MK2 GTi - Advice

[Neaty]

^^^ 

well maybe I am planning on settling down  .........just need to find a bird first! 

To be honest I just bought it coz it was going cheap, but the 5 doors have grown on me, quite like it! Maybe I have gone all sensible after leaving my teen years behind me!

[Uruk Hai]

I had a three door first and now I've got a five door, its nice not having to reach back so far to grab the seatbelt and I can get in first even when there are rear passengers and it cost less than the equivalent 3 door, so all you three door lovers keep on ignoring the 5 doors and they'll be cheaper for those of us who don't care about 2 extra doors because having owned both 3 and 5 door I would never let five doors stop me buying a nice one 

[Godzilla]

Ive found my 5 door to be really handy. Mates from the gym can all jump in with ease. I own 2 big German Shepherds , when the back seat is down they can hop in from the back doors, this saves there huge feet using my big bumper as a step into the boot 
Cant really comment on the 16v being more reliable than the 8v as ive not long had my 16v and this is the first Golf ive owned!! I do know that my 16v picks up very well over 4000rpm so over taking is a breeze and town driving (under 4000rpm) is good on petrol  .

[Neaty]

yea its good for letting people in and out when picking them up and dropping them off, comes in quite handy as I am usually mr taxi driver so saves me having to get out!

[JMallows]

Excellent stuff! Now all i have to do is find a nice one!! Seems tough at the moment! 

[Uruk Hai]

They are out there but don't be rushed, depending on your budget you should be able to find what your looking for just remember these are old cars now and wont be perfect. Try and find a compromise somewhere between what you would like and what your willing to pay to get it 

[Dizzie]

I find the digi 8v's are smoother though the revs than the k-jet ones. I've had both and I have to say I prefered the k-jet.

reliability isn't really an issue if it's been looked after.

as for the number of valves. I would have to say 16. the 8v is great for bombing round town, but once you start using the whole rev range the 16v really comes into it's own. I'll leave it at that.

[Uruk Hai]

I've had both 8 and 16v and I know whats cheaper for parts and it aint the 16's 

[mookie]

I'm looking for the same thing since my 16v got bummed by a Nissan  Unfortunately the sheer lack of 16v's at an affordable price and within reasonable range means I'm considering getting an 8v instead.

I can tell it's an old issue, but forgive my relative ignorance on the differences between 8 and 16v. After bombing about in my 16v, both through rush hour traffic, country roads, motorways, and everything in between: what would be the main difference I would notice if I went to 8v instead? I must admit to being a little unsure about this whole debate due to a lack of experience and knowledge.

[Uruk Hai]

I hope this doesn't start the whole 8 versus 16 valve thing again but I've had a 16 v and have an 8 v now and the 16 v is faster its as simple as that but for me the more important issue is condition. If I was buying one now I would look at 8 and 16 V's and buy the one that was in the best condition overall regardless of how many valves it had, the difference in performance would not be enough to make me go for just 16 valvers, the point is these cars are at least 14 years old so if you find a really nice one don't be put off by how many cams it has