Hey

Hi everyone,
I don't actually own a mk1 (got a boring old mk3 because my dad wouldn't let me get an 'old, unreliable car'). Just out of interest, how hard is it to run a mk1 doing around 8,000 miles a year? I'm at uni atm so it'd be used for going to the shops etc. and driving home once in a while (from lancaster to near watford - 260 miles). Although my Dad is convinced that my current car is bulletproof, I'm sure it's not (head gasket is on its way out, suspension probably needs replacing soon and it has surface rust on the passenger side arch which I'll sort out next time I'm home and it's sunny - atm I've just sanded the worst of it down and put hammerite on to protect it for the time being. It's only done 72,000 miles!). I won't get one for 2 years or so (got to wait for my brother to pass his test so I can offload it onto him) but can anyone give me any ideas on how hard it is to keep a mk1 running (both financially and whether I can fix it myself!). I'd love a mk1 that's a bit tatty but fairly solid that I could just restore bit by bit.
Thanks in advance for any advice,
Tom

Hi and welcome. I think it's debatable how much a mk1 can cost to run. It depends what model you get (affecting tax, insurance, mpg), your age and location (for insurance), and how well looked after or neglected it is - there are still rot-boxes on their last legs out there, even trusty mk1 Golfs! It might've had careful owners…or been laid up on a farm outside for years. If you can change your own oil & filters, exhaust, brake pads etc then maintenance can be very cheap indeed. Most service parts are cheap and straight off the shelf. A lot of people find mk1's to be money pits, especially where bodywork and restoration are concerned. It's the same with any car, they can be fine for years then everything can start going wrong one thing after another, and once you start delving you can unearth more and more horrors that need repairing! I have to say though, I've found mine very cheap to run (serviced at home) and wouldn't expect many cars I could have instead to be cheaper overall. I certainly couldn't afford a car that could only be serviced and repaired at a garage with special tools and diagnostic equipment  :evil:

What he said really….

Welcome to the site tho..

Its going to be easier to work on than the MK3 as its more basic..

I've just done a 450 miel round trip, gave it some stick, got an average of 37MPG from my 1.8 GTI, so fuel economy aint that bad either…

As long as you get a good ne to start with, you should be ok

If I do end up going for one it'd probably be a GTI. I'd be around 20 at the time so I'm not sure how much insurance would be. I assume that if I bought one from an enthusiast then I'd be less likely to get problems than if I bought one that someone's just trying to get rid of.
With regard to the amount of money spent on a car, I don't think a mk1 would be too bad as I could quite easily learn how to do most of the jobs you mentioned. A friend of mine has an old mini and after a year of ownership he's taken the engine out and cleaned it up then put it back in, as well as refurbishing a gearbox and switching that for his knackered one (all this with no previous mechanical experience).

Welcome Aboard!




Short & sweet!

Welcome.

If you look after it it will look after you.  You would probably be better buying a good sound car to start with.  There are some good buying guides on the homepage to give some pointers as to what to look out for, any queries, fire away.

Hiya! Welcome  

If you can be hands on and do most of the stuff yourself they can be pretty reasonable - time mostly.

Hubby does just about everything on mine himself, and because parts are reasonable it doesn't cost us much to run.

You do need to keep on top of everything. Service regularly and attend to anything that comes up straight away.

I use my 84 GTI daily and it's relatively trouble free. It went for it's last MOT and passed with no advisories with no more than a service and a wash and brush up beforehand.

There's only been one day it wouldn't start in the last 18 months or so and that was because the plugs and points hadn't been looked at in a while.

Get one!!!!!  :mrgreen:

Want one so bad now! Wonder what insurance is like? I'm 18 and been driving for a year and a bit. Named driver on my Dad's policy with Direct Line (no claims for named drivers - does anyone know if this can be used with other insurance companies?). Unfortuately I (well, my Dad) have just forked out an extortionate rate for another years insurance (my mk3 is a 1.8 but that doesn't mean it's fast! Direct Line disagree though).  How much hp does a mk1 GTI produce? Think my car is (was!) around 90hp but it weighs loads. As he's paying for insurance he has final say (don't have a job atm so can't afford it!) but I'll try and change his mind by next year. Think if I got one he'd be in it as much as he could if they're as quick and fun to drive as I've heard!
I have an image in my head of what would do to it (nothing tacky) but insurance companies don't like mods at my age so it would have to wait (all I would do is lower the car a bit and fit some nice wheels to it, along with a single headlight grille). However, I'm getting ahead of myself - best persuade the old man first!

