RE: Shed Buying Guide: VW Golf VR6
Discussion
I had an early 93 Vento VR6, kept it for about 5 years and had about 170k on the clock when I sold it. I thought the saloon looked much more balanced than the hatch, and Cleveland Police ran a few, back when they were allowed to buy interesting cars !
Only major thing that went wrong was the heater matrix - took me most of a weekend to remove the dash to replace it. Handling was a bit soft (sorted with Koni coilovers) but that engine sounded glorious, especially when it was fitted with a Vortech supercharger
Only major thing that went wrong was the heater matrix - took me most of a weekend to remove the dash to replace it. Handling was a bit soft (sorted with Koni coilovers) but that engine sounded glorious, especially when it was fitted with a Vortech supercharger
BricktopST205 said:
VR6 kicked off what exactly......? Pulsar GTi-R of that Generation had 220BHP, 4WD and was lighter. That was the original mega hatch along with the Delta Evo.
Iirc in period journalists preferred the 16v 4 banger due to the VR6 being too nose heavy.
But they were rally-reps, of which VW itself had the Mk2 Limited earlier tooIirc in period journalists preferred the 16v 4 banger due to the VR6 being too nose heavy.
The VR6 marked something a little different though, as it was a performance hatch with a “premium” feel, not a homologated special. Its main criteria from what I recall was to steal sales away from the likes of the then new E36 325i saloon, especially when in 5-dr from. The Corrado could fight the coupe war
As for the Mk3 16v, I don’t seem to remember it faring as well against the likes of the Tipo Sedicivalvole back then
Back in the day I found that these felt much heavier than they were and had squishy suspension that also managed to be crashy. I never got the impression the bulkhead was as stiff as it should be.
WIth the V6 lump though, it was in a league of its own in terms of engine refinement though in hatch terms, you needed a straight 6 BMW to compete with the power plant, but the BMW’s felt a lot more sorted underneath.
A few chaps on here saying it could be sorted with coil overs and bushed - theyre probably right and if so would make quite a nice motor, if you can put up with the shiny black plastics of the era.
WIth the V6 lump though, it was in a league of its own in terms of engine refinement though in hatch terms, you needed a straight 6 BMW to compete with the power plant, but the BMW’s felt a lot more sorted underneath.
A few chaps on here saying it could be sorted with coil overs and bushed - theyre probably right and if so would make quite a nice motor, if you can put up with the shiny black plastics of the era.
In my youth I was obsessed for a short while with finding a mint Mk III, either GTI or VR6 (even hoped I could find an imported Syncro model) but ended up buying a Mk IV GTI, the one that wasn’t called GTI in the rest of Europe! The closest I got to Mk III ownership was buying GTI Recaros to put in my Audi S2 Avant lol
But mainly I came here to say this piece sent me down a rabbit hole from Vento VR6 to Bora V6 4Motion to Bora V6 4Motion Variant - surely the best model/engine/transmission/bodystyle combo of the MkIV range?
But mainly I came here to say this piece sent me down a rabbit hole from Vento VR6 to Bora V6 4Motion to Bora V6 4Motion Variant - surely the best model/engine/transmission/bodystyle combo of the MkIV range?
I had a lot of previous with Mk1 and Mk2 GTI's, we were buying a new MK3 1.8 as a family car, I grabbed a quick go in a VR6 and was excited to try it, it was nice enough, went well but it felt too grown up and smooth, reminded me more of smaller six cylinder BMW or something.
I was expecting GTI turned up to 11 but it was something quite different, a few years later I had a go of the 16 valve mk3 and that was more akin to my expectations, but I always preferred the MK2. Best ever was a quick shot in a well sorted Mk2 with a TT engine.
I was expecting GTI turned up to 11 but it was something quite different, a few years later I had a go of the 16 valve mk3 and that was more akin to my expectations, but I always preferred the MK2. Best ever was a quick shot in a well sorted Mk2 with a TT engine.
Superb daily drivers. I ran one for 3 years, plain black 5 door. Sold it for a Clio 182 which was more fun but missed the golf so bought it back from the guy I sold to to and ran it another 2 years.
No mechanical issues at all, bit of rust round the front wings but was easily sorted and never came back.
Mine was a 96 model, I bought it around 01 but back in the mid 90’s these were really quite exotic with a good reputation. A friend bought a Alfa 147 gta which on paper was leagues faster but in reality we were both surprised how well the golf held up to it.
No mechanical issues at all, bit of rust round the front wings but was easily sorted and never came back.
