Author Topic: Real life driving in 1.6 NA? (Read 7767 times)

jajell · « **on:** May 17, 2007, 02:10:16 pm »

Ok I have a chance to get a 1.6 NA pretty cheap but I want to know what its like driving one of these out in the real world.

Are they REALLY sluggish? Will I have the pedal to the floor all the time to pass someone?

Just curious?

Jason

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:36:02 pm »

should post in the general section for this... but yes the non aspirated version is pretty sluggish... as is the turbo version when the turbo isn't spooled up. imo i would rather drive n/a diesel than gasser. mileage is terrific! but i like my turbo diesel :twisted:

Black Smokin' Diesel · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:51:18 pm »

I drove a 91 Golf NA for two years. It wasn't fast, but it was a blast to drive. Uber reliable, great mileage, excellent handling and braking. Acceleration is nothing great but it will keep up with 120kph traffic easely, doing 40mpg.

I wish I still had the car but it got totalled by some dumb granny cutting me off on a boulevard. If I would have had a garage to fix it, I would have done a complete restoration (the underside was 99% rust free which is rare where I live) but I had to let it go. It was my first car

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:53:12 pm »

wow... its weird looking at the hood not being bent up, and the fender all torn and smushed

Black Smokin' Diesel · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:56:00 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

wow... its weird looking at the hood not being bent up, and the fender all torn and smushed

I know, it looks really odd. The hood only had a slight bend at the corner. I hit her car, a green neon, at an angle and completely crushed her driver's side doors and b-pillar

burn_your_money · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:19:33 pm »

My NA was fast.. not super fast or anything but defintly nothing to complain about. I ended up swapping it into my friends mk2 with a big heavy stereo system when he blew up his 1.9TD and even he said it was fast (considering). Once you learn to drive a slow car fast you'll never notice

jajell · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:24:47 pm »

I have been in slow cars before but I just wanted to check. I just wanted to make sure I could climb hills. Its an MK1 with a super clean body and on 70K on the clock and a 4 speed.

He averages 50 mpg so I know its been well maintained. New clutch and timing belt already and it looks pretty damn good considering. And its a 4 door!

Sounds like a fun project to me. Clean up some minor rust, paint it, go to round headlights, and a slight height drop and it will look great. Also my brother in law is doing biodiesel for his Dodge truck so I suggested I would be a great test for it.

All it needs are tires, brakes, and a radiator and a little TLC.

I think I am going to take the plunge as long as the boss is ok with it.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:28:32 pm »

NAs are just fine in mk1s, they are so light. I only had problems with large hills on the highway when my car looked like this

even then it only lost about 20 km/h on a HUGE hill

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:45:11 pm »

With NA's specifically (and most early VW diesels in general) it's all about the big "M"... momentum. Keep that momentum up and you'll be amazed what that little engine can do.

Turbinepowered · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:48:29 pm »

Now that's a full car. :shock:

foxracer1 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:48:12 pm »

burn your money did the pretty lady in the pic ride with ya. :wink:

Just playin.

N/As are good if your after reliability and mileage.

subsonic · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2007, 06:46:58 pm »

See now, it all in the way ya look at it. I think you have a highly modified left front fender intercooler/ cold air intake opening there!

Hey! Thats my sister!!!

:wink: :lol: :lol:

burn_your_money · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2007, 08:34:39 pm »

Quote from: "foxracer1"

burn your money did the pretty lady in the pic ride with ya. :wink:

Just playin.

N/As are good if your after reliability and mileage.

Sure did

still does actually

My TD gets better mileage then my NA, and is currently more reliable

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2007, 08:43:32 pm »

i drove my jetta na for a year and a half. and i liked it i guess haha, it's slow but its fun. i had no trouble merging on the highway or going up hills or anything really, it drove fine. and i could pin it at 85mph. and now with my rabbit, which has a rebuilt engine, i don't have any trouble either, and it's an automatic. it's slow, but it's still fun and keeps up with traffic fine. a little bad for the highway cause of the automatic though

935racer · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2007, 08:55:02 pm »

Just do the governor mod, crank the main fuel screw a bit, rebuild your nozzles etc and its not bad at all.

Author Topic: Real life driving in 1.6 NA? (Read 7767 times)

935racer