RE: VW Golf GTI (Mk3): Spotted
Discussion
Nigel_O said:
Q Car said:
Who remembers the Harlequin version of these where every panel was a different colour. Oh those crazy Germans eh...
I remember it well - however, there were only four different colours on the car, just cleverly distributed on the car. The four colours were the same on all Harlequins, just differently spread around.Still not as bad as those awful Teddy Bear wheels fitted to some Golfs and Polos....
special editions take themselves too seriously nowadays previous poster mentioned the colour concept, they were my favourite (Salsa Green preferably) although the leather did tend to take on a bin bag like appearance after a few years, great with a VR6 conversion
Lowtimer said:
"While it's never going to be a Clio Williams, a Golf GTI like today's Spotted will be eligible in 2019 for all the benefits that classic car status bestows"
What is this rubbish?
Enough with the "25 years" thing. PH, please tell me you haven't planned a whole series of this stuff on the completely spurious pretext that a car hitting its 25th birthday means anything at all in the UK?
Don't worry, we haven't - well aware it's far from the greatest Golf GTI, let alone hot hatch. But the classic thing gives a new angle on the car, might bring a fresh perspective on it. Plenty of far worse cars that have passed 25 and are cherished by doting owners, I'm sure! Golf Mk3 GTI coverage begins and ends here; the aim was merely to stoke a bit of discussion, nothing more.What is this rubbish?
Enough with the "25 years" thing. PH, please tell me you haven't planned a whole series of this stuff on the completely spurious pretext that a car hitting its 25th birthday means anything at all in the UK?
Matt
My Porsche specialist runs a couple of Mk3 GTIs as free customer loan cars. Cosmetically they are a bit rough, but they are sorted in terms of suspension and mechanicals and go well enough. I rather enjoy them - whilst they may not have modern day hot hatch power levels they are still a fun car given some enthusiastic driving.
Baileyk said:
Q Car said:
Who remembers the Harlequin version of these where every panel was a different colour. Oh those crazy Germans eh...
Thought that was a Polo only edition?I have had mk2,3,4,5&6 Golfs, and I’ll be honest my favourite has always been the Mk3
The fan boys saying their mk2 16vs were better than the Mk3 I’m not so sure, I certainly didn’t rate my mk2 16v highly, infact I couldn’t wait to be rid of the thing.
The 8v was never a true GTI, the 16v was, the VR6 was never aimed at the GTI market, much like the current golf R isnt a direct competitor to the GTI
I think the Mk3 was wrongly slated by the initial press and has been misunderstood since, I’m glad it’s time is eventually coming
I had nearly new big bumper GTi 8v when this was launched and I got an invite for a test drive from the VW dealer, I was quite excited about it as wasn't every day you saw spanking new GTi.
My disappointment was huge...driving a MK3 for the first time what a horrible thing with a fantastically lethargic engine it felt like a 1.6 it was so slow, interestingly the later MK3 GTi 16v was a nice quick car I should have bought one.
My disappointment was huge...driving a MK3 for the first time what a horrible thing with a fantastically lethargic engine it felt like a 1.6 it was so slow, interestingly the later MK3 GTi 16v was a nice quick car I should have bought one.
They can be quite fun
https://youtu.be/5K3rELTTjGg
turn off the sound though, as it was recorded on a calculator.
https://youtu.be/5K3rELTTjGg
turn off the sound though, as it was recorded on a calculator.
J4CKO said:
We bought a new 1.8 CL and it was a decent enough thing, just a bit dull, VR6 was lovely but more like a six cyl 3 series than a GTI, 8 valve GTI was never as bad as was made out but was a smidge slower than a Mk2 but felt worse as it was more refined and softer all round, plus expectations had changed.
However, forget all of them, seek out a 16V if you really have to have a MK3 GTI, that was the sweet spot I reckon, a lot faster than the 8 valve, not massively slower than the VR6 but had some GTI type sparkle.
Indeed, in a VW magazine comparison, the Mk3 8V went from 0-60 in the same time as a late model Mk2 8V..However, forget all of them, seek out a 16V if you really have to have a MK3 GTI, that was the sweet spot I reckon, a lot faster than the 8 valve, not massively slower than the VR6 but had some GTI type sparkle.
The 16V meanwhile was faster out of the box than the 1.8T MK4 which replaced it...
Also, both the 8V and 16V won group tests when new. I remember however the Mk4 1.8T finishing near the bottom of the board in the massive Performance Car hot hatch test at the end of 1997. Autocar couldn't beat 25 secs for 0-100. The MK3 16V was in the 22 sec bracket.
Seems time has altered people's perspectives a little and the MK3 is considered vastly inferior to the MK4, a car which really didn't have a good rep as standard, but responded well to a few mods....
Also don't forget that in 1992 all hot hatches were scuppered by the insurance problems of the day, which is probably why their performance didn't move things on.
Edited by greenarrow on Thursday 30th May 11:10
Matt Bird said:
Lowtimer said:
"While it's never going to be a Clio Williams, a Golf GTI like today's Spotted will be eligible in 2019 for all the benefits that classic car status bestows"
What is this rubbish?
Enough with the "25 years" thing. PH, please tell me you haven't planned a whole series of this stuff on the completely spurious pretext that a car hitting its 25th birthday means anything at all in the UK?
Don't worry, we haven't - well aware it's far from the greatest Golf GTI, let alone hot hatch. But the classic thing gives a new angle on the car, might bring a fresh perspective on it. Plenty of far worse cars that have passed 25 and are cherished by doting owners, I'm sure! Golf Mk3 GTI coverage begins and ends here; the aim was merely to stoke a bit of discussion, nothing more.What is this rubbish?
Enough with the "25 years" thing. PH, please tell me you haven't planned a whole series of this stuff on the completely spurious pretext that a car hitting its 25th birthday means anything at all in the UK?
Matt
- BMW E30 (1982)
- Ford Focus (1998)
- Mercedes S Class (1972)
- Honda Civic (1972)
- Toyota Celica (1971)
- Ford Transit (1953)
I'd be happy to write a few articles for a small consideration
Inherited an 8V 25 year Edition as a company car in 1998 with 46k on the clock. Looked sharp with 16" BBS split-rim alloys and the golf ball gear knob, however it felt rattly and asthmatic after the car it replaced - a 1.8 Toyota Avensis GLS Saloon...
Objectivity aside I agree with everything in the ad - it's got a period charm and the car featured looks original - worth getting it bought if that's your sort of thing.
Objectivity aside I agree with everything in the ad - it's got a period charm and the car featured looks original - worth getting it bought if that's your sort of thing.
Sold a car to help fund my first house purchase a couple of years back and ended up in a shed money mk3 8v GTI with 55k on the clocks as a run around till my bank balance recovered. Other cars came and went but I found I kept the GTI for a good couple of years. Being low miles it didnt have the rust issues of the other cars I'd seen and ultimately was a very reliable and practical car. Handling was solid although not engaging but the engine was rather gutless. If the 16v delivered a bit of extra punch I'd quite fancy one now but if £2k is the current starting point for an 8v now I'd much rather have the real mk4 GTI, a leon cupra r 225.
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