mk4 GTI 1.8 turbo vs Bora V6 4mo which is better and why

[blackers10]

Hey all, just curious on people's thoughts as to which is the better/more fun to drive/other? car out of these 2?

obvious differences of the 4mo being awd would aid grip and handling but the gti being turbo would make it more spirited to drive and lighter?

any other thoughts comparing the 2 are welcome

[h100vw]

Hey all, just curious on people's thoughts as to which is the better/more fun to drive/other? car out of these 2?

obvious differences of the 4mo being awd would aid grip and handling but the gti being turbo would make it more spirited to drive and lighter?

any other thoughts comparing the 2 are welcome

Are you trying to start a fight here?!?!

I have an S3 and my Polo GTI and I have to be honest that there's days when I regret not taking the S3, if it rains on the way home from work for example.

It's just so much more solid, compared to the Polo. I know the Golf is a bit heavier but the feeling isn't too dissimilar when you are at the wheel.

Small powerful cars are easy to drive quick. The Bora would take a bit more effort.

Gavin

[blackers10]

fights are good haha, more educational debate

sorry for my lack of knowledge, the S3 is AWD?

[h100vw]

fights are good haha, more educational debate

sorry for my lack of knowledge, the S3 is AWD?

Yeah, better looking body on mk4 chassis and a 4 pot motor.

[JustCruisn]

They are both best for different things.
I have the GTI and also a Jetta - (sorry no Bora) but I can say at times the hatch is what I need, other times the sedan is more practical.

Bora V6 has the AWD the GTI does not, Bora V6 is likely to have leather, only an option on the GTI.


Now compare the Golf R32 to the Bora V6 and you start to get a better base for comparison.

[h100vw]

Now compare the Golf R32 to the Bora V6 and you start to get a better base for comparison.

True that!

[blackers10]

the R32 is also exponentially more expensive than the GTI vs Bora
where as the other 2 are in the same price bracket.

[blackers10]

I would think the GTI is more power mod friendly than the V6's? being boosted and all?
are go fast/styling parts more readily available for the GTI over the Bora?

[tigger73]

There is one awesome supercharged 4mo Bora v6 running around Adelaide. Would definitely leave most tuned GTIs in the dust.


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[RubAVeeDubDub]

I'd agree with the above sentiments on comparing apples with apples.

The Bora 4mo is a V6 sedan with an awd system and the Golf GTi is a fwd hatch with a decent amount of power.

AWD =! handling. It means grip. The Bora 4mo has truckloads of grip AND has good handling due to in part the awd system, it's relatively light weight for an awd, good chassis and good suspension setup. However it is still a sedan and will feel like one. I've driven my far share and so far it's the least 'sedanlike' car I've driven.

Drive both and decide for yourself but I'd say you'll find both cars very different to drive. One will be ripping you from the front end and will likely feel quite light and the other will propell you forward with minimal fuss but has a bit of a back end to carry around.

In terms of performance modability, the 1.8L has potential because it is already turbo-charged and was more popular around the world than the highly strung out 2.8L V6's. The V6's can be turbocharged but it is no easy or cheap process as the engine needs to be rebuilt and the entire install is full custom.

[Timmyrgm]

It's really not something that can be compared easily, I'll give you my opinion of the gti after owning one for a year.

With the right tyre, bracing and suspension set up. You wouldn't think it was fwd. I mean you do have the torque steer when doing lots of throttle exiting a sharp turn. But you learn to manage it. Friends are amazed at how much it hugs the road. Only on eibach springs and front and rear strut braces.
You already have an undertuned car from stock. So getting some respectable power is not hard at all. The gti is practical, im a carpenter. And most of my bulky tools fit In the boot. There is a ton of aftermarket support for them. The bora's are Properly classy and I love them, I wish I could give you an opinion on them but I've never driven one.

I hope this helps a bit anyway

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[blackers10]

Thanks for that Timmy and everybody else who has given some info as any information is good information
It is certainly a hard choice as both seem like exceptional cars, especially for the money, It seems to come down to boot vs no boot and 4cyl vs 6cyl rego and AWD.

Are the AWD gearboxes strong in the Boras? as it is often the weak link in most AWD vehicles ?

[h100vw]

Thanks for that Timmy and everybody else who has given some info as any information is good information
It is certainly a hard choice as both seem like exceptional cars, especially for the money, It seems to come down to boot vs no boot and 4cyl vs 6cyl rego and AWD.

Are the AWD gearboxes strong in the Boras? as it is often the weak link in most AWD vehicles ?

The boxes are tough in both 2 and 4WD definitely change the oil for synthetic, Redline is really good but there's others that are compatible.

Synthetic oil can really improve the changes of an average box. It'll even go some way to fixing crunchy syncros if you are lucky. My Polo was pretty rough when I got it and I thought I'd be up for a rebuild. I filled it with synthetic oil and until just now I had completely forgotten it was ever bad.

Gavin

[jamesatfish]

I can't comment exactly but up until a few weeks ago I had a Polo GTI (same setup as the Mk IV GTI) and Bora 4-Motion in the garage.

If you substitute Golf for Polo in the following comments:

The Polo was better because:

•It was noticeably lighter, making it far more agile on twisty roads and on the track.

•The 1.8T engine is easily tuneable - by the time I sold it the Polo had the APR Stage 3 (K04) setup but even with stock hardware and an ECU tune it pushes out more power than the 2.8L VR6.

•It has more room for carrying stuff. Particularly in my case because I had the rear seats removed, but even with just folding the seats flat the hatchback was far more capable for shifting larger bulky items than the sedan.


The Bora was better because:

•The VR6 engine sounds superb, even without an aftermarket exhaust system (mine was stock). It's a much better noise than the induction racket made by the 1.8T.

•The Bora had the best pedal feel for heel-and-toe shifting of any sub-$100K car I've driven. Gear shifts seemed so natural in the Bora, and you could blip the throttle on every downshift to enjoy more of the sweet engine note. The Polo's pedal placement and weighting made heel-and-toe shifting much harder, especially around town where you don't depress the brake pedal as far as when braking in anger on the track.

•Power-down in the Bora is much easier with the AWD system. The Polo in the wet really struggles (even with the LSD I had installed), whilst the 4Mo just gets the power down and goes. Obviously the Bora has more weight and less power so that helps the traction story also.

•Age aside, the Bora had a nicer interior. Leather seats with seat heating, digital climate control etc. My Polo (which had the standard cloth seats) was noticeably simpler / cheaper.


If you have a family, regularly need to take more than 1 passenger or prefer daily driver with a side of sporty, go the Bora. If you normally just drive by yourself, want to modify the bejeezus out of your car or prefer sporty with a side of daily driver, go the Golf.

[blackers10]

Thanks James, that is a great comparo
I drive the car 90% of the time solo, and sometimes on the weekend I may take our 1yo son and my wife in the car when we don't take her car(mind you my current car is a festiva 3 door and Her current car is an R33 4 door so it kind of makes sense to take the R33 as it is much larger and easier to get baby in and out of)