mk1 or mk2, cabriolet or not?

Hi all, (first post )
Im in the market for a new car and have always loved classic golfs. My first car was a 02 Clio but really i wanted a golf but was advised to go for the "safer" option. This will be my second car and this time im gonna give in to the golf urge.

Its a tough decision to go for either the mk1 or mk2 as i love the classic looks of the mk1 but the mk2 is going to be 10 years new, less rust, better parts.
I dont like that the sharp lines are lost on the mk2 and i hate the big bumpers of the later models.
Is it common to get a mk2 and style it to look like a mk1? so you have the looks and advantages of newer engine and body?
How much like a mk1 can you make a mk2 look?
is it possible to change the big bumpers on the later models?
How do the mk1 and mk2 compare to each other?
(try and keep you reply not totally mk1 bias you lot   )

i'm prob looking at a gti or 1.6 and want it to look original.

Secondly, i'd never really considered a cabriolet until is got sunny but now im thinking i quite like them and top down in the summer would be nice. The other advantage of the cabriolet is that because (from what i've read) they didnt really make a mk2 so you get mk1s up until mid 90s. How did other people make the decision between hard or soft top? what are the pros or cons?

Sorry if lots of the questions have been asked before, i have searched and read and look for comparison pictures.

Cheers,

Hi! Welcome  

Think we might be a bit biased on here!!!  

Don't know about styling a MK2 to look like a MK1, in my mind you might as well buy a sound MK1 to start with if that's the look you prefer  :dontknow:

I love my cabby  :mrgreen: . It's my daily drive rain shine or snow, and has been for just over three years, and I had another as a daily previous to that.

Like any older car you have to look after them and attend to any jobs as they arise or you'll end up with big probs, but TBF I think you would have to do that with a MK2 as well. They are newer than MK1s, but they are still an older car when all's said and done.

And yes, the cabby overlapped the MK2s, so you can get a newer cabby than tintop.

Just get what you love best, and drive it with a smile on your face!  :mrgreen:

Mk1 Cab, end of debate  

Could a Mod please now lock this thread  

Vague generalisation:

Mk1: more rust than Mk2 (due to age) but mechanically there's nothing to split them, both are beyond the stage when parts will have been replaced in due course so its down to condition not age.
Cabby: less practical than hatchback and a little heavier too. Obviously you can still buy a newer cabby to avoid age issues, and also newer cabbys resist rust quite well.

But…..a Mk2 will never be a Mk1, not only that but in terms of 'classic' stakes it will always be in the shadow of the Mk1. They say that VW got the Mk2 GTI spot on, but the Mk1 isn't that bad either. Having said all that, this means the Mk2 will be cheaper than the Mk1 so the same money will go further for Mk2.

HI THERE!How about finding in citi golf its a mk1 but same age or newer than a mk2 i,ve got one its 1996 looks pretty cool not sure how others feel about these? i,ve had loads of other mk1,s just got the one at mo + mk2 golf country but looking for another mk1 gti again.

Citi Golfs are fine but appear to attract jealous/admiring elephants!!!  8O

Cabby less practical, why?? Mine's affectionately known as 'The Skip' drop the roof @ there's room for doors, old prams, the odd mattress etc etc  

kavlfc said

Citi Golfs are fine but appear to attract jealous/admiring elephants!!!  8O

Cabby less practical, why?? Mine's affectionately known as 'The Skip' drop the roof @ there's room for doors, old prams, the odd mattress etc etc  

Every time I say this someone says cabbys are more practical. I've owned and run both a cabby and hatchback for over 2 years each - hatchback is more practical.

T'was tongue in cheek  :wink:

Can't get me cricket bag & pads etc in the boot of me Cab so they have to go on back seat which is a bit of a bugger if I've got an old pram & mattress in their  :doh:

We can ignore soft tops straight away,the citi has too many doors, and nice mk1,s are getting expensive which leaves the mk2.This has some of the luxuries of a modern car and there looks like some good bargains to be had.

Ive a Nice white Cabby on ebay now its the white one lol

abfmk1 said

We can ignore soft tops straight away,the citi has too many doors, and nice mk1,s are getting expensive which leaves the mk2.This has some of the luxuries of a modern car and there looks like some good bargains to be had.

Mk2's apart from the 16v GTi and the Synco are mechanically the same as the MK1 anyways so you'll end up with the same engine wear and tear.

A Mk2 wont hold it's value anywhere near as well as a Mk1.

And not to be rude, but from the sounds of things "abfmk1" you like your golfs standard, so why put a different engine in it? the Cabby's and 5 doors were base models

I have a mk1 TINNY and a mk2 jetta cant really compare them really as the mk1 has done 130k and a g40 conversion and fully stripped out inside so the load room is great  :mrgreen:  i used mine as a daily for about 9 months never had a prob with it until it started to smoke so i did the conversion the mk2 is a base model 1.3 4 speed its a great little motor it doesnt drive that differently to my mk1 with the same mods.
how about a early pre 90 mk2 ???

LIKE MY GOLFS STANDARD. They only stay standard for about a day, and i still think a mk2  makes good sense especially as the originator of this was undecided as to what he wanted. while the 5 door mk1 had tiny engines pretty sure the cabby was available to gti spec.

Thanks for all the interesting replys, i'm suprised the views are so spilt.
I agree with you paul_c that the mk1 does win in the classic stakes, and with debs thats you gotta pick the one that will put a smile on your face each morning you go to drive it (the first step towards that is saying yes to golf this time).
I terms of looks if i could have anything it would be a black (or funky original green / purple) mk1 with chrome trim. a bit of chrome puts a smile on anyones face. im looking to spend  between ?1-3k, so a good condition chrome 76 might be out of my price. can you add chrome to say, an 83 mk1 and make it look good and original?
abfmk1, i think to instantly cross out all mk1s and soft tops is a bit over the top, however i do see what your saying in terms of getting more for your money with a mk2.

Dont misunderstand me i have had modified mk1 gti,s for 20 years and i cannot see me ever getting anything else, but lets not make them something there not. The steerings heavy at low speeds,brakes require a firm push, gears are often notchy, all seals are worn by now and they leak.A bit like driving an agricultural vehicle really, and anyone used to driving a 21st century vehicle may not like them.