Author Topic: Need advice on G40  (Read 7099 times)

Offline stoph

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Need advice on G40
« on: June 19, 2008, 12:57:17 pm »
Hi all,

This is my first post so firstly hi to all!

Been into VW's since my dad's first Mars Red Jetta when I was about 7. Since being able to drive I've had a Polo Mk2, Polo Mk3 GL, Golf GTI 8v, Corrado 2.0 16v, Polo Mk3 GT. My current VW's are a VW T4 (converted to camper), and a Golf G60...I'm sure I've forgotten at least one VW...?

Anyway, unfortunately I am being made redundant and need to tighten my belt. Seeing as I have 2 cars (the van and the G60) and the missus has a FFFF...Ford FFFF...Focus (that stuck in my throat), we have decided to consolidate the cars. I will drive the van and the missus will drive the other. Only trouble is she won't drive the G60 as it is LHD :( Plus it does batter petrol, and seeing as fuel prices are sky high at the moment, I'm looking for something smaller and more economical. Having had a Mk3 GL, and a GT and loved the handling of the little rockets, I always fancied a G40.

My questions are...
How does the performance actually compare to a G60? I know it's lighter to the tune of about 250Kg but the torque is substantially less than on the G60 as I understand it?

How economical are they? I get about 20/25mpg out of the G60 when I boot it, and about 35mpg on the motorway. I read that the G40 can be very economical if driven delicately (which my missus will).

Does the G40 have an MFA computer?

Should I let the missus drive the van instead? Just worried she will kerb the RS4 (new style) alloys on it.

Speaking of alloys, I have a set of BBS split's (RM's) and the standard Corrado ones too (which I use as winter wheels on the golf), will these go onto the polo? Does it kill the handling/make it too hard? Which one's do you think I should keep for the Polo (I'm fairly sure you'll all say the splits though).

So all that said, would anyone be interested in a PX for my Golf? It is a '91 in anthracite with full leather, aircon, totally standard, and just 75k miles. I would be hoping to get about 3500 for it on a private sale, mainly due to the mileage. Do you think that sounds fair?

Cheers,

Chris ;)

Offline PeteG40

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Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2008, 01:14:48 pm »
g40s are as fast/faster than a g60 up to about 60mph and mixed driving you get about 32-34 mpg.  Pootling about you get late 30s and booting it everywhere - well not a lot!

the rms etc will fit but 15s can scrub when lowered. Most people reckon 13s or 14s.

The g40 doesnt have an mfa or electric windows or anything - very basic to be honest.

Offline G40_FUNK

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Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2008, 07:24:11 pm »
[quote pid=1809 author=peteg40 date=1213877688]g40s are as fast/faster than a g60 up to about 60mph and mixed driving you get about 32-34 mpg.  Pootling about you get late 30s and booting it everywhere - well not a lot!

the rms etc will fit but 15s can scrub when lowered. Most people reckon 13s or 14s.

The g40 doesnt have an mfa or electric windows or anything - very basic to be honest.[/quote]

G40 in standard spec is 8.4 secs to 60 and G60 in standard spec around 7.6 secs.  Both can be easily modified (chip, smaller pulley, supercharged upgrade).  I have botha G40 and a late G60.  They are totally diffrent in many respects and both fantastic cars.  One big plus side for the G40 is that its RHD.

G40s don't have the MFA and are rather basic inside.  There again the G60s are the same as the 8V GTIs specwise, so don't come with electric windows like the 16V models.  

Hope that helps

Chris
« Last Edit: July 08, 2008, 07:26:30 pm by G40_FUNK »

Offline hayesey

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Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2008, 08:37:42 pm »
the VW quoted figure for G40 0-60 is 8.1 seconds but magasine tests of the time recorded it at nearer 7.1 seconds.

Offline G40_FUNK

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2008, 01:59:38 pm »
Wow, that is impressive.  A lot quicker than a G60 then if thats true.  So a modified G must be well under 7 secs to 60.

Offline hayesey

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2008, 03:10:18 pm »
I think some are doing mid 5secs to 60 at santa pod (yoof for example...).  They are quicker than G60s to 60mph yes.  But run out of steam at higher speeds where there really is no replacement for displacement.

Offline G-spot

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2008, 04:05:55 pm »
[quote pid=2286 author=hayesey date=1215545862]the VW quoted figure for G40 0-60 is 8.1 seconds but magasine tests of the time recorded it at nearer 7.1 seconds.[/quote]

Worth noting that standard TUV and other British and European goverment motoring tests require the vehicle to be carrying half passenger and luggage load.  Whch is why so often small high performance cars can look slow on paper, for example; G40 (750kg) + 2 passengers (160kg) + half luggage load (+80kg) stick tank of fuel on it and you got well over 1000kg, compared with driver only, quarter tank of fuel, and spare wheel/jack in the garage.
On bigger cars, wieghing in at around +1000kgs, the percentage gain in weight for the 2 passengers etc etc is smaller so less noticable when car is driver only and so often in reality smaller cars can show a clean pair of heals to some of the supposed heavier/quicker competition.

Well thats what I've always understood......or is it all a load of old cobblers?

Offline grayg40

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2008, 12:39:35 pm »
I average about 44mpg if sitting about 55-60mph. which i thought was pretty good for a G, and mine is 223K

Offline hayesey

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2008, 06:07:26 pm »
44mpg?!?! that sounds a bit too high really.  I'd expect 35ish from a good g40 when driving economically.  most I got from my GT was 40mpg which seems about right.

Offline Alex

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2008, 06:36:09 pm »
I've got near that in mine, driving across Belgium to the Ring I think I got about 40mpg. That said, Belgium is very flat and I was cruising at 70 the whole way.

I usually get around 34mpg with mostly motorway driving. You can get really good economy from a G40, but you need immense willpower!

Offline SamG40

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need advice on G40
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2008, 10:26:54 am »
Yeah I have managed 43ish before but that was running a charger in! Very gentle acceleration and no more than 3k for an entire journey down south.