MKII Golf GTI 16v daily Driver???

Gatster

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on how reliable a late MKII Gti 16v would be as a daily driver...I'd be looking for as mint as I can get both mechanically/body/interior, probably a max of 150 miles a week (and that wouldn't be every week by any means)?

Also considering a MK3 VR6 if there's any thoughts on that...

Gary ITR

Gatster wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on how reliable a late MKII Gti 16v would be as a daily driver...I'd be looking for as mint as I can get both mechanically/body/interior, probably a max of 150 miles a week (and that wouldn't be every week by any means)?

Also considering a MK3 VR6 if there's any thoughts on that...

Don't see why not. I know a number pf people using mk2 GTI's as dailys. Although the 8v lump in generally believed to be more reliable. It'll also keep legs with the 16v till around 50mph

MK3 VR's are a bit underwhelming tbh. If I got my hands on a VR6 I'd be sticing the engine into a mk2 shell

JohnBoy

should be fine.

it'll be more unrelaible than a modern car sure, it's 20 years old, but maybe the best approach when you get it would be to spend a few pound on preventative maintenance.

new belts, hoses, water pump, thermostat, bushings, brakes and shocks.

spend a bit extra and know that all the little things that any old car will need doing have been done.

relative to cars of their time I'd view them as above average in the reliability stakes.

Anan1

I had one as a daily driver from 94 to 97, the only thing that ever went wrong with it was a leaking crankshaft oil seal that required removal of the gearbox. It also got broken into a few times, although they never managed to take it. This may have had something to do with the fact that I never fitted an alarm, though. I finally got tired of it and sold it to a Swedish guy with the strong recommendation that he get a good alarm fitted. A month later, the car was found up the Dublin mountains.

It was a good drive, although in a very forgiving, take care of you no matter what stupid things you, do way. At the time when I bought it (in Germany), I was really looking for a 205 GTI 1.9, but couldn't find a good one. To be honest, a part of me always regretted not having held out for the 205. The Golf was a very good high-speed cruiser, happy to spend hours flat-out at 200km/h with only stops every couple of hours for fuel. They'll be a lot older now, but I don't see why a good one couldn't be just as faithful as mine. Just don't expect the kind of scary, balls-out fun you'd have in a 205.

8~)

Given the issues I've seen with more modern Golfs I reckon I'd prefer a Mk II for reliability. If you're doing only 150 miles a week I think it'd be fine.

Bearcat

Do not buy an early VR6, nothing but trouble....lot of cooling snags etc

You'll pick up a nice restored Gti Mk II 16v in the UK for half nothing. Saw a red one in tallaght y'day and said to myself....what a beaut.

MercMad

JohnBoy wrote: »

should be fine.

it'll be more unrelaible than a modern car sure, it's 20 years old, but maybe the best approach when you get it would be to spend a few pound on preventative maintenance.

new belts, hoses, water pump, thermostat, bushings, brakes and shocks.

spend a bit extra and know that all the little things that any old car will need doing have been done.

relative to cars of their time I'd view them as above average in the reliability stakes.

I agree 100%.

If you make it reliable to start with it will stay that way for a long time. Great mile muncher but I would reccomend you get on with power steering.

Also I always found the later 8V to be flat, as in short of power, and the 16V was short on power compared to its rivals yet felt good on the road.

2cv

Bearcat wrote: »

You'll pick up a nice restored Gti Mk II 16v in the UK for half nothing. Saw a red one in tallaght y'day and said to myself....what a beaut.

Watch out for VRT though.... The VRO still seem to be living in koo koo land...

MercMad

2cv wrote: »

Watch out for VRT though.... The VRO still seem to be living in koo koo land...

.......yeah Golf GTI's are on the "special interest" list along with E320 Coupe/Cab, E30 M3's and the like !

2cv

MercMad wrote: »

.......yeah Golf GTI's are on the "special interest" list along with E320 Coupe/Cab, E30 M3's and the like !

1989 Golf GTI 8v, LHD, 233.000 km... VRT = €1220 :mad:

CJhaughey

The MkII is one of the most simple vehicles to work on, parts and accessories are very cheap and readily available.
I would buy one in a heartbeat, the Jetta Gti was much less common but supposed to handle a lot better and had a bigger boot as well as being much less likely to be targeted by scum.
That would be my preference.

Gatster

Cheers for the replies, just a shame there doesn't seem to be any MKII minters about...I drove a VR6 a few years back and liked it, and the fact you can get them with air-con is a plus, but again there doesn't seem to be many about.

Anan1

The odd 16v did have factory a/c, although it's hard to find. If you can live with LHD, some even have ABS!

Gary ITR

Gatster wrote: »

Cheers for the replies, just a shame there doesn't seem to be any MKII minters about...I drove a VR6 a few years back and liked it, and the fact you can get them with air-con is a plus, but again there doesn't seem to be many about.

Plenty of minters out there at the moment. Air con and power steering is a rarity though.

Thing I find funny is though I can't fit my golf clubs into the boot of my mk2 Golf

Abelloid

Check www.vagdrivers.net, they do come up now and again.

Gatster

Had a look on vagdrivers and there's only really one on there that I'd consider 'right' but it needs VRT'ing and once that's taken into consideration, plus the couple of little jobs it needs it's more than I'm prepared to pay and I couldn't be arsed (too lazy )

There is a decent enough VR6 on there which I may have a look though.

Anan1

I was never a fan of the VR6, nice engine but the rest of the car left me cold.

Abelloid

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=550214

Gary ITR

There is a stunning VR6 over on vagdrivers at the moment and it's been up for a while too. It's still a mk3 though and wouldn't float my boat

http://vagdrivers.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=25218&st=0