Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

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theunis.visser
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Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by theunis.visser »

Hi. This may seem silly, but is anyone prepared to guide me. I recently bought a mk3 GTS for my son ( I had one years ago and loved it, which explains the purchase), but now I have an itch for a mk3 Gti for myself.

I need to know the main differences (besides the obvious being the displacement!) Between the 2.

Performance figures would help also.

I have one in mind that I want to visit in this week. It is not the exec model as it has wind up windows and no sunroof but has leather seats and towbar (Instant insurance policy!).

I would appreciate your feedback greatly .

Thank you.

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panic-mechanic
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by panic-mechanic »

The differences were small. Like 78 kw to 88 kw maybe 20 nm in it low down. They were within a second of each other 0-100. Golf 3 gti was never sprightly in the guise we got it. It should have just been badged a 2.0l. The one we didn't get was the 16v with abf and that was a proper gti.
But go drive it, you 'll feel the differences in suspension and a few other small things.
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Neuk
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by Neuk »

theunis.visser wrote: and towbar (Instant insurance policy!Image).
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Current Garage:
Daily Drive: 2014 VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDi R-Line
Project Fes: 1982 VW Golf GLS 1.5
Project FeO: 1966 VW Type 2 Transporter Kombi Split Window

Previous Garage:
Roxy: 2015 VW Golf R
Vagon: 2005 Audi B6 A4 1.8T (140kw) Avant
Project XXXX: 1967 VW Type 3 Variant (Squareback)
Project Betty: 2005 Polo 1.9 TDI (PD130) Sportline
Weekend Warrior: 1993 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 16v ABF on ITB's
theunis.visser
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by theunis.visser »

Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote: and towbar (Instant insurance policy!Image).
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Most people keep more of a distance behind you when they see a towbar. They know if they run into you there is instant damage to their car (and in most cases more than yours) as the nose of a car lowers under heavy braking.

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Neuk
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by Neuk »

theunis.visser wrote:
Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote: and towbar (Instant insurance policy!Image).
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Most people keep more of a distance behind you when they see a towbar. They know if they run into you there is instant damage to their car (and in most cases more than yours) as the nose of a car lowers under heavy braking.

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Interesting thought, I have personally never kept any more or less distance based on a tow bar on the car in front, but perhaps others do.
Current Garage:
Daily Drive: 2014 VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDi R-Line
Project Fes: 1982 VW Golf GLS 1.5
Project FeO: 1966 VW Type 2 Transporter Kombi Split Window

Previous Garage:
Roxy: 2015 VW Golf R
Vagon: 2005 Audi B6 A4 1.8T (140kw) Avant
Project XXXX: 1967 VW Type 3 Variant (Squareback)
Project Betty: 2005 Polo 1.9 TDI (PD130) Sportline
Weekend Warrior: 1993 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 16v ABF on ITB's
theunis.visser
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by theunis.visser »

Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote:
Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote: and towbar (Instant insurance policy!Image).
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Most people keep more of a distance behind you when they see a towbar. They know if they run into you there is instant damage to their car (and in most cases more than yours) as the nose of a car lowers under heavy braking.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Interesting thought, I have personally never kept any more or less distance based on a tow bar on the car in front, but perhaps others do.
I had a Batman bakkie learn that the hard way when it ran into the back of the colt bakkie i had then. Not a scratch on my towbar and it got towed away.

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Neuk
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by Neuk »

theunis.visser wrote:
Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote:
Neuk wrote:
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Most people keep more of a distance behind you when they see a towbar. They know if they run into you there is instant damage to their car (and in most cases more than yours) as the nose of a car lowers under heavy braking.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Interesting thought, I have personally never kept any more or less distance based on a tow bar on the car in front, but perhaps others do.
I had a Batman bakkie learn that the hard way when it ran into the back of the colt bakkie i had then. Not a scratch on my towbar and it got towed away.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
I have seen that too, I have also seen cars with towbars get rear ended and written off as their chassis has been bent beyond repair.
Current Garage:
Daily Drive: 2014 VW Touareg 3.0 V6 TDi R-Line
Project Fes: 1982 VW Golf GLS 1.5
Project FeO: 1966 VW Type 2 Transporter Kombi Split Window

Previous Garage:
Roxy: 2015 VW Golf R
Vagon: 2005 Audi B6 A4 1.8T (140kw) Avant
Project XXXX: 1967 VW Type 3 Variant (Squareback)
Project Betty: 2005 Polo 1.9 TDI (PD130) Sportline
Weekend Warrior: 1993 Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 16v ABF on ITB's
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panic-mechanic
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by panic-mechanic »

You should always keep a safe following distance towbar or not. But Sure in slow speed bumper bashings it does help.
If you bring enough energy into any crash no amount of bars helps.
Stephan van Tonder - Jhb - Putfontein Benoni
'05 Audi A6 3.0L TDI Avant
'09 Touareg 3l TDI
'13 VW CC 2l tdi (repair project)
'05 Touareg v10

Perfect Power dealer. I do dyno tuning.
theunis.visser
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by theunis.visser »

panic-mechanic wrote:You should always keep a safe following distance towbar or not. But Sure in slow speed bumper bashings it does help.
If you bring enough energy into any crash no amount of bars helps.
Too true panic-mechanic

Any chance anyone can help me with the original question regarding differences between gts and Gti in the mk3?

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panic-mechanic
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by panic-mechanic »

did you read my first reply. Why not just go drive it? The actual numbers mean very little.


But maybe this helps. The thing is they don't have the local Mp9 verison listed and it made more than the 66kw stated there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk3
Stephan van Tonder - Jhb - Putfontein Benoni
'05 Audi A6 3.0L TDI Avant
'09 Touareg 3l TDI
'13 VW CC 2l tdi (repair project)
'05 Touareg v10

Perfect Power dealer. I do dyno tuning.
theunis.visser
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by theunis.visser »

panic-mechanic wrote:did you read my first reply. Why not just go drive it? The actual numbers mean very little.


But maybe this helps. The thing is they don't have the local Mp9 verison listed and it made more than the 66kw stated there.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk3
My apologies panic-mechanic. Thanks for the link.

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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by GTiDon »

Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote:
Neuk wrote:
theunis.visser wrote: and towbar (Instant insurance policy!Image).
I have never understood how a towbar is a positive for anything other than towing a trailer. Care to explain how you feel it is an instant insurance policy?
Most people keep more of a distance behind you when they see a towbar. They know if they run into you there is instant damage to their car (and in most cases more than yours) as the nose of a car lowers under heavy braking.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
Interesting thought, I have personally never kept any more or less distance based on a tow bar on the car in front, but perhaps others do.
There is also no stiffener inside the MK3 plastic bumper so it adds a huge amount of impact strength.
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VWicked
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Re: Differences between 1.8 and 2.0 mp9 (aka GTS and GTI) mk3 Golf

Post by VWicked »

Okay, in my experience these are the major differences

Golf 3 GTI vs GTS
1. Rear Disc vs Drum brakes
2. Front 256mm setup (this 256 can then be modded to 280) vs 239mm (cant be modded)
3. Gearbox on GTI has the thicker spigot shaft and takes a different clutch plate to the GTS (which takes the 210mm citi/mk2 stuff)
4. 2.0 long block motor vs 1.8 short block both on MP9 (early GTi were on digifant)
5. Not sure if the GTS had MFA controls

The GTS as in most cases looks pretty much the same as a GTi has the dual headlights beadings skirts etc.

You probably will find the GTS in better nick than the GTI as well nowdays - GTis are getting scarce and fetch huge prices when they sell (if they're clean).
Have you had your bottle of Hatorade today?

1992 Golf Mk2 GTi VR6
1994 Caddy 1800 Sport
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