GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: tax_dodger on 21 May 2003, 03:47
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Hello
Simple question....
If you had ?2500-?3000 what Golf would you buy?
Although.....
1. I'm 19, so insurance is going to be a b!tch. Could insure my mum as the main driver and me as second if that helps. Not sure if I could risk it on 3rd party tho
2. Would you a) go for the mk2 and use the extra money upgrading or b) go for the mk3 which i prefer the look of. If a) what would upgrading?
3. How reliable are golfs? Ive heard they are relatively reliable
Ive been lucky enough to blag myself on my dads insurance for his 2003 Golf S. Its a gorgeous car to drive, 1.6 16v, cruise control, air conditioning, etc. But being the most expensive car my dads ever got, i darent do anything risky in it. So never really been able to 'test' the performance of it. Just wondering how fast it really is. My mates got a crappy old Nova SR 1.4 and even tho its a shed and a smaller engine he reckons it wouldnt be too far of the golf on a 0-60 test due to the lighter weight. Any thoughts?
cheers
chris
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Hi,
First of all, you may get away with your insurance idea. However, I think they have wised up to your idea. Easy trick, easy remedy; they stuff you.
Secondly, a Mk2 is a great car, although you really might want to look for a power steering car. I would suggest looking for a late model Driver. They look good and they are quick - believe me - i chased one in my 16v. ?It didn't give me too much of a problem but my 16 leg hamster unit had to think about despatching the predator.
I would say at this stage that i would not mod a Golf. In theory you need to disclose all modifications to your insurance company - so they can stuff you.
Any deviation from this course saves you money, until you crash it and the insurance company says "since when did a Golf Driver have 2 turbos?"
Then they stuff you and you are screwed for life.
My advice, find an insurance company who will give you third party cover on driving other cars and then insure a Metro. This will be difficult as you are 19. If you are lucky you may find 1.
Then buy a late MK2 16v and never lose a racing lights again.
Finally, check for all the usual signs of wear regardless of Golf. Have a laugh and ask the prospective seller how fast hes gone in it. Anything over 115 and run. Goad them into telling you tales of their exploits....
Golfs are reliable as long as they haven't been thrashed. Your job is to find the unthrashed Golf.
Regards,
Justin
BTW Mk3s handle like a cross channel ferry. But keep it to youself.
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For ?2000...(thats leaving some of your budget for insurance!) you could get either......
a nasty example of the slowest,worst handling,ugliest(in my opinion) golf gti ever built....
...Or you could get a mint condition wolf in sheeps clothing...mk2 8valve (cheaper insurance than 16!) which will leave most mk3's standing at the lights...(as I keep proving time and time again ;D...dont be rushed into buying the first one you come accross(which is tempting cause they are SOOOO nice to drive...but hunt around...for ?2000 you should be able to find a beautiful example....compared to my ?350 D reg(which still eats mk3's(and novas,fords etc etc for breakfast...(although absolutely revolting,and french,those saxo vtr's are pretty nippy!)
If you insure yourself with Brentacre (the cheapest insurance company for young gti drivers!( I know this cause Im 21 and have been hunting for "affordable" insurance since november last year!)...any modifications(including ICE up to ?1500,not that i got any ;)...are covered at no extra cost...(I even checked the small print!)
So there you have it...although obviously only my opinion...given your age and budget your better off with a mint mk2 8 valve gti( and yes they are VERY reliable...and soo simple to sort if anything should crop up!
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For ?2000...(thats leaving some of your budget for insurance!) you could get either......
a nasty example of the slowest,worst handling,ugliest(in my opinion) golf gti ever built....
...Or you could get a mint condition wolf in sheeps clothing...mk2 8valve (cheaper insurance than 16!) which will leave most mk3's standing at the lights...(as I keep proving time and time again ?;D...dont be rushed into buying the first one you come accross(which is tempting cause they are SOOOO nice to drive...but hunt around...for ?2000 you should be able to find a beautiful example....compared to my ?350 D reg(which still eats mk3's(and novas,fords etc etc for breakfast...(although absolutely revolting,and french,those saxo vtr's are pretty nippy!)
