VW Golf GTI vs VW Golf 2.0 TDI - Auto Express

Next in our series of Heroes Humbled? videos, we test the MkII Golf GTI against today's 2.0 TDI.

[RadostinVelchev]

there is no such thing as 119bhp MKII. The 8 valve were PB 112 and the PF 107, the 16V were PL 129 and KR 139.

[MBD_]

they could have at least used the MkII 16V with 139bhp to make it more comparable

[Thecougar]

These gti's were the best models. I worked on these when they were new. The 16v's were the ones to have. They were light years ahead of xr3's & GTE's in terms of build quality.

[DTFilmProductions]

the Mk2 1.8 GTi 16v had 139bhp and would of been a much better match as it did 0-60 in around 7.8 seconds back in the day

[RichieRouge]

The new Golfs make me fall into a coma with boredom.... the MK1s and 2s will never be beaten for character... 

[KokoTero]

On year 2030, old Golf Mk2 GTI will still be rolling, while the brand new TDI will be in form of beverage cans, keychains and zips. That's the most valuable medal an engine could earn ever.

[Jke]

112 bhp actually in the 8v, and 9.9 seconds 0-60?! They must've cut the part where grandad stalled. This seems like false advertising for greener cars to me.

[davidrobert]

These modern day diesels are cheap to run but you seem to pay for it in maintenance when they f**k up and they do f**k up. At least you could fix a mk2 yourself.

[timseymour]

That dash on the mk2 is not original which makes you wonder how original the rest of it is. Should have pitted the 16v model which had 25% more power over the 8v,

[derekshaw]

New golf still looks shite next to Mk2 classic looks

[SaG]

119 hp in what looks like an 8V Mk II GTI? Hmmm... my own 1988 Mk II GTI (German spec) had 107 PS with factory fitted catalytic converter. The non-Cat version had 112hp. The 16V version made 129 PS with, 136 PS without Cat.
Performance-wise and from the level of body-trim/badges, the Mk II in the video looks like an 8V GTI to me. With or without a Cat, that car wasn't really that fast even back when it was new. The 16V version OTOH (which was rather common in the 80s and 90s) should've been able to beat the Bluemotion.

[engishgerman]

Anyone who knows anything about cars knows that the mk2 golf gti is one of the best cars ever made

[Zero_Ninety]

Mk2 GTI 8V was considered pretty slow even back then, Test is bullshit.

[martinkaz]

try against my 1989 gti and youll see what an old school golf can do

[BrakJan]

Problem is, the TDI is not road legal, needs to pass its Emissions test. Also the GTI much more fun.

[turkills]

but they dont say that this gti has the 1.8 8v 112hp engine

why they dont compare with the 1.8 16v 139hp ? or the 1.8 g60 160hp ?

[georgikiriakov]

I would take the MK2 any day of the week..thumbs up if you agree

[djkenny]

What a dumb comparison. Completely unrelated VW Golfs. A higher power 16v would make some sense. My 16v does 0-60 in barely 8 seconds. So it would be equal or better! Of course, if it was compared to the same Mk2 8V model, my car would be faster still. Come on? You did not think people would think this is a sensible road test, did you? Considering the nearly TRIPLE the amount of torque, fair to say, even that 8V is pretty impressive. TURBO Diesel compared to a normally aspirated car? REALLY?

[DanceToTheRhythmXD]

Hero? Mate, take 1.8 KR 139BHP for the test to be at least fair.. 

[dokterkarel]

the 16v golf 2 would have killed the TDI