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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: sellers on 15 March 2006, 18:59

Title: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: sellers on 15 March 2006, 18:59
hi guys, iv decided to now get a mk3 16v, just got a few questions??

1. what sort of mpg do they get?
2. whats the 0 to 60 time?
3. whats best to look out for when buying one?
4. do they all come with ABS?


cheers tom
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 March 2006, 19:01
1. High 20's urban, mid to high 30's motorway.
2. About 8 seconds.
3. Check guide at top of mk3 section.
4. Yes.
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 March 2006, 19:03
They are very under rated motors, not really much slower than a mk2 16v to be honest.
I would budget an extra 300 quid to get it lowered, 20mm drop makes a huge difference on mk3 16v/vr6, no more sailing  :laugh: but still a very smooth ride.
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: [han] on 15 March 2006, 19:20
 :shocked: you're aboard a "sinkin ship" darl!  haha you know im kiddin! Good luck with it!
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: carl on 15 March 2006, 19:48
my car does 30mpg around town,
and 38mpg on a run,
get the suspention sorted and you will love it,
just make sure the engine is good as they are a little expensive to fix,
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/carljames/PICT0425.jpg)
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: LGTI on 15 March 2006, 21:32
What do you mean by making sure the engine is good? Are there any common faults with regards to the engines?
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: BigDaveC on 15 March 2006, 21:36
16v engines are expensive to fix
8v is a solid well proven engine.
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: sellers on 15 March 2006, 21:42
how can u tell between a 16v and an 8v?? to save me ringing up loadsa ppl who cant be bothered puttin it on thier add?
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: BigDaveC on 15 March 2006, 21:45
I don't think you can actually. The most obvious things are the 16v badge and engines are different. Visually, they look the same ! I don' think they make a 4 door 16V . Parkers.co.uk might be useful :nerd:
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: MrDan on 15 March 2006, 22:15
prietty sure all 16Vs have the four finger manifold under the bonnet looking at you, whereas the 8V looks like its Circa 1975

Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 March 2006, 22:58
16v engines are expensive to fix
8v is a solid well proven engine.

The 16v is JUST as proven a unit as the 8v  :smiley:
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 15 March 2006, 23:01
The 16v engine looks mostly like this, but has a common fuel rail instead of the k-jet system.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v137/samsmith2000/stuff/mk216v.jpg)
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: carl on 16 March 2006, 00:02
What do you mean by making sure the engine is good? Are there any common faults with regards to the engines?
what i ment was look out for thrashed examples
and make sure they have lots of service history
then you should be ok
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: GLC GTI on 16 March 2006, 10:31
I don' think they make a 4 door 16V .
:shocked:My car doesn't exist then, how did I get to work? What was I cleaning yesterday? And why I'm I being such a knob? Oh yeah I'm Welsh! :laugh:
Title: Re: decided on a mk3 16v
Post by: Overseer on 16 March 2006, 11:21
16v engines are expensive to fix
8v is a solid well proven engine.

The 16v is JUST as proven a unit as the 8v  :smiley:

indeed...  expensive repairs compared to 8v is rubbish..

and visually outside they are kind of similar (see below) and yeah there is a 4 door 16v as poster before shows..  a mate of mine used to have one too.  3 Doors are actually rarer and desirablility between 3/4 door is debatable.  also i think 4 door valvers are very common in dragon green for some reason.

(so ignore any thing BigDaveC said about valvers before....)


- 16v has obviously a much bigger engine under the bonnet with 16V in big letters on it. 8v looks like half the engine is missing..

- the 16v (and vr6) are already lower than the 8v gti stock.. but as mr '6 said.. additional lowering may suit you..

- the rear of the car will have a red 16v badge under the golf gti badge

- the grille _may_ have a red 16v badge.. some people add the gti badge too. mine came without the red one and i paid a fiver for it at a stealership

-  the V5C _will_ list "golf gti 16v" not "golf gti" for valver.

- the rev counter red lines not at 5000 (8v) but at 7200 in a valver.

- as with the vr6 the 16v comes with ABS and that EDL anti-slip system that stops ya wheelspinning when pulling off (its not very good on loose ground though so be careful stomping).. its active under 25 mph. i assume this was to try and tame the beast.. but i still skid pulling away on slippy roads sometimes..

my advice.. as already stated.. look for good history, servicing etc etc.. and if you're patient you may be able to find a spec'd up one with leather, air-con, sunoof  etc (like i've got  :cool:)


For me the car comes into is own on the motorway (as a GTI should).. so if you're going to test drive one try to get it on an open road to get a feel.