Mine was a 96 model, I bought it around 01 but back in the mid 90’s these were really quite exotic with a good reputation. A friend bought a Alfa 147 gta which on paper was leagues faster but in reality we were both surprised how well the golf held up to it.
scaffolder said:
I had an early 93 Vento VR6, kept it for about 5 years and had about 170k on the clock when I sold it. I thought the saloon looked much more balanced than the hatch, and Cleveland Police ran a few, back when they were allowed to buy interesting cars !
Only major thing that went wrong was the heater matrix - took me most of a weekend to remove the dash to replace it. Handling was a bit soft (sorted with Koni coilovers) but that engine sounded glorious, especially when it was fitted with a Vortech supercharger
I remember those Vento VR6’s around Teesside. Always rumoured they were heavily breathed on tooOnly major thing that went wrong was the heater matrix - took me most of a weekend to remove the dash to replace it. Handling was a bit soft (sorted with Koni coilovers) but that engine sounded glorious, especially when it was fitted with a Vortech supercharger
really need a few tweaks to get them going,
shrick vgi manifold and a 6 branch manifold and matching system really set them off, add in a set of cams and a bit of mild headwork and you'll be seeing easily over 200 bhp and have an utterly amazing soundtrack
or you could turbo it and start chasing silly figures
shrick vgi manifold and a 6 branch manifold and matching system really set them off, add in a set of cams and a bit of mild headwork and you'll be seeing easily over 200 bhp and have an utterly amazing soundtrack
or you could turbo it and start chasing silly figures
I didn’t realise these existed too - Mk III Golf VR6 Variant Syncro: https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1996-volkswagen-...
I had one for a few years.
Nice to drive but will feel like an antique now.
Wasn’t meant to be a hot hatch really so doesn’t handle as well as a GTI and barely faster despite an extra 30 bhp (gearing is better suited to cruising the motorway).
Loads of people modded them into faster cars but you’d have to love them really, the weakest point is the engine, it’s very smooth, loves to rev (especially for a 12 valve engine) and makes 30 ish more BHP than the 16v, but it hangs out the front like a boat anchor and despite only making 60bhp/litre (ish) it’s not cheap or easy to get anymore from them. Might all be different now but back in the early 00s people were spending thousands on cams, intake and exhaust manifolds for an extra 20-30bhp.
Oh and they’re stupidly thirsty, I used to average 25mph ish.
Nice to drive but will feel like an antique now.
Wasn’t meant to be a hot hatch really so doesn’t handle as well as a GTI and barely faster despite an extra 30 bhp (gearing is better suited to cruising the motorway).
Loads of people modded them into faster cars but you’d have to love them really, the weakest point is the engine, it’s very smooth, loves to rev (especially for a 12 valve engine) and makes 30 ish more BHP than the 16v, but it hangs out the front like a boat anchor and despite only making 60bhp/litre (ish) it’s not cheap or easy to get anymore from them. Might all be different now but back in the early 00s people were spending thousands on cams, intake and exhaust manifolds for an extra 20-30bhp.
Oh and they’re stupidly thirsty, I used to average 25mph ish.
My Dad had a dark silver early VR6 three door. It had the plastic door and wheel arch trims and cloth interior.
He loved it and was a sales rep at the time racking up a lot of miles. He took it to AMD, who were Oxfordshire based in those days, and they fitted a modified inlet manifold, remap and eibach springs. This changes it from its more GT car characteristics into more like a premium hot hatch.
It was a great car and we both have fond memories of it. He sold it with 180,000 plus miles on the clock and it was very tired looking but still drove great.
M84 EHP - Long dead I suspect.
He loved it and was a sales rep at the time racking up a lot of miles. He took it to AMD, who were Oxfordshire based in those days, and they fitted a modified inlet manifold, remap and eibach springs. This changes it from its more GT car characteristics into more like a premium hot hatch.
It was a great car and we both have fond memories of it. He sold it with 180,000 plus miles on the clock and it was very tired looking but still drove great.
M84 EHP - Long dead I suspect.
You could also get a VR6 Passat, I quite fancied one of those when I moved to Germany for a bit in the early 2000's. I got a Golf one instead. Managed an indicated 147 MPH on the Autobahn one day in it. Quite impressive for a hatch at the time.
I Still wish I had it. The burble from the engine in the morning made going to work slightly less of a chore.
I Still wish I had it. The burble from the engine in the morning made going to work slightly less of a chore.
I’ve had more of these than I’ve have fingers and toes, my only regret is not keeping some of the better ones I had.
My First one was tuned by GTI Engineering, it was purchased from a friend to replace a Corrado VR6 and despite what the press and experts say the Golf imo was a fundamentally superior car. After all they share the same suspension components bar shocks springs and geometry settings.
