RE: Shed Buying Guide: VW Golf VR6
Discussion
What the article does fail to mention is that despite that VR6 engine these things are an absolute pudding to drive, massively outclassed by the Corrado VR6 of the same era and absolutely eclipsed by the MkIV Golf R32 that followed it.
If ever there was a waste of money a MkIII VR6 is that car; thirsty, not particularly reliable and with many parts which can now only be sourced in a breakers this is a car which has had no investment potential for at least 8-10 years and that will never, ever change.
Save your money. A 12 year old Focus ST will outrun it everywhere and cost you less money.
If ever there was a waste of money a MkIII VR6 is that car; thirsty, not particularly reliable and with many parts which can now only be sourced in a breakers this is a car which has had no investment potential for at least 8-10 years and that will never, ever change.
Save your money. A 12 year old Focus ST will outrun it everywhere and cost you less money.
bloomen said:
Truly one of the s
ttest cars I've ever driven. It was like driving a blancmange on stilts on the high seas.
Engine sounded nice but it felt strangled to me.
the engine was strangled. originally the engine was developed with a completely different inlet made by schrick. standard it would have had around 220bhp but it would have added £2k to the sale price so it was ditched.ttest cars I've ever driven. It was like driving a blancmange on stilts on the high seas. Engine sounded nice but it felt strangled to me.
The 16v GTi supposedly had closer to 165bhp, and was down advertised by the marketing men to 150 as it fitted more nicely between the 8v and the VR6.
My 16v was pretty pokey and would oversteer on roundabouts without much difficulty. It made it to 176k without very much rust at all (and original clutch!), when the next car came along.
My 16v was pretty pokey and would oversteer on roundabouts without much difficulty. It made it to 176k without very much rust at all (and original clutch!), when the next car came along.
In 2006 I sold our Eunos V-Spec as little Miss PB was on the way. I replaced it with my brother-in-law's late Mk1 Clio 1.2.
Before long I was back down the auction and had managed to bag myself a Mk3 Golf GTI 8v. In the metallic red like the one at the top of the article but with 5 doors and the later BBS cross-spokes. I declared to Mrs PB that my constant car-changing activities had now stopped - this would be just the trick as a sensible Dad's daily. She had a Bora 2.0 I'd bought as the family motor - to replace a 156 - so they were quite a nice pair.
Then I went down to the auction to help the father-in-law find a small auto for the mother-in-law. Whilst he and Mrs PB were outside I 'watched' a solid red 3dr VR6 go through. Of course, I bought it!
Out of the car park - ooh, I'll move the passenger seat back so it's out of my eyeline. It fell onto the back seat. Righto, into 3rd - loud graunching sound. Ok, I'll have to be careful with that. It had around 109k up it I think so, needless to say, the timing chains were rattling away as well.
The indie VW specialist I took it to pointed out that buying a VR6 at auction was a bit silly. He changed his mind when I told him I'd considered it worth a punt at £650!
I have a fond memory of taking it to a stag do in Wales but it was a matter of months before a longer commute and better job put paid to it and I finally did get the car I'd keep for a number of years - a 206 Dturbo. Actually good fun, but not quite the same thing!
As already said, if I was to revisit a VR6, I'd want it in Corrado Storm flavour.
Before long I was back down the auction and had managed to bag myself a Mk3 Golf GTI 8v. In the metallic red like the one at the top of the article but with 5 doors and the later BBS cross-spokes. I declared to Mrs PB that my constant car-changing activities had now stopped - this would be just the trick as a sensible Dad's daily. She had a Bora 2.0 I'd bought as the family motor - to replace a 156 - so they were quite a nice pair.
Then I went down to the auction to help the father-in-law find a small auto for the mother-in-law. Whilst he and Mrs PB were outside I 'watched' a solid red 3dr VR6 go through. Of course, I bought it!
