mk2 Golf GTi or Peugeot 306 GTi/Rallye?

[white_goodman]

I posted last week as my wife and I have a baby on the way and were thinking of changing our cars (something practical, easy to drive and reasonably affordable to run for her such as an Octavia vRS or diesel 3-Series, C-Class or Passat), which leaves me with about £2k-£3k on something fun but practical and cheap to run for going to work and the occassional longer journey.

I was initially thinking Saxo VTR or SportKa, as you can get a relatively new car for the money but they seem more geared towards youngsters and I may find them a bit unsatisfying after my current DD (an Impreza WRX). I am 31 and have 9 years no claims, so I could probably afford to insure a proper hot hatch. I'm a huge fan of the 205 GTi (and indeed have owned one) but they are a bit tinny and hard work if you're not in the mood. The big-bumper mk2 Golf GTi (8v or 16v) of the same age would appear to be an easier car to live with day-to-day but they seem to be appreciating now and most of them will have done at least 100k. However, I love the detailing (quad headlights, BBS wheels, bee-sting aeriel etc). The mk3 Golf VR6s are also pretty cheap but more expensive to run and from my understanding aren't as well engineered and don't handle as well.

Compared to these, 306 GTis/Rallyes seem like quite good value and don't appear to be appreciating yet. This was probably the last great Peugeot hot hatch and from my understanding, has a lot in common with the 205 but with more space, power and refinement. Looks wise, they look a bit similar to all the other 306s but at the time, the 306 was one of the prettier hatches so that's no bad thing! I have never driven one myself (I have driven a standard 306 which wasn't anything special) but I have a car enthusiast friend who has run a 306 Rallye as his DD for several years and even bought it back after selling it as he missed it so much, so there must be something in it. I realise that RenaultSport Clios and Type-Rs are probably coming down into this price bracket now but I prefer the 306 to the Clio (more space, more comfortable, better driving position) and I like the Civic Type-R but they are really expensive to insure and probably not that good on fuel.

So what would be my best option? mk2 Golf GTi or 306? Any driving/ownership experiences/opinions would be most welcome.

[redgriff500]

I was in a similar situation.

I considered a Clio 172/182 but decided it was too "yoof" for me a 306 just didn't grab me so I went for the Mk2 Golf Gti based mainly on looks / image as TBH they all a similar job.

I'm so glad I did. I found one with a few tweeks so making circa 175bhp and it drives great. I paid close to £2500 which is top money for these but the engine's only done 70k and it has loads of history / receipts.

Everyone comments on how nice it is. I'd happily turn up anywhere in it which I simply wouldn't in the other options.

[white_goodman]

redgriff500 said:

I was in a similar situation.

I considered a Clio 172/182 but decided it was too "yoof" for me a 306 just didn't grab me so I went for the Mk2 Golf Gti based mainly on looks / image as TBH they all a similar job.

I'm so glad I did. I found one with a few tweeks so making circa 175bhp and it drives great. I paid close to £2500 which is top money for these but the engine's only done 70k and it has loads of history / receipts.

Everyone comments on how nice it is. I'd happily turn up anywhere in it which I simply wouldn't in the other options.

You may have hit the nail on the head there. There may be more able cars of that type for the money but the mk2 Golf GTi is difficult to beat for style and iconic status! Impressive CV by the way!

[jackal]

I have had both.

Personally I never got on with the GTi-6. The box and engine were nice but to me it felt like a transitional hatch. Not modern enough to be a grown up hatch like a Seat leon or a Clio 172 but then not small and light and old school enough to be a mk2 Golf Gti or a 205 Gti.

As for the mkii golf, I had an 8v and loved it to bits. Shame that it blew up one day one going through shepperton.

[300bhp/ton]

white_goodman said:

I posted last week as my wife and I have a baby on the way and were thinking of changing our cars (something practical, easy to drive and reasonably affordable to run for her such as an Octavia vRS or diesel 3-Series, C-Class or Passat), which leaves me with about £2k-£3k on something fun but practical and cheap to run for going to work and the occassional longer journey.

I was initially thinking Saxo VTR or SportKa, as you can get a relatively new car for the money but they seem more geared towards youngsters and I may find them a bit unsatisfying after my current DD (an Impreza WRX). I am 31 and have 9 years no claims, so I could probably afford to insure a proper hot hatch. I'm a huge fan of the 205 GTi (and indeed have owned one) but they are a bit tinny and hard work if you're not in the mood. The big-bumper mk2 Golf GTi (8v or 16v) of the same age would appear to be an easier car to live with day-to-day but they seem to be appreciating now and most of them will have done at least 100k. However, I love the detailing (quad headlights, BBS wheels, bee-sting aeriel etc). The mk3 Golf VR6s are also pretty cheap but more expensive to run and from my understanding aren't as well engineered and don't handle as well.

Compared to these, 306 GTis/Rallyes seem like quite good value and don't appear to be appreciating yet. This was probably the last great Peugeot hot hatch and from my understanding, has a lot in common with the 205 but with more space, power and refinement. Looks wise, they look a bit similar to all the other 306s but at the time, the 306 was one of the prettier hatches so that's no bad thing! I have never driven one myself (I have driven a standard 306 which wasn't anything special) but I have a car enthusiast friend who has run a 306 Rallye as his DD for several years and even bought it back after selling it as he missed it so much, so there must be something in it. I realise that RenaultSport Clios and Type-Rs are probably coming down into this price bracket now but I prefer the 306 to the Clio (more space, more comfortable, better driving position) and I like the Civic Type-R but they are really expensive to insure and probably not that good on fuel.

So what would be my best option? mk2 Golf GTi or 306? Any driving/ownership experiences/opinions would be most welcome.

Not sure I'd go for either tbh.

Can't see the appeal of the MK2 GTI tbh, I like the MK1 and both Scirroco's though.

In this instance I think the 306 is the better car although I'd go for a Rallye over a GTI version. Suspect the Golf might be more roomy though.

For this money I'd also be looking at a MG ZS 180 with it's 2.5 KV6, Rover BRM200 (close ratio box, LSD) or maybe even a 2.2 litre Prelude. I don't think a coupe would be hugely less practical than a small 3dr hatch.

[Baryonyx]

white_goodman said:

I'm a huge fan of the 205 GTi (and indeed have owned one) but they are a bit tinny and hard work if you're not in the mood.

If this is how you feel about the 205 GTI then I suspect you might find the Rallye to be a bit raw and basic, as fun as it will be to drive.

[white_goodman]

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure I'd go for either tbh.

Can't see the appeal of the MK2 GTI tbh, I like the MK1 and both Scirroco's though.

In this instance I think the 306 is the better car although I'd go for a Rallye over a GTI version. Suspect the Golf might be more roomy though.

For this money I'd also be looking at a MG ZS 180 with it's 2.5 KV6, Rover BRM200 (close ratio box, LSD) or maybe even a 2.2 litre Prelude. I don't think a coupe would be hugely less practical than a small 3dr hatch.

All good suggestions but I forgot to mention that it would need to fit in our small garage (my wife's Fiat 500 fits with about a foot to spare at the moment) hence I am looking at smallish hatches. A ZS or Prelude would be too big!

[redgriff500]

300bhp/ton said:

For this money I'd also be looking at a MG ZS 180 with it's 2.5 KV6, Rover BRM200 (close ratio box, LSD) or maybe even a 2.2 litre Prelude. I don't think a coupe would be hugely less practical than a small 3dr hatch.

Actually the Prelude 2.2 is a good call. I loved mine BUT being a non hatchback really does make a difference (to me at least).

In the Golf I've carried 4 wheels (with tyres) and another time a pair of seats. Neither load could I have got in the Prelude.

Off Vtec its a bit slow but on cam its one hell of a car - looks great and IMO image is ok too.

[RallyeMike]

I had a very similar issue, i sold my modern diesel daily as it was soul destroying, and looked at the getting the best retro hot hatch i could for upto 3.5k.

I looked at some very very nice 205's but as you say, they are tinny and not as 'easy' as the golf day to day. ( plus i already have a 106 rallye)

I paid just over 3100 for mine but it was immaculate and completely original with a freshly rebuilt engine. Its on 111k now, Done 7k since i had it and its not missed a beat. Prices range alot, theres abit of a tax on certain colours and specs.

Engine wise i'd go 16v, gem of an engine and surprisingly quick too(for an old hatchback). Kept up with a mate in a 2.2 vx220 on a run the other day.

Here's mine.

[aka_kerrly]

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure I'd go for either tbh.

Can't see the appeal of the MK2 GTI tbh, I like the MK1 and both Scirroco's though.

In this instance I think the 306 is the better car although I'd go for a Rallye over a GTI version. Suspect the Golf might be more roomy though.

For this money I'd also be looking at a MG ZS 180 with it's 2.5 KV6, Rover BRM200 (close ratio box, LSD) or maybe even a 2.2 litre Prelude. I don't think a coupe would be hugely less practical than a small 3dr hatch.

And your experience of mk2 golfs is? and please don't say you once drove a 1.6 carb version on its last legs! For me a mk2 is a much better all round package than a mk1 and for £1-2k will be in far better condition than a mk1. The mk2 strikes a perfect balance between classic lines/design and enough creature comforts like electric windows, central locking, power steering etc etc that people expect on modern cars.

