Mk3 Golf VR6 - any good????

[Madman Of The People]

CAR, April 1994. I have this issue up in my attic. If anyone is interested, I can dig it out and post some of the more embarrassing comments.

 

Yes please.

 

 

 

"Thank goodness everything in life isn't as unreliable as our Volkswagen."

 

We'd expected great things of the Golf VR6, but persistent problems spoiled our enjoyment. In short, the car was a lemon.

 

Look, we all know cars go wrong. they're immensely complex things assembled and designed by people who are only human. Even though Volkswagen has built up a reputation for making some of the most infallible machines you can buy, a few niggles in our long-term Golf VR6 were only to be expected. But a sizeable number of our Golf's problems were far more than niggles - and there were far too many of them. So we've chosen a strong word: the car was a lemon.

 

We were stranded at the roadside after just 300 miles. A host of parts rattled, came adrift or broke, while other simply felt frail. With a bare 300 miles on the odometer, the gear lever fell floppy, denying us any choice of gears.

 

(Soon afterwards, the side of the car was sideswiped by a lorry and VW UK didn't have the needed parts in stock. The accident may have also disturbed the front alignment, as the front tyres had to be replaced and the alignment corrected at 18,000 miles.)

 

The major suspension fault became rapidly clear to all who drove the VR6. It's damping was queasy and uncontrolled in a way no other fast Golf has suffered before. Undulating motorways set it floating, while lumpy backroads had it badly discombobulated. Once this motion was established, clean cornering became tricky and unsatisfying.

 

(Also: the steering column juddered under low speed cornering, the engine produced excessive heat during summer and air con was not available, not even as an option. Driver's door was sagging at 5,000 miles, repaired and sagging again at 10,000 miles. By 18,000 miles, CAR we're still complaining about poor dampers, worn tyres, interior rattles and a sunroof switch which had fallen off. At 21,000 miles, a misting headlamp was replaced and a rear damper failed at 26,000 miles. Soon afterwards, the Golf was stolen (no immobiliser) and stripped of it's BBS alloy wheels. At 30,000 miles, numerous rattles were fixed, headlamps realigned and another sunroof switch fitted. At 36,000 miles the car developed an engine stutter, a rear seat bet needed replacing and the glovebox lid had broken. the new one rattled. By the time it was returned to Volkswagen, the cabin was well worn and still rattling.)

[Pete-M]

CAR went back a few years later, tracked down the infamous "Lemon" VR6 and tried it again.

 

Funnily enough, they liked it....

[dollywobbler]

Perhaps VW said "we won't let you have any of our cars if you're going to be that rude about them!"

 

I suspect part of the problem is that VW fell victim to their own reputation. The Golf MkII was not as good as the hype to the honest, so the slightly flabby MkIII never really stood a chance. S'pose it didn't have to try too hard when Ford were failing with the Mk5 Escort, Rover was demonstrating the art of the dissolving head gasket and Vauxhall was off the boil with the elderly Mk2 and bland Mk3 Astra. It's like car manufacturers just couldn't be arsed in the early nineties.

[Betaboy2.0]

Well, many thanks all for your input on this one. It has been a real help in the decision making process for my mate.

 

In true Shiteist tradition, he read what you all had to say, inwardly digested it, slept on it - then bought a P-plate 92k mile VR6 anyway!

 

Collecting it Friday - and I'll be driving it back!

 

Hey ho - what can possibly go wrong!

[M'coli]

Rover was demonstrating the art of the dissolving head gasket

Not in the early 90s they weren't, that only came later with the larger variants of the K-series. The 1400 in the early 200s and Metros did not, I seem to recall from the period, suffer from HGF to the extent they did in later cars.

[Rocket88]

You'll have company, I've just bought a 2.8 4motion Passat , but this has the added complication of a supercharger bolted to it. I mean, if you're going to run what is supposedly not a very good powerplant, what better way of making sure it explodes than to tune the nuts off of it?

[cort16]

^^^

Is that the 300+bhp supercharged 4motion one that was for sale on Pistonheads?

[dollywobbler]

Rover was demonstrating the art of the dissolving head gasket

Not in the early 90s they weren't, that only came later with the larger variants of the K-series. The 1400 in the early 200s and Metros did not, I seem to recall from the period, suffer from HGF to the extent they did in later cars.

 

I've heard of plenty of 1.4s eating the gasket too. The 8v head seems less susceptible and I agree that the 1.4 is less pop-happy than the bodged, larger engines. I still rate the engine as brilliant too.

[Rocket88]

^^^

Is that the 300+bhp supercharged 4motion one that was for sale on Pistonheads?

 

not sure, ebay item 280899959400...................I'm too stupid to get a picture on here, but feel free!

[KruJoe]

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280899959400

 

Hmm. Is that a useful tool to have on Jersey?

[KruJoe]

PS, that listing is still live...

[Rocket88]

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280899959400

 

Hmm. Is that a useful tool to have on Jersey?

 

 

Sensible? Not bloody likely which is why I'm buying it.............

[ashmicro]

Rover was demonstrating the art of the dissolving head gasket

Not in the early 90s they weren't, that only came later with the larger variants of the K-series. The 1400 in the early 200s and Metros did not, I seem to recall from the period, suffer from HGF to the extent they did in later cars.

 

Nearly, but not quite. Pre-95 K series had a closed deck cylinder block, so were less prone to HGF. That said, if a K is looked after correctly, it's a great engine. I've been asked how many HGs my 25 has had in my 10 years of ownership. The answer is one. The first one. They tend to suffer from neglect in the cheap end of the car market, and a highly-strung engine that requires scrupulous maintenance in accordance with manufacturer's instructions doesn't like that. Also, the fact that I'm totally fucking obsessive about that car keeps it in fine fettle. All my mates think I'm nuts. I am!

[John F]

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280899959400

 

Hmm. Is that a useful tool to have on Jersey?

 

 

Sensible? Not bloody likely which is why I'm buying it.............

 

 

That interior is like a 1970s porn set...!

[Rocket88]

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280899959400

 

Hmm. Is that a useful tool to have on Jersey?

 

 

Sensible? Not bloody likely which is why I'm buying it.............

 

 

That interior is like a 1970s porn set...!

 

I'm growing an appropriate moustache in readiness.