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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Jungle_Don on 03 January 2010, 13:53

Title: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Jungle_Don on 03 January 2010, 13:53
I currently drive a civic type r nice reliable daily car thats quick... however im craving a mk2 gti 8v but reliablity worries me.....whos runing one as a daily and do you have much problems with it>
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: tony_ack on 03 January 2010, 14:20
There have been quite a few threads on this recently, so you should be able to get plenty of info from them.

Short answers are:
1. Yes (did about 12000 miles last year)
2. No, as long as you keep on top of maintenance and are handy with a spanner.

I'm pretty sure the Type R is a faster and more comfortable drive (but without the simplicity and retro appeal)
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: DAVEMARX on 03 January 2010, 14:37
your civic will also have abs...a mk2 doesnt, ivehad tutrle heads pop out a few times  :grin:

Dave
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: dubber36 on 03 January 2010, 15:05
If you can find a nice tidy one that has been looked after and does not let water in, there is no reason why it can't perform daily duties.

Just be prepared to put up with a few niggles now and again though.
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: sparkplug on 03 January 2010, 15:34
my mk2 8v lives on the drive , use it for work everyday , sometimes 7 days a week 
only agro i get is the sunroof seal.


Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Mr Blue on 03 January 2010, 15:50
Stick with the honda if you want something that wont let you down. Im using a honda for work after soo many problems with these cars. the mk2's stay on the drive
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: maxp on 03 January 2010, 16:15
Yep, did 10k in mine last year. Used every day. Broke down twice  - once when an ht lead decided it didnt like its spark plug anymore, the second time in the snow after the battery gave out (still havent got to the bottom of this, reckon its the alt).
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Mk2Kezza on 03 January 2010, 18:53
Been driving my 8v digi back and fore to work for the last 5 years. Only broke down once - ran out of fuel.... :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Alec on 03 January 2010, 18:58
I used mine as a daily for a couple of years and gave it some right stick! Even though it has its fair share of problems it never actually broke down on me, although it has tried lol

Might wanna stick with the honda and get a mk2 for social use cus they are proper fun
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: DAVEMARX on 03 January 2010, 19:36
Stick with the honda if you want something that wont let you down. Im using a honda for work after soo many problems with these cars. the mk2's stay on the drive


+1 mines been on the drive since march last year still fully insured 'i live in a ruff area' its got some crash damage which i kept quite hence the reason it never moves.
apart from the damage which is minor just expensive to fix right and a 2nd gear crunch its been a gem to own.

but my black mk2 had alot of problems and the next person to own it is still having trouble.  My black mk3 only lasted 4 months before it kicked the bucket..

Depends on the life its had a full service history or at least a vry good 1 are worth there weight in gold with mk2's,

At the end of the day you pay for what you get...ie if your paying less than say 1000 your gonna get issues but there are still good low milidge mk'2 out there but be prepared to pay big dollers.

There more like a second car these days.

Dave
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: paul69 on 03 January 2010, 19:45
Was using my F reg 8v daily, sometimes 100 mile round trip, until someone crashed into and killed it a month ago. :cry: Was only ever in garage for MOTs in 3 years. Also a damn sight more fuel efficient than the Clio 1.2 I'm using as a stopgap! :huh:

Paul
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: dubber36 on 04 January 2010, 09:23

At the end of the day you pay for what you get...ie if your paying less than say 1000 your gonna get issues but there are still good low milidge mk'2 out there but be prepared to pay big dollers.

There more like a second car these days.

Dave

If I was going to pay top dollar for a low mileage original car, I would not want to use it as a daily. There are not many of these cars around now and it would be a shame to wear another one out, or risk it getting damaged.
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: kittie on 04 January 2010, 12:21
Used my 8v as a daily for 3 years with no real let downs, however I have always kept on top of maintenence and replaced items pre-emptively.

At the end of the day an 18 year old, 170k miles car will need stuff buying for it though, I don't mind  :grin:
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Rodriguez on 04 January 2010, 13:52
Your Civic will be more reliable obviously.  I own a Civic and a Golf, and they are both used as dailys. I've ran both for 3 years and I've only had to replace the tyres on the Honda.
 However the Mk2 has been outstanding considering its use and the one or two parts I've had to replace have been pretty cheap and a peace of p1ss to do. 

It has successfully battled through the recent weather whilst other, more modern stuff has gotten stranded and with barely a slipped belt :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

Its as close to troublefree motoring as I have got with my used car history. (mind you, my 2.9 mk2 was HUGE money pit)

As others say Just keep on top of maintenance
Title: Re: Gti 8v daily driver?
Post by: Jay on 04 January 2010, 14:17
Also a damn sight more fuel efficient than the Clio 1.2 I'm using as a stopgap! :huh:

I found that with the 1.4 2009 Corsa I was using... (~28mpg), although I was thrashing it most of the time so probably would have got a better mpg figure if I drove it normally.  :lipsrsealed: