How much notice do you pay to History on a MK2 GTI??

[mboon]

Looking through ours at the moment and we have more than I thought we did, the first clock change has been recorded by VW and the papers to prove. Its been off  and on the road in the last few years etc.

I just wondered how much you guys would take notice of the history, would you buy on the history or the condition of the car?

Our car is pretty tidy but the history book has not been stamped since 2000 but we have paper work to show its been looked after by VW since 2007, since then its covered 5000 miles.

I have owned cosworths, M3s etc and with the M3 history was everything as the engine was so specialist, but the cosworths are always brought on condition of the car and sound and condition of the engine.

What was you guys looking for when buying your MK2?

I brought ours knowning it did not come with full history but the condition and originality of the car made me go for it. I alwways brought my cars on history, if it did not have full history I would find one that did, bu with a 21 year old car the history is always going to have gaps or holes etc unless ur buying a 1 or 2 owner car

[Jay]

Depends on how much the car is going for, if it's not a lot of money then a bit of recent history would be good, if it's average price+ then I'd want more history. The more £'s for a car, the more history I'd want.

[spankier]

The general consensus with mk2's is that mechanicals are mostly cheap and easy to find but a straight completely rust free shell is a rare and special thing.

Most engines (there are exceptions but not in any entheusiast cars) built in the last few decades are pretty long lived if not over revved, not thrashed from cold, and the liquids and filters are kept fresh. 100k miles on the motorway with clean oil etc at sensible speeds will do little or no harm to an engine whereas lending it to a teenager and insisting they are carefull will do more harm within the first 10 minutes so mileage and service history are only worth so much really.... i mean, does the fact that it passed the mot in 1997 really make you feel any better about learning to weld? thought not!

That said if you are paying low mileage minter money then check every page as the cost of originality is far higher than the cost of a rebuild which is why i consistently buy ropey ones and mend em, i know its been done and when rather than hoping and invariably ending up dissapointed.

[tony_ack]

The condition of the car is the deciding factor ultimately, but an extensive history makes interesting reading. The service history is reassuring, but I'm more interested in invoices for major works, so I know how long ago things like the clutch and headgasket were done.

The history from the last couple of years can reveal how much the car was loved too - a couple of recent invoices of a few hundred pounds shows that someone was willing to go to expense to keep the car in top condition.

I don't think a lack of history should put you off a car of this age, but a good history can seperate the very good examples from the outstanding ones.

[Mr Blue]

I always go with the paintwork first and then look at history to give me a rough idea of what its worth.

Not everyone looks at it in that way and expect an up to date history for a £1500 ish car. Never understood that

Early history is nice but full history is just a bonus for more ebay bids.


Bodywork condition for me as thats the most costly part to put right

[The Mighty Elvi]

^

More or less the same here.  I go on bodywork, rather than history.  A long/complete history just gives me a better idea of what does/does not need replacing...yet.

It's an old car.  Most stuff will need replacing sooner or later, but a good/straight body will take care of itself - and is a right potch to sort if it isn't - so as long as it's mechanically sound and has a straight body, that's all that matters to me when buying.

Besides.  Where's the fun in MK2 ownership if you can't tinker.   

[boxer1968]

i bought my car on body ,history was quite comprehensive but made no mention of engine change or whatever so my cars history is worthless in my eyes, but when you pay peanuts for it you dont expect much well ive had car 10months no problems that i didnt expect. its a twenty year old car i expect to have to change the odd part now and again history or not.

[dubber36]

I would say buy on condition, but having said that I was swayed towards mine because as well as being rust free and original, it had only had one owner and a full dealer / specialist history.

[UKjarvis]

condition 1st, milage 2nd, history 3rd, I brought an RSturbo last year going on paint work and history and of coarse the turbo but all were worthless as the car had been serviced but hammered all the way to and from the service station.  Also a great deal goes on the present owner if they say they havn't had the car long steer clear, best cars I ever brought were off people who generally cared about its next home.

Its a gamble no matter what you choose.

[cняis]

condition 1st, milage 2nd, history 3rd, I brought an RSturbo last year going on paint work and history and of coarse the turbo but all were worthless as the car had been serviced but hammered all the way to and from the service station.  Also a great deal goes on the present owner if they say they havn't had the car long steer clear, best cars I ever brought were off people who generally cared about its next home.

Its a gamble no matter what you choose.

I second that. the most reliable car i had was my old mk2 gti daily, on 215k miles when i bought it, and it wouldnt die!

the current car has a load of history (also for the mk3 the engine came from) but due to the nature of it, it hasnt been plain sailing