Where did you find your MK1?

I've been checking and filtering through ebay, pistonheads, here and autotrader every day for a couple of weeks now, trying to find the right MK1 so thought i would see if you could offer a little help. maybe im just not looking it the right places.

im after a good condition, original looking as possible, MK1 gti, hard top, with little/no rust and no seat rips. (aint we all ) Hopfully in white, but would accept red or black.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=290260284953
would be perfect but i think its rather over priced and i dont want to spend that much.
Should i be able to pick up a good deal considering the current state of "the market"?

So where did you find your dream drive?
Was it the internet, the local paper or did you drive past and shout out the window?

I got mine on Auto Trader,

Car And Classic always seemed to have quite a lot, and theirs always the back of magazines like Performance VW and Golf+ but these are likely to have been ragged about.

Just gotta keep hunting, it could take a while…

I found mine listed on here

But I did find a fair few on ebay that I went to have a look at. I checked before I went that they would take an offer there and then if I wanted it as I hate bidding on stuff.

I got mine from edition38 website.  It was in Wales so a hell of a trek but I'd seen 14-15 before buying this so didnt buy it lightly!!  Fell in love with it as soon as I saw it…. basically look everywhere… a tip though.. find something that has been advertised slightly wrong as less people notice them therefore potentially less interest.

Things like typing mk 1 on ebay instead of mk1 (a space in between).  Try different descriptions.

Also a weird thing I found was that "classic cars" on e-bay sometimes includes cars not visible on the main "cars for sale" screen  :scratch:

You should buy a bargain now though as even more are available from what I can see.

Performance VW Website i got mine off try there.

First one from eBay, 2nd and 3rd from Cars for Sale on here.....

Found mine on autotrader.

if looking through ebay just search for 'vw golf' in all catagories and sift through.

Here is a good bet as well as car and classic.

Found mine on ebay it was only 2 miles away from my house & was only going to have a look

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-GTI-RED_W0QQitemZ110287728039QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110287728039&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14  ?

I would if cash/space….sorry to anyone who had a eye on it now im helping to market it  :roll:

i found mine in the car park at work just left a not on his windscreen two hours later got a phone call off the dude.
did not notice the letter under his wiper and it stayed on all the way to his house so i think it was fate

E-bay from a porche geek!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-VOLKSWAGEN-GOLF-GTI-RED_W0QQitemZ110287728039QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110287728039&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14  ?

I would if cash/space….sorry to anyone who had a eye on it now im helping to market it  :roll:

I had seen that one trickyharris, but the impression i got (this may be totally wrong) was that a mint condition that has had a lot of recent money spent on engine, exhaust, respray may still only get ?2500, where as the one you posted from ebay may go for ?1000 but still cost me ?4k to get it looking sweet.
thats only what i've seen from my searches, you dont seem to recoup the money you had spent when you sell (like you would for a house). therefore you may aswell get one that is looking good already.
maybe this is me being way to picky and crossing this off because of rust and lack of attention by seller.

another question i wanted to ask was; if you were spending ?2500 on a mk1 with say 130k miles would you rather is HAD or HADN'T had major work and repairs dont on it?

Found my tintop in a barn as a shell and a big pile of bits.  Found my cabby on here, and the second time I bought the cab, on ebay.

first one from local dealer and this one of the trader and a 330 mile round trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!

took a flyer with fleabay.
had to wait months for a low millage car with history to back it up.
also had to be close ie 20-30 mins max.
and low number of previous owners.
But was flexible about colour and engine.

I didnt really have much time to be wasted by looking at loads of cars. I was extremly lucky and had advice from early-1800 who could spot a dud from the smallest of pictures. I would now always recommend looking before bidding.

They sometimes come up on volkszone, well mine did.

It's primarily an aircooled forum but there is the odd gem that pops up on there.

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/

boyceUK said

I had seen that one trickyharris, but the impression i got (this may be totally wrong) was that a mint condition that has had a lot of recent money spent on engine, exhaust, respray may still only get ?2500, where as the one you posted from ebay may go for ?1000 but still cost me ?4k to get it looking sweet.
thats only what i've seen from my searches, you dont seem to recoup the money you had spent when you sell (like you would for a house). therefore you may aswell get one that is looking good already.
maybe this is me being way to picky and crossing this off because of rust and lack of attention by seller.

another question i wanted to ask was; if you were spending ?2500 on a mk1 with say 130k miles would you rather is HAD or HADN'T had major work and repairs dont on it?

If you have the capital, and the sums you are saying, you are going to be buying from an enthusiast so really it boils down to individuality. Would you want the finished article or something more personal; and enjoy the ride getting there.

True you will never recoup money spent but since when did owning a car become a business? I am a tightarse with money but when it comes to spending it on my mk1 ive actually enjoyed it.. I guess you have to unless you would never get there!

Regardless, your always going to have a consistent expenditure with the car…theres always something that needs doing. And it also depends how much work you will do yourself.

With the HAS or HASNT Q: I would expect it to have had consitant work done to it and to a high standard, but not  'sswwweeeeeett'

I saw mine on ebay, contacted the seller for a chat and a minimum price and before i knew it i was booking my ticket up north to dumfries, cash in hand, i had spent about 12 months looking around on all the places you mentioned trying to find something suitable. Just keep at it and something will come a long. Alternatively you could but a good shell and change it to how you want it.

1st floppy through ebay, 2nd, GTI through here, but sale never came off due to a fire, 3rd technically through here, but VIA crazyquiff, then sold via ebay, 4th through ebay and latest one through someone sending mrs lawsy the email via her wanted link..

Latest one prooves that the cars wanted section on here works, as the guy wasnt a paid up member and didnt want to pay the ?15 to advertise so was scanning the cars wanted and came accross our advert. Bargain

179 mile trip there in a vectra (bros company car)
179 mile back following a vectra (they are a pile of poop)

From Bradford, West Yorks to Cromer, Norfolk

ebay find! he was new to ebay didnt have a clue what he was doing so i got an early finish out of him ! haha . ..  good job i liked it . .  bro wouldnt have been impressed if i said naah i dont want it now ! lol