Pics of my new 16V

[r4_rick]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/r4_rick/golfrear.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/r4_rick/golffront.jpg

Thought I'd show you all a couple of pics, I alwys wanted a mk2 GTI when they were new but never got round to having one as a company car, thinking back when i  had the chace to order one in 1990, i chose a Saab 900 instead ??  (good car tho')

So I bought this off ebay, its got 82k on the clock, 1987,  with MOTs to prove.  Only 3 previous owners, the last people had it since '97.  I rushed into buying it and offered £550 for it, without an MOT, but my hunch was right as it only needed one of the rear calipers replacing for the MOT.  Since then I have spent quite a bit on it - but I want it to be right, so had it serviced, had the suspension top mounts replaced, two new window seals, headlight, spotlight, gear lever gaiter you know how it goes, managed to get a couple of tyres from the scrapyard for £25, so its now got 4 good Pirelli 600s.  So I reckon spend to date stands at about £650, on top of the purchase price.  Not quite the bargain i first thought, but how many are left with that sort of mileage and low owners ?

Things to do: repair dent in bodywork and a little rust just under the windscreen rubber, replace one buzy front speaker (are they custom fit or just std 10cm ?) take to the Nurburgring in the summer and ENJOY !
Quite a few of you have posted advise on various bits so just wanted to say thanks for that and am looking forward to going to one or two shows over the summer and meeting fellow enthusiasts

Cheers, Rick

[VR6_ROB]

very nice mate looks tidy
got yourself a bargain there

[fin170703]

nice car mate.  on the speakers note i just fitted 10cm sony speakers and they are a direct replacment 

[Dannyd]

you've had a good buy there matey! welcome to the world of pain and pleasure
pain for how much it costs!
pleasure for how you drive it!

[tinman]

a couple of tyres from the scrapyard for £25, so its now got 4 good Pirelli 600s.  So I reckon spend to date stands at about £650, on top of the purchase price.  Not quite the bargain i first thought, but how many are left with that sort of mileage and low owners ?

 take to the Nurburgring in the summer and ENJOY !

lose the P600s. they are utterly awful and really let the handling of the car down. i put 4 new P600s on my 16v many years ago as they were the original tyre rubber supplied with the car. they were better than the 4 mismatched tyres i took off that the original owner put on but I soon discovered the P600s were utter utter sh!te when i replaced them 15k later.

You can pick up fairly grippy Contis for about 30quid a corner and are much much better.

I've also had P6000s on slightly different cars "cause P6000s are the replacements for P600s" and they are equally unfaithful when pushed.

The wet handling of P600/6000s just leaves alot to be desired, like grip for a start. The P600 in wet is like driving an ice skate, the P6000 is like having an unreliable friend who lets you down just when you need them the most. If you take the car to Nuburgring then you will find that the tyres will hold you back.

Also, make sure you change all 4 pads before you go. Your brakes take a real pounding and I know people who have cooked their braking system on the ring.

[r4_rick]

Thanks for all the comments.
Spent a bit of time on the interior today...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/r4_rick/interior3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/r4_rick/interior2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/r4_rick/interior1.jpg

tinman, contis for £30, where from ?

Also: whats the most cost effective engine mod, anyway of getting a bit more low down power/pull ?

[tinman]

Continental
Summer tyres    PremiumContact
185/60 R14 82H    
With mytyres.co.uk only £ 40.80

Apologies, the 185/60R14s are 40 a piece. Even still, pretty good value, and pretty good performance. For some reason the 195/55R15s i looked at 3 weeks ago were £30 or so.

If the engine is nice, I wouldn't bother modding it. The usual suspects on this forum will have your drilling things out all over the place.

The best mods made to my car were a new VAG exhaust system & new injectors. neither were mods, just replacing old knackered items.

[Gambit]

you cant beat 16v's