Anyone had a Golf VR6?

[pombstard]

I'm looking at getting one and am just after some hints & tips. All and any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[JonRB]

Why have a Golf VR6 when you can have the hugely superior Corrado VR6?

[iguana]

pombstard said:

I'm looking at getting one and am just after some hints & tips. All and any help greatly appreciated. Cheers

Shite on fuel, handle like wallowy cack as standard, Mk3s rust more than you'd think, head gasket common at 100k, lovely noise.

Hope that helps

[davevag]

Make sure the timing chains and guides have been replaced if it's done above 100k, check for accident damage and check the electrics. Other than this there pretty much bullet proof, it won't suffer from rust if it's been looked after properly but remember most of them are 10yr+ old

[JonRB]

davevag said:

Make sure the timing chains and guides have been replaced if it's done above 100k

Rubbish. They should be replaced when they start to rattle. My Corrado VR6 has done 112k miles and hasn't had its timing chains done yet because it simply doesn't need to be done yet.

[davevag]

JonRB said:

davevag said: Make sure the timing chains and guides have been replaced if it's done above 100k Rubbish. They should be replaced when they start to rattle. My Corrado VR6 has done 112k miles and hasn't had its timing chains done yet because it simply doesn't need to be done yet.

In the interests of the guy who is looking to buy a VR, this is not rubbish at all . It is advisable to have the timing chains and guides replaced under 100k (phone your VW dealer to confirm) if you choose to wait until they rattle then thats your choice.

If they haven't been replaced then you should negotiate a discount with the seller as it is an expensive job

[pombstard]

JonRB said:

Why have a Golf VR6 when you can have the hugely superior Corrado VR6?

Cos you can't get them in Oz - otherwise it was a good point, well made.

As to why get one at all - there's not a lot of sporty choice at the money I've got that has a hatchback - I thought a Mk3 Golf might be OK and a VR6 sounded like an interesting version.

I'll have go in a few and I'll be sure to ask about the timing chains.

Thanks

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I loved mine!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

...and we've had six, plus a Corrado & two V6 4 motions

(so I guess we're biased )

[JonRB]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

...and we've had six

How many of them had standard suspension though?

Last time I drove a Mk3 Golf it handled like a bag of lard on a waterbed.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

JonRB said:

[quote=2 sMoKiN bArReLs] handled like a bag of lard on a waterbed.

...which is OK until it gets warm

[SpaceCowboy]

Got one, love it, though it's got a fair few mods over standard.

I've never driven a standard one, but it's common knowledge that the standard brake/suspension is the first thing that should be changed if it hasn't been done already.

The fuel economy on mine is atrocious, worse than my old RS Turbo which also had a few mods, but the engine noise makes it worthwhile and it cruises really well on longer journeys.

Personally, I wouldn't buy one without FSH, unless I was planning to have the engine rebuilt/replaced, but I'm picky like that.

Look out for rust around the rear arches, sills and sometimes around the rear window at the bottom - water seems to collect there.

BTW this question's already been asked on another topic:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=86&t=243533

[Dan]

I never found the standard suspension to be a real problem. I guess it depends on how you drive and what you use the car for. I'm sure for track days it would have started to annoy me, but I quite liked the fact that you had to set the car up for a corner by getting the suspension loaded before you got to the bend, if you did that it went round a treat, the backend could be controlled by lifting off or not when required. And for normal driving the VR6 had buckets of torque and was great for making the most of overtaking opportunities.

Golf VR6

Cheers Dan

[neil_cardiff]

Dan said:

I never found the standard suspension to be a real problem. I guess it depends on how you drive and what you use the car for. I'm sure for track days it would have started to annoy me, but I quite liked the fact that you had to set the car up for a corner by getting the suspension loaded before you got to the bend, if you did that it went round a treat, the backend could be controlled by lifting off or not when required.

I've got to agree on this front, my 16v does this, and yes, I'll agree that stiffer and lower suspension would improve things, I find that as an all round compromise, the suspension does work very well.

Indeed at brunters, where its pretty bumpy, and on some pretty nasty B roads, it works in my favour.

I certainly had no problems with my cornering when I went to VMax - although as Iguana did mention, it did look like I had Tourag stlye ride height

Just tupennys worth

[neil_cardiff]

SpaceCowboy said:

Look out for rust around the rear window at the bottom - water seems to collect there.

Starting to happen on mine - at 115k mind you, but starting... Other than that I can't see any other rust.

[SpaceCowboy]

Mine's now on 115K, albeit the engine's just hit 13,000.

My rear window's fine, but on the past few washes I've noticed a couple of bubbles inside the bottom of the rear arches that are beginning to annoy me, even though you can't really see them unless you're on your knees!

I'm planning to take it to Premier before moving this summer to get it sorted. The trouble is that whilst it's in, I might find myself tempted to go for a Vento front-end as well.

I really fancy a debadged Vento front-end and polished Audi TT Competition alloys, though I'm sure a lot of dubbers would consider getting rid of the BBS's to be sacrilege.

M-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t!

[neil_cardiff]

SpaceCowboy said:

Mine's now on 115K, albeit the engine's just hit 13,000. My rear window's fine, but on the past few washes I've noticed a couple of bubbles inside the bottom of the rear arches that are beginning to annoy me, even though you can't really see them unless you're on your knees! I'm planning to take it to Premier before moving this summer to get it sorted. The trouble is that whilst it's in, I might find myself tempted to go for a Vento front-end as well. I really fancy a debadged Vento front-end and polished Audi TT Competition alloys, though I'm sure a lot of dubbers would consider getting rid of the BBS's to be sacrilege. M-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been resisting the lure of Comp TT's, but having seen them on a similar Mk3 as mine, they look too big... Get the BBS's refurbed and they'll look a million dollars again.

And as for the Vento front end, I'm just not going to say anything...

Keep it standard and you can stay honest and hold your hand on your heart to say you aint a Maxy P chav

[neil_cardiff]

SpaceCowboy said:

Mine's now on 115K, albeit the engine's just hit 13,000. My rear window's fine, but on the past few washes I've noticed a couple of bubbles inside the bottom of the rear arches that are beginning to annoy me, even though you can't really see them unless you're on your knees! I'm planning to take it to Premier before moving this summer to get it sorted. The trouble is that whilst it's in, I might find myself tempted to go for a Vento front-end as well. I really fancy a debadged Vento front-end and polished Audi TT Competition alloys, though I'm sure a lot of dubbers would consider getting rid of the BBS's to be sacrilege. M-u-s-t r-e-s-i-s-t!

However if you do go for Comps, can I have your BBS's please (pretty please)

[SpaceCowboy]

A Maxy P chav!

(enters Max & Paddy mode) How dare you!

It's not as if I'm thinking about some sh!tty bodykit or neons.

I'll let you know if I do decide to change the wheels.

[neil_cardiff]

SpaceCowboy said:

A Maxy P chav! (enters Max & Paddy mode) How dare you! It's not as if I'm thinking about some sh!tty bodykit or neons. I'll let you know if I do decide to change the wheels.

Didn't quite mean it so harshly