is this true????

[Veedubgt18v]

The pre-1990 Golf GTi is often overlooked in favour of the big bumper models, but for the enthusiast who buys with their head the small bumper MK2 GTi makes a bargain modern classic. Indeed in general the pre 1989 MK2 Golf GTi tends to have a stronger, longer lasting gearbox and takes better to unleaded petrol than some of the later cars.

[Veedubgt18v]

that is quoted by the way

[Dizzie]

from day 1 I was told the K-jet was a better engine. Simple and effiective

[Veedubgt18v]

i thought k-jet didnt like unleaded fuel tho? cos of pinking?

also on my filler cap it says minimum 98 ron   leaded or unleaded!

[modulater]

I think its true to say that everyone prefers the big bumper golfs as that what most tend to buy as they are the later cars and by rights are more likely to have been looked after.

In my eyes the small bumper models look quite cool but you hardly see any around because most have been fitted with cheap and nasty big bumper kits and the original bumpers have probably been binned.

As for the gearbox I would say it would depend on what model the car is as the 16V (2Y code box) is notorious for the diff rivets going through the bell housing.

[winstonb]

where's the quote from, doesnt make an awful lot of sence to me - why would *later* engines have a problem with unleaded when its was more widely used?  dont see there should be any problems with running unleaded on any GTI, it was introduced in Germany in the early 70s.  You just have to adjust the timing to compensate for the lower RON that we have in this country.  4star was only 97RON anyway iirc

[muppetsport]

personally before i bought a golf gti i thought models with big bumpers looked better.

the more and more i get into vw's i prefer mk2 with small bumpers. bizarre int it.

maybe later engines didnt like unleaded as much as with the early engine i have with mechanical fuel injection, i can mess about with the timing on thr dizzy ie to adjust car for unleaded. maybe this wasnt so on later models, i dunno though.

[Speedydub]

...and there was me thinking of whacking big bumpers on mine......

[tinman]

18 months ago we had the "bumper" conversation. i decided against it for the simple fact - where do you stop?

once you've done the bumpers - well, you ought to start checking the engine, and the exhaust, and the suspension, and then the interior, a dn then wide arches, and then dumping the engine and getting a G60 block put in, and then uprating the brakes.....

when do you actually finish? and if you stop pumping money into the vehicle mid project you end up with a mobile dogs dinner.

so personally, if it came with big bumpers, then be happy, and if it came with small bumpers, be happy also.

Tin