Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)

[jeremybarker]

Now bear with me on this one, i'm new new Golfs, had my MK2 for 3 months now but when I began looking for a Golf I would have been just as happy with a nice MK3 GTI as I would a MK2, the MK2 just came up first, was close by and in the colour I wanted.

Why do peeps seem to have a bit of downer on the old MK3, surely they can't be that bad. I'm sure there not that much slower than respective MK2 or that the handling is much worse.

I'll be keeping my MK2 but i have a serious want for a MK3 as well and want to look for a reasonable VR6 at some point next year.

Feel free to enlighten me while i'm lighting the touch paper and retiring to a safe distance. 

[snifferdog]

Oh no, dont do this!! 

The mk3 was considered to soft to wear the gti badge. The suspension and ride were less focused than in a mk2 and despite the slightly increased power, the mk3 8v was considered a disapointment as a gti due to the increased weight (safety features - boring).
 The mk3 gti was aimed at a different market to the mk2 as well, it was seen as more of an executive compact than a sporty hatchback, which is what the term 'gti' was originally perceived to mean.

 Also, some people say that the mk3 is fat and ugly, but that is down to personal preferance as I prefer the looks of the mk3. 

Lock thread, I cant take it any more.

[A7 UFO]

the mk3 8v GTi, whilst not a bad car, was an embarrassment to those that had previously worn the GTi badge. 

[jeremybarker]

Surely it only got worse with the MK4 n/a GTI, that was even more of a lardy arse before they put a Turbo on it. My nans Corsa could get to 60 quicker than a n/a Mk4 GTI (with her driving too)  

I would have said the MK2 was less focussed and softer than the MK1 it preceeded but still a great car. Surely with a few subtle tweaks to the suspension it would remove the softness.

I still think the MK3 looks the nuts and maybe it just needs a few more years to mature. Plus that VR6 still has one of the best engine notes that's come out of an engine.

[snifferdog]

I have noticed an increasingly positive attitude towards the mk3 over the 8 years that Ive owned them. Like you say, probably just needs a few  more years. The mk4 2.0 is generally regarded as the point when VW really had started takin the p!ss and had to do something about it (i.e turbo).

[jeremybarker]

I don't dislike the MK4 either in fact there isn't a Golf I don't think looks great, makes me wonder why it took me so long to get one in the first place 

There was a MK4 2.8 V6 4 motion on Autotrader, 60k and full leather for £3000, that's a hell of a lot of car for the money. Probably not sensible for every day useage with the price of petrol but as a weekend toy 

[snifferdog]

I like all the golfs too! Now is the best time to buy em as well as the used car market is dead!

[Wayne]

Mk1 and mk2 Golf GTI are great cars and heading for classic status, VW lost the way with the mk3 and mk4, mk5 is loads better still not sure on the mk6.

[VR6_Wherry]

This will explain everything...

Mk2

Mk3

I was amazingly disapointed when i went to buy my 2.0 8v GTi, thankfully the VR6 has restored some faith back 

[jeremybarker]

Now i definatley want a mk3 

Mind you with the weight of that VR6 reckon it might be a bit closer