Mk2 Golf G60 Limited £80K - Why Not A 90 20v?

[Obli]

G60 Limited. Didn't realise VW made these. Nice but bonkers price.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ret...k-almost-ps80k


I still think the 90 20v is a better car!

It always irks me that no-one remembers the 90 20v, especially when you see the prices of their contemporaries.

Part of me feels it deserves wider recognition, part of me selfishly likes the secret owners club feel.

I've never met an owner - past or present - that didn't love these. I've often had car enthusiasts comment when they get given a drive.

Working to get mine back on the road has made me realise it's even more special than I thought (and I've owned the car for over 20 years).

Ok, it's not an M3, Sport quattro or Testarossa...
...but it's not an RS Turbo, Cavalier SRi or Golf GTi.

What are they even worth now?

[K Simmonds]

Whilst I would agree with you that the 20V Audi is a better car the MK2 G60 limited truly are something special, kinda like a SWB quattro, hence the mental price.

The 1.8 16V motor with a G60 charger puts out well over 200BHP (think it's 220) and they have Syncro four wheel drive which is crap compared to quattro but still better than 2WD.

Plus I think they only made 27 so it's a super rare car.

I hankered after one somewhat unrealistically for years and even started to build my own recreation before I got scuppered by getting a stock VW KR 16V exhaust manifold and downpipes to clear the transfer box.

Gave up, sold the Syncro and bought a G60 Corrado instead, the slightly managed red one you saw in my yard.

[Obli]

210bhp and 71 made according to the article . Very rare indeed, moreso than a Sport quattro!

I get confused when trying to understand older car valuations. In this instance, I can appreciate it's the rarity of the beast.

I do like older Golfs. I really wanted a Golf Mk2 16v when I was 20 years old. Ended up buying the cheaper Audi 90 20v. Even then, when they were both 10 year old cars, the 16v was more expensive. Guess it's all about desirability, supply and demand. For me, it's the sound, engineering and individual character.

[K Simmonds]

Yeah, I knew it was bloody rare! Given how rare it is I actually think it's under valued, but there again it doesn't really have any motorsport pedigree, they did briefly rally 8V GTi engined Syncro's but didn't do all that well.

MK2 16V's are in my top three favorite cars out of everything I've ever driven. Sure the Audi has better build quality and a more solid feel but I'd leave FWD 7A for dead in decent 1.8 KR 16 valve Golf. They've got the power to weight ratio just right, so you can drive it flat out continuously and remain in control, some of the speeds I averaged over long journeys (at night) in mine were truly insane, 90MPH+

The Golf is a proper hooligan car whereas the Audi is that bit more refined but still very capable, though I'll be honest and give credit where it's due the Golf will out handle a FWD 7A car by quite a considerable margin.

Their properly fast as well, 0-60 in about 7 seconds dead and they will do over 140mph confirmed on GPS.

Though now I've grown up I'd rather hack about in that 2.0 80 quattro I've got than a MK2 Golf, unless it was something like a Limited. I always used to refer to B2 Audi 80 sports as the thinking mans GTI.

[Obli]

Im fairly confident a MK2 Golf 16v would not leave a 2WD 90 20v for dead. Be interested to hear other opinions. They have approx the same power to weight ratio. 0-60 is marginally quicker for the 90 20v, 7.6s, the Golf being about 8s. The 90 20v handles very well, probably better than the quattro in dry conditions. It's only 1200kg.

I guess there would be one way to find out!

[tractor Dave]

I used to own a 16v mk2 golf. It was quite incredible on country B roads. I doubt even my S2 would keep up.

[K Simmonds]

Originally Posted by tractor Dave

I used to own a 16v mk2 golf. It was quite incredible on country B roads. I doubt even my S2 would keep up.

Yeah, they are crazy little wagons.

BTW a decent 8 valve with hit 60 in 8.4 seconds, a KR running properly will do it in 7 dead (perhaps faster with a better driver), I've done both on GPS so don't go by the published figures.

Keep a MK2 16V above 5K RPM and in the right gear and it may as well have a turbo, totally different animal to the Audi.

On anything other than very straight roads the Golf would win hands down, not that we should be discussing such things with an ex-police officer...

[tractor Dave]

I'm sure it was a race track we were referring to.
Seriously, you need to drive a mk2 16v to understand what we are talking about.

[K Simmonds]

Yes, quite, all done on private roads.

I wish I still had my 16V, then I'd let James have a go so he could see what we're talking about, it's a bit like comparing chalk and cheese, even though on paper they are closely matched.

Hell, I reckon I could at least keep up with a 7A in a three door 8V on tight roads. Now that would be a very close match on A roads, on the motorway the Audi would thrash it.

To be fair the only 7A I've driven was a CQ and it certainly shifted, but nothing like a 16V Golf, not even close.

[Isimmo]

Many, many moons ago I drove Tim Styles’ white Mk2 demonstrator with Boge suspension and their 1900cc engine…. I nearly died laughing, tearing around Somerset lanes, it was comically fast.

The 90 is a totally different beast, with long distance touring attributes the golf could only dream of.