robby

Ok i'm 98% sure i want to trade in my 172 for a golf gti turbo, i had a 1.4 mk4 a couple of years ago buy that was too basic.
i know the golf isn't the fastest car around but i had an audi a4 1.8ts so i know it's a nice engine and pulls well on the motorway.
now the question is - what model has the recaro cloth interior, 16" alloys, fogs? looking through some ads the specs vary quite a lot, i know some things are options which people have chosen but is there a certain year where these things are standard?
looking to spend less than 10k

cheers

Cupramax

Leon Cupra is a much better car for the money plus its all the same running gear as the Golf.

You'd get a late 2001 / early 2002 car for £10k, maybe even one with the full leather/electric seats if you hunt around... plus its got the 180hp engine which you wont get in the Golf for £10k.... You also wouldn't be driving around in a model thats going to be replaced in January.

robby

just prefer the look of the golf or even A3

Cupramax

No probs, just a suggestion. Drive the 2 side by side and you might change your mind....

Flat 4x4

I agree - Leon Cupra or Octavia vRS both handle better and are more fun to drive. You can get a newer one of either for the same money as an older Golf

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Noooo, the Golf 1.8T is limp unless its chipped, the Clio is superb without having to chip it and it handles.

Simon S3

My Golf 1.8T was a `99 T and had the Recaro seats. I think the Recaros were replaced by the VW sports seats (inferior) for the 2001 model year. The cloth Recaros in my Golf were the finest seats I`ve ever had, even the leather Recaros in my S3 aren`t as comfy.

I think the 1.8T GTI has always had fogs as standard, they are just incorporated into the headlamp unit and aren`t much cop to be honest.

I loved my Golf turbo, I know it`s not everybody`s cup of tea but I never had a problem with it in 2 years/20,000 miles and it did everything pretty well and nothing badly.

PS, J4CKO, with 155 lb/ft from around 1750 rpm the Golf 1.8T is hardly limp without a chip, haven`t we been here before?

[Edited by Simon S3 - 12/6/2003 9:35:20 PM]

rr_ww

All the Turbo Gtis have Recaro seats. There are 3 versions of the GTI. Make sure you now what your looking at.

1.8 20V
2.0 8V (Its the 8v engine from the Mk3, uprated slightly for the newer emissions laws)
1.8 20V Turbo. (there are 2 versons the 150 and the 180 on the later cars)

The other 2 versions have Recaro esque seats, that are not badged as anything. The R32 has different seats again. Konig or something. They arent badged either. Just have the R32 logo on.

Gotta say that if you think the Recaros fit you well, then you must be a bit wider round the middle than a lot of people! I find I slide about too much in the middle of them Best Recaros ever are the ones fitted to Escort Turbos! Much narrower.


Fogs are standard on all Turbos
16" Alloys are standard on all turbos. Its a 5 spoke design with a split down the middle. The non turbos wheels are similar but with out the split. And are only 15"



[Edited by rr_ww - 12/7/2003 11:49:22 AM]

robby

Well i guess i'll have to go and have a look at some this afternoon, J4cko - i know the 172 is nippy but i'm getting fed up with the niggly things (remote wont lock the car unless you restart the engine to recode the key, glovebox lid not fitting properly, plastic trim on dash vents not sitting right, etc - not what you'd expect on a 15k car)

thanks for the input peeps - hmm GTI-T in silver or bright red i think

Simon S3

rr_ww

Not all GTI turbos have Recaro seats, VW stopped fitting the cloth Recaro seats as standard around 2001/2002 model year. They replaced them with (cheaper) VW sports seats. Recaros were available as an option.

golfliam

Later 1.8t's don't have recaro's they have vw sports seats
not sure when exactly they changed - ask at uk-mkivs.net

easy to sort out the handling - leon much better - hows that then
agree the cupra r is because it has a different engine and bigger turbo but not the cupra ot the scoda - they may be have a better suspension set up as standard but its easy to sort the golfs

just look at how alot othe mags now rave about the r32 compared to the 4 motion -

Cupramax

Thats my point exactly... you have to start replacing bits on the Golf before it any good. You also wont get an R32 for less than £10k as mentioned. My original point wasn't to slag the Golf off, just that for the money mentioned you'd get a newer/better spec'd car with the Leon.

Flat 4x4

My point as well for the Leon/Octavia - same mechanicals, different flavours using the same ingredients. From experience, (of the Czech cousin)more fun than my Audis as well.