GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Mad Ax on 28 February 2011, 13:12
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Hi all,
I signed up here a few years back when I was thinking of buying a Mk2 8v from a mate. A price was agreed and hands shaken, but unfortunately things changed for my mate and the deal fell through, and I ended up with something entirely different (a Primera GT, which I'll confess I loved to bits until the clutch exploded a year ago).
Anyway, long story short, I'm currently driving an FTO GPX MIVEC, which gets me around 30mpg on my daily countryside commute of 50 miles. The MPG isn't cripping me too hard but the insurance is - this year's renewal came in at £600 despite having secure parking, immobiliser, full NCB, no points or claims history, etc...
So I'm considering selling or swapping the FTO for the Mk2 GTI that I wanted several years back. The FTO should be worth upwards of £1500, which I reckon should get me a pretty good GTI. Looking on autotrader / classifieds I think I could probably get a reasonable car for a grand and spend the change having any little rust bubbles fixed up.
What I'm really here to ask is:
Is there an insurance difference between the 8v and 16v models?
Is there an MPG difference between the two cars?
How big is the performance difference?
Is one considered any more reliable than the other, or are they much the same?
Any other advice that anyone has would be gratefully appreciated :)
And (hopefully this doesn't break any forum rules but please let me know or edit if it does) if anyone fancies a nice piece of rare Japanese automotive history and wants to get rid of a tidy Mk2 GTI in exchange, drop me a line :)
Thanks in advance
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16v is juicier on fuel, more on insurance, costs a bit more to buy, but is uncomparable in performance and is worth every extra cost incurred (well with a 2.0 16v it is). I'm off now, that should be enough to get the 8v's going!!! Do a search this does come up quite often
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If you look after a GTi it will run and run. As above insurance is more on a 16v, even a 8v for a youngster can be expensive.
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Both are good choices but check insurance 1st.
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Cheers for the info guys. I wish I were a youngster, if I was still early 20s then I wouldn't mind paying so much money to insure the FTO, but I'm 31 with full NCB and nothing on my history :( I've just got a quote on an 8v and it's a tiny bit lower than I expected, so I'm confident I can operate it within budget.
Just stuck picked up the FTO from the MOT shop (clean sheet apart from wipers, brake pads and bulbs :D ) and put 12 months tax on it :( so can hopefully find myself a buyer if I decide this is the right path. Will break my heart to see the FTO go, but I'm sure a Mk2 will provide just as good a driving experience on the twisty B-roads that I'm forced to drive every day :)
Thanks again!
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5mins in a decent mk2 will rid you of your jap thoughts. Especially if you do it up with a few choice mods..
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16v (139bhp) gives 27bhp more than the 8v (112bhp)
Both weigh just under a tonne (about 950kg)
From experience and the countless 8v Vs. 16v arguments, it seems the 8v delivers the torque lower down, whereas the 16v should be kept above 4k revs to meet its full potential.
As said, insurance will be more, and when buying the car sometimes a decent 16v can be twice as much as a decent 8v.
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Buy on the shell mate, if I was too buy again I'd get an 8v then swap the engine, as they go for much cheaper, decent 16vs can be 2k+. I found it cheaper to buy a 2.0l conversion with the chassis sorted then a mint 16v. But if staying standard and not wanting to swap engines id go with a 16v.
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Had both 8v and 16v, will never go back to an 8V ever,mine seems quick in low and high gears thou, only use mine around 100 miles a month as it is the 3rd car :smug: :smug:
Fuel costs....fill up cost around £50 and i get 220 to 250 miles to the tank, seems to spill out MPG at around 23/24 when i use it around town on short journeys around 5 miles.....
insurance is a bargain at just £117 on a limited 1500 miles per year policy with a guarenteed insurance value...
Good luck mate, you'll enjoy every minute of it, just sorting out getting rid of the X5 to start using this as my daily as i love it :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Walchy
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I would vote for a late spec 8v GTi with the digifant electronic injection. You should be easily getting high 30's in mpg with one of them, if not over 40 depending on driving conditions. The best available form any of the standard engines.
I may be out of place saying its more reliable than the other GTi's (16v and early 8v) with their mechanical injection, but I hear its easier to set up. and more reliable.
If you search the forum, you will find loads of buying advice specific to the mk2. There are loads around in various specs, with various modifications, I would try to find one that looks like its been enthusiast owned. There are loads of people out there spending money on them and selling them on shortly thereafter, and if you find the right one it may be worth spending your entire budget on a car with a long list of new parts and a bit of a restoration story, coming from a careful owner. This can be cheaper than doing loads of work yourself, although this not expensive and relatively easy for the spanner wielding owner. The wealth of information on this forum alone is amazing.....
Buy one. :smiley:
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Iremember when I was using mine super unleaded was 107p :shocked: Going to be in with a shock when getting mine back on the road, specially if I cant classic insure it!
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the only 8v to have is diesel
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If its for a daily Buy an 8V Digi... 16V need much more love and attention to keep them running sweet...
8V will also run on Std Unleaded and I think the 16V needs Super - which will affect your running costs...
As for Buying Rust Rust Rust & Rust!!!!!
Also remember you are buying a 20+ year old car and it will need love and affection...
Insurance I pay £400 fully comp & Agreed value (8V with Mods)!
HTH
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£400??? I renewed mine just before Christmas and paid £123 fully comp and agreed value. :smiley:
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These are old cars. Will need lots of attention. Not as much as the newer VAG motors though...those are terrible!
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I ran an early MK2 8v as a daily for a good few years. MPG was usually between 35-40mpg and the running costs were negligible.
As mentioned buy totally on the condition of the body, rust/welding repairs are expensive unless you can DIY. I sold mine for a Mk4 1.8t as the only problem I had with the Mk2 was that it was beginning to feel old and I wanted something a little more softer/cosseting for my old bones, A/C, electrics, bigger, etc.
Having said that I'd certainly be tempted back into a mk2 8v again as I miss mine.
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Buy on body and then find a rotten 16V Golf3 GTI to rape for engine and gearbox.
+40MPG on a run and better running and reliability than either standard option.
Hybridisation is the way forward.
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im getting 29 mpg average out of mine.
thing i love about it the most is the mechanical sounds you just dont get in modern cars, indicator stalks click, heater fan switch clicks when turned electric window switches click aswell they just have so much character. that a side Ive had 2 8vs and 2 16vs all kjets the 8vs do have low down grunt but thats a stupid argument in a way as most people will drop a car a cog to get it into the rev range anyway. the noise out of the valver high up is bloody addictive its such a old school noise.
as for insurance
im 34 doing less than 5k a year never had a accident clean licence and cheapest qoute with mods I could get was £348
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location location location insurance is all about this..
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Im 32 and just insured my modded valver for £180 fully comp with agreed value!
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Im 32 and just insured my modded valver for £180 fully comp with agreed value!
Who are you using?
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I'm using Carol Nash,it's a limited 3k policy as the cars only used in summer but it sure beats the £1200
Renewal Churchill sent me thru afer having the car insured with them for the past seven years!! especially when last year they only charged me £300
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Try heritage insurance found them really helpful and cheap...0845 373 4777...
Thanks