Pommie in South Africa

Greetings!

I signed on here a while back, when I was running a MK2 Scirocco GTII.

In April 2008 I moved from my home in the UK to Johannesburg, South Africa, where my girlfriend was due to start studying.
1 year later we are still here and loving it!

I desperately needed to get myself a set of wheels, and having left a MKIII Golf VR6 behind in the UK, I decided to get another dub.

Most of you are probably aware, but you can still buy a brand new MK1 golf over here. A new one will set you back around 8,000 quid.
They badge them 'Citi' Golf's over here, and you get various guises, such as 'Velo-Citi', 'Tena-Citi' and 'Citi-Wolf'.
Used cars here are pretty pricey (there is no yearly MOT, just a roadworthy test done when a car changes owners, so car have a longer road life, even if they are falling to pieces!), so being a bit skint, I went for a 1996 Citi Golf 'Chico' - It has a 1.3 litre carb engine and 4 speed box, but it just flies along under 100kmh. It's a great little commuter. And very light on fuel.

It came with a brand new set of Goodyear tyres, some alloys off a 99' Polo, new shocks, battery, brakes and brake lines, and it had just had a full service including plugs.
It passed the roadworthy test with a few small faults (exhaust rear box needs to be replaced, and there is a tiny oil leak from the sump gasket).

The colour is not to everyones taste, but apparently green ones are not stolen as much as other colours! (White Citi's are 10 a penny)

I was going to just run it as it is, but the car is really good fun, so I thought I would give it some love.

I see a few UK folk are running CITI's in the UK, I'd love to bring this one back with me, but I don't know what expenses are involved, plus I may stay in SA for a while yet!

Anyway, here are some pics of the 'Greenie' after a good wash and quick buff with some Scratch-X followed by Jetseal.

Cheers!

Welcome to you…. car looks good.  An unusual colour but I like it …. it would be nice to see a pic of the interior as well.

These new Mk1's /Citi's fascinate me.


Regards

B

Thanks B.

I will get some new snaps up when I get a mo, the inside needs some cleaning too.
I want to de-tango the car, the orange and green clash badly!

It's a funny site seeing so many Mk1 golf's flying around! They really are everywhere you look! It's cool!

You are welcome.

I have had my dub since July 2007 but only managed to get some work done last week.  

I stripped out the old carpet and replaced it with black carpet and changed all the seats.

I have replaced the carb and the the car is with the mechanic for a tune up and he is trying to get the timing right … so hopefully when I get it back it will be running sweet.

Have wanted a Mk1 like forever and cannot believe when I drive mine how many I see on the road.

But keep up the work with your car …. owning a VW only gets better.


B

welcome,i had 2 but sold the white one,your our new parts man there then?  :wink:
Bert

Hi Bert!

I have been eyeing up your red Citi, that is minty mint!
Very inspiring, I would love to get my car up to that standard. Is it also a 1.3? What exhaust is that?
What have you done to the underside? Hammerite etc?

Yes, I can be the new parts man! I'm coming back over to the UK in November hopefully, I'll give you a shout nearer the time.

A friend has already requested a full carpet set, reckon I'll have any room for things like luggage?

All a man needs for luggage is pants and socks  :wink:  plenty room for vw fodder  8)
Mine is a 1.3 with a/c fitted,i dont use it to be honest,just sits in the garage  :roll: i have totally rebuilt it,all new parts where possible,the wheelsrches were painted with 2 coats of hammerite,3 gallon on waxoil went into the panels etc,ive made a few upgrades,3 guages in the colsole,8,000 mile steering wheel from a mk2 golf,mk1 gti console to house the guages etc.The exhaust wasnt avaliable here so i had a stainless steel middle and back made for it,also changed the rear lamps to the smoked ones  :wink:
engine bay







Bert

Bert, that is cleaner than most of the new Citi's I see round here!
In fact I'm going to the VW garage down the road on Saturday to have a look at a new 1.6i Citi.
They quite expensive though, but I may just have a drive in one  

I'm going to get those smoked rear clusters, the seals have gone on my mine and they leak. I can get them for about 30 quid here. Or I may try the breakers yard.

I also need to get that cold air duct for the air box, as mine was missing when I got the car, and she just sucks in hot air when stuck in traffic. Not good!

I priced up having air-con fitted to a Citi, they wanted R5,700 for it (400 quid)
I think I'll give it a miss  

Bert,  your citi is a sweet looking car.

All those shiney new bits on a MK1 …. very nice to see indeed.

So is your steering wheel exactly the same fittings as an original Mk1?

Would be nice to know.


Regards

B