Mk3 GTi

[RedRobin]

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As far as upholding and earning the right to carry the GTI badge, the Mk3 and 4's were generally thought of as relatively unworthy. However, the Mk5 restored the reputation of the GTI brand and is the basis of the Mk6. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we can't form a conclusive opinion about the Mk7 GTI yet.

[berg]

The mk3 GTI and the mk4 GTI are the reasons I defected to their parent brand and I started buying SEATs instead. IMO the ibiza GTI/GTI16v were better than the mk3s and the Leon cupra/cupraR were better than the mk4s

]
agree, leon cupra r was far better than the VW Mk 4

[Deako]

I had a Mk3 VR6 Highline and it was a sublime car. Not as good as the 2x Mk2 VR conversions I owned/converted.

I've had a few Mk2 with ABF/9a 2.0 16v conversions and a Mk1 with a 2.0 ABF. Great engine in the right car, especially tunes to 180bhp!! :)

[Mk5 GTian]

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As far as upholding and earning the right to carry the GTI badge, the Mk3 and 4's were generally thought of as relatively unworthy. However, the Mk5 restored the reputation of the GTI brand and is the basis of the Mk6. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we can't form a conclusive opinion about the Mk7 GTI yet.

Totally agree Robin. I did 115k in a mk2 GTi 16V over 7 years. I only sold it in 2005 as it was on 213,000 and I was going to University so wanted something newer and less likely to go tits up half-way through my course.

I bought a 2000 V plate 1.8T with 50K for £6,500. I have to say, it was possibly one of the worst decisions of my life! I could have kept the money in the bank, and used it for spares and repairs on the Mk2! I bet I wouldn't have spent anywhere near the amount I lost on depreciation of the Mk 4 'GTi'! And it was sh1t!

[JackG]

I had a Mk3 VR6 Highline and it was a sublime car. Not as good as the 2x Mk2 VR conversions I owned/converted.

I've had a few Mk2 with ABF/9a 2.0 16v conversions and a Mk1 with a 2.0 ABF. Great engine in the right car, especially tunes to 180bhp!! :)

I've got a friend who is building a mk2 vr6,  what are they like? 

[Deako]

I had a Mk3 VR6 Highline and it was a sublime car. Not as good as the 2x Mk2 VR conversions I owned/converted.

I've had a few Mk2 with ABF/9a 2.0 16v conversions and a Mk1 with a 2.0 ABF. Great engine in the right car, especially tunes to 180bhp!! :)

I've got a friend who is building a mk2 vr6,  what are they like? 

Awesome. A friend still owns the last one I built. Would love to buy it back.

[tony_danza]

A MKIII with a 1.8/2.0T would be a cracking and cheap(ish) track car.

[rich83]

I've seen a mega mk3 fire it's way around crashel coombe. Straight cut gearbox, went like the clappers. :-)

[phil1975]

Seems harsh to class it as the worst hot hatch of all time!.......  I think it might have been fair to say biggest disappointment of all time after the mk1 and mk2.

[Mk5 GTian]

Seems harsh to class it as the worst hot hatch of all time!.......  I think it might have been fair to say biggest disappointment of all time after the mk1 and mk2.

I don't think it should actually be called a hot hatch, thinking about it. With 115 bhp, it's barely luke-warm.

[GrayMK5GTI]

The Mk4 1.8T GTi was poor for a GTi as well. I did 40,000 miles in one. It was a nice, luxury Golf with cracking seats and interior, but was never worthy of the GTi badge. For me, there have only been four (soon to be five) generations of real GTi.

I've driven the 150 and the 180bhp version of these and in all honesty they're not bad, you get recaros etc and they handle OK. Not a patch on the mk5 though 

The non turbo mk4 GTI's were 

[Mk5 GTian]

The Mk4 1.8T GTi was poor for a GTi as well. I did 40,000 miles in one. It was a nice, luxury Golf with cracking seats and interior, but was never worthy of the GTi badge. For me, there have only been four (soon to be five) generations of real GTi.

I've driven the 150 and the 180bhp version of these and in all honesty they're not bad, you get recaros etc and they handle OK. Not a patch on the mk5 though 

The non turbo mk4 GTI's were 

They're not bad, but not good. For a hot hatch, they are only mediocre.

[Baz300]

I had a 1.8 20v mk4 gti (120bhp) and it was shockingly slow. Very reliable though

[Deako]

I had a 1.8 20v mk4 gti (120bhp) and it was shockingly slow. Very reliable though

Unfortunately, it weighed more than a small asteroid. With that power it was indeed sheeeit.

The best Mk4 were the later 1.8t with 180ps. Used in the Annoversary and then standard in late spec models, as pointed out above. Although the lump was a bit heavier, the 150ps GT TDI was great in the Mk4 as well.

[Jussa]

The Mk4 1.8T GTi was poor for a GTi as well. I did 40,000 miles in one. It was a nice, luxury Golf with cracking seats and interior, but was never worthy of the GTi badge. For me, there have only been four (soon to be five) generations of real GTi.

I've driven the 150 and the 180bhp version of these and in all honesty they're not bad, you get recaros etc and they handle OK. Not a patch on the mk5 though 

The non turbo mk4 GTI's were 

I agree, at least ( on the Mk4 GTi) when you ordered the Recaro full leather option it was like sitting among a herd of cattle, not like the MK5 with the plastic bolsters and horrendous plastic film on the real leather