Mk2 GTi - 8v? What are they like?

[jeanheide]

mk2 is a great car.
it is zippy compared to alot of other cars actually.
my stock mk2 actually did 9.8 0-100. mind you the car not been done up at all.
it is a bit slower than the euro specs, but not by much. its only 2kw diff for the g-kat version and i think 5kw for the non catalytic ones.
handeling is unmatched if you compare to cars its age. i.e corolla, mirage etc etc.
only thing to actually kick ass quite a bit was the old swift gti's.
space, i never had an issue with anything you listed, except the 42" tv.
but if you think about this..., the tv would nearly cost as much as the car itself.
so scrap tv and add money together and buy a vr6
also, try getting one with service history or a vw enthuthiast.
plus there is heaps less mk2's than mk3's, so your value will go up compared to mk3's

[static1800]

Everyone rags on the oz mk2 gti's, myself included at times but they are a great car!!

If you want some more performance you can get it easily and like all mk2's they handle great.

I've had mine for a couple of years now and it has not once let me down, only had to do regular servicing on it. Starts first time everytime

They do have a few funny traits and issues like every car though but all in all they are good.

[Spyda]

i like the sound of the mk3 manifold and down pipe, i was looking at a 4 branch Stainless manifold from the USA.

was the mk3 one easy to fit?

didnt 16vkid have one of these 4 sale?

With the US exhaut check if there is a LHD and RHD versions. Will the LHD manifold clear the RHD steering stuff? Ive asked but never got a response and never realy looked in to it any further, would be worth a check though.

To fit it at home without removing the intake manifold will take a whole day or longer if you F the bolts haha.

I think he does have a manifold for sale.

Will the MK3 manifold fit on a Kjet head?

The other option is to swap in a mk3 engine and swap to digi, means supercharging it will be easier.

Yes a mk3 manifold should fit any 8v head.

A mk3 motor makes more power with a mk2 gti head on it rather than a stock mk3 head, even better is a mk3 motor with a mk2 PB head on it and even better than that is a PB head with 40/35 valves...will make ~150hp at the fly with exhaust and cam on digi.

People will tell you K-jet is better than digi.....i dunno why, maby more power and less problems.

[jeanheide]

as mcuh as i know the lhd wont fit onto the rhd. i asked my exhaust man before, and he said he mounted one a couple of years ago and it didnt fit at all.
also kjet is better only because its so much easier to fiddle with in regards to digi.
k-jet is just a continious injection where as digi is electronically controlled.
k-jet was designed for charged engines with the least amount of work.
hence why audi always had the best turbo engines in the early 80's.
everything was k-jet from ur-quattro to the audi 200.
same as volvo.
but keep in mind a k-jet system is alot more expensive to repair and maintain than digi.
just your fuel supplier will cost atleast $600+ to replace.

[AusScare]

When you guys are talking about "get the exhaust done", what exactly are you talking about?

ie. Mine currently has extractors and de-cat. Should I be looking at high flow cat and 2" mandrel full exhaust or something? I don't know much about this, how much would that cost?

[Spyda]

When you guys are talking about "get the exhaust done", what exactly are you talking about?

ie. Mine currently has extractors and de-cat. Should I be looking at high flow cat and 2" mandrel full exhaust or something? I don't know much about this, how much would that cost?

Nah man your sweet. The manifold is the main part that holds the RV motor back as its very restrictive. What you have is great. Mandrel bent doesnt make a difference as far as i know, it just means the pipes where not bent to angles they where made in that angle so there are no weak points.

[Tim]

Nah man your sweet. The manifold is the main part that holds the RV motor back as its very restrictive. What you have is great. Mandrel bent doesnt make a difference as far as i know, it just means the pipes where not bent to angles they where made in that angle so there are no weak points.

mandrel bent is supposed to flow better cos when they are bent the pipes inner diameter doesnt change. The standard type of bend causes the pipe to get partially crushed which may lead to restriction or interfere with exhaust gas flow.

Head to youtube and type in mandrel bender and you will see how the process works.

