Iv'e often read threads stating that 0-60 time of a GTI 8v in excess of 9 seconds, even as slow as 10 seconds. Me and my son have timed my particular 8v Digifant with a stopwatch and GPS, the quickest we've had is 7.8, the slowest being 8.3, so averages around 8 seconds. Now I know a lot of you will poo-hoo this, especially 16v owners, and I also appreciate this isn't a very scientific way of accurately timing this. However, my sister has gone abroad and left me to look after her Mercedes CLK 230 Kompressor. We did some times in that (under wet conditions) and the best time we got was 9.1, the slowest 9.4. My 8v done at the same time came out at quickest 8.9, slowest 9.3, both times for both cars are slower because of wheelspin/traction in the wet. I then got my neighbour to come down to a strip of road and we nailed them side by side, and they were almost identical to 60. Now the point of this, is that the official 0-60 time for the Merc in most mags is a smidgen under/over 8 seconds, which would seem to prove as best as one can, that the Golf is about equal pace with the Merc to 60. And YES guys i know that would mean a 16v would be quicker. Finally, my car is a standard 1990 8v Digifant with 252,000 miles from an original engine and gearbox. Another point about 0-60's with my limited knowledge, is the weight differential between different models, for instance, my 8v is riding on 205/50 profile tyres, 2 door, everything is manually operated, and I run with no more than £10 worth of petrol. I guess that there are 16v's out there with 5 doors, electric windows, power steering, possibly electric seat etc etc, this would bring a light 8v much closer in performance to a fully specked up 16v, of course the opposite is also true, a fully specked up 8v compared to a lightweight 16v, the margin would be greater. And I can also personally vouch that I have never trashed, smoked, left for dead or anything else by a 16v.
Shaun
