Why the negativity for MK3 Golfs - enlighten me :)

[jeremybarker]

He must have the 8v then.

[robz]

Well then dh, don't start on me
I travelled in comfort though

[emery1990]

Why do people always say about looks of the mk3 and the comforts, its suspose to be a gti thats suspose to be mental, comfort and mental dont go together.

So annoying when people dont get the point that the mk3 was a let down in a performance way etc, it may be a comfortable car. Its like saying this, if after the mk2 gti they made the new gti like the caddy van now of today, ive got one and there comfy its got aircon and everything electric, would you still say the same thing ? Probably

[robz]

The mk2 wasn't mental, unless you've just upgraded from a 1 litre corsa that is

[jeremybarker]

Comfort and mental don't go together - disagree with this,

Lotus Carlton, Audi RS4, BMW M5 etc etc all looney tunes and more than comfortable.

I wouldn't really describe a hot hatch as mental, quick yes, even my previous Integrale although had massive amounts of grip  it wasn't ballistic like the TVR's were.

Let's face it, even if my MK2 8v still has 115 horses that it left the factory with it could never be described as hot, maybe they should be called midly warm hatches, it does drive and handle well for a 20 yr old car though 

At least the new generation of hot hatches Golf, Cupra etc seem to be back on the right track.

[Diamond Hell]

At least the new generation of hot hatches Golf, Cupra etc seem to be back on the right track.

No, I don't think they are actually - they're fat, heavy and bloated.

These cars are stuffed full of stuff which doesn't add to the driving experience, it adds to the 'lifestyle' experience, which I really couldn't give a f*ck about.

I've been in the passenger seat of Hurdy's Golf for a lap of the 'ring (and IIRC) he rode shotgun in mine, too.  The experiences were poles apart.  The experience in the Golf2 was slower (no sh!t) but far more involved and challenging to get the best out of the car.  That's what makes the experience so intense and involving. 

Knowing there's a bunch of electronics working hard for you underneath really doesn't do it for me - I want responsibility for my actions directly and without interferance from 'sysems'.

[jeremybarker]

Hot hatches are now running 0-60 times in the 6 seconds so for what it's worth that's still pretty quick.

I agree about most of them being a bit dull in the handling dept, trouble is their all compromised so they appeal to the broadest spectrum of people.

I had a quick spin in a Clio 197 and felt the same about this, too much understeer, not enough grunt. Best fwd car I've driven was an Integra Type R I once had as a company car, never got bored of that car.

[Diamond Hell]

Hot hatches are now running 0-60 times in the 6 seconds so for what it's worth that's still pretty quick

Yes, they absolutely are quick.  Hurdy's G5 laps at around a minute faster than my little shed, but at the end of the day track days are about 'the experience' not times (shocker, I know) and I think you'll have a far greater depth of experience with an older car.

[richw911]

Hot hatches are now running 0-60 times in the 6 seconds so for what it's worth that's still pretty quick

Yes, they absolutely are quick.  Hurdy's G5 laps at around a minute faster than my little shed, but at the end of the day track days are about 'the experience' not times (shocker, I know) and I think you'll have a far greater depth of experience with an older car.

I have to agree with DH older cars with no electronics or safety features are an awesome experience as they have to be 'driven'   

[Peej1981]

I agree that the new hot hatches these days dont have the same driving experiance as the older ones and this is down to all the new safety features which A) weighs the car down more B) are there to protect and save lives C) making the car cost more because of this. I have owned and driven a lot of very refined fast cars and as much as i enjoyed owning them i dont think one of them has got close to my mk2 for fun in the driving experiance, i have had 2 civic type r's and they are great fun to drive and i would say that honda got it spot on with this car but the reason for this was because they went back to basic's in making it, lite, fast and compact giving a great drving experiance.