lower side moulding... Im aware that small bumpers were availible on G hence the 90 spec reference!
Edited by Dubmaster77 on Sunday 21st September 13:40
Callan.T89 said:
DamonDash said:
i also have had mk3s and they were dog sh!t, worst of the breed by far
ps i thought Fiats were BUILT out of wd40 and duck tape...
The 8V MK3 was the worst Golf GTi ever and I thought the 16V would be as bad but when desperate for a car I bought one for £400 and it was excellent.ps i thought Fiats were BUILT out of wd40 and duck tape...
1995 Mk3 16V, Had 189K on the clock, did 148bhp on the dyno (standard) did 38mpg, very comfy and very fast and capable, it was my favourite Golf ever... And when I turned it into a track car it showed how good it really was - an absolute stormer
Strawman said:
Emeye said:
Typical, the week PH buy a black 3dr Golf GTi for £250, I go and buy one for 60x the price. Wonder what mine will be worth in 20 years time
You spent £15,000 on a mk2 Golf? 
Or is that a mk5, or you spent £1,500?
A Mk5. Lots more power, lots more weight, similar performance, but I know which one I'd rather hit an SUV in! If I can get £250 for it 20 years time I'll be very happy! 
ASBO said:
BUG4LIFE said:
My favourite car of all time! I love the way they look, I love the way they drive, I pretty much love everything about these cars.
Here is a pic of mine [which is currently for sale by the way - I've stepped up to an Integra Type-R now]...it's only got 77k miles on the clock! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/688440.htm
Jesus Here is a pic of mine [which is currently for sale by the way - I've stepped up to an Integra Type-R now]...it's only got 77k miles on the clock! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/688440.htm
That's a helluva lot of money.
Is the mkII GTI market still that buoyant?
Altrezia said:
ewenm said:
Altrezia said:
LeoZwalf said:
Altrezia said:
Its not a big bumper golf. It HAS big bumpers, but were fitted later on in the cars life, sorry lads!
How can you tell?Also, at NO POINT in the rev range does the 8v have more torque than the 16v, its a myth, search Club GTI where plenty of people put it to the test on various rolling roads.
but impressive nonetheless 
It should have a rainbow striped interior if it is a genuine big bumper 16v.
fastgerman.com said:
Altrezia said:
Its not a big bumper golf. It HAS big bumpers, but were fitted later on in the cars life, sorry lads!
I didn't know that, I thought all 16v could be spec'd with big bumpers? Either way it's stanadard VW parts.Edited by fastgerman.com on Friday 19th September 15:24
After market bumpers can be bought, they dont fit aswell as the genuine ones.
Also to add, the wheels are wrong. Those bottletops came on the small bumpered 16v, big bumper should have BBS RA's.
adycav said:
Allow me to recommend some Mer bumper gel. It'll work a treat on those tatty old bumpers.
http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/details/mer-c...
...better than Mer - Meguiars tyre gel. The best stuff to return ANY plastic bumper back to it's original colour. I've never used it on tyres (too messy)http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/details/mer-c...
http://www.meguiars.co.uk/
product code: G7516
...and it smells of blueberries!
Nice one - they're such great cars. I've had a fair few over the last ten years. I bought and sold a few when their prices slumped a couple of years ago, to help me out of student poverty. Prices have crept up since then.
Loose the big bumpers though. It's straight forward enough. If your anywhere near birmingham anytime, I'll give you a hand doing it
You should still be able to get a brand new set of small bumpers from 'German, Sweedish and French car parts' for around £60. Bin that exhaust, bit of polish and bob's your mother brother, you'll get £700 - £900.
good luck!
Loose the big bumpers though. It's straight forward enough. If your anywhere near birmingham anytime, I'll give you a hand doing it
You should still be able to get a brand new set of small bumpers from 'German, Sweedish and French car parts' for around £60. Bin that exhaust, bit of polish and bob's your mother brother, you'll get £700 - £900.
good luck!
Edited by zimmerman on Monday 22 September 11:38
Edited by zimmerman on Monday 22 September 11:39
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