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I'm in a bit of a dilemma ...i an not sure whether to buy a Mk1 golf or a Mk2!!! As it will be my first car i want it to keep up with the crowd but be cheap to run and insure at the same time. I love both cars and both are at affordable prices (under £1500) so i just want to know the pro's and con's of each model! Any help would be great!!!
Both great cars, but if I had £1500 to blow I'd go for a Mk2. Should be able to get a tidy 8v GTI for that money - and this will more than keep up with modern traffic.
Mk1's are sub zero cool, but this is reflected in their present prices. £1500 will buy you a money pit, which is not really what you want for your first car.
As far as tips go, look for the most original one you can find. MK2's were a chav rocket of choice a few years back so there are some very badly modded ones kicking about. If you're looking at 8v GTI's pre '87 ones go faster due to the Bosch fuel injection (later models had a VW derivative) but 16v one's all have the same fuel injection. Rust isn't really an issue as they were galvanised and packed to the sills with Waxoyl. Crunchy second gears are normal, as are sticky rear calipers. Don't be put off by high miles, the engines were engineered when W.Germany was at it's strongest and 200k is not uncommon. Oak green one's ARE NOT RARE. other than that, just follow your nose.
If you're looking at getting into VW ownership then I suggest getting familier with the forums on clubgti.co.uk and on golfgti.co.uk, nice bunch of guys there.
Here's a nice one to get you started: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/411319.htm
Happy hunting.
Mk1's are sub zero cool, but this is reflected in their present prices. £1500 will buy you a money pit, which is not really what you want for your first car.
As far as tips go, look for the most original one you can find. MK2's were a chav rocket of choice a few years back so there are some very badly modded ones kicking about. If you're looking at 8v GTI's pre '87 ones go faster due to the Bosch fuel injection (later models had a VW derivative) but 16v one's all have the same fuel injection. Rust isn't really an issue as they were galvanised and packed to the sills with Waxoyl. Crunchy second gears are normal, as are sticky rear calipers. Don't be put off by high miles, the engines were engineered when W.Germany was at it's strongest and 200k is not uncommon. Oak green one's ARE NOT RARE. other than that, just follow your nose.
If you're looking at getting into VW ownership then I suggest getting familier with the forums on clubgti.co.uk and on golfgti.co.uk, nice bunch of guys there.
Here's a nice one to get you started: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/411319.htm
Happy hunting.
Get a Mk2 16v, you'll get a nice one for £1500 no worries.
As with all cars there are good and bad examples, look for one with a good lot of service history and buy on condition. My Mk2 16v had 150k miles on it but it had been well looked after and drove like a car with much fewer miles on it.
As with all cars there are good and bad examples, look for one with a good lot of service history and buy on condition. My Mk2 16v had 150k miles on it but it had been well looked after and drove like a car with much fewer miles on it.
MK2 Golfs are made of proper metal, take care of them and they don't rust. However, places they are susceptible to rust include:
Sunroof drain on top of the O/S inner wing
Underneath rear lights
Rear bumper mounts (chassis rails)
Front of sills
Wing bottoms underneath plastic trim.
Mechanically, there's nothing that expensive onthem fortunately and everything can be upgraded from the VW parts bin.
Both fuel injection systems can have niggly faults (mine doesn't and has never much liked hot starting!)
Sunroof drain on top of the O/S inner wing
Underneath rear lights
Rear bumper mounts (chassis rails)
Front of sills
Wing bottoms underneath plastic trim.
Mechanically, there's nothing that expensive onthem fortunately and everything can be upgraded from the VW parts bin.
Both fuel injection systems can have niggly faults (mine doesn't and has never much liked hot starting!)
for sale
hi there i have a mk2 golf gti 8v 1987 tax and mot for sale nice and tidy its alpine white with corrada wheels its got a number plate worth over 500 pounds reading C396TOY
1000 POUNDS OR OFFER give us a call if your interested 07949599526 or email us on em_lewi@hotmail.co.uk
hi there i have a mk2 golf gti 8v 1987 tax and mot for sale nice and tidy its alpine white with corrada wheels its got a number plate worth over 500 pounds reading C396TOY
1000 POUNDS OR OFFER give us a call if your interested 07949599526 or email us on em_lewi@hotmail.co.uk
Get a Mk 2 16v GTI. I always wanted one, and finally got one as a weekend runnabout/ track car about 6 months ago.
As people have said, try to get an unmolested one, as many have been messed about with by boy racers.
Your budget will get you a 16v, which i think are more fun than the 8v. (Cue the never ending 16v v 8v arguement...)
As people have said, try to get an unmolested one, as many have been messed about with by boy racers.
Your budget will get you a 16v, which i think are more fun than the 8v. (Cue the never ending 16v v 8v arguement...)
lewisjames said:
for sale
hi there i have a mk2 golf gti 8v 1987 tax and mot for sale nice and tidy its alpine white with corrada wheels its got a number plate worth over 500 pounds reading C396TOY
1000 POUNDS OR OFFER give us a call if your interested 07949599526 or email us on em_lewi@hotmail.co.uk
Doubt if that plate is worth £500, C?? TOY are being advertised for under £500 on various sites.hi there i have a mk2 golf gti 8v 1987 tax and mot for sale nice and tidy its alpine white with corrada wheels its got a number plate worth over 500 pounds reading C396TOY
1000 POUNDS OR OFFER give us a call if your interested 07949599526 or email us on em_lewi@hotmail.co.uk
I would also go for a MKII, 16v if you afford the insurance. Go on condition and history rather than mileage. If its been looked after and the previous owners have had it serviced regularly then it should be reliable. The car will be a minimum of 16 years old so if you carry out preventative work rather than sort problems as they occur you should be ok.
I have a 1992 8v and I've just had to spend £500 to get it on the road after 6 months on the driveway. My fault but they can suffer through lack of use as much as through over use.
Try to get underneath if you can. The wishbones had rusted on mine plus part of the chassis near to the bulkhead.
Good luck nd enjoy it whatever you decide to buy.
GolfEcosse said:
I'm in a bit of a dilemma ...i an not sure whether to buy a Mk1 golf or a Mk2!!! As it will be my first car i want it to keep up with the crowd but be cheap to run and insure at the same time. !!!
umm people you have missed something..the car said his FIRST CAR. can someone really justify a GTI as a first car? In a MK2 a 1.3 is group 7 insurance and a 1.6 driver group 9 are more than expensive enough to try and insure. In a MK1 a 1.1 or 1.3 are both surprisingly fun an will be faster than a mk2. Also possibly consider a polo mk2 or mk3 coupe if you like Dubs.
But with Golfs you can put them on a classic car policy. It costs us £360 a year for the Mk 2 GTI for me AND my other half, and i've got 9 points and we live in a dodgy area...
Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
ol said:
But with Golfs you can put them on a classic car policy. It costs us £360 a year for the Mk 2 GTI for me AND my other half, and i've got 9 points and we live in a dodgy area...
Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Depends how old the OP is? Most insurers only do classic car policies for over 21 or 25yr olds. Certainly was the case with HIC.Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Mk2 1.3 Ryder or something small engined Mk1 would be more sensible if its a first car then.
m4tthew said:
ol said:
But with Golfs you can put them on a classic car policy. It costs us £360 a year for the Mk 2 GTI for me AND my other half, and i've got 9 points and we live in a dodgy area...
Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Depends how old the OP is? Most insurers only do classic car policies for over 21 or 25yr olds. Certainly was the case with HIC.Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Mk2 1.3 Ryder or something small engined Mk1 would be more sensible if its a first car then.
GreatGranny said:
m4tthew said:
ol said:
But with Golfs you can put them on a classic car policy. It costs us £360 a year for the Mk 2 GTI for me AND my other half, and i've got 9 points and we live in a dodgy area...
Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Depends how old the OP is? Most insurers only do classic car policies for over 21 or 25yr olds. Certainly was the case with HIC.Its worth a few phone calls to see what you can work out, i went with Adrian Flux and found them to be really helpful
Mk2 1.3 Ryder or something small engined Mk1 would be more sensible if its a first car then.
Just to let you know, Im 25 with 3 points and insured my Mk2 16v with HIC for just over £300 last year, so if you can get classic car insurance its do-able.
Im with AON and have just paid £150 Fully Comp for my MKII 8v, I am old though (43) and it is garaged but I have 3 points.
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