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

[mboon]

If you are happy with what you paid, that's all that matters.

I probably paid more for my car that it was worth, but it was the first one I saw, and I knew it was from a reliable source. What people don't factor in to the whole car buying process is how much it costs in fuel and their time taken to travel around the place looking at umpteen sheds before finding the "right" car. If they were to add all that money onto the price they paid for their car, their bargain find would not be as cheap as it first seemed.

yeah TRUE. I wanted rust free which is what I got.

[Neo Badness]

^ True, bought the first one I saw mk2 16v OG in 3dr, knew it was a bit ropey and needed welding and paint to be mint. Had a few invoices with it and paid 320.00 taxed, tested and a box of goodies inc fast road clutch etc.

 It's getting there slowly and I'm learning loads about how they go together, plus it'll be almost better than new when finished.

When I took the back seat out a found a folder stuffed full of reciepts/ MOT's totalling ££££'s going back to 1991 

[mboon]

That was a great find

[Neo Badness]

That was a great find

Helluv a lot of work though, but do get to put my own spin on it as a result. But unless you are considering starting a career in bodywork (I am) I'd agree with the sentiment of buying one with the best bodywork you can. One of these days I'll update my build thread on here

[berni29]

Hi

This is going to sound silly, but it is true. I was at a Porsche get together and talking to a guy who drives a 997 GT3. I was complaining about not being able to find a decent, not completely mis described, MR2 Mk1 as a station car. My previous one was a CRX Mk1 1600. He told me he had a MK2 GTI and to look for one of those.

So on returning home I go on pistonheads and the 2nd car in the list is a Helios blue 1988 8v GTI with 71k miles and full service history. I think it was up for £1500 or £1750. I cannot remember. 2 owners with the last one for 13 years. The numberplate was F911 EGT though so I thought it must be fate. On seeing the car it has been outside all it's life, the PO has been using it to take stuff to the tip and it needs a clean. On the good side I cannot see any rust in all the usual places.

So I think to myself that there is no way I am buying this it is just too tired/tatty looking. But I go inside the house and go through the history. It is complete and so I start to soften. Suffice to say I took it home for £1250 and actually it is a great car. It still needs a clean though!

It's not bad but over time I will address it's cosmetic shortcomings. I have been rustproofing as I go through the car (suspension and bush change so far). The only significant rust on the car is the leading edge of the front wings where it meets the valance/spoiler, and some surface rust under the plastic wheel arch covers at the back.

So in my case the history made a difference.

Berni

[the_stink]

It like when you watch these programs on Discovery Turbo 'Beatle crisis' 'Camper Van Crisis' people are willing to spend in excess of 10k doing a restoration