GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Godzilla on 09 January 2011, 21:15
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In need of some help here!!
My fiancee is in need of a 5 door car. She likes sporty cars and likes the MK3. Cost wise what is the MK3 GTI 8v like to run? I know the 16v's can be a tad juicy. Also the 8v's are a very simple unit by the looks of them on Ebay pics. The other car she has been looking at is a 1.8 and a 2.0 Ford Focus but I know nothing about these.
Any help would be great :smiley:
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mk3 golf gti does about 300 miles per tank
2.0 fords do about a head gasket every 60k miles
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mk3 golf gti does about 300 miles per tank
2.0 fords do about a head gasket every 60k miles
Thanks mate
300 miles to a tank......Are they not 55 litre tanks though as 300 miles is what I used to get from my MK3 GTI 16v?
Not good about the 2.0 Fords!
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I've had my 2.0 8v cabriolet for 2 months now,I've changed the front and back suspension,air filter,plugs,oil,and power steering pump belt.I didn't even need a Haynes manual, it's the easiest car ive ever owned to work on,I wouldn't call myself a competent mechanic either,parts are very cheap too
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If your Fiancee has an eye for detail, build quality, understatement and the VW badge of prestige then yes a Mk3 GTI fits the bill nicely, however..the 8v is not particularly fast so a potential girl racer may well be disappointed!
If you go for the 16v then your adding to your costs, but not by much.
The 16v has a different attitude/purpose and seen/used differently by it's owners in my opinion, i prefer an 8v but that's no disrepect the the 16.
Other than that the Mk3 8v is a decent day to day car..of course any vehicle could be a legacy of problems if it's had a hard life and been neglected service wise, VW's included.
Something to think about :cool:
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2.0 fords do about a head gasket every 60k miles
That is crap, I know of many that are over 100k and never have been replaced.
Focus 1.8 or 2.0 is in a different league to a mk3, better to drive, feels more modern etc.
My dad has had 8 Focus's now all have been above excellent and none have ever let him down, he was going for another one but has gone for a 6mth old Fiesta for a change.
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So a Ford Focus is a good car? I dont have a clue with latest Fords, well I say latest the Focus must have been around for 10 years or so. Im used to MK3 Escorts!
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im with wayne on this i like Fords, i had a Escort mk5 as a pool car for my dj gigs, it managed 300k before it rusted away and was replaced by the black golf.. it was a great runner
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My friend had a Focus 1.6 16v and that was a great car. Never let him down in the 2 years he owned it, handled beautifully, sounded awesome (long life cat back) and looked great. I'd love to own one someday.
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/kharekatoh/frontleft.jpg)
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I have a 1.6 but general running costs, I use no petrol at all really, but it's a smaller engine so can't really compare.
Service parts cost me £20 every 4 months.
Cambelt and waterpump cost £60 by the previous owner.
They are fairly cheap to service, I change my oil filters and plugs every 4 months just because I get them cheap through trade. Probably way OTT but hey.
They are fairly cheap cars to run. However my dads 140K 1.8 Auto P reg has been a nightmare on bits going wrong! IMO, like all cars, you get good or bad ones.
However, IMO the good ones are damned good cars. :cool:
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Don't buy cars made on a Monday morning or Friday evening :grin:
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LOL :grin:
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Since when was this the Ford appreciation forum?
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Since when was this the Ford appreciation forum?
It is not but someone asked is a Focus better than a mk3 to which I would say yes it is by a country mile.
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Furry muff.