Good luck!!

 :wink:

The 1.8gti knocks out 112bhp and with it being light it dont hang about.  The insurance will probably hit you hard, 18 year old with a gti badge.  Best thing would be to get some quotes and see what comes up.  Have a look through the insurance part of the forum as there has been a fair bit of discussion on insurance for younger drivers.  It'll kick the arse of the mk3. I run a Mk3 vr6 (it's a noise thing :wink: ) with around 180bhp and because it's so heavy doesn't offer a huge amount of extra poke over my gti.

Its a fast vr6 thing though ew, i know i have ridden shotgun in it, if you want a cabby there was a beautiful RED sportline on here a while back but it sold really quick   (private joke for ew), they are a lovely cabby though good luck  8)

When I first got my mk3 my boss at the time told me that they were all crap except the vr6 which he said was a beast. If it doesn't have much on a mk1 gti then it makes me want one even more! If I get one it'll be next feb by the earliest as that's when the insurance runs out on my current golf.
Thanks to all the advice so far anyway - I now love mk1's even more and I've never even sat in one!!!!!!!

I had a mk3gti and loved it but the same as you always wanted a mk1 and one day it was there saying buy me so i did, as said before the gti's can really sting you on insurance as they are still classed as a hot hatch and highly nickable, i have an auto, it suprised me when i drove it there a love hate thing though with a lot of peeps, shop around for insurance that is the only advice i can give you really and shop around for cars to as there are many not so good ones out there  :wink:

autocab said

Its a fast vr6 thing though ew, i know i have ridden shotgun in it, if you want a cabby there was a beautiful RED sportline on here a while back but it sold really quick   (private joke for ew), they are a lovely cabby though good luck  8)

You just cant help it can ya


ichbintk, get yourself along to a local meet if there is one nearby, most people would be happy to let you have a good look around or even take you out for a blast.

I've just got a quote of ?1,223. That was with my details as they will be next year and a policy in my name with the old man as a named driver. TPFT but it doesn't say anything about the excess (most others are ?250). I'll be on the phone in the morning trying to persuade my Dad that it's a good idea and that it'l be more fun to drive than my car or his (07 Passat 1.9tdi 140bhp - sloooooooooow and turbo laggy). I've just realised how excited I'm getting about this and I've not even got the car yet!

ew said

autocab said

Its a fast vr6 thing though ew, i know i have ridden shotgun in it, if you want a cabby there was a beautiful RED sportline on here a while back but it sold really quick   (private joke for ew), they are a lovely cabby though good luck  8)

You just cant help it can ya


ichbintk, get yourself along to a local meet if there is one nearby, most people would be happy to let you have a good look around or even take you out for a blast.

Just noticed your post ew. Does anyone know of any good meets around Lancaster/Blackpool/Preston? Failing that any near Watford area? I'm gonna try head down to a show in the summer - which are the best ones and roughly when are they?
God I want a mk1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     :pray:

nw meet bud <<<<<<<

Welcome to the site.

I live just outside Preston and lived and worked in Watford for 11 years!!!

If you're up this way when we are having a meet then you are more than welcome to visit. There is also a meet at the Lea Pub on the Blackpool Road, Preston on 1st Tuesday of every month. It not organised by this club, more of an 'all comers' event.

Personally I'd look at a none GTI version first for age/ insurance advantages and then progress upwards. I've had a few Mk3's and have liked them for the comfort aspect and the increased additional options. the 16v was a cracker!!!

Dan

I must admit I agree that you ought to get a non-Gti first! I know its very tempting, but the others are fun to drive too, with the same good looks and build quality. You can use the money you've saved on doing it up and running it until the insurance comes down etc? The 1.3 Driver for example has Gti trim as standard, but will be cheaper insurance and lower tax bracket. Every little helps  
The 1.3's are 70hp, and weigh bugger-all too of course. Even mine at 54hp can keep up with a 1.7DTi Astra (similar 0-60 time) no probs, so you get the idea of power to weight ratio stuff.  
Your decision though. You can have a good look round at shows and meets.  :mrgreen:

ew said

 (it's a noise thing :wink: )

 :y:  :wink: