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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: adamrob69 on 22 February 2010, 18:32

Title: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: adamrob69 on 22 February 2010, 18:32
To get away from all the posts about there being something wrong with yours, post what makes you appreciate it.

Im driving an x reg mondeo at the minute for work and i actualy feel unsafe in it!! the driving position is crap, the seats uncormfy, the shocks have had it, steering does what it wants, engine mounts gone, no torque!! annoying rattle from the handbrake area, no brakes! the list could go on....


and to think i was depressed that my temperature never quite made it to 90, that my back box occasionaly rattles, and the ride is a bit bumpy in my mk3...this has certainly put it in perspective!
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: VR6-Joe on 22 February 2010, 18:44
Everything. My Mk3 is perfection compared to other cars I've driven. I only have one complaint to make and that is.. why couldn't they have put an adjustable steering column in all of them :cry:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 22 February 2010, 19:10
Everything. My Mk3 is perfection compared to other cars I've driven. I only have one complaint to make and that is.. why couldn't they have put an adjustable steering column in all of them :cry:

I've got that.  :tongue:


What makes me appreciate my MK3? Well apart from the fact even with a broken engine it still persists in going on and on even a year on now. The only major problem bar this I've had was the starter motor failing, and even that was the original one so it lasted 13 years.


I just love my MK3 and pretty much everything about it.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: jocarl11 on 22 February 2010, 19:13
The VW badge makes me appreciate my ride  :wink: By far the best car i have owned out of a good 30 new and old!!
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Khare on 22 February 2010, 19:15
the sound, the badge and knowing it's not depreciating too fast   :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Toopay_MkIII_GT on 22 February 2010, 19:17
i know what you mean. as much as i slag my gti off. i feels so solid to drive compared other cars. my dad has a mondeo estate, its feels so light at the steering and whole car just feels limp. and even tho my gti is getting on for 13yrs old. the interior is nice and solid, has a nice "thump" to it if u his it. my gfs 206 is a young whipper snapper compared to my old tank ,and it feels so cheap and flimsy and just grey plastic everywhere, makes you cringe when u scratch it or anything. makes u appreciate the build quality of vw, even if my cars full of rattles these days  :rolleyes: like to see her french sh!t machine in 13yrs ahha. rant over!
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: jocarl11 on 22 February 2010, 19:43
i know what you mean. as much as i slag my gti off. i feels so solid to drive compared other cars. my dad has a mondeo estate, its feels so light at the steering and whole car just feels limp. and even tho my gti is getting on for 13yrs old. the interior is nice and solid, has a nice "thump" to it if u his it. my gfs 206 is a young whipper snapper compared to my old tank ,and it feels so cheap and flimsy and just grey plastic everywhere, makes you cringe when u scratch it or anything. makes u appreciate the build quality of vw, even if my cars full of rattles these days  :rolleyes: like to see her french sh!t machine in 13yrs ahha. rant over!

lol i've owned 2 306's both were over 10 yrs old and they felt like driving a tin shed after a hurricane hit  :shocked: A good test of build quality is to shut your car door and if it thuds its a vw if it falls off it's a peugeot  :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: tweed on 22 February 2010, 19:54
Have to be build quality. Coming from 106 gti and a saxo vts I wouldn't say handling and performance are better, but everything els is. Handling and performance I can improve, you can't improve a 106 or saxo build quality.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Snowey on 22 February 2010, 20:07
Old skool, torquey and solid.  :smiley:

I worked for a bit at manheim car auction and we ended up driving anything from a 1L fiesta to the latest Merc AMG model. All these were 'new' cars and as nice as it is to jump into all these, sometimes seriously quick cars, they all felt the same, safe and soft.

Modern cars seem to have that bland, light feel to them. With all the electrics and gizmos attached it feels as though it takes away what you get from old cars, proper solid fighting the wheel fun.

