the 8v golf GTI, the lukewarm hatch

[VR6_Wherry]

I just find them practical, there not a race car... you can go Danny Monday low and they can look really nice. Thing with the VeeDubs are that they are interchangable and not too costly.. bang a 1.8T in and then a Vento front end..you've got options and that's what i like about all golfs!

[tweed]

I just find them practical, there not a race car... you can go Danny Monday low and they can look really nice. Thing with the VeeDubs are that they are interchangable and not too costly.. bang a 1.8T in and then a Vento front end..you've got options and that's what i like about all golfs!

Spot on!
I don't think they even handle that well. The jap cars win hands down for performance, but they have no style.
Me and my mates say Jap for go, vw for show.

I mean lets be honest here guys the Japanese are cleaver, look at the Nissan GTR it's faster than Lamborghini and Ferrari. But the VAG styling is better than the rest.

[Dan_GTi8v]

Japs are fine if you like plastic interiors and  ridiculous bodykits. I prefer comfort and style

[tweed]

Japs are fine if you like plastic interiors and  ridiculous bodykits. I prefer comfort and style

That's what I mean A evo 5 interior is no better than a saxo lol
All vw's win for build quality and attention to detail.

[tdi_blu]

Germans still lead the way best range of cars out there styling and performance.

[tweed]

Germans still lead the way best range of cars out there styling and performance.

I am VW through and through.
But for £ for £ jap performance will be better.

For £60,000 you can get the Nissan GTR. Find a vag that will beat that around track for £60,000. Not even a Audi R8 can and there £110,000.

[tdi_blu]

If I had 60k burning a hole in my pocket I would buy a Porsche 997 turbo or as you mentioned a Audi R8 ok your nissan is a few seconds quicker than the 997 round a track agreed but would rather a porsche over a nissan any day if im honest..

[VW BUSH]

Mk3 Golf was panned by an ill informed bunch of twits, shame most people repeat what Top gear or the sun say Verbatim.
I have had enough cars from all over to know a good car and the Mk3 is one of VW's best models.
Apart from being a bit rusty in later life you cant fault them.
The 8v is a rock solid engine with good balanced figures, and in the right hands is more than capable of holding its own amongst is peers.
You can argue all night about VR's, Valvers and the 8v, but if you have a tiny thingy none of them will be the extension you require.

I will go so far as to say that the Mk3 is the best Golf up to the Mk5, and ive had enough Mk1/2 to qualify that imo, Mk4's look good but I am reliably informed to save for a Mk5 as my next golf.

[Gavv8]

All golfs up to the mk5 have always been compared to the original mk1 which was from another time in automotive terms, if you compare the number of solid looking mk3's to it's competitors you'll be hard pushed to find more than a handful of decent examples whereas i seem to pass at least one tidy looking mk3 gti/vr every day and usually quite a few.
The mk3 was designed to be a logical step from the mk2 which had hardly any real safety features or equipment, so when the mk3 turned up with electric everything and airbags etc it was bound to be heavier and chunkier than the mk2 but yet again it was compared to the mk1 which was unfair.
The mk3 gti in all it's forms has always been a quality product with a good image and i'm going to stick my neck out here and say that i read a lot of posts about mechanical woes from 16V/VR6 owners but precious few from 8V owners.

[VW BUSH]

All golfs up to the mk5 have always been compared to the original mk1 which was from another time in automotive terms, if you compare the number of solid looking mk3's to it's competitors you'll be hard pushed to find more than a handful of decent examples whereas i seem to pass at least one tidy looking mk3 gti/vr every day and usually quite a few.
The mk3 was designed to be a logical step from the mk2 which had hardly any real safety features or equipment, so when the mk3 turned up with electric everything and airbags etc it was bound to be heavier and chunkier than the mk2 but yet again it was compared to the mk1 which was unfair.
The mk3 gti in all it's forms has always been a quality product with a good image and i'm going to stick my neck out here and say that i read a lot of posts about mechanical woes from 16V/VR6 owners but precious few from 8V owners.

I would say that 16v and VR'S get spanked on a more regular basis thus need more work.
Also have more moving parts.
most of this generation of engines are pretty solid though.