Per Wants Another Volkswagen

Ok, it's been a while (13 years, in fact) but I've finally gotten over the heartbreak that Volkswagens have caused and I want to try another. I'm looking at the first four generations of Golfs. I'll have $2500 to spend for the project starting point—at least that's what I think I can squeeze out of my checking account and the adoption fees I'll get from the Neon.

Golf 1/Rabbit:
Pros: definitely old school cool at this point. The one I want would be as old as possible and wouldn't mind a four door. Really even wouldn't mind a first gen Jetta.

Cons: surprisingly hard to find nowadays, especially without terminal rust here in Florida—around the windows particularly. Getting a bit old for the target GRM demographic/advertiser interest.

Golf 2/Jetta 2.
Pros: Lots of parts available, still interest from autocrossers and road racers, a little bit more 'real' of a car.

Cons: Getting harder to find. Definitely feel BTDT personally, also getting a bit old for the target GRM demographic/advertiser interest.

Golf3 Pros: very cheap, and if you find a Golf Sport, you get essentially a nice 8v Gti that's not as heavy as you'd expect. More real than a A2

Cons: Electrical nightmares.

Golf4:
Pros: now we're talking a real car. 1.8Ts are getting down to this price range for the project and they've got loads of potential. Cons: See Golf3, add a turbo.

Ahh, and the intended build will be a fun driver, maybe an occasional rallycross, track day, autocross—so no real rule set to worry about. Considering low pressure turbos, junkyard set ups, etc.

I have this image in my mind of a funktastic 70s Rabbit four door with a lot of period accessories and a junkyard/old callaway turbo.

My take, having driven all but the A4:

A1 is exactly as you state it. Light, nimble, simple but about impossible to find anymore and truly an old car now. I wouldn't want to live with that level of starkness anymore.

A2 is the best of all of them, IMO. Still rather light, highly thrashable, still popular and you can find them if you look. Kids around here still love them.

A3 has always been a huge disappointment. I could never feel any love for these. Kind of ugly, not well made and generally pale in comparison to any Honda from the same period.

A4 much more attractive, faster, more complicated, way more expensive and pity the fool who doesn't have a VAG diagnostic tool. Popular despite their many flaws.

I'd go A2 if you want to go back in time, A4 if you want to sell magazines.

See, I like the A3 Golf 2-door bodystyle. I had one new back in the day—it was 2370 lbs., 120ish horsepower and would have been a hoot if I wasn't trying to make it in HStock.

I just don't see any appeal of the A4, and not much of the A3 either. The 1.8t seemed like a decent lump, but what was good about the A4 platform? It was heavier, had a worse front suspension, and the plague of electrical nightmares. It had more bells/whistles & gadgets, but I don't see where it was a better car than the previous generations.

You should see if Jason Saini will sell you his/my/his again Corrado SLC. You guys haven't done one of those for a project yet. I think he's too busy to do much with it now anyway.

Any thoughts about Scirocco's? There is an 83 locally on Craigslist that runs and only needs a driver's window....asking price is $700.

I'm pretty sure a few weeks ago the asking price was $800.

ken83gti had to buy one of those 2009 Jettas that I was considering when he totalled his MKIII GTi this winter.

With nothing more than a set of 225/50r16s he has mopped up this year in H stock Final Results - Memorial Day solo 2009 - 2009-05-25 Page 2 of 4 5/26/2009 - Page 2 of 4

'Street Tire H Stock' - Total Entries: 9 Trophies: 3 Times Total Diff.

1T 14 Ken Courtland 09 VW Jetta 2.5s 44.124 42.541 41.075 41.512 41.075 - 2T 3 Jason Stepke 05 Chevrolet Cobalt 42.068 41.224+1 41.487 41.662 41.487 0.412 3T 91 James Kuo 02 Ford Focus 44.070+dnf 44.856 42.561 41.847 41.847 0.360 4 626 Erik Canary 8 Mazda 3 5-Door 43.530 43.118 43.261 43.097 43.097 1.250 5 12 Raymond Smith 94 Saturn SC2 45.016 44.604 44.170 44.415 44.170 1.073 6 313 Sean Thurwachter 97 Ford Taurus 46.288 44.826+1 45.770 44.565 44.565 0.395 7 41 Mark Rossman 07 Toyota Yaris 47.551 45.637 46.843 46.181 45.637 1.072 8 117 Bradley Brownell 93 Saturn SL2 48.725 47.425 46.809 46.596 46.596 0.959 9 8 Allison Bondie 98 Saturn SL2 dns

(Or favorite Crown Vic Driver was consistent as well ;) )

Not at all what you were looking for or wanted to spend though

Scirocco

In terms of looks/appeal, I like the MKI and II much better then III. I'd love to build an old-school Golf with more restoration than modification and purposefully avoiding the stretched tire look that so many inflict these cars with.

The MKIV would be an interesting project - I don't see a lot of them at trackdays, and I've always heard the 1.8T is a great engine. Seems like not a lot of people do much with them, so I'd be interested in your approach.

Had a 16V Scirocco back in the day. I loved the body style. I vote Scirocco as well.

Sciroccos are neat, but not on the table.

I guess you want an A3 Golf, really.

Why not try to find a TDi A4 Golf.

Buy a mkiii vr6 GTI... or better yet, just build up my car.
You send me the parts and I'll send you photos.

yea.. this sounds like a great idea. I get the papers drawn up.

Around here, I have been seeing quite a few Golfs and Jettas riding on lowered suspensions with the optional BIG OEM BBS-style wheels. They really fill up the wheel wells and look awesome. The bodies are stock, or even shaved, for a clean "euro" look. They have got me thinking about Vee Dubs as well, but I would have to put something more valuable up for adoption and I don't think her mother would like it.

I keeping having terrible thoughts of a mk1 caddy (pickup)

Enough of the being nice...

Per has car ADD just as bad as Mr Brown has project ADD....

Have fun per- it will be fun to learn more about another car.

Eric

No more christmas cards from the Schroeders for Eric!

I've always thought one of the early Rabbit pickup things with a bunch of GTI parts swapped over would be a neat little parts hauler/utility/fun car. Of course, they're even harder to find than a decent Rabbit anymore.

Hmm... AS I own a MkIV TDI, I lean towards that... a 2dr TDI w/ some mods could scare people... The front suspension does have issues, but if you're not building to a rule-set, there are fixes... some more "GR" than others...

The MkI's and MkII's have an appeal... but at the same time, I like the same year Scirocos soooo much more... too bad that's not an option... Were I spending my own money on a lo-buck VW project car, a Scirocco 16V would likely be it.

MkIII's... eh... I've just never cared for them... ... just get a MkIV... the later car is just so much nicer to live with. IMHO, the electrical gremlins are blown out of proportion... at 192K miles, my '03 has been basically dead-nuts reliable.

I've also had evil caddy thoughts... Caddy + Mk3.5 Cabrio interior + MkIV ALH drivetrain + a few mods =

My wife likes Golfs. We had a MkIII that was destroyed when someone didn't stop for the red light my wife was waiting at. We then got a MkIV which she driving now. I personally like the MkIII a lot better. The Mk4 is just big, heavy and bloated in comparison. The interior is wearing a lot faster. And the gas mileage (2.0 engine) is pretty uninspiring for that size car unless you get the TDI.

mad_machine wrote: I keeping having terrible thoughts of a mk1 caddy (pickup)

Yesplz.

Type Q wrote: The interior is wearing a lot faster.

What the heck are you doing to it? My interior (tan leather) still looks like new after a bit of cleaning... and I'm not exactly a neat-freak...

Mid Engine Mk1 Cabby...

I'd go A1 or A2, find yourself some old Kamei body parts for that period look and transplant a 2.0T/6speed in it or build up an old school motor with some pretty side draft Webers. I like the old school look with modern suspension and drivetrain theme the best.

As I re-read the initial post for the 3rd time... a MkIV sounds like a good GRM project car... tons of them out there... although I'm not so sure about the $2500 bit... at least for one worth buying...

But it would be nice for someone to break down the ins and outs of making one handle well... (getting one to be fast is relatively easy and already reasonably well documented).