GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: johnnyvr6 on 13 December 2011, 23:10
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Is it just me but I seem to see more people having more problems on here with there mk4's than with mk3's what does anybody else think I have had 3 mk3' a 1.8 cl a 2.0 16v and a vr6 and never had any break downs at all me and the wife had a mk4 gt tdi 115 and that was troublesome am I talking bollocks please feel free to comment
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I would say generally Mk3's are a lot simpler in design but do come with rust issues. Mk4's are bigger more technologically advanced and therfor susceptible to more electrical failures but both cars, if maintained properly, should be pretty reliable. My Leon Cupra, which is basically a golf with less build quality, has only ever needed coil packs in almost 5 years and never broken down while my Mk3, well thats in 1000 bits in my garage although don't know what its reliability is like as ive never driven it :grin:
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My mk3 had loads of issues, some are better but it is the luck of the draw at the end of the day.
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My mk3 had loads of issues, some are better but it is the luck of the draw at the end of the day.
Your back quickly?
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Had 3 mk4's and all have had lots of problems. I'd say it's the most un reliable golf of them all
My mk3 was bought for peanuts and never Once has it let me Down
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Ive had mk1-mk4 and apart from the mk2 being a gutless crapbag the mk4 is top of the list for problems.
The dash looks like a constant xmas tree with lights.So much so that ive taken to keeping a code reader in the glovebox! :grin:
Comfier but boring ride.
Gimme a mk3 anyday!(Yes even over the mk2 rustbuckets) :evil:
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I would say generally Mk3's are a lot simpler in design but do come with rust issues. Mk4's are bigger more technologically advanced and therfor susceptible to more electrical failures but both cars, if maintained properly, should be pretty reliable. My Leon Cupra, which is basically a golf with less build quality, has only ever needed coil packs in almost 5 years and never broken down while my Mk3, well thats in 1000 bits in my garage although don't know what its reliability is like as ive never driven it :grin:
I'd go along with this... Generally I have had more jip with used modern cars than old and that's probably because there is a lot less to go wrong. I think that some forms of technological gadgetry doesn't age too well.
My mk3 had loads of issues, some are better but it is the luck of the draw at the end of the day.
Your back quickly?
It's an addictive site... :grin:
Ive had mk1-mk4 and apart from the mk2 being a gutless crapbag the mk4 is top of the list for problems.
The dash looks like a constant xmas tree with lights.So much so that ive taken to keeping a code reader in the glovebox! :grin:
Comfier but boring ride.
Gimme a mk3 anyday!(Yes even over the mk2 rustbuckets) :evil:
hmmmmmmm? :huh:
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!(Yes even over the mk2 rustbuckets) :evil:
hmmmmmmm? :huh:
MK2's are overhyped sheeps cars imo.Owned 2 and don't think they are anything special.Had a MK1 Cab too which i really enjoyed driving tbh(even if it was purple) but overall i prefer the mk3.
I like the hated status of them :grin:
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Not got a problem with preference but I thought calling a mk2 a rust bucket over a mk3 was a bit rich. :grin:
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The Mark 4 is about as reliable as the Mark 3 really I have found but there is no fun in driving the Mark 4 whereas the Mark 3 is great to drive and nowadays seem to get more attention than tje Mark 4's.
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Not got a problem with preference but I thought calling a mk2 a rust bucket over a mk3 was a bit rich. :grin:
I have an early mk3 that had the better steel used and is solid inside and out so im biased :evil:
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Luck of the draw really mk4's do have a lot of common faults though early engines - 1.8t AGUs are very reliable apart from waterpumps :grin: :lipsrsealed:
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Luck of the draw really mk4's do have a lot of common faults though early engines - 1.8t AGUs are very reliable apart from waterpumps :grin: :lipsrsealed:
indeed, the only thing that has failed on my mk4 is the waterpump from memory.. there has been an electrical problem with the door module but thats hardly a reliability issue.. my mk3 had a wheel brearing fail (had it given to me like that) and the rubber hose to the map sensor perrished.. thats about it. both cars had been faultless to me and liked them both equallly.
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Luck of the draw really mk4's do have a lot of common faults though early engines - 1.8t AGUs are very reliable apart from waterpumps :grin: :lipsrsealed:
To be fair, most cars I've owned that have given me the most problems (including non VAG) are the ones that evidently had terrible previous owners.
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Luck of the draw really mk4's do have a lot of common faults though early engines - 1.8t AGUs are very reliable apart from waterpumps :grin: :lipsrsealed:
To be fair, most cars I've owned that have given me the most problems (including non VAG) are the ones that evidently had terrible previous owners.
So true :smiley:
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Most undeniable cars I've owned (even though oil cooler died on the 3 resulting in replacement lump) have been a ford focus mk2, and the absolutely dispised beyond belief pug 307. :angry: both as bad as each other tbh. The 3 was pretty good other than needing a new engine :grin: just a maf clean an a new dizzy cap.
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Most undeniable cars I've owned (even though oil cooler died on the 3 resulting in replacement lump) have been a ford focus mk2, and the absolutely dispised beyond belief pug 307. :angry: both as bad as each other tbh. The 3 was pretty good other than needing a new engine :grin: just a maf clean an a new dizzy cap.
Surprised about the Focus but the pug isn't a shocker, I've had a couple of their models old and new, they were sh*t. I've had friends that have had them, they were also sh*t. I bet the 307 blew bulbs like an 80's Christmas tree too! My mates 307 estate has never had a full set of outside lights working since he's owned it, he just seems to go round in circles replacing them. The one before it was the same.
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Just get a mk2 :smiley:
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Just get a mk2 :smiley:
*Cough*
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Just get a mk2 :smiley:
And a mig welder :laugh:
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Surprised about the Focus but the pug isn't a shocker, I've had a couple of their models old and new, they were sh*t. I've had friends that have had them, they were also sh*t. I bet the 307 blew bulbs like an 80's Christmas tree too! My mates 307 estate has never had a full set of outside lights working since he's owned it, he just seems to go round in circles replacing them. The one before it was the same.
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I actually sold the focus to my sister which makes it worse as she's had nothing but problems with it as well. Feel a bit guilty obviously but she did get an outrageously good deal on it! From interior trim items falling off or breaking, a/c pump dieing, coilpack going, rear shoes going and destroying the drums, windscreen chip that I had filled spreading again.......etc etc. Think shes spent more on fixing it than she bought it off me for, and it's only 5 years old!
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my mk3 has never let me down. I've never had to replace anything on it in two years. Well apart from window wipers :grin:
Can't comment on the mk4
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Mk3's do seem pretty reliable but thats what happens when most of the basics are pretty much carried over from the far superior Mk2. Quite how they wrecked the good bits about the Mk2 and made the Mk3 so relatively horrid and puddinglike to drive is beyond me. Sure they are a lot more refined but they just feel like a big wobbly lump of blancmonge with zero steering feel to drive in comparison. I can still remember the press car that Car magazine ran when the VR6 came out, they hated it and its multifarious reliability problems so much they put a lemon on the front cover of one issue in place of a picture of the car with the title of something like VW makes a lemon lol. Needless to say, VW picked the reliability game up a bit after the first years efforts!
As for the Mk4, why would you??? Ugly, heavy, fat arsed heaps of crap made down to the lowest possible budget.
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The main downfall of the a standard mk3 is the mk2 suspension it came with,just not up to the job with the extra weight.
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The main downfall of the a standard mk3 is the mk2 suspension it came with,just not up to the job with the extra weight.
It was not mk2 suspension :smiley: all GTI's and VR6's had the plus suspension which was underdamped however they were uprated from the mk2 settings.
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The main downfall of the a standard mk3 is the mk2 suspension it came with,just not up to the job with the extra weight.
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It was not mk2 suspension :smiley: all GTI's and VR6's had the plus suspension which was underdamped however they were uprated from the mk2 settings.
Well i cant argue with you as i just presumed that was the case because they are interchangeable :smiley:
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And even that was only up until 95 when it was revised. But yeah I do agree, standard mk3 suspension is turd.
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And even that was only up until 95 when it was revised. But yeah I do agree, standard mk3 suspension is turd.
Was this not slightly deliberate of VW in an attempt to sell the car to a bigger audience as with many things on the MK3, more comfortable and refined etc.? Not suggesting it was a wise move though.
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''comfortable and refined'' More like vague and wallowy. As soon as you change from the OEM struts and springs the drive is transformed, even without smacking it with the lowering stick.
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I've spent more money on maintaining the Mk4 in 6 months than I did on the mk3 in my 18 months of ownership.
And I still need to change the arb bushes & top mounts :rolleyes:
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''comfortable and refined'' More like vague and wallowy. As soon as you change from the OEM struts and springs the drive is transformed, even without smacking it with the lowering stick.
