RE: PH Heroes: VW Golf GTI
Discussion
LOL.
Hardly all Golf fanatics here. It's been years since I last had one, as the last Golf that really appealed was the Mk2. And I've had BMWs, Mercs, Saabs, Audis and Alfas since and I still think the Mk2 16v stacks up well for its time.
I can't see why you are so keen to knock them, unless this is merely a spot of light trolling.
Hardly all Golf fanatics here. It's been years since I last had one, as the last Golf that really appealed was the Mk2. And I've had BMWs, Mercs, Saabs, Audis and Alfas since and I still think the Mk2 16v stacks up well for its time.
I can't see why you are so keen to knock them, unless this is merely a spot of light trolling.
traffman said:
Ah i used to work as an estate agent/valuer in Glasgow in the early 90s and he had just moved jobs and his company car was a nice 8 valve 5 door gti mk2 with bbs alloys. I remember taking it for a scoot round Glasgows streets and enjoyed it very much .
It was only a year old and thats the only one ive ever driven.
I love me hothatches though.
I was an Estate Agent when I bought my Mk2 but it was 13 years old by then! My Area Manager reminisced about his time in London when he had one as a company motor. Cliche or what?!It was only a year old and thats the only one ive ever driven.
I love me hothatches though.
I never 'got' the Golf GTi.
I never wanted one as a kid, I don't bat an eyelid when I see one.
I'm not bothered.
Then....
Two years ago I went to visit my sister living in Spain.
She picked me up from the airport in her newly purchased 8v mark 2 GTi. And she was in love with it.
I did the nice brotherly thing and humoured her but really I was thinking of all the other cars she could have bought instead.
Living, as she did, in a quiet mountain village the roads to her house were interesting, dusty and empty.
Her spirited drive got my interest up and I started talking to her about it, getting more excited myself.
The next day she threw me the keys and said "don't roll it off the mountain" and let me go.
WHAT A FANTASTIC LITTLE CAR! I get it! The harder you push it into a corner, the earlier you grab it's neck and nail the throttle the more fun it is and the more it encourages you to give it more more more.
Completely hooked.
She moved back home and sold it to fund the move recently.
Her new Swift is not a patch on it (granted, it's not the 'Sport' model) and we both want her to find a nice one and get another.
NOW!
I never wanted one as a kid, I don't bat an eyelid when I see one.
I'm not bothered.
Then....
Two years ago I went to visit my sister living in Spain.
She picked me up from the airport in her newly purchased 8v mark 2 GTi. And she was in love with it.
I did the nice brotherly thing and humoured her but really I was thinking of all the other cars she could have bought instead.
Living, as she did, in a quiet mountain village the roads to her house were interesting, dusty and empty.
Her spirited drive got my interest up and I started talking to her about it, getting more excited myself.
The next day she threw me the keys and said "don't roll it off the mountain" and let me go.
WHAT A FANTASTIC LITTLE CAR! I get it! The harder you push it into a corner, the earlier you grab it's neck and nail the throttle the more fun it is and the more it encourages you to give it more more more.
Completely hooked.
She moved back home and sold it to fund the move recently.
Her new Swift is not a patch on it (granted, it's not the 'Sport' model) and we both want her to find a nice one and get another.
NOW!
More like luke warm hatches.I had a 5Gt and it was complete cack. Slow, unreliable and everything fell off typical French rubbish. I have had about 10 MK2's and despite their age they can still make a lot of newer cars look silly when it comes to the swisty stuff. Oo=v=oO forever
Well, yours must've had a leaking boost hose or something, because, in accelerative terms at least, the GTt would pull the Mk.2 8v pants down. GTt 'feels' so much more exciting and go-kart like than the Golf - although the little 1.4 does (or should that be doesn't?) make itself felt past 80mph...
I see that you are using the 8 valve as a comparison to your 5. Lets bring the MK2 G60 Golf to the table. How do you thing your flimsy 5 would campare in standard form to one of these badboys.
Enough said
Well, yours must've had a leaking boost hose or something, because, in accelerative terms at least, the GTt would pull the Mk.2 8v pants down. GTt 'feels' so much more exciting and go-kart like than the Golf - although the little 1.4 does (or should that be doesn't?) make itself felt past 80mph...
I see that you are using the 8 valve as a comparison to your 5. Lets bring the MK2 G60 Golf to the table. How do you thing your flimsy 5 would campare in standard form to one of these badboys.
Enough said
Very Well said Tony B
Some people just don't know what they are talking about do they????!!!!
It bugs me when people say "they can't see what all the fuss is about", "that they don't understand what the VW Golf thing is all about, and that they can think of far better cars to own like the 205 and the 5 Turbo and the Fiesta"...
But if you've never owned a Golf, MK1 or MK2, you'll never know what it's all about, and your truley missing out on one of the best cars ever made.
People say that the 205 GTI is quicker?? that the Ren 5 Turbo is better and faster, hahahaha, that makes me laugh, we're driving round in a Classic and your driving round in some French sh1t!!! Ok thats a little harsh on the 205 GTI because that too was a good car, but without doubt the Golf not only leaves it standing on the Looks front, but also in the build quality. But when we get to the 5 turbo, For gods sake build a bridge and get over it...... if you want to replace your head gasket every 10 miles and be followed round by a tow truck for the rest of your life then so be it, But you really should try a VW golf, you'll love it... Not only will the 16valve blitz most hot hatch cars, but the G60 is a animal all in it's own...
You say French I say German, I guess we'll never agree. But all I'll say, is if it's good enough for Mr Clarkson, it's good enough for me.... As the saying goes for all old schools VWs - YOU MAY PASS ME, BUT YOU'LL NEVER OUTLAST ME...
Keep on dubbin everyone.
Laterz
Some people just don't know what they are talking about do they????!!!!
It bugs me when people say "they can't see what all the fuss is about", "that they don't understand what the VW Golf thing is all about, and that they can think of far better cars to own like the 205 and the 5 Turbo and the Fiesta"...
But if you've never owned a Golf, MK1 or MK2, you'll never know what it's all about, and your truley missing out on one of the best cars ever made.
People say that the 205 GTI is quicker?? that the Ren 5 Turbo is better and faster, hahahaha, that makes me laugh, we're driving round in a Classic and your driving round in some French sh1t!!! Ok thats a little harsh on the 205 GTI because that too was a good car, but without doubt the Golf not only leaves it standing on the Looks front, but also in the build quality. But when we get to the 5 turbo, For gods sake build a bridge and get over it...... if you want to replace your head gasket every 10 miles and be followed round by a tow truck for the rest of your life then so be it, But you really should try a VW golf, you'll love it... Not only will the 16valve blitz most hot hatch cars, but the G60 is a animal all in it's own...
You say French I say German, I guess we'll never agree. But all I'll say, is if it's good enough for Mr Clarkson, it's good enough for me.... As the saying goes for all old schools VWs - YOU MAY PASS ME, BUT YOU'LL NEVER OUTLAST ME...
Keep on dubbin everyone.
Laterz
RacingTeatray said:
tinman0 said:
RacingTeatray] said:
Thin spacing between cyclinders (16v) - you what? I had three of these and can honestly say I have no idea what you are talking about.
It does have thin walls. But then that just stops you boring the engine out. However, if you want to bore the engine the main problem is screwing the oil galleries up. Halfmil rebore is about the max you can get on the block, and the pistons cost a fortune. I should know 
And putting a new exhaust and putting a new airfilter on the car would of given you the increased power.
I kinda got tired with the Golf GTI community. Great guys, but they are all hell bent on making Mk2s into Elises, when it would just be cheaper to buy the Elise in the first place. They also have no taste. Some idiot chavs up a Saxo and they are uncool, but the same idiot does it to a Mk2 Golf, and its tasteful.
I withdrew from that community the day a Mk2 owner did a write up about his Golf - he had removed all the screws holding the trim together and replaced them with glue - to save weight.
Made the "folding down rear seats" look half sensible.
Wikid, 'spec!
Pub talk to the extreme.
Only the French and Italians know how to build small cars with flair and passion, they make them exciting and great fun to drive.
That is what makes a hot hatch, not having a wank because your OEM engine run in sticker has arrived after a 6 month back order.
mk2hell said:
But when we get to the 5 turbo, For gods sake build a bridge and get over it...... if you want to replace your head gasket every 10 miles and be followed round by a tow truck for the rest of your life then so be it.
Pub talk to the extreme.
Only the French and Italians know how to build small cars with flair and passion, they make them exciting and great fun to drive.
That is what makes a hot hatch, not having a wank because your OEM engine run in sticker has arrived after a 6 month back order.
r5gttgaz said:
An R5 is a far better hot hatch than the Golf.
they were good up to about 80-90 but they ran out of steam. a 16v would overhaul them fairly quickly at that point.i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
tinman0 said:
r5gttgaz said:
An R5 is a far better hot hatch than the Golf.
they were good up to about 80-90 but they ran out of steam. a 16v would overhaul them fairly quickly at that point.i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
r5gttgaz said:
An R5 is a far better hot hatch than the Golf.
they were good up to about 80-90 but they ran out of steam. a 16v would overhaul them fairly quickly at that point.
i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
Well said that man. Poor engines and poor build quality
An R5 is a far better hot hatch than the Golf.
they were good up to about 80-90 but they ran out of steam. a 16v would overhaul them fairly quickly at that point.
i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
Well said that man. Poor engines and poor build quality
mk2hell said:
i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
Well said that man. Poor engines and poor build quality
Maybe he'll buy a real car next time round...
Well I did.... Well said that man. Poor engines and poor build quality
Maybe he'll buy a real car next time round...
mk2hell said:
stuff
I personally think there are a couple of problems with the whole hot hatch debate today.Its a debate that was around 15+ years ago, and the Golf won it hands down then. Not the 8v though, the 16v. It was the King of Hot Hatches (quote from quite a few magazines at the time).
The debate now is kinda out of place. Most of these cars, whether they are Golfs, R5s, 205GTi, are not in great condition. Alot of people who have tried an 8v Golf GTI since the hot hatch era just don't get it, as they are driving a second rate hot hatch that is probably thrashed.
Most 16v GTIs are horribly horribly thrashed. Ask someone with a mint 16v when they replaced their injectors? They are probably original.
But the problem is that, most of the survivors today, are thrashed. They are on their 9th owner, and not every owner treated them with respect. Especially 16vs. There are a few survivors who have been treated gracefully, but they are rare.
Poor old R5s and 205GTis I feel sorry for as they weren't exactly screwed together very well in the first place.
Everyone buys one of these highly respectable hot hatches so that they say they've owned one. And then move it on because of time, space, money etc, and they form an opinion from that.
The second issue is that you have to have driven one of these cars from the era that they came from to appreciate them. To drive them now, you just don't get it. In their day they were fast.
Today, a boggo BMW diesel will maul one of these classics.
r5gttgaz said:
tinman0 said:
r5gttgaz said:
An R5 is a far better hot hatch than the Golf.
they were good up to about 80-90 but they ran out of steam. a 16v would overhaul them fairly quickly at that point.i still remember racing a R5T down the A3 when his turbo blew up. was quite impressed that my Golf managed to miss most of the debris that dropped out the bottom of the poor guys car.
I was always very careful about racing R5 Turbos. they were always quick off the mark, but they generally had a healthy respect for 16v owners as well. The only way you could get off the mark quicker was to be the better driver. However, when all things were equal, you were gonna look at their tailgate until about 85.
Well I did....
Yeh Great.
Overheating problems!! Oh and don't get me started on all of those fans, you know the one to stop the fuel evaporating so that you MIGHT be able to restart the car. Oh thats right you can't becouse the fans have flattened the battery. Thats another recovery call then. lol.........
Yeh Great.
Overheating problems!! Oh and don't get me started on all of those fans, you know the one to stop the fuel evaporating so that you MIGHT be able to restart the car. Oh thats right you can't becouse the fans have flattened the battery. Thats another recovery call then. lol.........
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