SOT: Considering a MK2, 3 or 4 VW GTI for my new DD, Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly... Options

[johnnie5]

Mike - I had an '86 Golf GL 4 door I bought in '91. Living in Maui at the time, I had to be in SmeLA for 6 months or so and needed some wheels. The car had only 30K+ miles and was very clean, especially for the $3300 I gave for it! I drove the snot out of that Golf for 6 months, putting 10,000 miles on it. I dumped $200 in oil changes, a cheap head unit, and some tint into it - and sold it for $4K at the end of my stay. It ran like a champ, not without issue though. The internal fuel pump went out on it, which I considered strange on a car with such low mileage. I actually called VW of USA to inquire. The customer rep informed me that my vin# did fall under recall for the pump and they would replace it. When I told her I had already replaced it myself, she offered to reimburse me for the part if I could provide a receipt. Since I did the work myself, she colud not pay me for labor, but did mail me a check for the part! Try that with Toyota or Honda! Other than the pump going out, that Golf ran beautifully for the short time I owned it, taking 10K miles worth of more than a fair amount of abuse.

[Gint]

I bought this and drove it home from Salt Lake. Stopped in to see the Sheaster while I was in town.

54k original mile Mk2 GLI 16v

Although now it has 55k miles after the 500+ mile trip home. Just got here 20 minutes ago.

[P.Rocket]

Good choice! Mine works perfect for a daily commuter.
Enjoy the seats. They are by far the best for my lame back.

Pic won't attach I'll work on it tomorrow when I have more time.

[ghuff]

You want a mk3 2.0 GTi and here is why:

1. A mk2 has CIS or CIS-E/motronic which is 100% garbage and parts are hard to find + super expensive. You will be pissed if/when someone hits your nice now vintage mk2 GTi also since it is a daily

2. a MKIV GTi will not stay stock, ask me. I had a nice lightly modded one with a helical diff and in a year I had a 400whp transmission eating most anything on the street eating burnout machine. I still drive mine daily with all the poly and super stiff springs.. but i could not resist modding it. Also unless you are in love with fixing neglected electrics under the hood, run.

You will end up here in short order once you taste what a 5v turbo audi motor can do(this is a medium turbo only):

(IMG:http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/90/l_3f23da0390c94bc9a1bf7507285a6c4e.jpg)


3. MK3 GTi parts are super cheap for the 2.0, tons in junkyards. The VR6 is a maintenance nightmare when it needs timing chains, you remove the trans and half the motor, it also makes poor power for its displacement because the headflow is crap on a stick.


Be sure to get a MK3 GTi with rear discs, i think they all had them. Or even a Golf Sport 2.0 with rear disc.


I have pwned all of these and if I could do it again I would have gotten a stock mk3 2.0 golf sport to daily drive. Comfier than a mk2 slightly and ease of parts, and a lack of now hard to find and expensive CIS parts.



DOH I missed you bought something. Oops.... that is a very nice GLi!

When CIS acts up, go megasquirt. The conversion is not hard, you will need a 16v automatic passat throttle body, it has the TPS sensor you want.

[P.Rocket]

Good choice! Mine works perfect for a daily commuter.
Enjoy the seats. They are by far the best for my lame back.