MK1 Golf GTi

[turbo-tastic]

Hmmm,

Can anyone else not see anything there??
God knows what happened

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice about buying a MK1 Golf GTi as a daily driver?

More specifically, this Mk1 Golf?

Does that look about the right money?
What should I look for?
What kind of MPG can I expect?
Will there be monthly repairs etc?

Cheers All,
Ed

[iguana]

turbo-tastic said:

1- What should I look for? 2- What kind of MPG can I expect? 3- Will there be monthly repairs etc?

In very brief-

1- Rust! (the bain of the Mk1, check its not just filler & shiney paint on it too)

2- 30+

3- Cant really answer that

ref price- really nice MK1s do command good money £3k+ is not un reasonable if its a really nice one & utter mint gems fetch way more.

[turbo-tastic]

Cheers
I couldn't find another like it to compare prices, and wanted to check i wasn't going to be paying over the odds.
My car ends on ebay in about 30 mins, so hopefully, I'll be able to tempt the seller with cash and see if we can have a deal!!

[zcacogp]

iguana said:

turbo-tastic said: 1- What should I look for? 2- What kind of MPG can I expect? 3- Will there be monthly repairs etc? In very brief- 1- Rust! (the bain of the Mk1, check its not just filler & shiney paint on it too) 2- 30+ 3- Cant really answer that ref price- really nice MK1s do command good money £3k+ is not un reasonable if its a really nice one & utter mint gems fetch way more.

I'd go with that.

Rust everywhere. Better in post 1980 examples. Look around rear windows, spare wheel wells, around windscreens, bottoms of doors, bulkheads (behind engine). Check for damage, nasty modifications, worn out interiors, smoking engines, difficult gearchanges (could be a 'box, could just be a new set of bushes.) Also not-working MPG's, dashboard clocks, lights and hacked parcel shelves/doorcards etc.

MPG. 35+. Mine was a good 'un (before it was nicked), but would rarely dip below 33, even when nailed hard. Astonishingly good economy for the driving.

Monthly repairs not expensive if you do them yourself. But MK1's are cars that need constant light attention, and do need to be driven regularly.

Look at my profile. I've had two, they are superb, superb, superb machines. Get the bug, and you will never get it out of your system.


Oli.

[turbo-tastic]

zcacogp said:

Rust everywhere. Better in post 1980 examples. Look around rear windows, spare wheel wells, around windscreens, bottoms of doors, bulkheads (behind engine). Check for damage, nasty modifications, worn out interiors, smoking engines, difficult gearchanges (could be a 'box, could just be a new set of bushes.) Also not-working MPG's, dashboard clocks, lights and hacked parcel shelves/doorcards etc. MPG. 35+. Mine was a good 'un (before it was nicked), but would rarely dip below 33, even when nailed hard. Astonishingly good economy for the driving. Monthly repairs not expensive if you do them yourself. But MK1's are cars that need constant light attention, and do need to be driven regularly. Look at my profile. I've had two, they are superb, superb, superb machines. Get the bug, and you will never get it out of your system.

I went and had a look at it today, and was very impressed (although the 350mile round trip took the shine off it a bit!!)
Rust?!?! Not a sausage. Completely solid bodywork and chassis. Some indication of a light front end shunt, either that or a poorly replaced wing. Nothing major, shut lines are equal etc.

The g/box does seem odd though. He has receipts for linkages being replaced (cant remember when) but its tricky to select 1st or reverse (keep getting the wrong one).
Idont know whether its because I am used to the precision of the GT4 (very, very defined), but dont
think its anything major. Or is it??

Interior has a few marks etc, but again nothing major, so fingers crossed, as soon as my GT4 is sold (hopefully tomorrow!!) I'll be able to make the 350 mile trip again and go buy it, cos the seller has said he is happy to hold it for me!!

Cheers all,
Ed

[zcacogp]

turbo-tastic said:

The g/box does seem odd though. He has receipts for linkages being replaced (cant remember when) but its tricky to select 1st or reverse (keep getting the wrong one).

Common problem, can be down to a couple of things though.

Try re-bushing the linkage fully (including the difficult ones!) Buy from GSF or ECP - will cost about a tenner.

Failing this, it may be the nylon ball at the base of the gearstick that is worn. This is a trickier job, but comes down to the same thing. It is fairly unlikely to be a gearbox problem itself.

(As a hint, while you are re-bushing everything, take the two short links off with the ball-and-socket joints at the end of them, and clean these before filling them with white grease. Use the same grease on the new bushes, and the difference in change quality is immense.)

Enjoy the car. A good one will have you grinning like a rock-ape everytime you start it up. Look after her.


Oli.

[turbo-tastic]

Well fingers crossed I'll be picking it up tonight!!!

I noticed these on ebay and thought they'd be worth a purchase

[turbo-tastic]

Well, I am now the proud owner of a MK1 Golf GTi

A few little niggles that I didn't notice (as always with me when I buy cars )

The temp gauge (water temp on dash) doesn't work, nor does the MFA switch and readout. Any suggestions?? Looks to me like when the car was stripped and rebuilt, they didn't wire it all back up again. But I could be (and usually am) wrong.

Also, the 3 clocks in the centre console dont work (volts, poil pressure and oil temp) and the stereo wiring leaves quite alot to be desired (but the car has had 10 owners!! Thats potentially 10 different stereo's fitted over 22 years!! So not doing to badly)

Anyone have any ideas what I can do, or do you think a trip to an Auto electrician is in order??

Cheers all,
Ed.

[edc]

I think a trip to ClubGTI will help with those probs