scoobynutta555

Does anyone know what the differences between the 1.8 (non turbo) and 2 ltr Golf GTI MK4 are? Obviously the 2 ltr is the bigger engine, but which is the better one to go for? I'm not after the performance, just a 5 door runaround for the missus. We've had Golf tdi's and gt tdi's before.

lestippp

Not being funny here but given you don't care about power and just want a runabout what is wrong with an old tdi 1.9. No reason to go for petrol at all from where I'm sitting as the purchase price will be only slightly different and the tdi's are as reliable as anything else. I am assuming that you want a golf because you have a history with them.
I had an R32 (mk4) and loved it and to my knowledge, apart from the 1.4lt that is underpowered, they are all good cars, if a little expensive to service and repair.
Just one thought, why not get a corsa 1.4 sxi + my girlfriend has one and loves it, has enough power, cheap to run and maintain, does about 40mpg, nice inside and can carry the shopping easily enough .

Cheers.

Ian Payne

Hi,

If I recall correctly the major difference is age. The N/A 1.8 GTI was the first GTI realeased in MK4 form before the turbo version came out. When the turbo came out the N/A version didn't sell so they stuck a 2.0 under the bonnet - this was from 2001 on I think.

Both the 1.8 and 2.0 are 125BHP but are typically cheaper and harder to sell on than the turbo version.

If it was my money I would get the turbo or GT TDI again.

Hope this helps,

Ian

Matteeboy

Nope - 1.8 actually has more power 125 vs about 115bhp.
Both are pretty terrible engines - you pay GTI prices and get warm hatch performance and terrible mpg. Both are engines to be avoided at all costs.

1.8T is the only GTI worth getting in the mk4 and even then, it's not great.
TDI a much better bet in almost all cases.

scoobynutta555

Thanks guys. I've had 2 gt tdis, a 115 and a 130. She's had a 90 bhp se tdi. Just thought we'd try something a little different, a little bit 'nicer' car for her without hurting too much on the insurance. The se tdi was pretty gutless TBH. The diesels tend to be that bit more expensive than the petrols and the mileage she'll be doing doesn't warrant the extra cost. The gti would be spec'd a bit better than the se she had and the insurance is less than it would be for a gt tdi.

Seen a few ok looking gtis for around the £2.5k mark, that wouldn't even get you a high miler se tdi. As I've said, I'm not bothered about performance that much as long as it goes a little quicker than a 90 bhp se, which wouldn't be difficult. The turbo model costs a lot more for her to insure

Corsa's, I'm not a fan TBH. She's using a ka at the moment, but we have a 6 month old kid and another on the way, I prefer the solidity of the Golf.

Matteeboy

Without any question, I'd get a Focus.
I recommend them to anyone looking at this sort of budget.

The 1.8 and 2.0 GTIs are horrible to insure, slow, handle badly and guzzle fuel.
A 1.8 Focus will be quicker, better on fuel and very cheap to insure. It will also handle a lot lot better - And I've had many Golfs over the years - just not at all impressed with the mk4 apart from my lovely R32 which I still miss.

Big Col

Correct. Also to note this version of the GTi was only badged the GTi in the UK cos the marketing people knew it would sell more.

Matteeboy

Indeed.
It was the 2.0 everywhere else - madness!

scoobynutta555

No doubt the Focus is a better car and cheaper to own, we just don't want one

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I got a Saab 9-3 LPT instead and that was the same insurance as the crappy N/A GTI and it was way quicker,handling was crap but so is the Golf, it was quicker than the 1.8T as well which when standard is a bit flat.

Golf's aren't the be all and end all really, after seven or so I got bored, I would take the 115/130/150 over any of the petrol ones, except perhaps an R32.

All the best Golf's are too old or too expensive.

scoobynutta555

She likes the Golf's. She's after just a Golf and not interested that much in handling, performance or high mpg. Something that I hated about the tdis was the impossibly low sump, the guard of which seems to scrape more than a few mm above the road. We're not paying a grand more for a car just because it's a diesel, she'll be doing minimal miles.

I even like driving Golfs myself on long motorway trips, very comfy and a good soild drive.

Matteeboy

If it HAS to be a Golf and a mk4, get a high spec 1.6 like a Match (I think).
Looks like a GTi but has a half decent engine and won't cost silly money to run.
A "pretend" GTi is just a really daft idea and I can't believe VW got away with it for so long.

Honestly, buy a mk4 1.8 or 2.0 "GTI" and you may as well write "mug" on your head. I've had four Golfs but I'd never, ever get one of these.

scoobynutta555

Considered Match's. However, very few at the money we want to spend, in fact the cheapest on the trader is £3250, well over what the gtis go for. Unless the gtis literally fall apart the running costs won't be that high in comparison. As above, she'll be doing tiny miles and we've got surprisingly good insurance quotes, even against standard Focus's etc.

I guess we're mugs" If the car does turn out to be a pile of crap, I'll simply sell it.

Matteeboy

Scooby - well good luck to you. I'd get the 2.0 over the 1.8 if possible as it will be easier to get parts.
You will get mid 20s mpg, get burnt off by milkfloats, and generally wonder why you got it - they are going cheap for a reason (think Jags after three years!).

It won't fall apart though - they are solid cars.

scoobynutta555

As I've mentioned several times, mpg or performance isn't an issue And unless they fall apart is seems a sensible buy considering she's got good insurance quotes.

Matteeboy

But surely if you have a £2.5k budget, then mpg IS a factor?!
Why buy a car with a low powered, inefficient engine?
A 1.6 Match may cost more but it will retain value better, be much better on fuel and cheaper to insure.

I'm fine with low mpg, if the car is quick!
Low performance, low mpg, high insurance is just a lose lose situation.

Anyway, you seem to have made your mind up so nothing more to say.

lozgti

Am I going mad here?

If talking petrol golf GTI's I thought all 1.8's were the turbo with at least 150 bhp (and the anniversary model chucking out 180 bhp).I really didn't know they had a 1.8 non turbo

The 2.0 (which I had in my Mk3) was just a pants n/a with 115 bhp as mentioned.

Anyway,bottom line....just cross them off your list.They aren't GTI's,get an Octavia vRS if you want any oomph.Same car but with speed and a boot (1.8T with 180 bhp)

Matteeboy

Loz - VW did bring out an non turbo 1.8 in the very early stages of the mk4 Golf's life.
There was some reason that they withdrew it rather hastily and went for the 2.0 with less power - think it was costs but not 100% sure.

scoobynutta555

She'll be filling it up every other few months, that's how much mileage will be done. when you consider this against a car that will cost over a grand more just to get an extra 50 miles per tank it really is a non issue. Her insurance is not that much different from a 1.8 gti to a 1.6 Match. Yes the Match might have better residuals, but being more expensive in the first place it has more to lose.

Or am I just mad thinking that a relatively modern 1.8 Golf costing £2.5k with aircon, good sound system, nice seats and cabin, nice looks, a comfort drive alloy wheels, is a good buy given the circumstances mentioned.

lozgti

never knew that

lestippp

The 1.8 will be okay for doddling around in. We are just providing an input for you based on experience. You should go for the car your missus wants because that is a big part of car hunting as in sometimes you just want a particular type.
One suggestion I would give is to do a general search on autotrader with your budget but for any car and have alook at your other options. You should expect to fork out a fair bit for repairs though as these cars may well have been thrashed by previous owners, so choose wisely

collierm

I own a MK4 2.0GTi and its a perfectly acceptable car. Nippy enough round town, quiet enough, well equipped and I get 35mpg wherever I go (which compared to the Scoob, is a godsend ).

As long as you service and look after it, no worries.

Cheers

Matt

Brendan Hughes

^^stone him^^

matchmaker

Why? The 1.8T is a fantastic engine

Matteeboy

Sorry but I really don't like the VAG 1.8T unit at all.
Very souless, sounds horrible (almost like a diesel) - reminds me if an electric appliance motor.
Driven many cars with the engine - S3, Octavia vRS (best use of it), Golf GTi mk4, Bora 1.8T sport (terrible car) and all have left me cold.

MooseRacer

Difference between a 1.8 and 2 ltr golf gti mk4 ?

One is more rubbish than the other...

matchmaker

My Octavia vRS with the 1.8T + remap +CAI + cat + exhaust sounds OK to me

It's no flat 4 or straight 6, though

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

The 1.8 20v unit (N/A) sucks tbh, the 2ltr 8v unit sucks also, but its slightly better than the 1.8.
Wouldnt buy any of the above fitted engines, well acutally wouldnt buy a vw but those 2 engines were (for the 1.8 20v) a total mistake and (for the 2ltr 8v) a bit of a joke in a so called GTi

Tony
PS also agree with matteeboy, the 1.8 turbo engine isnt actually very good either, quite souless, but its a vw so what can you expect!