RE: Shed of the Week: Volkswagen Golf V6

[CPWilliams]

MadDog1962 said:

Looks OK for 1400 quid. Consumption is a bit high by today's standards, but the relatively new winter tyres might swing it.

I know a lot of people think the Golf IV is a bit dull, but the build was good enough. I just wonder about the electrics, my brother has a GTD and it's been a bit of a lemon.

Spent £1800 on a 2001 GTD (GT-TDi as they were known new), it broke down roughly every 3 months and had to go back to the supplying garage 9 times. Luckily, and rather foolishly, they sold a 150,000 mile banger with a two year in-house warranty.

[Blackpuddin]

CPWilliams said:

Spent £1800 on a 2001 GTD (GT-TDi as they were known new), it broke down roughly every 3 months and had to go back to the supplying garage 9 times. Luckily, and rather foolishly, they sold a 150,000 mile banger with a two year in-house warranty.

You were unlucky there. We've run several Mk 4 1.9 TDIs and they haven't murdered us on costs. The 1.9 diesel engine is a good unit IMO.

[CPWilliams]

Blackpuddin said:

CPWilliams said:

Spent £1800 on a 2001 GTD (GT-TDi as they were known new), it broke down roughly every 3 months and had to go back to the supplying garage 9 times. Luckily, and rather foolishly, they sold a 150,000 mile banger with a two year in-house warranty.

You were unlucky there. We've run several Mk 4 1.9 TDIs and they haven't murdered us on costs. The 1.9 diesel engine is a good unit IMO.

Agreed, the amount you see about is testament to that. I can't think of a more common 'old car'.

[s m]

Mike1990 said:

Do like a 'fast' MK4 Golf, my pick would be a lovely 25th Anniversary Edition with the 1.8T lump, they looks so good! My mate had the 2.3 V5, whilst it sounded special, but to his annoyance it was barely any quicker on the traffic light GP against my Fiesta MK5 Zetec S at the time, plus it was shocking on fuel. Sold it after a few months.

Presume that was a 10-valve V5 not the later 20 valve version?

Those extra 10valves stoked it up

[JakeT]

I had an early 1.8T GTi with the recaros. New ARBs helped it a lot, but still didn't handle and felt much more like a motorway car than anything else. I accidentally took off in it once after hitting a humpback bridge at speed. The V6 ones seemed alright, but the penalty of fuel economy and more to break didn't do it for me. The 4motion models did come with a larger fuel tank, which should help. They sound nice, too and come with nicer front and rear valances than the other models. A PHer ran one for a while and it seemed to need a lot of work.

[Mike1990]

s m said:

Presume that was a 10-valve V5 not the later 20 valve version?

Those extra 10valves stoked it up

I'am going to take a guess at the 150bhp 10-Valve V5 one.

Edited by Mike1990 on Saturday 9th December 16:31

[s m]

Turkishwaiter said:

I had a drive in one before buying a 2wd v5, it didn't feel a whole lot quicker than the v5 and the extra thirst+potential bills on the haldex put me off. Really liked the v5 though, not especially quick but made a good noise. Made the mistake of upgrading the suspension which ruined the ride, best left as a mini barge

There wasn't an enormous difference between the 20-valve V5 and the V6 4-Motion performance wise according to the road tests. The 10valve V5 was quite a bit slower though

20v V5




V6 4Motion






The older VR6 wasn't far behind in the run to the ton......

[370Zannyblack]

Had one these back in the day. Was my first "Proper Car". Was like a sofa on wheels !. Enjoyed it for a couple of years until it was upgraded to the R32. Would happily have one as a run around again :-)

[s m]

Interesting to see how light these old cars were.

VR6 and V5 both lighter than the GT86 and the 4-motion with 4wd and a V6 is one average person heavier than the lightweight Toyota

[Sa Calobra]

I had one for 6weeks, comfortable and great in a straight line. Awful on bends, so nose heavy!!

[Spmb]

I have a 2003 one and it's fantastic. Quick, comfortable, well-built, subtle - ticks all the boxes for me. It's not really a hot hatch, more a GT/cruiser. 4wd means no wheelspin - just all weather grip & go when you want it. Totally reliable & everything on it works. Yes it's thirsty but what do you expect?

Heated leather interior on mine really is lovely. Xenon headlights also worth seeking out. Personally love the understated looks - to most it's just a regular golf. Struggle to think what I'll replace it with. The 2.0 turbos in newer stuff, while objectively better in every way, just don't hold the same appeal.

Agree that MkIVs often get unfairly slagged on here, but as a cheap-to-buy winter hack the V6 makes huge sense. Great shed!

[s m]

370Zannyblack said:

Had one these back in the day. Was my first "Proper Car". Was like a sofa on wheels !. Enjoyed it for a couple of years until it was upgraded to the R32. Would happily have one as a run around again :-)

The extra 35bhp of the R32 livened up the performance somewhat despite the extra weight ( 150kg over the 2.8 )

[xjay1337]

These are called 2.8 v6 slowmotions for a reason!

Bargain though.
Or you could look for the A3 8L 1.8t "quattro".

[s m]

xjay1337 said:

These are called 2.8 v6 slowmotions for a reason!

I wouldn't have thought they were that slow for the weight and drag - R32 seems to punch slightly above its weight for 237bhp though

[ffhard]

All this talk of fuel consumption makes me laugh!
Many years ago I had a Range Rover, the old carburetted 3.5 one and amongst other things I used to it drive to work. That was about 6 miles, narrow lanes, a lot of the time in the lower gears and from cold with the choke partially out.
Stupidly I once worked out what it was doing to the gallon.
Nearly (but not quite!) 8.