Installed Everywhere
When thinking about a Volkswagen Golf VR6, enthusiasts immediately think of the Golf III with the six-cylinder engine with a 15-degree cylinder bank angle. The V stands for a V-configuration of the cylinders, but because the cylinder bank angle is so small, you could almost speak of an inline configuration, “Reihe” in German. From the factory, it was available as a hatchback, and towards the end even as a Golf Variant, but those always had the 2.9 VR6 with 190 hp and Syncro all-wheel drive. The much more common 2.8 with 174 hp was only available in the hatchback. Nowadays, you rarely come across a beautiful original one, because so many VR6 engines have been swapped into other Golfs.
We’re searching through our used car offerings for Golfs with six cylinders. This 2.9 Syncro immediately stands out. Yes, it existed! A Golf III VR6 with a six-cylinder engine bored out by up to 0.1 liters. It only came in 1995 and was delivered until 1997. The version with the Corrado VR6 engine always had all-wheel drive, while in the coupe it was only available as a front-wheel drive. Notable fact: Volkswagen also installed the 2.9 VR6 Syncro drivetrain in the Variant! Those examples were hardly sold.
Volkswagen Golf VR6 2.9 Syncro, too bad about those wheels and the logo-less grille. But you can do something about that.
Not All Equally Neat
In the used car offerings, we see examples that aren’t always in the best condition, often they also have non-original wheels like the Syncro we highlighted. But this neat VR6 with automatic transmission and mud flaps seems to be one of those examples that was driven by a more conservative older person who simply wanted a Golf with a powerful engine and lots of luxury (although this one doesn’t have such a ‘sporty gear knob’). The price is steep, but that’s also due to the low mileage. An example with over 150,000 more kilometers on the odometer costs much less, and admittedly: that’s quite a neat thing with wheels you could order new from the factory.
Must have belonged to an older person. Mudflaps! You quite often see VR6s with automatic transmission.
American Golf IV Was Still Called VR6!
Always a Golf III, such a VR6? From the Golf IV onwards, the engine with the same cylinder configuration was called V6, so you wouldn’t see it on the back. Except when it’s an American Golf IV! Like this one. This is a Golf IV with VR6 designation. Here’s why: the American market had the Golf IV with the old VR6 with two valves per cylinder, so with 174 hp instead of the European Golf IV V6 4Motion (VR6 with 4 valves per cylinder and 204 hp).
Volkswagen Golf IV GTI VR6, with the old VR6 and thus with two valves per cylinder.
A VR6 Convertible Is Never Original!
And then there are enthusiastic tinkerers who have installed a VR6 into a Golf III Cabrio themselves. One once appeared in our “Beating Heart” column. You have to dare to do it. Volkswagen themselves never installed anything more powerful than a 115 hp 2.0 four-cylinder in the Golf Cabrio.
This brown convertible has a VR6 installed.
Golf II Often Seen for Sale with VR6
Even more often you come across a Volkswagen Golf II (and even I) with a VR6 installed. This was already happening in the nineties when you could still buy a new Golf III VR6 and the Golf II was a popular tuning object. This is an example of a sleeper, this one looks a bit more extravagant. But well, there’s probably also a big supercharger installed given the power output of 348 hp.
Volkswagen Golf II with BBS wheels, and with a VR6 under the hood!