Good choice.
Best year to get is probably the latest you can, Y or A plate.
All of these are 1.8 5-speed, the main benifit being that parts can still be found this engine. The earlier 1.6 Engine is getting quite hard to get bits for if you want the genuine stuff anyway, and the fact that the 1.8 has got a fair bit more torque.
The main problems with the Mk 1 are rust and abuse. Even the newest one are pushing twenty, so bare that in mind. Especially around the back suspension mounts, above the fuel pump, spare wheel well, inner front of the rear wheel arch by the sill....... basically the whole back end. is a problem area. Drivers footwell, inner wings and clutch cable duct in the bulkhead being the main ones at the front.
Its also worth bearing in mind that any interior trim is also virtually impossible to buy new, unless you upgrade to the later Cabrio items. But thankfully genuine switchgear can still be supplied from VW.
With any luck you should find a good one, but expect to pay good money for a clean original example as they are getting a bit thin on the ground, anything upto ?3500 for something in truely excellent condition, and down south even more, thats why i sell most of my ex-steeds down there if i get the chance.
They are still bloody good cars, and are quite capable of Taking the piss out of much more powerful machinery.
Thats why i have had 5 of them.
Good luck.
PS: Don't get a white one, please.
