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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: CHRIS_MC on 05 February 2009, 20:24

Title: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 05 February 2009, 20:24
seen an H reg 8 valve, it has 150k on the clock, looks nice and straight and true.......

black with bbs, seems completely un-dicked with (apart from a scorpion can), going to have a proper look on monday, left a holding deposit of £200

its a garage, they are looking for £1500 which seems quite steep to me, it was MOT'd today with an advisory on a tyre.

the seat pattert isnt the rainbow as i was expecting, its a sort of red/black check.

can you all shed as much advice on this as possible, as its not often i get an oppertunity for a solid lookin mk2 on my own back door here in Edinburgh,

my concern is the mileage (because my 16v mk2 was ragged to death and died @ 135k) and the price

cheers CHRIS
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Grazy on 05 February 2009, 20:56
As long as its been serviced milage shouldn`t be too much of a worry . As for the tyre get em to stick a new one on , and try to knock em down a bit .  BUY IT son . You obviosly know Golfs mate trust your instinct dude  :cool:
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: oakgreengolf on 05 February 2009, 20:58
for an 8v its a top price and would expect a very nice car for that sort of money. Check the history, when then oil seals where done and cambelt etc. Maybe haggle for some tax and a new tyre
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Rodriguez on 05 February 2009, 21:15
You gotta remember that 150k is about average miles and shouldn't be a problem if its been serviced properly.  As said:   if good belts, seals and a solid body,  1500 sounds ok from a garage.



Get haggling!
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: k4ith on 05 February 2009, 21:21
If I was paying that i would get in about it, pour water all over it see if any pisses thru, check sills, under battery for rust, brakes at back seizing, lookat the state of the underlay to see if its had a history of water ingress, heater working on all 3 settings, just the usual.
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: nealey on 05 February 2009, 21:45
Personally i think these days its more important to buy a mk2 on the basis of the body, get the tidiest shell you can, mechanicals are the easy bits to replace!

£1500 is top end money though really, i dont think you have much chance of haggling if you have already paid a deposit on it but definately go over history etc and make sure everything matches up, for that money you want a mint or near as car
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 05 February 2009, 23:27
the deposit was just to buy me a day to go over it, he'll give me back my £200 squids, he seems as honest as the day is long, said i could put it up on the ramp & take it for a spin, i expect no gear crunch, seems to have been dry stored up north for a while,

not a single bit of the side skirting loose, no play in any of the arches, looks like its just lacking a bee sting ariel....

the tyre is just a bit worn, but made it through the MOT, its taxed for 6 months, im thinkin £1200, but he said i could split the cost over 2 payments, so its hard to haggle if he's letting me do that, i just dont think it will be there long.....

but yeah to recap, absolutley solid shell, just drove past it tonight, saw it and threw £200 at him and said keep it till monday, so's i can see it in the daylight, cant wait,

said he would even look at my 16valver for me (sorn)
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: shakeyjake on 06 February 2009, 13:11
to go against what has been said above, 1.5k is not top money mk2 golf regardless of what engine it is - blame fifth gear. check the usual areas for rust - sills, under the fuel filler cap, bottom edge of the door etc. milage isnt important on a these cars, one with 150k could run, drive and look better than one with 70k if its been well looked after and has some history to back it up. just worry about how the engine runs, and if it comes across as a well looked after car.
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Mk2Kezza on 06 February 2009, 13:43
Is it only me that thinks its alot for a 150K miler? A sound shell is most important as you can whip out and replace the engine should it fail. After travelling that distance I would expect the 2nd gear synchro to be something else to think about. I replaced mine after around 140K and how I lived with it before that I don't know....
I had to change my engine at 171K and swapped it with a sirocco engine that had done 71K (which I bought off ebay for a quid) so just make sure she's straight, not been in a bump and as rust free as possible.
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: spacerat on 07 February 2009, 15:19
I dont think £1500 is top end money either, im sad and spend hours looking through the classifieds just to see whats about,(i need a girl friend) true- u can find good 8v's for under 1k but they dont hang around for long, id say and half decent 8v from 89-onwards is worth between £1100-1700, and anything thats amazingly good is 2k+,  150k on a 20 year old car is nothing to worry about either.

that my opinion but as said before, its only worth what someones prepared to pay. 
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Conker on 07 February 2009, 15:32
Bee sting aeriel is very rare on an 8v - I think it was an option only (and probably a relatively expensive one). That red and black interior is an 8v interior IIRC, I think the rainbow was only standard for the 8v on the very last run-out models or something like that.
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: sidecarphil on 07 February 2009, 18:07
mine had a VW option bee sting ariel

took it off as it was poo after 20 some years

fitted a powered one and it is great :cool:
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: illyun on 07 February 2009, 19:21
Well, I think its too much money for an 8v and if you ever want to sell it, you'ill never get anywhere near that...  As for 150k ones are as good as 70k ones, there might be exceptional 150k ones for which that statement is true, but in all probability a lower mileage car will be better... this is speaking from personal experience of buying and selling Mk2s - not as a trader, but a collector.  I have had around 15 Mk2's over the past 4 years and general rule of thumb is, a lower mileage example (below 95k) is nearly always better than a higher mileage one (over 130k).  Don't forget its easy to polish a car and make it look good.  I've seen plenty of 8v's  in the past 2 months with less than 95k miles for similar or even less money.
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 08 February 2009, 00:17
thanks for the input so far ppl, i also trawl the t'internet for mk2's & vr6's, piston heads seems ridiculously expensive and makes me think that £1500 is reasonable, if its solid enough, i will sell my mk3 despite it being a tank thats never let me down,

ive got zender & hella rear spoilers waiting, & a whole new carpet and boot turrets, and either quad single or jetta front end, depending

hope i can get it down to £1200
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: illyun on 08 February 2009, 11:15
What about these?   :undecided:

