1995 Volkswagen Golf VR6 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Well, when I first got the car, it had been sitting (not getting use) for almost 1 year, so I knew there would be a few things; but I got it cheaply, so am not too bothered.

Head gasket was showing signs that it needed to be replaced, so got it done. While it was in, the mechanic found that it needed a chain guide and new thermostat.

All in, it cost me £250 including parts, so not a lot.

Since then, everything has been tiptop.

The car was a totally standard 3 door Golf VR6 in 'Dragon Green', so I started spending a few quid on her.

Things that have been done so far:

KW springs and shocks.

Deep chin front splitter.

BMC CDA induction kit.

Custom 2.5" straight pipe exhaust.

De-cat.

Once all the above was done, it felt like a true VR6 should feel.

The car is very fast, and I've had 300bhp Celicas and other fast Japanese imports, so I know what speed is; it isn't amazingly fast, but for a Golf, it goes.

0-60 = 6.5

top speed = 150mph+

The car handles okay; not as good as some other Japanese cars I've owned, but all in all it does fine.

The best part of the car would have to be the sound track of the V6 lump. With the exhaust and de-cat, it sounds totally unreal at around 4000rpm mark.

Bad Bits:

The main bad point to this car would be the MPG; it's the worst ever car I've had for this. On the bypass I can get around 20-26MPG, but around town it's more like 15-19MPG. It's very hard to live with as your daily driver.

Insurance; I'm not sure why as I've had loads of fast cars before, but the Vr seems to be up there with the best of them for high insurance premium.

All in All:

In my view, when the car was standard it seemed a little dull, but with the suspension plus filter and exhaust, it turned the car into a totally different machine.

As far as new hot hatches come, the Vr can match any for performance, as I have beaten Astra VXR and Leon Cupra R.

I've tried to be as honest about the car as I can.

Thanks.

"As far as new hot hatches come, the Vr can match any for performance, as I have beaten Astra VXRs and Leon Cupra Rs"

A Cupra R possibly to about 60, then the Cupra would pull away; against a VXR it wouldn't have a chance.

Golf vr6 only has 170bhp, it will NOT do 0-60 in 6.5 more like 7.5 and it will NOT do 150mph more like 140.

170bhp is not enough power in a car that weighs this much to do those figures.

I've raced a corrado vr6 (which has the more powerful 190bhp version of this engine) and it couldnt keep up with me in a honda integra type r. overblown claims from what is effectivly a warm hatch.

Agreed it isn't even as fast as the slower hot hatches like Clio 182, Golf GTI etc, there is no way it could match a VXR.

Its the OBD2 engine so 190bhp standard, now running just over 200bhp a lot lighter than cupra and astra. 14.9 1/4mile and can prove this, also can prove car can do over 150mph,

Unless you changed the engine golf only ever came with 170bhp.the 190 was left for the corrado. and as for it doin 150mph I would like to see the prove of that as I don't believe it.

Magazines and statistical websites vary the horsepower between 172bhp/174bhp/176bhp/178bhp.

In 1996 the Golf VR6 got the revised OBD2 engine. Many are up to 190bhp, statistics and insurance remained the same, many people think all of them have 170bhp.

"many people think all of them have 170bhp."

Many people don't beleive a word you've said, me being one of them.

Go check the owners clubs ask them what bhp the obd had, its between 185-190bhp,

OK... now you are talking to the guru of VR6 VW engines!

The Golf MK3 VR6 came with 174bhp, 0-60 in 7.4 and onto a top speed of 141mph. It uses a 2.8 V6 12v engine.

The Corrado VR6 came with 190bhp but many found when they had their car RR'd it was more like 194-196bhp. This was in standard form.

The Corrado can do 0-60 in 6.7 and onto a top speed of 150mph.

It uses a 2.9 V6 12v engine.

The Corrado VR6 is a fast car. The Golf MK3 VR6 is good but not as good as the Corrado. Running costs, well the way petrol prices are at the mo' @ £1.21 a litre... Stupidly expensive to run.

I don't care what anyone says, there's no way a Golf VR6 can get anywhere near a VXR.

A corrado VR6 would give a VXR a good run. My mates old Corrado with 148k miles gave my Fiat coupe 20v Turbo a run and my fiat was rolling roaded at 267bhp.

The Golf VR's are about 170bhp...Corrado's are 190 but they all give out more than that, normally a lot more. The Corrado uses the MK2 Golf chassis, handles extremely well and goes very well. Mate had 148mph with me as a passenger showing on his road Angel... speedo was showing 160mph though!! This was on a private bit of land of course!!

If you can afford the petrol... buy one!! They are falling in price big time due to our lovely government who seem to be upping the petrol prices daily.

I currently own a standard 5 dr VR6 MK3 Golf on an N plate. Prior to this I had an 03 plate R32. I have to say that I think my VR6 is faster than the R32!! My VR6 revs very high and will easily cream VXR's, Cupra R and definitley Honda integra type R (as well as new Civic Type R). Just because it only says 183 BHP on paper doesn't mean sh*t. The only disadvantage to the VR6 is the front wheel drive in the wet which can be a bit lairy with wheelspin. Great car, just don't expect to beat Impreza's (another one of my previous cars). By the way, cars after mid 1995 had galvanised bodies - hence no rust (mine is pristine for a 13 year old).

So a VR6 Golf, which has less hp and more weight than an Integra type R is faster is it?

I raced 4 or 5 VR6 Golfs and 2 VR6 Corrados (faster than the Golf), and beat them all in my dc2 Integra Type R.

The r32 is a lot faster than the vr6 and I stay with it till 100mph in my integra type r.

The VR6 is actually quite close to the R32. The R32 weighs A lot more than the VR6 52% more in fact and has a tad less bhp/torque increase.

The R32 isn't actually that great in corners either as it is FWD and only goes to AWD when the fronts start losing traction & spinning. Whats worse the extra weight of the R32 makes it feel less rigid in the fast corners too so I had to add strut braces to mine too.

I have both these cars in 5 door silver and even though the VR6 is older I prefer the smoother feel of the engine, supple suspension and relaxed drive. I also prefer the subtle reserved styling. It really is that good. Without doubt it's a future classic. I have an early K-reg version and prefer the look to the overly bland styled highline models.