Look Promising

Would I have to be a retardational unit to consider this GTI? Anything out of the ordinary I need to look out for?

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Freno.craigslist.org%2Fcto%2F3239205540.html&h=eAQH_ddRt&s=1

It looks terrible, run away!

yeah, from that era a good VW will nickle and dime you, this one will have its way with you and leave you in a bathtub full of ice sans kidneys

Now that I see the link it doesn't look that bad, although I wouldn't buy it unless it was just a recreational/race car.

In reply to EvanB:

It's an autocross project.

What sort of nickel and dime stuff will these cars do? Interior trim? Electronics?

JThw8 wrote: yeah, from that era a good VW will nickle and dime you, this one will have its way with you and leave you in a bathtub full of ice sans kidneys

I can't see facepage at work; what MK is it?

My brother has a MK4 GTI, and it definitely its the "nickel and dime" description. Injectors, coil-packs, misc vacuum/cooling/turbo fittings, electronics, etc etc etc. Rarely multiple issues at the same time, but good lord it winds up being pricey. He got it about nine months ago because he "hated" his mid-90's Honda Civic EX (not fast enough for him), and he's started looking for another Civic to save him money on maintenance.

http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/3239205540.html

Eh... for that price it doesn't look that bad.

If the plan is to build an SCCA autocross car, be sure to read the rule book carefully and check what has been done to the car. It's very easy to mistakenly build a VW that will get dumped into a class where it has no chance of being competitive.

VW coilovers meant for looks (lowering) are often worthless if you actually care about handling.

MKII are great chassis. 8V motors are near bulletproof, but can be killed by bad ownership. If it's going to be a track car, the E36 M3ty paint and interior really don't matter.

Walking away with that car for $500 isn't a bad deal.

JohnInKansas wrote: I can't see facepage at work; what MK is it? My brother has a MK4 GTI, and it definitely its the "nickel and dime" description. Injectors, coil-packs, misc vacuum/cooling/turbo fittings, electronics, etc etc etc. Rarely multiple issues at the same time, but good lord it winds up being pricey. He got it about nine months ago because he "hated" his mid-90's Honda Civic EX (not fast enough for him), and he's started looking for another Civic to save him money on maintenance.

16valve MkII.

Ian F wrote: Eh... for that price it doesn't look that bad. If the plan is to build an SCCA autocross car, be sure to read the rule book carefully and check what has been done to the car. It's very easy to mistakenly build a VW that will get dumped into a class where it has no chance of being competitive. VW coilovers meant for looks (lowering) are often worthless if you actually care about handling.

Yah, that suspension, to me, looks like somebody just set the damn thing on the bump stops. It would get "unlowered" really quick in my garage.

JThw8 wrote: yeah, from that era a good VW will nickle and dime you, this one will have its way with you and leave you in a bathtub full of ice sans kidneys

I logged in on this computer just to +1 that. Say what worthy fo sho.