GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Mad Ax on 01 April 2008, 11:10
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Hi all, n00b here, thought I'd sign up to ask a few questions about the GTI 8v as a potential buyer.
I'm currently driving a rather boring Xsara HDI Estate about 15 miles per day, garaged at night, and I'm fed up with it. I've recently changed my lifestyle and no longer need a diesel estate, so I fancy swapping it in for something a bit smaller and sportier. I'm no fan of modern car design, so I wondered if something of the 80s vintage would suit me. I was learning to drive in 1997, and things like the Mk2 GTI and Mk2 XR2 stick heavily in my mind as things I aspired to owning at that impressionable young age ;)
The reason I'm here is that a very good friend of mine might be selling his tidy Mk2 8v that he's been using daily for the past few months - and I've considered buying it. However there is always a question-mark over going from a modern car to an older one, especially since I don't have space or cash for a second car. It's a fairly original car so I'd be very tempted to leave everything stock - just try to get it back to showroom condition. I've owned heavily-modded cars in the past and found the noise, fuel consumption and general reliability gremlins just gets annoying after a while!
How are the 8vs holding up these days? Any reliability gremlins in the older motors, any major rust areas or problems getting parts? I'm told these old German beasties are pretty solid and just keep on going.
Over the summer I'll probably use my motorbike most days, so the Golf would get driven about twice a week, to do the shopping and take stuff in and out of work, and maybe delivering pizzas to earn a bit more pocket money (I got a special deal with the manager, delivering pizzas is surely the most fun way to earn £10 cash per hour plus tips ;) ). Come winter it might get used a bit more, but will be kept in an air-conditioned underground parking lot overnight, so hopefully the rust shouldn't creep in too quickly if I keep it clean :)
If anyone has any major words of warning or any specific advice on what to look for, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks in advance :)
Ax
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cheap and plentiful parts
comfortable enough for a daily driver - i do 50 miles a day in mine
a keen amateur can repair most bits by themselves
try this for a buying guide: http://www.matey-matey.com/golf_buying_guide.shtml :smiley:
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Cheers for the link Chris :)
I'm pretty handy with a spanner, but I've just moved to a block of flats where I have no private garage and no space for a lot of tools - the parents still have a nice double garage which is handy for the odd repair, tho ;)
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Hi mate
I use my 8v Golf GTI as a daily runner and find it great. Thet are normally bullet proof, seen a few with over 200k on and going strong. The 8v as a daily car will be ok on fuel as I get around 32-34 around town so not to thirsty. I would say its a must for the Golf and not the XR2. XR2's are very rare these days and parts could prove tricky, also once they hit 100k they have normally had it.....new engine time! The Golf is a far stronger car as in body, interior, engine etc.
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I definately agree that the Golf wins over the XR2 in the reliability stakes - I do like my old Fords (I've had an Orion, a Fiesta, a Capri 2.8i and a Granada Scorp 12v) but the old CVH motor likes to blow its seals at 80k ;) And most of them have succumbed to tinworm too, thanks to Ford's use of dodgy steel in the 80s.
Fuel economy isn't a major issue as I'm not doing big mileage any more. The HDI is a very economical motor if driven properly but I'm addicted to the turbo torque, so I usually burn my way through a tank in short order... I need to fill up again tomorrow! Plus here among the rolling hills of Bath we never have a flat piece of road to drive on - with all these hills to lugs itself up the heavy old estate is always on full boost. I definately need something smaller :D
Cheers again
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Hi mate
I use my 8v Golf GTI as a daily runner and find it great. Thet are normally bullet proof, seen a few with over 200k on and going strong. The 8v as a daily car will be ok on fuel as I get around 32-34 around town so not to thirsty. I would say its a must for the Golf and not the XR2. XR2's are very rare these days and parts could prove tricky, also once they hit 100k they have normally had it.....new engine time! The Golf is a far stronger car as in body, interior, engine etc.
my 8v daily has around 237k on it :smiley:
uses a bit of oil and a touch of water but then its done me proud over the last 18 months!
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my 8v daily has around 237k on it :smiley:
I thought my old Xantia TD was high at 185k :o It always started on the button, used a bit of oil - but was as dull and boring as a dull and boring thing on national dull and boring day :p
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MK2 8v is the only one worth considering, loads still on the road and being used. mid 30's to the gallon and a ball to drive. And my 6 year old could fix it :) and drive it given the chance, i find the late ones better as they have PAS.
The only question is 3 or 5 doors.
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Buy the golf you'll love it. Don't worry about going to an older car. I traded up from a re mapped MK5 GTI and I have to say been pleasently suprised by how much fun the classic Golf is. Had a XR2 back in the day and it wasn't a patch on the Golf.
Bought mine a year ago as a track day car but fallen in love with it as a road car. Makes me fell like a teenager again.
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Yup definitly a daily car, i only have the golf and i drive to work and back, fit a drumkit in the back and manage to do 300miles to rochdale every two weeks and it never lets me down.. do it! :laugh:
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Do it!
