Looking at buying a 1.8 campaign...Please Help!

[MrMoonyMan]

Hi guys - first post so excuse the stupid questions!

I have fancied a Mk1 for years and years and last night went for a test drive in one 

It is a 1983 'A' 1.8 Campaign model in that nice dark blue (name?) running on P-slots with about 150k on it.

Now, as first drives go it wasn't all that good - we had a slight breakdown half way when the clutch cable popped out! 

So, my questions for you guys and girls are basically surrounding how much I should pay for it - or even should I walk away from it!?

Things I noticed in the dark last night;

• Circle of rust about 1 1/2" at the bottom of the windscreen, patch's on each sill, behind the GTi badge on the rear
• Needs a new bonnet
• Needs a new rear bumper
• Brakes were shocking - apparently a Mk1 feature though!
• No dash lights
• 4 bald Toyo R888's
• P-slots, straight but need refurbing
• Was Cat-D'd in 2002
• Engine sounded fairly gruff but started fine from cold, didn't appear to loose oil round the head and pulled ok-ish
• Drivers seat worn and small rip in headling
• clutch was very low, then cable popped out and after we fixed that was very high!
• has a bit of tax and mot
• gearbox was like stirring porridge but worked ok - tired linkages?
• rumbling whilst under 30 / slowing down - bearings..?
• standard springs with kn(?) adjustable shocks

So - with that little list in mind as well as the fact I like my cars original and pretty perfect what sort of area should I be in as the colour, spec and locality are good for me?

Also - what should I be looking for on a campaign over a standard car?

Also II - Any areas, common problems I need to look for?


Many, many thanks for reading my exceeding long first post and even bigger thanks if you reply!  - Cheers

[gibby]

Welcome to the site.

All I can say is that car needs to be cheap because it sounds like a bag of spanners to me. If you really fancy a mk1 there will be nicer ones out there but for a price. I think that blue is called helios blue.

Price guide taken from the mk1 org site http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=33

Golf GTI mk1 buying guide http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1

Then the all important Campaign check http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=7

Hope this helps.

[MrMoonyMan]

Gibby, Hi! Thanks for that, those links are spot on.

So armed with those, the info from some people on PH as well as the guy who has worked on the car for the last few years I'm going to work out how much the car needs spending on it.

Reckon I'm going to need to pay about £3-400 for the car for it to be a worthwhile project. Don't think that the owner will want to let it go for that though..

Hmm..can see this being a whole load of pain if I don't do it right.

Also, bearing in mind the age of the car - if I get it perfect do you think that the Cat D will always hold back the value?

[Wayne]

Gibby, Hi! Thanks for that, those links are spot on.

So armed with those, the info from some people on PH as well as the guy who has worked on the car for the last few years I'm going to work out how much the car needs spending on it.

Reckon I'm going to need to pay about £3-400 for the car for it to be a worthwhile project. Don't think that the owner will want to let it go for that though..

Hmm..can see this being a whole load of pain if I don't do it right.

Also, bearing in mind the age of the car - if I get it perfect do you think that the Cat D will always hold back the value?

I would look for another, cat d or c's are hard work to sell.

[MrMoonyMan]

Cheers for that.

I'm afraid I think you may well be right - shame because I hate to see a nice car go to waste - and ticks all the boxes bar the Cat D.

..should really be spending money on a new gearbox for my car anyway.

Cheers all 

[Wayne]

Cheers for that.

I'm afraid I think you may well be right - shame because I hate to see a nice car go to waste - and ticks all the boxes bar the Cat D.

..should really be spending money on a new gearbox for my car anyway.

Cheers all 

To be honest the list of faults would put me off even on an older car.

[MrMoonyMan]

Yeh, I'm afraid for what I'm after this car is not going to be the one.

Will be back on this forum one day when I have a mk1 !