Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v Reviews

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Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v
3.9 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.9 out of 5

From 22 ratings and 17 reviews

Thumb up 94% of users recommend this product

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Average Ratings for Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v

  • Performance4 stars
  • Practicality4.4 stars
  • Reliability4.4 stars
  • Value for Money4.4 stars
  • Reviewer Ratings4.3 stars
  • Overall Rating4 stars

17 Reviews For Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v

  • Guest 31st Aug 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I've owned two Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16vs for a total of 5 years now. In general excellent cars - Not super fast but with a few mods such as a 3.94 final drive, lightened flywheel, chip, filter and airbox mods the pace becomes easily equivalent to that of a standard VR6 before even looking at proper engine work.

    Reasonable grip and handling as standard which can be significantly improved upon.

    As for any MK3 Golf - The front strut top bearings and rear axle bushes are probably well past their best with worn rear bushes making spirited driving suicidal. Fit a set of ream beam polys - cheap and easy to fit.

    The ABF engine is bulletproof as long as it's looked after with regular servicing and allowed to fuly heat up before giving it any stick.

    Electric windows can be a problem as well as coil packs on these cars but thats about it - generally exceptionally reliable otherwise. Excellent MPG and I regularly get 35MPG+ Inexpensive to insure, cheap to run & a pleasure to drive if mechanically sound & well set up.

    Look out for rust on the tailgate (under the rear window), chassis bung holes (esp those in the rear footwells) leading top edge of windscreen and on the sills where the dool seals meet.

  • Guest 30th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v is a complete ultimate bad boi gti fast as hel wouldnt swap mine for a mk5.wen u put your foot down the gears jus go on and on. not a bad comment to say about car so far oh ye leaves st170 for dust

  • Guest 17th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have had this VW Golf Mk3 2.0L gti for some time now and is by far the best car i have ever had!! Its power and performance is amazing, handles well and looks amazing. The only problem i have encountered with these golf's is the electric windows tend to stop working for no reason. But apart from that i would recomend this car to anyone. Engine seems to run forever without any problems and also the car can look really nice when kitted up!

  • ivarholt 7th Jul 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v is a good car with a few annoying faults

  • Guest 23rd Jun 2009

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    i've owned my mk3 gti abf 16v for about a year, spent about a grand on the suspension but appart from that nothing else major. havn't come accross a car yet that i cant keep up with or even over take. inc r32 mk4, porsche cayne s turbo ( left him at the lights! twice), 2008 slk kompresor!!! this car is serious fun if u know how to drive it!!!! it has a very hi range through the gears and puts the power to the road amazingly! but not in the wet!!!!

  • cjones109 14th Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have had many VW cars and i currentley own a 94 Mk3 2.0 GTI 16V Edition model which where the last 200 made in that shape before they stopped making them, it was used as a show car at the VW owners club and was lowered 60mm which i couldnt drive anywhere in it (handled a dream though) so i changed the suspention and that is the only thing i have changed on it since buying the car and i can tell you i have never broke down it, the handling is out of this world along with the performance and the ...

  • Flashgti 3rd Apr 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v has a nice trim and a great engine, handling is great too.
    Well built and a great drive, very powerful yet economic.

  • Guest 9th Mar 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v is low priced
    still looking good after those years
    beefy engine
    good brakes
    good car for reasonable money

  • eddie gocart 17th Jan 2009

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk3 16v, strong engine, 142000 and still going strong. I've got a 96 16 valve, only had to replace starter motor and suspension top mounts since I got it 2 years ago, great car, even in the freezing cold with no heating. Good handling with the suspension and roll bars not a bit of rust anywhere. Passenger window packed up, heaters work when they want to and center console lighting hasnt worked since i got it. I put the electrical problems down to the rock hard spax coilovers.

  • Guest 14th Dec 2008

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    The VW Golf GTi is a good car. Love driving mine never get bored but the two things that have gone wrong are costly.

  • Guest 14th Jan 2008

    Reviewer rating: 0.5 stars


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    Pile of rubbish and makes you feel like a right idiot when behind the wheel.

  • scotty3680 9th Sep 2007

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    This is the 6th GTi I have owned, and the second mark 3 16v (the first had an unwanted encounter with a Vauxhall Omega whilst parked!).

    I love these cars, the design is classic, they look smart from all angles, even 8 years on, handling is decent, although it can be twitchy in the wet (despite 17's with yokohamas!), and performance is more than decent, if not mind blowing.

    It never breaks down and never misses a beat, no matter what, my only gripe is the drivers window, which across 6 GTi' ...

  • RobTur Rank: Lance Corporal 14th Jun 2007

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have had my Volkswagen Golf GTi for 13 months. I paid the higher end of the price range, but what I got was a mechanically sound car. Unfortunately I viewed the car when it was raining and missed a few things (ie rust). If looking out for anything, one point to check is the tailgate and doors for rust. I paid £300 to resolve all the body work issues with the car, paint and a previous repair to a dent (which wasn't repaired properly). Other things to watch out for are the standard alloys, ...

  • Gamo 1k Master Rank: Staff Sergeant 2nd Mar 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    My 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0L is my first car. Although the 2.0 powerplant is fairly quick, it lacks the power I desire. A VR6 engine would be a better option for those who don't mind sacrificing speed for gas mileage. Even better would be the 2006 2.0GT engine. This includes the best of both worlds:- Speed and gas mileage.

  • deftoe 7th Sep 2004

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I bought my Volkswagen Golf Mk3 GTi 16v in the summer of 2001. After some drunken fool crashed into the back of me (and ran off!), there was a stream of problems. The car was almost writen off but repairing the rear end was the start of my problems. The sills had been sealed for a start so there was a huge build up of water and the sills had to be replaced(not cheap). After I had a volkswagen specialist look at it, there was a fair amount of rust around the wishbones and the suspension springs. ...

  • DubDRiftin 25th Feb 2004

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I have a Volkswagen Golf Mk3 GTi 16v 96 Red & White 16v DOHC 1.8 litre GTI. I have a wings west body kit painted white with the door handles, lens caps, side mirrors and spoiler also white. still on the stock 16" alloys, but I should be getting some Tenzo R Mean 6 gunmetal/aluminum 17's soon.
    Magnaflow cat back exhaust with monza headers. It's been dropped 2.0" in the and 1.35 in the back with eibach sportline springs. What I really pride myself on is the system though. The GTI's come st ...

  • jte82 Rank: Lance Corporal 16th Dec 2003

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I've had my '96 P-reg Dragon Green Volkswagen Golf Mk3 GTi 16v for about 3 months now, I bought it quite cheap and hence had to spend about £1000 getting into excellent condition. I love driving this car, and although acceleration's not great it does manage to keep up with almost anything if you're determined enough! My previous car was a phase 2 renault 19 16v which was faster, but seemed to break down at least monthly. I love the Golf because it doesn't rattle, bits don't fall off and ...