importance when buying? (not a buyers guide request)

[tony07]

Hi all,

Recently decided id like to buy a mk2 gti, partly because its on the 'list' and i havent had one yet but mostly because my missus adores them and with her soon to be on the road id love to present her with a mk2.. Anyway being a loyal honda fan for most of my driving years with a couple of bmw's thrown in ive never really picked up much on vw's so have a couple of questions for you guys..

When buying a mk2 i understand engines are both cheap and reliable so mileage isnt the main factor to buy on and i gather the condition of the shell is far more important.. however with me planning on owning a tidy mk2 possibly for a few years id like it to hold some value, is it the case where the only real value holding cars would be genuine gti's or would a converted well kept lower spec model hold a decent value to? Ive seen a few drivers that look cleaner than a lot of gti's out there for less money but would that just be a case of 'ye but its not a proper one' ?

Having read a little on various forums about these ive decided id like a big bumper model and ive been told that 'h' and 'j' plates are the cars to go for being 90 spec? as aswell as being the newer, apparently they have more interchangable parts with later cars like mk3's? making future engine conversions etc less costly and a lot easier to do with less work involved?? this question would be even more important if considering buying a non gti as an engine conversion would definatly have to happen if it hadnt already!
Im sure this sort of stuff has all come up before and i have read various threads trying to pick up as much as i can but these few questions are what i need to be sure on before buying a car..

[Waspy]

You are right on pretty much all of your points.

Buy a GTi. A converted driver is far less desirable to the vast majority. Mk2s GTIs are rapidly gaining popularity and their value is going up (on the whole), so IMO a GTI would certainly be a better investment, and you can wear the badges with honesty

Big vs small bumper is an matter of taste, however as per above, big bumper is more desirable and therefore more likely to hold value.

And yeah, a later model is probably better, and of course will have a big bumper, and not a conversion.

Hope you find a nice one, what's your budget?

[X4MGS]

I agree with what has been posted...


Get a Genuine Unmolested GTI (Run out model would be the best option) you may pay more now but the way the market is moving, you will get it all back and who knows even a premium.


I think you will see very early MK2's increase in price also as they are getting hard to find, due to them being cheap a few years ago and a lot have been broken.

[tony07]

ye i thought id be pretty much on the money with what i previously thought.. budget wise well tbh i wouldnt want to pay anymore than 1-2k.. that achievable? id like to buy one without having to sell my current bmw just yet if possible, im not looking for an absolute minter but something thats decent and wont need a bucket load of welding and paintwork.. im no stranger to cars so sorting out a few niggles or minor repairs isnt a problem tbh..

[X4MGS]

IMO your budget will sort you a nice tidy example, not a low mileage minter... But a well sorted & tidy example & one that will leave you scope to improve if you want to.


When buying - Buy "ON BODY" condition as your main factor.... Engines are tough as old boots and not really expensive to fix.


Interiors can be sourced for sensible money, so not that important but a nice one would be a bonus. A good headlining would be an important issue for me as a 3 door black GTI ones are getting hard & expensive to find. Yes it can be recovered but not with OEM fabric.


One with matching Keys would be nice too and shows that at least it not been over messed with, but all GTI's will have had a number of alarms fitted over the years so again look for one that hasn't had the dash hacked to bits...


But bear in mind the youngest MK2's are 21 year old and age related issues are going to be there...

[tony07]

good stuff thanks mate.. id ideally love a black gti but this one has caught my eye as it looks to be a pretty decent car
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321128284700?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
theres no rush though so i dont mind haging on if i need to, rushed into buying far too many cars in the past determined not to do it again lol..

[Waspy]

As X4MGS has said, your budget should get you a tidy car no problem.

I recently spent £1200 on one. It is in extremely good condition both inside and out, with 180k on the clock. So far the engine seems fine (certainly pulls okay at any rate!) and it really shouldn't be an issue unless you are looking in the VERY high milages. In my search I was finding engines at 320k and still going strong! I have had an issue or two, with thing such as linkages, but as of yet nothing major like the engine blowing up. You have probably seen my thread about getting stuck in reverse. But like I say nothing that can't be fixed easily.

So thats just an idea of what I got for £1200 very recently.

You are right not to rush, but equally they are forever going up in price, and good ones disappear of the market very quickly (mine was only listed 4 hours before I took it off the market ). So don't hang about too long.

[X4MGS]

good stuff thanks mate.. id ideally love a black gti but this one has caught my eye as it looks to be a pretty decent car
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321128284700?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
theres no rush though so i dont mind haging on if i need to, rushed into buying far too many cars in the past determined not to do it again lol..

Where to start on that one.... No No & No!!

Might look ok and it does it for some folks but not me....

Not a run out model, got early interior, it's slammed, horrible rear lights, wrong wheels...

You should be looking for one with electric windows, door speakers and the infamous 16V rear lights & BBS alloys for that sort of money....

[tony07]

ah you see, little things that i just wont know or think about that somebody in the 'know' will.. i didnt even realise the rear lights were aftermarket lol.. i assume by run out model you mean one of the very last?

[X4MGS]

Yeah Run out was the last ones and they tended to be loaded with extra's...


16V smoked rear light cluster.
most had electric window's.
Sunroof.
BBS RA Alloys.
Special "Run out interiors" Red & Black had 5 red stripe, white & BBM's (Bright Ble Metalic) had Ultra Violet - my fav in standard seats...
Oak Green's had the rainbow stripe.


All around a J plate for a rule of thumb...