Possible Newbie

Hi

Im currently on the lookout for a new car, allways been a ford man but have slowly been falling out of love with them. After working on my Brothers mk4 Golf, Ive decided i need a change.

Ive allways been into VWs but just never had one. Im perticulaly keen on the mk1 golf. The GTI to be specific.

Can anyone tell me whats good about them and what to look out for as an owner as im totally clueless on these cars

Cheers

Ben

Whats good - its the hot hatch that started it all not much better than that! Great fun handles like a go kart, cool, freindly, mad scene and great for engine swaps tunning/upgrade parts bla bla bla

Bad bits - too adictive and like any enthusiasts car can seem abit endless on what you want to do to it.

Now cars for sale is just at the bottom plus e-bay and pistoneheads bring up some good ones. Happy hunting

I currently own a 1.7 puma, and its an amazing car. they handle superbly and the engines are great. Its the Interchangable ness (if that makes sense lol) like what you said bout the golfs that appeals to me.

Whats the performance stats of the MK1 GtI golf and how much do they weigh out of curiosity?? And how much should i expect to pay for a decent low milage one, say 60-80000 miles??

I liked our lasses puma till it got wrote off in floods was in my dads mates garage havin abs sorted, pith abs whats that any way lol. Not too up on facts and figures but weighs just over 900kg and the 1.8 8v gti is nippy enough but like you said lots of options out there for it just depends on how deep your pockets are/how much work you goin to do. Lots of info on here if you read tech bits on left hand side and in tech question bits.

Price well been debated a few times on here but best thing to do is look at what you want/how much work you want to do and whats your budget, seen some great bargins at times

Cheers mate, im more into tidying up really. Im not 100% about detailing, but like to get things right before i get too deep. I also like to use parts from other cars so i could go on all night about possible plans lol

Ill definateley have this car at the top of my possibilities list  

Keep it at the top mate cos i looked into others befor i tuck the plunge and the mk1 golf came out on top on price to buy/get to a nice standered.

Hope to see you on here with pics lol  :mrgreen:

I know your bias lol but can you remember driving the puma, how would you compare it? Its just im really struggling to think of a car that i can have as much fun in (im as into pumas as you are golfs, if you get me)

the puma was very simlar in a way but without mod cons like power steering the golf you can chuck in and feel what its doin the puma felt abit light to be honest on steerin and it feels just as nippy, dont get me wrong the puma felt quick if you pushed it and it was rev happy but so does the golf its small and low just like the puma plus with no mod cons feels more alive if that makes sense lol  :mrgreen:

The puma went in june 2007 so not too long ago really and was 1.7 one too in silver low millage example on an x plate.

If you're looking for a fairly hefty project then a mk1 is a good place to look as there's a fair bit you can do to them and they're relatively easy to work on. However they're quite hard to find in very good condition (i.e. no rot) and their age occasionally makes finding certain parts a little tricky. Good ones will set you back a little bit of money too.

I'd argue a fair bit depends on how much you want to get into the community. If you intend to then there isn't really another watercooled VW with a following as close and friendly as the mk1. If not, though, I'd also consider a mk2. You still get a similar old school feel while driving it but modcons are better and parts are a little cheaper and easier. As they're newer chances are you'll find one in better nick too.

The handling of a mk1 is very invloved and you get a great feel for what the car's doing while you're driving it. Straight line speeds aren't mindblowing but the chassis is wonderfully sorted (esp. GTis with the roll bars) and they're brilliant fun point to point on B roads and the like, which I reckon is what it's all about

Hi Kingy.
In case you haven't spotted it, there's a buyers guide on the Homepage, showing what areas to pay attention to when viewing a Mk1 to buy.  :mrgreen: