What are fast Golfs like?
Discussion
On my search for a new car, I suddenly realised that I missed out the VW Golf.
My upper budget would be £2k, so I would be looking at the mk4 and maybe the mk3.
Does anyone here know what the fast ones are like? Mainly the 2.8 4MOTION and the 1.8T GTI 150, and maybe even the VR6 mk3.
Are they a good buy?
Thanks for any input
My upper budget would be £2k, so I would be looking at the mk4 and maybe the mk3.
Does anyone here know what the fast ones are like? Mainly the 2.8 4MOTION and the 1.8T GTI 150, and maybe even the VR6 mk3.
Are they a good buy?
Thanks for any input
Don't buy off this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIYWDWTNWI8
Being serious though, they are probably going to be thirsty, try and get a good one though as some have been 'chavved' up. I don't know if you can get a good one at that price or what as I'm not up on those generation Golfs.
I may be of no use to this thread and I may be wrong about the MPG. So if I have been useless. Forget what I said and someone that knows more or owned one in the past will be along shortly.
Hope I can be of some use though.
Edit: Good shout on the Octavia VRS. That's the one I would go for..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIYWDWTNWI8
Being serious though, they are probably going to be thirsty, try and get a good one though as some have been 'chavved' up. I don't know if you can get a good one at that price or what as I'm not up on those generation Golfs.
I may be of no use to this thread and I may be wrong about the MPG. So if I have been useless. Forget what I said and someone that knows more or owned one in the past will be along shortly.
Hope I can be of some use though.
Edit: Good shout on the Octavia VRS. That's the one I would go for..
SD1992 said:
On my search for a new car, I suddenly realised that I missed out the VW Golf.
My upper budget would be £2k, so I would be looking at the mk4 and maybe the mk3.
Does anyone here know what the fast ones are like? Mainly the 2.8 4MOTION and the 1.8T GTI 150, and maybe even the VR6 mk3.
Are they a good buy?
Thanks for any input
Boring and dull with a so so image.My upper budget would be £2k, so I would be looking at the mk4 and maybe the mk3.
Does anyone here know what the fast ones are like? Mainly the 2.8 4MOTION and the 1.8T GTI 150, and maybe even the VR6 mk3.
Are they a good buy?
Thanks for any input
I'm sure they are capable (and arguably fast) and in this day and age a MKIII VR6 is hardly bloated. But I don't think any of them are drivers cars. So if you want to actually enjoy getting place to place look elsewhere.
Baffled Spoon said:
They have a well deserved reputation for being soft and wallowy. Better off looking at a Seat Leon Cupra or Octy VRs if you want a VAG car.
EFAIf you want a VAG 20vT car for £2000, you can do a lot worse than look at the Audi A3 1.8T. A much better car than the Mk4 Golf - It drives a lot tighter and crisper, and gets close to being fun!
sklar said:
Baffled Spoon said:
They have a reputation for being soft and wallowy. Better off looking at a Seat Leon Cupra or Octy VRs if you want a VAG car.
Beat me to it. ^ This.Its never going to be as visceral as a mk 1 or 2 but for an A road/m_way cruiser it does have charm.
SS7
Colonial said:
Considering some of the abominations you suggest...
Actually, I never claim them to be good looking. I usually say striking or different. Although I do actually like the look of many.A Leon is about as visually appealing as a kitchen fridge. It's just dull and boring looking and as bland as a barren featureless desert. Which is fine if that's all you want. But not for me I'm afraid.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 7th June 12:58
Regarding the golfs the Vr6 models in standard form are built as motorway cruisers and have brilliant gearing for doing way over the UK speed limit. As a result they aren't what you would consider a hot hatch BUT can be made into one with a few modifications if this is something you would consider.
The mk3 VR6 are getting on a bit now and as a result there are good an bad ones. The good ones mostly have a decent set of shocks and springs and some extra negative camber which makes an enormous difference, as does a uprated anti roll bar. A lot of the Vr6s have already have modifications and don't attract much of a premium vs a standard model. Id be weary of ones claiming to be low millage originals which need full suspension/braking/engine overhauls as to a non mechanic this is a £600-1000 job!
On a mk4 the key point between the 1.8T and 2.8 4mo is that although the 20vt can be remapped to 190-200 hp and return better miles per gallon the Vr6 is still going to be quicker point to point with the haldex 4x4 and in my opinion the VR6 engine is far more entertaining, offers smoother NA power delivery and sounds better than the 20vt which apart from a Whoosh from a semi recirculating DV does nothing other than sound like nearly every other muted modern engine.
Also consider that the largest single difference, something that so many people overlook when they slate the mk4 for being heavy/boring to drive is that the 4mo has fully independent suspension all round, thicker anti roll bars (R32 ARB is a good upgrade) better brakes and handles much better - especially once lowered a bit as VW did put rather soft shocks/springs on them from the factory. Eibach 25mm shocks/springs are highly recommended an uprated drop links.
With the ongoing switch to small engine cars VR6 prices have tumbled, there is a mk3 with 75k on it for under £1k on AT right now,so £2k will get you a really good mk3 that should have had cam chains an other work done but you would want to spend £2.5-3k to get a good 100k or there abouts mk4 4mo.
Personally in less you see a 180hp 6 speed equiped mk4 golf 20VT then id focus on either a VR6 or a Seat Cupra 20vt or audi A3 quattro sport which also offers 180hp 6 speed combined with 4x4 Haldex as per 4motion.
dave
The mk3 VR6 are getting on a bit now and as a result there are good an bad ones. The good ones mostly have a decent set of shocks and springs and some extra negative camber which makes an enormous difference, as does a uprated anti roll bar. A lot of the Vr6s have already have modifications and don't attract much of a premium vs a standard model. Id be weary of ones claiming to be low millage originals which need full suspension/braking/engine overhauls as to a non mechanic this is a £600-1000 job!
On a mk4 the key point between the 1.8T and 2.8 4mo is that although the 20vt can be remapped to 190-200 hp and return better miles per gallon the Vr6 is still going to be quicker point to point with the haldex 4x4 and in my opinion the VR6 engine is far more entertaining, offers smoother NA power delivery and sounds better than the 20vt which apart from a Whoosh from a semi recirculating DV does nothing other than sound like nearly every other muted modern engine.
Also consider that the largest single difference, something that so many people overlook when they slate the mk4 for being heavy/boring to drive is that the 4mo has fully independent suspension all round, thicker anti roll bars (R32 ARB is a good upgrade) better brakes and handles much better - especially once lowered a bit as VW did put rather soft shocks/springs on them from the factory. Eibach 25mm shocks/springs are highly recommended an uprated drop links.
With the ongoing switch to small engine cars VR6 prices have tumbled, there is a mk3 with 75k on it for under £1k on AT right now,so £2k will get you a really good mk3 that should have had cam chains an other work done but you would want to spend £2.5-3k to get a good 100k or there abouts mk4 4mo.
Personally in less you see a 180hp 6 speed equiped mk4 golf 20VT then id focus on either a VR6 or a Seat Cupra 20vt or audi A3 quattro sport which also offers 180hp 6 speed combined with 4x4 Haldex as per 4motion.
dave
The Crack Fox said:
Mk3 1.8t 150bhp, wallowy, narrow power band, not that reliable. I had 2, 1 from new.
Mk3 VR6, nose heavy and not that quick really, sounds good though. I've tracked one.
Octavia VRs for me, same platform and a tad more practical.
Only a 1.8T in a mark 4 Mk3 VR6, nose heavy and not that quick really, sounds good though. I've tracked one.
Octavia VRs for me, same platform and a tad more practical.
Having had 2 of them I found them very relaible for 3 years and 50K of use. A simple remap sees 150>190 and better driveability.
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