Wanted - Advice on the Pro's and Con's on MKIV GTi Ownership

[APMMOTORSPORT]

Hello All,
I am after advice on the pro's and con's of MKIV GTi ownership.
Looking at getting something in the near future to replace my E30 Touring.
Thanks in advance!

[Mr Messy]

I've had mine for more than a year and about 30,000kms.

It's very comfortable for long trips, has brilliant seats and is well specced with climate control, sunroof, power eveything. They grip and handle pretty well but are nothing like as hardcore as a WRX or Type R.

The engine is quite reliable if serviced properly (cambelts and water pump a must by now) and responds very well to tuning (increase from 110 to 140+kw for $1k, or 250+kw is available for $$$). In fairness though, it's a bit laggy and needs to be in the right gear to really go places. The more modern Mk5 has a much better motor/gearing combo.

I'm happy with mine, though I bought it as a cruiser with a little bit of sportiness. I don't do trackdays and I haven't really modified it. I was cross shopping with the Impreza RS 2.5 and Liberty 2.5 manual and would campare the GTI with these as opposed to a WRX, XR6T, Clio Sport etc.

Happy hunting!

[APMMOTORSPORT]

Thanks for that insight. I have previously driven a sport before, and as you said, perfect for cruising. I do not want anything too radical, just a nice daily driver that is a bit different and I can play with a little - would rather spend the extra money on a weekend toy.
Thanks again.

[mikinoz]

A wise man said to me once, if it is performance you are looking for - look past a MKIV. Not satisfied he now owns an S3 but that is another story.

You need to stiffen up the car as they are really quite flimsy and have body roll - but some good suspension and a say bar fixes most of that.

[audi-tone]

i've had mine for the past 4months and i love it.
got it for an absolute bargain ($9500) and it only had 106,000 on the clock, in saying that i had to do the waterpump and cambelt in the first week of ownership so check if it's been done. mine was also chipped so even better!
also got a rear whiteline swaybar, upgraded bushes in the front suspension components and i find with some nice sticky(ish) tires (kumho ku31's on the front, re001's on the back) there's little to no bodyroll for me and thats with the swaybar on the medium setting..
things to check include
-cambelt, waterpump
-check the interior lights come on when you open doors (mine doesnt and i have to fix it (easy enough to do by yourself)) i think these are the window regulators?
-drivers side bolster (can easily come off its hinge so to speak and fall down the side of the seat.)

good luck with it. they're a very nice car to drive.