Welcome to the Top Gear test track.
We’re going to take a look at a bunch of cars that didn’t quite make it into the main show
and we’re going to pit them head to head to see which one puts down the fastest lap.
We’re talking super SUVs, hot hatches, sports cars,
old versus new, fast estates, retro electrics.
Nothing is off limits.
First, I give them a quick test drive,
then our resident racing driver will set their definitive lap times once and for all.
Today is battle of the Golf GTIs.
So let's see which one is going to win out of Volkswagen's finest.
Like many Volkswagens of this age, this one has been subtly modified
and it's got 232 brake horsepower and I'm guessing somewhere around
the original foot power of the torque, which is just over 200.
This is an early 2000 car and it is still great fun to drive.
It's such a crisp driving experience.
I mean, Volkswagen really know what they're doing with a hot hatch.
It's got plenty of grip in all the right places and you're just sailing around.
I was out on a jolly I think.
It's going to be very interesting to pair up the Mk5 with the Mk2.
I think the Mk5 might have it in the corners because the handling
is still so good in these cars.
Let's see how they fight it out on track.
This car used to be an 8-valve GTI but let me tell you guys, not anymore.
Now, this thing here has been modified up to its eyeballs.
It's a 3.2 Audi TT engine
with a VR6 Corrado box and a Quaife limited slip diff.
This is about as modified as they get but, my goodness, it is great fun.
It feels ridiculously quick.
I think in the straight line this is going to have a huge advantage over the Mk5 Golf.
For goodness sake, these cars are not supposed to go this fast.
They're nearly 30 years old.
After driving both the cars, I know where my heart lies.
That little Mk2 GTI with the V6 engine is just so much fun and sounds amazing.
But I honestly think, even though it's got more horsepower sitting at 270,
this is just going to clinch it.
With the DSG gearbox, it's so smooth and I just think it's
able to put the traction down a little bit better.
The track conditions today are nice and dry so it really is going to come down to
whether these cars can put the power down.
So I think, looking at the leader board here,
there's a nice big gap between the Mk5 GTI and the GTI Mk7.
I'm going to hazard a guess and say that the Mk5 unfortunately just felt that little bit faster
so the Mk2 is coming in just below, but somewhere between the 1:33 and the 1:39.
Now, all we need is a driver.
Luckily I know a guy just for the job.
Three, two, one, go.
This really is battle of the GTIs today.
After seeing them go around the track, I've got my eye in on which one I think is going
to be faster but you never know until you get the results, so let's find out.
Okay, wow, the Mk5 has done way more than I thought it would do.
That's coming in first place with a 1:31.5.
That's a really good time for that car and unfortunately,
as we thought, the Mk2 Golf, a little bti slower with a 1:34.4.
This actually means that the Mk5 has done far better than I thought it would.
I obviously didn't give it enough credit.
So, it's coming in ahead of the Mk4 Golf.
And our little Mk2 Golf was exactly where I thought it might be,
ahead of the Mk7 and between the Mk5.
Well there you have it guys, the Mk5 beat the little Mk2.
It's not the result that I wanted but you never
know what's going to happen out here on the Top Gear Test Track.
Make sure you join us next time for Stig's Garage where we've got plenty more cars coming.
We'll see you there.