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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Gavv8 on 08 June 2013, 20:25

Title: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 08 June 2013, 20:25
I have an 8v mk3...its done about 147000 miles but it still drives great, it needs a little welding on the o/s sill, some paintwork, the gearbox leaks a little where the shift rod goes in and the suspension could do with refreshing..the interior is almost mint and everything works as it should.... i've got a maximum budget of £3000 and it needs to remain a daily driver..................any suggestions about replacing it will be shown the door.... :smiley:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 08 June 2013, 20:35
I don't understand the the question  :huh:

Are you saying you got 3 grand to spend on your mk3 and what would we do with it?

Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 08 June 2013, 20:42
Yeah I think he means that
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 08 June 2013, 20:44
Yep....£3000 and i don't want any engine swaps or air-ride....just improve and refresh.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Screech16v on 08 June 2013, 20:47
Lambo doors it is then  :grin:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 08 June 2013, 20:52
Lambo doors it is then  :grin:
:laugh:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 08 June 2013, 20:57
Well you wont be spending 3 large then  :laugh:

Weld it up and paint. Sort the box out. Then treat it to some wheels. Exhaust if you aint already.  You say your interior mint but maybe leather recaros. 

I think wheels will be most expensive thing but how much is down to you.

£3000 is a lot to spend on a car without a engine swap in mind and a mint interior.

I think your stupid if you going to spend £3000 on a 8v and not change the engine or interior. 

You can buy a audi S3 for that lol
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 08 June 2013, 21:01
I hear what your saying tweed and i know you know your mk3's and i don't need to spend a whole £3000..just that the old mk3 is staying...i have the cash to spend and i'd like opinions from the mk3 massive.....
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 08 June 2013, 21:13
To be honest most of the comments will be engine swap etc. Dont you want a bit more grunt? Fair play to keeping it original tho :smiley:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: MickP mk3 on 08 June 2013, 23:21
If i had a good wedge to put into my 8valver, id get the welding and paint sorted properly, and like above some nice wheels with good rubber, not too much of a drop 25/30mm for a daily driver. Chip/remap, k&n panel filter, and a lightened flywheel. I wish i had the cash for rims and the flywheel spare, then mine would be sorted too.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 09 June 2013, 09:18
Right..ok.. i started this thread after a few beers so what i'm going to do is get some quotes to have the bodywork sorted.. dents pulled out/bumpers re-sprayed and a few other bits touched up, then price up the gearbox repair because there is nothing wrong with the box itself, the welding is at the front underneath where the sill and floorpan meet..probably about the size of an average sized envelope.
Its on coilovers and i like the way it sits but they are probably past their best so i'd replace them with something of better quality and thus a better ride and probably do all the suspension bushes too while we are there.
I'd have the standard longbeaches refurbed because i like the way they look but i'd put some better rubber on.
While the bodywork is being sorted i'd probably get the plastic arch trim removed and anything that needs doing there sorted.
The interior doesn't really need anything but if a decent set of leathers were for sale i'd certainly think about it.
The engine is a peach so apart from a service and cambelt i'm quite happy to leave it as an 8v.
So thats where we are at with it...
All of this is not to build a show car or win any prizes and i'm too old for the 'scene' anyway so its purely to get it shipshape and ready for another good few years of daily motoring.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 09 June 2013, 09:29
Your only lookibg at a £1000 then

im selling my vr6 for £1000. Buy that and have some fun  :wink:

add me on Facebook grant haytread tweed
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Screech16v on 09 June 2013, 10:41
Spend the £2000 left and supercharge/turbo the lil 8v  :evil:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 09 June 2013, 11:18
Engine has surely got to go if you're willing to spend that much on a mk3 8v?  :undecided:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: George k on 09 June 2013, 11:22
I agree with getting bodywork sorted just had hole patched in passenger floor and going to get rear doors, tailgate and bonnet sorted and painted on my blue graphite GTI in August. Costing 400 for paintwork
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 09 June 2013, 11:25
Thats why I think he should buy my vr6. Its on my fb, you shouldnt need to add me to look at it so just take a look and see what you think.

