Discussion
I had a look at these recently and came pretty close to buying one. In the end, it's scarcity of parts that put me off. Most are tuned up now and 300bhp is pretty achieveable in these cars, though the gearboxes and brakes a known weak point. The brakes aren't such an issue, but finding and fitting new gearboxes could be a pain. You also have to wonder about the integrity of the engines. Some of them have a distinct whiff of 'cobbled together in the garage'.
They also suffer badly from rust. Not one that I enquired about had 'clean' bodywork and even the best examples had bubbles on the rear arches.
They are no doubt a fun car if you get a good one, though that search will be long and hard. I would advise you give it some serious thought if you wish to proceed.
They also suffer badly from rust. Not one that I enquired about had 'clean' bodywork and even the best examples had bubbles on the rear arches.
They are no doubt a fun car if you get a good one, though that search will be long and hard. I would advise you give it some serious thought if you wish to proceed.
A good friend had one for 5 years. Never had any issues with it - apart from using tyres and brakes like no tomorrow! He heard lots of scare stories about chocolate gearboxes, but it was only lightly modified (250-280ish) and always driven with sympathy. Shockingly fast car for the cash nowadays! But make sure it hasn't been ragged and abused too much!
Had one for a few years and it was great fun, 270bhp and went like stink. Had gearbox issues but due to the extra power it was to be expected. Apart from that was very reliable although the brakes were poor so I upgraded them also had a tendancy to understeer but got that sorted by Powerstation in Cheltenham.
Seriously. If you haven't got £4k+ to spend on one don't bother. 
Get a Scooby instead - newer design, better tech and a better drive. GTIR's were designed in the 80's, we're s
t at rallying (front heavy) and looked ghey.
And whoever asked how easy it is to change spark plugs on one you're a tit.
Honestly. It's a four cylinder jap engine not some piece of st French turd.
Actually. Buy a Pug 205 GTI.
Get a Scooby instead - newer design, better tech and a better drive. GTIR's were designed in the 80's, we're s
t at rallying (front heavy) and looked ghey. And whoever asked how easy it is to change spark plugs on one you're a tit.
Honestly. It's a four cylinder jap engine not some piece of s
t French turd. Actually. Buy a Pug 205 GTI.
F1GTRUeno said:
If I ever found one that was completely standard I think I'd keep it forever.
Chances are that'll never happen.
No you wouldn't. Chances are that'll never happen.
You'd meet a girl, she'd move in, get you to paint and do DIY and stuff, move stuff around, buy cushions that "go" with stuff, get you to buy an engagement ring because "you love her", suck your spunk out using her minge and have your baby, get fat and sleep all day, then she will say "You know you'll have to get rid of that Golf"
"It's a mint Nissan GTI-R sunny, only two left in the UK and..."
"GET RID OF IT NOOOWW!!!!!!"
Or something like that.
GTIR said:
F1GTRUeno said:
If I ever found one that was completely standard I think I'd keep it forever.
Chances are that'll never happen.
No you wouldn't. Chances are that'll never happen.
You'd meet a girl, she'd move in, get you to paint and do DIY and stuff, move stuff around, buy cushions that "go" with stuff, get you to buy an engagement ring because "you love her", suck your spunk out using her minge and have your baby, get fat and sleep all day, then she will say "You know you'll have to get rid of that Golf"
"It's a mint Nissan GTI-R sunny, only two left in the UK and..."
"GET RID OF IT NOOOWW!!!!!!"
Or something like that.
They are a fantastic little car but try to spend as much as you can on the best you can.
I ran one for 7 years and had it featured in a few magazines, the biggest mistake i made was going the big power route but i guess thats what you do when your young.
Find one with a decent rust free shell, mod it to 280/300 bhp which is very easy and enjoy it, or get a forged one and leave it at max 350bhp, treat the gearbox with respect and you'll be fine or look for one with a quaife box already in it. Get a big set of stoppers, some whiteline handlinging bits and bobs with coilovers and a decent clutch and you will have a blast!
I'd still love to have another but do it right second time around.
I ran one for 7 years and had it featured in a few magazines, the biggest mistake i made was going the big power route but i guess thats what you do when your young.
Find one with a decent rust free shell, mod it to 280/300 bhp which is very easy and enjoy it, or get a forged one and leave it at max 350bhp, treat the gearbox with respect and you'll be fine or look for one with a quaife box already in it. Get a big set of stoppers, some whiteline handlinging bits and bobs with coilovers and a decent clutch and you will have a blast!
I'd still love to have another but do it right second time around.
Jellymonster said:
Could someone explain what a forged engine is? Is Forge a brand that makes stronger, more durable components for engines?
Forging is where you squeeze the components under very high pressure and heat. It aligns the grain structure of the metal and makes it much much stronger. A forged engine = forged pistons, possibly crank, etc. Typically it gets used to describe a piston swap though.Normall pistons are cast which doesn't align the grain and is thus less strong.
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