bhp

[dom]

MK3 2.0 8v 113bhp 0-60 9.9 seconds, top speed 123mph. MK4 2.0 8v 113bhp 0-60 10.2 seconds, top speed 121mph.

MK3 2.0 16v 148bhp 0-60 8.1 seconds, top speed 134mph. MK4 1.8t 150bhp 0-60 8.2 seconds, top speed 134mph

MK3 2.8 vr6 12v 172bhp 0-60 7.6 seconds, top speed 139mph. MK4 1.8t 180bhp 0-60 7.6 seconds, top speed 138mph

MK3 2.9 vr6 12v 188bhp 0-60 7.1 seconds, top speed 146mph. MK4 2.8 vr6 24v 4motion 201bhp 0-60 6.9 seconds, top speed 146mph.

I'm not really seeing where the whole MK3 being slow or being a boat thing comes from, as in my opinion, with like for like bhp figures, the MK4 is no faster.

Neither are fantastic performance cars, they are both heavy and don't handle well out of the box. However the Mk4 has much more scope for tuning than any of the MK3s.

For example; my 1.8T is running somewhere in the region of 215bhp & 250lb/ft and all it has taken is little more than a remap and exhaust. To see that kind of power gain from any of the Mk3 engines will cost you big money, Glen chucked a significant amount of money at his ABF and didn't break the 200bhp barrier.

[Seanl]

And the Mk3 never had the 2.9 VR either. 

[bob23]

And the Mk3 never had the 2.9 VR either. 

Sorry, thought that they put it in the syncro, must have been misinformed.

[leigh_harty]

And the Mk3 never had the 2.9 VR either. 

Sorry, thought that they put it in the syncro, must have been misinformed.

You was not 

[Seanl]

My bad! I forgot about that one, sorry!!!  :embarassed:

[Gavv8]

The 16v is more powerful and is the mk3 of choice, get over to the mk3 section of the forum and get some pictures up and don't listen to the haters, the 8v is a perfectly capable GTi and no more prone to rust than many other cars of this age.

Not very capable when a bog standard 1.6 corolla is faster...

But i don't want a bog standard 1.6 corolla and i don't want to go really really fast because thats how you lose your licence...i assume you have one of those.
[/quote]

My comment was regarding the perfectly capable Gti...you could buy a top of the range 1.6 if spec is an issue...most 1.6 / 1.8's of any make would keep up with it....I've driven nothing but mk3's for the last 7 years...I'm a fan to say the least but it just doesn't drive like a Gti...
I have a clean full licence for the last 13 years and just because you have a powerful car does t mean you drive around everywhere like a lunatic...
[/quote]
This argument has been done to death and i've had a full clean licence for over 22 years now and i do sometimes drive like a lunatic, if you don't enjoy a bit of spirited driving then the golf GTi is not for you and i do count the mk3 8v in this, once you slap on some decent shocks it handles pretty well and no one outside of the 'Golf' universe has any clue what the difference is between an 8v/16v/vr6 so to 99.9% of road users i have the lowest, coolest and fastest golf GTi on the planet..

[tdi_blu]

I had all 3 of the mk3s 16v,VR and 8v in that order all good in there own different ways my little 8v anniversary was not the fastest out the 3 but it was still fun to drive plus it turned heads where ever it went and it was 110% relaible still miss the old gurl...

[danny_p]

8v will be ok for now its just a run around as my toy is a discovery 300 v8 thats running 4.1L and around 350bhp can wheelspin all 4 wheels

you like boats then,      had a few discoverys and allways found them way to wobbley and i'm to good at killing the drivetrain,   gimmie a 90 with a bmw 6 cyl tho 

[hobnobbob]

3 of my mates who are VW mechanics say the best engine they would choose from is the 8v's because they are solid and easy to work on. i could agree too!

aye the rest have more BHP but sometimes its more than just figures. i will admit though that the 1.8t is the most tunable and best sounding of the lot.
put that engine in the mk2/3 and its a massive winner! 

[Ant1981]

3 of my mates who are VW mechanics say the best engine they would choose from is the 8v's because they are solid and easy to work on. i could agree too!

aye the rest have more BHP but sometimes its more than just figures. i will admit though that the 1.8t is the most tunable and best sounding of the lot.
put that engine in the mk2/3 and its a massive winner! 

Just because some spanner monkey says it's easy to work on, doesn't make it better. All are solid, so some may be a challenge to the brain for some to work on, but that's progress.