Worth a lot more than £1000 I just want it gone. Only on 82000 miles
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 14:18
Haha your certainly keen to get rid hey. If its worth a lot more sell it for more. Plus he does not want a Vr6. Like he says he wants to keep and spend it on his 8v.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 09 June 2013, 15:09
Haha your certainly keen to get rid hey. If its worth a lot more sell it for more. Plus he does not want a Vr6. Like he says he wants to keep and spend it on his 8v.

I have a vr6 that ive had for 2 years thats just sat in a garage. I just want it gone as the garage costs £30 a month. You do the math. I have a gti in another garage and all my karting stuff in a third. Ive got a a4 b6 avant abd I ride mtb and road bikes too.
safe to say ive lost interest and got to many hobbies and projects.  Vr6 will soon cost more to keep than what it is worth.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 15:46
put it for sale on here. Would be interested to see what it looks like
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: VW BUSH on 09 June 2013, 16:38
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=254814.0

I would buy this if I had 3 grand, fck the rott box 8v :wink:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 16:59
Lol
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: matty james on 09 June 2013, 17:27
Ive had quite a few mk3s and my last 1 was an 8v gti, but i sure wouldnt of spent 3k on it jesus, 3k get u a 16v.,vr6 or 18t mk4:smiley:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 09 June 2013, 17:40
Ok...firstly my old 8v is far from a rotbox, its got some issues granted and because its an 8v any money i throw at it is gone because as we all know 8v's are worth about the same as a tin of lidl beans these days.....BUT..its still a good car in good working order.
I can't run a VR as a daily as my name doesn't end with sheik mohammed but i hope tweeds car finds a home as its got great potential... that silver one is amazeballs but its a show pony and one westcountry winter would ruin it and that'd be a shame.
I was going to store it and get a mk2 but i've looked at a few and i just don't know enough about them and the prices are all over the place with supposedly good cars which need work fetching stupid money so thats out the window and besides as Tweed obviously knows, a car sat in a garage is just eating up money for no reason... fair enough if the car has value but i can't see 8v's going up in value by £30 a week any time soon....sooooooo....this is where i'm at and i just don't what to do with it.
I discussed it with the missus who hates cars but knows me well enough and she says i should just get it welded up and through another m.o.t and then drive it until something big drops off and i can see her point and she'd rather see something newer outside, not because she's a snob but because its just an old sh1t car to her but i'm really attached to it and thats no good in the world of old crap cars.. :grin:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 17:51
End of the day you need to make your own decisions :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: gasketface on 09 June 2013, 18:22
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mk3-vw-golf-gti-/281119358470?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item417404fe06
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Junior74 on 09 June 2013, 18:39
If your thinking about buying something else.....then buy something else....
Question answered!!!

If you love the golf that much, this thread would never have started...
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 18:43
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mk3-vw-golf-gti-/281119358470?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item417404fe06

No way I would pay that for an 8v
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 09 June 2013, 19:41
If your thinking about buying something else.....then buy something else....
Question answered!!!

If you love the golf that much, this thread would never have started...
Yeah your probably right but its nice to get some alternative views because sometimes you get ideas that you wouldn't have normally got.
There is an 8v almost identical to that ebay one for sale in Bridgewater for £1995..started out at £2995 in Williton and has been round 3 other dealers that i know of since last summer.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: matty james on 09 June 2013, 20:25
well off folk would probably think all off us who atleast drive mk 1,2,3,4,and even 5s are sh!t old cars ,and in realitiy are probably right,and yeah we love our cars, but if we were loaded we all would drive brand new top of the range cars  :grin: my opinion anyways
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 09 June 2013, 21:23
Been looking at Cupra 225's all day....... :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 09 June 2013, 21:44
That's more like it.  :wink:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 09 June 2013, 22:21
put it for sale on here. Would be interested to see what it looks like

its up for sale on here tell me what you think.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 09 June 2013, 22:32
Been looking at Cupra 225's all day....... :cool:
Na civic R type :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: GOLF-MK3-GTI on 10 June 2013, 14:34
I've just more or less been through this and till this day i've put near enough £3000 in my MK3. but i only spent so much on my MK3 8V coz i inspected the underneath and all the usual rust places to see if it was worth me putting money into it. and to my surprise it was all good, very good.

If yours needs quite abit of welding, then i would use the £3000 to buy another mint MK3, but to be honest you will find one thats mint for half that figure. (£1500). and then use the other £1500 to treat it with some wheels, Exhaust, or even a major service, etc. or you can just sit on the £1500 if its a daily. win win situation either way.

That is what i'd do gavv  :wink:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: F17BAD on 10 June 2013, 18:27
Civic type R's are pants, really slow and you get more torque from peddling a push iron.

Be better of with the LCR, but they are getting old now and finding a real genuine one will be hard... the 20VT engine is great in these  (its same as mine)  but without some love they can have all sorts of issues..

would buy one very wisely if it was me looking for one of those, but thats because iv learnt a hell of alot about the 20VT engine these past 3 years.

I was in this very position when i did my conversion, do i get rid or do i upgrade my MK3.. I wanted a S3, but they felt slow and are a bit lardy.   I decided to find a low mile S3 engine and rebuld the MK3.. the rest is history  :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 18:38
The new ones are rubbish but the old ones are solid. Great engine
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: F17BAD on 10 June 2013, 18:43
whats different about the engines? they all produce terrible torque mate. having friends that have owned many of these older ones (one was even Turbo) i can say they are most certainly never gonna be on my list of cars i want to own
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 18:46
Thats your choice my friend. Many would think otherwise. The EK9 version would be my choice. My mate has a lean cupra r and it is rapid  :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 10 June 2013, 19:13
What sort of things would i need to look out for on an LCR?, i've read up a fair bit about them and they seem to be a better bet than a mk4 golf 1.8T.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 10 June 2013, 19:23
I've just more or less been through this and till this day i've put near enough £3000 in my MK3. but i only spent so much on my MK3 8V coz i inspected the underneath and all the usual rust places to see if it was worth me putting money into it. and to my surprise it was all good, very good.

If yours needs quite abit of welding, then i would use the £3000 to buy another mint MK3, but to be honest you will find one thats mint for half that figure. (£1500). and then use the other £1500 to treat it with some wheels, Exhaust, or even a major service, etc. or you can just sit on the £1500 if its a daily. win win situation either way.

That is what i'd do gavv  :wink:
I hear what your saying but i just fancy something with a bit more refinement and pace, my mk3 isn't all that bad but i just feel a bit 'meh' about it these days.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 19:50
 Few things to look out for when buying lcr would be FULL service history would be a bonus. Uneven tickover, flat spots at 2500 3000 rpm, if the maf is clean,  bodywork paint fade, evidence of water ingress in interior, check rear wiper washer works,  rad fans should come on slow, if fast fan resistors have gone. Thats just a few things. They are well built motors but expensive if not maintained well. As said mission to find a mint one.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: F17BAD on 10 June 2013, 20:08
Split hoses are defiantly gonna be happening all over the shop, Blocked PCV valves, cracks in turbo housing, (cant check unless u remove from car = massive job)  oil in inrtercoolers (their 2, one on each side joined by 1 pipe across front of car. if lots of oil here - turbo rebuild time) cracks in head from overheat due to bottleneck in  crap standard manifold and people not letting the turbo cool correctly, Maf sensors, Coilpacks (have they been recalled)
N75 valve, Diverter valve  - may have been changed but what to, diverter valve needs to be forge recirc type if changed..

Water pump,  these fail for fun on all newer Audi VW Seat Skoda due to plastic impeller, Cambelt goes if the water pump breaks

loads more niggle bits, these engines are awesome when they have had all this sorted

then, has it been mapped ?  if so what torque ?  rods bend, - id teir knocking on the engine, if this happens engine is fooked and will need full rebuild


Nick at carbon tuning said mine is the most loved and best condition 20VT he has ever seen and worked on... mine was a 42k engine and iv rebuilt it, i had many split hoses that will have hindered the performance for the first owner of the engine and also me when i first installed

My maf sensor was fooked, my coilpacks were, iv cahanged my turbo, and even my old K04 had a tiny crack in the turbo housing- its ok but this is on a well looked after turbo

TBH all this applies to all 20VT cars.


take vagcom with you if you have it, drive the car, should hold bost well and turbo should not make a flutter sound

6 speed gearbox is also a known weak point, and a expensive fix so make sure its tight and no noises

Also look for leaks on the rocker cover gasket and the tensioner seal (half mood seal)  these 95% of the engine we get need changing, not a massive job but can make a mess if not sorted
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 20:14
Just go for a civic type r EK9 and you will be the envy of a lot of people :cool:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 10 June 2013, 20:36
Ek9 is a animal in the bends. Handles very well. Good engine if you ask me.
200bhp from a 2.0 na engine is very good. Best vag can do is 150 bhp
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: F17BAD on 10 June 2013, 20:41
Ek9 is just not fast tho, is on paper but real world is a let down. this is the white one with red trim inside?

This is one my mate had on a import, was supposed to be near 200hp, and my mk3 with the standard S3 lump completely shown him up from a standing start through onto a 2 mile long single way carriageway... that was on the standard audi map, no modifications, pretty much equal power..  etc

respect for those Type R's was lost forever
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 10 June 2013, 21:24
Just go for a civic type r EK9 and you will be the envy of a lot of people :cool:
Yeah..with their baseball hats on back to front.....i'm 42 mate and i deserve some comfort... :laugh: but when i'm on a quiet road and no ones looking i like to push on a bit hence why an LCR would suit me.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 21:27
Seen plenty of boy racers in mk3s with baseball hats back to front too lol. It dont matter what car you have you get them everywhere :rolleyes:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: F17BAD on 10 June 2013, 21:28
drive a civic round my way and the Asians will love you  :laugh:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 10 June 2013, 21:29
Lol
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Gavv8 on 10 June 2013, 21:38
drive a civic round my way and the Asians will love you  :laugh:
They'd be more impressed where i live if i bought something with a john deere badge on it.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 10 June 2013, 21:47
I've been looking into buying a late mk1 LCR or TDI FR for some time now as I'm expecting an insurance payout at some point... Bloody nice cars for the money.  This said,  the past few weeks I've been looking at estates due wanting more space for the buggy,  shopping and tools etc when I go self employed. I'm f**ked if I can find a decent mk3 wagon in the spec I want (then il pull my valver apart in it's favour)  so may slip towards a Audi A4 TDI Quattro Avant instead.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 10 June 2013, 22:22
My b6 avant sport is awesone dude! Its 2.0 20v with great torque. I leave it in 5th around town can go just under 20mph and pulls well.
Awesome handling. very comfy. Loads of room. Gets all my karting gear inside.

If your thinking of getting one then get one. Very good cars.
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: tweed on 10 June 2013, 23:06
Ek9 is just not fast tho, is on paper but real world is a let down. this is the white one with red trim inside?

This is one my mate had on a import, was supposed to be near 200hp, and my mk3 with the standard S3 lump completely shown him up from a standing start through onto a 2 mile long single way carriageway... that was on the standard audi map, no modifications, pretty much equal power..  etc

respect for those Type R's was lost forever

sorry I did mean ep3 lol the ek9 are smaller engine and dont handle as well as the ep3.
I dont like the ek9 haha I got confused with this jap stuff.

The ep3 are not slow. Made my vr6 look slow.

Any car is slow when compared to a fast car like your 350hp golf  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: What would you do?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 11 June 2013, 07:38
I like the E36 old M3. But again have took long and hard for a good one