1996 Volkswagen Golf GTI Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Performance - Fast: quick response, aggressive acceleration and strong power band. Build - Its a VW so you're looking at some work naturally. But most of the work is easy and fun. Appearance - not the most beautiful car in the world but works better than a truck or standard sedan (Hatchbacks are the way to do it.) Cost of Ownership - Installed right axle boot, and new heater core but the parts were cheap, its labor you're looking at for these cars. Fun Factor - VWs are a blast and you'll never forget how much fun you had with one.Dec 10, 2009

It's old, but still drives well without too many rattles. It's relatively rapid without drinking fuel. On a run, if I have a light right foot, it'll do about 40mpg, if I spank it then down to 25mpg at worst. I'm gradually tinkering with it, next job is a major service, following the very badly organised Haynes manual. It's not the most beautiful of Golfs, but it'll do until I can get my Mk6 4motion... There are a lot of great forums out there for tips. Mine, after a non-starting episode fixed by the nice RAC man is to bin the cover for the Dizzy (black, clips off the actual Dizzy) - on older cars, it retains moisture and causes arcs and that dreaded nanananananananananacough. May 09, 2009

Yes... that's factory paint. I had a choice between Arrest-me-Red and an undisclosed shade of Green... I chose Green. For it's day, it had quite a bit of power. 172 hp is nothing now, but more power just gets you into trouble faster. It's been reliable considering how it's treated. And' it's a total blast to drive. It's capable of 30mpg on the highway, but at the track, I get about 8.Feb 28, 2009

I love everything about my car, It comes from the best Autohouse in the world and is by far the best looking generation. Yes I drive a 1996 Volkswagen Golf MK3 GTi 2.0i 8v. Black in colour, 5 Doors and in Mint condition. Original Alloy wheels. The only dislike I have is for the small bump next to the rear number plate, can hardly see it but I know its there and it hurts.Sep 11, 2008

this vr6 is actually a 4 door which we bought with a super chip, it was then purchased by inchape volkswagen to be entered into dubmasters 2008 at gti international, and after we added nos with 50 bhp jets {the vr6 can take up to 75, best to be safe from the pisons melting} our golf came secound to a vr6 with a turbo which had ten grand spent on it, our buget was 1500quid, so we took the 2nd place well, b4 sold this car was involved against a 3.2 vectra 4x4 with a blue flashing light on top, but sadly they couldnt catch it due to the driver being a cut above, ahem, what a car, the pictures with the stickers on it is its approach to the dragstip, i miss that beast, and il surely own another, or maybe il buy that one back????Jul 17, 2008

Quite quick, not fast but lots of low down torque. Always get over 40mpg on runs and even had 46 on one tankfull! Build quality excellent, 85k no squeaks, rattles, everything works and it drives like new! Looking quite old now but still quite smart. Servicing by myself, good fuel economy, even insurance costs are ok. Great fun on twisty roads, much better than i ever thought it would be! Much more composed than my other mk2 golof gti!Jul 11, 2008

Oridionally bought in 05' as a 2.0l I drove it until the transmission cracked then sent it to CIP in east stroudsberg for a full motor swap and ect... Now has a 95 Corrado VR6 and trans. everything was rebuilt or replaced from the ground up with german spec parts(everything shipped from Berlin to USA). total cost for rebuild somewhere around $11,000.00Jun 22, 2008

Well what can I say, I absolutely luuuurrrrrvvvveeeee the mk 2 Golf GTi 16v 2lt so much that when I crashed my previous one 2 years ago (dont ask) I went out and bought another in a different colour, same year etc. My first mk2 was Purple then I went on to get the Black one. Well she handles like a dream, she's got the speed, the power and the vvrrmm factor. We have bonnet trim,quick shift gears, K&N Induction, Alloys, Lexus back lights with mk3 front's and more... I've got her to 140mph and she's got plenty more to her.Apr 07, 2008

Quite a nice looking car, and pretty quick at 150bhp. Can easily produce 180bhp if you throw the cash at it! Amazing build quality and very solid. A little fat, standard suspension should be upgraded asap! Comfortable, pretty fast, quite good mpg = ideal daily. Unfortunatley this car will never be super rapid (unless you stick a turbo on it) and isnt a skyline beater... If you want silly fast look elsewhere.Mar 03, 2008