318is Bastlerauto (2.3-16 content)

[defaultName]

Thanks, I looked at them again today and was pretty pleased.

GTI with my brother's 2008 GTI:

How does it feel to drive them back to back?

[wazzu70]

I'm liking the westy front end on the gti

? Thats a factory Mk1 GTI front end.

I had a Mk1 caddy in college the same color. It had the GTI motor, red GTI interior, and grille and front chin spoiler. Still miss it!

[fourmotioneer]

I'm liking the westy front end on the gti

Thanks! I'm a fan of squares and rounds. I think people usually refer to the earlier square models with no fender notches as Westy's but it was made in Westmoreland, PA, so I guess it could be considered a Westy.

? Thats a factory Mk1 GTI front end.

I had a Mk1 caddy in college the same color. It had the GTI motor, red GTI interior, and grille and front chin spoiler. Still miss it!

As you should! I'm not planning on selling mine unless it's to buy another MK1 GTI haha.

How does it feel to drive them back to back?

Well, the MK5 GTI is one of my favorite newer cars for everyday driving. Feels very quick to me, steering is weighted nicely for my taste, and it rides well enough.

As you might expect, the MK1 is way more direct, involving, visceral, elemental, (insert automotive journalist buzzwords here) etc. The exhaust note is 10x better than the MK5 - unmuted, and with perfect overrun on engine braking. The gearing and torque curve are great for driving below 55 mph. It is much more satisfying to drive it within the limits of the law. I take good care of the little 8V, and when the oil is warm, I do not relent. I don't think I've ever coasted to a stop in neutral in that thing. Every stoplight requires heel-toeing from the highest possible gear, and man, it is glorious to listen to, especially if there is a nice concrete curb on the left side of the car to reflect the sound of the exhaust to my ear.

As for handling, the MK1 encourages a 1st order approach to its limit of adhesion; I feel comfortable building up to peak grip, forgoing the risk of overshooting the limit. The steering feel is nearly perfect, save for some rattles that shake their way up the steering rack. The car responds well to trail braking and lift throttle oversteer with more aplomb than the MK5 does. The MK5 is more inclined to wash out, though I do admire its dynamics in higher speed bends. As far as ride goes, the MK5 is perfect (to me), and the MK1 is somewhat harsh. MK1 seats are some of my favorite ever, and I prefer them much more than the MK5 seats, which I also really like.

The greatest difference to me is the way that the MK1 seems to take the chore out of driving. I've done 12 hours in one day in it, and I could have done it with the radio off. Every single shift in that thing makes me love it a bit more.

I'm an engineer, and a lot of guys my age are discovering how much of their paycheck they can throw at a fast car. There are plenty of evos, sti's, 5.0s, Corvettes and of course e9x at our tech center. I could afford any of those cars, but having driven my MK1 for the past 3 years, I just feel bad for those guys. Those are all incredible cars, but when you look at the happiness per dollar, they don't even touch my MK1. I'd rather drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow.

So that's the long winded answer to how a MK1 compares to a MK5. Both are great. I like my e30 just as much as my MK1, it's just different.

[evandael]

^ do consider writing for an automotive blog. you just blew TTAC and jalopnik out of the water.

oh yeah, your e30 looks great too!

[word is bond]

Good read. So many cool cars in the family! Interested to hear your thoughts on how your 318is differs from both GTIs and the 2.3 Merc.

[kid325e]

Very cool! Went through the same process as you but didn't hold on to my MK1 which like the other guy said, I deeply regret.

The 30 is coming along great and I love what you did with the weaves. To me it's all about the small things and you seem to be keeping a close eye on the details which I can appreciate. Well done!

[defaultName]

Thanks! I'm a fan of squares and rounds. I think people usually refer to the earlier square models with no fender notches as Westy's but it was made in Westmoreland, PA, so I guess it could be considered a Westy.



As you should! I'm not planning on selling mine unless it's to buy another MK1 GTI haha.



Well, the MK5 GTI is one of my favorite newer cars for everyday driving. Feels very quick to me, steering is weighted nicely for my taste, and it rides well enough.

As you might expect, the MK1 is way more direct, involving, visceral, elemental, (insert automotive journalist buzzwords here) etc. The exhaust note is 10x better than the MK5 - unmuted, and with perfect overrun on engine braking. The gearing and torque curve are great for driving below 55 mph. It is much more satisfying to drive it within the limits of the law. I take good care of the little 8V, and when the oil is warm, I do not relent. I don't think I've ever coasted to a stop in neutral in that thing. Every stoplight requires heel-toeing from the highest possible gear, and man, it is glorious to listen to, especially if there is a nice concrete curb on the left side of the car to reflect the sound of the exhaust to my ear.

As for handling, the MK1 encourages a 1st order approach to its limit of adhesion; I feel comfortable building up to peak grip, forgoing the risk of overshooting the limit. The steering feel is nearly perfect, save for some rattles that shake their way up the steering rack. The car responds well to trail braking and lift throttle oversteer with more aplomb than the MK5 does. The MK5 is more inclined to wash out, though I do admire its dynamics in higher speed bends. As far as ride goes, the MK5 is perfect (to me), and the MK1 is somewhat harsh. MK1 seats are some of my favorite ever, and I prefer them much more than the MK5 seats, which I also really like.

The greatest difference to me is the way that the MK1 seems to take the chore out of driving. I've done 12 hours in one day in it, and I could have done it with the radio off. Every single shift in that thing makes me love it a bit more.

I'm an engineer, and a lot of guys my age are discovering how much of their paycheck they can throw at a fast car. There are plenty of evos, sti's, 5.0s, Corvettes and of course e9x at our tech center. I could afford any of those cars, but having driven my MK1 for the past 3 years, I just feel bad for those guys. Those are all incredible cars, but when you look at the happiness per dollar, they don't even touch my MK1. I'd rather drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow.

So that's the long winded answer to how a MK1 compares to a MK5. Both are great. I like my e30 just as much as my MK1, it's just different.

TL;DR















Just kidding, I read it. Nice write up! Can't wait to read a comparison of your E30 and GTI.

[fourmotioneer]

Thanks for the comments, all! I spent about 2 hours in the MK1 GTI today, so I'll see if I can try to compare it to the 318is.

Taking a seat in the GTI, it's apparent that it is from a different class of car than the e30. Whereas the e30 has long hood and a low seating position, the GTI offers a relatively commanding view of the road, along with a more autocross-conducive view of the front corners of the car. The downside of the superior view is a lack of head room in the GTI, especially when wearing a helmet. My car has a sunroof, so a slicktop would likely solve this issue. The cloth seats in the MK1 are bolstered similarly to the vert sport seats in the 318is, but I find the cloth seats to be noticeably more compliant, as well as altogether more bearable when the outside temp begins to climb.

Moving to the powertrain, the differences become more pronounced. I'm not exactly an expert on 8 valve Volkswagen engines, but I can say that the 1.8L JH 8 valve in the MK1 GTI has been impressively tractable, never leaving me stranded and never necessitating anything more than preventative maintenance. Walking out of the local parts store with a bill for 8 valve parts is fun because I can brag to me friends about how cheap my car's parts are. It's understandable then, that the M42 requires a substantial increase in complexity over the 8 valve in order to produce 44 more hp from the same displacement. So far, the complexity is worth it. Compared to the low-end grunt in the GTI, the 318is is most driveable in the top half of the tach. First gear is a bit short, second is better, and the top of third gear is as good as it gets for a guy who purposely drives around in underpowerd 4-clinder cars. With its narrower powerband, the M42 isn't so fun to drive at all engine speeds like the GTI is, but when the M42 is hot, it is very hot.

Ride and handling between the two cars have similar disparities. The GTI feels distinctly lighter, has more direct steering feel, and shows less body roll. Cornering the GTI through an open set of curves is a simple matter of pointing the car where it needs to go and arriving there with little drama. On the other hand, the 318is requires ample planning in transitions to compensate for the delay associated with the body roll. Corner hard to the right, and you have to not upset the chassis with your next left. It's as thought the car thinks I'm constantly trying to hit it with Scandinavian flicks. Without an LSD in the e30, the rear tires rarely break loose under power, though both cars respond well to trail braking and lift throttle oversteer. As for ride, the e30 is much more socially acceptable, meaning it elicits far fewer complaints from my girlfriend and her friends.

I tend to drive the e30 more because it's more comfortable and quieter inside and gets better mileage. It really shines on broken pavement and over city potholes. The GTI appreciates smooth days and tighter corners. Both are insanely fun to drive, both fit two people, two bikes and enough stuff to visit my friends or family out of town, and both are reliable enough to never strand me yet. If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably just sell them both and get an e30 touring!

[FilthyFarmKraut]

hell yeah cool write up.

[Nick_S]

Awesome write up. Def an enjoyable read.

[fourmotioneer]

Well, I've since sold the car, but not before taking plenty of photo. I've begun to write about my e30s and other vehicles here: http://blythbros.com

[E30beemer]

Looking good. A nice drop will make a world of a difference IMO. Keep at it.