RE: Shed of the Week: Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk4)
Discussion
These are great if expectations are managed! I've had a shed 8v GTI (115bhp) for nearly 5 years now and it has performed the role of shopping/station/airport/tip car amazingly well, and impressed further when I've had to take it on 100 mile journeys occasionally. The 2.0 115bhp engine is absolutely fine in terms of power so can only presume the 1.8 turbo is very good. It might be the least loved Golf but it's a solid, unfussy workhorse that I don't think pretends to be anything more.
I had one and had it remapped at Superchips
It was a fast car and certainly felt like it accelerated faster than the 986 2.5 Boxster that I replaced it with
It went straight up to 130 no problem at all and everyone who came in it was surprised at how fast it was
I have subsequently had some reasonably quick cars some with over 200BHP more and I would love to go back for a drive in my GTi form years ago and see how it compares to what I'm used to now.
At the time I had owned a 59BHP Fiesta 1.3 non-zetec for 5 years previously so the step up was massive although it was a bit duff prior to the remap
Although it has been criticised for handling - it was such a massive step up from what I was used to that I couldn't fathom the criticism at the time
I also did boy up the stereo a bit with 3 amps, Alpine head unit, parcel shelf speakers & a 10" sub
Got caught speeding on the M1, doing 116 under the bridge at London Gateway services, and talked my way out of court and managed a 3 points & £60 fine somehow, those were the days! Also clocked 142MPH on the M5 down to Cornwall at night. I literally can't believe I used to drive at those sorts of speeds now but the car was more than up to it
It was a fast car and certainly felt like it accelerated faster than the 986 2.5 Boxster that I replaced it with
It went straight up to 130 no problem at all and everyone who came in it was surprised at how fast it was
I have subsequently had some reasonably quick cars some with over 200BHP more and I would love to go back for a drive in my GTi form years ago and see how it compares to what I'm used to now.
At the time I had owned a 59BHP Fiesta 1.3 non-zetec for 5 years previously so the step up was massive although it was a bit duff prior to the remap
Although it has been criticised for handling - it was such a massive step up from what I was used to that I couldn't fathom the criticism at the time
I also did boy up the stereo a bit with 3 amps, Alpine head unit, parcel shelf speakers & a 10" sub
Got caught speeding on the M1, doing 116 under the bridge at London Gateway services, and talked my way out of court and managed a 3 points & £60 fine somehow, those were the days! Also clocked 142MPH on the M5 down to Cornwall at night. I literally can't believe I used to drive at those sorts of speeds now but the car was more than up to it
That looks really quite smart, most that are left are a bit ropey, they weren’t a high spot as a drivers car but quality and looks wise they were great.
I drove a mates 150bhp turbo that was new having really wanted one to replace my mk2 8 valve GTI, it was very nice and it was a bit quicker but I didn’t want one much after driving it, the MK2 had a Magnex exhaust and felt faster.
One as well looked after as this seems to be is a rare find at the money, most will be pretty bad by now but this seller seems to have this one well sorted, having bought a partly sorted VAG of the era beat to buy one as well looked after as possible, use it and don’t try to tune it further unless you really know what you are doing or have a lot of money to sink into a car that will still not be worth much.
Shed is really on form this year.
I drove a mates 150bhp turbo that was new having really wanted one to replace my mk2 8 valve GTI, it was very nice and it was a bit quicker but I didn’t want one much after driving it, the MK2 had a Magnex exhaust and felt faster.
One as well looked after as this seems to be is a rare find at the money, most will be pretty bad by now but this seller seems to have this one well sorted, having bought a partly sorted VAG of the era beat to buy one as well looked after as possible, use it and don’t try to tune it further unless you really know what you are doing or have a lot of money to sink into a car that will still not be worth much.
Shed is really on form this year.
I had one of these as a courtesy car recently, a 2001 model with 70k ish miles on.
It was lovely and smooth having actual suspension and tyres with a sidewall greater than 1mm.
It had great visibility and the interior was light and airy, resplendent in beige.
I also t had the comfiest car seats I've sat in since my very first car a 306 D turbo. (Every car since has had air bags in the seats, does this mean they can't be comfy any more?)
In short it was the complete opposite of my current S3 and has only fuelled the fire of temptation to replace it with a 90s modern classic.
It was lovely and smooth having actual suspension and tyres with a sidewall greater than 1mm.
It had great visibility and the interior was light and airy, resplendent in beige.
I also t had the comfiest car seats I've sat in since my very first car a 306 D turbo. (Every car since has had air bags in the seats, does this mean they can't be comfy any more?)
In short it was the complete opposite of my current S3 and has only fuelled the fire of temptation to replace it with a 90s modern classic.
