Mk1 Golf GTI, left hand drive??

[golf_clutz]

Hi All,

Been looking at getting myself a Mk1 GTI, spotted a nice looking one in the paper for £1200, done 166k but its left hand drive. Does anyone think this affects the value much?

Its very straight clean and original with long MOT though I havent driven it (yet). Its UK registered so not sure how come its left hand drive until I speak to the seller.

Would it being left hand drive reduce the value any? £1200 seems a bit pricey to me considering the mileage, so i'd like to knock the price down a bit if poss

[Dinky]

the only thing a lhd affects would be ur insurance..
mine was originally a lhd and was converted before i bought it..

Dinx

[Madone_si]

I think it all comes down to the buyer on price. I see LHD cars as cheaper than RHD, but LHD golfs are a little rare in the UK.... I would also check if you can get all the spares for a LHD in the UK as there maybe some parts you won't (steering rack, fuel lines) as these will properly have to come from companies from Germany or USA...

Not really got to view a LHD golf so make sure you check every part of it is working, 90% of LHD and RHD golfs are the same, but you will find the braking is alot better in the LHD as the brake pedals are right behind the Brake Servo and Cylinder unit in the engine area....

[Madone_si]

Some additional information on what is different from RHD and LHD mk1's (from a good friend who owns alot of mk1's)

Different parts are:

Dash
Under dash trim
Instrument surround
Dash wiring harness
Steering column bracket
Steering column tube
Steering column lower shaft grommet
Pedal box (welded to steering column tube on RHD, spring on LHD)
Steering rack
Speedo cable
Clutch cable
Accelerator cable
Front carpet
Cross brake pedal linkage for RHD
Sun visors

[golf_clutz]

I think it all comes down to the buyer on price. I see LHD cars as cheaper than RHD, but LHD golfs are a little rare in the UK.... I would also check if you can get all the spares for a LHD in the UK as there maybe some parts you won't (steering rack, fuel lines) as these will properly have to come from companies from Germany or USA...

Not really got to view a LHD golf so make sure you check every part of it is working, 90% of LHD and RHD golfs are the same, but you will find the braking is alot better in the LHD as the brake pedals are right behind the Brake Servo and Cylinder unit in the engine area....

Thats a good point, I'd forgotton that!. If I did buy it I was planning to upgrade the brakes as they appear standard, but perhaps as you say it will be better than RHD because there no cross-linkage to the servo.

Thanks for all your replies

[Monkeyspinner]

I have a LHD Golf diesel which was originally a Germon post office van. when i got it it had standard non vented front disc brakes and even then they were far better than the RHD Mk1 GTI i used to have... now i fitted GTI front discs, calipers etc they are awesome!! 

I say be a bit different and go for LHD, you wont even notice the difference in driving position after 5 minutes 

I personaly prefer them... 7 out of the 10 cars i own are LHD...