Need a bit of help..

[Symo93]

I have wanted a Civic type r (EP3) for a while now and it is probably the car I will end up getting later this year once I have saved.

Found a low mileage, well looked after 2002 Golf 1.8 T Gti for reasonable money which I am going to go and have a look at tomorrow, This seems like a reasonable option for my budget (around £1500, max 2k). I assume it should be reliable and a bit of fun.

It is advertised as the 1.8 T, looking at the pictures the "Gti" badge is in all silver, which I remember someone telling me means its N/A. I have had a quick google search and can't really find anything for sure. Does anyone know any different? I guess when I go to look at it tomorrow I can just look under the bonnet and see for myself? I'm not really clued up on cars so where will I be looking?

Thanks in advance..

[conkerman]

DVLA vehicle enquiry.

1.8 = Turbo
2.0 = N/A

[lse]

Hi, be very wary of the 1.8T engine. If they don't receive their oil changes at the correct intervals then the oil passageways block up and it seizes the camshaft. I know this because a friend of mine has his own engine building/reconditioning company and the VW 1.8 head was the most common cylinder head he had through his workshop....so check its oil change history and look inside the oil cap at the components which should be at worst a medium brown colour, any darker and you should walk, there's plenty of them out there.

[Symo93]

Ok thanks, I will make sure I have a good check for that.

[graham22]

conkerman said:

DVLA vehicle enquiry.

1.8 = Turbo
2.0 = N/A

Didn't they do a 1.8 20v non-turbo GTI (115hp?) or was this dropped fairly early on.

The 2.0 was 8v so single cam head so easy to identify over the twin cam head if you can get under the bonnet.

Also I think the 150hp models (both petrol & diesel) had genuine Recaro seats.

These were some of the indications when I was looking sometime ago.

+1 on the oil changes, they do sludge up a little. Also consider the Ibiza Cupra with the same 1.8 20VT motor or even the Leon, these are very understated.

Edited by graham22 on Thursday 23 January 12:29

[Jim AK]

Cambelt & waterpump history essential as water pumphasa plastic impeller that breaks up

[podwin]

When it first came out there was a 1.8 NA and 1.8T. The 1.8T had a red I.

The 1.8 NA was gutless at 125bhp, but they replaced it with a 2.0 at 115bhp! I guess it had better torque characteristics, whatever, that is what VW did and this is when the badging changed (around the end of 1999 or the start of 2000).

The 1.8T then had the badge all in silver and the 2.0 was badged 2.0.

So depending when the example was built it is possible to see 1.8Ts with a GTI badge all in silver or with a red I if older.

[toddygti]

The most common is the 1.8 Turbo (150hp)

The other GTI is the 2.0 16v engine that is the 115.

They are worlds apart, the 1.8T will have lots of pipework in the engine bay for the interooler etc so look very different.

Oil changes are very important to these engines as discussed previously.

Ensure a long test drive is done to ensure there are no intermittant EML or Airbag lights coming on and no engine over heating. You'll know the 1.8t as the boost will kick in quite quick from 2k RPM.