You won't regret it :afro:
And if you get a tidy looking one it's a real headturner :smiley:
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go for it! you won't be disappointed. Check for rust around the rear aches!!!
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go for it! you won't be disappointed. Check for rust around the rear aches!!!
thats what the arch trim is for :wink: :tongue:
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I would rate it as an excellent daily driver, just take care of it and it will look after you :wink:
I love old Fords too but I feel happier in a dub :grin:
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I would rate it as an excellent daily driver, just take care of it and it will look after you :wink:
I love old Fords too but I feel happier in a dub :grin:
from experience, dubs are stronger :cool:
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FYI the model I'm looking at is a 90-spec, EFi, big bumpers, 5-door, PAS, in red. It's a good runner used daily, I think the only fault is something on the central locking but I'm not 100% sure. I drove it a few weeks ago but only for a short blast, I'm hoping he'll let me have a nice long stint in it later this week so I can see how much better my life will be with a proper driver's car :D
I think he might be having second thoughts about the sale so I might have to hunt around for one - what sort of price do reasonable-condition 8vs tend to go for? Are the 16vs much more pricey, and is there any reason why I'd want an 8v over a 16v? I don't really know anything about the 16v models.
:)
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8v's in good nick (but not mint) will set you back less than £800
battle-scarred high milers like mine will set you back less than £400 with MOT and tax
my project set me back £75 but thats not even running at the mo... :sick:
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In terms of 16v v 8v, don't even say those evil words, just have a read of this MASSIVE thread: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7750.0
In simple terms, whats determines the answer to the 8v VS 16v question is how well its been maintained over the last 20 years, so I would test drive whatever takes your fancy.
I swapped a very reliable Mk4 turbo for a 16v Mk2 for my daily driver and the shortest review of owning a "retro car" would be... More things break, if I'm honest I worry a bit about long journeys, but it hasn't let me down when it mattered yet and I now drive around looking at silver Picasso's and grey Honda Civic's and think "you boring tw#ts". You'll love it, but only if you want to get your hands oily a little bit.
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MK2 great for daily use i drove a new company car a Touran found my mk2 in a lock up had sat for 7 years have used it daily in the last year very happy touran gone back of lease now using mk2 every other week
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I am on my 3rd MKII. The last two were very good cars but I have now cross graded to a G60. I say cross graded because each MKII is as good as each other. My last two were 8v's.
A very good learning car if you want to do your own maintenance. Plenty of Golfs being broken so spares are not an issue. Good on long distances. I used to drive mine about 1000 miles a week, from Madrid, where I live, to Sevilla, where I used to work. The only issue I had was the high revving engine, so I changed the 5th gear for one from a 4E gearbox. (Just the gear, not the complete box)This reduced the revs by about 800 in 5th gear, doing about 75mph. Fairly comfortable during long distances too. I have certainly driven less comfortable, more expensive and up-market cars.
Older cars need more TLC to keep on top of them, so be prepared to get your hands dirty.
There is a wealth of information on these pages if you ever get stuck. If there is something needs doing, or you want to change something, the chances are that someone on here has done it.
Buy one and good luck. :smiley:
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i would say they are great little cars for daily driving. i average a couple hundred miles a week and and its does it no problem. i've also been pleasantly suprised by the economy to. My current tank i'm averaging an outrageous 45mpg, already done 340 miles and i have a quarter of a tank left! quite incredible really.
Best thing to look for is one which is as stock as possible with as much service history as possible.
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^^yo another bournemouth dubber! how'd ya do?
yeh i got an 8v and they are so reliable like already said. not guna repeat what other ppl have said but i have the same views. get one, get dirty, get happy :)
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i would say they are great little cars for daily driving. i average a couple hundred miles a week and and its does it no problem. i've also been pleasantly suprised by the economy to. My current tank i'm averaging an outrageous 45mpg, already done 340 miles and i have a quarter of a tank left! quite incredible really.
Best thing to look for is one which is as stock as possible with as much service history as possible.
thats some serious mpg!
mine will do about 350 on a full tank but its old and tired! :undecided:
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i would say they are great little cars for daily driving. i average a couple hundred miles a week and and its does it no problem. i've also been pleasantly suprised by the economy to. My current tank i'm averaging an outrageous 45mpg, already done 340 miles and i have a quarter of a tank left! quite incredible really.
Best thing to look for is one which is as stock as possible with as much service history as possible.
WHAT!! are you brimming it or going on the MFA?
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Best car you will ever buy, My Wife had a Merc A class a Renault Megane Scenic and then an Audi, I finally got her to agree to an MK2 8v 5 door as her daily to take the kids to school ect. and for me to use at the wekend to relieve the bordeom of the Company Car..
We now have fights at the weekend about who's driving where and in wich car..
They are bloody marvelous , Easy to maintain and so much fun to drive , you will find yoursel making up excuses to go out..
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Mines been OK for the past 8 months but expect the odd gremlin if you're getting one on a budget.
I get 35+ mpg during the week on my commute and 40+mpg on long journey. Calculated the hard way and not on the MFA!
