I just want to say that I think mk3 GTIs are excellent.
I love mine over and above the mk2 I had because I've grown up and out of the loud exhaust / speeding fine / points inducing mentality, and I think the mk3 has done exactly the same.
I loved my mk2 when I had it and everyone used to comment on how great it was. But refined? NO F00KIN WAY pal!! My mk3 has got less power to weight I'll admit. But it doesn't feel slow compared to a lot of other junk I've driven. It's more solid than either the mk1 or mk2 and I reckon the thing is built better too. For example, the grade of plastics used in the interior, the painting process, the panel gaps are smaller and so on.
In fact, loads of the mods I did to my mk2 have already been done on the mk3. Like the beesting aerial, weighted gearchange and lay flat wiper. And mine came out from teh factory with heated leather, air con and a sunroof! How many cars even these days have that??!
Driving the car is great, cos it's quiet and really stable at motorway speeds. The exhaust isn't drilling a hole in your eardrums so you can listen to the stereo. The overall impression I get from owning it is that it's the best car I could have got for the money. And even if I spent the same on a mk2 (which I was considering when I got it) it would have still been a car designed in about 1982.
So there you go. I'm not expecting any positive replies from anyone or any negatives. I'm just saying.