If you insure yourself with Brentacre (the cheapest insurance company for young gti drivers!( I know this cause Im 21 and have been hunting for "affordable" insurance since november last year!)...any modifications(including ICE up to ?1500,not that i got any ;)...are covered at no extra cost...(I even checked the small print!)
So there you have it...although obviously only my opinion...given your age and budget your better off with a mint mk2 8 valve gti( and yes they are VERY reliable...and soo simple to sort if anything should crop up!
Damn right.
It depends what your after, the Mk2 is the best drive and cheaper to run as regards parts and insurance.
Although the Mk3 is a dog, it is a more civilized car for motorway use and far better in regards to spec, (just look at most Mk2 GTI 8V's. (I mean 'keep fit' windows, nice seats and a rev counter? if you were half asleep you'd think you had steped into a 1.3, not the'Uber hatch' of the '80s.).
Just don't try to prove anything in Mk3 unless you have done serious amounts of tuning. You will only be upset when a 1.4 Focus pulls cleanly away from you as you wrestle the damn thing, withs its frankly S**t dampning round your favourite left hander.
I've been left for dead in my misses 16V Mk3 on corners by far sh!ttr machines than i care to mention (Toyota Avensis, 1.8 GX anyone?) due to the thing bobbing around like a pissed horse, and than was with bilstein suspension.......... Oh the embarassment!
Yeah f**k it,
Get a Mk2.
;)
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Yep I agree, MK2's are the dogs danglies. BUT.........
If your gunna get one you've got to bare in mind that the MK2's are getting on a bit now and you could find one that looks mint , but it could be a right old shed underneath, you've got to think how much the cars gunna cost you once youve bought it,
I've done it my self, gone out and bought a beaut and two months down the line everything went tits up,
New gearbox, New fuse box, New break pipes, new head gasket, new exhaust, New ECU, Ect.........
I'ts all down to the age and millage.
Make sure you take a good mechanic with you when you go to look at one, unless your a mechanic in which case your laughing,
Or you could go for a MK3, And lets face it they are much better looking than the MK2, Find a 2.0ltr 8v GTI
and the insurance is'nt actually that bad, As long as you have a descent Alarm & Imobiliser.
Tinman is right, They handle like sh!t but any golf lover that you bye one of has probably upgraded the suspesion, I've got KONI on mine and it sticks like sh!t to a blanket and when taking a round about it dosen't even lean ;)
and think of all the extra's you get with a MK3,
You could pick a nice M or N Reg one up for ?3000-?3500 and not have to spend a penny on it for 2-3 years apart from servicing .
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Mk 3 better looking car than a mint mk2.....I disagree my friend...(lets not have another airbox thread eh ;))
Agreed they are not new cars anymore...but...a late model (j reg for example)...that has full vag history....is going to wipe the floor with any mk3 (except the vr6 ;))...although having said that....I beat three vr6's on the tyre testing at inters so :P
for 3-3500 pounds you could have a mint mk2 gti with a brand spanking new engine and gearbox....(yes thats 0 miles...) ummm gee let me think which would I prefer....;)
Obviously the mk3 does has its advantages (well 2)....better for motorway driving and nicer interior...
however for 3500...you can stick a mk3 interior in a mk2...(if you wished)....(a late model mk 2 will have leccy windows,power steering etc etc)...and to be honest Id rather stick a 6 speed gearbox in my mk2 for motorways rather than buy a mk3 ....
Just my opinion....and Im biased....
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Obviously the mk3 does has its advantages
what? like dover to calias?
k
as i said before, a mk3 is a cross channel ferry. it has special compartments in the cabin for seasickness tablets.
btw 87, this comment that you beat 2 vr6s. errm, didn't you like beat nearly everyone?
Justin
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:P yes...except another mk2...which I think proves our point:P
To be fair mine is absolutley standard....and he had some nice low, stiff suspension....very nice car,credit due where credits due though....he beat me fair and square ;)
My "advantages"......I was being sarcastic ;)
MK2!!!!!!
Obviously for that kind of money you could get a pretty sweet mk1.....but it sounds like you want a "newer" sort of car....
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Oh.....and you'd have enough left for your road tax ;) :o
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You want a Mk1?
Take mine. I'll gladly put 12 months tax and MOT on it for 3 grand. Christ you have can have a free tele and video as well.......... hell, take the wife!
