Back to the Mk2 - few probs

[dr_bob]

Hi!

Just picked up my new toy, an '89 8v GTI 3dr. 113k on the clock and a wodge full of reciepts and papers - including every single old MOT since 1992 and every tax disc since 1989. Mechanically, it's great, but there's a few cosmetic things that need tending to - and, knowing me, I'll end up spending a lot of time (and money!) bringing her back to former glories. 

This'll be my 3rd Mk2 - though my last one I sold in 2000 - so I've been away for a long time, driving 'modern' cars which, ultimately, were very boring, so I'm downscaling and going back to my beloved GTI.

So, anyhow, there's a couple of immediate issues;

1) It's been lowered - in 1997, according to the receipts. I imagine these won't be adjustable coilovers! No problem with it being lowered, just that it's dropped enough that the front valence scrapes on all but the most level of ground, and the tyres rub on the arches. The wheels are only 15's (really nice Borbet C's), but the ground clearance is absurd. Visually, the car doesn't *look* that low. I'm no stick insect, I admit, and I guess I weigh enough to push things down a little, but surely not *that* far? What's going on?

2) The exhaust. It had a jetex full system put in around the same time as the lowering, but in 2005 a later owner replaced the backbox with what I can only describe as a horrible, droning, chavvy oval thing best suited to a Vauxhall Nova. What are people's recommendations for stock-ish (twin pipes that don't sound absurdly loud) exhausts?

3) The car is red. You can guess what's coming next, I'm sure.  The roof and rear quarters are fading. Best way to try and recover this? There's also some flaking lacquer here and there too. Any detailers got any ideas?

So, anyhow - hello all! Looking forward to telling you guys all my woes with the car

[Neo Badness]

1) After 8 yrs your lowered suspension, I imagine, will need replacing.

2) Lot's of exhaust options, I like Magnex exhausts but all personal pref. they do a twin pipe design as well

3) Pop a question up in the detailing section, otherwise I'd say t-cut

Hope you enjoy the new car and welcome to the forum...

[cian]

2) I have a magnex exhaust and don't really like it either for the same reason.

I'd also be interested in the answers you get

[MooZ]

1) After 8 yrs your lowered suspension, I imagine, will need replacing.

I think that's 12 years.

[Neo Badness]

1) After 8 yrs your lowered suspension, I imagine, will need replacing.

I think that's 12 years.

Crap, I've had a 4yr blink

well after 12yrs it'll def need replacing

[dr_bob]

Well, she's booked in with Henley VW (independent specialists) just outside Reading on Monday to see what's going on with the suspension.

I agree - after 12 years, the suspension is very likely to need replacing, we'll see what they say.

Any recommendations on the exhaust front? I did some searching on here and the consensus seems to be that official OEM VW parts are now deleted and that GSF do a copy, but the quality is fairly naff. I don't want a loud boomy exhaust that's there just for the raspy noise - on the MK4 (I had a V6 4Motion & GT TDI before), Milltek's stuff was highly thought of, but they don't appear to do a model for the Mk2 anymore either.

Any ideas?

[Gloves88]

1) I would say they're right, prob needs replacing. A LOT of info on the site about the best/different suspension, best bet is to search through it first to see what meets your requirements.

2) Know quite a few places will make you up a standard exhaust system, which in my opinion gives the best sound to driving comfort ratio. Powerflow can produce any kind of system you want...this might start an argument but from my experience they seem like a good place to go to, esp as they have now changed the stainless steel they use to a higher quality. Milltek (unfortunately) stopped making mk2 exhausts quite a while ago.

3) As for this problem, I too have a red one that was very pink when I got it - See here

I now use the duragloss products and can highly recommend them. I did the process by hand the first time but its a LOT of work. Now use the menzerna polishes (bottom of this page - See here) with a DAS-6 rotary polisher followed by the duragloss polishes. This was the result

Hope thats of some help

[RandomJord]

Hello mate, not really got much to say over what everyone else has said, just being nosey really as you must be from near Reading, iv never used Henley Vw so let us know how that works out for you, but if your going coilovers I can recommend FK Konigsports, in the middle of the price range and best coils iv ever had!

And paintfade, if your not into seven days of polishing then have a word with guy, the detailing moderator. He did a seeeerious recovery on a tornado pink polo back to red!

So yah, welcome, and come along to the next local meet.

[dr_bob]

2) Know quite a few places will make you up a standard exhaust system, which in my opinion gives the best sound to driving comfort ratio. Powerflow can produce any kind of system you want...this might start an argument but from my experience they seem like a good place to go to, esp as they have now changed the stainless steel they use to a higher quality. Milltek (unfortunately) stopped making mk2 exhausts quite a while ago.

Care to share those 'quite a few places'? 

I'd really like an exhaust which was either standard, or improved on standard without being unduly noisy. Having a loud raspy 'zorst is one thing, but it droning on at 70 on the motorway for 200 miles is quite grating, I can assure you!

I now use the duragloss products and can highly recommend them. I did the process by hand the first time but its a LOT of work. Now use the menzerna polishes (bottom of this page - See here) with a DAS-6 rotary polisher followed by the duragloss polishes. This was the result
Hope thats of some help

Coo, she polished up nice, didn't she! I think mine is in a fairly sorry state. My sister's fella is a professional panel beater for a big bodyshop, I'm gonna let him have a look and see what he advises.

[dr_bob]

Hello mate, not really got much to say over what everyone else has said, just being nosey really as you must be from near Reading, iv never used Henley Vw so let us know how that works out for you, but if your going coilovers I can recommend FK Konigsports, in the middle of the price range and best coils iv ever had!
And paintfade, if your not into seven days of polishing then have a word with guy, the detailing moderator. He did a seeeerious recovery on a tornado pink polo back to red!

So yah, welcome, and come along to the next local meet.

Hi RandomJord,

Thanks for the welcome.