My view is (and i am not really a fan of french cars but have driven 205 GTIs an 306 S16 a fair bit) is that the 306 GTI 6/Rallye is a more up to date version of what the mk2 is as it features a few more creature comforts but essentially does the same job which is a proper hot hatch with great handling an potential for 3 wheel antics. Beyond the air con, an a few electrical gubbins a 306 offers there is really very little to seperate them in terms of cross country pace/economy/reliability/running costs

Your other suggestions are interesting, if you consider a prelude you would be crazy not to also consider a Corrado if a coupe is allowed. Baring in mind the prelude has dreadful rear seat space where as a corrado is very usable even for adults. The rover, i can agree that the BRM is worth considering (so long as the orange bits + grill are sorted) but the ZS just does nothing for me and barely has a petrolead following in the slightest.

[300bhp/ton]

aka_kerrly said:

And your experience of mk2 golfs is?

I had a red MK2 for a while, although not a GTI. That said more HP wouldn't have made much difference to the other parts of the car that I wasn't keen on.

Also had mates with MK2 GTI's.

I won't say I hate them, because that isn't true. I just don't love them. I think the MK1 looks 100x better and would rather the compromise of one. It's not as if the MK2 is modern any more either.

Also there are loads and loads of chavvy MK2's around here, only really topped by Corsa's. Not that image bothers me really, but it certainly isn't a plus point.

aka_kerrly said:

and please don't say you once drove a 1.6 carb version on its last legs! For me a mk2 is a much better all round package than a mk1 and for £1-2k will be in far better condition than a mk1. The mk2 strikes a perfect balance between classic lines/design and enough creature comforts like electric windows, central locking, power steering etc etc that people expect on modern cars.

My view is (and i am not really a fan of french cars but have driven 205 GTIs an 306 S16 a fair bit) is that the 306 GTI 6/Rallye is a more up to date version of what the mk2 is as it features a few more creature comforts but essentially does the same job which is a proper hot hatch with great handling an potential for 3 wheel antics. Beyond the air con, an a few electrical gubbins a 306 offers there is really very little to seperate them in terms of cross country pace/economy/reliability/running costs

Your other suggestions are interesting, if you consider a prelude you would be crazy not to also consider a Corrado if a coupe is allowed. Baring in mind the prelude has dreadful rear seat space where as a corrado is very usable even for adults. The rover, i can agree that the BRM is worth considering (so long as the orange bits + grill are sorted) but the ZS just does nothing for me and barely has a petrolead following in the slightest.

[r1ch]

Baryonyx said:

If this is how you feel about the 205 GTI then I suspect you might find the Rallye to be a bit raw and basic, as fun as it will be to drive.

My Rallye felt like a Rolls Royce after being in my 205 GTI. Certainly much more refined, and compliant. The 306 Rallye didn't feel particularly raw in my 2 years of ownership. OK, it didn't have electrics, but it certainly didn't feel like a proper raw hatch to me. It also never felt particularly "special". Which is why i reverted back to the 205 GTI. I'd have another 306 for a run about though because they are good all rounders.

I think the mk2 golf and 306 gti are great cars. My 306 never really excited me much, but it did everything very well. Despite being a little thirsty, great induction roar higher up in the rev's, handles supremely well.

IMO the mk2 is much cooler and more iconic than the 306. It'd be a heart vs head thing for me. Heart would be the golf, head would be the 306.

[rossmc88]

how about a bmw e30 318is?

[veevee]

e30 318 isnt too quick is it?

306 gti is a good call, looks unassuming, 6 speed, feels a bit better put together than the 172. 2k should get you one of the best ones too. wouldnt bother with a rallye, not sure why people go on about them so much, .1 quicker to 60 but no alcantara/leather seats, leather steering wheel, aircon, side airbags(?)

[Terminator X]

^^ Lighter!

TX.

[jas xjr]

bds ! Off to the classifieds

[billzeebub]

the Golf every time..

[bmthnick1981]

I've had mk2 golfs/jettas and lots of clio 172's. If your budget is £2k - £3k i'd be looking for a nice standard 172 cup with standard wheels etc. Lots of them are mod'd now or being stripped for track use so a nice standard one could be a good buy over a few years. Yes £3k 'could' get you a nice old mk2 but its going to have a ton of miles and as a DD I would have thought cost you more than a £3k clio 172 cup.

[300bhp/ton]

Another car I'd consider at this price point is a Rover 220 Turbo Coupe. Not quite as sharp a drive in standard setup, but probably a nicer place to sit daily. However 200hp turbo is your return making it a fair bit quicker than either of the GTI's. Looks better to IMO.

[chevronb37]

My 306 Rallye is a wonderful companion. It's a bit rattly and baggy now but the engine is strong and the feel/handling are both daily delights. I considered a Golf but there were so many for sale I didn't know where to start. Worth trying one anyway...