GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: rcsammy on 06 August 2010, 17:07
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I currently have a Mk3 1.4 CL which isnt on the road yet so i cant really compare the handling to any other car i've had.
But a friend is looking at getting a Mk3 golf, he used to have a Corsa which was lowered on coilovers and handled awesome.
He is looking at either a 16v GTI or a VR6, the main thing putting him off a VR6 is that people say the handling is terrible.
So the question is really, how well do mk3s handle compared to other hatchbacks and how much worse is a VR6 to a GTI 16v?
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:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Mk3 and handling, not two words you see in the same sentence.
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mk3 on standard setup is so so, comparable to most hatchbacks of the same age I think.
A mk3 on an aftermarket kit is a different story, although obviously it depends on the quality of the kit. I have a Wietec Ultra GT kit on mine and it handles like a go kart, although habit has stopped me taking corners too fast I've yet to have any body roll at all, great fun :) Quite a pricey kit but well worth it IMO :)
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http://www.metacafe.com/watch/503533/rough_cruise/
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Mk3 standard is cack handling.
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Hahaha Chuff your terrible... :D
Meh Mk3 on standard suspension is kind of poo to be fair!
Drop it down on stiffer shocks and springs/coilovers and the body roll isn't eliminated but highly reduced!
I'm down 60mm all round on Koni Coilovers which drop it more like 80-100mm with 8J wide wheels, so grip is definitly not the issue :cool:
(16v GTI btw)
VR's suffer with understeer due to the weight of the lump in the front.
I find it pretty handy, but Corsa's for example are a lot sharper in the turns!
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Im yet to find a corsa that can out manouver my mk3 :P but then again my shock/spring kit probably cost similar to your coilovers :P
Was gonna get konis but the guy at venom told me they were a bit poo for what they cost
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Got mine for £150 :cool: cheaper than the cheeeeppp kits brand new ;)
Albeit second hand :(
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Corsa's might be better in corners, but you have to be gay to drive one.
(http://www.dr-bellend.com/images/camo-corsa----web.gif)
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Got mine for £150 :cool: cheaper than the cheeeeppp kits brand new ;)
Albeit second hand :(
Not too bad then :P
Think mine came to around £430 all in, thats the spring/shock kit and the new vr6 top mounts
I originally ordered a Koni STRT kit, but Venom phoned me as they were out of stock and asked me what I was after, when I said I wanted a nice ride he said forget Koni's then get Wietecs instead :P Not that I've got any experience with the Konis, but I'm deffinatly happy with the Wietecs :)
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LOL @ Debs! Fine piece of engineering that pile of shizz!
Hmmm I will have to agree with the guy at venom dan :laugh: When the damping is set ot the hardest setting it is extremely bumpy, but when softened it rides fairly well! Although my car is too low for soft damping :'(
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i've got fk coilovers on my gti and falken tyres and the handlings pretty good to be honest, i was pretty surprised because are quite heavy cars but i can stick it in to most corners and it sticks pretty well :grin:, fair point made by jonnypolish though the ride is pretty bumpy
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:grin: Chuff
I should of mentioned that it will be on coilovers of some sort, handling doesnt need to be amazing, he has a 328 BMW at the moment which is awesome but you just dont have the confidense in corners like you do with the corsa
so would he be better off with a GTI 16v or VR6?
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Any day over a BMW 328...
Now they are worse than GTi's anyday (At Handling)!!!! And they are slow. But Comfy :smug:
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i have good koni coilovers on my mk3 with polybushes and it transformed the handling.. love driving it now, as an 8v it is slow but I can keep up with most through the twisties! :evil:
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Any day over a BMW 328...
Now they are worse than GTi's anyday (At Handling)!!!! And they are slow. But Comfy :smug:
But a 328 is considerably faster than a VR6 or GTI?
He just doesnt want to go back to a smaller hatchback and be disappointed by poorer handling
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:grin: Chuff
I should of mentioned that it will be on coilovers of some sort, handling doesnt need to be amazing, he has a 328 BMW at the moment which is awesome but you just dont have the confidense in corners like you do with the corsa
so would he be better off with a GTI 16v or VR6?
I would keep the 328.
A VR needs a lot of work to handle and it is not something you can sort on the cheap.
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The issue is though he recently had a small accident in the 328, i was in the car at the time and it spun 180* coming off a roundabout, there was almost nothing he could of done to stop it.
he does push his cars hard and wants somthing fairly quick but predictable also, i think the crash has made him feel like he cant push the 328 to its limits without it being dangerour, whereas with his old corsa you could feel the limit and even if you did step the line it was controllable
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=163410.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=163410.0)
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=163410.0 (http://"test")
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sounds like he wants a corsa then :P
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GTI 16v would be the best option for him on uprated suspension. The handling is pretty predictable and fairly underrated.
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+1 on the weitec kits, i went for the weitec hicon gtn kit (coilover fronts, adjustable height shocks rear) and its firm with minimal body roll, but not at all harsh :afro:
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my mk3 is the BEST handling car iveever had / driven.
As far as i know it isnt lowered or anything.
Honestly amazing car though :)
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The handling on my MK3 is sh!t and thats lowered and everything, but I still love the car for other reasons ... my mk4 astra that I had which was decked handled better to be honest.
I really want to test drive a R32 either MK4 or MK5
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The issue is though he recently had a small accident in the 328, i was in the car at the time and it spun 180* coming off a roundabout, there was almost nothing he could of done to stop it.
he does push his cars hard and wants somthing fairly quick but predictable also, i think the crash has made him feel like he cant push the 328 to its limits without it being dangerour, whereas with his old corsa you could feel the limit and even if you did step the line it was controllable
Your mate has a talent bucket deficiency, or a knackered 328.
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I think the main thing this thread points out is crap kit crap handling, good kit good handling :) It really is worth spending the extra for the dceent kits they make a big difference
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my mk3 is the BEST handling car iveever had / driven.
As far as i know it isnt lowered or anything.
Honestly amazing car though :)
you must have had / driven some fooking sh1te cars then :evil:
:laugh:
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my mk3 is the BEST handling car iveever had / driven.
As far as i know it isnt lowered or anything.
Honestly amazing car though :)
you must have had / driven some fooking sh1te cars then :evil:
:laugh:
ha!! :laugh:
even as a mk3 owner I am happy to say that the standard set-up is shocking.. first thing I did was change it!!
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I think the main thing this thread points out is crap kit crap handling, good kit good handling :) It really is worth spending the extra for the dceent kits they make a big difference
Yeah but you can say that for any car really ... fact of the matter is not many people want to part with £400-£500+ for a suspension set up, that will provide the same handling on many other cars with just a cheapo £100 spring/shock setup. So yeah your right, the fact remains, MK3's are sh!te for handling unless your spending loads getting it perfect, in which case its not even worth it ...
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Agree and disagree with the above statement :P
I didnt buy my mk3 for the handling, I bought it as I like their looks and so will spend what it takes to make it 'Perfect' :) Many people tell me I'm wasting my money and I could just buy a better car or I wont make my money back etc. I'm well aware of this :laugh: to me its 'worth it' :)
End of the day if you want a mk3 to handle well you gotta spend the money, but if you just want any car that handles well dont buy a mk3 :P
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hello can anybody help me i have jus bought a 1997 golf gti 16v in blue. 1 lil patch of rust in door cill, 4 litle dimples on passenger side door, all in all thru out mint condition, bought with 78k miles with some history, long mot and tax i paid 1950? is that a fair price? ive jus bought a ram air induction kit off ebay for 48£ its very loud and u can tel there a little diff on the torque, what other things can i do to add bhp? i want to spend abit of money on it and put the issues right. thx
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mk3 on standard setup is so so, comparable to most hatchbacks of the same age I think.
A mk3 on an aftermarket kit is a different story, although obviously it depends on the quality of the kit. I have a Wietec Ultra GT kit on mine and it handles like a go kart, although habit has stopped me taking corners too fast I've yet to have any body roll at all, great fun :) Quite a pricey kit but well worth it IMO :)
Another bump for the Weitec Ultra GT kit, have that on mine and she handles perfectly.. couple this with some inexpensive, but excellent Kumho KU31 tyres and you're looking at a car that handles very well. :smiley:
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Hmm, it's an interesting one this. Everyone bangs on about Mk.3s being useless fat tugboats etc, but actually I've found mine to be not half bad, at least until the original springs and dampers finally ran up the white flag (thats being dealt with at this very moment). Ok, the old girl will go straight on if allowed to but front engined/FWD cars always ultimately understeer. More to the point though, unless the understeer is allowed to develop too strongly, a quick mid-corner lift is all that is required to make her tuck her nose in, maybe move the tail out a bit, then power on round.
P.s. Just in case any forum wits/cynics are about to question what I know about handling response, I also have a Mini Thou' on uprated Gaz dampers and Yok 032R trackday tyres, so the answer is "quite a f***ing lot!" :grin:
S.M.
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Amazing handling, beats any other vw handling! :cool:
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I had Weitec Coilovers after hottuning ones, they were noticeably better imo.
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FK Konigsports FTW!
They do have Koni innards! :smug:
Plus they have adjustable damping! :wink:
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FK Konigsports FTW!
They do have Koni innards! :smug:
Plus they have adjustable damping! :wink:
My next purchase! Which means my SPAX PSX kit 60mm drop all round with adjustable damping may be up for sale soon :wink:
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Konigsports.. Although they give a good ride and handling. They dont touch my weitecs for quality. The Fks leak and adjusters sieze and springs snap. Thats why i stay away from FK's. Both my cars have weitec collovers now.