Nick
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Best car you will ever buy, My Wife had a Merc A class a Renault Megane Scenic and then an Audi, I finally got her to agree to an MK2 8v 5 door as her daily to take the kids to school ect. and for me to use at the wekend to relieve the bordeom of the Company Car..
We now have fights at the weekend about who's driving where and in wich car..
They are bloody marvelous , Easy to maintain and so much fun to drive , you will find yoursel making up excuses to go out..
i know what u mean, my gf was taking lessons last year and preferred it to the micra she had for the lessons. she said she felt more connected with the road, and thats coming from some1 who's only ever had about 10 lessons!
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i'm working out my mpg with a good old calculator, besides the mfa seems to be spot on give or take a few decimal places!
its on 160,000, i guess its just been well maintained through its life. Just cured my wonky boot lock, the golf really is like a giant meccano set!
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perhaps its running lean?
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i dont' think it is, it drives beautifully and is very responsive. it helps that it doesnt use any oil or coolant. Also i do drive like a fastidious old man most the time! haha. can't be helped though with the current cost of fuel when i'm on student wages! :rolleyes:
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Arh that 'ill be it, No big right foot :wink: I tend to get 32 ish :laugh: I do know they'll do more but I just love driving it quicklyish.
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i dont' think it is, it drives beautifully and is very responsive. it helps that it doesnt use any oil or coolant. Also i do drive like a fastidious old man most the time! haha. can't be helped though with the current cost of fuel when i'm on student wages! :rolleyes:
i know what you mean...! :undecided:
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^^yo another bournemouth dubber! how'd ya do?
yeh i got an 8v and they are so reliable like already said. not guna repeat what other ppl have said but i have the same views. get one, get dirty, get happy :)
I'm originally from Bournemouth, and could be returning from Spain with my G60 soon. :laugh:
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now there would be a sight to see! i think a bournemouth meet will have to be set up in the near future. :smiley:
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I say go for it!
I've just bought my first mk2 8v gti and I LOVE it, not sure what mpg I get as my MFA says 11 or 12 (??) but I KNOW I am getting more than that, but I haven't driven it "easy" shall we say, only had it 10 days now and can't help but put my foot down now and then or most of the time! :grin:
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I say go for it!
I've just bought my first mk2 8v gti and I LOVE it, not sure what mpg I get as my MFA says 11 or 12 (??) but I KNOW I am getting more than that, but I haven't driven it "easy" shall we say, only had it 10 days now and can't help but put my foot down now and then or most of the time! :grin:
i bet there's a vacuum pipe (small diameter, hard plastic, clear in colour) loose around by your expansion tank... start the engine up and listen out for a hissing noise in that area. it should be easy to spot where it connects.
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do it, highly addictive and one of the best all rounder cars of all time, in my experience. How many cars can do those mileages and get faster? be as sturdy for a small car, reliable, attractive, reasonably fuel efficient and have a load of parts to personalize. Its a no brainer. :smiley:
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i bet there's a vacuum pipe (small diameter, hard plastic, clear in colour) loose around by your expansion tank... start the engine up and listen out for a hissing noise in that area. it should be easy to spot where it connects.
Mine was showing 11 - 12 MPG on the MFA also. Thanks to your top tippage I have found the leaking air pipe :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Fingers crossed for a smoother ride, I had been getting a slight kangaroo feeling at 2500rpm when warm.
S
ps, forgot to say - just get one, you wont look back
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i bet there's a vacuum pipe (small diameter, hard plastic, clear in colour) loose around by your expansion tank... start the engine up and listen out for a hissing noise in that area. it should be easy to spot where it connects.
Mine was showing 11 - 12 MPG on the MFA also. Thanks to your top tippage I have found the leaking air pipe :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Fingers crossed for a smoother ride, I had been getting a slight kangaroo feeling at 2500rpm when warm.
S
should be a bit smoother as i think it lets in un-metered air if disconnected, resulting in it running a bit lean.
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I say go for it!
I've just bought my first mk2 8v gti and I LOVE it, not sure what mpg I get as my MFA says 11 or 12 (??) but I KNOW I am getting more than that, but I haven't driven it "easy" shall we say, only had it 10 days now and can't help but put my foot down now and then or most of the time! :grin:
i bet there's a vacuum pipe (small diameter, hard plastic, clear in colour) loose around by your expansion tank... start the engine up and listen out for a hissing noise in that area. it should be easy to spot where it connects.
Mine reads around 11 also, I cant find anything loose around the expansion tank though, can you be a bit more specific?
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try to the left of the expansion tank, there should the fuel pump (i think, its the cylidrical black thing) and the vacuum pipes are around there. they are thin diameter and clear/white in colour, and hard plastic. mine needed popping back into its braided hose connector
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try to the left of the expansion tank, there should the fuel pump (i think, its the cylidrical black thing) and the vacuum pipes are around there. they are thin diameter and clear/white in colour, and hard plastic. mine needed popping back into its braided hose connector
thats where mine was but the end of the pipe was split, cut an inch off and re-applied. Went for a decent run and the car is completely smooth :smiley: MFA now reads 14mpg :huh: