GTI 16v Anniversary on PH/Autotrader

[Shady Pioneer]

Red...common as muck by the looks of this thread!

So is changing your mind...

[Shady Pioneer]

I definitely won't be getting a red one! My first car was a Seat Ibiza 1.6 Sport in red and I HATED it!

It stuck out like a sore thumb and I kept asking myself 'why the f**k did I buy a bright red car?' But more to the point it kept breaking down so I was more than happy to get rid of it. But now I have a gutless polo 1.4 I miss the torquey-ness of that 1.6 SR engine  cos with that car I could at least overtake slower cars and didn't need to think fourteen miles ahead when driving on the motorway!

Rant over, back on-topic: I had another look last night on autotrader/pistonheads/ebay/gumtree and remembered how good those 5-spoke GTI wheels look i.e. these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/golf-gti-16v-alloys-wheels-/150597478513?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item23104f2871#ht_500wt_1156

So now the shortlist is: 5dr, Black or Dark Blue - Anniversary model or I'll buy some BBS RS722s
                                3 or 5 door, Silver or Grey or Black - Either with the 5 spoke wheels or I'll buy some

I don't really think the 3 door looks much better than the 5 door - it's just I'd prefer the practicality of a 5 door - but with the 5 spoke wheels I think the 3 door works really well and in silver or grey. Can anyone tell me the correct name for those wheels? I just found them by searching 'golf gti wheels' on ebay, expecting to have to try a few more things before I found some.

Also I'm less bothered about whether it's an 8v or a 16v model until I drive an 8v and decide whether its too slow 

I had a 16v and an 8v, I like them both too be honest. The 16v was nice at the top end, that's a given, but you don't really get to open it up untll you're on bigger roads outside of main public areas.

The 8v is nicer in the lower end, so it's swings and roundabouts.

5dr practicality it great, but 3dr looks are better. My opinion.  As for red, I like the idea of my car standing out from the masses of black, silver and other dull colours that seem so common on many cars on the road these days. We need a bit of colour.

[Jack3559]

Red...common as muck by the looks of this thread!

 

[Jack4688]

I had a 16v and an 8v, I like them both too be honest. The 16v was nice at the top end, that's a given, but you don't really get to open it up untll you're on bigger roads outside of main public areas.

The 8v is nicer in the lower end, so it's swings and roundabouts.

5dr practicality it great, but 3dr looks are better. My opinion.  As for red, I like the idea of my car standing out from the masses of black, silver and other dull colours that seem so common on many cars on the road these days. We need a bit of colour.

My Ibiza was an 8v and although I couldn't believe a VAG built in 2001 had TWO VALVES PER CYLINDER (I think they may still make that engine too) I did suspect that was what gave it it's good torque characteristics - it had 100bhp and 107 lb/ft and I've always thought you're doing well to get close to a lb/ft for every bhp you have. Having said that the 1.4 FSI engine in my Polo is supposed to have 86 bhp and 96 lb/ft, I guess its the lack of power is what makes it agonising to drive on the motorway and on good fast A roads  Around town it isn't too bad, I just can't do all my parking maneuvers without touching the throttle like I could in the Ibiza 

[Shady Pioneer]

You need to go drive them both, see which one you prefer. 

[Jack4688]

You need to go drive them both, see which one you prefer. 

Anyone in West Yorkshire want to help me out with that? I won't crash I promise 

Actually I was thinking of getting a remap, regardless of whether I get a 8v or 16v. Is it worth it on a naturally aspirated engine? A company near me called Remap Science claims to be able to remap your car specifically to your needs i.e. more torque but not bothered about getting much more power...

[Shady Pioneer]

Not worth it on either of them, you'd be better off just making sure you service the engine properly and maintain it well.

[dom]

Not worth it on either of them, you'd be better off just making sure you service the engine properly and maintain it well.

Yup, n/a engines gain very little peak power from a remap, it may smooth the power curve and eliminate any flat spots but really not worth it overall. Unless of course you've done a lot of engine work and are running race spec cams etc.

[Jack4688]

I won't bother spending £300 on a remap then! Suppose its not easily justifiable to do it to car that might cost three times the cost of the remap itself 

I suppose a Golf GTI will be more powerful and more torquey than most of the cars I've owned before it so either way I'd be pleased 

If I try one and not the other (8v or 16v) then I won't know what I'm missing!

[Jack3559]

I may be wrong but £300 might see you a fast road cam or a new exhaust system, that should see you some gains.

Or possibly a diff if you're lucky... or some 888s?

All those things would be better money for value than a map on an NA.