VR6 or 2.0 GTi 16v? Help me decide.

[Tim in Holland]

I'm about to move to Holland and will be buying a car out there, a Mk3 golf, due to the high prices of second hand vehicles and the reasonable price of them when compared to other vehicles.

Now bear with me as I describe what I want to do with it:

Firstly it will be my only car, but I'll be cycling to work and just using it for longer trips, shopping, the odd holiday etc. I have a motorbike for getting my big thrills with (on road and track).

Now what I will be doing with this car is towing my bike to the Nurburgring for weekend trips (approx 4-500 mile round trip in total from Haarlem). But no worries, the bike and trailer are pretty light. However what I also want is a car that will be reasonably fun around the 'Ring in the wet/damp/very cold when it's unsuitale for the bike. As it's for the wet ultimate power isn't too much of an issue, but I may also do the odd dry lap 

So here's my questions;
1. Which would be better for this, a VR6 or GTi 2.0 16v?

2. Which is better as standard handling wise etc?

I'll be happy to upgrade discs and pads, and possibly springs/dampers and ARBs in the near future before much track use, but not sure how extreme to go if I still want to tow a light bike and trailer.

3. Is there much difference in fuel consumption when just driven gently?

4. And when being thrashed?

5. Which type is mechanically more reliable?

6. Anything else I should bear in mind when choosing, years to go for etc..?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tim

[Marcus G60]

  If was me ,i'd be looking at the 2L 16v

for one its not as heavy so will handle better

its more reliable and is something you can work on yourself !

dosen't use as much fuel as a 2.8L v6 

alot cheaper to buy (i've seen them in the uk go for £600 to anywhere up £2000 for a mint one)

[azzrobz]

As above really, go for the valver, much better all rounder 

[boneybradley]

16valve if you really want to track it..... they handle better due to the vr6 having a heavy engine fitted upfront

[Tim in Holland]

16v it is then, easy choice!

[pro-biotic]

dont discount the other option untill you have driven it... a lot of this is personal opinion/preference.

[DazVR6]

Get the vr.........if just for the noise + if you buy and obd2 model, mid 95 onwards you'll have about 180 bhp compared to the 150bhp of the valver aswell as alot more torque.

[Tim in Holland]

You're all now making what was a clear cut choice harder, noise and power or handling?

I doubt I'll get to test drive both on track though!

[pro-biotic]

Get the vr.........if just for the noise + if you buy and obd2 model, mid 95 onwards you'll have about 180 bhp compared to the 150bhp of the valver aswell as alot more torque.

the noise - thats why i said not to discount untill you have driven and fallen for the noise.... 4 pots suck haha

[oliver07]

like the rest say my vr6 1997 sounds just great loads more power less stress on the engine due to the extra cc i put the group buy coilovers on it with a magnex system removed all the tell tail badges now its just the bad boy  :grin:rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr