Golf Mk2 GTi G60

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Discussion

Marquis_Rex

Original Poster:

7,377 posts

240 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
quotequote all
I'm looking for a replacement for my trusty Golf 3 TDi.I already think the Golf mk 2 has become somthing of a cult with quite a following. A car sold only as LHD and that is rare (like the original M3 or the Lancia Intergrale etc etc) is ideal.

Did the Golf 2 G60 come only as LHD in the UK? Does anyone know what compression ratio they ran and is their gearing the same as the 16 v? If they only came as LHD in the UK, I could conceivably sell a good one in the UK once the TUV has expired and I would imagine they're cheaper here in Germany than in the UK anyway.

Outright power is very important to me now- with the autobahn runs I do to work, and what I lose in fuel economy I could perhaps gain in low depreciation

Anything to watch for on these cars- I’ve heard tales about the superchargers…..any tell tale signs?

Any help would be much appreciated.


m4tthew

8,903 posts

203 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
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The G60 uses a cable change gear box where as the 16v uses a rod change. Im not 100% sure but Im pretty confident the G60 has longer ratios.

When buying a G60 makesure the charger has been re-furbed in the past, they need doing every 40k miles and makesure it has been done by a reputable garage, although as your in Germany I guess it could be hard for you to tell.

In the UK the place for G's is G-Werkes, they are highly recommended among all G60 owners.

dazren

22,612 posts

262 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
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Only LHD in the UK.

aka_kerrly

12,419 posts

211 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
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Super choice of car, MK2 definately have a real following and once you have driven one you will see why. As for G60 its fastest standard mk2 but the charger is the achillies heal. Myself i have often considered one but have opted for 2.0 16v power.

i believe the G60 mk2 can be bought in quite a few variations in Germany and would be cheaper than in the UK where there arent all that many :-(

In germany MK2 g60s can be fire and ice editions,GTI G60 and a rael fave of mine the edition 1.. which has some quality extras- chromolux glass, half leather recaros and is available in some gorgeous colours!

Comparing a g60 to a 16v is quite difficult, the engines are very very different. On paper a G60 appears slower as the gearing is quite low in 1st and 2nd and will not allow you to hit 60 in second but does mean 3rd is much more usable compared to the 16v which needs to be constantly high in rev range in order to get the best out of it. The g60 would make a better cruiser as i think its 5th gear is the same as a 8v GTI which is a little more subdued than a 16v which is at 4k RPM at 80ish and quite noisey.

I dont know about the compression ratio, im certain it can be found on club gti, i know that the 8v G60 engine has different internals and a lower compression ratio than a standard 8v GTI.

Chargers... G-Ladder, depends on what size pulley is being used, a smaller pulley increases the speed the charger works at and consequently shortens the service interval. Some people reckon you can get 80k on a charger before a rebuild, others say more like 40k. If a charger does need rebuilding its worth paying extra couple hundred quid to someone like G werks- Jabba sport or Pitstop developments and having the internals uprated. Combined with a smaller pulley and a uprated ECU you can get a healthy 200BHP from a G60.

any help

Dave

alextgreen

15,197 posts

243 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
quotequote all
Kerrly has covered all the G60 specific points, but if you've never owned a MK2 before that really is just the tip of the iceberg:

Rust: door bottoms, sunroof drains, arch bottoms, sills, jacking points, rear lamps, tailgate, sunroof surround (particularly on G60).

Suspension: Most have knackered dampers and bushes, budget to change the whole lot unless it's genuinely been loved and had money thrown at it. Cheap to polybush them fortunately.

Brakes: Front very good on G60, rear calipers prone to seizing.

Interior: Bolster wear, particularly on Recaros.

Leaks: door seals, window seals, bulkhead gromets, sunroof drains.


If you can get a good one they're an absolute ball to drive though smile

Marquis_Rex

Original Poster:

7,377 posts

240 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
quotequote all
Thanks guys for all the help!
There is a possibility that i may be able to get my TDi Golf 3 through another TUV (2 more years-yay!)at a more leanient station, however I think I may still go to see this G60 I have in mind this weekend.
The car is very clean, and very original. It had the supercharger rebuilt recently. It doesnt have full service history, but if he has the receipts-it may be ok. The guy seemed honest and said the only rust was near the fuel filler neck- a common one on the mark two.
I have owned a Mk 2 Golf before and know all about the rear brakes seizing, rusty tail gates and other little stories.
I think it's Digipants fuel injection-which I'm not so keen on-would have much prefered K jetronic- very robust!
Cheers again

GreatGranny

9,128 posts

227 months

Wednesday 29th August 2007
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Good choice, hoping to buy a G60 one day.

Try http://www.dubforce.net/forums/index.php?act=idx for advice.

aka_kerrly

12,419 posts

211 months

Friday 31st August 2007
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LOL at the DIGIPANTS. It is true the G60 do suffer as 8v do from digi lag when the ECU is just a little slow to react when you stamp on the accelerator. Best cure for it is the SNS anti lag chips and they are quite flexible too and can take into account other mods. http://www.snstuning.co.uk/

Marquis_Rex

Original Poster:

7,377 posts

240 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Ok, put a deposit down on this car
http://www.mobile.de/SIDmm-kK7vm-tIH9fd5JsIDkw-t-v...

Nice, original, clean, with some good service history.
No structural rust, TUV well into next year.
Structurally great, engine great, suspension is fine.
Has some small bubbles of rust near the fuel filler which I'll sort out.
Starter motor has just been changed and the clutch a few years ago.
The G lader was rebuilt about 25,000 Kms ago, but I'll look into rebuilding again next summer.
I'm going to get the body into mint condition and pay some attension to some small stone chips, and re-underseal the body.
It's very fast at high speeds on the autobahns. Doesn't feel all that fast at low speeds. I liked the tall gearing that showed 3000 rpm at about 120 Km/h in top -which is similar to the original 2.3 litre BMW 3 series E21 323i.
The gear change is 'typically Mk2' and a bit notchy.
I'll also need to change the rear disks and pads- which I hope isn't a big undertaking!

alextgreen

15,197 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Rear discs and pads aren't too bad, I'd fit MK3 rear calipers at the same time as the standard ones are bound to die sooner or later. At the very least give them a good clean.

G-Lader - refurbishing this would be my absolute priority, speak to Darren at G-werks.

Gear change bush kits are inexpensive and there's a chap on club gti that manufactures good copies of the VAG alignment tool. There was a thread about 2 weeks ago with good info.

Car looks pretty decent other than that, nothing wrong a proper polish won't sort.



Edited by alextgreen on Monday 10th September 12:29

mk1fan

10,523 posts

226 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the last of the mk2 G60's. These were Supercharged 16V engined, Rallye 4wd equiped, 5-door cars. 210bhp from the factory and very rare. Very Q-car as they look standard.

These are 17 year old cars now so expect to replace alot of worn linkages / parts. Check the body for rust and crash damage. Check history for charger rebuilds every 40k miles (70k kilometres). Replacement ones are rarer than the cars themselves!

The mk2 G60 was only available (officially) in the UK in Rallye guise. The normal bodied versions were all European. Although there are numerous private imports - and one specialist importer - none iirc were ever UK cars.

Unlike the Oetinger (sp?) 16s mk1 that could be ordered from UK dealers at the time.

Good luck finding one - although personally I wouldn't use one as an everyday car.

Edited by mk1fan on Monday 10th September 14:00

alextgreen

15,197 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Did you read the thread before posting that? laugh

zaktoo

805 posts

208 months

Monday 10th September 2007
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mk1fan

10,523 posts

226 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Errr yes, albeit briefly. Didn't notice anyone mentioning the two different G60 engines (8v & 16v) though. As I read it it seemed to only talk about the 8v engine and that you can get 200bhp out of it relatively easily. As the 16v came with 210bhp from the factory this would seem to be the more 'sensible' option for the OP who had mentioned his thirst for power.

I should have added 'As has previously been said.....' to my advice re the car but to be fair that should really be a given.

I know the Fire & Ice model was mentioned but not that they had a 16v supercharged engine.

Edited by mk1fan on Monday 10th September 14:42

alextgreen

15,197 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
I wasn't having a dig, sorry if it sounded like I was.

The G60 limited is very rare and expensive, last one I saw sold went for 11 grand. With just 72 produced (only two were 3 doors) they're probably now too scarce for anyone to want to put miles on one.

For me the G60 Syncro would be a better option, looks like any other late spec GTI but with the addition of 4 wheel drive. I know of a lovely (standard) one for sale with air conditioning too.

mk1fan

10,523 posts

226 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
The 16v is a rare beast indeed, but would have held its value more? Maybe, but I definately wouldn't have used it as a daily driver. The only G60 Syncro I've seen was one that looked like an early Allroad prototype. Ride heightastic!

The one he's put a deposit on looks nice. I think I've seen it lapping the 'Ring a few times. It certainly goes well and sounds good at full chat.


alextgreen

15,197 posts

243 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
You're thinking of the Golf Country, jacked up MK2 with silly bull bars and things.

mk1fan

10,523 posts

226 months

Monday 10th September 2007
quotequote all
Yes that's the one. I think it was a German tuner who'd thought it would be a good idea to put alot of power in a vehicle that didn't need it! Looked a very odd car.

Edited by mk1fan on Tuesday 11th September 20:10

m4tthew

8,903 posts

203 months

Tuesday 11th September 2007
quotequote all
G60 Synchro's are about and look just like any other Mk2 G60, apart from the Synchro badge on the rear. A guy on Club Gti has one.

And as for suggesting the Limited as a sensible option - laugh, as someone said, they are rare, expensive and considered collectors items now!

m4tthew

8,903 posts

203 months

Tuesday 11th September 2007
quotequote all
At the moment I really, really want this:

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1408...

cool