Which of the 3 would you go for? pros/cons
Although i dont want a slouch, im not looking for blistering performance.

Im looking at buying one of these:

A3 1.8 Turbo (99)

Golf Gti 8v (02)

Leon 1.8 20v (01)

 

All three are good cars, & I like all 3
I think Leon
It is a great car loads of mods for it. & you see it in main stream motor sport. touring cars.

But if you want top performance for money, scooby it is.
FWD & over 200 BHP don't go

But I do think they are 1 of the best FWD cars.
Good look bud

Bez

 

Owned an S3, Cupra R and work at VW, so been through all of them the Cupra R has to be the best although in the wet the S3 would eat it, Golfs a bit slow and boring, I'd go for a 02-03 Cupra 180bhp 1.8t 20v if thats the kind of budget you have.

 

I looked at all three and went with Audi.

1.8T Sport never missed a beat in two years (although now has a hard turbo fault that needs diagnosed).

It was interiors swung it for me, Audi was much better screwed together and had certainly worn better than the Golf and the Leons I looked at were just shabby by comparison.

Leons were so bad, I never even drove one. Driving, the Golfs were fine but that was it, Audi again just felt better put together and very solid.

 

I would go for the Golf, having owned loads of them in my life. Its a good car, not to expensive to run, insure. Cheap enough to fix and you can mod it as much or as little as you want.

http://www.fastcar.co.uk/04570735437...MG_3661-02.jpg

 

I am a VW/Audi fan, more so VW.
I have owned a mk4Golf Gti turbo which bought from new never missed a beat during the three years i owned it. A mate had a non turbo gti which to me was a pretty pointless car as gti's go. Saying that the turbo was no tarmac scorcher. After the turbo i bought a V6 4 motion which i thought was a really good car which also never missed a beat. These are going very cheap now.
As far as A3's (owned an S3) are concerned, they are just a more expensive Golf, different exteriors but the interiors are so alike.
Never owned a Seat so can't comment.
I don't know what your budget is but what about a Golf mk4 R32
Nik

 

Do not get the 8v Golf, I've had one of these and its painfully slow. 115bhp is not enough in a car this heavy. It struggled to overtake safely and fuel economy is quite poor.

The 1.8t engine is quite good though!

 

 

Not too sure what you meeeen
But 200BHP or 400BHP FWD in the dry your only looking at 6 sec 0-60 and in the wet your looking late April.
And for most of us who have a play at the lights thats where it will show.
But the VW and Audi do do 4WD
If you staying std the leon is what I would go for. If your going to mod then the 4WD VW or Audi would be the 1.

This is only my opinion, I'm not saying I'm right or wrong.

Bez

 

And be prepared to have a few leaks into the foot wells

 

My Octavia vRS was great with the 1.8T.

Also had 180 bhp.Not sure if the Audi might be 150 bhp like the golf gtis with the 1.8T were (certainly my old A4 was 150)

 

You could also get the newer mk4 Golf GTi's with 180bhp.
Nik.

 

I had a Golf turbo before the scooby, nice car but once I tuned it over 220 BHP I may aswell have just taken my tyres of and burned them,

Id go for the Leon, not as common as the golf and better looking than the A3 and still has the 1.8 T engine which is ripe for a bit of tuning

If you can stretch to an S3 then theres your answer, 4WD means far more power can be gotten (and used) from the 1.8 lump.

 

Leon.
It handles the best.
Mk4 Golf handling is TERRIBLE (apart from the R32).

 

I already own a scoob (view my scooby)
Like i said, this car would'nt be so much about the performance as 'her in doors' will be driving it.

I reckon im defo looking at the Golf or Audi.

 

You are considering a Mk4 Golf Gti 8v?????? Grandad in a 1.5 Almera will see you off - they are HORRIBLE cars

 

We have had a 1.8T Sport for 4 years.

In that time it has been completely reliable, doing about 45k miles. It'll do 35mpg on a mixed bit of driving, has plenty of low down torque and is comfortable.

However, it's not blisteringly quick and isn't exciting.

It is screwed together well but I've had to replace the rear bushes and the rear wash wipe assembly.

We're looking to swap our 51 reg model if you are interested....

Steve