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General => New forum members => Topic started by: Timmah on 07 December 2006, 08:49

Title: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 07 December 2006, 08:49

My other-half's Pug 106 died recently, so we set about aquiring her a new car.  She'd always wanted a Golf Gti, and it soon became apparent that the Mk3 valver was the one she wanted.

Ended up buying the first car we saw, and I think it's a bit of a peach.  It's a 95 Mystic Blue 3-dr, 67k, FSH and in beautiful condition, really took my back how well preserved it was.  All for £2100.  Few little jobs to sort (interior bulbs, faded badge, etc) but all in all a solid car - far better than the French offering she previously had!

I'm more of a fan of Jap steel myself and the Mk3s reputation as being a bit of a heffer didn't do much for me.  That said, having driven it, I'm very impressed.  I found the ride, steering feedback and generous mid-range torque to be quite engaging, certainly no less so than my old EK4 Civic Vti.  The build quality is something to be respected (a 95 Honda would do well to look as good as this), and it feels a thoroughly sattisfying place to be. 

I wouldn't say I'm converted (off to see a BB4 Prelude this weekend), but I'm still quite envious of me birds little Vdub. :)

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Len on 07 December 2006, 09:29

Welcome. Good choice of colour! :wink:

You said valver - is that 16 or 8?

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 07 December 2006, 12:39

Sorry, yes it's the 16v unit.  Was her choice of colour really, but it does look very nice, especially when it's all polished up and shiny.

I'll probably spend more time maintaning it than she does sadly, she has little mechanical sympathy, though she has pledged to look after this one.

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Daz... on 07 December 2006, 12:54

Welcome to the forum  :cool:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Agreeable Slick on 07 December 2006, 13:08

Arrow. :cool:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Len on 07 December 2006, 13:23

Yea worth looking after! says he that should clean and polish his more!

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Stu.750 on 07 December 2006, 15:34

Welcome to the forum matey

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Dinky on 07 December 2006, 16:08

welcome to the forum hun :smiley:

Dinx :kiss:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: golfpro on 07 December 2006, 16:14

Sounds like a goodun

Welcome the forum

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Neaty on 07 December 2006, 19:18

hello and welcome  :smiley:

from the sound of it, mileage etc you have found a gem!

just you watch it though you might find yourself making excuses to drive ur missus car!  :laugh:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: >>Mart<< on 07 December 2006, 21:58

welcome  :grin:

good buy by the sounds of it

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 08 December 2006, 08:24

Thanks for the warm welcome all. :)

Yeah I think it was a good find - she seems committed to looking after it, and I think it's a car that deserves being treated well. 

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: gibby on 08 December 2006, 13:39

Welcome to the forum. :smiley:

Pleasantly surprised by a mk3 ! Wait until you drive a real Golf GTI ! :laugh:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 08 December 2006, 17:48

Lol - I do have a soft spot for the mk1 and 2.  The other half didn't fancy one of them though.

I'm not so keen on the newer stuff though, the mk4 series left me stone cold, and while the new mk5 Gti looks like a bit of a beast, it doesn't really stir any excitement in me.  Think I'm just getting old though, any car past mid-90s has little appeal for me these days.  :nerd:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Neaty on 08 December 2006, 17:50

well then balls to that prelude, go and look for a Mark 2 16v  :wink:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 08 December 2006, 18:24

Haha!  Nice try, I'm not that easily converted though.  I do have a soft spot for early Golfs, but I've got a bigger soft spot for early Jap steel I'm afraid.  I will confess to looking round at a few Mk1 16v conversions whilst on Ebay though!

Ultimate aim is a JDM Integra, bit out of my reach for now though.  The Prelude is a great car though, far more nimble than it's size suggests, and the H22A is one of the best 4 pots out there.

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Neaty on 08 December 2006, 20:01

too soon then with the buy a VW ploy!
 :laugh:
integra's are great cars, never had the privelage to drive on but the critics say they are the best handling front wheel drive car ever so they cant be all bad can they!  have driven a 03 plate civic type R and if thats anything to go by then...... :shocked:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Timmah on 11 December 2006, 12:48

Alas the Prelude sold before I got there, so my plans are shelved again.

Am now contemplating a cheap but tidy EG Civic as a runaround, with a view to swapping in a H22 from a Prelude next summer.  The Honda equivelent of a VR6 swapped into a MK1 Golf in terms of big torque-y lump in a small car.

I'd better stop now lol!  All this Honda chat on a VW site!  :grin:

Title: Re: Hello from a pleasantly surprised Jap car enthusiast!
Post by: Neaty on 11 December 2006, 17:43

its all way over my head, EG this and H22 that.
maybe that prelude being sold was a sign to not buy a Honda  ;)