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I sold my mk2 pre facelift focus 2 months ago and had nothing but trouble with it. It was only a 1.6 petrol but had nothing but trouble with it. Bought my 8v gti after for a bit of a play thing and I love it! True that new cars ae quiet and comfortable, but they are Soooo boring and depreciation is absolutely shocking. U can pick up a really good 8v for 600 notes and u feel much more satisfied when driving it as even if it's not the quickest, it's still fun. In my opinion, go old school and enjoy driving again
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Think wayne and kell need to join the Ford forums :lipsrsealed: :grin: The focus agreed is a more comfortable car and of course its newer more modern it came out in 1998 so the mk3 was around 6 years before it.Personally if your bothered about what year car you drive round in and want a few more toys then buy a focus as its the later car but thats about it,ok there not a bad car but there not a great car either just like a mondeo millions of em every where and you dont see many mint R plate fords about like you do mk3s.Ive just bought a Feista1.6 Zetec S on a X plate to sell its done 76,000 miles Full Ford history and I want a grand for it ok its not a Focus but theres no way it stands upto my Golf and if Kell fancies a Ford ill swap it for his mk3 :grin: Ok mk3s are showing there age and there far from perfect but if you find a decent unmolested one its a far better car in the long run over a focus the engine will out do a ford plus its just as cheap to run and at least it looks nice fords just dont have character like a vw unless its the FOCUS RS :grin:
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Think wayne and kell need to join the Ford forums :lipsrsealed: :grin: The focus agreed is a more comfortable car and of course its newer more modern it came out in 1998 so the mk3 was around 6 years before it.Personally if your bothered about what year car you drive round in and want a few more toys then buy a focus as its the later car but thats about it,ok there not a bad car but there not a great car either just like a mondeo millions of em every where and you dont see many mint R plate fords about like you do mk3s.Ive just bought a Feista1.6 Zetec S on a X plate to sell its done 76,000 miles Full Ford history and I want a grand for it ok its not a Focus but theres no way it stands upto my Golf and if Kell fancies a Ford ill swap it for his mk3 :grin: Ok mk3s are showing there age and there far from perfect but if you find a decent unmolested one its a far better car in the long run over a focus the engine will out do a ford plus its just as cheap to run and at least it looks nice fords just dont have character like a vw unless its the FOCUS RS :grin:
So lots of older classic Fords have no character, beg to differ on that score.
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Sorry Wayne I didnt relise we was talking about classic fords does the ford focus come under a classic car now.Didnt mention classic anywhere in my post you might need a trip to spec savers mate :wink:
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Sorry Wayne I didnt relise we was talking about classic fords does the ford focus come under a classic car now.Didnt mention classic anywhere in my post you might need a trip to spec savers mate :wink:
Focus RS and in some respects ST170 are future classics.
I went to specsavers last week. :laugh:
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:grin: Only fords that I actually like and would have one but cant afford is mk1 mexico,RS2000 MK2,Sierra RS500,Escort Cossy and the current Focus RS which looks awsome but then again I would rather a vw split screen camper over all of em :grin:
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Back on subject....a half decent looked after 8v will return around the 25 mpg mark round town and raise to 34/35 on a run which is pretty good for a 2ltr engine. Servicing is cheap and easy but as you probably know the Mark 3's require a fair bit of looking after but they are well worth it :grin: :grin:
I had a Focus years ago and never liked it. The seat position was uncomfortable and my knees were embedded in the door and the dash wherever the seat was. As said the Focus has less soul than the Mark 3.
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The way I see the Mk3 8v is a disposable car. I don't mean it in a cruel way as I drive one myself as a daily driver. I have had no problems whatsoever and have got a full service history with it. It had 92k miles on the clock and its a 1997. Cost me £650. This is why I say displosable because if it goes horrendously wrong or fails miserably at its next MOT its cost me £650 for a car for a year (£54 a month) But on the other hand its been proper reliable and not broken down, only had to change the battery which is fair enough.
The Mk3 8v are cheap because no one wants them :( they all want the 16v because its 'quicker' I doubt you would get a half decent focus for 8v money and I think in the longer term will cost you more to run (This is only my opinion based on people I know who have own focus's)
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I agree with some of the above but I wouldnt say no one wants a 8v gti as theres still 16vs and VRs for simlar money to 8vs.These cars are old now with double figure milage and to some potential buyers who dont know to much about vws or cars a 156k mk3 gti thats 15 years old dont look to appealing as they dont know the strenghts of the car and really thats a pretty common sight in mk3s.This in turn keeps the price low and makes them great value cars for dubbers alike and tbh they sell pretty well if their not over priced im on a mk3 offensive this morning :grin: