p.s. why doe the media slate the mk3?? i'm sick of hearing ohhh the mk1 is the best, oh no a 16v mk2 is better etc...
When the MK3 GTI was first launched (before they put out the 16v and vr6) it was more sluggish/softer than the MK2s.. and to make things worse it came out of the gate as the worst performing GTI in the history of the marque. VWs quoted 0-60 time is over 10 seconds?!
The 16v could almost have brought some of that respect back.. but even with the extra displacement and power it was still (only just mind you!) second best off the line performance wise to the MK2 16v (8.5 secs vs 8.. altho the MK3s top speed is higher). Thats why the VR6 became 'the MK3 to have' as it outperformed _all_ previous golfs. But for many the insurance premiums scared them off.
Thing is.. the problem isn't entirely VWs fault.. the market at the time had switched to being heavily anti hot hatch. so they had to mature the model a bit. Plus new EU safety sh!t upped the weight.
Fact is.. I personally think the MK3 16v is a 'slept on' car. Outside the MK2 16v and the MK3 vr6 it matches and outperforms everything up to the second/revamped generation of Mk4 turbo's.
look at the performance chart JV once made here..
http://www.golfgti.co.uk/viewfeature_content.asp?featureID=11(btw I know I've left out models like G60s etc.. as they aren't commonplace.)
