New Guy - Some Advice!

Hi Everyone

New person here. I'm nearing my 17th birthday soon and I've been told I've got up to ?3,000 to spend on a car. Our family has had Golfs for over 20 years and I'd love to own a Mk1 for my first car - I'd like something that is a classic and something that is a bit of project too. Plus, investing TOO much into a car is silly for a new driver. Will I be able to get a decent Mk1 for ?3,000?

Anyway, I've looked on Autotrader and there is a 1977 Golf Mk1 import from Germany (don't know if it is left hand drive or not) for ?1,000. I think that Autotrader isn' really the place for look for. I would like one with good bodywork but the mechanics don't have to be perfect. Can you give me any advice? I assume to find a good one, I'll have to look wider than the North East of England?

Apart form the forum here, can you advise me wherelse to look for Mk1 Golfs? Hopefully, I should be more active in the forum soon (fingers crossed   )

Seb

I found mine localy so keep your eyes peeled near you. You can also keep an eye on Evil Bay but beware. Do you know what model your looking for. 3 grand should get you a cracker but if you look around 1500 you should get one in good condition with bit's and bobs to do yourself. The biggest thing to look for is a rot free shell, everything else is doable with a Haynes Manual, a bit of advise from on here and a lot of bad language and cold fingers.

Good luck and welcome, keep us posted and some pics when you get one.

Wow! Quick Reponse. I don't want a GTi - Insurance would be too high. Around ?1,500 would be the perfect amount to pay. My uncle told me to get one with a rot/rust free body. The mechanics are going to be the fun bit - beats a summer job ;-) This german import would be good as long as it is right-hand drive.

Of course, I'll picture it.

Seb

very nice one on ebay mate 1.3 gti look-a-like, think some one on here used to own it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4637580334&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

That sounds a bit dodgy - looks like a GTi but isn't…..Also (being picky now), I'd prefer a black or blue one if possible but it isn't neccessary. The black/blue looks so much more 'classic' in my opinion…

Seb

someone just modded it to look like a gti mate, i want a black one as well when i can afford to run a third car lol.

Hiya hunni welcome to the site!!!

I turned 17 in Feb and my first car is my Likl Mk1 golf!!! I love it to bits and if you look at the pics of it lol it aint in bad nick i dont think!!!

Any way I got that car off ebay for ?600 and it was a bloody bargain if u ask me!!! You will defo get a good one for ?3000 i will keep me eye out for u hunni xxxxx

Assuming that you can get classic insurance as a young driver, it might be worth considering a cabriolet, because they ran on longer than the hard top, you will be able to get a newer one, therefore it will be more likely to be solid! Of course there will be a completely new set of potential problems with the roof, but if you check that when you buy it, you should be able to get a really really nice one for the money you are thinking of spending!   Prowler has put together a buying guide! Have a look at that! Might give you a better idea of what to look for!  

A new Mk1 has appeared on Autotrader within 10 miles of me. 128,600 on the clock. 11 MOT, 5 months tax. It is a nice pearl red but with an awful contrasting silver BBS body kit. Condition is said to be good. It is non-GTi. Asiking for ?1,000 ono.

What is the BBS body kit like? Awful? Nice? Could it be removed to get the original body or I am stuck with it? It seems to spoil the look of the car a bit. t the least, it could be painted to match the car.

If you have get to the Autotrader, use NE11 and you should find it. Any thoughts?

Seb

Have you seen the 1.3 driver with 65k for ?1000 also? Looks really nice! Also for ?400 is a blue clipper with 60k on the clock! Might need a new hood and a bit of paint on the bonnet and front bumper but for ?400 might be worth a look! Depends on what else is wrong with it!  

Where is this? Autotrader (if so, what distance?)? The For Sale forum?

Seb

Yeah all on autotrader! It will tell you the rough distance from you!

Still none the wiser (sorry) - I wish that Autotrader had a linking system.

a.) 1.3 driver for ?1,000 with 65,000 - Is this a Mk1? I can't find an old style one for this price or this engine!

b.) ?400 Clipper - Is this the 1991 1.8 GL 5dr which is 10 miles from me?

Seb

Heres the tidy driver…. only 7 miles from me! If only I didn't have 3 cars already :roll:

http://atsearch.autotr…l=CARS&id=200618234420146

Thanks for that - a bit far away for me!! I still can't find those ones near me on Autotrader that were said before.

You could spent far too long looking for a good Mk1. I haven't even thought about insurance…

mine is for sale on ebay, good solid base to start from number plate valued at ?500 a good respray and you'd of saved yourself loads and have a tidy mk1 driver. its also on here in the forsale section.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/…ame=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Some interesting developments today - the Mk1 in my area is better than expected. Had ?300 spent on it this year. He will nock some money off if I buy today (considering my birthday is 2nd July) as he is moving house and needs the space.

It is 1.6 GLS Yellow but an automatic. Taxed for 6 months and MOTed for 11 months. How does that sound? The asking is ?1,000 but I;m sure he will go down. I know it is an automatic (I'll learn a manual) but it sounds like a good deal - especially since it is 5m drive from me.

Any advice? Hopefully going to look at 5pm.

Seb

Hiya sweety i have been browsing and i found these!!!

Y said you wanted a bit of a project but u also said you wanted something good for the money and under ?3000 hope you like these i know i do lol!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-MK1-GOLF-1-5GL-ORIGIONAL_W0QQitemZ4637944664QQcategoryZ9873QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VOLKSWAGEN-VW-GOLF-MK1-DRIVER-MARS-RED-1983-Gti Replica_W0QQitemZ4637580334QQcategoryZ9873QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIt
em

Still having fun searching. Thought just occured to me - do Mk1s need any weird fuel to run on? Can they just run on standard unleaded (or whatever petrol stations sell these days)?

Are there any expections to this rule? I was hoping a small 1.1 Mk1 would be cheap to run (petrol wise)

Seb

ALL mk1's + all VW from 19something or other! (50's I think?!) can run on unleaded fuel

Do a search as there was a post here about it just a couple of weeks ago. Only change is the ignition timing needs to be changed for the octane rating sometimes.

Cheers
Andy