Shame but after having the chance to drive most models of cars on the road although for a short time, nothing really felt like that solid go kart feel you get with a golf with the solid build from VW. Audi's felt solid too but still bland!!  :laugh:

Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Jimp on 22 February 2010, 20:11
I just really like mk3s.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: harlemex on 22 February 2010, 20:29
they look really sexy when polished up.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Deano2711 on 22 February 2010, 20:44
Love my Golf to bits because it's the only car that's ever given me the heart to fix it when things go wrong. There's not much even an amateur can't do. It looks the bees knees and drives the same. I've had probably a hundred cars in my time (if not more) and this is the only car I have truly loved to bits.
Best way to describe it is that it's in the blood.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Wayne on 22 February 2010, 20:55
Not a lot hence why I sold it.  :grin:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: snifferdog on 22 February 2010, 20:59
I just like mk 3's too! Kind of like the grown ups version of the mk 1 and 2. Sure, it couldve done with having more power but as an everyday ride i cant fault it!! Its easy to fix too and im an amateur!! :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: snifferdog on 22 February 2010, 20:59
Not a lot hence why I sold it.  :grin:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: ace on 22 February 2010, 21:00
the vr6 noise  :grin:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: carlgti on 22 February 2010, 21:01
yeah i totally love my mk3 didnt pay much for it, it has almost 170,00 on the clock and still runs like a dream. I've done bits and pieces to it myself and when its cleaned and polished looks amazing. I do look at other cars and think about getting a newer car etc. but then I get in the golf and think why bother spending a shed load of cash. :)
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 22 February 2010, 21:02
Not a lot hence why I sold it.  :grin:

Read the thread title, this is for what makes you appreciate it, if you want to do a negative appreciation thread then go create one and put all you don't like in there.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Wayne on 22 February 2010, 21:03
Not a lot hence why I sold it.  :grin:

Read the thread title, this is for what makes you appreciate it, if you want to do a negative appreciation thread then go create one and put all you don't like in there.

Joke or do you have trouble with them.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 22 February 2010, 21:06
Not a lot hence why I sold it.  :grin:

Read the thread title, this is for what makes you appreciate it, if you want to do a negative appreciation thread then go create one and put all you don't like in there.

Joke or do you have trouble with them.

I have trouble with mine but it isn't causing me a problem, that's why I appreciate it. :wink:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: naturn007 on 22 February 2010, 21:09
It just makes me smile  :smiley: Easy to live with, fun to drive. :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 21:11
working in a garage and testdriving mk2 golfs and they feel awful and have hard steering etc , and then mk4s are at the age now where they are breaking alot . and i drive my mk3 home that has done 153000 miles and still feels great to drive and when polished is as shiny as a new car .

oh and when people say 'i recognised it was your car a mile away because you cant see sunlight underneath it when the cars coming towards you because its so low  ! '
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: weazgti on 22 February 2010, 21:19
its not red by any chance is it?
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 21:26
yes it is red lol  :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 21:30
ah i see your location is isle of wight lol . its a small island so i expect i know u  :smiley:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: zdebx on 22 February 2010, 21:36
The fact that it's pretty much the best first car you can buy today, if you are under 21, and looking for something decent AND german (don't forget about the cheap insurance) :D
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 21:40
yeah im with you on that , my mk3 1.8 driver is the same price to insure as my previous mk3 1.4 match . so not only does it embarass chavs in saxo vtr's but my insurance is cheap . and the cars not going to disintegrate lol
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: weazgti on 22 February 2010, 21:55


ah i see your location is isle of wight lol . its a small island so i expect i know u  :smiley:

I have seen a low as phuck red mk3 about with nice wheels and vento front. I take it thats yours?
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 21:58
yes lol thats mine had it for a year now , what u think of it as there isnt many euro or decked cars on the island .

also do you have any pics of your mk3 , may have seen it around ?
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 22 February 2010, 22:10
The fact that it's pretty much the best first car you can buy today, if you are under 21, and looking for something decent AND german (don't forget about the cheap insurance) :D

+1

My 1.8 GL I got when I was 19 and only cost £900, bargain :)
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Wayne on 22 February 2010, 22:11
The fact that it's pretty much the best first car you can buy today, if you are under 21, and looking for something decent AND german (don't forget about the cheap insurance) :D

Polo's / Ibiza's are cheaper to insure plus more modern.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: weazgti on 22 February 2010, 22:20
yes lol thats mine had it for a year now , what u think of it as there isnt many euro or decked cars on the island .

also do you have any pics of your mk3 , may have seen it around ?