Or you have the ?50 Mk2 8V which arrived last week, Looks OK if you squint.
I'm sure if you throw ?3000 at it, it will look the nuts.
I was waiting for another thread like the hallowed 'Airbox' routine. Its good to have the occasional rant.
Revolution!
Whats this about Mk3's looking good?
The cross channel ferry bit was right, couple that with the handling, and its quite simliar to that old Zeebrugger Joke ' roll on, roll off, roll over'
Christ, I'm getting old....................
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I'm with MO3000 on this one,
I can't see your standard MK2 being qiucker than a VR6 :-/,
I'd like to see how long it would last against my 1.8T :-*
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It was round a track....a tight track!!!...I would never keep up with a vr6 in a straight line...
...:P driver skill?...or driver lunacy...:P
One or the other....!
Apparently hes going for a mk2...so a little bird tells me...
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I'm with MO3000 on this one,
I can't see your standard MK2 being qiucker than a VR6 ?:-/,
I'd like to see how long it would last against my 1.8T :-*
I can't see a 16v taking on a VR6.
But as for your 1.8T, can't see you destroying a mint Mk2 16v as easily as you think.
I know a 15yo 16v that gave a TT (180) a very rough time recently. Not meant to happen - but it did. Reduced the TT driver to tears.
Can't help feeling that 87's 16v shouldn't be taken too lightly.
Regards,
Justin
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My 1.8T is going in to Jaba very soon to be chiped to
240bhp, as well as a few other mods to sort the handling and breaking. ;)
Selling my MK3 To pay for it, ?3000 should do it what do you reckon
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Damn right.
?It depends what your after, the Mk2 is the best drive and cheaper to run as regards parts and insurance.
Although the Mk3 is a dog, it is a more civilized car for motorway use and far better in regards to spec, (just look at most Mk2 GTI 8V's. (I mean 'keep fit' windows, nice seats and a rev counter? if you were half asleep you'd think you had steped into a 1.3, not the'Uber hatch' of the '80s.).
Just don't try to prove anything in Mk3 unless you have done serious amounts of tuning. You will only be upset when a 1.4 Focus pulls cleanly away from you as you wrestle the damn thing, withs its frankly S**t dampning round your favourite left hander.
?I've been left for dead in my misses 16V Mk3 on corners by far sh!ttr machines than i care to mention (Toyota Avensis, 1.8 GX anyone?) due to the thing bobbing around like a pissed horse, and than was with bilstein suspension.......... Oh the embarassment!
Yeah f**k it,
Get a Mk2.
;)
Mo3000,
If you can get your arse kicked by a Toyota Avensis or a 1.4 Focus it doesnt say much for your driving or in fact your car. 8v Mk3s might be heavy but give them a bit more credit than that!!
Each to their own I know but c'mon. >:(
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8v Mk3s might be heavy but give them a bit more credit than that!!
If we are talking 8v GTI Mk3s, then no, I wouldn't give them any credit at all.
If you were a Mk2 Golf owner when the Mk3 came out and read the articles, test drove the car, it quickly became apparent that the Mk3 was a travesty.
Everyone - and I mean everyone - felt that the 16v Mk3 was on a par with the 8v Mk2 GTi, whilst the 8v GTI Mk3 should of said "GL".
The odd surprise was the VR6 which we test drove which was disgracefully fast and certainly deserved the crown of "King of hot hatches" that it took from the Mk2 16v GTI.
Justin
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Mo3000,
If you can get your arse kicked by a Toyota Avensis or a 1.4 Focus it doesnt say much for your driving or in fact your car. 8v Mk3s might be heavy but give them a bit more credit than that!!
Each to their own I know but c'mon. >:(
In the wet, 205/16's, bad road surface. Aquaplaning...... i could go on.
In the wet on the same road in the Mk2:
No problems, Except the tram lining that all mk2's suffer from........ but much quicker with less tendancy to body roll ( well, i suppose a Mk3 does weigh more than your mother but who am I to judge?), less body roll, less tendancy to spin the inside front.
Case dismissed.
;D
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wouldnt know what to tell ya, ive had a mk2 8v minter h reg 1 owner low milege all that crap but it was nothing compared with me new 1.8 20v (non turbo), ive test driven a load of mk3s and was gonna get one before this mk4 came up at the right price, i know every ones been on here slagging off mk3s but if your thinking of keepin it for a while id go for a mk3 there more modern lookin, a safer car, not that bad on insurance (mk2 have still got the car thief bad boy image), thats my opinion, i may get slagged off for tellin ya so but as a part time car dealer for resale values your gona get more for a mk3 in years to come than a mk2, even if ya tune it up wheels , exhaust, etc just keep all ya standard bits for when ya want to get rid it will be worth more standard than a boy racer mobile!, people like standard cars m8, its all down to personal taste how you wanna tune em and dress em, you get more in the future buy sellin ya bits and sellin the car standard than ya do sellin em max'd up! its not all about performance its about how ya drive em, yeah a mk3 2ltr 8v is only 115bhp and a mk2 16v is 136bhp but if youve got more bollocks than the bloke in the mk2 youre gonna have im, mk3 handlin aint up to a hot mk2 but for a few hundred quid you can sort that. Ive got a t reg mk4 1.8 20v (non turbo) its only 125 bhp standard yeah its not a turbo but hey , its only group 10 insurance! get that GROUP 10, cheaper than me mondeo that i changed it for, yeah its not pull ya face off performance but it looks good handles well and if ya time it right you can beat a lot of cars from the lightds! ( by the way i race susuki gsxr1100 drag bikes) alot of it is down to reaction times at the lights m8 not what your packin, yeah if your packin a 2.5ltr twin turbo jobbie gainst a 1.8 8v your gonna have a bit of bother but if you pitch a standard mk2/mk3 8v at the lights m8 its down to the driver not the car, so its up to you sorry to boe you with my opinion, but im sick of people slaggin mk3 golfs off, for the money you cant buy better, buy a mk3 over a mk2 that my opinion, there the better car for your money and cheaper to insure no matter what your age, or if ya can get more funds, try what ive just got a mk4 1.8 20v (non turbo) as its only group 10!!!!! less than a 1.8lx modeo!!!
hope this may help, the decision is yours, know what id choose, but go with your heart!
PS all volkswagen spares are cheap, dont think by buying a mk2 parts will be cheaper cause mk3 parts are just as cheap!
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whats all this about mk2 golfs not as nice as a mk3 ,the mk2 is as closeley matched in performance&looks to the original mk1 gti than any of the other mk,s avaliable,if you want a lardy boring looking gti then go ahead an enjoy your mile munchin mk3 but lets face it whats the point of getting a so called golf gti if a cav 2ltr gli will wipe the floor with you and also be full of toys. as for reliability iv,e had 2 mk2 gti,s my previous one had 148k on the clock and never missed a beat, cost me 700 quid and when i got it dynoed the engine was as new ie compression ,emissoins etc i only got rid becuase i fell for my current gti h reg 100k and solid ,these cars were built to last so as long as you have a good look&listen when your buying you should have no probs.
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wouldnt know what to tell ya, ive had a mk2 8v minter h reg 1 owner low milege all that crap but it was nothing compared with me new 1.8 20v (non turbo), ive test driven a load of mk3s and was gonna get one before this mk4 came up at the right price, i know every ones been on here slagging off mk3s but if your thinking of keepin it for a while id go for a mk3 there more modern lookin, a safer car, not that bad on insurance (mk2 have still got the car thief bad boy image), thats my opinion, i may get slagged off for tellin ya so but as a part time car dealer for resale values your gona get more for a mk3 in years to come than a mk2, even if ya tune it up wheels , exhaust, etc just keep all ya standard bits for when ya want to get rid it will be worth more standard than a boy racer mobile!, people like standard cars m8, its all down to personal taste how you wanna tune em and dress em, you get more in the future buy sellin ya bits and sellin the car standard than ya do sellin em max'd up! its not all about performance its about how ya drive em, yeah a mk3 2ltr 8v is only 115bhp and a mk2 16v is 136bhp but if youve got more bollocks than the bloke in the mk2 youre gonna have im, mk3 handlin aint up to a hot mk2 but for a few hundred quid you can sort that. Ive got a t reg mk4 1.8 20v (non turbo) its only 125 bhp standard yeah its not a turbo but hey , its only group 10 insurance! get that GROUP 10, cheaper than me mondeo that i changed it for, yeah its not pull ya face off performance but it looks good handles well and if ya time it right you can beat a lot of cars from the lightds! ( by the way i race susuki gsxr1100 drag bikes) alot of it is down to reaction times at the lights m8 not what your packin, yeah if your packin a 2.5ltr twin turbo jobbie gainst a 1.8 8v your gonna have a bit of bother but if you pitch a standard mk2/mk3 8v at the lights m8 its down to the driver not the car, so its up to you sorry to boe you with my opinion, but im sick of people slaggin mk3 golfs off, for the money you cant buy better, buy a mk3 over a mk2 that my opinion, there the better car for your money and cheaper to insure no matter what your age, or if ya can get more funds, try what ive just got a mk4 1.8 20v (non turbo) as its only group 10!!!!! ?less than a 1.8lx modeo!!!
