GT Tdi buying advice needed please

[the_hamster]

I'm on the lookout for a 3 door GT Tdi and have around £2500 to spend. If theres a buying guide out there please post a link.

£2500 seems to get me anything from a 2003 150 with 55k on the clock and heated leather to a 1999 110bhp with over 100k on it and basic spec.

Problem i'm finding is that a lot of owners arent listing the spec of the car (110, 130 or 150) and missing things like aircon vs digital climate and other options. My problem is, I'm not sure which years/specs are available and I dont want to make a mistake or waste someones time. For example, does the seat colour mean its a certain model (red, blue or plain). Are the earlier engines better/worse/lower power and are they capable of being mapped/modded to a decent level or should I be looking for a later car?

I'm looking for a 3 door 130 or 150 with a decent spec. My plan will be to mod it, remap, R32 or Anni styling, wheels, coilovers etc etc once winter is out of the way and I've got a feel for the car.

My goal will be a 170+ bhp, 300 lb/ft Tdi that looks the part and puts a smile on my face but can also do a decent mpg and long runs.

I'm aware of the usual faults to look for like window regs, bushes etc and I know the 150 benefits from a FMIC but can suffer cam wear.

Cheers to anyone who can point me the right way, I just want to spend my money correctly. Sorry for all the questions 

[scarr89]

Do a quick search in this mk4 tdi section mate. Hundreds of topics to read. Plenty of info.

£2.5 should buy you a decent 3 dr 130pd. Look for good service history, preferably with correct oil as there is talk of oil being related to the chocolate cam issue which finding suggest either the 130/150 are liable to.

-Check all IC pipe work, ensure it all intact before driving it away, don't want it popping of.
-Possibly looking for rust around the arches and maybe near the boot handle.
-Heated leathers are a nicety, and far rarer than cloth. You will probably find the heated leather ones will come with climate control and the non recaro cloth ones with JUST AC.
-Check when cam belt was done last.
-Tappety noises/tapping sound coming from the rocker cover could be a sign of chocolate cam
-Listen to the gear box for and knocking, if it knocking bad then that is probably the flywheel on its way out, which means new clutch and flywheel.

[scarr89]

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=38557.0

[the_hamster]

Cheers for the info Scarr, I'm more interested in the model deviations over the range of years. What do the early ones have engine wise that the later ones do, and when was the change?

Is there any suspension differences between the different models (ive been told the 150's have stiffer suspension?)

[scarr89]

No suspension changes, perhaps different manufacturers but all the DERVs are setup the same I do believe. Ummm, the 130/150 both have 288 fronts and 232 iirc rears, they are the biggest brakes without having a 4mo and a few other models.

Otherwise all the engines are the same.

What sort of year are looking for with your budget? I imagine an 51-53 plate...All the 130/150 will be the same.