Big bumper Mk2s are still my favourite Golfs. I think mods like this are awesome, still get the classic looks and character with the benefits of more modern technology. As long as it's not taken too far ofc.
I agree 100%, I think the more important thing is to keep these old cars going for posterity and the enjoyment of future generations and the guys who do mods like this and keep the overall ethos of the original car are doing a great service. I also appreciate that some folks would rather have a 100% original car, but I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive. I think both views should co-exist and encourage each other.
I can give you ten examples or more that look 10 times better then this brick looking old shitbox but thats just opinion now is it byt saying you have yet to see one with better styling is just plain stupid, I'll give you one already Alfa 147 gta.
When I worked for TSB Bank and had a company car they used to send us on defensive driving courses, presumably to reduce the amount of insurance claims the fleet had. I remember the guy who was training us saying "remember your road tax pays for both sides of the road, so use them!". His point being that clearly where it's safe to do so, you should use the other side of the road to make your driving line better. Particularly he made a point of stressing that when you are on very tight B and C roads where the road is very narrow, counter intuitively you are better to drive more over to the right, particularly where you have lots of bends so that an approaching car can see you coming rather than your natural reaction which is to hug tight to the left hand side. The problem with doing that is that you hide yourself from oncoming drivers until they are right on top of you. By sticking your self out on the white line they see you and you see them much earlier. So I would never pay attention to people who criticise you for driving on both sides. As long as it's safe to do so, you should be encouraged to use _all_ the road.
JayEmm I think you really have hit the nail on the head with these videos, I'd much rather watch your videos than the Shmee's of the world. These videos are useful to real every day guys who watch your channel that have mouths to feed and mortgages to pay and down to earth salaries and they educate us on what's available, what's possible and what you think of them. I'd rather have that MKII Golf on the back roads than any Shmeemobile as a) they wouldn't fit and b) I'd be scared to meet a tractor (or a bus as you mentioned) and it would all end badly. The cars of the MKII era seem much more sensible and nowadays the supercars are all about willy waving and boasting how much BHP, top speed 0 to 60 they have than for me what you buy cars for and that's enjoying a fast run down a British back road. Keep it up!
Masterpiece! It still sounds very VAG. Your review is so detailed that I feel as if I were codriving! Kudos to all the successive owners for keeping this wonderful car rolling and for their collective vision! We VW fans need to keep these cars as reminders of VW’s never ending desire to constantly improve the breed and remain the benchmark.
I have one myself, great to work on, great to drive and so much fun! circa 200bhp probably the right spot for power...much more and you shoudl really LSD it. Watch out for bad installations, Poor parts choices and intercooler pipe routing. So many bodge jobs out there but when you find a nice one, they really are great
Wow that brings back some memories! Had an 85' 1.8 8v, frikkin loved it, bought from my brother at 228k km and I drove it like an ass until 295k km when it was stolen, still original block and had never been opened. No aircon, no power steering. Bought a 91' if I remember correctly 2.0 16v big bumper after that, aircon, power steeing, leather seats, but it never gave me the same thrills as the older one even though it was a lot faster and better looking.
Iv had a mk2 1.8t tornado red done by dubsport. 285bhp awsome car, going back a lot of years, the second to be done at the time, full leather done by me! when I worked at MJ interiors, great times.
MK2 chassis is superb and a 20vt conversion is superb combination, type in C63 vs Dub, camera out rear of 20vt MK2 gti which is in front right up into 5th! Such a good conversion & the engine is slightly lighter too, a friend has a 16v parked beside 20vt converted one both on same suspension and 20vt sits a tiny bit higher up front. Timeless classic the MK2 gti😎💯
@@B15SDMDESIGNS the magazine is in my grandparents house. Might see if I can find it though don't want to risk it at the moment with lockdown and them being in the vulnerable category
@@zaink7037 na it's cool. Just curious which one it was. I was very deep in the VW scene. My car was featured in performance VW magazine aswell. Back in the day I spent so much money on my mk2 golf I don't want to even think about it. Loved every bit of it though. To this day I still regret selling it. I'm tempted to get another one as a project. I rate you for keeping the old copies of the magazine. I did the same for my favourite features. What an amazing time that was.
I had a 1988 F reg 16V Mk2 - did over 40k in under 2 years. I always thought it could handle more than the 139bhp...but having said that, it was a joy to wring it out to the red line and not end up so far over the speed limit that you were risking your license. Originally it was on 185 tyres which also mean that the levels of grip were limited, which also meant it was fun without (again) being at a dangerous speed. It was one of the best cars I owned, and every Golf I have driven since (and I owned four in all) was worse...