£695
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-214-240-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200905327820526&distance=64&postcode=ip5+2bs&channel=CARS&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=GOLF&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1990&vehicleRegLetter=G

£700
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-214-240-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200905112685982&distance=127&postcode=ip5+2bs&channel=CARS&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=GOLF&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1990&vehicleRegLetter=G

£1100 with 119k
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-214-240-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200905328074674&distance=386&postcode=ip5+2bs&channel=CARS&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=GOLF&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1990&vehicleRegLetter=G

£1290 with 117k
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-214-240-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200845322535494&distance=122&postcode=ip5+2bs&channel=CARS&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=GOLF&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=1991&vehicleRegLetter=J

An example of what you can get if you wait around... this car was reduced to £1400 in Club GTI as he couldn't get much interest when on sale in December

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page.php/carno/48121


Sorry mate, but I really think you're getting ripped off.... probably because you're in Scotland and the garage knows that most decent examples are down South and far away.  A guy on the Mk5 section had a similar issue trying to part-ex his Mk5 GTI for a Mk5 R32 up in Sctoland - the dealer was asking for way more than similar examples in the UK and wouldn't budge even after 2-3 months!
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 08 February 2009, 16:03
the 1st one is nice with the castelles?, the rest are 5 door.....not keen on the 5door flavour,

the car in my sig is one i bought from kent which is sorn now, i dont really have the time or money to traverse the uk in hope of a solid example, the last excursion to get a mk3 was to newcastle, and the f[]cking thing didnt even start.....what im saying is it can be along way to go petrol/train tickets only to be disappointed...

this is on my doorstep

anywayz will know more tomorrow, and ripped off i dont think, but steep price yes i agree
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: illyun on 08 February 2009, 19:24
the 1st one is nice with the castelles?, the rest are 5 door.....not keen on the 5door flavour,

the car in my sig is one i bought from kent which is sorn now, i dont really have the time or money to traverse the uk in hope of a solid example, the last excursion to get a mk3 was to newcastle, and the f[]cking thing didnt even start.....what im saying is it can be along way to go petrol/train tickets only to be disappointed...

this is on my doorstep

anywayz will know more tomorrow, and ripped off i dont think, but steep price yes i agree


Agree about the 5-door examples - they do look cr8p  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: danny_p on 08 February 2009, 20:44
the 90 spec ness  has to help the value a bit as well
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 08 February 2009, 23:38
Quote
Agree about the 5-door examples - they do look cr8p  :rolleyes:

no they look lovely, but whats the point in a 5 door if i WANT a 3? :rolleyes:

just more sills to get rusty
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Quattro100 on 09 February 2009, 00:31
Loads of good advice here but I think you have to go with your heart sometimes if you are going to spend days and days viewing mk 2s when you should be driving take the best one on the day and enjoy your lot. Sure we can all haggle whether for £2000 you get a better car than £1500. but there are far to many variables. We have to take risks. If you can wait wait but if time is precious and you like getting your hands dirty go for it.  It does not take long to end up spending £500 evening if you carry out the work yourself. If you like it bag it and enjoy it. In my opinion body is vital. mechs repair cheaply on these cars.

Do you know what those 5 spoke alloys are called and what size tyres should be fitted to them. I have them on my crap looking 5 door and am just about to replace all corners current fitment is 205/50.
Regards
Will
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: purplebug on 09 February 2009, 04:45
why not put your signature golf back on road  :grin: then you have a nice 3 door gti LOL that is unless its not in that state just now and needs more than £1500 spent  :shocked:

PS those wheels in the link you sent were 5 stud  :sad: just need to keep the RAs just now and maybe refurb them. Good luck today
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 09 February 2009, 19:35
(http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2143/199/24/684076827/n684076827_1894663_1202.jpg)

now the proud owner of a "H plate 8V GTi" 3 door, got it down to £1350, taxed & mot'd till next yr.

forgot how much fun the ol' mk2's are....... corners & wheelspins and pulls like a train,

booting it in 2nd gear was great, sadly the windows are manual winderz.... are they easy to convert? every aspect of it works (electrically) and no gear crunch, has 5 bbs 14's, twin scorpion can,

will get more pics up soon, also gonna get them to look at the valver, see if they can stop the rot

back in a mk2 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Conker on 09 February 2009, 19:40
Congrats on the purchase!!

Leave your manual window winders in - weight saving and one less thing to go wrong. Just get some quality-made alloy winding handles, e.g:

(http://www.modifiedcarforums.com/blogentries/2008/_featurecars/cycov8/images/mcf_featurecar_cycov8_36.jpg)
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: Dan34 on 09 February 2009, 19:45
looks lke a nice car congrats

definetly liking the black and the bbs's too  :smiley:

Dan
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 09 February 2009, 21:17
conker is that a bathroom? :grin:
Title: Re: about to buy an 8valve gti mk2, any advice?
Post by: sidecarphil on 10 February 2009, 18:54
conker is that a bathroom? :grin:

 :grin: :grin: :grin: