MK1 GTi Viewing

This is my first post here so please be gentle….

I'm in the market for my first Golf and went to a viewing up in Manchester 120 Mile journey there and back.

Upon my arrival everything seem pretty good in my eyes until I looked much more closely….

• Rear bumper by wheel arch had rotten
• The floor near the doors looked like it hand ripped through
• inner side of the car wheel archs had rust and holes no bigger than 20MM
• Fuel tank leaked
• Fuel pump was hanging under the car
• Was bit of push to get it to start however the idiot didn't put fuel in I reckon
• The front of the car when pannals were taken off and found it falling apart.

I'm here today really to ask should I walk away or take it on and do the welding needed. At the moment it seems like a very big no go.






 

Depends on your budget and how much it is but it doesn't sound like it's been looked after or had any money spent on it. Do you want a project or one you can drive straight away?
Regards rust what you see is only about 30% of what is really there. 

Something to drive straght away and work on as project at the same time.

I'm still going to have the use of my other car to use.

What sort of budget would I be looking into for a ride away with work to be done such as interior and replacing parts to improve it.

I'm on the market with £2000 to buy something with in mind of another £2000 - 3000 on improving it and doing it up again for my own pleasure.
Not in it for the money making just for enjoyment of a golf.

I've driven a Golf GX once been hooked ever since.

I'm a big newbie to this whole forum thing so I do apologise for any very newbie sayings haha.

i was in your situation many years go

i took the car but now looking back i should have walked away

if they have issues that you can see there are certainly alot more that you cant see

I agree with Jelly - cars will have issues that you can see, plus a whole lot more that you cant.

for £2k, I think you will be hard pushed to find a car that is ready to use that doesn't have some issues - mainly, rust.

 

• Rear bumper by wheel arch had rotten - Farily Common
• The floor near the doors looked like it hand ripped through - I have seen this before with a Heavy driver. will either need repair or new floor panels
• inner side of the car wheel archs had rust and holes no bigger than 20MM - Depends exactly where, though as above, there is likely to be a lot more you can't see, which could be serious in this area as axle mounts and seatbelt mounts are all close by
• Fuel tank leaked - these rust with age and can be replaced fairly simply
• Fuel pump was hanging under the car - should have a bracket to hold it in place, though mine doesn't as it was not an original GTi - is this an original or a conversion?
• Was bit of push to get it to start however the idiot didn't put fuel in I reckon - did it start? if it did, then it would have had fuel but points to other issues
• The front of the car when pannals were taken off and found it falling apart- …

Sounds like this requires a lot more work than you are prepared to put in right now. did it have an MOT? if not, I doubt it would pass…

How much was he asking?
 

A car like that even if it was MOT'd its probably not worth the paper its written on.
With your budget I'd look at spending the entire amount to get a car that's usable. Try and find an unmolested one that's maybe on original paint or old paint work. Fresh paint work maybe holding a multitude of sins.

He's asking £1100…

I enquired to how much he brought it for and claimed to gotten it £400 cheaper.

Just checked the add again tonight and he's dropped it down by £200 I think he knows it isn't going to be an easy shifter.

When I went to view it he was demanding a deposit.
What are 1.6 engines worth these days as it was the only decent part in it.


Thankyou to all have posted here and not thrown me aside being a newbie!!

Engine are pritty worthless really £100 max.

Floor pans a pritty big jobs to do, not an over the weekend repair that's for sure

Unless you want a project and are ready and willing to spend money on repair bills walk away, spend your time and money on a car that has been looked after. There are plenty of cars out there you just have to keep looking for the right car for you.
Andy

Don't buy the first one you find is normally a pretty good statement to work by.
If you prepared to not have a GTI or take a Cabriolet your money will go much further.

Take a look at a buyers guide - here's one we published on VW Heritage a year or so back.
https://www.vwheritage.com/blog/2015/04/21/vw-heritage-vw-golf-mk1-buying-guide/

Having said that - £1100 for a Mk1 GTI is still good, even if it needs work. Projects are changing hands for strong money now. If it is complete, and ideally doesnt have a glass sunroof (these leak, and de-value the car) and has some good history its worth considering.
Pop a message up and see if any members in Manchester would check it out with you - or take photos of everything and post those.

Andy