New (Old) Car problems...

[roboff94]

Alright Guys,

Not really to much of an issue but something thats been getting to me abit lately.

I'm massively into my cars, especially my VW's. Still on my first car which is my little P reg Polo that ive had since i was 16 (im 20 now) and i love it to bits, only thing is its to damn slow!

So, ive been looking at possibly getting a new car. Top of my list is a Mk2 Golf GTI to be honest, im not into new things at all, they just dont interest me in the slightest. My bikes an E reg, and that plenty new for me haha. I like messing/fixing stuff by myself, and you cant really do that with newer stuff as easily.

Obviously the newest mk2 is getting on for quarter of a century old now, and i do about 200 mile a week to work and back, so my mum and dad are concerned reliability might be an issue. I reckon i could keep on top of it and it would be no worse than my Polo. Other thing my mum and dad keep moaning at me about is how safe it would be? which hasnt even crossed my mind and i dont imagine it will to be honest, not that im some kind of death wishing maniac or owt.

They keep trying to point me in the direction of stuff like mk4's and leons, which while i appreciate it would no doubt be a good car, i couldnt really see myself enjoying owning one that much. I have alot of respect for my mum and dad, and i usually end up agreeing with them, and most of the time do what they suggest (apart from my bike haha)

So what do we reckon people? Sack it and do what i really want, and just put up with any issues that rear theyre ugly heads, or be sensible like my mum and dad recommend i should be?

Cheers

Tom

[mrbox]

my 89 mk2 was my daily driver for 20,000 miles will just minor outlay finally sold it with 140.000 on the clock never broke down once in the two years I had it.

owned the mk2 8v at the same time as a pug 205 1.9 and an 89 rs turbo I used the golf for everything
____________________
Current bikes: RE Himalayan, Bandit 12, MZ250ES

[sensi5446]

I've had a mk2, mk3 and mk4 golf and I think the mk3 was my favourite. mk2 was a bit of a banger but never had a prob with it, mk3 was my babe and I dont have a bad word to say about it, I'd still have it today if some scum didn't steel it and burnt it out. I hate the mk4, I loved the look when it came out but it was really unreliable, I bought 2 and both were lemons.

Wife has a mk5 now and they're nice to drive but its not as soild as my old mk3

[roboff94]

My mate used to have a 16v mk3 and it was pretty rapid, nice car really just abit rotten. I read the 8V mk3's are abit naff, and you have to get the 16v if you want a good drive, dunno how true that is though.

Ive been to look at a few (Mk2's), and theyve all been massive let downs so far to be honest, like being told its all original and then theres massive holes hacked in the door cards for some tacky speakers that dont even work..

[sensi5446]

[petalbriefs]

205 gti, faster than golf!

Loved mine, was like driving a go cart and my 1.6 with a few mods, was way quicker than my bf's mk2 8v.

205 GTi FTW
____________________
Proud owner of an R6 + ZXR400
Honda CBR 125 R - Stolen

[Shaft]

[monkeybiker]

[Ariel Badger]

Are there any emission problems with VW ATM?
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[stevo as b4]

I agree with Shaft TBH. Old stuff is old, but not mega established classics, so that means:

1, Not that many fully restored and original cars kept nice because of high re-sale value and classic status.

2, There's less decent running car's left in the 20-25year old bracket, and less people out there that value them or see them as desirable or classic. But it also often means that the few people that are into these not quite classics yet are massively into them and often hoard them and over inflate the true value of them.

But overall fair play to the OP, you sound like my thoughts with regard to vehicles and what you want to own instead of what other people think you should have etc. Also it's so nice to be out of the whole 'what do you drive at work scenario' where everyone wants to buy a 3-5year old premium hatchback and think they are making it towards the big time because they flash the badge's that they think are desirable and that they think that others see them as well on their way to success etc.

I've got a 20year old Rover, to most people it's worth scrap value only (all Rovers are aren't they?), but to me it's interesting and has some character that a 5year old Audi A3 will never have.

