Misfire and poor acceleration
Hi my golf mk1 96 model misfires and have poor acceleration.. I have changed spark plugs, module and plug wires seem to be fine.. Any tips on what to check next? TIA
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1996 Volkswagen Golf Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Once again, the 4-door GL hatchback was at the center of the Volkswagen Golf universe for 1996. As in years before, the GL was powered by 115-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It was linked to a five-speed manual transmission, which was standard equipment; a four-speed automatic was available as an option. Standard features included updated cloth seats, power brakes, power steering, power door locks, dual airbags, an anti-theft alarm system, and an AM/FM/cassette audio system. Air conditioning was among the options. A glovebox, which had disappeared when the passenger-side airbag was added a few years earlier, also returned as a standard feature.
Other trim packages in the Golf lineup include the GTI, the GTI VR6, and the TDI, which came with a turbodiesel engine and was available in only very limited quantities to U.S. buyers.
The sporty GTI package came with the same 115-hp 4-cylinder that was used in the GL, but added anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, a sunroof, and cruise control to the list of standard features. The GTI VR6 came with a more powerful 172-hp, 2.8-liter V6 engine and a tighter suspension. And the TDI, where available, was powered by a 90-hp, 1.9-liter diesel engine with turbo direct injection.
Although some drivers noted problems (sometimes extensive) with their cars, overall drivers were enamored with the Golf, and some even became strongly loyal to the car. The Golf's dependability, styling, roominess, and safety features were noted as positive points by drivers.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1996 Volkswagen Golf
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by Ogidi L
Jul 18, 2012
My Golf 3 is a good performance vehicle, The build quality is qualitative, and solid. Personally, its appearance is unassuming, but it has a subtle, understated beauty, it is fun to drive, accelerates well and is "organic", being a manual geared vehicle. I'm very connected to my Nifty Station wagon!Jul 18, 2012
by Anonymous
May 26, 2011
This was my first car I got when I was 16. I didn't know how to drive a manual at the time, but was forced to learn and loved it! The hatchback was nice for carrying all my gear and though the car is relatively small it fit all my friends.May 26, 2011
by Chris L
Mar 17, 2011
I bought this golf a few months ago, for under £1000. The 1.8 isnt the fastest of the golf's when stock, especially compared to these days, but compared to my last fords, this feels like a ferrari. Cause its a MK3 it wont break down and with the induction kit and exhaust kit fitted it screams along roads, impressing chavs and irritating old people. Its got 15" alloys on Kumho Low profile tyres, BMC CDA induction kit, new Billies B4's with Apex 40mm lowering springs, scorpion full cat back system, debadge grille, 4-2-1 stainless steel manifold with heat wrapping, full interior strip with 2x Cobra Racing seats and 2x Titan 5 point quick release FIA harnesses. This thing is QUICK. Oh and it has a JVC cd player with FLI speakers but noone can hear that anymore cause of the exhaust system with de-cat. haha!Mar 17, 2011
User rating:
by Ogidi L
Jul 18, 2012
My Golf 3 is a good performance vehicle, The build quality is qualitative, and solid. Personally, its appearance is unassuming, but it has a subtle, understated beauty, it is fun to drive, accelerates well and is "organic", being a manual geared vehicle. I'm very connected to my Nifty Station wagon!Jul 18, 2012
by Anonymous
May 26, 2011
This was my first car I got when I was 16. I didn't know how to drive a manual at the time, but was forced to learn and loved it! The hatchback was nice for carrying all my gear and though the car is relatively small it fit all my friends.May 26, 2011
by Chris L
Mar 17, 2011
I bought this golf a few months ago, for under £1000. The 1.8 isnt the fastest of the golf's when stock, especially compared to these days, but compared to my last fords, this feels like a ferrari. Cause its a MK3 it wont break down and with the induction kit and exhaust kit fitted it screams along roads, impressing chavs and irritating old people. Its got 15" alloys on Kumho Low profile tyres, BMC CDA induction kit, new Billies B4's with Apex 40mm lowering springs, scorpion full cat back system, debadge grille, 4-2-1 stainless steel manifold with heat wrapping, full interior strip with 2x Cobra Racing seats and 2x Titan 5 point quick release FIA harnesses. This thing is QUICK. Oh and it has a JVC cd player with FLI speakers but noone can hear that anymore cause of the exhaust system with de-cat. haha!Mar 17, 2011
by Anthony T
Sep 25, 2010
I drive this car because its great on gas, and it rides well. I also can fit the whole family in this car along with whatever else we need and still get 34 miles per gallon. Its pretty reliable for everyday driving. That said I will say its a 96, and its starting to show its age and volkswagen does like to design this a little...odd if your repairing your own car, but it workds. So I do need to find a newer car in the near future, but giving they way this golf has performed with winter and hot summer days on the road for all the years Im sure I will be buying another VW. Sep 25, 2010
by David H
Sep 24, 2010
Performance: 2.0 16V Quite Quick at higher revs, brakes good, handling nice
Build Quality: Good, C/L Solenoid on its way out
Appearence: Nice, especially considering it has 204k miles on it!
Cost of Ownership: Not Bad approx 32MPG
Fun Factor: Great FunSep 24, 2010
by Nicolás F
Aug 24, 2010
Es espectacular. Tiene todo lo que se le puede pedir a un auto, comodidad, agilidad, comfort de marcha, velocidad final (198 km/h); sencillamente perfecto. Un auto de gama media que no tiene nada que envidiar a uno de alta gama!!.Aug 24, 2010
by Eric B
Aug 13, 2010
good car to beat around in...it flew really well and drifted throught the snow like a dream...just ask dallas...it was really slow but it sounded good when the muffler fell off..lol it had underglow and all these lights all over the place and strobes and stuff...but u just kept getting stopped for them...so yea...Aug 13, 2010
by Colby S
Mar 02, 2010
this car has balls to the wall, also very comfortable, able to take a rsx any day. cheap on gas, cheap on registration, cheap on insurance. only problem is the price to fix that wilderbeast. mine is black, gotta catback exhaust, air intake, performance chip, thats all. Mar 02, 2010
by Olivier M
Nov 03, 2009
1.8L. More oomph than base model but would
prefer 2.0L. OK handling: more comfort than sport
if still somewhat unsettled ride.
Good built quality but beginning to show its age.
Interior OK. Exterior has a few knocks but otherwise
OK.
Some parts to change but only because they'd
reach the end of their life. Otherwise no major
problem. Original parts can be costly but third
party parts are more affordable and very easy to
find.
Driving it can be pleasurable rather than fun.Nov 03, 2009
by Kenneth René K
Nov 02, 2009
A fine car that served me good in the year I had it.
The performance where okay for the 1.8 litre petrol engine
(90hp).
The handling where good and the overall build quality was
good. However the rust protection where poor..Nov 02, 2009
by Patricio R
Aug 25, 2009
Volkswagen tenia que ser solo... un gran coche salvo que el mio en concreto es el conceptline, es decir el 1º Version IV que sacaron por tanto lleva el motor del IV pero no el pulido de imagen jeje. En fin es un buen coche para romper mano :PAug 25, 2009
by Emiel B
Jul 23, 2009
All in respect to its category :)
Performance - fast acc, braking medium, handling easy/good, fast cornering
Build quality - Only electric window and door lock replaced, exhaust rattled a bit (with a little prof. exhaust kit resolved it), rust free
Appearance - metallic looks briliant, no dents, no scratches, 2 minor chips from stones // interior as new
Cost of ownership - cheap maintenance, 1:15
Fun factor - Fast and reliable, fun at trafficlights :)
Jul 23, 2009
by Jean-Sébastien L
Apr 28, 2009
J'ai juste le 1.8 dedans...97 force! Mais sa fait la job en criss. Rien pour s'énerver mais sa tient la route pareil un golf...fadrait juste j'machète des tires d'été dès qui roule..Mais un Volks avec des bon tires pis une suspension ajustable c déjà en masse. Un char d'amateur! Reste juste a le garder propre mais c mal commencer...Apr 28, 2009
by Metar A
Apr 13, 2009
It rattles, it moves, it's red. That's enough to describe this car, really. With an old 1.8l that, in it's hopeful youth, produced around 80hp, it lacks any sort of sporting pretenses - and the lazy transmission, which hesitates and waits on both up- and down-shifts, doesn't add anything to the experience. The small brakes (rears are drums, at that) hold up under normal driving, but I wouldn't push them too hard, either. With five people on board, it competes with snails. But, as I said: It moves, and gets me from point A, to point B, and then either back or somewhere else.
That somewhere else could be the next gas-station. It gobbles up far more fuel than acceptable for it's performance, but until I calculate the mileage, I'll skip this part. Might be down to it's old age, too.
As for age. The car is near the 180,000km mark and still running - but just barely. The electronics have their random quirks (the electric windows, for example, cause the front lights to flash a bit when operated), and near the end of it's lock, the steering-wheel gives off loud screeching sounds. Power-steering, the air conditioner and the rest of the systems work, but they let the engine know it, too. Other than that, the interior and exterior show their age, too: the plastics rattle, especially when the car idles, and random bits appear to be missing. The red paint is slightly fading, on some places more than on others.
But it works, and gets me there and back - can't ask for more.Apr 13, 2009
by Nathan A
Feb 02, 2009
Good Acceleration.
Assembled in Mexico. (Still german angineering of course.)
Blue as in Picture. (Some say Perriwinkle)
Bought for $2000.
Car is fantastic to drive. (Handles like a dream.)