hope this may help, the decision is yours, know what id choose, but go with your heart!
PS all volkswagen spares are cheap, dont think by buying a mk2 parts will be cheaper cause mk3 parts are just as cheap!
At last someone who talks sense!!!! ;D The only MK2s worth having are late model big bumper jobbies, but I would have a Mk3 over them anytime.
If you want a boy racer car get a Mk2, if not get something newer.
All down to personal choice, but nothing like a good debate
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2 months ago I got my fist VW, it?s a gti mk2 8v G reg and the car I have always wanted. Its black (so lots of cleaning) all my previous cars I haven?t really cared for as they have been a means to an ends, getting for A to B. It coast me ?800 and has 88k on the clock, no mods, the alloys are in need of some attention and there is a little rust on the back end, but apart from that ?she is lovely? and a project. The point I?m trying to make is that I didn?t, not even for one second, consider a mk3. It didn?t enter my head, after reading the thread, I now know why. It could be an age thing but I just don?t like the looks on the later models they don?t seem to have as much character and my mk2 feels, sounds and handle like a car bloody well should. O and it had its MOT today; I was like a cat on a hot black bonnet, or an expectant father. I needn?t of worried pasted no problem.
?Get a mk2 and show a bit of Charter, after all it is a classic?
Disclaimer: it has not been my intension to offend anyone and I apologise unreservedly if I have coursed any offence, but you do have to remember you bought it! ;D
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oops, didnt want to start a war!, only stating my opinion, ive got nowt against mk2 golfs, (if had one and loved it) if some one is buying a golf with a loan etc all i want is for them to have a good deposit/trade in once its paid for in my eyes the mk3 golf gti falls into them books.im not knockin the mk2 i know there good cars , i mean if some one came to my yard and offered a mint mk2 1 owner with only 35,000 miles on the clock yeah id do em a good deal, but unless its like that spec it aint worth alot to a regular dealer. i buy and sell cars, i know enough as to how much stuff is worth therefore i think the mk3 is a better buy. The reason Ive just got me mk4 is that i know in years to come its resale value is worth more than a mk3, after all i was after a mk3 but this one came up at the right price(couldnt afford to miss, and love the car to bits!). So sorry if yall out there dont agree but ive bin there dont that with the boy racer type thing, standard cars are worth more and are the better buy for future resale. hope i havent offened any mk2 owner owt there but for the price hes willing to pay its worth buying something thats worth more in the future.
Gaz
sorry for the big write up again just offering my opinion, like i always say go with your heart, this normally will over rule any sensible options!
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first things first , tell your mate (in a nice way, of course!) with the poxy sr he's talking rubbush. a mate of mine had a 1.4 sr and it was pants. my gti used to eat his sr for breakfast!!
as far as buying a motor is concerned, i reckon the mk2 is a could bet. theres still loads of good examples knocking around at a reasonable price. they're also cheap to maintain in my opinion. check out autotrader.co.uk .i wouldn't even entertain the thought of a mk3!! another thought though would be to get a mk1 (the best of all the gti's!!!). i reckon you could pick a nice one up with the sort of money you've got. and the added bonus is you probably would'nt loose any money on it when reselling it in the future.
hope it gets you thinking. (mk1,mk1.mk1!!)