Mark II GTI

phoenix_nights

Morning.

Thinking about buying a MarkII GTI around 88 i am guessing. My current panzervagon is good for long trips but miss the manual gearchanges of a gti.

The mileage of these cars is around 140-160,000 miles. Where they only available in 8V and did the 16v come with markIII.

I read here that they are built like tanks but is there any major faults that one should look out for (transmisson, gasket) that would influence my purchase depending on whether these have been fixed.

Thanks guys.

MercMad

MkII had the 16V engine around late '89-90, 136BHP !

Dunno of any faults but most have been pranged so check carefully !

phoenix_nights

Cheers. 136BHP sounds so sweet. Would that make the '89-90 as the more desirable GTI to go for and thus more of a premium. (or as a leverage against a 88 model)

MercMad wrote:

MkII had the 16V engine around late '89-90, 136BHP !

Dunno of any faults but most have been pranged so check carefully !

Henry Ford III

Oil consumption is an issue on the 16v engine particularly, and the brakes are quite poor even when 100% efficient.

phoenix_nights

Was doing some research and people think that the 8valves are better for low speed performance whilst the 16 are good for highway. Better fuel consumption as well in the 8 valves. (although i always thought 16v would be better in general).

Only would be using the car for the short town trips and messing around so the 8v sounds the job. Dark metallic green looks like the colour for me also.

Not cheap though. 3-4k for a 88/89 and thats with over 130 on clock and bound to have been driven hard at some stage of its life. But thats what the car was made for i guess.

If i went for the 88 i figure that in 2 years i could put it on as a classic. Unless they have something against GTI's becoming classics at 20 years. Any info on this.....

MercMad

Mmm whilst the 16V is now powerhouse the 8V is decidedly flat in response, especially when compared to modern cars. The 8V has only 115BHP or thereabouts and its heavy enough !

Still the 8V is a sweeter motor !

I think the "big bumper" cars came out in 1990 and they look far better IMO, though you could always retro fit ! I would also look for power steering too !

As far as insurance goes I would check that out thoroughly, just because its 20 years old they may still decide its a boyracers car and refuse to insure it, there are no clear rules here !

Good luck !

phoenix_nights

Cheers MercMad. Maybe i should just stick to the W124's. Just passed a lovely W124 '90 coupe. Perfect car for a future classic....

(do you know of some good independent merc specialists for my 94 e200T)

MercMad wrote:

Mmm whilst the 16V is now powerhouse the 8V is decidedly flat in response, especially when compared to modern cars. The 8V has only 115BHP or thereabouts and its heavy enough !

Still the 8V is a sweeter motor !

I think the "big bumper" cars came out in 1990 and they look far better IMO, though you could always retro fit ! I would also look for power steering too !

As far as insurance goes I would check that out thoroughly, just because its 20 years old they may still decide its a boyracers car and refuse to insure it, there are no clear rules here !

Good luck !

Alfasudcrazy

I bought an 8v GTI (1990) a few months ago and have to say im very pleased with it so far. It has 115,000 on the clock but has been obviously cared for very well. I have put all round tinted glass and a refurbished set of 15 inch BBS alloys on it since I got it and am currently planning a brake upgrade to Corrado G60 standard.
I am not going to do any exterior mods to it as I prefer them to look original.
I bought it from the place in the link below – he always seems to have a good few unmodified Mk II’s in stock – well worth a look if your over there sometime (He is in Bristol)

As regards insurance I had a hard time with this car and many did not want to know about it.
I found no place that would accept it as a classic car but eventually got sorted.

http://www.futureclassiccars.com/stocklist/index.php

My Golf GTI


A good buyers guide for the GTI Mk II.

camarobill

i have an 8 and 16v mark2,the 16v gives a lot more trouble than the 8,head gaskets and cv joints,make sure u have a good look under it as many have been the wrong side of a hedge including my 16v,walk away from any that have mods

Traumadoc

What about a corrado- I had a black 16v in my single days, sweet little thing.

Henry Ford III

Not old enough to be a classic?

A Scirroco perhaps...

skibum

Traumadoc wrote:

What about a corrado- I had a black 16v in my single days, sweet little thing.

Had one too '90 i.8 16v, black with black leather (Cold in the winter, take the skin off your arse in the summer ) miss it badly...:(
also had a 87 8v MKII, great car loads of low down torque, nice and nippy, miss that also,
now have a MKII diesel :eek:

I intend to get a good MKII 8v by the end of the year.