I would recommend this car for anyone, or any other volkswagen for that matter.Feb 02, 2009
by Dianne K
Dec 18, 2008
Absolutely love everything about it!! She's a wolf in sheeps clothing. Extremely fast. Only my second car but I can not see myself in any other car. Loads of fun to drive, especially when the little boy racers rev their engines etc and expect to leave you behind them, hahahahaha, My car will blow most cars away!! hahahahaDec 18, 2008
by Nicolas B
Nov 11, 2008
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by Jussi E
Sep 17, 2008
Compact, nice colour, it´s red, great audio, doesn´t take too much gas, all that I need, was cheap, not much kilometres on the meter, it is mine, not too bad ensuranse payments, allways goes where I want, never has left me on the road, and it never willSep 17, 2008
by Moses K
Sep 16, 2008
Great Ride,Cant shake tha Police though coz supposedly every weedhead zgot 1of em..Most likely2 get stoppd!!its so easy to pimp it up,spoilers easily available&tyre sizes easy2fit..Mines wz 1.6 so..easy on tha gallon!!Its definetely a car anybody can enjoy to drive.If yu have it in Red like mine or Black..u good2 Rave!!Sep 16, 2008
by Jon Y
Sep 03, 2008
Great Running VW. 115hp 2.0 l 4cyl engine and 5
speed transmission moves it along good. Handles
like a slot car. Hold corners great. Pushes 40 mpg
with a K&N Cone Filter and a Cat-back exhaust.
Only problem that VW didn't get away from is
Shoddy electrical components and floor pan seam
rust out issues. Also overly complicated and
sensitive engine management system. Catalytic
Converters prone to burning out.
Other wise a great Little Car. Easy to work on. Bullet
proof Drive train if you don't dump the clutch every
time you take off like a teenage punk.Sep 03, 2008
by Trevor P
Aug 01, 2008
No the fastest thing, but gets great gas mileage. I think it looks great but it's a hate it or love it kind of car. It gets lots of attention everywhere I go, some negative, but mostly positive. It was pretty cheap but only has 82k miles on it and it runs great. Perfect mechinical shape and I couldn't ask for a better car for $3200.Aug 01, 2008
by Matt W
Jul 30, 2008
Previsouly owned a golf. Was only the 1.6 model, but a decent enough car. Built like a tank, it still started after writing it off! Good solid engine, their only problem is they sit very high which creates a lot of body roll round corners. A car that must be lowered. Mark III Golfs got a little bit of stick which I don't think is fair. A very good and well built car, just don't expect what you get form earlier Golfs.Jul 30, 2008
by Will O
Jul 15, 2008
I absolutely love this car, its a harlequin; a limited
edition made in 1996 and it has 4 different color body
panels. It has 110000 miles on it and it is a 5 speed
manual tranny so the best. I have aftermarket 17"
Enkei rims and 12" Alpine Type E Sub with a custom
Octagonal Prism box.Jul 15, 2008
by Thato M
Jul 12, 2008
I my car any1 hoo knows me knows wat I've been tru with this car and has probably been there with me. The performance isn't all that great as you can imagine but it gets me from a to b. Fastest I've ever driven it was 190km/h, not the fastest but you just have drive it well.Jul 12, 2008
by James D
Jul 08, 2008
Cheapest car I ever bought. Golf is like new still, always works perfectly, very comfy, lots of power, loves to cruise, corners very well, has lots of room, ya!
We don't use it much, but it does come in handy at times.
I of course prefer two wheels if possible but when you need to take me, the wife and three dogs somewhere that doesn't work well.
Jul 08, 2008
by Tylor S
Jul 05, 2008
it sucked it was in horrible shaped and sucked really badJul 05, 2008
by Katie B
Jun 22, 2008
Low millage at just 60k! spotless inside and out, really comfy ride.
loadsa space and solid as a rock. Now have smoked side repeaters which look pretty cool, waiting on some black tail lights! Jun 22, 2008
by Mili P
Jun 21, 2008
Its allright...has pontentialJun 21, 2008
by Brett P
Jun 21, 2008
black n white 5 speed golf with a leather interiorJun 21, 2008
by Oliver S
Jun 18, 2008
The ONLY mk3 Golf you should ever buy!!Jun 18, 2008
by Victor W
May 28, 2008
Easy to drive.The power steering isn't to strong which is good.May 28, 2008
by Kent L
Apr 17, 2008
Ordinary car that beats the average.Apr 17, 2008
by John V
Apr 10, 2008
i love this car, so reliableApr 10, 2008
by Amanda G
Apr 07, 2008
I live in Atlanta so it was great for getting around the city. The motor was bullet proof, but the body rotted. Apr 07, 2008
by Peter W
Apr 03, 2008
Always wanted one, so I got one and still have it. With a decent 1.8 8v engine its quick enough to have gotten me pulled over at least once.
Interior is reasonable and generally comfortable.
Seems fairly easy to work on to and parts are of an acceptable price.
Overall its what I wanted if I couldn't afford the Gti.......Apr 03, 2008
by Joachim M
Jan 07, 2008
Nice Car. Never managed to break the engineJan 07, 2008
by Joe H
Jan 04, 2008
Everything works as it should, parts a cheap enough to come by as most as still manufactured. Huge second hand market for spare parts also.Jan 04, 2008
by Jason S
Jan 02, 2008
1.8l Volkswagen Golf mk3.
17" wolfrace rims with low-pro toyo tyres. Smoothed tailgate, tinted rear lights, fade effect window tint, pipercross induction kit, big bore exhaust, lowered 40mm, on its arse.Jan 02, 2008
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Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 1996 Volkswagen Golf?Compare this car
1996 Volkswagen Golf Pricing
Original MSRP
$13,575 to $14,475Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent