Looking to buy a Clipper Cabriolet...

Hi there, this is my first post. I'm looking to buy a cabriolet, I've seen one on Autotrader and I'm going to look at it tomorrow. It looks good from the pictures and the mileage is great too. I've read the buying guide and printed the checklist pages to go through. What are people opinions on the car anything look wrong with it from the photos? Is the price right or would you say it's high?

http://www.autotrader.…ed/advert/201603302467604

If that is as good in the metal as it looks in the photos buy it!  The MOT history seems to back up mileage as far back as 2006, seemed to pass each time, few advisories. Interior looks like a few stains on seats, but should clean up well - don't steam clean them though

No doubt as you have printed off guides you will be looking out for rust, if the owner lets you, and the screws aren't rusted in, see if you can loosen the rear arch covers and see what's underneath.

Looks like it's been resprayed at sometime, we'll certainly at front as you can see the silver uprights behind the grille -they should be black -

Obviously you will be ditching the wheels though if you buy it?

Thanks for the reply and advice Richard, especially on the seats steam cleaning is probably something I would have tried to do!

I've checked the MOT's too and it all looks good. If it looks as good in the metal its going to hard to walk away without buying it.

As for the wheels… they will be the first thing to go!

Looks like a great golf but it's not a clipper.

Kerbside-Timbo said

Looks like a great golf but it's not a clipper.

Thats what I thought due to the lack of 'big bumpers' and electric goodies, however it does say clipper on the sides at the back (could have had stickers put on it). Also Insurance companies list it as a Clipper, although I know their details aren't always correct. I have done a HPI check and its listed as a Clipper on there… Could it be an Early 88 model that didn't get the Clipper 'options'

Yes it is a Clipper.  The first Clippers came in 1986 as a limited edition and had small bumpers. Had 13" steel wheels and the final small bumper ones are E reg like yours.  The Clipper decal is correct on the side as you have here.  It was later on that the body kits became fitted around 1989 on GTI and non GTI but we're in short supply so some were delivered without right up to late 89.and the kits were known as Clippers (although not sure if this was officially called - as GTIs also had them fitted from around 1989).

From what I can see this car appears to be correct spec apart from the wheels the larger GTI spoiler and GTI Gearknob.

Looks nice and a decent price with that mileage. Just give it a good check over for rust as most other issues can be dealt with quickly and not too costly. Boot could do with new lining though and looks like 6x9'holes in the parcel shelf unless that's a dummy shelf underneath
Quite like those wheels too

All of the above.
Looks fairly good from what I can see so the only thing now is to ask him after you've had a very good look at it and driven it if possible is this.

What's your bottom line for cash?

I would be happy if I could get it under 3 grand but I doubt very much he'd go for that.
Although it always depends on how desperate the seller is to get rid of it of course.

So 3 grand cash is where I am on this one!
Good luck and do let us know how you got on.

By the way a good little tip is to copy everything from the advert including the photos into a word doc so you have a real starting point for your ownership and history!  

Yep clippers are the base model and could be small or big bumpered. It's a misnomer calling it a clipper kit as Rich points out they were fitted to the GTI also.
It's actually called the facelift model… Others call it the big bumper model.
My thing with a lot of traders seem to clean the car up and neglect the hood.
Prone issues are leaky front seals hence the water staining.  
So I'd check the roof inside and out.
Some put new hoods in but don't change the headliner often discoloured or ripped.
But you need to strip the top assembly down to change the headliner. So it's hood off and internet and padding off too. Don't be fooled if they say you can change the headiner with the hood in place. Utter nonsense as I pointed that out before.

Old vinyl tops shrink and you get cracks.
The top should lie in a straight line across the side windows if it bows in the centre that's a sign of a shrunk roof.

Open the hood halfway and pop your hand in between the roof and the middle bit.
If you can see what looks like a green shredded wheat lol then the interliner has gone also the pad deteriorates.
Again roof off to replace these.
Rear window frame climb In The back and looking at the rear window slide your finger gently under the seal and feel for rust. Often flakes fall out.
Another pig of a job to do.

So all being said the costs of replacing all the above isn't cheap. A new rear window frame coming in at a whopping 250 euros as a starter.
So make sure the hood and all of the other stuff is top top.



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I'll get straight to the point… I now own the car. It's got a few niggles but nothing structurally, or engine related (hopefully) I'll touch more on that later once I'm on my laptop not my phone.

Looking forward to getting to know my way around a MK1, as currently owning 2 MK4's this is new territory for me.

Andi Tamplin said

I'll get straight to the point… I now own the car. It's got a few niggles but nothing structurally, or engine related (hopefully) I'll touch more on that later once I'm on my laptop not my phone.

From “Looking to buy a Clipper Cabriolet...”

So as I said above, the Golf is now mine, I got it for a price that my self and the other half are happy with. There are a few niggly issues with the car but its been purchased as a project, and its a 28 year old car, I would be surprised if it was 100% perfect, I'll list the pros & cons below.

Pros:

• No body rust, or very minute to say the least. All the key areas to check for seemed to be clear so I'm happy with that.
• New Hood fitted*
• Interior seemed very clean, the dirt on the seats seemed to be highlighted on the photos, and didn't look that bad in the day light.
• Engine ran very nicely, no adverse noises etc**
• Suspension was nice and tight, not sloppy and again no noises.
• Genuine 60,000 miles
• lots of other positives that I wont bore you with for now

Cons:

• Hazard light switch seemed to only operate the near side indicators
• Fans only worked on 1 speed
• Rear seat release cable doesn't work (looks new, just not connected properly)
• They couldn't find the service history (they think they have something but its been put 'tidied away')
• The dash lights don't seem to work. (I didn't actually check all the lights so could be a fuse, fingers crossed)
• * The head lining has a hole in it.
• ** The car cut out when we were back at the garage, it was running on fumes so I'm pretty sure it was just lack of fuel. However once more fuel was put in it wouldn't start again, it was turning over but not firing. However whilst we were waiting for the fuel to be put in the car I found what I can only imagine is an immobiliser device that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. So having played with this I could well have immobilised the car.

I'm not put off by this as when it did have fuel in was firing up at the first turn of the key, so it must be something simple.

This has worked to my advantage though. We traveled 2.5 hours to look at the car, roughly 120 miles away. They have agreed to have the car looked at by a garage and then delivered to my address this week when they get it working obviously. This saves me having to travel up again and drive the car back.


So that's it really hope to have lots of fun with the car, both driving it and fixing the issues too

Excellent news, some tinkering to do to keep you out of trouble but nothing major to stop you getting on and enjoying it, should we get a day of summer this year!

The dash lights are so dim that it has to be very dark before you see them working, so they will probably be working, just no where near as bright as you'd expect. They could be on a dimmed setting also.

Welcome to cabby ownership.
Looks like you'll have fun.
But again hole in headliner but new roof fitted? If your looking at making it right then you will need to take the roof off and the interliner and pad.  Nightmare….
Be good if you managed to barter him down enough to cover the costs of roof work.


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Changing the dash bulbs is fairly simple but they're not bright anyway so double check in the dark!