ADVICE- Buying a mk1- Decisions Decisions

Hi all

Please can somebody help me to decide what to do. I have recently seen sense and returned back to getting a Mk1 but cant decide on which route to take.

I have a budget of between 1000 & 1500 or a car to p/x a 318IS Coupe BMW

I would only need the car on a weekend so frees up if repairs if needed

I am after a tidy mk1, based on budget something that is intact mechanically and doesn't need hoardes of welding, if at all. Don't mind some bodywork or replacement panels and not afraid to get my hands dirty under the bonnet even if it needs a blow over, thats fine.

Now the two options,

A- Buy a GTI which is what i want the more original the better, this will eat all my budget and will still need money spending on it. There are a lot of bad examples and even more which have been modified, badly in most cases. Body and neglect are very common

B- Look around for either a series 1 or 2 with low miles and excellent bodywork that hasn't had 20 owners but may have 4 doors, a small engine and standard seats, then this could be a work in progress that is mechanically sound, then i can modify tastefully to my own requirements, standard but with a little grunt.

Please help

to be honest mate if your prepared to put the work down and are'nt in any rush then you should be able to get a fairly standard and useable gti for about ?500(even lower if you keep your eyes peeled) to ?750, this should get you one with an mot and tax.

Chances are it will need rear arches and maybe some panels replacing as well as some work in other areas. i know of 2 cars near me (both 1800 gtis) which were bought or nearly bought for ridiculously low sums of money.

Whatever you decide to do, a gti is'nt unrealistic on your budget. just be patient and keep looking, oh and you do have the advantage of having the best collection mk1 minds in country, nay i endeavour, the world…. ?
 :wink:  Tom.

I have seen some going relatively cheap on ebay, however they seem to be quite bad on the sils at either end and on the  front floor/jacking point area, the sills aren't to bad to get replaced but floors ar a little more costly, from experience 10yrs ago on my mk1 nd more recently on my mk2. There are some nice cars here too but most are out of my reach or not what i'm after.
As you say sit tight and wait for something to come along

Cheers

mines for sale

Which one?

Its spot on is foxy's car, looks beautiful, drives beautifully. it really does look the bees knees, as gti's go i have'nt seen many that could beat it  :wink: