Whats the best handling golf?

This is a bit of a daring post but i will ask the question anyway.

Whats the best handling golf?

Now, i'm a mk4 owner at the moment and the handling when i got the car was awful! Since installing anti roll bars, powerflex bushes, up rated suspension the car seems a lot better.

However i still don't think i is that great! What do you mk1 owners think of your cars? A legendary car that the handling has always been a talking point on the car?  I guess when fitted with roll bars etc it will like a go kart!??

Now obviously we rule out the mk4 for being the best handling golf.

What about mk1 v mk2 v mk3 v mk5???

i think this will be interesting to get the feedback. I'm guessing the main topic will be mk1 v mk2??

well iv had a mk1 hard top gti and the handling was very good. now iv got a mk1 cabriolet gti with a 16v and a mk5 gti 2l turbo and the mk5 is good but with all that power and weight at the front it can under steer at speed round corners like all front wheel drive cars . but the question your asking whats the best well got to be mk1. the mk2 was to heavy and so was the mk3,mk4,mk5 unless you up rate the suspension anti-roll bars ext  8O

I thinking about getting a Cabriolet too. How have you found it?  Have you done anything to the handling? roll bars etc?  

got any pics?

well with it being the gti its already got front and rear anti roll bars fitted but i have put some coil overs on and mk2 gti rear disc conversion and 256 mm discs and calipers on the front with a 9" servo and 22mm master cylinder ill try and get some pics sorted. but there are a lot of peopel that use them as a daily driver and they can easly cope with moder day life

The best handling Golf is the Mk1 Scirocco. Lower C of G, light weight, etc.

paul_c said

The best handling Golf is the Mk1 Scirocco. Lower C of G, light weight, etc.

yes paul :roll:

You can't get much better than the Mk2 valver imho  :wink:

NO Golf except the MK5 Gti handles well with out modifications .

 8O Driven and owned them all and having driven the Mk5 straight out of the box it was the best , but then it should be !

Most fun is a MK1 [with mods]  

I'd generally agree with that.

I've also driven them all and out of the box I'd place them thusly:

Mk5
Mk2
Mk1
Mk4
Mk3

Mk6? - Haven't driven one yet.

The mk5 is extremely impressive handling wise, but it's the first Golf to be properly sorted from the factory. Drove one for a month and couldn't think of anything to change except wanting 30-50 more bhp.

Mk2 (particular 16v) is the best of the original platform components (though I'd argue the Corrado was the ultimate evolution of this with the passaty rear end). All it needs is 15/16" wheels, good rubber and slightly uprated dampers, new/uprated bushes. Bigger brakes on non-valver.

Mk1 is good, but needs the lower strut brace, 14/15" wheels, rubber and uprated dampers + bushes. Bigger antiroll bars help. Lowering is cosmetic in my view and ruins the ride unless done with coilovers. Does need better brakes though. Fresh out of the box Mk1 with standard 'new' components is surprising good though.

Mk4 needs uprated rear anti-roll bar to prevent understeer, firmer dampers, 18" wheels and rubber. Steering is lifeless compared to other Golfs though.

Mk3. Apart from the 16v, needs virtually everything changed and uprated in the suspension department. 17" wheels. Uprated rear anti-roll bar. Atrocious understeer and bodyroll as standard. 16v the best standard version, which isn't saying much.

Cabriolets? One word - scuttleshake. Whatever you do, a similarly equipped tintop will be quicker and better.

Cheers,

Drew.

Good to hear from you Drew, Havent seen you in a while on the forum. :wink:

I personally like the MK4, having said that i havent tried the MK5 or the MK6

allana13 said

Good to hear from you Drew, Havent seen you in a while on the forum. :wink:

I personally like the MK4, having said that i havent tried the MK5 or the MK6

just got a Mk4 and although it heavy and slow i find it handles rather well.

A5OPY said

just got a Mk4 and although it heavy and slow i find it handles rather well.

I have one [a 150hp turbo] and although i think its great it handles like Lard .
But as a motorway or A road cruiser  :dance:

drew said

I'd generally agree with that.

I've also driven them all and out of the box I'd place them thusly:

Mk5
Mk2
Mk1
Mk4
Mk3

Mk6? - Haven't driven one yet.

The mk5 is extremely impressive handling wise, but it's the first Golf to be properly sorted from the factory. Drove one for a month and couldn't think of anything to change except wanting 30-50 more bhp.

Mk2 (particular 16v) is the best of the original platform components (though I'd argue the Corrado was the ultimate evolution of this with the passaty rear end). All it needs is 15/16" wheels, good rubber and slightly uprated dampers, new/uprated bushes. Bigger brakes on non-valver.

Mk1 is good, but needs the lower strut brace, 14/15" wheels, rubber and uprated dampers + bushes. Bigger antiroll bars help. Lowering is cosmetic in my view and ruins the ride unless done with coilovers. Does need better brakes though. Fresh out of the box Mk1 with standard 'new' components is surprising good though.

Mk4 needs uprated rear anti-roll bar to prevent understeer, firmer dampers, 18" wheels and rubber. Steering is lifeless compared to other Golfs though.

Mk3. Apart from the 16v, needs virtually everything changed and uprated in the suspension department. 17" wheels. Uprated rear anti-roll bar. Atrocious understeer and bodyroll as standard. 16v the best standard version, which isn't saying much.

Cabriolets? One word - scuttleshake. Whatever you do, a similarly equipped tintop will be quicker and better.

Cheers,

Drew.

Interesting read Drew. I'm thinking about getting a mk1 Cabriolet. i now it will be heavier etc but will it affect handling by quite a bit with the extra weight compared to the tin top mk1?

Interesting read Drew. I'm thinking about getting a mk1 Cabriolet. i now it will be heavier etc but will it affect handling by quite a bit with the extra weight compared to the tin top mk1?

It's about 20% heavier than the tintop, so you loose 20% of the performance. It's a lot less stiff than the tintop too.

Most of the extra weight is around the middle and the rear, which actually makes it slightly better weight distribution wise than the tintop. Ride quality (particular on the non-GTI versions) is actually really good.

All the performance parts will fit ok, but you can't get away from the fact it is a 1970s designed cabriolet based on a tintop car. Scuttleshake is the biggest issue and it will never be as tight as a tintop, though it's noticeably better with the roof up.

I had one for two years and as a cruiser it's a great car. It corners well and there's nothing wrong with the handling in general (I actually preferred softer suspension on it - better damping).

Just be aware it will never be as quick or corner as well as a tintop. Depends what you want.

Spring/Summer day with the wayfarers on and a bit of Bruce Springsteen on the stereo and the cabriolet wins hands down!  8)

Cheers,

Drew.

I had a MK4 PD TDi for a good year or so before I bought my Mk1 and I found that the ESP (Electronic Stablisation Program - I think ) basically traction control would intefer all the time, I never made it around a round-a-bout at more thna 30 in whole year without the ABS kicking in.

Love my Cabby though, It's got coilovers, fix dampening and front anti roll bar and this is no word of a lie.. it goes around corners better than my mates Mk2 Rallye (4 wheel drive G60) just no chance on the straight haha

Mk2 Limited, Mk4 R32

My mk2 was so boatlike compared to my polo. Mk1 all the way(cant wait to get one even though I've never owned one I've driven 2)……..never driven a mk3, 4, 5 or 6 though.