Out of the car park - ooh, I'll move the passenger seat back so it's out of my eyeline. It fell onto the back seat. Righto, into 3rd - loud graunching sound. Ok, I'll have to be careful with that. It had around 109k up it I think so, needless to say, the timing chains were rattling away as well.
The indie VW specialist I took it to pointed out that buying a VR6 at auction was a bit silly. He changed his mind when I told him I'd considered it worth a punt at £650!
I have a fond memory of taking it to a stag do in Wales but it was a matter of months before a longer commute and better job put paid to it and I finally did get the car I'd keep for a number of years - a 206 Dturbo. Actually good fun, but not quite the same thing!
As already said, if I was to revisit a VR6, I'd want it in Corrado Storm flavour.
I had a three door Mulberry 96.
What a fantastic ski bus
Most Golfs on the continent are hideous diesels.
I had several people just staring at it on ski trips
Did have some pr ck in a q7 Audi try and chase me once
Byeeee
Good for 140
All day
As mentioned, in the UK a good 1800 mk1 would leave them for brown bread.
What a fantastic ski bus
Most Golfs on the continent are hideous diesels.
I had several people just staring at it on ski trips
Did have some pr ck in a q7 Audi try and chase me once
Byeeee
Good for 140
All day
As mentioned, in the UK a good 1800 mk1 would leave them for brown bread.
I've had a few VR6's but admitedly never in a mk3 Golf. I did have a Vento though....
Out of the box, they are a comfortable cruiser, certainly well suited to the autobahn.
To make into something special, a few mods were needed:
Induction kit - to really make that engine noise come to life over 4k
Decat/sport cat - just removes that hint of the engine being a little strangled
Eibachs springs and Koni adjustable shocks - transforms the handling, no more heavy front end feel.
I could never afford the Schrik stuff or a supercharger but I imagine they would be epic.
Its a fantastic engine, its a shame that VW made the mk3 golf a cruiser rather than giving it a bit of an edge like the mk2. My Vento used to surprise a lot of more expensive machinery. I wish I had kept the engine from my B3 passat, that was rebuilt with new chains (holy st what a horrible job) and a ported/polished/flowed head. The autobox ruined it though and I sold it to a young kid in frustration who I believe wrote it off.
If you haven't driven one of these, don't listen to the parrots on the internet, with a few choice mods and being setup properly, they can be awesome!
Out of the box, they are a comfortable cruiser, certainly well suited to the autobahn.
To make into something special, a few mods were needed:
Induction kit - to really make that engine noise come to life over 4k
Decat/sport cat - just removes that hint of the engine being a little strangled
Eibachs springs and Koni adjustable shocks - transforms the handling, no more heavy front end feel.
I could never afford the Schrik stuff or a supercharger but I imagine they would be epic.
Its a fantastic engine, its a shame that VW made the mk3 golf a cruiser rather than giving it a bit of an edge like the mk2. My Vento used to surprise a lot of more expensive machinery. I wish I had kept the engine from my B3 passat, that was rebuilt with new chains (holy s
t what a horrible job) and a ported/polished/flowed head. The autobox ruined it though and I sold it to a young kid in frustration who I believe wrote it off.If you haven't driven one of these, don't listen to the parrots on the internet, with a few choice mods and being setup properly, they can be awesome!
Reminds me of my Mk3 Mullberry Highline 2.0Gti the 150bhp one, it was impressively put together, cream leather interior, sunroof and climatronic control. While the Mk3 Gti was unloved because most where the 115bhp underpowered ones the 150bhp 16V whilst not totally spine tingling it was very good at doing the things the Gti is known for, reasonably, quick, practical, comfortable and reliable. It ticked all these boxes being a 5 door. It could do the hot hatch thing for moments though you always felt this wasn't really where it was most comfortable, the engine was strong but didnt have much character to it, you had to work it to get results but it could still flow quite quickly down a b road...mine was sat on Porsche wheels and definitely looked better than it drove.
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