godzilla

iTrader: (1)

Just wondering what the best reviews are or knowedge on either a MK2 Golf GTI or a MK3 Golf GTI?

Which one is the best?

Paulo P

Depends what you want it for. My wife had a mark 2 16 valve and it was great fun to drive but that was written off and she now has a mark 3 16 valve. The standard suspension is shocking on the mark 3 but hers now has konis so it feels like a mark 2.

The mark 3 is a better daily driver but it doesn't handle as well and it isn't as much fun to drive. The mark 3 has electronic fuel injection so it's smoother & more reliable.

kiddie

have never had either, but a clean mk2 16v would get my vote-in black!

rs-tuner

iTrader: (1)

had both and the mk2 gets my vote. but they are old cars now so watch for rust. go for a 16v one a really fast car

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

had a mk 2 16v, awsome cars, still look good now; hold their value better than the mk 3's, just make sure you get a mk 2 with the bog bumpers and bbs alloys

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Mk2 every single time. And don't discount the 8V gti.

fatboy billy

a nice clean mk2 a lot more charcter

Munch

mk3 gti is just lame

James

mk3 vr6 gets my vote!

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

mk3 GTI is frankly just crap. A 1.8/2.0 focus has the same power and more. Mk2 for me every time.

BM08

1.8 zetec as in the Escort GTi and focus is 115bhp??.

The mark3 GTi 16v is a 2.0 with 150bhp and it pisses all over my old GTi, and even the 2.0 duratecs are only 130bhp arent they?


Onto the subject in hand............. i went for a mk3 because its newer, got more mod cons like ABS, air con, discs all round etc, and they are just as nippy as the mk2 as the mk3 has a 2.0 8/16v as opposed to mk2's 1.8.
Ive never drove a mk3 with standard suspension but my mk3 has got a Bilstein sportline kit and it handles like a go kart, also the later mk3s had bigger VR6 brakes up front so there very good as standard, ive never owned a car with such good brakes.

Any other info you want to know fire away.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

But the VW 2.0 8V is 115bhp, and is def one to avoid.

But compare Ford's 1.8 and VW's 1.8 and there's no contest.

Paulo P

That's right the 288mm front brakes are much better than the 280mm ones due to pad contact area My wife's one has also got these because I found the 280mm ones to be shocking on her old VR6. When we sold the VR6 I swapped the parts over to the gti

BM08

good man, they really work well

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

They are 2.0 8v 115bhp aren't they the mk3 GTis?

My focus 1.8 engine out the factory is 113bhp and the 2.0 is 136bhp. The old silvertop units are similar but slightly less power. I thought all mk3s had a 2.0 8v unit?

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

No, there were 16V 2.0s. Miles better than the 2.0 8V

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

ahhh fair enough, that would explain it.