choosing mk1 golf

Hi there my names Shea, I'm new to the forum and was wondering if you could give me some advice on choosing the right mk1 golf for me. Currently I'm the proud owner of a 1974 vw beetle 1200  with a 1600 engine in it. I love my car but to be honest the fuel economy I'm getting on it is killing me (29mpg on a good day). So my plan is to sell it and use the funds from it to get a more economical car, problem is I can't bring myself round to getting a modern car and would very much like to continue on in the classic vw scene.

So I'm considering getting a mk1 golf, problem is I don't know which model to go for, I'm 21 and on my first years insurance with the beetle so the gti's are out of the picture, my main concern is the mpg I get from the car (don't mind going slow   ) so I immediately thought the smallest engine but from reading this site it seems that they are less economical than some bigger engines.

So I was wondering if you guys could recommend a model for me? also I wouldn't mind putting a 1.3 polo engine into the golf as I hear it gives good fuel efficiency but I'm afraid it might sky rocket my insurance (currently I'm paying 1300 on my own policy for my 1600 engine'd beetle) would you guys say my insurance would rise if I did this?

Lastly, where is good place's on the net to find mk1 golfs for sale? I live in Northern Ireland but don't mind travelling for the right car (had to go to Manchester for the beetle)

Thanks in advance,
Shea.

Welcome along Shea, nice to see there's another potential N.I. Mk1 owner out there  

I've never driven a 1.1 but I would imagine that for insurance reasons it could be your best bet, you would need to get a run in one to see what they go like.

Maybe you're already on it but I'd try GTINI.com, put up a post to see if anyone on there has a smaller engined Mk1 maybe you could meet them and they might take you for a run in it, then you would know what it goes like.

I think there was a 1.1 3 door for sale on there a few weeks ago for £700 but I it's possibly sold, worth checking anyway.

Keep us posted with how you get on.

You could get a diesel? Think Bert on here has one and would probably know what your best options are mate. Paul_c, diesel-dubber and dubboy may also be able to shed some light. Good luck with your search mate and welcome to the site

Hi guys, I would love a diesel but they're so hard to find, I've checked the usual sites for uk and ireland and came up with nothing. I think there's a 1.1 5 door in vagdrivers.net although I don't think it has an nct (mot). I'm going to ring adrian flux tomorrow and give them a few models and see what they quote me, for a mk1 capri 1600 they said that it would cost exactly the same as the beetle so maybe I'll get lucky with a polo gt conversion. Thanks desparado I've been checking gtini but will put a wanted post up