GTI 2.0 16v or 8v????

[Rubber_Dub]

Looking for a golf mk3 gti at the moment but can't work out whether a 2.0 8v is better or a 16v. Can anyone shed any light on this, pros and cons etc. Obviously performance is 35bhp different but that aside, is 8v stronger engine??

Any help gladly appreciated.......many thanks

[monkeyalan]

not sure if the 8v is any stronger/more reliable, less to go wrong i suppose. 8v has more "useful" round town city driving torque apparently. I've not driven a 16v so couldn't really give a comparison. 16v's are much rarer tho so good luck finding a nice one if you decide on that. 

[Dom Mk3]

being more useful around town because of the torque is a myth, the 16v has more torque across the whole rev range, just lots more above 3.5~4k...

get the valver, don't be cheap 

[carl]

ive had 2 8vs they are a good car for around town but like most people on
here say they are not a true gti ,most family cars will keep up with the 8v , i got fed up with people saying this so got myself a 16v ,i just wish i had 1 sooner ,they are brilliant to drive and they have so much more power and they are just as reliable as the 8v and
you dont see many about ,if you are like me and like the power all through the revs go for the 16v you will not be dissapointed.

[Neaty]

I have got an 8 valve mark 3 and a 16valve mark 2....put it this way i wish i got the mark 3 in 16valve as its disapointing compared to my mark 2.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Get a 16v, 8v isn't a gti 

[mowgli]

Get a 16v, 8v isn't a gti

 

Could really do with a sticky for this, maybe a flowchart to go with it??  Depends what you want it for really; 8v is fine if you rarely go above 4000rpm, if you do or like to race people off the lights get the 16v.  Better still, get a 306 GTi6...

If you like the idea of effortless pulling ability (from an RPM point of view) go for the VR6.

They've all got their advantages and disadvantages, one will suit you more than the others.