[AusScare]

Nah man your sweet. The manifold is the main part that holds the RV motor back as its very restrictive. What you have is great.

So if I was looking for any improvement I'd have to source a mk3 GL manifold ay. If anyone in Brisbane has one let me know

[Brisben]

mandrel bent is supposed to flow better cos when they are bent the pipes inner diameter doesnt change. The standard type of bend causes the pipe to get partially crushed which may lead to restriction or interfere with exhaust gas flow.

Head to youtube and type in mandrel bender and you will see how the process works.

This is correct, normal pipe bending produces a "kink" in the pipe, mandrel bending allows the tube to keeps it circular shape.

I would be interested if this really matters as once the gasses have reached this point would it really be restricting outlet flow ?

I am sure polishing and porting the outlet manifold of the head would and does make a great difference but unsure if spending the extra money on mandrel bent manifolds is worthwhile.( as you already have extractors )..without doing the former polish and port first..

[Jarred]

on our little 1.8's the difference between mandrel bend and bench pressed pipes would be hard to tell, since we have such little airflow. Might be good for 2kw or something, but i personally think it wouldn't be worth it for our cars [for the extra cost involved.]

if we had say a 1.8T which is turbo and flows alot more gas, then i'd say the difference would be more noticeable.

Personally, for a relatively standard mk2, i'd get some extractors, and S/H HF cat, say off a turbo/bigger capacity car [think flow!] and a decent resonator and straight through rear muffler.

[Brisben]

on our little 1.8's the difference between mandrel bend and bench pressed pipes would be hard to tell, since we have such little airflow. Might be good for 2kw or something, but i personally think it wouldn't be worth it for our cars [for the extra cost involved.]

if we had say a 1.8T which is turbo and flows alot more gas, then i'd say the difference would be more noticeable.

Personally, for a relatively standard mk2, i'd get some extractors, and S/H HF cat, say off a turbo/bigger capacity car [think flow!] and a decent resonator and straight through rear muffler.

And just to help at the other end a less restrictive air intake, like a pod style air filter or something...

[Spyda]

mandrel bent is supposed to flow better cos when they are bent the pipes inner diameter doesnt change. The standard type of bend causes the pipe to get partially crushed which may lead to restriction or interfere with exhaust gas flow.

Head to youtube and type in mandrel bender and you will see how the process works.

I guess you learn something everyday, cheers mate.

The stuff i thought i knew came from the guy at "Profecional Exhausts" in airport west, he is a complete idiot and its just been confurmed even more.

So if I was looking for any improvement I'd have to source a mk3 GL manifold ay. If anyone in Brisbane has one let me know

NO!!! You dont need to do anything if you have extractors. The mk3 GL maifold and upgrade from the mk2 RV manifold. Extractors are an upgrade for mk3 GL manifold. The mk3 duel downpipe is as close to extractors as a stock manifold can get prity much (says Pete).

[AusScare]

NO!!! You dont need to do anything if you have extractors. The mk3 GL maifold and upgrade from the mk2 RV manifold. Extractors are an upgrade for mk3 GL manifold. The mk3 duel downpipe is as close to extractors as a stock manifold can get prity much (says Pete).

ohh ok so I can't do much more to improve my exhaust, add to that the k&n air filter, then am I right in thinking a 2L bottom end is next on that list?

[benough]

Yeah if you want to keep the same head. Probably easiest unless you want to play with your digi etc.

You don't have a cam do you?

[Spyda]

ohh ok so I can't do much more to improve my exhaust, add to that the k&n air filter, then am I right in thinking a 2L bottom end is next on that list?

Nah if you have extractors and no cat not much you can do to imporve on that. K&N filter in a drilled air box would make a nice sound and ever so slighly improve air flow.

The next step is a 2L bottom end and keep the GTI head as it makes more power that way than a mk3 head. The main increase with the 2L bottom end will be torque, you will only see large increases in power with 2L bottom end and the gti head when increasing valve size. Im very happy with the 2L bottom end and mk3 exhaust.

After that you should look at geting a cam.

It doesnt stop there but that will make it prity quick.