A new toy? But which will be most fun?

[b4rks]

Morning chaps,

I've currently got a mk3 8v gti, but come october i'm going to have about £3k lying around that i need to spend on a new toy cos the current is far too unreliable (my fault, I bought it in a hurry and didn't check it out properly)

Now you see I love VWs, but I don't know what to go for next......

I'm most tempted by the nicest 16v mk2 i can find, but whilst browsing the autotrader it would seem I can also pick up a fairly good mk1 for the same money and I really like the appeal of rolling around in some proprer old-school.  Also the possibility of a mk3 vr6 is there, or even a mk2 rallye (although the LHD option does ring alarm bells imagining trying to overtake, pulling out to have a look only to find an artic taking my right wing and probably my life for itself).

I've also stumbled accross a lot of convirtible gtis but i can't figure out if they're mk2s or 1s....... on roughly a C plate, but some were as new as H.... must be mk2s???

So anyone got any recommendations, i want something that's going to be fairly easy to get parts for and provide what I'd consider 'proper' driving, not too much electrical stuff helping me out!!

cheers in advance

[Brads MK2 GTI]

There was never a MK2 convertable made, all of them are MK1's up to the MK3 even like H plates. I'd stay away from another MK3 even a VR6, not as quick as you would hope for with all that lardy weight. A nice MK1 would be good, but you will have to spend to get a really good example. I'd go for a MK2, maybe with an uprated engine, 2ltr 16v anyone?

[b4rks]

Cheers for the info mate. Appreciate it.

Don't know if i'd feel too happy about buying a car with an engine convertion though.  Although there are obviously a lot of people out there that know what they're doing I don't want to get 6 months down the line and find out it's been botched together (and I don't know enough about mechanics to cjeck it out properly I just love driving them).

So if you could spare another minute or two, a mate of mine had a couple of 8v mk2s, and performance wise I'd be happy with that (although anything a bit quicker is good) - but back to my point; relative to them, what's the performance of a mk1 convertible like?  I was planning on spending about 3k on the car, then sell mine and use any proceeds (plus a grand of savings if i have too) towards making it as nice as I can, so if they benefit greatly from induction kits, stainless exhausts, tuning etc etc (or whatever can be recommended  ) I'd be able to oblige.  I presume to mk1 convertible still has an 1800i engine? or was it a 1600i?? I do love the styling of those cars though - they prone to any ultra common faults??

Sorry to appear to be a complete amateur, but I just need some experienced advice before caning my hard earned.

Cheers.

[Veedubgt18v]

bought the same if u get a convertible gti. i have a mk2 8v and i wish i had a mk1 lol. been thinking about convertibles myself. try get a late model one and you will be laughing all the way down the road.

check this out for a little bit of guidance

http://www.matey-matey.com/golf_buying_guide.shtml

[rubjonny]

a cabby will be closer to a MK2 GTI 8v than a MK1, because of all the extra weight from the shell strengthening.  Try to get an earlier one without the clipper kit (unless you really like the cliper kit that is) because its quite a bit heavier and also hard & expensive to source if any of it is damaged.  If you do go for one with a clipper kit, make sure you get one with a genuine kit, alot of em have the fibreglass kits fitted after, which are just plain nasty in comparison!

Any trim bits for a cabby will cost a fortune, especially any that are specific only to the cabby.  Trust me, our cabby project has cost us so much more money than we were expecting!
So try to get one thats in good all round nick without any bits missing.

Have you considered a Scirocco?  Not as common as the Golf and can go for very cheap, I particularly like the MK1 Scirocco, if done right they look uber

[rubjonny]

That sportline I was telling u about:
http://s14.invisionfree.com/volksdevil/index.php?showtopic=77

Unfortunatly not for sale any more, but it is one of the nicest Cabbys I have ever seen 

[frog]

Got to admit with that sort of money i'd definately be looking for a late mint mk1 Cabby (karmann better than clipper models)  

[Mr Blue]

forget a golf.

buy a e30 bmw. soo much more fun

[rubjonny]

Got to admit with that sort of money i'd definately be looking for a late mint mk1 Cabby (karmann better than clipper models)  

All MK1s are karmann I think, its just the place they made them!

[b4rks]

Mr Blue....a beemer...... i would rather eat my own ears.

Everyone else that isn't trying to make my look like a knob () That sportline looks like exactly what I'm looking for.  Standard as hell, and sexy as sin. And if he was seling that for under £3 I'm happy I can get something similar if I take my time.

Just a couple of final questions then, relating specifically to the mk1 cabby.  I've read that it needs re-timing to run on unleaded (true/false/year dependant)? And the sportline is the limited edition model (?)  Are there any other particular variations that should provoke additional attention?  And lastly I've heard the brakes are as useful as tits on a fish - are they easy enough to upgrade? (not personally I can barely do an oil change but for a mechanic)..... o and totally lastly, music is important to me - not in a 140db+ kinda way, but I like to be able to hear it loudly and with good quality - I guess the cabby is going to be limited on boot space and the amount of sound that can actually get from there into the car - is it feutile trying or has anyone found a way that works??  I may not be a mechanic but I'm dapper with electrics.

PS You guys are sound! Never expected this much of a response or as quickly.

b4rks out.