They rust badly in the sills, 99% of the time caused by poor jacking up which flattens the sill lip, splits the under seal and thus creating an open water/dirt trap. Fundamental design flaw on all mk3 Golfs sadly.
My father in law still has a beauty, owned from new, sitting at 24xxx miles, not a spot of rot anywhere it’s never even had so much as an advisory in an mot
My First one was tuned by GTI Engineering, it was purchased from a friend to replace a Corrado VR6 and despite what the press and experts say the Golf imo was a fundamentally superior car. After all they share the same suspension components bar shocks springs and geometry settings.
They rust badly in the sills, 99% of the time caused by poor jacking up which flattens the sill lip, splits the under seal and thus creating an open water/dirt trap. Fundamental design flaw on all mk3 Golfs sadly.
My father in law still has a beauty, owned from new, sitting at 24xxx miles, not a spot of rot anywhere it’s never even had so much as an advisory in an mot
VR6 Eug said:
And yet BMWs 2.8 six made 189hp vs 174hp and legend has it the obd2 vr6 cars made 190hp
Yes but the BMW M52 2.8 was deliberately choked with a small-bore inlet manifold to keep the power equal to the M50 2.5, and torque is still 206 lbft vs. the VR6's 181. With a de-restricted M50 manifold and map to suit there's 215-220hp.So presumably the VR6 motor was also detuned in some way, or maybe it's just the 2-valve head as the later 4-valve version in the Mk4 Golf produced 204hp and 199lbft?
I had one as a part ex against a car I was selling, I use the term loosely as it was free, I got exactly what I was asking for the car and a free VR6 with it.
I had a MK1 GTi years ago, and I had driven a MK2 GTi and wondered if the VR6 would be anything close, because the MK3 GTi was atrocious.
What did I like about the VR6?
The aircon worked.
Sounded decent after I removed the stupid K&N cone filter which made your ears bleed, induction noise is cool, that wasn't, hateful.
What didn't I like?
Everything about the lardy arsed pig they are.
It didn't handle at all, it understeered like a dog
It wasn't fast
Stopping it at speed was always fun, swear the weight distribution must have been 90/10 as the front end dived and rear end tried to come around on you.
They're absolute pigs, people may like them, people may think they're the best car in the world, but a true s
t stain on the automotive market, sold it for £1750 I think it was, it was fairly clean and a P reg, black leather interior, everything worked, it flew the mot after I did wheel bearings on the rear and some new pads, but god awful car, took ages to sell as no one wanted it, it is the veritable blot on my copybook of cars owned.
Buying guide should be
Don't bother, save up and buy a Corrado as they're a much better car in every way shape and form.
I had a MK1 GTi years ago, and I had driven a MK2 GTi and wondered if the VR6 would be anything close, because the MK3 GTi was atrocious.
What did I like about the VR6?
The aircon worked.
Sounded decent after I removed the stupid K&N cone filter which made your ears bleed, induction noise is cool, that wasn't, hateful.
What didn't I like?
Everything about the lardy arsed pig they are.
It didn't handle at all, it understeered like a dog
It wasn't fast
Stopping it at speed was always fun, swear the weight distribution must have been 90/10 as the front end dived and rear end tried to come around on you.
They're absolute pigs, people may like them, people may think they're the best car in the world, but a true s
t stain on the automotive market, sold it for £1750 I think it was, it was fairly clean and a P reg, black leather interior, everything worked, it flew the mot after I did wheel bearings on the rear and some new pads, but god awful car, took ages to sell as no one wanted it, it is the veritable blot on my copybook of cars owned.Buying guide should be
Don't bother, save up and buy a Corrado as they're a much better car in every way shape and form.
Leins said:
BricktopST205 said:
VR6 kicked off what exactly......? Pulsar GTi-R of that Generation had 220BHP, 4WD and was lighter. That was the original mega hatch along with the Delta Evo.
Iirc in period journalists preferred the 16v 4 banger due to the VR6 being too nose heavy.
But they were rally-reps, of which VW itself had the Mk2 Limited earlier tooIirc in period journalists preferred the 16v 4 banger due to the VR6 being too nose heavy.
The VR6 marked something a little different though, as it was a performance hatch with a “premium” feel, not a homologated special. Its main criteria from what I recall was to steal sales away from the likes of the then new E36 325i saloon, especially when in 5-dr from. The Corrado could fight the coupe war
As for the Mk3 16v, I don’t seem to remember it faring as well against the likes of the Tipo Sedicivalvole back then
Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 23 April 16:44
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