Looks clean mate like the look of it not over the top like all this other crap driving about.
I haven got a mk3 anymore,got a mk2 again. Its atlas grey 5 door with nasty wheels and nasty debadged grille.
And the smoked headlights i got for it are purple for some reason lol.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dan iow on 22 February 2010, 22:26
yeah i like the way its not ott aswell , thats why i have taken the smoothed bumpers off and put the black ones back on  :smiley:


(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/th_DSC00220.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/?action=view&current=DSC00220.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/th_DSC00198.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/?action=view&current=DSC00198.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/th_DSC00287.jpg) (http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/fiestadan2k7/recent%20golf%20pics/?action=view&current=DSC00287.jpg)
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: zdebx on 22 February 2010, 22:45
The fact that it's pretty much the best first car you can buy today, if you are under 21, and looking for something decent AND german (don't forget about the cheap insurance) :D

Polo's / Ibiza's are cheaper to insure plus more modern.

I said "decent", and Polo doesn't go into that category, imo :D

Never liked Seat's, so Ibiza wasn't an option for me...
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: dom on 22 February 2010, 23:27
I had a 1.4 match as my first car and loved it (even if it was majorly underpowered), sold it, went straight out and bought a Gti. There's nothing I don't like about it, and I appreciate everything about it!
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Dan34 on 22 February 2010, 23:35
The noise  :drool:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Nino on 23 February 2010, 09:43
I gotta say the thing i love most about my m3 is the fact it feels so solid and well built, compired to my GF's mk1 clio
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: TJJONESVDUB on 23 February 2010, 11:25
how anybody can say there mk3 drives better than a mondeo is crazy fair enough if the mondeo has just been abused like at the start of this thread but in a normal situation, theres a reason y there are so many mondeos on the road and thats because they are decent cars that dont brake down, and the saftey features on them are immence. Sorry to spoil ur appreciate thread but ive driven 4 kinds of the cars in question, mk3 gti 8v a mondeo 1.8 zetec pre 2001 and a vr6 + st220 mondeo and although the vr6 felt faster than the st mondeo around corners it felt solid the IPS system is probly the best on the market and even with the 1.8zetec mondeo u felt safe didnt feel all the bumps in the road it was 125bhp which is more than enough and averaged 45mpg on a run.

Im sorry but im a true die hard VW fan my very very first car before i was even old enough to drive was a mk3 but talking in facts the mondeo is twice the car of any of the mk3 models no matter what you do to them.

says the man that walks rather fast back into the mk4 section.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: VR6_Wherry on 23 February 2010, 12:03
The noise  :drool:

I hear you there! bought my self a 21st birthday present that VR6 is the best thing i have ever bought! and insurance aint bad either!!
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Deano2711 on 23 February 2010, 12:24
how anybody can say there mk3 drives better than a mondeo is crazy fair enough if the mondeo has just been abused like at the start of this thread but in a normal situation, theres a reason y there are so many mondeos on the road and thats because they are decent cars that dont brake down, and the saftey features on them are immence. Sorry to spoil ur appreciate thread but ive driven 4 kinds of the cars in question, mk3 gti 8v a mondeo 1.8 zetec pre 2001 and a vr6 + st220 mondeo and although the vr6 felt faster than the st mondeo around corners it felt solid the IPS system is probly the best on the market and even with the 1.8zetec mondeo u felt safe didnt feel all the bumps in the road it was 125bhp which is more than enough and averaged 45mpg on a run.

Im sorry but im a true die hard VW fan my very very first car before i was even old enough to drive was a mk3 but talking in facts the mondeo is twice the car of any of the mk3 models no matter what you do to them.

says the man that walks rather fast back into the mk4 section.

The major difference is that a 15 year old Golf is worth money whereas a 15 year old Mondeo is scrap value. I have driven Mondeo's and they do what they are supposed to be. The Golf does plenty more in my opinion.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: spear on 23 February 2010, 13:23
I like the fact that my car keeps me continuosly occupied. There is always something that needs replacing, or something that I can improve on it.

I think you get to know the car so well that you really notice every little thing that you do it and it and makes you love it even more.

