Can anyone tell me what I have got??

At the risk of sounding stupid (no change there then!), Can anyone tell me what model car I have bought?

I have a 1986 cabriolet with a 1600 engine. On the V5 it says it is a GTi and it is badged up as a GTi but is it really one? Were all the later models fitted out with 1800 engines? Does that make it a GLi

I am very confused!! Please help!  :?

If it has a 1600 engine then its either a GTI which has had an engine swap, or its not a GTI.

The cabriolet GTI started in around 1981/2, before then it was GL or GLi, the i meaning injection engine, lowered suspension, alloys (I think) and a bit more sportier trim (not overtly, like the GTI hatchback though).

So the cabby GTI went off and wasn't that far below the hatchback GTI in terms of trim, sportiness, etc.

There always remained a lower spec model, up to around 1987 called a GL, then after, called Clipper. It always had a carburettor engine but over the years, went from 1.5 to 1.6 to 1.8. Trim, alloys, specification varied so much that you cannot clearly say "if it has x, its a y"

The problem is, everything that makes a GTI distinctive over the GL, is possible to add to a GL. And you could fit a GTI engine with carbs (some people have done this for tuning reasons). But, I'd say the main giveaway will be if its got an injection engine in it, then its a GTI!

Thanks a lot for that. I will have another look at the engine and check that first then. I don't mind if it is a GTi or not really, just wanted to know out of interest!

hi if it says gti on the log book it will be a gti, you can't change this on the log book, not without running the risk of getting it q plated, it must of had the engine changed, the gti cabby came out in 1983, before this it was a GLi these came out early 1980  (t reg) as a 1.6 then sept 82 as a 1.8. the gti cabby was always 1.8 a 1.6 gti cabby was not avaliable in the uk.

Well it definitely is a UK one so the engine must have been changed. is there any way of finding this out from DVLA? I thought I heard somehwere that you could pay and find out all the history of a car. Is this true? Does anyone know how you go about it?

Without being cheeky, are you absolutely sure it's a 1600 engine? While the 1800 and 1600 engines are interchangeable, you do need to muck about with the exhaust manifolds and downpipe, and the 1800 engine is much more common.

Seems unlikely, to me atleast, that an 1800 engine would be replaced with a 1600.

Cheers,

Drew.

I need to show it to someone in the know to tell me what it definitely is. I am just going on what it says on the log book!

Can you post a pic of the engine bay? Its possible to tell if its carb or injection just by looking at it. And you can tell apart the 1600 and 1800 by the position of the top hose from the radiator (I think, if its between No1 and No2, its an 1800, if its between 2 and 3, a 1600).

I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it. That would be great if you could tell from that.

paul_c said

Can you post a pic of the engine bay? Its possible to tell if its carb or injection just by looking at it. And you can tell apart the 1600 and 1800 by the position of the top hose from the radiator (I think, if its between No1 and No2, its an 1800, if its between 2 and 3, a 1600).

other way round, 1600 inbetween 1&2 and a 1800 3&4, so should be dead easy to spot the difference

Mr_GTI said

paul_c said

Can you post a pic of the engine bay? Its possible to tell if its carb or injection just by looking at it. And you can tell apart the 1600 and 1800 by the position of the top hose from the radiator (I think, if its between No1 and No2, its an 1800, if its between 2 and 3, a 1600).

other way round, 1600 inbetween 1&2 and a 1800 3&4, so should be dead easy to spot the difference

Confirm that Mr_GTI, the 1600 has a 45 degree outlet and the 1800 is at 90 degrees  

I'm charging up the digital camera as I type!!

I've got the pictures just not sure how to post them? Are there any instructions for duggies anywhere or could I email them to someone to post for me?  ops:

Photo Storage | Photobucket

Cheers

On behalf of Rotherhamlass:



Its definitely a carburettor engine!

It also has 1.6 printed on the engine itself! The plot thickens...!!

And thanks paul_c for posting the pic for me!

well that is a 1.6 with a carb, did u buy it as a gti?  u might want to ask for your money back, doesn't matter if it was trade or private, as trading standards would take this up for you. as you might have real trouble selling this on.

have you got enough hooters 8O

dojodubber said

have you got enough hooters 8O

I know but you ought to hear the noise the horn makes!!