Faults:

Batteries on key fob failed on both key fobs (wear and tear). It's difficult to obtain replacement batteries.

Passenger door occasionally wouldn't unlock.

Front button for a rear passenger window didn't work properly.

General Comments:

Very quick; could keep up with today's cars and put them to shame.

Handled well, and was easy to drive and to park.

The electrics were unreliable, but it's to be expected on an old car.

The VR6 was one of the most enjoyable cars I've driven.

Not the most fuel efficient car.

Faults:

Things went wrong with this car at quite a high rate, which is not what I was expecting from VW.

ABS warning light would come on. Cleaning the sensors made it go away for a while, then it came back on again. Not sure what the root of this was.

Driver's side window stopped working.

Boot lock stopped working.

Various electrical systems were temperamental, and added up to an overall feeling of unreliability.

General Comments:

The GTi is a performance legend, and I was very keen to experience it for myself. Sure enough, right from the first drive, I was hooked by the car's instant throttle response, grip on the road, ability to be chucked into corners, and overall driver involvement.

The engine is torquey and a good performer. At 3,000 RPM the fun really starts. This car will turn you into a hooligan around town fairly quickly. Be aware though, that once you reach 80 MPH, the car is out of ideas.

The brakes were also something of a disappointment. They felt rather weak and spongy, and consequentially I never felt confident in pushing the car to the limits that the engine and chassis suggested it was capable of.

The cabin, trim etc. were about exactly what you would expect of a VW; in other words perfectly functional, but fairly boring.

Reliability was not a strong point for this car. I get the feeling that every component was designed to do 100,000 miles and not much more. This is the point when I bought the car, and sure enough, I ended spending a lot of time replacing and fixing things. My girlfriend's 1996 VW Passat seems to have a lot of the same problems as well. I think my overall advice is to buy Japanese if you want a minimum of mechanical hassle.

Fuel economy was not great either, probably 30-35 mpg depending on how I drove. This is roughly what you would expect of a 2.0, but I was hoping for a little more given how light the car is. Still, you get plenty of performance.

My ownership of this car ended abruptly with a spectacular accident at 110,000 miles. I was driving along country lanes at about 50 mph, and another car came around the corner about a foot over on my side of the road. I swerved to avoid it, clipped the bank, and that was enough to flip the car. It rolled two and a half times and I exited the car by crawling out upside down through the shattered windscreen. Credit where credit is due; the car took the accident very well and the cabin was not crushed at all. Well done VW.

Faults:

Failed ignition switch.

Replaced one gearbox engine mount.

General Comments:

This car was purchased as an impulse buy, as my GTI 16v mk3 was on its last legs. The engine itself was perfect, but the rest of the car needed too much money spending on it, so I decided to purchase the VR6.

It's not a Highline model, but does have Climatronic air conditioning.

Comparing the 16V to the VR6, I can safely say that the VR is an all round better car. Lots of low end gutsy torque, no flat curves and endless power. It doesn't need to be revved to get anywhere, and it is also a pleasant cruiser.

It's a lot quieter than my 16V, and after reading some reviews here, I can also say that a 16V is not a decent compromise on a 16V.

For the prices they are fetching today, they are cheap, reliable, fast fun. It is not the fastest car off the line, and I can say that my 16V was quicker in 1st and that is it. This car has endless torque right upto the high band in revs. Comparing this car to my old Prelude VTEC, I would pick the VR anyday. The in-gear pace of this car can match a lot of today's hot hatches (with the exception of some turbo'd machinery).

I have had some fun with Type R Civics, an E36 BMW 328i and a few VTI and VTI-r's. The looks on their faces were priceless.

The only downside in comparison to my 16v would be the fuel consumption. The best I have had on a combined cycle is 31.4 mpg, and the same route in my 16V gave 42.3. But who cares, it's cheap, it's cheerful, it's reliable, it's fun, and if I worried about the fuel consumption, I would have brought a diesel.

The other downside would be the handling; even with lowered springs, it's a bit of a slingshot in the bends (because of the weight up front.) It's OK, let the smaller engined hatch get the better of you, and when you are on the straights, let the torque to the talking.

The only thing I would replace the VR with would probably be a Corrado VR6.

Highly recommended.