Is it too late?

Hey guys, just signed up. Apologies in advance if this is the wrong subforum.

I'll try and keep it as short as possible whilst getting my point across.

I have been day dreaming about owning a MK1 GTI since I first saw my a friends Schwartz Black back in summer 2005. Never thought I would be able to afford one in good condition, let alone afford the repairs and general age/wear related costs. I am finally in a position that I can (or at least I will be in August 2014).

At that point i'll be 21 (currently 19). My biggest concern is that I know nothing, and I mean nothing about cars to the point I could not even identifying most of the engine bay (minus the stuff your learn for your test). Not because I have no interest, but because I have not had the time or money to learn. I am not sure how to even go about it?

You might be thinking why would that matter, but I would hate to take the GTI from an owner who cherished it and then let it go to hell. It just wouldn't be fair.

My question is do you think you can really buy one and learn as you go? I plan on learning as much from the internet as possible between now and then, but I am not sure if that will be enough.

In a word YES.

You will need some tools obviously if you don't have them already and good typing skills to type on here with your problems

Therte are lots of experts on here who know the MK1 inside out so there shouldn't be any issues you come across that couldn't be solved.

Depending on where you are in the country there is bound to be a knowledgeable MK1 owner near you as well.

Smudger

Saw a sticker at Bristol Volksfest yesterday that pretty much sums it up about Mk1's, it said "Volkswagen-Turning owners into mechanics for over 50 years" and that's probably the trueist statement you'll ever read on this forum      

It's a learning curve for everyone, you'll be a lot wiser once you've owned one for a year or two and there's aleways plenty of advice available freely on here and at  your local meets  

smudger1980 said

In a word YES.

You will need some tools obviously if you don't have them already and good typing skills to type on here with your problems Therte are lots of experts on here who know the MK1 inside out so there shouldn't be any issues you come across that couldn't be solved.

Depending on where you are in the country there is bound to be a knowledgeable MK1 owner near you as well. Smudger

Cheers for the quick reply!

I was worried that would be the answer I'll buy an industrial strength keyboard  As for where I am, just outside Glasgow.

GAMMYGOLFGTI said

Saw a sticker at Bristol Volksfest yesterday that pretty much sums it up about Mk1's, it said "Volkswagen-Turning owners into mechanics for over 50 years" and that's probably the trueist statement you'll ever read on this forum      It's a learning curve for everyone, you'll be a lot wiser once you've owned one for a year or two and there's aleways plenty of advice available freely on here and at  your local meets 

Thought that would be what I would need to do, just worried I let an owners hard work go to waste. Looks like i'll just need to take the plunge when the time comes.

I think most people view them as fairly simple to work on once you know what you're looking it. If I can learn stuff from others on here then anyone can

I'm a female and I've learnt so much from owning my Mk1. I'm lucky that my Dad knows a fair bit (not everything!) so he's always been there just to double check and if he doesn't know, someone on the forum will.

Admittedly my little 1.1 is probably the easiest to learn about but I've learnt things I'll never forget.

You'll be fine!  

Welcome to the forum. As mentioned already - go for it! We'll help on here when you're stuck and hopefully some like-minded local members can get their hands dirty with you if you get stuck.

We all knew nothing at one point in the past so nothing new

Hairyarse said

Welcome to the forum. As mentioned already - go for it! We'll help on here when you're stuck and hopefully some like-minded local members can get their hands dirty with you if you get stuck.

We all knew nothing at one point in the past so nothing new

Thanks for the warm welcome. I can see from the posts so far that you have a wonderful community.

I really do hope I end up taking the oppurtunity next year and I can finally post a "newbie" thread

Have quite a few cars on my list for next year that comprises a vast array of different cars, but the MK1 always has that special spot.

Hello and welcome to the forums mate.

 Buy yourself a project, strip it, rebuild it, maybe learn a bit welding on the way. It's all good!! by the time you're done you'll know the car inside out  

Good luck,
Andy.

Look forward to seeing you back here when you get your MK1

Dont forget to use us for advice on one's you'll be looking at buying too - if there's a member local to a car you're planning on viewing I'm sure they'll be happy to pop along with you and check the car out with you

"Volkswagen - Turning owners into mechanics for over 50 years"  

I like that statement.  

Surely there is a mk1 sticker there???

Melteddrummer said

Hello and welcome to the forums mate.

 Buy yourself a project, strip it, rebuild it, maybe learn a bit welding on the way. It's all good!! by the time you're done you'll know the car inside out  

Good luck,
Andy.

Something I have considered, but dare I say it, the MK1 is going to be my daily, so I don't think a project would work right now.

Hairyarse said

Look forward to seeing you back here when you get your MK1

Dont forget to use us for advice on one's you'll be looking at buying too - if there's a member local to a car you're planning on viewing I'm sure they'll be happy to pop along with you and check the car out with you

Will keep that in mind, thanks

buy the brown haynes manual, and give it a read from time to time. keep up on here looking around at various posts, and when you eventually get a mk1 use the manual and the forums to learn a bit more about it.

main thing is if you get a good one all it will need is regular washes and servicing, plus from time to time pop the bonnet and have a look at the fluid levels and just have a good look at everything to keep an eye out for potential problems brewing. look at your vacuum pipes, coolant hoses etc for cracks and fraying, if a wire looks ropey fix it before it falls off that kind of thing. easier to fix a wire when its still fitted where it should be than if it has fallen off and is lost

DotDotCurve said

Something I have considered, but dare I say it, the MK1 is going to be my daily, so I don't think a project would work right now.

Mk1s make great dailys. I used mine for 2 years daily before i took it off the road to change it up a bit. and have now ended up in a mk1 caddy as my daily. Fixing things as and when they needed doing. Learning as i go, using the forum for help. Most friendly and helpful forum I've used. Just make sure you waxoil/underseal it to help keep the rust away.

put it this way, I bought my first mk2 1.6 when I was 23, and I had never even opened the bonnet of a car before

and money? learning yourself is the cheapest way to do it! it helps to have a decent scrappy local, but you're around 15 years too late to have a good supply of mk1s in them unfortunately. just like these days you dont see many mk2s, but 7-10 years ago I would find a new one every weekend!

These days its the golden age to own a mk3 golf, they're cheap to buy and loads of them in scrappies at the moment, give it a few years and the supply will soon dry up!

Mine was a daily before I took it off the road.

It lasted me a good 3 years of 200+ miles a week before I thought best to sort it out.

Like rubjonny says you'll need a good'un and do bits as and when  

I have only ever bought newer cars because i know absolutly nothing about maintaining a car, other than oil/water ect.

Then i took the plunge and bought my Rivage.

I still however know nothing but luckily my local mechanic does ;-)

BigNormRivage said

I have only ever bought newer cars because i know absolutly nothing about maintaining a car, other than oil/water ect.

Then i took the plunge and bought my Rivage.

I still however know nothing but luckily my local mechanic does ;-)

           

smudger1980 said

BigNormRivage said

I have only ever bought newer cars because i know absolutly nothing about maintaining a car, other than oil/water ect.

Then i took the plunge and bought my Rivage.

I still however know nothing but luckily my local mechanic does ;-)

           

Its true mate, i know nothing.

Any little noise ect and i take it to my local guy.

He even came round mine a few weeks ago to give the engine the once over as i hadnt used it for a while.

I know a few people that wont buy old Cars incase things go wrong.

Best move i made if im honest

Double post