I do own a 1.8T swaped MK3 and even after 5 Years i still think thie idea of swaping MK2´s and MK3´s brilliant. They are really light cars ans whit the available torque of the Turbo Engine its really fun to drive an no one really thinks that that old Golf can be so quick. Whit 280-300 HP and the weight just under 1200 KG you really are in E46 M3 territory of acceleration. But they really need a LSD to put the power down @ corner exit.
As far as I'm concerned, GTIs were meant to be mad so it's a great project to watch. If I weren't on a budget but a need for speed, I would be making something of this liking myself. Cheers, great video.
Wheels look great. As a product of the Gran Turismo generation I've wasted many an hour modifying nonexistent cars, so I should say go for it, but the older I get the more I appreciate keeping a car as it was from the factory, with maybe a minor tweak here and there.
Old school involvement, modern power plant is no bad thing imo. Slightly off topic but i was never a fan of the old 1.8T, it does everything it says on the tin...it's refined if a little laggy low down, yet somehow manages to be completely unexciting. It came from an era where most things from the VW group were as fun to drive as watching paint dry. Good engine choice for the mk2 though.
I’m a sucker for engine swapped old VW’s. had a mk2 golf with a VR6 engine for years and currently have a corrado with a 1.8t+hybrid turbo etc. Nothing like giving an old car a newer more powerful engine. All the cool of a classic shape with the reliability and power of something more modern
This is very cool!. I had several of these mk 2 16vs way back when including a one with the Oettinger head and another with a Turbo Technics kit bolted onto it. It put out at least 250 bhp and was a little tricky in wet weather, spinning up the front wheels through 2nd and 3rd gear. Power steering was not necessary beyond 1-2 mph parallel parking maneuvers and even then not really. No ABS but great brake feel. They are light cars. Possible downsides - seem to remember my mileage was laughably bad and of course in 2020 you're driving a 2500lb car with no airbags and none of the crumple zone tech etc. we have now. A crash in one of these is going to probably mess you up more.
My favorite model of classic golf they got it so right and that upgraded engine with its extra kick really seems to compliment the machine smh truly epic example definatly hold it's value thats for sure
I just got my first GTI, a Mk7, and even though it is larger than the Mk2 I still get that same sense of line-choosing within your own lane. You can find a fast line without giving oncoming traffic a heart attack
I've had 2 mk1's, A174HFR and B252FOE, I've had a mk2 as well H789WAG Brilliant lightweight cars I wish I could afford another but they're daft money Edit: I almost forgot, my A reg mk1 had started life as a blue 1.2 petrol. The lad I bought it off (1998) had put a NA 1.6 diesel i and painted it mars red1, he also fit a mk2 gti interior and the car was "Euro'd" On 15" TSW hokenhiem wheels 👌🏼
Having had an auq (1.8t) swapped mk2... yes yes yeesssss. It was amazing, really wish I never got rid and I’d consider spending even more than last time in another
You need to drive my 97 Saab 9000 Aero 2.3T. Looks completely stock and well cared for. Mildly Tuned to 360bhp (B234R engines can take 500bhp stock as they are fully forged). 0-60 in 5 something when you can get traction. 70 to 100 in just 3.5. Which is quicker than an R8. The best bit is its my daily driver at the moment, and its doing 38mpg average over a whole week. Fun and economical.
Ex GF had one of these, big bumper 16v and it was a nail. Body shop in Croydon made a pigs ear of the paint, steering rack failed and we had to do a conversion to non PAS system, had engine work done by a specialist who raced them and he made a pigs ear of that too, rear suspension came through into the car, it felt like it was jinxed. Over time we put all these things right and ran it on GAZ coil overs with BBS RS wheels, on the right day it was utterly fabulous but I still have a nervous twitch when I think about it now. I wasn’t sad to see it go when we split, but was glad to have experienced a MK2.
Purists will always head towards a stock car Modified has its place, but it will have cost more to get there, and never give the financial return that a nice standard car will I’d rather have a G60 version, it’s interesting for all the right reasons
I disagree, modified cars is not about financial, is about joy. Modified cars can give the financial return when done professionally, take a MK1 from GTI engineering, a G60 from oettinger, a Vauxhall from Mantzel ...
Like the Mk2. I had a 88 1.8 8v with the PB engine. VW's first ever full engine management system (Digifant 1). Remapped by VanAaken to 124bhp, from the 112 standard. Not much by todays standards, but she moved quite quickly !.
a classmate from high school had one of those fitted with a engine and gearbox from a VW Santana for his commute back in the day, past year I saw it again at our promo meeting and still looks as gorgeous as I remember. I was tempted to buy one in white but pulled the trigger at an old Grand Cherokee with a diesel engine since I needed something to carry stuff without minding the interior
Lovely car, and from the back the sound is actually pretty authentic when you can't hear the whooshing turbo stuff happening. As I remember they had a nice low throaty note and this one sounds as near as dammit. Great video thanks 😃
To me the 1.8t is the perfect engine for a mk2 next to maybe the 1.8 G60 A few years ago a friend who worked for Paul Matty lotus had a mk2 which he converted to 1.8 t that was track focused but road legal and still comfy just noisey as it was stripped out it was running just over 300bhp at a trackday at Curborough he was faster than my other friends Audi rs2 and highly tuned s2
Another brilliant, informative and entertaining review.. Thanks JM.. Puhleez keep them coming. BTW, I laughed so hard at "trackslag" being a term of endearment that I blew a snot bubble. (Same as what we used to call "pits groupies"?)
I had a Helios Blue small bumper Gti16v many moons ago, a very good car but dull in comparison to my previous mk2 Astra Gte16v’s - without a handling kit the Astra handled terribly but still went like missile and would toy with 16v Golfs, ahhh back in the day. Good vid.
When GTi actually meant something. This era of hot hatches was the best for true drivers cars. Add a modern engine with modern power and you have the best combination for fun money can buy, And quite often a quicker/ better handling car than most of the modern options.
Great video! Finally a decent one since ages, without the pointless revving and burning rubber. 👏 Quite a nice and subtle mod, but the Audi-wheels and Seat-dials are not my cup of tea. I have to admit, that I initially failed as well, by fitting a logo-less grill on mine, but I love a modification that looks factory-fit(ted)...
I swapped a VR6 into my Mk2 as the old engine was becoming unreliable with 180k on the clock. Had the car resprayed the original colour and rewired it. Kept the old girl going for a few more years. Had the car 10 years and sold it 4 years ago and it's still on the road! Wish I could have kept it! One day the dream is a Mk2 Ltd - 210bhp stock - 4wd but they barely ever come up for sale...
Subtle and tastefully done, not every classic has to be or can be factory spec the older it gets, companies make body and trim panels but no-one makes new engines for them so classics have to be powered by something.
Totally agree, the cluster of classic LEDs in the original dials is one of my favourite features of this car, well before e they were removed. ,!! Otherwise, looks great and engine swap to modern is ace idea.
@@jase_llan I have swapped the original engine of my Mk2 Golf for a 2.8 V6 from a Mk4 / Leon Mk1 and it is running on the " original GTI-cockpit in combination withe the stock ECU as well, without any problems. So that should not be the issue... OK, it's a bit of additional work, which I have to admit that I did not do it myself, but it's definitely not impossible.
Slapbladder Gonna have to go with 1.8t on this one. Lighter and honestly more potential. Vr6 still my favorite sounding engine, and they have loads of torque which is fun
What a perfect combination. I've driven both Mk2 and Mk4 GTi's. The mk2 was already fun to drive. But with this engine it can only be improved. I would love to own a mk2 sirocco with the same combination. The only thing that lets it down is that annoying dump valve.
I miss my old black mk2 GTI, I had the lower 8v but that didn’t bother me one bit because people who own a golf will know what I’m on about. We’ve just bought a mk8 GTI CS in white (profile pic) and now in the market for a white mk2 with a modern engine up grade like this so it can be used daily Beautiful car this is
I just bought a 1992 mk2 Jetta gli, the car is a 2.016v with Weber carbs. But the engine needs a rebuild has 270k miles on it. In Los Angeles it's really really hard to find the engine parts on these old engines and almost just as hard to find someone to work on them. A rebuild would cost between 3-4 k with labor at least. Or you can buy a long block mk4 1.8t engine(1000$) and a transmission between (500-900$) and get more power, trq, tuneability, gas mileage, parts availability. With auxiliary parts and everything the cost will be probably around 5k. It's the parts that are hard to find at least in LA and this is the second largest city in the US. So ppl are forced to put new engines in these. The 2.5 l 5 cylinder swap is getting more popular. U can get a 90k long block for like $500. But you need subframe and auxiliary parts(a lot) it ends up being 5-6k in parts.
I 'be owned mk1 and mk2 golf gtis, a campaign mk1 and 16v big bumper mk2. I currently have a recalled mk5 which I love. I would love a modified mk2 giving the same performance as my mk5, so I'm a bit fan. I love the shape and layout of the mk2.
I think there should be a select few of these abomonations done very cleanly. It shouldn't be the norm, but a few very well done hodge podge jobs keep things interesting. Like Finnegan's Blasphemi. Definitely shouldn't be done on the reg, but that thing is awesome.
It's the way forward with older cars engine swaps get em upto date as can be but with old school looks there more usable and parts plenty full. I'd love to own that golf 👌
i got an old golf gt mk2 from 86, and i have just had it for about 2 months, and one day in the future im going to swap the engine to something funnier, prob not one with a turbo. Im not a huge fan of turbos but time will tell ^^
I did a 1.8t 20v 180 hp into my old Mk1 Scirocco. I dont mind engine swaps at all, its a fun way to take an old half beatup car and give it new purpose but it all depends a little on what car and engine it is and what the builder wants to create. A V8 diesel into a low milage aircooled 911? Ummm....no? Mk2 Golfs are quite plentiful tho and there will always be nice original cars available for those that prefer that.
Exactly, the fastest way for a classic car to rot away is to not be used and cared for at all. If an engine swap is what it takes to keep someone caring for an older car, so be it.
yes I'd guess for about £20K that's a "do-able" thing, the Mk2, the engine, then all the work. Pretty much a new car/hot hatch all in for £20K VERY NICE.
I know the unicorn model is always put forward as the best, mostly because nobody can decry your assertions. I owned a mk1 gti until she got the deep rot. I then had three mk2 golfs the last for some years a gti. The one was light as a doilly and so always heading for the hedge,and poor brakes and generally it was definitely a first attempt, the mk2 is a modern driver, it may not have the power of a one litre three cylinder turbo, but it's a more pleasant drive. Mine has been to europe numerous times and apart from being mistaken for a German owner in France was all good.
I had the pleasure of driving this car for a few days and aside from its quirks it does drive really well. A little disappointed you didnt hammer it in the dry as its brutal up to 120 IF you can get the power down. Looked a little wet so sensible not to.
@@tnetroP yes but I bet there not very big turbos, and theres no point spending all that money putting a little turbo in because the gains will not be great
I fell in love with a 91 Mk2 GTI 16v at 18 and bought it ! Insurance was £3k but no fuks given I bought it anyway. Had a mk3 2.0 8v in it after a few months then blew the head racing it. Next up was 180bhp 1.8t and my god that transformed the car. One car I wish I still had !! Absolutely love a Mk2. The 1.8t is the perfect engine for it. Mine met an unfortunate ending 😪. Dark , no lights and a tractor. not a good mix.
Big bumper Mk2s are still my favourite Golfs. I think mods like this are awesome, still get the classic looks and character with the benefits of more modern technology. As long as it's not taken too far ofc.
Agreed
I agree 100%, I think the more important thing is to keep these old cars going for posterity and the enjoyment of future generations and the guys who do mods like this and keep the overall ethos of the original car are doing a great service. I also appreciate that some folks would rather have a 100% original car, but I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive. I think both views should co-exist and encourage each other.
Golf Rallye is the ultimate of all the golf models past and present for me
Mk2 Golf GTI.....simply the best GTI by a mile
The Golf II GTI looks 'just right' for a hot hatch, I have yet to see one with better styling.
I miss mine, in my profile pic.
Underbird agreed and the round rally lights look the business
I can give you ten examples or more that look 10 times better then this brick looking old shitbox but thats just opinion now is it byt saying you have yet to see one with better styling is just plain stupid, I'll give you one already Alfa 147 gta.
Jetta 2 was better
Corrado
Never gets old seeing a mk2
Engine swap great idea VAG family why not gave the old girl a new life
When I worked for TSB Bank and had a company car they used to send us on defensive driving courses, presumably to reduce the amount of insurance claims the fleet had. I remember the guy who was training us saying "remember your road tax pays for both sides of the road, so use them!". His point being that clearly where it's safe to do so, you should use the other side of the road to make your driving line better. Particularly he made a point of stressing that when you are on very tight B and C roads where the road is very narrow, counter intuitively you are better to drive more over to the right, particularly where you have lots of bends so that an approaching car can see you coming rather than your natural reaction which is to hug tight to the left hand side. The problem with doing that is that you hide yourself from oncoming drivers until they are right on top of you. By sticking your self out on the white line they see you and you see them much earlier. So I would never pay attention to people who criticise you for driving on both sides. As long as it's safe to do so, you should be encouraged to use _all_ the road.
JayEmm I think you really have hit the nail on the head with these videos, I'd much rather watch your videos than the Shmee's of the world. These videos are useful to real every day guys who watch your channel that have mouths to feed and mortgages to pay and down to earth salaries and they educate us on what's available, what's possible and what you think of them. I'd rather have that MKII Golf on the back roads than any Shmeemobile as a) they wouldn't fit and b) I'd be scared to meet a tractor (or a bus as you mentioned) and it would all end badly. The cars of the MKII era seem much more sensible and nowadays the supercars are all about willy waving and boasting how much BHP, top speed 0 to 60 they have than for me what you buy cars for and that's enjoying a fast run down a British back road. Keep it up!
Thanks Graham
This is quality content as always mate
Cheers Lawrence
Beautiful car, nothing wrong in Oem+
Masterpiece! It still sounds very VAG. Your review is so detailed that I feel as if I were codriving! Kudos to all the successive owners for keeping this wonderful car rolling and for their collective vision! We VW fans need to keep these cars as reminders of VW’s never ending desire to constantly improve the breed and remain the benchmark.
