Should i get a mk1???

Hello, i currently own a mk2 golf, completely original with 58,000 miles, so reliable but dare i say it slightly boring, dont get me wrong original is amazing but not as amazing on mk2's compared to mk1's. I'd love to keep my mk2 and get a mk1 but only being 17 and a student i cant afford it. I do need a slightly reliable car to get to college etc but how unreliable are mk1's? my sister had one a few years ago and it was awesome! We just could never get to school on the frosty mornings in the winter haha, but seeing as spring is on its way and i finially finish my alevels in a few months i think its time to get a mk1.. Everyone on here probably knows alot more than me on the subject so i was after some opinions.. the one i have lined up to get is a blue 1.1 C with 74,000 miles completely standard, if i do get it i want to get the black steels on it banded and drop it slightly but that about it!… What do you guys think???

You have to be prepared to spend some of your evenings trawling the internet for parts and 1/2 day during the weekends for some sort of maintenance. Mk1's, well in fact all cars in general are only un-reliable if they are not properly maintained. Sometimes, despite how mad it sounds I look forward to something going wrong as it's spikes my interest to find out how things work and fix it.
   The suspension modification you mention, if you are thinking of doing that yourself and you have the necessary tools to do it, then i'd say you are ready.
Best of Luck…'1.1C sounds perfect'

Yeah i know what you mean, i really want to learn about how it all works and how to fix things when they go wrong, im not expecting as easy ride but i think i will enjoy a challenge, because my mk2 is in such immaculate condition there is nothing to do and i dont want to mod it as i feel it will ruin it. But thanks for your comment i think im going to get it, i'll post up pictures once ive got it

welcome to the site

a short answer to your question! yes buy a mk1

If I'm being honest I would keep the mk2 if it's low millage and reliable.  Cars of 25 years old aren't going to be reliable unless you throw money at them to get them back to where they were.  People may disagree but my two are definitely a hobby and 2nd cars.  If you are looking to get to college, work etc where it is your daily driver… I'd get the engine rebuilt, fuel lines, filler neck and tank done etc before having it as a daily.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but I wouldn't want to think of you stranded on a motorway whilst trying to get to exams, interviews etc.  It can happen in any car but without work it's you'd be expecting it at some point in a 25 year old motor of any type.

Everyone should have one as a second car though….. stepping out of a modern, generic piece of poo and getting into a ml1…. I challenge anyone not to smile  :mrgreen:

If you have an immaculate, low mileage Mk2 then swapping for what is likely to be a slightly tatty/very crusty Mk1 (depending on your budget) with high mileage does not make a great deal of sense to me. We all grow bored with our cars from time to time but owning two and swapping from one to the other soon eases the boredom. I'm just offering a less blinkered view as I wouldn't want you to regret selling the Mk2

Its a tricky one but i would stay stick with the Mk2 for a bit longer, i waited till i finished uni and was in a solid job, then have my company car as a daily and the mark 1 cabby 6 months of the year out to play through the summer (although i know not everyone agrees with that principal lol) . Give it a few years and then you could have the mk2 as ya daily and have a mk1 to play with. Im 27 now working hard, had a house for 2 years about 2 return my civic lease car and hopefully buy a 520D m sport as a daily, and keep my mk1 for the summer, its hard juggling the money but it can be done he he, also as you get a bit older the classic car insurace and the invauable advise and help from the club members on here helps :-)

jellybelly said

welcome to the site

a short answer to your question! yes buy a mk1

couldn't have said it better myself  :wink:

If you buy one thats been looked after then there is no reason why you cant use it as a dailey car.

Its the same as any car really, if its looked after and maintained correctly it will be ok, if its not then its going to be a pile of poo lol.

Dont get me wrong there will be times when something will go wrong but shouldnt really affect it being a dailey car.

If your bored of your MK2 then you should defo change it for a MK1.

I went from a MK4 show car to my MK1 and never looked back.

What's a mk2?   :mrgreen:  Welcome to the site. . .

Thanks for the advice! .... i sold the mk2 today and picking my mk1 up tomorrow will post up pics/spec sometime this week hopefully

yay! welcome to Mk1 ownership :-), cant wait to see the pics , get out to some meets this year if you can, were a friendly bunch :-)

Well done

If you don't already you should check out the Tidy Vag meets in Poole as there is a lot of helpful people with mk1's in that area. http://www.tidyvag.co.uk/

i was in the same boat as you had my heart set on a mk1 as my first car no matter what and i bought a 1.5 GX with 89000 on the clock and after 11 months of driving it its let me down once and that was because who ever fitted the alloys but shorter bolts on only hanging on by 3 threads and it came off while i was driving and thats the only thing thats put me off the road, and ive covered around 9000 miles in that time its luck i guess
some go wrong but some soldier on i guess :/

Anyway thats my experience welcome to the site

yes…yes you should, you'll never look back.

Hi I purchased my Mark 1 cab GTI two weeks ago and I love it. I have had a couple of beetles, a v5 beetle and my husband has had an R32, edition 30 and he has a Mark 6 gti but I have to say out of all the cars we have had the Mark one is the most fun. It great to drive something different to everyone else.  
Good luck with the car enjoy

Eb where in derbyshire are you?

Hi I live near Buxton so not to far from Chesterfield about 50 min drive

Im in buxton most weekends mate where in bux do u live girlfriend lives at back of tesco