I didn't say VW did it right. :grin:
I've spent more money on maintaining the Mk4 in 6 months than I did on the mk3 in my 18 months of ownership.
And I still need to change the arb bushes & top mounts :rolleyes:
Kinda fits in with the comments regarding older cars having less to go wrong. More things to look after on a more modern car too.
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Things like top mounts and bushes are just wear and tear though, things like that always need replacing over time.
I've never owned a mk3, so can't comment, but have been very happy with the mk4. The waterpump went the other year, but it's a pretty common fault, so I had it coming to be honest. Door module broke too, had to get a new one.
That aside she's been very good. Just old age wear and tear of the rubber parts. I think it's the luck of the draw as to what you end up getting.
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Things like top mounts and bushes are just wear and tear though, things like that always need replacing over time.
I've never owned a mk3, so can't comment, but have been very happy with the mk4. The waterpump went the other year, but it's a pretty common fault, so I had it coming to be honest. Door module broke too, had to get a new one.
That aside she's been very good. Just old age wear and tear of the rubber parts. I think it's the luck of the draw as to what you end up getting.
Yes....... I certainly wouldn't buy DH's off him when he's done with his. :grin:
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Like all Golfs you get good and bad ones if your unlucky enough to buy a dog then the old German relaibilty goes out the window.If you get a decent one both cars are super relaible,for me I wouldnt go back to a mk3 after owning my mk4 as im older now and the mk4 suits my needs better but both are good cars.
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depends what model IMO
i know of mk3's with mega miles i know of mk4's with mega miles. mk3 's have had more rot issues by a long way ut there older
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mk3's are better built than mk4's, less snap fit clips etc. mk3's and corrado's are probably the last of the well built vw's really, with the peak being the mk2 obviously :wink:
as mk4's have more equipment there's more to go wrong!
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My MK3 cost me £50.
I've done about 20K miles and it's needed a throttle cable and that was all.
Top mounts and brakes have all been changed along with needing suspension bushes but that's down to the fact it's lowered a lot.
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My MK3 cost me £50.
I've done about 20K miles and it's needed a throttle cable and that was all.
Top mounts and brakes have all been changed along with needing suspension bushes but that's down to the fact it's lowered a lot.
That's not a GTI though is it? Could it be more reliable because of this?
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My MK3 cost me £50.
I've done about 20K miles and it's needed a throttle cable and that was all.
Top mounts and brakes have all been changed along with needing suspension bushes but that's down to the fact it's lowered a lot.
That's not a GTI though is it? Could it be more reliable because of this?
What with me and the previous owner being young and doing a lot of motorway journeys in it?
Probably had it's nuts thrashed off it for about the last 40K I'd imagine. Well serviced though.
I personally just let it warm up before going over 2k and only take it up to 5k as it's pointless revving it anymore as the power just drops. (Yes I know it's a 1.6).
THAT said, you may have a point as although it does look more complicated, it's a pretty damned simple MPi lump, far simpler then the 8v GTI lump so yeah, you could be right.
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you mean it dosent make enough power or go fast enough to actualy stress any of the components.
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you mean it dosent make enough power or go fast enough to actualy stress any of the components.
Well more of the fact it needs stressing to get anywhere.
It's acting pretty lively today, possibly due to the empty car.
In all fairness for a baby 1.6, although it's not quick, it keeps up with the motorway traffic and handles slip roads well, unlike the Micra, Corsas and Fiestas most new drivers have.
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I'll echo what most people are saying, problems with a car are usually down to poor maintenance. My mk4 has been on the island all it's life and came with full service history and a folder full of receipts when I bought it off my mate. It had always had anything replaced when it needed it and I think that's the problem with a lot of owners, they leave things broken for a while which in turn affects other parts.
The only parts I've replaced on mine are service items, general wear and tear items (I bought the car with low mileage so bushes etc were needing sorting) and faults from the factory (window regulator clips) or parts I've upgraded/modified.
I'm not just saying this is a mk4 thing, any car that has been maintained properly will usually be fine. A mate of mine had a mk3 valver for years and it never let him down either :wink:
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Having 1 mk1, 4 mk2's, 3 mk3's and 2 mk4 1.8T's would say speed, luxury and comfort is mk4. My fav car out all of them was my last mk2 all mod cons inc elec roof and door mirrors even heated. Mk1 was rubbish tho!!!