Mk2 Golf GTI's...
Discussion
Are they all they are cracked up to be?
I've been looking at picking up a MK2 Golf GTI (8v or 16v) as I fancy a bit of a classic hot hatch, and all I've ever heard from their owners are how brilliant they are. I know they are all 20ish years old now and most have been ruined but are they really as good as people make out? I know it won't be that fast though I am coming from a 1.8 Focus...
I'm just unsure whether I'd be making a mistake buying one now?
Cheers for any input...
I've been looking at picking up a MK2 Golf GTI (8v or 16v) as I fancy a bit of a classic hot hatch, and all I've ever heard from their owners are how brilliant they are. I know they are all 20ish years old now and most have been ruined but are they really as good as people make out? I know it won't be that fast though I am coming from a 1.8 Focus...
I'm just unsure whether I'd be making a mistake buying one now?
Cheers for any input...
Diabolik said:
Are they all they are cracked up to be?
I've been looking at picking up a MK2 Golf GTI (8v or 16v) as I fancy a bit of a classic hot hatch, and all I've ever heard from their owners are how brilliant they are. I know they are all 20ish years old now and most have been ruined but are they really as good as people make out? I know it won't be that fast though I am coming from a 1.8 Focus...
I'm just unsure whether I'd be making a mistake buying one now?
Cheers for any input...
If your Focus is a 1.8 bog standard Zetec, an 8v Golf will feel much more nippy in a straight line. The 16v even more so. Much better power to weight ratio and shorter gearing in the GTI's.I've been looking at picking up a MK2 Golf GTI (8v or 16v) as I fancy a bit of a classic hot hatch, and all I've ever heard from their owners are how brilliant they are. I know they are all 20ish years old now and most have been ruined but are they really as good as people make out? I know it won't be that fast though I am coming from a 1.8 Focus...
I'm just unsure whether I'd be making a mistake buying one now?
Cheers for any input...
i own 2 of em , theyre good old cars if you can find a solid un abused one , although if your expecting something amazing you might be disapointed as modern cars are just as fast or better
theyre a bit revvy on the motorway too and not as much deadening as modern stuff , might be a downside to you?
spares are getting pricey for some bits too , alot of stuff obselete too
theyre a bit revvy on the motorway too and not as much deadening as modern stuff , might be a downside to you?
spares are getting pricey for some bits too , alot of stuff obselete too
Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I meant my Focus would make the Golf feel slow, quite the opposite - just poorly worded.
Won't be doing loads of miles as I'm at uni so sound deadening etc is a non-issue for me, heck I was looking at MX-5's...
Won't be doing loads of miles as I'm at uni so sound deadening etc is a non-issue for me, heck I was looking at MX-5's...
Edited by Diabolik on Tuesday 28th December 16:52
Edited by Diabolik on Tuesday 28th December 16:53
Diabolik said:
Sorry, didn't meant to sound like I meant my Focus would make the Golf feel slow, quite the opposite - just poorly worded.
I see what you meant. Both GTI's will feel noticeably quicker than your Focus. I'd say your Focus will probably have slightly better brakes and much better handling.All you can do is try and find a decent well cared for Golf, have a drive and see if you like it or you don't. I'm sure it wont be the end of your world if you don't like them and look for something else!
Having owned an 8v, I wouldn't say the 8v would actually be that much faster than a Focus 1.8, it'll be a little quicker to 60, but you have to remember that they were only 112 bhp and thats when new, they may have lost a couple of ponies by now, and not always the lightest things about considering their age (some later ones were quoted as a fair bit over 1000 kg). The Golf handles better, but there's not a huge amount of grip, so in terms of cross country pace I doubt there would be much in it. As said, the Focus will have better brakes.
However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
pbirkett said:
Having owned an 8v, I wouldn't say the 8v would actually be that much faster than a Focus 1.8, it'll be a little quicker to 60, but you have to remember that they were only 112 bhp and thats when new, they may have lost a couple of ponies by now, and not always the lightest things about considering their age (some later ones were quoted as a fair bit over 1000 kg). The Golf handles better, but there's not a huge amount of grip, so in terms of cross country pace I doubt there would be much in it. As said, the Focus will have better brakes.
However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
An 8v is 1,000kgs and 112bhp. Power to weight of 112 per ton.However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
Focus 1.8 Zetec is 1,250kgs (mk1) and 115bhp. Power to weight of 92 per ton.
The Golf is much lower geared and will feel much quicker. I've driven both extensively.
The Golf shouldn't be down on power either. I had a 26 year old Scirocco tested. Should've been 112bhp. Tested at 115...
Fun cars just make sure you find a good one. Engines are strong and will do the miles if looked after, and when in correct state of tune are pretty quick, although many new superminis have got enough poke to leave you behind, but fun and handling cannot be measured by 0-60 times.
Other plus point is that every sort of repair/modification/tuning/engine swap will have been documented on the net somewhere, so good car to learn mechanics on.
Just make sure you have a good poke around underneath as rotten ones are becoming more and more common (rusty drain holes, cills, wiper blanks etc) and watch out for that scene tax as well, there are some optimistic sellers out there!
Other plus point is that every sort of repair/modification/tuning/engine swap will have been documented on the net somewhere, so good car to learn mechanics on.
