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When most enthusiasts consider the Golf GTi, they make a mental division. The MK1 and Mk2 cars were the ones that established the GTi legend, and the Mk3 versions represented the GTi sinking into comfy middle age. For the most part, this is pretty accurate, but Volkswagen seem to have realised that neglecting the family jewels in this manner hasn't done them too many favours and is busy rebuilding the GTi legacy.
As used propositions, it's difficult to fault the Mk 3 cars. Bigger, better built and with less of a tyre smoking image, they make a good deal of sense both to those who still have a glint in their eye and the large proportion who simply want a well specified Volkswagen Golf.
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Detailed ratings
Family Hatch - GTi Hatchbacks
What you get
The Mk3 GTi is a car that is built to last, good to drive and offers safe and solid motoring for not too much money. They offer a civilised alternative to many other hot hatches and are usually worth more second-hand than most rivals. You're paying for the Volkswagen name and reputation to some extent, but don't forget that though a Golf costs a bit more than some rivals, it will equally be worth more and probably be in better condition when the time comes for you to sell it on. Just don't expect a sports car in the mould of a Peugeot 306GTi.
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What to look for
The Golf has a strong reputation for reliability, but it still has a few areas that need to be checked carefully. One is the manual gearbox in high-mileage cars. These can have worn bearings which need expensive repairs - if there's a lot of noise from the gearbox, get it checked.
Corrosion is rare on a Golf, which speaks volumes for Volkswagen's rustproofing methods and the quality of the steel it uses. A GTi with rust should scream "badly repaired accident damage" at you. Steer well clear, as a bent chassis will probably have caused misaligned panels and subsequent corrosion. With Mk IV cars, consider the premium you are paying and ask yourself whether a used SEAT or Skoda, which share similar Volkswagen Group underpinnings, may be better value.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a 1994 Golf GTI 2.0 8v Ex Vat) An exhaust system is about £85. A clutch assembly will be around £75 and a new catalyst will be around £60. An alternator should be close to £50.
Brake pads front and rear are about £45 and £33, respectively. A replacement headlamp is close to £65. A windscreen should be in the region of £90. Major and minor services are around £75 and £35 respectively.
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On the road
The Golf's reputation as the car that would corner on three wheels with steering that danced in your hands and a chassis that made the keen driver's eyes light up is a bit of ancient history now. The Golf GTi is a far more urbane creature, looking disdainfully at such juvenile antics. Even the 2.0 16v GTi models are smooth, refined and syrupy, with none of the verve of old models. Many drivers will lament this metamorphosis, and turn to French or Japanese rivals instead, but for many others it will be a significant benefit. A Mk3 Golf GTi really does feel like an equivalent year Passat inside - it's only when you glance over your shoulder that you realise that you're in a family hatchback.
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Overall
If you're after the definitive hot hatch, buying a Mk3 Golf GTi may well leave you with the impression that Volkswagen has traded rather cynically on the cachet of the GTi badge. Others do ten-tenths cornering a good deal more convincingly than the slightly tubby Golf. If, on the other hand, you're looking for an impeccably built and classically presentable hatch, the Golf GTi has few rivals. It may no longer be in the first flush of youth, but we've still got a soft spot for this Golf GTi.
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