I have one myself, great to work on, great to drive and so much fun! circa 200bhp probably the right spot for power...much more and you shoudl really LSD it.
Watch out for bad installations, Poor parts choices and intercooler pipe routing. So many bodge jobs out there but when you find a nice one, they really are great
Even with 200bhp a lsd is great. Got a peloquin in my corrado since the original diff broke.. Wouldn't want to miss it now.
Can’t believe I missed this! One of the best conversions on a mk2 imo
Wow that brings back some memories! Had an 85' 1.8 8v, frikkin loved it, bought from my brother at 228k km and I drove it like an ass until 295k km when it was stolen, still original block and had never been opened. No aircon, no power steering. Bought a 91' if I remember correctly 2.0 16v big bumper after that, aircon, power steeing, leather seats, but it never gave me the same thrills as the older one even though it was a lot faster and better looking.
Iv had a mk2 1.8t tornado red done by dubsport. 285bhp awsome car, going back a lot of years, the second to be done at the time, full leather done by me! when I worked at MJ interiors, great times.
Oh my, that is one stunning golf. Absolutely beautiful car.
MK2 chassis is superb and a 20vt conversion is superb combination, type in C63 vs Dub, camera out rear of 20vt MK2 gti which is in front right up into 5th! Such a good conversion & the engine is slightly lighter too, a friend has a 16v parked beside 20vt converted one both on same suspension and 20vt sits a tiny bit higher up front. Timeless classic the MK2 gti😎💯
As an engine swap owner myself, I very much approve of this.
Love these. Dad used to have one back in the day and actually got called for it to get featured on a magazine at the time he was selling it
Pics?
@@B15SDMDESIGNS the magazine is in my grandparents house. Might see if I can find it though don't want to risk it at the moment with lockdown and them being in the vulnerable category
@@zaink7037 na it's cool. Just curious which one it was. I was very deep in the VW scene. My car was featured in performance VW magazine aswell. Back in the day I spent so much money on my mk2 golf I don't want to even think about it. Loved every bit of it though. To this day I still regret selling it. I'm tempted to get another one as a project.
I rate you for keeping the old copies of the magazine. I did the same for my favourite features. What an amazing time that was.
I had a 1988 F reg 16V Mk2 - did over 40k in under 2 years. I always thought it could handle more than the 139bhp...but having said that, it was a joy to wring it out to the red line and not end up so far over the speed limit that you were risking your license. Originally it was on 185 tyres which also mean that the levels of grip were limited, which also meant it was fun without (again) being at a dangerous speed. It was one of the best cars I owned, and every Golf I have driven since (and I owned four in all) was worse...
I do own a 1.8T swaped MK3 and even after 5 Years i still think thie idea of swaping MK2´s and MK3´s brilliant. They are really light cars ans whit the available torque of the Turbo Engine its really fun to drive an no one really thinks that that old Golf can be so quick. Whit 280-300 HP and the weight just under 1200 KG you really are in E46 M3 territory of acceleration.
But they really need a LSD to put the power down @ corner exit.
As far as I'm concerned, GTIs were meant to be mad so it's a great project to watch. If I weren't on a budget but a need for speed, I would be making something of this liking myself. Cheers, great video.
These cars need to ve celebrated. Makes the car last longer to the next generation and parts are more available.
I have a Mk1 with a 2.3 V5 conversion. Not quite as much power as the 1.8t but the sound from the V5 is awesome.
Wheels look great. As a product of the Gran Turismo generation I've wasted many an hour modifying nonexistent cars, so I should say go for it, but the older I get the more I appreciate keeping a car as it was from the factory, with maybe a minor tweak here and there.
Yep same here. They’ve put a lot of work into the styling and most of the time it just looks ‘right’ left as it came out of the factory doors.
Old school involvement, modern power plant is no bad thing imo. Slightly off topic but i was never a fan of the old 1.8T, it does everything it says on the tin...it's refined if a little laggy low down, yet somehow manages to be completely unexciting. It came from an era where most things from the VW group were as fun to drive as watching paint dry. Good engine choice for the mk2 though.
With some work and at around 500 to 600 hp they are less boring :D
Volker Hett still utterly characterless though
WhyOWhy more power yes. Doesn’t fix the lack of character or tendency to lunch coil packs mind you
Nice to see - hello from another mk2 1.8t owner :-)
I’m a sucker for engine swapped old VW’s. had a mk2 golf with a VR6 engine for years and currently have a corrado with a 1.8t+hybrid turbo etc.
Nothing like giving an old car a newer more powerful engine. All the cool of a classic shape with the reliability and power of something more modern
This is very cool!. I had several of these mk 2 16vs way back when including a one with the Oettinger head and another with a Turbo Technics kit bolted onto it. It put out at least 250 bhp and was a little tricky in wet weather, spinning up the front wheels through 2nd and 3rd gear. Power steering was not necessary beyond 1-2 mph parallel parking maneuvers and even then not really. No ABS but great brake feel. They are light cars. Possible downsides - seem to remember my mileage was laughably bad and of course in 2020 you're driving a 2500lb car with no airbags and none of the crumple zone tech etc. we have now. A crash in one of these is going to probably mess you up more.
My favorite model of classic golf they got it so right and that upgraded engine with its extra kick really seems to compliment the machine smh truly epic example definatly hold it's value thats for sure
Miss my Mk2s so much. Fantastic cars
I just got my first GTI, a Mk7, and even though it is larger than the Mk2 I still get that same sense of line-choosing within your own lane. You can find a fast line without giving oncoming traffic a heart attack
I’d love one, they’re so cool imo
I have those wheels on my Caddy, a great timeless design.
Great review! Good engines too, had a cupra R 20v and was brilliant 👍
I've had 2 mk1's, A174HFR and B252FOE, I've had a mk2 as well H789WAG
Brilliant lightweight cars
I wish I could afford another but they're daft money
Edit: I almost forgot, my A reg mk1 had started life as a blue 1.2 petrol. The lad I bought it off (1998) had put a NA 1.6 diesel i and painted it mars red1, he also fit a mk2 gti interior and the car was "Euro'd"
On 15" TSW hokenhiem wheels 👌🏼
Love the sound coming from that engine. Rather surprise. Fantastic job on the tune.
Having had an auq (1.8t) swapped mk2... yes yes yeesssss. It was amazing, really wish I never got rid and I’d consider spending even more than last time in another
You need to drive my 97 Saab 9000 Aero 2.3T. Looks completely stock and well cared for. Mildly Tuned to 360bhp (B234R engines can take 500bhp stock as they are fully forged). 0-60 in 5 something when you can get traction. 70 to 100 in just 3.5. Which is quicker than an R8.
The best bit is its my daily driver at the moment, and its doing 38mpg average over a whole week. Fun and economical.
Yeah mate but it's a saab
@@seanwright5725 Yes a Saab that can humiliate a Audi R8 to 100, and still do near 40mpg. Win Win.
This is a mighty fine idea, and I actually really like it. Great video yet again!
Love this, great engine choice. I owned two 16v Mk2's many years ago, awesome little point and squirt cars, with classic looks.
Ex GF had one of these, big bumper 16v and it was a nail. Body shop in Croydon made a pigs ear of the paint, steering rack failed and we had to do a conversion to non PAS system, had engine work done by a specialist who raced them and he made a pigs ear of that too, rear suspension came through into the car, it felt like it was jinxed. Over time we put all these things right and ran it on GAZ coil overs with BBS RS wheels, on the right day it was utterly fabulous but I still have a nervous twitch when I think about it now. I wasn’t sad to see it go when we split, but was glad to have experienced a MK2.
That’s cleaner than mine
Love the 1.8 turbo they spool up pretty quick for a engine of its age
Purists will always head towards a stock car
Modified has its place, but it will have cost more to get there, and never give the financial return that a nice standard car will
I’d rather have a G60 version, it’s interesting for all the right reasons
I disagree, modified cars is not about financial, is about joy. Modified cars can give the financial return when done professionally, take a MK1 from GTI engineering, a G60 from oettinger, a Vauxhall from Mantzel ...
One of the best cars with one of the best engines. Perfect match 👍
This is great encouragement to get my swap finished!
Like the Mk2. I had a 88 1.8 8v with the PB engine. VW's first ever full engine management system (Digifant 1). Remapped by VanAaken to 124bhp, from the 112 standard. Not much by todays standards, but she moved quite quickly !.
Just want to compliment the mirror finish paintjob👌
a classmate from high school had one of those fitted with a engine and gearbox from a VW Santana for his commute back in the day, past year I saw it again at our promo meeting and still looks as gorgeous as I remember. I was tempted to buy one in white but pulled the trigger at an old Grand Cherokee with a diesel engine since I needed something to carry stuff without minding the interior
Lovely car, and from the back the sound is actually pretty authentic when you can't hear the whooshing turbo stuff happening.
As I remember they had a nice low throaty note and this one sounds as near as dammit.
Great video thanks 😃
To me the 1.8t is the perfect engine for a mk2 next to maybe the 1.8 G60
A few years ago a friend who worked for Paul Matty lotus had a mk2 which he converted to 1.8 t that was track focused but road legal and still comfy just noisey as it was stripped out it was running just over 300bhp at a trackday at Curborough he was faster than my other friends Audi rs2 and highly tuned s2
Another brilliant, informative and entertaining review.. Thanks JM.. Puhleez keep them coming.
