Mk3 Golf 1.4

[Alu_ATC]

Hi all,

Looking to buy a second hand Mk3 Golf, around about '96 model, will be 3 doors and CL trim. Now, im not too worried about the reserved looks or the build quality, im part of the VW Bus scene, so know enough about the cars weak spots and troubles so far what I want to know is;

How is it to drive???

Thing is, I know the Mk3 is not the best of the golfs, infact, its the slowest, most sluggish out of them all, but its got a lot better safety features over the Mk2, and also doesnt have too much age behind it. Mk4 is out of my price range, and I'm not really interested in the old Polo's.

Cant go for anything but a 1.4 due to insurance too, so is it as underpowered as im guessing it will be? Heavy sterring that bad? Fuel economy? Wear and tear? Or am I being too negative?

Any replys appriciated

 

[Alu_ATC]

Thanks for the reply.

I know engine size isnt the only thing that affects the insurance group, but on the Mk3 Golf, unfortuantly it is true. The lowest spec 1.6 is insurance group 7, and the lowest spec 1.8 is 8!

The only trims that dont push the car up in insurance cost is the CL, L or Ryder. So to be honest, there isnt a lot of option.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Hmmm, ok, now its starting to worry me - but thats why I asked, so thanks for the posts.

Right, an alternative then? I'd rather have a VW, and I am a car fan, so I know what I do and dont like!

Thanks again for any help, and the lower the insurance the better. Price range is about £1000 - £1500

 

[Alu_ATC]

Gotta love VW's.

Lol - you really dont like them do you? I know Mk3's are heavy, slow and boring to drive cars, but not all VW's are that bad. Although admittedly, the Mk3 was a bad patch.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Thanks for all the posts guys, and MNuTz, Bill101, 172gus for the tips.

Im not interested in the Ryder at all, but just though Id say what spec trims there are in the group 6 range. To be honest, the difference between a group 6 and a group 8 is probably too much of a leap, but I will check it out. Power sterring would be a must as well, so dont worry.

Unfortuantly, the driver spec trim is pretty high, but despite that, I think I really should opt for a 1.6, as the 1.4 is now sounding abysmall. But a group 7 1.6 is a CL edition, which Ive been told by [TW]Fox is pretty bad. Then it gets more complciated.

Hmmm, well, Im really unsure now, but what alternatives can you suggest for similar money - like I said before though, try to keep it VW. Im not interested in anything Citroen, Seat, Pug... airbags is also quite important.

 

[Alu_ATC]

I hate rubbish VW's and over-rated VW's

Lol - but that could be said for anything, 'I hate rubbish Ford's and over-rated Fords, I hate rubbish movies and over-rated movies, I hate rubbish resturants and over-rated restuarants' and so forth...

Your not going to be a fan of something that is rubbish or over-rated, but I guess your refering to the Mk3, you feel its rubbish and over rated - which is fair enough, thats why I made this thread, so I could have some input on the Mk3 Golf, so thank you for your posts - but there are many cars that are over-rated and / or rubbish.

I dont mind the Polo, infact, if I had a higher budget, I would prefer a Polo, but unfortuantly I dont.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Explained it several times as well - VW's entire marketing campaign was built on it in the late 90's....

VW's marketing in the 50's, 60's & early 70's for the win!

Anyway, If I look at a 1.6, will that be a much better purchase, and what trim? Is just L or GL better?

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Sorry to ressurect, but wanted to know if anyone could answer my question above rather than me make another post about it.

 

[Alu_ATC]

GL is much better, same insurance group too. You want a 95+ model where there were lots of improvements, easy way of checking is if the side repeaters are oval='95+.
Dont buy a red one, especially the cherry red ones, the paint turns to pink really easily. Dragon green or purple are the desireable colours.

Thanks for the reply, aiming for a Dragon Green or Dark Blue. I am going to be getting a 95+ anyway, power steering & 5 gears are important to me.

One last question though, what are the spec differences?

e.g. between CL and L, or CL and GL

Im not too sure tbh, if you could send me to a website that'd be good, or if you can explain. Its just that I have seen some CL's with optional CD player, sunroof etc... is this just a CL specced up, or are there other differences I am not aware of. Also, do you know what was the stanard equippment for some specs?

yea thats the one ive got, althought its no rocket, it will go if you give some beans.

to the op, maybe you could look into an MPI astra 1.4? cheap to buy, run and fix. 0-60 ~11seconds which should be better than a golf?

*edit* oh old thread :| but if you buy a 1.6 you dont get cheap road tax!

Buying a 1.6 does put the price up in lots of ways, but having been given all the advice I have, I think I will steer well clear of the 1.4.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Thanks for the posts guys.

I just looked on VW though and apparently L spec is lower than CL, it then goes GL etc...

See this link, click me

Anyone know the spec difference?

 

[Alu_ATC]

ooo, your looking at a 1.6CL !

apparently theres 2 different ones... theres the single point and multi point injection so im led to believe ?!?!!

single point i think has something like 75bhp
multi point has something around 95bhp ???



done abit more digging



guess im just fortunate that mine is one of the 100bhp 1.6's with a higher compression ratio

theres something to look out for i guess !

Thanks for that! Just the info I wanted! I think Im going to look for a CL thats been specced up, because a lot of the CL's ive looked at have either been fairly bare, or been given the 'options treatment' by the onwers when they bought from VW. Ill definatly look out for the 100bhp engine

My 1.4 mk3 is slow, doesnt do very good mpg however its reliable and comfortable, i wouldnt advise buying one, especially in red as it will turn pink before you know it.

Thats why Im going for a 1.6 (will be a bit better) and not in red . I just need a reliable, comfortable car for 2 yrs, so this should do fine.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Don't most of the Mk3 Golfs have awful cloth seats

Most of them have cloth seats, yup, the model I will be buying will probably have cloth seats.

windup windows in the back

Depends on the model and the options, but some do.

and no aircon or cruise?

I wont be having aircon, thats for sure, not with my budget, and havnt owned a car with cruise control, so not too worried, I dont do big motorway miles.

Hmmm, odd choice for comfort but each to their own

What my budget can afford to be honest, seats arnt going to be leather, its not going to have air con. I dont mind if the are cloth as long as they are comfy cloth, hehe.

 

[Alu_ATC]

Of course its occured to me, I'm hardly a speak freak I drive a 2 litre Mondeo.

In the real world there is a world of difference between 1.4 Polo's that take 11 seconds to hit 60 and 1.8T Bora's which take 9 seconds. 9 seconds is acceptable and 0-60 is only half the story - the power delivery style of the Bora will make it more than acceptable for general driving, overtaking, etc etc.

I just dislike cars that are needlessly underpowered. Golfs with GTi badges and 114bhp, 1.8 Golfs with 75bhp, for example, are needlessly underpowered and people trying desperately to convince themselves they are adaquete are kidding themselves.

What size engine you have has nothing to do with how much you talk mate (sorry, just had to pick up on that) 'speak freak'. But seriously, you could just rev the nuts off a 2.0 and break the speed limit needlessly, the size engine doesnt refelct you as a driver.

Anyway, Im not looking for speed as its been said, but I understand what you are saying about power delivery. Im looking for a 95 - 98 model anyway, 1.6 with either 75bhp or 100bhp (as was said on the previous page).

 

[Alu_ATC]

Nice car you have there fRostiE, did you buy it 2nd hand, and how much did it cost you (if you dont mind me asking).

Im looking for the same model you have, except probably a 3 door. Got any advice for what I should look out for when buying a Mk3?

 

[Alu_ATC]

When buying a car there's more to look for than speed, when i got my first car it was purely to look for something with build quality and if i could afford the insurance, i'm guessing these are the same terms Alu_ATC has at the moment.

Pretty much yes, want a reliable car thats fairly comfortable and will be able to use doing under 10k a year.

 

[Alu_ATC]

As i originally said, the 1.4 is ok, its a good A to B car. Theres loads of room inside, the seats are very comfortable, even when sitting in traffic jams on the motorway in blistering heat. My cars never overheated, its had a few smallish niggles when we first had it 4 years ago and the only major thing thats needed doing is the gearbox.

No its not got cruise control or air con, get one with a sunroof instead! As for cruise control, a luxury you really dont need.

Just go out find a 1.4 or 1.6 that you like, just have a look at the places that have been mentioned for problems and make sure its got power steering. Hope you find a car you like!

Thanks for the help, think I have all the info I need now! Time to start looking. Going to look in autotrader, as well as inside the VW Scene, but anyone know of anywhere else where there are good classifieds?

 

[Alu_ATC]

Just an update on this - the difference between 1.4's and 1.8's was very little indeed, and the spec difference also made less than £60 difference.

I am now looking for a 1.6 or 1.8, 3 door, with a nice high spec!

 

[Alu_ATC]

High spec Mk3 Golf? Good luck - best spec you'll find is VR6 Highline and even that only has leather and AC I don't think you'll be finding things like cruise etc.

High spec - yes, higher than basic CL.

You can get everythig a VR6 Highline has in a 1.8, just dpends on the options the customer chose.

Higher spec doesnt always mean luxury! Im talking about making sure its all electic windows, sunroof etc... Like I said - dont need cruise control, but out of the 5 possible cars Ive found so far, 2 have Cruise control.