Author Topic: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)  (Read 19861 times)

Offline Khare

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,627
  • The bear that khares
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #20 on: 17 November 2010, 15:30 »
Khare, you can't compare a carbed mk2 to a injection mk3 :wink:

MK3 was a let down in terms of "GTI" simple as that. European safety laws saw to that.

I agree, but in terms of living with it it's the same. In terms of engine the mk3 will obviously be more efficient and usable.

Offline The Mighty Elvi

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,449
  • I'm better than you today.
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #21 on: 17 November 2010, 15:40 »
I had the use of a MK3 GTI for month, got to say it was sh!te, very sh!te.

It got me from a-b, but that was about the limit of its reason for being. It terms of GTi'ness The MK2, depite being older, is light years ahead.

Each to their own I suppose.  If you can't handle the MK2, then stick with what you've got I say.

P.S.

If a MK3 GTi is your first car then on the plus side you've now experienced the true meaning of the word: disappointment.


Offline Diamond Hell

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,997
  • Opinions я Us
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #22 on: 17 November 2010, 15:42 »
The mk3 was considered to soft to wear the gti badge.

Don't really need to say any more.  It should have been badged GLi

Also, some people say that the mk3 is fat and ugly

That's because it is.  Strip one down - the door bars alone must weight more than 10kg, then there's a huge metal superstructure under the dash, too.  It looks like VW were caught on the hop by the demands for safety so they just nailed reinforcement in, rather than designing things stronger and lighter.  I suspect if you get to work and strip out the tat it'd be a good car, as the basic shell's probably stiffer and not a lot heavier, but you'd need to do so much to get it to that point, whereas the G2 is good straight outta the box and even better when you add ABF fairydust to it.

Andres the 2.0 won't be any more efficient than the 1.8 digi, to be honest, especially not dragging all the tat inside it around, either.

The steel used by VW around this period also seems to have been rubbish - T4 and G3s rust at a rate only previously seen in Fords (not the Alfa super-rate though).  Through most of the G2 production the steel seems to have been exceptionally high quality, as per the Audi 100 and others of that era.

The only quality the G3 might have as time rolls on is that not that many were actually made due to poor demand and more limited time production than the previous generation Golfs.  Thing is there aren't many Austin Allegros left, but it doesn't mean they've got any better over the years, they've just become 'cherished' by certain bozos, probably for very sentimental reasons.
Just because you're offended doesn't make you right.

Holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight for 2-10 people? PM me.

Offline Wayne

  • Sir Postalot
  • *
  • Posts: 32,051
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #23 on: 17 November 2010, 15:54 »
^^you owned one wayne or sorry driven one??

Driven 2 plus a couple of V5's, 4mo to me seemed very flat might be because it is so heavy.



That's because it is.  Strip one down - the door bars alone must weight more than 10kg, then there's a huge metal superstructure under the dash, too.  It looks like VW were caught on the hop by the demands for safety so they just nailed reinforcement in, rather than designing things stronger and lighter.  I suspect if you get to work and strip out the tat it'd be a good car, as the basic shell's probably stiffer and not a lot heavier, but you'd need to do so much to get it to that point, whereas the G2 is good straight outta the box and even better when you add ABF fairydust to it.


Yes a mk2 is much better but people seem to forget that they are getting harder and harder to find plus they are getting expensive.

Offline Phil1980

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 549
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #24 on: 17 November 2010, 16:00 »
VW definately lost their way with the GTI's on the mk3.  Mk5 was the next car they produced worthy of the GTI badge, except the mk4 anniversary.
MK5 2005 GTI, BLACK, 3 DR, 18" MONZA II, XENONS

Offline VR6_Wherry

  • Forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 4,940
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #25 on: 17 November 2010, 16:04 »
I still think the MK3 Golf VR6 should have been labelled as a GTi instead.

Offline Khare

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,627
  • The bear that khares
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #26 on: 17 November 2010, 16:24 »
I agree with DH about a well sorted mk3 being better then a mk2, as it will be stiffer overall. Also, as far as I know vw used thinner steel for the mk3 shell to save money and because the shells were galvanized, so better protection. They rust easily because of the thinner shell though.

I agreed that  of the box the mk2 will be better.

Offline The Mighty Elvi

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,449
  • I'm better than you today.
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #27 on: 17 November 2010, 16:38 »
I agree with DH about a well sorted mk3 being better then a mk2...


I'm sorry, I missed that bit.  Where did he say that.  :rolleyes:


Offline Diamond Hell

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,997
  • Opinions я Us
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #28 on: 17 November 2010, 16:52 »
I didn't.

I'd be interested to get hold of a VR6 Syncro and track-prep it to see what it was like against mine, but weight is the enemy for handling, so it'd need a lot of work.
Just because you're offended doesn't make you right.

Holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight for 2-10 people? PM me.

Offline AudiA8Quattro

  • Forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 4,776
Re: Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)
« Reply #29 on: 17 November 2010, 17:07 »
Mk3 gti 16v was ok. 8v was a bit slow, but to be honest the 8v mk2 isn't great.
I like the mk3, its more comfortable to drive in old age.
Once the suspension is sorted  :grin:
FOR DIY GUIDES GO TO <br>www.volkswagenaudi.co.uk<br/>BRAKES, SUSPENSION, CV JOINTS