1994 Volkswagen Golf III GL | Retro Review

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ธ.ค. 2023
  • Fellow enthusiasts, a three wheel salute if you will for the VW Golf III
    Show 1317 | Original Airdate 12-22-1993
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ความคิดเห็น • 150

  • @f00koff42
    @f00koff42 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +55

    Still my daily driver after almost 30 years and I don't plan on ending that

    • @ajaymc6137
      @ajaymc6137 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      How many miles u got?

    • @f00koff42
      @f00koff42 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ajaymc6137 the previous owner had already lost track of them, but I'd say close to 700.000km, so about 435.000 miles

    • @aitohessu
      @aitohessu 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Same here! Best daily ever.

    • @djkenny1202
      @djkenny1202 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Love my 2000 Cabrio

    • @craig9843
      @craig9843 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Love that body style and before. They need the diesel.

  • @Wasabi9111
    @Wasabi9111 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

    The mid/late 90s were prime vw yrs in the US. The Passat was fantastic and this car so “cool”. ESP w the da da da commercial.

  • @gordosgamesgg
    @gordosgamesgg 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Anti-lock breaks as an option was wild lol

    • @gedaman
      @gedaman 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      That brake lockup was like something out of a cartoon. 😂

    • @philsmgb4393
      @philsmgb4393 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      In the '70's, the back seat was optional on the Rabbit.

  • @FarmerDrew
    @FarmerDrew 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +33

    Interior options included:
    Patchouli scented seat covers
    Research chemicals
    Pearl Jam cassettes

    • @mollari2261
      @mollari2261 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      You brought your own drugs, tho.

    • @FarmerDrew
      @FarmerDrew 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@mollari2261 maybe not if buying the car used

  • @svenlabots1869
    @svenlabots1869 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

    This one was a massive seller in Europe. Turns out it was without a doubt the best Golf ever, gasoline or diesel, reaching absolutely colossal mileages. It was also the last one that was fairly priced and maybe the last time "German Decency" could compete with the Japanese competition.

    • @palebeachbum
      @palebeachbum 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I've never seen a high-mileage Golf Mk3 in the USA with the 2.0L gasoline engine.

    • @Blue-moon12
      @Blue-moon12 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Yip, it was after this the decline happened

    • @svenlabots1869
      @svenlabots1869 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      @@palebeachbum you could be totally right on that. They didn't exist in Europe. They were mainly 1600's or 1800's or 1900diesel (the real indestructible one).

    • @yeoldegamer5112
      @yeoldegamer5112 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@svenlabots1869 Not true. While the 60, 75 and 90ps petrol engines were the main sellers the 2.0 litre was the basis for higher level GLX and GTi variants. Golf and Vento (Jetta in US)

    • @Timico1000
      @Timico1000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      In Germany this generation was more unloved as it had some quality issues and rust problems. It never gained the followership the Mk2 has today.

  • @wavelength1970
    @wavelength1970 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    my 97 GTI VR6 was an amazing car

  • @sammyt3514
    @sammyt3514 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    Test drove one of these against the contemporary Civic and Corolla back in 1998 and found it to be far less refined/noisier than either of its Japanese competition. I preferred the looks of it the most out of all 3, but that alone wasn't enough to win against the Japanese cars which were also more fuel efficient and reliable. I ended up with a Corolla and never regretted it; it served me very well.

    • @djkenny1202
      @djkenny1202 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My 2000 Cabrio has 150k. Been great. Hows the Corolla? How many miles now? I’ll never sell this car.

  • @somejackball
    @somejackball 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    had a 96 GTI a short time, thing sure was fun! but 2 yrs later, went back to muscle cars with a 98 Z28, and still drive em. though 2cd choice will always be VW

  • @j.m.5995
    @j.m.5995 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I still daily my 97 Drivers edition GTI

  • @BabyBugBug
    @BabyBugBug 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Such a good car!!

  • @shinobusensui9395
    @shinobusensui9395 28 วันที่ผ่านมา

    i love this car, the person who sold me the car didn't disclose the issues my car had.
    I had to replace the sensors for the truck and doors. My car alarm was always randomly going off due to this. Not hard to do and cheap.
    My driveway had stains all the time from unknown leaks.
    The oil cooler had a leak, fixed it myself.
    The rear main seal had an oil leak, eventually it blew and ruined the clutch. I replaced the rear main seal and clutch groupset in the snow.
    The transmission actually had a leak, it was the last leak i could find on the car. I could have used jb weld maybe but at this point I had switched to a miata and decided to sell the car.
    I really miss the 2 door 2slow. Every once in a while, I look on FB marketplace, but they rarely come up. To be honest i rarely see VW vehicles in general now a days. Alot of the new ones seem to disappear about 5 years ago and the pre 2005 models were already scarce.

  • @stevemcgowen
    @stevemcgowen 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I would take one of these in mint condition over any American car. Drove a 1997 MK3 Golf Jazz for 20 years...

  • @irongary
    @irongary 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Shifter showed up wearing a ballgown

  • @glennleslie6127
    @glennleslie6127 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Back in the day, I cross shopped that VW with the Subaru Impreza (awd), and the Honda Civic. I went with the Subaru, great car...

  • @josemartinez-ul6gh
    @josemartinez-ul6gh 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +23

    I still drive my 1998 golf GL,, no issues

    • @RabbiJesus
      @RabbiJesus 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      I believe you drive it, I don’t believe the no issues.

    • @kristoffer3000
      @kristoffer3000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      How incredibly depressing, these weren't even nice when new 💀

    • @kavehhashemi9448
      @kavehhashemi9448 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      @@kristoffer3000your life is incredibly depressing

    • @hopingforthebest1.9
      @hopingforthebest1.9 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      ​@@RabbiJesushonestly the ABA 2.0 is probably the simplest and more reliable engine that VW has ever made

    • @DanielW-wz4gj
      @DanielW-wz4gj 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      With that base 2.0 engine and the 5spd stick, The Jetta and the golf were great basic commuter cars. When you filled the tank the gas gauge never seemed to move. Really good gas mileage!

  • @tkewrestler2662
    @tkewrestler2662 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    It is interesting to think about antilock brakes not being standard issue. Ah how times have changed….

    • @nessuno5403
      @nessuno5403 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      So were contraceptives once 🤦🏻‍♂️

    • @b-genspinster7895
      @b-genspinster7895 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Way back when power brakes were an option or just not available on some cars.

    • @overwhamming
      @overwhamming 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yeah 138 feet on the braking test, pretty rough.

    • @mattwolf7698
      @mattwolf7698 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      No air bag by 93 was more shocking.

    • @Koexistence13
      @Koexistence13 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@b-genspinster7895 standard power brakes option was more way back than this era

  • @louisbabycos106
    @louisbabycos106 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Compared to today for all of its technical sophistication 115 HP from 2 liters naturally aspirated.

  • @3VWMAN
    @3VWMAN 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    i still have my 96 Golf Harlequin that i picked up in august of that year. currently has 56,740 miles on it and is basically like a new, albeit 28 year old, car now. :)

  • @xnopyt13
    @xnopyt13 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have always loves this style of shifter boot, I wonder why no one else has done it

  • @mattwolf7698
    @mattwolf7698 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Europeans still love them (I wonder if their diesel varient is more reliable) but the Golf has never been a big seller in the US, or st least it hasn't been since the 80's.
    Probably because you could get a more reliable civic or corolla for cheaper. Seriously I NEVER see Golf's made before the late 2000's anymore. I still see a bit of 80's and 90's civics and corollas driving around though.

    • @johnnymason2460
      @johnnymason2460 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Actually the main reason the Golf didn't sell as well in America is that it's a hatchback. Americans consider hatchbacks as cheap transportation. That's why the Jetta always sells better here. It's a sedan, not a hatchback.

    • @djkenny1202
      @djkenny1202 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      My 92 GTI 16v. Owned since 98. 198k miles. It’s a tough car. Definitely worth keeping on the Russ over a boring Civic or Corolla.

  • @albear972
    @albear972 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    2:45 OK, here it comes, 3, 2, 1! I saw that coming from a mile away.

  • @bh2155
    @bh2155 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I remember in the late eighties and the nineties the Jetta and Rabbit use to be the cool car. Everyone in my neighborhood wanted a Jetta. Now people rarely talk about VW

  • @BruceTheSpruce97
    @BruceTheSpruce97 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My first car (GTI tho). Very fun to toss around but rusted really badly.

  • @Niterider73
    @Niterider73 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I am amazed that you are able to get such a little power out of a 2L engine. Hell I think it was back during that time that the 2.0 420A was producing around 140 horsepower. Maybe it's because that motors a dual overhead cam? I just figured with two liters and what was it like 10.5: 1 compression you would see more than 115 horsepower

    • @retrocompaq5212
      @retrocompaq5212 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      was a basic simple cam engine, the twin cam had 145hp

    • @djkenny1202
      @djkenny1202 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      My 2.0 16v has 134ho, and it is DOHC. 115 in a pretty normal.

  • @salebasic1733
    @salebasic1733 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Mk 3 golf is very nice car.

  • @redneon06
    @redneon06 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Isn’t it also the Fox GL?

  • @CoasterTurbo
    @CoasterTurbo 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This 2.0 was much slower than a Honda Civic, and very noisy at hwy speed because it had no overdrive gear

    • @DanielW-wz4gj
      @DanielW-wz4gj 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      My Jetta with this engine and 5speed had a tall 5th gear and got really good highway mileage. I guess I would have imagined the Golf with this same power train would have been the same way?

  • @xnopyt13
    @xnopyt13 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Why are these so rare?

  • @Henchman1977
    @Henchman1977 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Americans never got the AAZ diesel like Canadians did. I broke many of these cars and sent engines/parts south of the border.

    • @jareknowak8712
      @jareknowak8712 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      The AFN was much better engine than AAZ.
      In Europe the AFN was sold as "GTD" trim - which means "the diesel version of GTi".

  • @ensignjimmy3237
    @ensignjimmy3237 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Now their own CEO calls them uncompetitive…

    • @williamegler8771
      @williamegler8771 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      They are uncompetitive when buyers prefer SUVs and CUVs as well as EVs to hatchbacks and sedans.

    • @BabyBugBug
      @BabyBugBug 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@williamegler8771What about us who don’t want SUVs or EVs?

    • @ensignjimmy3237
      @ensignjimmy3237 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@williamegler8771- they offer all of those…

    • @kristoffer3000
      @kristoffer3000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@BabyBugBug We're a small minority, also good EV's are genuinely incredible in a lot of ways so I'd recommend testdriving one

    • @BabyBugBug
      @BabyBugBug 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@kristoffer3000 I have, tried a Tesla Model 3. I liked the performance, but I hated the controls, the feel, and the range anxiety. And I was in San Francisco, so it's not like somewhere random. Even in the city, I had problems finding a charging station and had to pay a garage a lot to charge it for me.

  • @sheldonlamey7010
    @sheldonlamey7010 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    How was this cheaper than a Civic 🤔🤔

  • @tommyboy1653
    @tommyboy1653 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    You dont see many older VOLKSWAGEN cars on the road ,not ljke hondas ot toyotas or even chevrolet.

    • @williamegler8771
      @williamegler8771 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I don't know where you live but I live in a suburb of Chicago and regularly commute between Chicago Madison and Milwaukee and you still see Golf and Jetta llls fairly regularly being used as daily drivers. They're seen just as often as Toyotas and Hondas of the same age and they're usually in better condition rust-wise.

    • @BabyBugBug
      @BabyBugBug 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I still see them here in NY.

    • @Blue-moon12
      @Blue-moon12 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Still see them in Calgary, Canada.

    • @stevemcgowen
      @stevemcgowen 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Here in Central Europe MK3 and Mk4 Golfs are all over the place. Never see any older Japanese brands and I don't remember seeing a Chevy of any sort in months...

  • @AmraphelofShinar
    @AmraphelofShinar 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Goff.

  • @edwardaquinoelric5935
    @edwardaquinoelric5935 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Volkswagen Golf III Tercera Generación Fue Ganador El Coche Del Año En Europa 92 Es Un Auto Alemán 🇩🇪 En 1993 Se Fabrican En Puebla México Y Se Comercializa En Estados Unidos Canadá México Y El Restó De América Latina

  • @SataniaMcDowel
    @SataniaMcDowel 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    115 out of a 2.0 yikes...drove one and it's slooooow

    • @damilolaakanni
      @damilolaakanni 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

      They used that engine until 2012, and it was very reliable, pretty much the most reliable part of all the cars that used that engine.

    • @Hintonbro.
      @Hintonbro. 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Had one - It was completely adequate

    • @palebeachbum
      @palebeachbum 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@damilolaakanni Except for the common oil consumption issue. It was just a crap car overall.

    • @palebeachbum
      @palebeachbum 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      For comparison, the Dodge Neon came out at the end of '94 and its 2.0L made 132hp standard or 150hp in DOHC version. The Golf/Jetta III was very lackluster in almost every conceivable way.

    • @damilolaakanni
      @damilolaakanni 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@palebeachbum I never had that issue with mine...2002 MK4 Golf with about 149k miles.

  • @palebeachbum
    @palebeachbum 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    These were rather junky cars. The 2.0L I recall had problems with burning oil as they aged. My elderly neighbor bought a new Jetta III and it burned oil, had a check engine light, transmission issues, and failed cruise control by the time it had 70k miles. They were made in Mexico for the U.S. market, so I don't know that it helped. People claim the ones sold in Europe were better.

    • @djkenny1202
      @djkenny1202 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah my 2000 Cabrio Rules

  • @marshalmagooo3899
    @marshalmagooo3899 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Don't buy one that was built on Taco Tuesday and Thursday or Modelo Monday and Tecate Friday

    • @fernandorocha-dx1wv
      @fernandorocha-dx1wv 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Very nice this VW Golf GL. Beautiful and spetacular car

    • @kamrankhan-lj1ng
      @kamrankhan-lj1ng 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That is almost the whole week.

  • @user-cj4sm8hv9y
    @user-cj4sm8hv9y 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Preview Test

  • @MrAndreCoutinho
    @MrAndreCoutinho 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Arguably the worst Golf ever.

    • @kristoffer3000
      @kristoffer3000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Easily the worst Golf ever.

    • @Steven-re3id
      @Steven-re3id 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I think the worst is the Mk4 in which the GTI version was slower than the mk1 version, the only good thing about the mk4 was the r32

    • @MrAndreCoutinho
      @MrAndreCoutinho 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@Steven-re3id The mk4 is a little better, with its superior build quality and timeless design. Shame it isn’t a driver’s car, the handling is numb and the torsion beam rear suspension is “outdated” after the fully independent set on the Ford Focus.
      I think the late 180hp GTI version is quite quick for its time. The R32 is awesome.
      Luckily they had fixed all these issues on the mk5, it’s possibly the second best gti, because the original is still the best.

    • @redneon06
      @redneon06 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Lies

    • @jareknowak8712
      @jareknowak8712 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@MrAndreCoutinho
      This 1.8 20V T engine is capable of really, really high power.
      This was the most often tuned engine in Europe, no doubts about it.
      True about the suspension - it was not the fastest on corners.

  • @LordLauderdale
    @LordLauderdale 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Quality of this Golf 3 wasn’t great.

    • @RabbiJesus
      @RabbiJesus 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Exactly. Everyone else is mistaking it for another generation or lying.

    • @Blue-moon12
      @Blue-moon12 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      In Europe it was a tank. Last well built Golf

    • @LordLauderdale
      @LordLauderdale 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@Blue-moon12 not in my experience and I’m German 🇩🇪

    • @f00koff42
      @f00koff42 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LordLauderdale my 1.9TDI has been a daily driver since 1995 and it still gets over 1000km on a single tank

  • @bikes7777
    @bikes7777 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Vws have been so unreliable for so long I dont see how.anyone woyld buy one these days.

    • @BabyBugBug
      @BabyBugBug 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I have never had a problem.

    • @kristoffer3000
      @kristoffer3000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@BabyBugBug Good for you, the VW's I've had have not been very good.

    • @RabbiJesus
      @RabbiJesus 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@kristoffer3000he’s doesn’t even drive it. Just sits behind the wheel and makes vroom noises.

    • @kristoffer3000
      @kristoffer3000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@RabbiJesus Haha, probably

    • @stevemcgowen
      @stevemcgowen 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I have 2. they are fantastic...

  • @Blue-moon12
    @Blue-moon12 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The GTI version was very underwhelming

  • @mustsilm
    @mustsilm 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Mexican built doesnt give me confidence. So not even in america like some japanese. Clear cost cut.

    • @stevemcgowen
      @stevemcgowen 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I would never drive a car built in America. I have worked at and have seen a number of American factories and the attitude US factory workers have...