Is a mk2 GTI for me?

I found an 87 16v GTI for sale on craigslist locally. It has alot of new parts and the owner wants $1500 obo. I'd prefer an 8v but my big issues would be reliability and gas mileage. I like getting 35 mpg in my Escort but a GTI seems enticing. Is 30+ mpg possible in a 16 valve?

I would talk to the guys at vwvortex.com

Once you go 16v, you'll never go back. Great, rev happy engine, that's bulletproof as long as you keep up on your timing belt changes. VWVortex kinda sucks. Too many dip E36 M3s regurgitating half-truths for my liking. There is a lot of good info, but you have to filter out tons of bullE36 M3 to find it.

I don't think you will be disappointed with a mkii gti. They are great cars and have a ton of potential. They are very easy to work on as well and it isn't difficult to find parts.
If you found you didn't like it, you could always sell it for what you bought it for.
I don't forsee ever being without at least one vw in my garage.

Corey is right about vortex in some ways. I stick to the technical, classified, and auto-x forums to keep the amount crap i read in check.

If you want entertainment, though, peruse through the mkiv forum. Always something in there that makes you think 'wtf'?

what about a MkIV? I've been looking at those for a DD?

16vCorey wrote: Once you go 16v, you'll never go back. Great, rev happy engine, that's bulletproof as long as you keep up on your timing belt changes. VWVortex kinda sucks. Too many dip E36 M3s regurgitating half-truths for my liking. There is a lot of good info, but you have to filter out tons of bullE36 M3 to find it.

so where is good VW site.

As long as everything is working ok then I dont see any reason why not. Every one I have looked at for sale had lots of problems with it though.

vwvortex is the VW site, and again there is good info and people there, you just have to be patient with all the other crap. Its not even CLOSE to as bad as most Honda sites, though.

If the body is solid and there's nothing major broken, 1500 is a pretty good deal. If you want to see what you can sell them for, check the vortex classifieds to see how inflated the prices for clean mk2s can get.

I called about the GTI and its a bust. It has 217k miles on it and it needs a front axle..

DirtyBird222 wrote: what about a MkIV? I've been looking at those for a DD?

My wife has a MkIV 2.0 that is her daily driver.

The good: Hatchback! Pretty reliable. Nicest stereo in the fleet, 30mpg average.

The bad: Cheap interior that wears poorly. Base model seats are not that great, Big car relative to the amount interior space. Heavy. Short gears/buzzy on the freeway.

Overall its okay. Nothing exciting.

We bought this to replace a MKIII that was desroyed when someone rear ended her. I loved that car. It was lighter, smaller and got more like 35 MPG. The interior held up a lot better too. The only draw back was the paint oxidized really quickly. I was rubbing it out twice a year to get the shine and color back.

VWVortex has a few areas that are more tolerant. Tech forums and Scricocco and MKI forums are pleasant, but the higher the 'MK' number the more immature the the crowd becomes.

As for the 16v, I did the switch from the MKIII 8v and couldn't be happier. With the MKIII trans it came with I regularly get 32 mpg. But the gears are so tall, that by the time 3rd gear streches past 4K I'm also steaming past 70 mph. Limits my tom foolery on the street, which is good and bad I suppose.

92dxman wrote: I called about the GTI and its a bust. It has 217k miles on it and it needs a front axle..

The milage is no biggie. And the axle is $65.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=A1C&MfrPartNumber=607002&PartType=945&PTSet=A

Offer $1K

EDIT: if you do get it, double check the CV size. The one I posted is 90mm, and the 16V is more than likely to have a 100mm CV joint. Same price though.

There is one for sale near us for $500. It is an early 85-87 model and while savable, is not cherry.

PM ken83gti and talk to him about his two, he is a very competitive autocrosser with both and a nice guy.

I frequent the tex regularly and there are some snobby ppl but I've dealt with alot of good knowledeable ppl there. Infact one pointed me to what was wrong with my G60 Corrado. The crankshaft keyway sheared off...

DirtyBird222 wrote: what about a MkIV? I've been looking at those for a DD?

My wife and I just ditched her '03 Golf GLS 2.0 auto(made in Brazil). Our experience was similar to that of Type Q.

Good: nice hatchback for groceries, easy to park, handled well enough once the stock Goodyears hit the trash.

Bad: too small in the back to be of any real utilitarian value, terrible squeaky plastics inside(everything loved to just snap off), the plastic impeller on the water pump failed entirely at 23k miles and left me in the woods at night during winter, small funky electrical issues, iffy fuel and oil consumption, revs into the stratosphere on the highway, terrible headlights, 0-60 could be measured by calender...

It was traded in towards a '04 Forester XS auto, and we couldn't be happier. The Subaru has loads more power, more room, seems to be slightly better built, has a better warranty, and is cheaper to run and insure, including fuel cost. This is the car we should've bought instead... I wouldn't want another MkIV unless it was a German made Golf TDI with a manual.