Mk2 owners opinions needed please.

[VW BUSH]

Both engines are very strong.  One doesn't have enough valves.  The other has an accident waiting to happen attached to it.

They sure do, less forgiving than a roly poly Mk3 with abs.
Everything about a Mk2 16v is spanking it to the limiter, if you drive it daily this will become a problem unless you are Mother Theresa.

[Diamond Hell]

Both engines are very strong.  One doesn't have enough valves.  The other has an accident waiting to happen attached to it.

Is this the crunchy second gear that gets mentioned in several adverts, and is it that serious?

No - it's the K-Jet injection system - tends to run lean at high revs, meaning if you do it enough times you're likely to grenade the motor.... or it'll go out of adjustment and grenade the motor.

[Gavv8]

Is it the same system on the 8v and 16v? as i would have thought the 8v would encourage gentler driving , every article i read about the mk2 16v describes how much fun it is to rag.

[Sgt_Lemon]

Both fun to rag, the 16v just has so much more at the higher revs. 8v feels it has more torque at the lower end.

[robiwill]

Personal view would be to get an 8v as uses a lot less fuel and the pb engine is alot less prone to issues. second gear crunch is a common issue can be improved by using a mk3 weighted gearshift rod. also a very common gearbox to replace as the same in all mk3 1.8 golfs. But as said before buy on shell condition. I have found through yrs of buying them and in the distant past breaking them that 5drs tend to be in more original condition and also cheaper but more practical as a daily. If you do get an 8v I would suggest upgrading the brakes and which ever golf the headlight loom. Good luck with your search. Mileage pah had several mk2 golfs pushing 250K so how it sounds is key and certainly from cold

[Gavv8]

Thanks for all the feedback as this is helping me to come to the right decision, for now i'm going to concentrate on the 8v as i think i have a better chance of getting a good usable one around my budget.

[Diamond Hell]

Is it the same system on the 8v and 16v? as i would have thought the 8v would encourage gentler driving , every article i read about the mk2 16v describes how much fun it is to rag.

Up to 86 the 8v ran on k-jet. After that it changed to Digifant which is an electronic injection system and should be more reliable - although it's still pretty basic. There are many reasons people fit ABFs from the Golf3 - the better management is a key one of these.  As an example Dannyp did a brim to brim on the run back from Germany and saw 40mpg. What's not to like about that?

[Gavv8]

I was going to look at an abf'd mk2 three door but it's been lowered etc and i don't want to go down that road again...then this popped up on ebay..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-MK2-GTI-OAK-GREEN-CAMPAIGN-GOLF-IN-TEN-MILLION-1-0F-300-/221235644879?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3382ac09cf