Plus it still looks the nuts when cleaned up  :cool:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Toopay_MkIII_GT on 23 February 2010, 18:20
how anybody can say there mk3 drives better than a mondeo is crazy fair enough if the mondeo has just been abused like at the start of this thread but in a normal situation, theres a reason y there are so many mondeos on the road and thats because they are decent cars that dont brake down, and the saftey features on them are immence. Sorry to spoil ur appreciate thread but ive driven 4 kinds of the cars in question, mk3 gti 8v a mondeo 1.8 zetec pre 2001 and a vr6 + st220 mondeo and although the vr6 felt faster than the st mondeo around corners it felt solid the IPS system is probly the best on the market and even with the 1.8zetec mondeo u felt safe didnt feel all the bumps in the road it was 125bhp which is more than enough and averaged 45mpg on a run.

Im sorry but im a true die hard VW fan my very very first car before i was even old enough to drive was a mk3 but talking in facts the mondeo is twice the car of any of the mk3 models no matter what you do to them.

says the man that walks rather fast back into the mk4 section.

The major difference is that a 15 year old Golf is worth money whereas a 15 year old Mondeo is scrap value. I have driven Mondeo's and they do what they are supposed to be. The Golf does plenty more in my opinion.

^^ well said!

maybe my dads mondeo is a poor example some how. but its still couple years newer than my golf and im still saying it feels crap. bare in mind im the 3rd owner of my gti, gti's by no means get a easy life! they are ragged from day one usually and it feels tighter to drive in everyway. but probs is im comparing my gofl with car that was from day one a easy, soft wollay crusing family/businessman exec car.
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: zdebx on 23 February 2010, 18:27
Comparing Mondeo to a Golf is just stupid, because they are in different classes.

Mondeo is a 4 door saloon, Golf is a hatchback.

Golf goes along with a Focus, while a "competitor" for a Mondeo is probably Passat.

In any case, VW > Ford  :wink:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: adamrob69 on 23 February 2010, 18:30
how anybody can say there mk3 drives better than a mondeo is crazy fair enough if the mondeo has just been abused like at the start of this thread but in a normal situation, theres a reason y there are so many mondeos on the road and thats because they are decent cars that dont brake down, and the saftey features on them are immence. Sorry to spoil ur appreciate thread but ive driven 4 kinds of the cars in question, mk3 gti 8v a mondeo 1.8 zetec pre 2001 and a vr6 + st220 mondeo and although the vr6 felt faster than the st mondeo around corners it felt solid the IPS system is probly the best on the market and even with the 1.8zetec mondeo u felt safe didnt feel all the bumps in the road it was 125bhp which is more than enough and averaged 45mpg on a run.

Im sorry but im a true die hard VW fan my very very first car before i was even old enough to drive was a mk3 but talking in facts the mondeo is twice the car of any of the mk3 models no matter what you do to them.

says the man that walks rather fast back into the mk4 section.

i can only agree wit you to an extent. i drove the 1.8 zetec aswell. there are in completely different categories so you carnt really compare them like that as there in different markets...but if you want to i could reel of a list of things the golf is better then the mondeo at. i will give the mondeo its due, its been thrashed for over 5 years now and it hasnt broken down once and the engine has a very nice grunt...however safety features?? when doing 70mph down a motor and all of a sudden your seat decides it doesnt want to be in the position you put it in but instead wants to slide all the way to the back of the rail!?

The golf has aged better, everything is falling apart in the modeo. the golf looks better and did back when they were released, and more importantly the golf doesnt have a bumper covered in duck tape to keep it together!


This thread is about why we like the car we drive...not comparing it against the spec of another car....
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: robz on 23 February 2010, 18:43
mine talks to me....







:D
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: snifferdog on 23 February 2010, 18:45
 Why is it that all mondeos have tape on the bumper though? Ive just come back to a mk3 after owning a couple of fords and althought they were good and didnt let me down, the golf just feels more sturdy and gets respect, where as people used to laugh when i said i had an escort gti.  :angry: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: jeroni on 23 February 2010, 19:06
One word for me  "Timeless"
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: Toopay_MkIII_GT on 23 February 2010, 19:08
yeh, does feel silly comparing golf to mondeo a, they were built for different purposes, but u can only appreciate something on ur car if u've had something to compare it to, or u wouldn't appropriate summit about our golfs so much.

lol at the duct tape on ford bumpers, only ever fords
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: carlgti on 23 February 2010, 19:47
how many mondeos make it into the 100s of thousands of miles and keep going strong
Title: Re: Things that make you appreciate your mk3
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 23 February 2010, 19:53
I <3 my Allegro.  :rolleyes: