Need genuine expert advice if possible on what is a realistic purchase on a MK1 GTI CONVERTIBLE

Hi

I am looking to purchase a MK1 GOLF GTI CONVERTIBLE, now I have spoken to some people out there selling their GTI but they just don't care for it and therefore can tell me nothing about it I want a cared for car that someone has looked after and appreciated the MK1 GOLF in its true form.

anyhow my questions are if anyone can help:
What is reasonable for the mileage? I was looking at under 100k but every car that has this the mileage had been changed!
What is an acceptable amount of previous owners? I thought over 10 was excessive
I would expect everything to be original? I really do not want new standard alloy wheels I want genuine alloys for the car, same for seats and additional body parts….

Please let me know your thoughts as I do not want to get desperate and take any old thing I want a genuine decent piece of a VW automotive Thank you guys

Jenny

I wouldn't get hung up on mileage, I would look at condition as this dictates if the car has been looked after.

Mileage ….A car with 165,000 miles with clean bodywork minimal rust, scratches etc would be a better buy than something with 80,000 miles and repainted panels and aftermarket alloys.

Owners ….. Cabriolets are usually people's fun cars and the novelty wears off with some people so do expect several owners, but have a look at history and receipts as some of these cars stay in the same family therefore it would be a pride and joy car.

My view is bodywork is more difficult to tackle by yourself rather than mechanical. Look for history and receipts, doesn't have to be serviced at vw from day one, there are many vw specialists that offer brilliant service, if there is not much history I would worry its been not looked after. When you go and view a car have they got other, newer vw's on their drive ( that's a nice sign)

Hi

thank you for your reply

I am not adverse to getting any body work done, replacing the roof or mechanical work, I am also realistic and would not expect anyone to have had a complete history of works at a VW dealership, I had a mini and I never took it to the BMW garage but I always kept every receipt for every penny spent, plus great for selling it.

Lets hope I can find one for sale

many thanks

Jenny

I'm sure there's some great cars out there for £2k-£3k price range. Unfortunately, there's also a large number of dreamers who have a £1000 car, but which they either perceive is a £3000 car, or they have tarted it up a little bit in an effort to deceive a buyer into thinking it is too.

Mileage - as ant5 said really, except to say that low mileage cabriolets are out there because often it becomes, or always was, a second car and thus did little mileage. Whether it makes it worth more is debatable - some items deteriorate with lack of use and its better to use them a little (like, give the car a run once a week - so a car off the road for winter will have issues).

It might be better to spend less money and prepare for some work to bring it up to a very good condition, at least that way if you spend the money on work you get your "money's worth" of that work by using the car. For example if you found a car with a hood needing replacement, worn brakes, worn tyres, worn wheels and some parts missing, those items can be addressed relatively simply and it brought back to much better/more original condition.

Bodywork - some cars will have rusted and some will have been stored better (probably garaged) or in a less corrosive area of the country ie avoid coastal areas! Once a car body starts to corrode, its a very lengthy and expensive process to get it properly back to original condition. Its possible, but the vast majority of cars will have been patched to a lower (but still MoT acceptable) standard. So above all else, look for good bodywork and don't worry too much about the other items so long as you don't pay over the odds.

Hi

thank you so much. I am seriously on the hunt, have been speaking to some weird people though about their cars! scary they have no idea about them at all, plus a lot have had the mileage changed……..was this the norm at some point in the past to do this to cars?

many thanks

Jenny

Did you ask WHY they've had the mileage changed? Its quite possible it was innocently done as a side effect of needing to replace the instrument cluster, since the mileage is measured mechanically on here, unlike modern cars where the LCD displays it but it may well be recorded in the non-volatile memory of the ECU and/or another module (probably instrument cluster).

Hi

yes I asked them all but they just said they do not know why? and that is was done before they purchased it?!

The rest of what you wrote makes no sense to me at all? ha ha sorry what do you mean?

Jenny

There was a lady selling her cabriolet at the AGM on Sunday.

She told that it was an original car, little bodywork had been done and had history. 

I can try and find out her name if you like??? The car wasn't cheap though! 

This is the car.

Hi DANO

Thank you, your a star. Yes please if you can………. very much appreciated.

Please if anyone else knows of any for sale please do let me know I am checking every day

Jenny

JenBen79 said

Hi

yes I asked them all but they just said they do not know why? and that is was done before they purchased it?!

The rest of what you wrote makes no sense to me at all? ha ha sorry what do you mean?

Jenny

I think I'd want to know why a car's mileage isn't right, or reduce its price accordingly.

Hi Paul

Yes very true.

Thank you

Jenny

There's what looks like quite a nice one here:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page/208642/1987-vw-golf/?utm_source=classic_email_alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=classic_cars_for_sale

120k miles but full service history (nothing to do with me btw) - I have a saved search on the website. You might get it with a cheeky offer of £2.5-£3k.

Did you give your approximate location? It might help so people don't send you stuff that's too far away.

Cheers,
Mike

Ok,
First that isn't a limited edition coco channel car or interior as that model never existed. It's too old to be a Christmas cab. So nothing limited about it. Looks like an early quartette model to me.
£3,250 is daft money in my opinion.

If you want an appreciating classic then a sportline or Rivage would be a good option.
Something like this below is a good start at the money.
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=cars-for-sale_2%2Fmk-1-golf-convertible_4

It's not without it's faults, heated seats don't  work, power top doesn't either but the top can usually be fixed fairly easy. It doesn't have it's original wheels but they come up from time to time.

So when you compare it to this.

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=cars-for-sale_2%2F1992-golf-gti-mk1

You can see there is a big difference in history, interior, mileage etc but also price wise.
That's without even offering a cheeky bid.
All way's remember that these cars are getting on and will need TLC. So expect things to go wrong and you won't be dissapointed the only other thing I would suggest is also to take someone else with you so you can share your car knowledge together when looking at a car.

Dano said

This is the car.

I like that a lot.  When looking for the right one, take your time, buy wise & buy once.

Yes, as said above, prices can be all over the place, especially for some real duff ones out there which can be way over priced.

Dont be shy about parting with a few extra quid if it is the right one for you, as just changing this and that can soon add up to a tidy sum.

As for mileage, again as said above, if its been well looked after and has service history and plenty of receipts etc you sould be OK.

Mileage will for the majority of cars for sale be high, remember, if its someones summer toy and they do 5k/year, then over 20yrs you've hit the 100k mark.

We looked on & off for years until the right one came long. When I say right, I mean it was right for us, colour, milage, condition so didn't mind paying that little bit extra.

Low mileage & well loved are out there but you may have to wait a while till it comes up.

Good luck with the hunt.  

tidymike said

There's what looks like quite a nice one here:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page/208642/1987-vw-golf/?utm_source=classic_email_alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=classic_cars_for_sale

120k miles but full service history (nothing to do with me btw) - I have a saved search on the website. You might get it with a cheeky offer of £2.5-£3k.

Did you give your approximate location? It might help so people don't send you stuff that's too far away.

Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike

I have indicated on my profile that i am based in the south west, well actually i am right on the south coast…….hope this help? Jenny

HI

THANK YOU EVERYONE

this is great!!! I have taken so much from this…still searching, it took me 5 months to find my previous car so I am realistic to the wait when i find one i will post a picture, fingers crossed you will all be impressed and please do keep letting me know if you come across anything……….

Jenny 

keep your eye on the forum jednny as cars do come up quite regularly. Also look on practical classics and fleabay as well.



Good luck with the search

Hi

thank you i will take a look now, also is it worth looking at a clipper or just stick to the GTI?

choices!! (well limited but still)

Jenny

Hey Jenny

in my experience had a clipper before and now a sportline GTI cabby, at least you know with the GTI you have got the more powerfull engine as often people sometimes buy a clipper, then want more power, and its better to sell and buy a GTI rather than work more power into a clipper.

As more of a starting point could you suggest a ball park figure you are looking to spend, that would help us give you some more advise on what you are going to be able to afford in terms of genuine original car, milegae etc etc

There are some bargain to be had out there, and are some genuine looked after, low ish mileage original cars out there for not ridiculous money, it just takes some fishing around and knowing what you are willing to accept and what you arnt, as these cars are all 20+ years old :-)