Finally decided on a new car/project!

[Beardo]

Picked up a 1988 Mk1 Golf GTI cabriolet today. Needs a little welding and a new roof, but mechanically it's sound and the bodywork is largely excellent. Few interior niggles, but nothing to stop me actually driving the car, which is nice

[R300will]

Friend of mine bought an MX-5 recently. 14 years old and needed some bodywork doing because of rust and 14 year old paint. It was the sport model so had an LSD and it was 'mechanically sound'. The engine blew up a month later. I was then no longer suprised at how cheap it was when he bought it

[5harp3y]

Awesome, great cars.

Some inspiration:



Get yourself over to www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk for advice etc.

[spoodler]

1988? That's practically new...

These were cracking good fun back in the old days - reasonable power and light weight (compared to a modern)made for an entertaining drive, terrible rust problems tho' so best of luck with the bodywork...

[Beardo]

spoodler - the only bits of rot I could find on it were the immediately obvious ones where the roof joins the window, which is where it'll need some work. Had it up on a lift and the underside was really clean, even the sills are in good shape and the bodykit isn't hiding any evils either. So I'm OK on that score, thanks
R300will - this isn't my first Mk1, I learned to drive in one so I know what to look for and what I could safely wait to fix
5harpy - already a member there, thanks! That pic is lovely, I'd like mine to look as nice as that one day...

[mercfunder]

Great car, good luck.

[Beardo]

mercfunder said:

Great car, good luck.

Thanks! Obviously hoping for no nasty surprises, but it feels good to drive and goes properly (the mrs couldn't keep up in our Fiesta Zetec-S when I test-drove it this morning!) so it'll be a slow and steady process to bring it back to the condition I'd like it in First up - gear-shift linkage and bushing kit!

[Big Fat Fatty]

Excellent work OP, finally someone who doesn't need to be told what car to buy!

These are cracking little cars, I've always fancied one for myself. Good luck with the project and keep us updated with plenty of pics.

[mercfunder]

Beardo said:

mercfunder said:

Great car, good luck.

Thanks! Obviously hoping for no nasty surprises, but it feels good to drive and goes properly (the mrs couldn't keep up in our Fiesta Zetec-S when I test-drove it this morning!) so it'll be a slow and steady process to bring it back to the condition I'd like it in First up - gear-shift linkage and bushing kit!

Showing my age here, but I had one in 1986, and still miss it today.

[Beardo]

First job has turned out to be sorting the alternator belt - squealed a little at startup on the test-drive, no biggie. Come to drive the car home, get halfway there and the squealing started up but much louder - "Oh, well I guess I'll have to do that sooner rather than later" I said to myself. A mile down the road the squealing stopped, along with the battery light coming on and the temp gauge climbing. Oh tits. If you're the young lady that was walking her dog past the steaming Golf GTI, I do apologise - the coolant my car dumped on you at the moment you came past should just wash out of your jeans, maybe next time you'll cross the road, eh?

Old cars - they're certainly more fun than the new stuff...

[spoodler]

That last post made me chuckle to myself... been there. Didn't put the rad' cap back on properly on my old GT6, posed up outside the pub (loudly) and blipped the throttle and it fired coolant and steam all over the folks on the pavement...