Mk 4 Golf GTi

weadick

Currently considering a 2000 Golf GTi 1.8t as the new daily and just wondering if anybody here has had one or could shed some light on what I should be looking for, potential pitfalls?

The one I'm looking at is a five door 150bhp with 109k miles with fsh. Would this be excessive mileage or would I get a bit more use out of it?

What are they like for reliability and economy? Appreciate any input...

Bpmull

I wouldn't call less than 7.8 k miles a year excessive really below average so that wouldn't bother me once the car has been minded.

punisher5112

Have 130,000 miles on 2006 VRs skoda.

Well able once looked after.

porsche959

Wonderful cars, had one for two years and nothing of significance went wrong. Mileage was a bit lower than the one you're looking at but I don't think 100k is a big mileage for any VW.

There is something important that needs to be done at 60k (timing belt I think?) make sure it was been.

Economy is ok, think I got around 24mpg from mainly urban driving.

weadick

Thanks v much. Belt has been done on it alright, needs a small bit of paint work but other than that the body is good.

My main concern is economy. Ideally I'd like to get a TDI but they are crazy money, like double what I'd be paying for this. I was doing a search here and some people are saying they got 25mpg, others 35, 40 on long drives. Whose telling the truth?! I'll be travelling 20 miles to work and back each day so 200 miles a week at least though most of that is duel carriageway. I'm estimating upwards of 50 quid a week on petrol?

porsche959

A 1.8t is a performance car. You are not going to get Prius or even Golf TDI mpg from it. The Tdis are more expensive simply because there is more demand for them in this country.

I think everyone is telling the truth, but will always be big difference with a car that is doing mainly city driving compared to one that is doing motorway driving. From the nature of your commute you should get 35mpg I'd guess.

Alanstrainor

weadick wrote: »

Thanks v much. Belt has been done on it alright, needs a small bit of paint work but other than that the body is good.

My main concern is economy. Ideally I'd like to get a TDI but they are crazy money, like double what I'd be paying for this. I was doing a search here and some people are saying they got 25mpg, others 35, 40 on long drives. Whose telling the truth?! I'll be travelling 20 miles to work and back each day so 200 miles a week at least though most of that is duel carriageway. I'm estimating upwards of 50 quid a week on petrol?

On a run I'd say 35mpg is what you'd get. 25 around town, maybe less even. I'm not keen on the looks, but I'd have one to mod, and play around with I reckon.

ShaunieVW

I have an A3 with the same 1.8t engine as the GTI (150bhp) I average 34 all the time. All short journeys under 15 miles, mixture or r roads and dual carriageway. fantastic economy. This is my third 1.8t powered car ( golf GTI, S3, A3) They are very reliable. Coilpacks can play up. If there is a knock going over speedbumps etc it is usually the anti roll bar bushes, cheap fix. Try to get one with the AUM engine as it has a KO3s turbo, the older ones had an AGU engine with a ko3 turbo. 00 was a changeover year so it could be either. The older AGU is has the older style throttle cable on the inlet mani and the newer one is drive by wire. They are a great buy atm and way nicer to drive than those horrible diesel lumps.

lomb

They will have lower miles versus diesel also due to the poorer economy less chance of being clocked, better interior, better chance of a sunroof, nicer wheels etc etc. 1.8t is a gem of an engine. See if you can get one with the later Montreal 2 wheels if a 3 dr. I fitted a set of Montreal 1s to my MK4 the other day I got on Adverts which I think suit the 5 door better.

bryaner

I have a 2002 anniversary with 158,000 miles, running like a clock at mo, I've done a few bits and bobs to it but overall no major problems over my 1.5 years ownership.

25 mpg but that's mainly urban driving, easily can get 38-40 in sixth on the open road.

weadick

lomb wrote: »

They will have lower miles versus diesel also due to the poorer economy less chance of being clocked, better interior, better chance of a sunroof, nicer wheels etc etc. 1.8t is a gem of an engine. See if you can get one with the later Montreal 2 wheels if a 3 dr. I fitted a set of Montreal 1s to my MK4 the other day I got on Adverts which I think suit the 5 door better.

The one I'm looking at is a five door, which is rarer apparently (?). It's in that rich met navy colour which must be one of the nicest on any car I think. Getting it checked out properly by a mechanic tomorrow so hopefully it will be okay.

Drummerboy08

The engines suffer from coilpack failures and sludging in the sump so if you buy it, carry a spare coilpack in the boot, and have the sump removed and cleaned out.

I run one of these engines in a race car and found when I first bought it found very regular oil changes help it a lot with proper good oil. I also pulled the sump off, cleaned it out and replaced the oil pick up as they were prone to blocking up too.

Generally a very reliable engine, mine gets a lot of abuse in a short space of time and is well able for it. It's also running 250bhp.....:-)

weadick

Picked up the car yesterday and dead pleased with myself The car is in even better condition than I first thought and, ye were right, it is a joy to drive.

Put 20 quids worth in yesterday and got about a hundred miles out of it with mixed driving which isn't bad at all. Few questions though...

Do all GTi's have traction control or was it an option? In the last GTi I drove there was a button on the dash to turn off the ESP but this doesn't exist on my one. Also, it has a META alarm with two fobs and a 12 disc CD changer in the boot. Would these possibly have been factory spec or aftermarket?