BTW, I laughed so hard at "trackslag" being a term of endearment that I blew a snot bubble. (Same as what we used to call "pits groupies"?)
I had a Helios Blue small bumper Gti16v many moons ago, a very good car but dull in comparison to my previous mk2 Astra Gte16v’s - without a handling kit the Astra handled terribly but still went like missile and would toy with 16v Golfs, ahhh back in the day. Good vid.
When GTi actually meant something.
This era of hot hatches was the best for true drivers cars.
Add a modern engine with modern power and you have the best combination for fun money can buy,
And quite often a quicker/ better handling car than most of the modern options.
One of the best things to come out of VW.
Just listen to it! Beautiful.
Absolutely stunning love the mk2 golf gti
One of my favourites! Great video
Great video! Finally a decent one since ages, without the pointless revving and burning rubber. 👏
Quite a nice and subtle mod, but the Audi-wheels and Seat-dials are not my cup of tea.
I have to admit, that I initially failed as well, by fitting a logo-less grill on mine, but I love a modification that looks factory-fit(ted)...
Car is rad definitely loving the channel vibes 🥂🔥🔥
I've wanted a MK2 GTI since I could drive.
I was waiting for that new haircut. Look so much better 👍👍👍 with it comes higher value of the channel 😊
Great, i will put a 2.3 VR5 in my mk2 soon. I like the VR5 Sound. Think will be great too. 👍🏻
I swapped a VR6 into my Mk2 as the old engine was becoming unreliable with 180k on the clock. Had the car resprayed the original colour and rewired it. Kept the old girl going for a few more years. Had the car 10 years and sold it 4 years ago and it's still on the road! Wish I could have kept it!
One day the dream is a Mk2 Ltd - 210bhp stock - 4wd but they barely ever come up for sale...
Subtle and tastefully done, not every classic has to be or can be factory spec the older it gets, companies make body and trim panels but no-one makes new engines for them so classics have to be powered by something.
If the owner wants to sell, I'd be interested..
I love modified cars but for me the dials are a step too far. It's personal taste obviously, for me they just clash visually with the retro interior.
Totally agree, the cluster of classic LEDs in the original dials is one of my favourite features of this car, well before e they were removed. ,!! Otherwise, looks great and engine swap to modern is ace idea.
Totally agree, I was in love until I saw the dials.... completely incongruous to what is an OEM+ project.
Totally agree! Not my cup of tea as well. To me it's a bit like cutting corners in the attempt of creating a semi-OEM look.
@@oscar8695 I imagine it's on the stock Leon ECU, so no easy way to do without the dials.
@@jase_llan I have swapped the original engine of my Mk2 Golf for a 2.8 V6 from a Mk4 / Leon Mk1 and it is running on the " original GTI-cockpit in combination withe the stock ECU as well, without any problems. So that should not be the issue... OK, it's a bit of additional work, which I have to admit that I did not do it myself, but it's definitely not impossible.
Fab cars. Transplants not great for ultimate value, but work brilliantly in allowing a modern classic to keep pace in today's world.
1.8t 20v, best VAG engine ever!!!!
naaa VR6 is the best engine......displacement....noise and they LOVE a turbo....
The 1.9 pd tdi engine that was in the mk4 golfs is a amazing engine as well
@@Slapbladder displacement... Yet a fully stock 1.8t k04 variant with a map is faster and lighter....
2.2t 20v aan and vr5 too!
Slapbladder Gonna have to go with 1.8t on this one. Lighter and honestly more potential. Vr6 still my favorite sounding engine, and they have loads of torque which is fun
What a perfect combination. I've driven both Mk2 and Mk4 GTi's. The mk2 was already fun to drive. But with this engine it can only be improved. I would love to own a mk2 sirocco with the same combination. The only thing that lets it down is that annoying dump valve.
I miss my old black mk2 GTI, I had the lower 8v but that didn’t bother me one bit because people who own a golf will know what I’m on about. We’ve just bought a mk8 GTI CS in white (profile pic) and now in the market for a white mk2 with a modern engine up grade like this so it can be used daily
Beautiful car this is
By far the best looking golf
I just bought a 1992 mk2 Jetta gli, the car is a 2.016v with Weber carbs. But the engine needs a rebuild has 270k miles on it. In Los Angeles it's really really hard to find the engine parts on these old engines and almost just as hard to find someone to work on them. A rebuild would cost between 3-4 k with labor at least. Or you can buy a long block mk4 1.8t engine(1000$) and a transmission between (500-900$) and get more power, trq, tuneability, gas mileage, parts availability. With auxiliary parts and everything the cost will be probably around 5k. It's the parts that are hard to find at least in LA and this is the second largest city in the US. So ppl are forced to put new engines in these. The 2.5 l 5 cylinder swap is getting more popular. U can get a 90k long block for like $500. But you need subframe and auxiliary parts(a lot) it ends up being 5-6k in parts.
Clean, nice! Love the 20v badge on the grille.
Ugh those seats!!!! So nice!!!
I like it...nice ❤ transplant ... 👌
Sounds like a restomod. Very nicely done.
I 'be owned mk1 and mk2 golf gtis, a campaign mk1 and 16v big bumper mk2. I currently have a recalled mk5 which I love. I would love a modified mk2 giving the same performance as my mk5, so I'm a bit fan. I love the shape and layout of the mk2.
I think there should be a select few of these abomonations done very cleanly. It shouldn't be the norm, but a few very well done hodge podge jobs keep things interesting. Like Finnegan's Blasphemi. Definitely shouldn't be done on the reg, but that thing is awesome.
This was my first car ever, with the bumper from, I think the jetta ... The 1.8 rabbit 😍😍😂... 28y ago
It's the way forward with older cars engine swaps get em upto date as can be but with old school looks there more usable and parts plenty full. I'd love to own that golf 👌
Love a big bumper mk2!!
Love these looking for one currently these are turning into rare beasts!
i got an old golf gt mk2 from 86, and i have just had it for about 2 months, and one day in the future im going to swap the engine to something funnier, prob not one with a turbo. Im not a huge fan of turbos but time will tell ^^
I think you should try the mk 2 gti 16v with the original engine, I think you would prefer it to the mk 1
Kr and 2y all the way. 😜
I did a 1.8t 20v 180 hp into my old Mk1 Scirocco. I dont mind engine swaps at all, its a fun way to take an old half beatup car and give it new purpose but it all depends a little on what car and engine it is and what the builder wants to create. A V8 diesel into a low milage aircooled 911? Ummm....no? Mk2 Golfs are quite plentiful tho and there will always be nice original cars available for those that prefer that.
The VR6 swap into an MkII has been popular in the states.
Exactly, the fastest way for a classic car to rot away is to not be used and cared for at all. If an engine swap is what it takes to keep someone caring for an older car, so be it.
*EVERYBODY* is missing the most important thing in this video.
Nice haircut, JayEmm.
You’re all gonna be pissed with my b18 Mk2 😂
Not really... 😋
Jokes aside, pretty Golf you got there. 👍
Looks better now then it ever did.
I had a particular poor example - G reg small bumper 5 door, still a great drive. It had no power steering but most did.
Awesome gti did these conversions 20years ago.
Sweet love the MK1 GTI/GOLF also the 2,3,4,5,6,7. As I drive a MK7.5.
Nice and wheels are spot on
Another perfect car build
yes I'd guess for about £20K that's a "do-able" thing, the Mk2, the engine, then all the work. Pretty much a new car/hot hatch all in for £20K VERY NICE.
It'll be doable for considerably less than £20k - half that possibly?
Bit of a restomod, cool
I know the unicorn model is always put forward as the best, mostly because nobody can decry your assertions. I owned a mk1 gti until she got the deep rot. I then had three mk2 golfs the last for some years a gti. The one was light as a doilly and so always heading for the hedge,and poor brakes and generally it was definitely a first attempt, the mk2 is a modern driver, it may not have the power of a one litre three cylinder turbo, but it's a more pleasant drive. Mine has been to europe numerous times and apart from being mistaken for a German owner in France was all good.
I had the pleasure of driving this car for a few days and aside from its quirks it does drive really well. A little disappointed you didnt hammer it in the dry as its brutal up to 120 IF you can get the power down. Looked a little wet so sensible not to.
Damn you are making me wish I hadn't sold my 91 mk2! I had planned to keep it and do a 1.8T swap, but a baby called for a safer car.
Love it.
Please try a turbo'd Corrado VR6 :)
You'd probably struggle fitting a turbo in corrado bonnet with a vr6 engine
@@bigjak7358 There have been several Corrado VR6's turbo'd in the past.
@@tnetroP yes but I bet there not very big turbos, and theres no point spending all that money putting a little turbo in because the gains will not be great
Nice to see it has mk3 seats.
I fell in love with a 91 Mk2 GTI 16v at 18 and bought it ! Insurance was £3k but no fuks given I bought it anyway. Had a mk3 2.0 8v in it after a few months then blew the head racing it. Next up was 180bhp 1.8t and my god that transformed the car. One car I wish I still had !! Absolutely love a Mk2. The 1.8t is the perfect engine for it. Mine met an unfortunate ending 😪. Dark , no lights and a tractor. not a good mix.
Why did you swap the 16v for an 8v?
1.8 16v was the original engine the 8v was a 2.0 from a Mk3 and was cheap at the time. It didnt last to long 🙈