For Robin, so he takes the plunge...

[Roscoe]

mrgolf and ausgolfer, Mine is a 1988, 8 valve. I actually thought they all had stripes but that they were less visable on the darker colours. Any I have a complete new set to go on it when it gets painted as well as brand new bumpers and arch mouldings! The current paint looks ok but it is still original paint so a fresh paint job will give it a lift.

The front quarterlights were dropped in 1987 when the Mk2 was updated which was when the 8valve GTi went from Bosch K-jetronic fuel injection to Digifant engine management. There were other detail changes to the car (grille, trim and interior mainly). Big bumpers came along around 1990 and I think power steering was fitted as standard then too.

Yes I have been around a bit and raced a lot in Europe. I could probably teach you how to drive your GTi, not sure how to organise that though! I have run mine at Sandown and Philip Island and surprised a few people with its pace.

[mrgolf]

Yep, 1990 is right for big bumpers... I kinda like the quarter vents. I was encouraged to get rid of them when I bought the car, but I didnt want to. Mine is still K-Jet, and the injection system is getting a bit tired. I need to overhaul it one day. I need an in tank fuel pump to get it going in the meantime...

Man, you should come and run at Wakefield Park one day. It is a great track for Mk2s. I did a mid 1:18, which is about 5 seconds quicker than people thought it would go. If you come up, I will join you for a white Mk2 frenzy....

[Golfwise]

Mk 2s v mk1s as race cars

Roscoe
I see you have a deep history in Motorsport and a love of Mk 2 Golfs and I'd like your opinion on the two different chassis for motorsport.
I would think the mk1 would be the ideal car because of its size and low weight and have never really thought about the mk2 ,being a heavier car.
Which one would you choose.
I have both and have a partially built (caged shell) mk1 and am going to use a 1.8t motor and02a box.
Your advise would be greatly appreciated.
After all the great race cars you have driven and you have a mk2 Golf.
There must be an answer there somewhere ?

Regards

[Roscoe]

Golfwise,
Yes the Mk2 is a great handling car and I would say better than a Mk1 in its standard form. The brakes are also much better (it has some!)with rear discs on a GTi. My other car in UK was a Porsche 965 Turbo (over 400hp) and I can honestly say that I get just as much enjoyment from my GTI and I could have bought 30 GTIs for what I sold the Porsche for! I have driven both cars very hard on the track and road and although I loved the Porsche I am not dissapointed when I drive the Golf, they really handle well and give great feedback to the driver. I just wish I had more power!

As a racer though I think the Mk1 would be just as good or possibly better. It is lighter to start with and in a race car you can overcome the original car's shortcomings so if you have already started on the Mk1 then I would continue down that track. A mk1 with a 1.8T in it would be great.

[evorobin]

Phoned the engineers today. Wheels will be ready next week. Roscoe are you running sway bars? I have found since the eibachs went in it feels even more sure footed at the limit!

[Roscoe]

I run standard swaybars with poly bushes. I don't think you nead to go stiffer for the road you are better off investing in a good set of shocks. If the Sway bar is too stiff on the front you are more likely to pick up the inside front wheel when cornering and then you have no traction. I have raced front drive cars with no sway bar at all! Going stiffer at the rear may help eliminate understeer but I find that my car is pretty neutral anyway. My biggest problem is that the car is pitching to much under heavy braking and locking a rear wheel. It is actually quite hard to improve the handling on a MK2 GTi, but it is easy to make a mess of it. A bit of negitive camber on the front and a lower front subframe brace are worthwhile.

[evorobin]

Interesting stuff. In terms of handling other people have said the opposite. I find the sway bars make for a choppier ride but traction out of corners is improved. Again this in my opinion is down to running them with std suspension. I think if it was lowered the sway bars would work against the car as you said!

The only way of knowing is to do it. I can't believe the corner speeds I have now. I was keeping up with an S3 in the wet on some fast sweepers. Also the car feels tighter than it did before. You can go 25fr and 28rear if your really keen...

[mrgolf]

I think if it was lowered the sway bars would work against the car as you said!

...and yet you are encouraging me to get a set of sways for my 35mm lower GTI....

Glad we are having this converstaion, Roscoe. I feel that mine always locks the rear brakes in the same way. Do you think it is worth adjusting the rear bias a little? I also find that the car wallows a little too much and is less neutral than it has been due to a diff locker being installed. It does help a bit with less understeer when pushed hard, but when cruising it has more understeer. Do you reckon a stiffer rear sway will help this?

[evorobin]

Yes and no steve. It may well affect traction out of corners lowered with a sway but once on the move I don't think it would. Mine is getting lowered more than 35mm so time will tell. I may well hate having a lowered car

[evorobin]

Decent pics to come!

[Golf Loon]

Lightened it up a bit for ya robin

[Golfwise]

Whats with the drooling over those mesh wheels
I wouldn't have them for a couple of reasons,
too hard to clean
look like they are from a mid 80's BMW and look dated
every man and his dog has them
look like they belong with a bodykit from the 80's
too many spokes,look cluttered

Dare to be different

[evorobin]

every man and his dog has them

Not in Australia they don't. I could have bought a new set of Ronal turbo's etc but I've always wanted some RS. If there were so many around I wouldn't have had to modify a set to fit. These used wheels were recently shipped from Japan btw...

Thanks Loon

[gotrice]

I also am not much of a fan of them. They look really busy.

[evorobin]

I also am not much of a fan of them. They look really busy.

So glad you said that. Less people with RS the better!