MY MK3 GTI BEATEN BY CORSA 1.2 TWINPORT

[badboygolf]

iv got a golf mk3 1994 GTI 8V..90k milege..put new gear box..new clutch..new oil filter..twin exhaust with silencer taken out..pipercross induction kit..just the back lowered..17"rims. I raced my mate who has got a 1.2 vauxhall corsa twinport '06 plate. we raced on a long stretch first and he was in front of me to start off..but i just could not catch up..we was doin about 90mph. then we raced a second time and it was the exact same story. he wasnt gettin away but i could not catch up either. then lata we raced off red lights and he just about beat me. i was givin it all i had. was revvin upto 5000-6000rpm before switchin. i am dissapointed. any tips on how to improve my cars performance? some people suggested performance spark plugs could make a big difference..maybe changing the fuel filter? anything else?

thanks

[Pete Taylor]

Clean throttle body, change spark plugs, run a bottle of fuel treatment, change fuel filter

[freakydeakie]

To be honest mate, you were lucky to keep up with it!!. I also recently got an 8V and am totally disappointed with the performance, absloute CRAP!!.
But its a nice car, so I just don't go trying to burn of smaller cars that I know will eat me!!
Wish I had gone for the 16V now.

[EvilScotsman]

Check the brakes arent binding - even slightly sticking calipers take all the zap out of the acceleration in higher gears and eats fuel....


although i have the same car and its only 115bhp standard - i guess the corsa is about 100 - 105 not sure tho and maybe slightly lighter. sh!t innit? lol im getting a VR6 this summer  

[Pete Taylor]

Definately glad I went for the 16v!! Eats saxos and fiesta zetec or STs for breakfast

[neil_1821]

have a read on parkers.co.uk says that even the 8v gti is very underpowered and the only descent model is the 16v.

I know it sucks to get beaten by a corsa but there is little you can do to beat it unless you fancy chucking some serious money at it, you have to rmeeber engines now are getting better and better, these mk3's can be about 12 years old.

Just think of the look on his face on that day when you do beat him

[heinz]

big wheels will not help acceleration at all put the 15s back on will pull a lot better unless you had a tiny side wall on 17s so you had the same rolling radius as the 15s 

[Bazzer]

Racing on the roads? Yeah that's a GREAT idea. 

[A7 UFO]

the 8v GTi mk3 should never have been called a GTi.  Far too heavy and underpowered.  Don't bother throwing money trying to make it faster...better to buy either a 16v or VR.

[Pete Taylor]

I really want to drive an 8v to see the difference now!