What would you rather, 1.6 or 1.8 GTI?

What would you rather, 1.6 or 1.8 GTI?

Im glad you asked this question!

In my current project there is a 1.6 GTI lump fitted, I hear its a much better engine than the 1.8, I can't wait to find out!

hi

this could probably go either way the 1.8 owners will vote 1.8 , the 1.6 will probably vote 1.6
back in the day the 1.8 give the edge on the stats over the up & coming competition.

baz

1.6 any day not sure why but 1.6 gets my vote

got to be 1.8, just for the extra power, i had a 1.6 before though and it was fun

chris

I wouldnt mind having either to be honest but surely the 1.8 is better to have

1.8 is longer stroke which equals more torque and is only a couple more HP.But its the torque that makes the difference even though we all think revs will get you there quicker.The 1.6 is smoother though.

I have a 1.8 golf gti. I have had a lot 205 GTI's and the 1.6 is so much more fun than the 1.9 So I would imagine that the 1.6 golf it better fun! I'm not saying its quicker just more fun to own and drive, even with a 4 speed!

I dont see how it can be more fun.

In what way?

Some like to rev!  :dontknow:

BigNormRivage said

I dont see how it can be more fun.

In what way?

Better throttle response.  The 1.6 is reported to be more revvy than the 1.8 which would be why people would prefer it.  It's true torque is what gets you down the road and the 1.8 has more torque but it's not the only factor on wether a car is fun to drive.  There is also the fact that the 1.6 unit is also the original engine from the original GTI, that's the main reason I'm looking forward to driving it.

refering to the 205 norm, its is said by many people that 1.6gti 205 is a real drivers car becuase the 1.9gti is an absolte animal to drive if you been in one you will know why, even by mondern standards there quick

1.8, purely due to the 1.6 having that awful bullet type fuse box, have had a few 1.6 mk1's and they have all needed electrical work

Hi

Having owned a 1.9gti for 4 years & sat in a 1.6gti for lots & lots of miles , i think the the differnece between the 2 cars from a handiling point of view (the 1.6gti being slightly better) is only down to the size of the wheels . if you could live with pepporpots on a 1.9gti it would have the same fun factor (by fun i mean drive it on its limits with out the fear of the back-end trying to over take you ) in saying that with good expensive tyres on a 1.9gti the back end never moved for me & belive me it wasnt from lack of trying.


having owned One 1.6 mk1 gti & Two mk1 1.8 gtis & have also being in a brand new 1.6gti ( yes back in 82 , my old mans ) many many times , i personally think you get good ones & bad ones , some go like the wind & other dont ,  regardless of engine size.

cheers
baz

Don some rose coloured specs as my first gti was a 1.6 4 speeder back in 1989 , it was a dog of a car rust wise with airplane mileage  but it absolutely flew , the engine wasnt happy unless it was banging off the redline , had so much fun in it until the diff blew big time and the car wasnt worth saving , of course it'd be a different story these days as it was a small light model and i'd kill for one today .

 Had a quite alot of 1.8's since then , more refined power and still really good fun , makes the mk1 a more grown up car really imo .

I think thats why valver conversions work so well in a mk1 its the best of both , 1.8 and loves the revs .

Would agree on the good and bad in both comment my mates 1.6 was just not as zingy as mine , and went through 3 cylinder heads due to the originals cracking , an issue not many 1.8 owners ever suffered from .