Advice on buying a mk 1 clipper cabriolet.

Hi all,  8O
Tomorrow I am going to look and hopefully buy my first mark 1 cabriolet. It is 1991 and looks well in pictures.
Is there any recurring problems that I should look out for.
I think this one has electric roof, would that be possible in these models.
Any advice would be welcomed and as usual I have left this till the last minute..
Also am a bit confursed about the difference between a clipper and a karman cabriolet or is there no difference.

Thanks Seanie

Welcome

Have a read of our buyers guide……

http://www.vwgolfmk1.info/main/Buyingacab.pdf

It it possible it may have a electric roof.  Karmann applies to all models -  manufacturers name.  Clipper is a model of cab.

Let us know how you get on…..

Shawnee, I bought one two weeks ago mate… so here's some advice that I would have appreciated then…

The car ain't new, and as such, it's heavy and solid, don't be surprised if the doors dip slightly when you open it, but any more than a centimetre and it's gonna need fixed.

take it a nice long drive, dealing with top gear cruising and driving slowly and stopping regularly, in a built up area, be wary of stuttering and the car wanting to die…hopefully it won't.

OPEN THE FUEL CAP AND CHECK THE FILLER NECK!!  If you see rust, and holes….It's gonna cost you ?60 and a mechanics time and pay(if you can't do it yourself) to fix this, and if you don't, you get problems.

Check under the arches for rust, and in the boot under the spare wheel.

The brakes will be bad, if they feel a mile away, get used to it

check all your switches do what they should.

At the end of the day mate, you'll know if it feels right or wrong to part with your cash for the car, and if it's the latter, walk away.  The right one will be out there for you.

All the best of luck, and I look forward to a successful view and buy story and some nice pics of your new cab.

Cheers,

Tony.

Cabs Rule!

Thanks a bunch for that information, I am going to see the car in Sussex tomorrow. It was recently advertised on ebay and is blue with a h reg . Looks great in pictures , so hope for the best

:y:

one things for sure mate, if it's the one for you, and you get to drive it home, you will fall in love all the way home and will have loved the decision.


I'll be thinking of you tomorrow at work :pray:

Tony.

think tonys done a good guide there like.
check the clutch mate (give it a bit of welly in low gears if revs fly up and u aint moving tis a bad sign (but not end of world, new clutch)).  stick it in 2nd gear and slowly release clutch also if engine spins up then a new clutch.
check behind clipper kit for rust.
get the engine warm these take an era.. if they do get warm fast summats wrong. bullet proof engines let down by a poo carb, when they are running right indestructable.
check cracked springs, front wheel bearings, grumblings from bottom end, check exhaust fumes when warm if theres smoke of any colour summats up.
good luck mate,
paul

 Have to say lads, you are a most helpful group. Only logged in last night and got a huge amount of information and indeed a bucketfull of goodwill. Thanks again , me and my nine year old are hopping on a plane from Ireland to see the car today. I am trying to keep him calm , but not
really sure which one of us is more excited.
However when it comes to the decision, I have made my mind up if the
car is not for me, I will wait for the right one.
One thing for sure, I'll be back to tell you all , how things went.

Best of luck my friend, hope it goes ok. :wink:

Regards

dibbler

 Hi just returned home with our 1991 Cabbie. Got lots of help from members about checking out the car. Was a little aprehensive that the
car would not be as good as it looked in pictures. Thankfully it was just
as good. Bought it at 3 pm yesterday and now having driven 420 miles
260 in England and 160 here , I feel the car has survived a major early test.
There are one or two small things, (one of which was highlighted by one of your members) that is  a little rust in the filler pipe for the petrol. So that needs to be looked at. I will get the photos and introduce me and the car to the club later.
Delighted with the car , as is my 9 year old who accompanied my on this
epic trip.

well done and welcome to the wonderful world of cabby driving

Fantastic!!

Well done mate, hopefully you will have a long and happy mk1 ownership.  

Looking forward to see those pics.

Tones.

(fellow new happy cabby owner!)

do yourself a big favour and dont drive it till youve fixedthe neck, or at least wack a hoonin great magnet on the underneath of your fuel tank at the lowest point!

What's the idea of the magnet ? Don't fully understand, perhaps its to catch rust escapin into tank.  Do you know what's involved in fixin the problem with filler neck ?
Would appreciate any advice if someone's had this problem.

everyones had this problem!!

The Mk1 Golf Owners Club


this is NOT the correct way to do it according to most people but hell it worked for me

replacing filler neck is easy enough, take off old one fit new!