Is a MK2 Golf gti a classic?
Discussion
Thinking about buying a MK2 golf gti as i want something 'Special' that i can get on classic insurance (cheaper) but i also want it as a reliable(ish) (most of my driving is at the weekend) runner and it seems that it's get what you pay for with the MK2 prices varying from 600 quid to five grand.
I'm a bit inexperienced with older cars indeed a MK2 gti would be about the same age as me. While cheaper insurance isnt the sole motivating factor it is a big one for me and obviously few of these policies show up on the typical compare the market website etc.
Am i doing the right thing and can anyone make other suggestions for a turn of the 90's car that would work on classic policy?
I'm a bit inexperienced with older cars indeed a MK2 gti would be about the same age as me. While cheaper insurance isnt the sole motivating factor it is a big one for me and obviously few of these policies show up on the typical compare the market website etc.
Am i doing the right thing and can anyone make other suggestions for a turn of the 90's car that would work on classic policy?
Turn of 90s suggestions with varying price brackets - obvious BMW 3 series, Toyota MR2, Lancia Delta, Lotus Excel, Renault Alpine, Pug 205, Saab 900, Range Rover Classic.
Old cars take some getting used to, and require mechanical sympathy and patience, and an RAC card. Cars of the late 80s/early 90s are a good idea. They have many modern features, are sometimes less prone to rust than their 60s and 70s precursors (I said sometimes), but are also light, are easy to see out of, have sensible wheels and tyres, and deliver driver involvement.
Good luck, and have fun.
Old cars take some getting used to, and require mechanical sympathy and patience, and an RAC card. Cars of the late 80s/early 90s are a good idea. They have many modern features, are sometimes less prone to rust than their 60s and 70s precursors (I said sometimes), but are also light, are easy to see out of, have sensible wheels and tyres, and deliver driver involvement.
Good luck, and have fun.
I've ran mk2 golfs for years so know a thing or two about them, one of them is that it is certainly a classic.
Yes they qualify for classic insurance but be careful as not all classic policies let you commute to work. I found Adrian Flux, Brentacre and Greenlight particularly good for insuring fully comp, daily drive, agreed values and any modifications declared.
My advice is generally to buy the best shell you can, engines/gearboxes/running gear/interior parts are easy to obtain and not expensive until you start wanting electric Recaros, 20vt engines and 6 speed gearboxes..... The shells can suffer rot to the front chassis leg/battery tray, the scuttle tray around the windscreen, the jacking points and the inner rear arches where the sills join. If you can spot rust bubbles above the plastic arch trim it is definitely hiding more rust underneath so be cautious!
Prior to owning mk2 golfs I had a variety of Fords and BMWs which I would do some work on but mostly due to good luck those cars rarely needed work. Having moved to VWs you could be mistaken for thinking the mk2s are unreliable , they aren't, I have covered in excess of 100k in them and only been let down a handful of ocassions but it is a older car and they do require regular check ups. The main difference compared with driving new cars is if you hear odd noises you investigate immediately you don't hope it will fix itself. You also find you pay more attention to the MFA and look at coolant temperatures, oil temperatures an the like a bit more often than you would in a new car but I enjoy that aspect of older car ownership.
Working on them is surprisingly easy, the 80s/early 90s was a good period for cars chassis don't rust too bad and electrics were more reliable but still relatively simple. Armed with a decent tool box and a Haynes manual combined with the online support available from the likes of mk2 golf owners club, Club GTI etc you don't have to be a genius to solve most issues. There are a couple of jobs which require specialist tools but I managed to do complete engine swaps with just a Halfords socket set.
Another suggestion for a late 80s early 90s car is the Corrado, very much made of mk2 golf components but with much more of a bespoke feel, plus they were available up to 95 so not such an old classic but a classic none the less.
Yes they qualify for classic insurance but be careful as not all classic policies let you commute to work. I found Adrian Flux, Brentacre and Greenlight particularly good for insuring fully comp, daily drive, agreed values and any modifications declared.
My advice is generally to buy the best shell you can, engines/gearboxes/running gear/interior parts are easy to obtain and not expensive until you start wanting electric Recaros, 20vt engines and 6 speed gearboxes..... The shells can suffer rot to the front chassis leg/battery tray, the scuttle tray around the windscreen, the jacking points and the inner rear arches where the sills join. If you can spot rust bubbles above the plastic arch trim it is definitely hiding more rust underneath so be cautious!
Prior to owning mk2 golfs I had a variety of Fords and BMWs which I would do some work on but mostly due to good luck those cars rarely needed work. Having moved to VWs you could be mistaken for thinking the mk2s are unreliable , they aren't, I have covered in excess of 100k in them and only been let down a handful of ocassions but it is a older car and they do require regular check ups. The main difference compared with driving new cars is if you hear odd noises you investigate immediately you don't hope it will fix itself. You also find you pay more attention to the MFA and look at coolant temperatures, oil temperatures an the like a bit more often than you would in a new car but I enjoy that aspect of older car ownership.
Working on them is surprisingly easy, the 80s/early 90s was a good period for cars chassis don't rust too bad and electrics were more reliable but still relatively simple. Armed with a decent tool box and a Haynes manual combined with the online support available from the likes of mk2 golf owners club, Club GTI etc you don't have to be a genius to solve most issues. There are a couple of jobs which require specialist tools but I managed to do complete engine swaps with just a Halfords socket set.
Another suggestion for a late 80s early 90s car is the Corrado, very much made of mk2 golf components but with much more of a bespoke feel, plus they were available up to 95 so not such an old classic but a classic none the less.
Classic Golf GTi - car of choice for pulling a Sloaney bird and driving in a relaxed manner. You can't see Fiona Fitztightly's head in this shot, but she's there:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yo...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yo...
Breadvan72 said:
Classic Golf GTi - car of choice for pulling a Sloaney bird and driving in a relaxed manner. You can't see Fiona Fitztightly's head in this shot, but she's there:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yo...
Car does look dam cool, driver "possibly" getting Bj whilst driving- cool for him, £600 fine that resulted could (I'm not an expert) have got far more than a Bj elsewhere.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yo...
The ones I've been browsing online all or nearly all look like they rust around the rear window tailgate as mentioned and sunroof. Surface rust i'm not too afraid off but mechanical under-body rust more so. If i could find one that's been properly waxoiled that would be better. Im getting more used to the practicality of the 5 door car now. It looks like they all suffer from seat bolster wear (not really bothered) but the 16vs seem harder to find. Time of year doesn't help i know. What about security living in liverpool the insurance grit their teeth here (unjust truly).
Flux direct seem to come up with some very tempting quotes on compare the market which is the first thing that attracted me to the Golf. And Classic policies seem to be a bit more understanding than most insurers after a very minor fault accident. Safety is one thing i will need to consider when moving from a more modern car. No airbags, Does the MK2 have ABS? pre tensioners. I don't mind getting my hands dirty on a few jobs but i'm getting to the point now where i've eventually found a decent garage and body shop and would be happy to let them do some bits. Things like servicing brakes suspension etc i'd do myself though.
Flux direct seem to come up with some very tempting quotes on compare the market which is the first thing that attracted me to the Golf. And Classic policies seem to be a bit more understanding than most insurers after a very minor fault accident. Safety is one thing i will need to consider when moving from a more modern car. No airbags, Does the MK2 have ABS? pre tensioners. I don't mind getting my hands dirty on a few jobs but i'm getting to the point now where i've eventually found a decent garage and body shop and would be happy to let them do some bits. Things like servicing brakes suspension etc i'd do myself though.
Edited by Madkat on Monday 6th January 14:51
Edited by Madkat on Monday 6th January 15:21
Stolen from another site:
Dwarf driving LHD Golf in "unfairly arrested during hospital mercy dash when Yoga teacher suffers cramp attack" SHOCKA.
Sorry for thread driftin'. Golf Mk2 is a classic, IMO. The Corrado idea is a good one, although I have never really taken to the looks of that car.
Dwarf driving LHD Golf in "unfairly arrested during hospital mercy dash when Yoga teacher suffers cramp attack" SHOCKA.
Sorry for thread driftin'. Golf Mk2 is a classic, IMO. The Corrado idea is a good one, although I have never really taken to the looks of that car.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 6th January 15:10
Breadvan72 said:
PH'er who doesn't know full price list of all top class hookers off by heart = FAIL. Next you will be telling us your coke dealer isn't Nigella. Get a grip, man. Er....
Very good Sir, I'd love to say it's because my assistants deal with paying my bills/ensuring my credit cards get used but apparently that isn't the best defence. Due to my Mk2 repeatedly throwing its toys out of the pram recently, I was forced to bring my Corrado into use as a daily. 40 miles a day commuting and a bit of running about in between, high 20s to the galleon but a noise I can't get enough of to ease the pain.
Aside from the Golf developing a WC Fields standard aversion to water and making 'orrid noises from its running gear - whisper it, I thiiink the tantrums are over - it has been very reliable and easy to look after in the 6 years I've had it. When it was spitting its dummy before Christmas I was THAT close to sending it to the orphanage and getting something dull and modern.
When it's working properly, which it normally does, it is a joy to bat about in it.
Aside from the Golf developing a WC Fields standard aversion to water and making 'orrid noises from its running gear - whisper it, I thiiink the tantrums are over - it has been very reliable and easy to look after in the 6 years I've had it. When it was spitting its dummy before Christmas I was THAT close to sending it to the orphanage and getting something dull and modern.
When it's working properly, which it normally does, it is a joy to bat about in it.
gforceg said:
Due to my Mk2 repeatedly throwing its toys out of the pram recently, I was forced to bring my Corrado into use as a daily. 40 miles a day commuting and a bit of running about in between, high 20s to the galleon but a noise I can't get enough of to ease the pain.
.
I was heartbroken when I sold my last daily/show mk2 Golf GTI 16v, 70k, full leather, I'd put so much time/effort/money into it upgrading/restoring everything possible but circumstances dictated that it had to go. .
Thankfully things have now improved and I'm currently commuting in a Corrado VR6, like yourself I am averaging around 27mpg over a 15mile journey. My commuter is largely standard so no silly low suspension and no loud exhausts, it's bliss especially with the heated leather during the current cold weather.
Then in the evenings/weekends I can take the other Corrado VR6 which is semi stripped out, extensively modified engine, 6 branch manifold, no cat, no silencers and a 3inch end pipe combined with a cone filter makes for a lot of noise/pops/bangs and SMILES from me and evil glares from scared pedestrians.
If neither of those take my fancy, there is always the G60 which is a real treat to drive.
If I get my ass in gear then i may get the other mk2 Golf 16v which has been sat awaiting restoration for at least 2 years now - I keep gathering more and more parts but am yet to fit many until welding is completed. The aim with this one is to have a completely OEM restoration as I feel I have had more than enough modified Golfs over the years.
Following that I NEED a Golf Syncro in my life which I can put my spare VR6 engine into.
aka_kerrly said:
I was heartbroken when I sold my last daily/show mk2 Golf GTI 16v, 70k, full leather, I'd put so much time/effort/money into it upgrading/restoring everything possible but circumstances dictated that it had to go.
Thankfully things have now improved and I'm currently commuting in a Corrado VR6, like yourself I am averaging around 27mpg over a 15mile journey. My commuter is largely standard so no silly low suspension and no loud exhausts, it's bliss especially with the heated leather during the current cold weather.
Then in the evenings/weekends I can take the other Corrado VR6 which is semi stripped out, extensively modified engine, 6 branch manifold, no cat, no silencers and a 3inch end pipe combined with a cone filter makes for a lot of noise/pops/bangs and SMILES from me and evil glares from scared pedestrians.
If neither of those take my fancy, there is always the G60 which is a real treat to drive.
If I get my ass in gear then i may get the other mk2 Golf 16v which has been sat awaiting restoration for at least 2 years now - I keep gathering more and more parts but am yet to fit many until welding is completed. The aim with this one is to have a completely OEM restoration as I feel I have had more than enough modified Golfs over the years.
Following that I NEED a Golf Syncro in my life which I can put my spare VR6 engine into.
Ha! Now you're just showing off. Thankfully things have now improved and I'm currently commuting in a Corrado VR6, like yourself I am averaging around 27mpg over a 15mile journey. My commuter is largely standard so no silly low suspension and no loud exhausts, it's bliss especially with the heated leather during the current cold weather.
Then in the evenings/weekends I can take the other Corrado VR6 which is semi stripped out, extensively modified engine, 6 branch manifold, no cat, no silencers and a 3inch end pipe combined with a cone filter makes for a lot of noise/pops/bangs and SMILES from me and evil glares from scared pedestrians.
If neither of those take my fancy, there is always the G60 which is a real treat to drive.
If I get my ass in gear then i may get the other mk2 Golf 16v which has been sat awaiting restoration for at least 2 years now - I keep gathering more and more parts but am yet to fit many until welding is completed. The aim with this one is to have a completely OEM restoration as I feel I have had more than enough modified Golfs over the years.
Following that I NEED a Golf Syncro in my life which I can put my spare VR6 engine into.
I would love to try a Golf G60 and have another 16V but I sometimes feel the need to branch into other brands.
At least if I did decide to sell the Golf, I know who to pester. I think you'd be a better home than the orphanage.
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