I wonder being a 2003 this could be the run out "AUQ" model ? they are pretty much a 25th Anniversary underneath so you get the larger brakes and 6 speed box, pick of the MK4's for me,
This one is a great spec having no sunroof, climate control and standard cloth sports seats (the optional Recaros sit too high IMO)
This one is a great spec having no sunroof, climate control and standard cloth sports seats (the optional Recaros sit too high IMO)
Always thought the Mk 4 was a lovely design and still see quite a few around today that have aged very well. Agree it may well become a classic.
Ex Mrs B had 2, a Match (looks like a GTI but only a 1.6) which got written off and was replaced by a 2.0 NA GTI. As has already been said, certainly not fast but an all-round nice car to drive.
Did anyone else have a problem with the driving position? The Recaros (might have been an option?) helped in the GTI but no matter how much I adjusted the position I just couldn't get comfortable. Shame as otherwise they were good cars, even in 1.6 form.
Could well be me though as there are a few cars that just don't work for my body shape. Had MK2, MK3 and now a MK7 and they were/are all perfect.
Ex Mrs B had 2, a Match (looks like a GTI but only a 1.6) which got written off and was replaced by a 2.0 NA GTI. As has already been said, certainly not fast but an all-round nice car to drive.
Did anyone else have a problem with the driving position? The Recaros (might have been an option?) helped in the GTI but no matter how much I adjusted the position I just couldn't get comfortable. Shame as otherwise they were good cars, even in 1.6 form.
Could well be me though as there are a few cars that just don't work for my body shape. Had MK2, MK3 and now a MK7 and they were/are all perfect.
Had one of these 1.8 20V T's years back, it was incredibly dull to drive but utterly dependable, solid and could do it all. No great drive memories but lots of safe distances covered in it.
You can tell a lot about the way someone writes an ad, this bloke seems totally sound. Can tell he's selling a decent car and would be easy to deal with.
You can tell a lot about the way someone writes an ad, this bloke seems totally sound. Can tell he's selling a decent car and would be easy to deal with.
Everyone slates these now and refer to it being rubbish, but that's because the MK5 was so good - when this came out at the same time as the A3 1.8T it was a 5star car in a lot of reviews.
I remember Top Gear Magazine giving this and the A3 1.8T joint 1st in a massive group test and the 306gti 3rd.
I remember Top Gear Magazine giving this and the A3 1.8T joint 1st in a massive group test and the 306gti 3rd.
Pommy said:
Everyone slates these now and refer to it being rubbish, but that's because the MK5 was so good - when this came out at the same time as the A3 1.8T it was a 5star car in a lot of reviews.
I remember Top Gear Magazine giving this and the A3 1.8T joint 1st in a massive group test and the 306gti 3rd.
I remember that test as well and thinking what a joke it was, the Golf getting a high rating thanks to Clarkson's long held bias towards Golf GTIs which is maintained until today (anyone else remember his BMW M135i mysteriously spinning off the track at Dunsfold in a race with a standard Mk7 Golf GTI?) In the Performance Car test, the Golf was totally outclassed in all the EPR tests by the GTI6, recording lowest lateral grip, slowest bar one slalom time, low end acceleration time etc.I remember Top Gear Magazine giving this and the A3 1.8T joint 1st in a massive group test and the 306gti 3rd.
That said, JC did make a good point in that the Golf was so forgiving that in the wet on a dark wet B road it could probably keep up with the 306 driver who had to be careful due to the potential lift off oversteer!
As for this shed, I actually think its a very good looking buy. Even though I'm not a fan of Mk4 Golfs, a lot of car for
the money. I also think VWs from this era are some of the best built ever. No rust and with engines that can clock up massive miles. Good Shed
.
Edited by greenarrow on Friday 8th March 12:06
I've always liked the MK4 Golf shape and I'm a fan of that alloy design. I remember my brother-in-law having a GTI but I believe it got nicked at some point.
We all know the disappointment that was the MK4 GTI, but this particular car, in decent condition that's clearly been looked after by an enthusiast, looks like a great buy. It's almost a shame to call it a shed and I love to see such a great and genuine advert.
I think once you appreciate the car for what it is, stop comparing it to it's competition and listening to all of the bad press, it really does look like a great proposition. Someone get It bought!
We all know the disappointment that was the MK4 GTI, but this particular car, in decent condition that's clearly been looked after by an enthusiast, looks like a great buy. It's almost a shame to call it a shed and I love to see such a great and genuine advert.
I think once you appreciate the car for what it is, stop comparing it to it's competition and listening to all of the bad press, it really does look like a great proposition. Someone get It bought!
Col325 said:
Out of all those cars in the magazine feature...the best performers would be the French Pugs and i don't think theres much in that lot that can hold a candle to the 306 Gti6, both in terms of thrills and performance.
You could almost write the review summary now...Audi A3 - Best interior, but lacks character
Peugeot 306 - Great handling, zesty engine, poor interior plastics
Golf - Best all rounder
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