Just make sure you have a good poke around underneath as rotten ones are becoming more and more common (rusty drain holes, cills, wiper blanks etc) and watch out for that scene tax as well, there are some optimistic sellers out there!
pbirkett said:
A focus is 1250 kg 
Never realised they were THAT heavy!
To be fair, the Golf didn't actually feel slow - it was only when you had a drag race with something like a mk4 TDI and got outdragged by it did you realise the power of it wasn't all that great.
Yep, you've no chance against a modern diesel unless it's from a standing start. Even then, it's just a case of when and not if you get passed. Never realised they were THAT heavy!To be fair, the Golf didn't actually feel slow - it was only when you had a drag race with something like a mk4 TDI and got outdragged by it did you realise the power of it wasn't all that great.
Driven many. Liked precisely 1. And that was a 16V 3door, Oak Green with Konis and PAS. They feel heavy, and cumbersome and the clutch, steering and accelerator linkages are all a hard workout. I'd argue that whilst a Xr3i/RS Turbo is a bit more flimsy it's a better propostion day to day (albeit with a worse image)
Best 80's Hot Hatch was the 1.9GTi
Best 80's Hot Hatch was the 1.9GTi
Still good fun if you can find a genuine well cared for one.
Get as late as possible model, H or J reg (even some K regs out there) with PAS, should also come with alloys, c/locking maybe elec windows.
I last had one in about 1998' and then purely for nostalgia bought another one just recently, a very clean fsh 16v 3 door, genuine example had not been messed about with. Was fun to have but having got used to modern / quicker cars was a bit of a let down; still has a superb gearchange, crisp handling and a lovely engine, but even though it was a really good example it did feel old, and was not good enough to make me want to use it every day.
Look out for crunchy gear syncro's when cold, rust around front and rear screen, and be sure its not been clocked (at least once!)
Get as late as possible model, H or J reg (even some K regs out there) with PAS, should also come with alloys, c/locking maybe elec windows.
I last had one in about 1998' and then purely for nostalgia bought another one just recently, a very clean fsh 16v 3 door, genuine example had not been messed about with. Was fun to have but having got used to modern / quicker cars was a bit of a let down; still has a superb gearchange, crisp handling and a lovely engine, but even though it was a really good example it did feel old, and was not good enough to make me want to use it every day.
Look out for crunchy gear syncro's when cold, rust around front and rear screen, and be sure its not been clocked (at least once!)
MJK 24 said:
pbirkett said:
A focus is 1250 kg Never realised they were THAT heavy!
To be fair, the Golf didn't actually feel slow - it was only when you had a drag race with something like a mk4 TDI and got outdragged by it did you realise the power of it wasn't all that great.
Yep, you've no chance against a modern diesel unless it's from a standing start. Even then, it's just a case of when and not if you get passed. Never realised they were THAT heavy!To be fair, the Golf didn't actually feel slow - it was only when you had a drag race with something like a mk4 TDI and got outdragged by it did you realise the power of it wasn't all that great.
Or even a modern car for that matter. Its all about owning a classic, a motoring icon!
pbirkett said:
Having owned an 8v, I wouldn't say the 8v would actually be that much faster than a Focus 1.8, it'll be a little quicker to 60, but you have to remember that they were only 112 bhp and thats when new, they may have lost a couple of ponies by now, and not always the lightest things about considering their age (some later ones were quoted as a fair bit over 1000 kg). The Golf handles better, but there's not a huge amount of grip, so in terms of cross country pace I doubt there would be much in it. As said, the Focus will have better brakes.
However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
This man speaks the truth. I've had 4 golf gti mk2s, 3 8v, 1 16v quickest was a 158hp 2l 8v with everything on it you could get at the time. I also had a s reg 1.8 zetec focus when theyr were new as a co car. The Focus would give the golfs, even the tuned one, a pretty hard time! And was definitely quicker than a typical tired 8v. Remember these are 20 odd years old now, a 16v that hasnt had recent work will be making probably 130hp, and due to aerodynamics, once up at 90 leptons or so, they are pretty 'slow'. However, the Golf looks, feels, and is a more special car with much more of a sense of occasion.
Even the 16v isn't a ball of fire (a mate had one), slightly quicker for sure, but honestly, by modern standards, not very impressive. However, it isn't just about pace with these cars.
Make sure you get a good one though, as a tired example will prove to be somewhat unreliable (speaking from experience!).
Having said all that, in my 23 years of driving, I have had at least one golf mk2 GTI for 17 years of that!So there must be something about them!
Get as late a one as you can, GET POWER STEERING on it, they were awful wihtout in the late 80's when we were all used to no PAS! Nowadays, They are shockingly heavy steering! ! And reckon on £200- £300 a year to keep them running on top of regualr engine oil changes etc. Why? They are old, and some bits are getting rarer for them now, (8V gearboxes that are in good chape are like hens teeth!)
Get some nice H and R suspension on it, dont go for wheels bigger than 15 inch, and a nice remus or jetex stainless exhaust really suit them! But respect it a bit, they are gettign quite fragile now at the age they are.
As for the focus, well you cannot go too far wrong on them tbh. The fisrt gen focus was one of the finest "handling" cars built (compare it to a Mk4 golf of the same vintage!!) and set the benchmark for the current hot hatch brigade.
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