Naivity sucks...

[Squiggles]

OK, here's the thing, I'm learning to drive and thus am new to the world of motoring, so I am very much a pawn resting in your capable hands... For my first car I've been looking out for a Golf Driver 1.6 Mk2 and to convert it into a GTI lookalike. Near me is a 1.6 Golf Ryder J-reg, 103,000 miles, with 12 months MOT going for £500 - will this be any good? Or should I hold fire and wait for a good Driver? Is there really that much difference? What's in it's favour is; it's local (i live miles from any cities), the long MOT which my parents want, ditto cheap insurance; the relatively low millage (I think), and it's also in red which I wanted. But if it's going to be too difficult or to expensive to make it look cool then I'll wait for another one to come along.

Now the aim is to tastefully convert it without spending a colossal sum of money; £250-£350, something like that. Apologies if it's been asked before, and I'm sure it has, but what would your priorities to do first? I'll need to allocate my funds wisely so I'll take everything you say on-board.

Many thanks
Your humble,'Gti wannabe' servant.
Charlie

[Horney]

Sounds good fella, check out the buyers guide by having a search as all MKIIs apretty much the same. That way you'll know what you're looking at.

ANything you fit to this styling wise will fit on a GTI if you upgrade in the future so that's good too! A ryder isn't a bad motor and to make it look like a GTI won't set you back too much, the alloys being the most expensive bit.

Nick

[JC]

how do - 12 months ticket is the biggy mate -and as a first car i wouldnt " MOD " it too much as your insurance is going to be a killer anyway   

[JC]

and stolen from another thread but VERY wise words indeed

1) If you haven't found it already, this was the most useful guide for me:  http://www.matey-matey.com/golf_buying_guide.shtml

2) You'll get loads of people saying they got their mint Mk2 with 500 miles on the clock for £0.67p, but in reality you'll prob pay over a £1000 for a good one. You can get lucky (especially on an 8v) and for that I would reccommend the classifieds of your local paper or Loot.

3) I had £2000 to spend, but in the end spent £1000 on a 16v that had a few surface rust blemishes. I have really liked doing it this way as it left £1000 in the bank for repairs if required and it allowed me to test if I liked the Mk2 in a low-risk way (I jumped ship from a Mk4 1.8T). Now that I have confirmed that I LOVE the Mk2, I can either sell my current one and buy a minter, or do up the one I own.

4) I test drove 11 Mk2's before I found the one. Don't get impatient as there WILL be something wrong with every one you test, so its just a matter of finding the one where the "something" thats wrong with it doesn't bother you. With my Mk2, the engine felt really strong, the owner had a genuine reason for sale, but the starter motor was knackered and there was the odd patch of rust. Overall it just "added up".

5) Absolutely insist that the engine is stone cold before you arrive. If you ask for this and it still isn't when you arrive, walk away. Loads of potential problems can only be diagnosed from cold, so this is a must.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

the only difference between a driver and a ryder is the trim, and if you gti'ing it this will all be changed anyway.

i had a driver for my 1st car, and it did the job perfectly until i parked it on the passenger door.

[Squiggles]

Sounds good fella, check out the buyers guide by having a search as all MKIIs apretty much the same. That way you'll know what you're looking at.

ANything you fit to this styling wise will fit on a GTI if you upgrade in the future so that's good too! A ryder isn't a bad motor and to make it look like a GTI won't set you back too much, the alloys being the most expensive bit.

Nick

Thanks. A guy on another forum was saying to hold fire until a good Driver comes along because they're easier to convert, he said the Ryder was a lot more difficult to make look good, and that it makes financial sense sense to get a because it's cheaper to convert a Driver into a GTI lookout then modifying a Ryder and paying the insurance 'extra's' - is there any weight in this?

To be honest I've been waiting around for a while and none seem to be appearing - at least not within 30/40+ miles from me - so I'm tempted just to get it. It can't be that hard to make it look awesome, surely, and the insurance is only £600 which is cheap for a first timer.

[Squiggles]

Yeah, I'm not looking to go 'wild' on it.

Just get it lowered a bit, some nice lookin' alloys and a good polish - that'll do me.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

if i remember correctly the driver has arch trims and a different steering wheel to the ryder, thats about it.

[JC]

in that case mate- go away from the norm, make the ryder  individual and yours 

[Horney]

Sounds like the Ryder fits the bill then mate. The dub scene is more about less is more at the moment so with a some nice rims and a drop it'll look spot on.

Nick