Discussion in t'pub turned to the above last night. A mix of performance, longevity and reliability.
I have rose tinted memories of my Mk1 Golf GTi (AUM 880X) with the 1.6 engine and 105bhp (I think). Driven very briskly when the opportunity arose and continued to run faultlessly up to 140k miles after I sold it. This was followed by an Audi 80 Sport (B626***) with the 1.8 engine. Bought 3rd hand by myself and ran faultlessly until I sold it with 145k miles when it was succumbing to rust problems.A friend of mine bought a Mk2 Golf GTI 8V (H reg) at a year old and only sold it 3 years ago with 180k miles because he fancied a change!! It still ran as sweetly as the day he bought it and never let him down, unlike his A3 replacement, and to add insult to injury he sold it too cheaply to the first enquirer and his phone did not stop ringing for 6 days with putchase enquiries. Presumably these were all derivatives of the same original engine.
More up to date, a friend had, until recently, a BMW 330i which gave a wonderful blend of performance and mpg (30 overall with a light right foot)...whether this engine will prove as reliable in the long term remains to be seen.
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These engines are incredibly long lived, and I know of lots of mk2 Golf GTIs still running sweetly with 140+k on the clock.
The other one I'd nominate is the 8v PSA XU9/10 petrol engine as fitted to the 205 GTI and early 306 XSi. There are plenty of 205 GTIs with starship mileages, and a friend ran a 96 "N" 306 XSi from 9,000 to 180,000 miles and the engine never needed to come apart. It had a lovely "loose", well oiled feel to it, and still felt very gutsy and responsive even at 180k, with just a slightly increased appetite for oil (a litre every 4-5k) to give away the mileage. Unfortunately, it went on to develop an engine management fault that sent it to the scrapper (car was falling to bits around the engine anyway).
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I'd go for the 1.8 8v lump from the Mk2 GTI personally, or a left-field suggestion is the 1.8 Ford Zetec motor as fitted to Mark 1 / 2 Mondeos. Maybe I just had a good one, but it was quick, reliable, economical considering the way it got thrashed, and nothing went wrong.
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Vauxhall 2.0 8v gets my vote. Torque, economical and long lived. 1.7 Isuzu diesel not bad either.
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I inherited my Dad's 2.0 8v Cavalier GLi - 40 mpg if driven sensibly, lots of go, and it did 140k with no trouble.
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How about the Alfa v6 which was in production for 20 odd years, and its final guise was a 3.2 litre in the 156/147 GTA, 3.2GT and the 166. It is a reliable engine with bags of power and an exhillerating sound track. Added to that it looks the part with the chromed vents it is and looks great.
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I had a Scirocco 1 with 1.6 carb engine. Ran to 204k before rust got hold of it. However, needed head rebuild and finally went bang due to burning oil. I think a warn carb made the mixture too weak and washed the bores. Just retired a Scirocco 2 injection at 329k miles. Never a problem with engine. Always used synth oil every 10-12k miles, and red coolant changed every 4 years. Other than new plugs belts and filters, and the odd hose and o ring, never had a prob with the engine. Did not use oil, self adjust tappets never looked at, so in 18 years no problems with engine at all. Gearbox needed doing, and 2 clutches, plus brake relines. But engine never touched.
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Another vote for the 8V VW engine, used in all body types, quick and frugal when needs be, simple and cheap to repair.
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1) Nissan VG30E engine in the Z31 model 300 ZX. Sweet, unbreakable unit. Far superior to the 2.8i Ford of the day. Possibly pipped by the 24v 3.0 straight six in the Vx Carlton/Senator?
2) Ford's 1.1 OHV unit from the Mk2 Fiesta. Keep the rain away from the electrics and they run and run. And run.
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2.0lt petrol in first primeras. jag.
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The 1.25 16v Zetec engine was a breath of fresh air when it first arrived.
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