RE: Shed Of The Week: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Discussion
Maracus said:
Icehanger said:
didn't the Mk3 only get badged Gti in the uk? elsewhere in Europe it was called the 2.0...so is it a true Gti
Pretty sure sure it was badged as 2.0 Sport elsewhere, which is also very optomistic.The GTI badge set expectations the car couldnt meet, even if, in isolation it was a decent enough thing, we bought a new one, only a 90 bhp 1.8 CL but thought it was devastatingly dull and a bit wheezy, it did the job pretty well, my sister in law bought it when we needed to go bigger and managed to roll it, apart from head full of bits of glass sunroof she survived more or less intact, so fairly tough as it was a bad accident, I dont think she would have been as well off in her previous 106.
My brother in law bought a cabrio one a while back, just a 1.6 on steel wheels and he has had a new hood fitted, refurbed the wheels, all looks very oem and it has a certain unassuming charm about it, people ruin these by messing with them, left like this weeks shed they still look alright, unloved to an extent but am glad someone saves them.
The 16 valve one is where the GTI badge deserved to be, that had the power to wear the badge, I drove a VR6 MK3 once and really didnt get it, it felt nice but a bit too grown up, like a six cyl 3 series/Golf Hybrid, didnt help it was an auto.
My brother in law bought a cabrio one a while back, just a 1.6 on steel wheels and he has had a new hood fitted, refurbed the wheels, all looks very oem and it has a certain unassuming charm about it, people ruin these by messing with them, left like this weeks shed they still look alright, unloved to an extent but am glad someone saves them.
The 16 valve one is where the GTI badge deserved to be, that had the power to wear the badge, I drove a VR6 MK3 once and really didnt get it, it felt nice but a bit too grown up, like a six cyl 3 series/Golf Hybrid, didnt help it was an auto.
Nah I'm with Shed on this one, I had a MK3 VR6 and it went pretty quickly - mostly on the sills and doors, total rust monster.
But the later ones don't have the same problem and as 'car' this will be okay, they're much more 'grown up' than a MK2, no it won't have an LCD screen, MP3 player or reversing sensors and all the sort of stuff you'd expect from a 2015 car, but they won't feel like they're from another time like a MK2 would do (I've had some of them too) no they're not a fast car, but they're a lot better than the non-GTI 1.6s and 1.4s.
It looks smart enough, it doesn't look like a 'banger' and won't drink like a VR6 which had stupid fuel economy for what was a 176bhp hot hatch, low 20's is RS4 / M3 territory, but I don't think you'd ever get up early on a Sunday looking for fun B-Roads to drive whilst it's quiet.
It won't be a collectable like a MK1 or MK2 though, the 'scene' just doesn't love them like that, they're one up from the MK4 2.0 'GTi' as a daily runabout so you don't have to drive your cherished MK1 to Tesco.
But the later ones don't have the same problem and as 'car' this will be okay, they're much more 'grown up' than a MK2, no it won't have an LCD screen, MP3 player or reversing sensors and all the sort of stuff you'd expect from a 2015 car, but they won't feel like they're from another time like a MK2 would do (I've had some of them too) no they're not a fast car, but they're a lot better than the non-GTI 1.6s and 1.4s.
It looks smart enough, it doesn't look like a 'banger' and won't drink like a VR6 which had stupid fuel economy for what was a 176bhp hot hatch, low 20's is RS4 / M3 territory, but I don't think you'd ever get up early on a Sunday looking for fun B-Roads to drive whilst it's quiet.
It won't be a collectable like a MK1 or MK2 though, the 'scene' just doesn't love them like that, they're one up from the MK4 2.0 'GTi' as a daily runabout so you don't have to drive your cherished MK1 to Tesco.
Blackpuddin said:
P-Jay said:
It won't be a collectable like a MK1 or MK2 though
Both these were unloved at one point though. Elevation to desirability is surely a simple equation of time and rose-tinted specs. You only have to look at the Classic Retro 5K thread for hundreds of examples of this!
Recently sold my mk3 gti for £800 and didn't look as nice as this one although it did only have 50k on the clocks! Thoroughly enjoyed owning it, was light compared to today's cars, engine was reliable with a bit of low down torque and cheap to maintain, gearbox and suspension was the weak link to make it feel like a hot hatch but made it a enjoyable car for shorter journeys where speedbumps, traffic and potholes stifle progress and being a vw fan growing up in the 90's i couldnt help but like them. A shame that most these days have too much rust to make it worth buying one and the club's have really dried up on the mk3 side. Wish i'd tried a 16v as the famous VR6 engine didnt do it for me in 12v or 24v form.
Edited by bassett on Friday 2nd October 19:36
bassett said:
Recently sold my mk3 gti for £800 and didn't look as nice as this one. Thoroughly enjoyed owning it, was light compared to today's cars, engine was reliable with a bit of low down torque and cheap to maintain, gearbox and suspension was the weak link to make it feel a hot hatch but made it a enjoyable car for shorter journeys where speedbumps, traffic and potholes stifle progress anyway. A shame that most these days have too much rust to make it worth buying one and the club's have really dried up on the mk3 side.
Yes just had a quick look - same weight as the 306 RallyeBlimeyCharlie said:
Cotic said:
I'd rather have a Rover 214 16v of the same age, and spend the £650 saved on several head gaskets.
A classic example of a 'false economy' if ever there was one...Granted, this 'GTI' does not really do much for me, but it'll probably chug around reliably every day, certainly not needing a head gasket every moon cycle.
'Digifant'
Always makes me chuckle and conjures up images of a certain Walt Disney film, Dumbo.
And when do we get to see some images of Mrs Shed? The various descriptions of her really make me chuckle (perhaps because I have my own version of Mrs Shed....), and no, please don't try to say she's that large you will have to book time on a low-altitude satellite to capture her in all her glory.
As an aside, I had one of these, with a G60 engine conversion with a smaller pulley and belt, it was hilarious, not least because when I bought it the suspension was sorted but the brakes were as effective as those fitted to Roman chariots....
Always makes me chuckle and conjures up images of a certain Walt Disney film, Dumbo.
And when do we get to see some images of Mrs Shed? The various descriptions of her really make me chuckle (perhaps because I have my own version of Mrs Shed....), and no, please don't try to say she's that large you will have to book time on a low-altitude satellite to capture her in all her glory.
As an aside, I had one of these, with a G60 engine conversion with a smaller pulley and belt, it was hilarious, not least because when I bought it the suspension was sorted but the brakes were as effective as those fitted to Roman chariots....
Looks quite tidy, decent tyres, etc. Would probably make a great run around - I think the problem is the 'GTI' badge is effectively false advertising as the car really needs another 30bhp to be interesting.
If I needed a cheap run around I would be interested though.
I know it isn't a loved version of the GTI, but given the VW 'scene' is this likely to increase in value and become desirable in 10 years?
If I needed a cheap run around I would be interested though.
I know it isn't a loved version of the GTI, but given the VW 'scene' is this likely to increase in value and become desirable in 10 years?
Scottie - NW said:
If you are going to venture in the "limitless aftermarket" I'd suggest saving that money and getting a better car in the first place.
Tend to agree with that. Also I reckon those nice wheels might make it a bit of a theft magnet. I remember younger Brother lost a very decent Mk 2 GTI to some w$&kers who were after its very nice BBS rims. However, if you lived in a lower crime area this might make very decent runabout for runs down to Tesco.
Edited by MadDog1962 on Friday 2nd October 13:03
Madkat said:
Drove a MK3 VR6 once. Engine was nice above 4K Everything else was bloody awful.
Me too. Also drove a few 1.8 versions. They were awful. From every aspect- inside, outside to the driving experience I wasn't impressed. This was back when they were new cars.The VR6 had a wonderful engine, really shifted, on the motorway I kept up with my friends dad who was driving a 740i.
Now you have to watch it fall apart and rust. No thanks. The only model I would ever consider is the VR6.
Much rather spend a few hundred more on a nice mk2 or mk4
Madkat said:
Drove a MK3 VR6 once. Engine was nice above 4K Everything else was bloody awful.
Never driven the GTI or VR6, but being a passenger in the VR I must admit it didn't do much for me at all, so I can imagine the GTI will leave me with the same feeling.Cheap enough, if somebody buys it and gets 12-18 months out of it without and massive bills then it will have served its purpose.
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