It would definitely be possible to find a good clean and tidy mk2 Golf Gti or similar that's been appreciated by it's owner/s, and looked after, but they are not popping up every week in the classifieds so you might have to wait a while.

I waited 2years for my first Rover 220 coupe, to get one I was happy with, and the current one I bought was re-built from a shell that was otherwise going to be scrapped or sold off for parts some years ago. It's been chopped around with a lot, but is a solid rust free car under the many modifications and after having 3different engines etc over it's life time.

The only thing that puts me off classic VAG stuff is this Euro look stuff when taken to extreme's. I also think VAG stuff helped popularise the sleeper phenomenon and the low and slow look, neither of which I am a huge fan of TBH.

Have nearly bought a Golf Mk3 Gti 8v in the past, and I would agree with Sensi that they are a nice generation of Golf, and I would not want to go for a newer one than that either!

[Robby]

You're 20. Have you run an insurance quote for a golf GTI?

I had a mk2 golf many years ago. I don't see what all the fuss is about. It was an old, basic hatchback. Any vaguely modern hatchback is a much nicer car to drive.

If you want something fun to drive from the 80s or early 90s, go for an MR2 or an MX5. If you want a hatchback that can still be enjoyable, get a focus.

Come to think of it, I've managed to find something enjoyable in just about every car I've ever driven. The exceptions were a newish 1.4 Polo (which was a hire car, so should have been fun) and an E30 BMW 320i (which was as basic as a golf of its age, and shit in all ways).

[roboff94]

Cheers for the replies guys

There are tons of cars that id love to own, but the VW blood runs deep in my veins, my Grandad worked for them for 40 years, he's always had old beetles that i used to love working on (see avatar) so id feel abit weird if i didnt have a VW really. When i have room/funds for a second car i might delve into none dub territory...

Yeah i look all the time and i can spot the good ones pretty much from the first picture, just gonna have to bide my time i think, but i can live with that i suppose.

Ive run a few insurance quotes and there pretty reasonable really, ive got 3 years ncb, nearly 4, so its bringing it down nicely. At just over 500 quid on the Polo which is good i think for someone my age. We have a Mk1 Clipper GTI aswell, and im struggling getting quotes on that cause i cant use my no claims on it, but thats another problem haha.

And what emissions scandal?...

Thanks people!

Tom

[mysterious_rider]

Had a 89" mk2 gl 1.8l 8 valve. Was a good car and reliable. Parts were cheap. Now own the 97 1.4 polo fuel injected. Much better car and only a tad slower. If I were you I'd consider one of the older BMWs. Try getting the five cylinder ones as apparently the four cylinder ones have head gasket problems.

But that's my opinion. I love the 55mpg my polo returns
____________________
KAWASAKIIIII

[stevo as b4]

[roboff94]

Well my cars got nothing on it now, no power steering, no leccy windows, no air con, no abs and to be honest its never bothered me in the slightest. I think people have been told they 'need' stuff like that to be able to drive a car, but i dont buy it really. I never wish i had any of them.

More there is the more to go wrong haha

[UncleFester]

Proton Satria GTI
Toyota Starlet Turbo
Daihatsu Charade Gtti
MG Maestro Turbo
Suzuki Swift GTI
Williams Clio
Saxo VTR
Nova GSI - plenty of modded ones about

Plenty of small left field reasonably quick stuff that needn't cost a fortune to buy and run.
____________________
2017 Z1000SX

[monkeybiker]

[ferrisio]

[Robby]

[mrbox]

[andyscooter]

Bloke round here uses a 70s Datsun estate as a daily

He also has a shirrocco mk2
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[janner_10]

[Shaft]

[monkeybiker]

[Vincent]

If you must stay with VW, why not get an early Scirocco? There are some nice restored examples around and you can still pick one up without breaking the bank. Brand loyalty can mean you losing out on a lot of nice cars.

Having all the extras may be an age thing.....I wouldn't get a car now that didn't have stuff like Air-Con and cruise control but it wouldn't have bothered me 20 years ago. The main thing I don't like with older cars is the noise inside.....it can make long distance trips very tiresome
____________________
Space Is Deep