gti advice

[daiO]

Hi

I?m interested in buying a second car to use regularly as something faster and more exciting to my main car (1.4 corsa). The mark 2 golf gti is my favourite hot hatch ever.

Because of insurance costs I?ll probably have to consider the 8v as an alterative to the 16v. I have a few questions:

1)   Is there any comparable difference in the way the cars handle?
2)   What are the differences in the trim levels of these cars?
3)   How do the engine characteristics differ?
4)   What are the insurance groups, BHP, and 0-60/0-100 times of both cars?

Thanks, David

[Ciaran]

i have a 16v and it needs to be reved more to reach it's peak.
im only 20 and its my first car 0 no claims it's group 15 and im paying ?847 tpft in my own name

hope this helps!

[tinman]

Hi

I?m interested in buying a second car to use regularly as something faster and more exciting to my main car (1.4 corsa). The mark 2 golf gti is my favourite hot hatch ever.

Because of insurance costs I?ll probably have to consider the 8v as an alterative to the 16v. I have a few questions:

1)???Is there any comparable difference in the way the cars handle?
2)???What are the differences in the trim levels of these cars?
3)???How do the engine characteristics differ?
4)???What are the insurance groups, BHP, and 0-60/0-100 times of both cars?

Thanks, David

beware, i am bias.

1. yes, one is highly strung, the other is a ferry.
2. i think it was electric windows, although they removed them on 16v near the end, only to reintroduce them. other than that, they are the same.
3. one of them has a decent engine, the other has an 8v engine
4. one of them has 139bhp, the other 115. one does 0-100, the other doesn't. 0-60 times are very similar, but its the 60+ times that one excels.

If you only get an 8v though, its not the end of the world. You instantly get credibility. Which is more than you get for most cars

Regards,
Tin

[StephenEggo]

Totally Agree with Ciaran the 16v does need a bit of a thrashing to get the power out of it. My friend has a lot of experiance with these cars and has done for around 15 years since he had a mark 2 8V. He thinks the 8V is alround better engine as it doesn't need a tharshing. The 16v's torque range is much higher up the revs than the 8v which does mean that you may have to shift down a gear to gain some speed, but when you hear the engine scream at 7000 rpm the 16v gives you some thrill.
The 8V 0-60 time is 8.3s with 112 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 114 lb/ft at 3100 rpm.
The 16V 0-60 time is 7.9s with 139 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 124 lb/ft at 4600 rpm.

[tinman]

Not sure where you got the torque info from.

I posted a message many moons ago that gave exact figures for torque between the 8v and 16v engines.

Not even i knew this at the time - but the 16v develops more torque across the range than the 8v, and even at something as low as 2,800 its developing more torque than the 8v can develop in total at any point on the rev range.

So this idea that the 8v has more torque - or even in the same league - is misleading. And was probably made up by a self deluding 8v owner.

Regards,
Tin

[Blue MK2]

8v cheap insurance.  they are zippy but slow top end. I know because i drive one
The handling is phat! (on all mk1 and mk2 gti's)

try get a J reg as they are the last ones made with no mods and lots of history.

[Gambit]

in short

a 16v will behave the same as an 8v up until 5k rpm

the 8v will start to die whereas the 16v starts to fly

16v's have 10mm lower suspension and stiffer springs than the 8v

thats about the height of it, apart from the grin factor of the 16v when its on song

[GavG60]

Have to agree, whilst both 8v and 17vs are wicked fun and a big smile behind the wheel, when you get over 4500rpm in a 16v, its big grin time.......lovwe it!

[Veedubgt18v]

W**nkers! to be honest drive both see what you prefer, some people swear 8v some 16v!

Whatever you get it will be more fun than a 1.4 corsa!

try www. matey-matey.com

for a buying guide

[golfvr6]

Tinman is spot on this time ( for a change   )
The 16v is a far superior car to the 8v.
The 16v engine develops more torque all the way up the rev range, that is FACT.