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Messages - Paul_MK2

1
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Well. ..Hello!
Hello!  It’s great to see you’ve been so well served by your car – I like the romance of you being reunited like lost friends after 4 years apart!
Best wishes,
Paul
2
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
Any good... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304047305034?hash=item46caa1b14a:g:948AAOSwS6Rg2HnL

Well under budget but gives you plenty of money in the pot to oversee your own restoration of anything that needs doing.

Hi, many thanks - this definitely looks to be a good basis for a restoration and appears to have great potential.  It’s too much for me to take on though, as I’ve promised at home that I won’t be stepping into a big project.  The steering rack’s just gone on our daily too, which is going to set me back funds-wise for a while unfortunately – if only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen!

It’s also a 5dr, and after studying the photos alongside your comments again I think you might actually have convinced me that I want a 3dr…!

Paul
3
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
You'll probably see this link elsewhere, but if not might add to your research -

https://www.hagerty.co.uk/valuation/tool/results/?y=1991&mk=Volkswagen&md=Golf&sm=GTI+Mk+II&b=Hatchback

That’s great - thanks, I’d not seen that before.  I now understand what it meant when I’ve seen condition 2 etc. on sales and auction wording, and great to have the values for this specific car.  Looks like it supports the prices being asked for good examples.

I like the imagery of “driving onto the lawn at the finest concours” – but unfortunately not the associated price tag!

Paul
4
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
I just pulled up a picture of a 3dr and a 5dr and everything you say is right there – it’s really weird how I’d subconsciously noticed the overall effect, without specifically noticing what was causing it.  The only thing I had specifically noticed before was the vertical line on the back door for the opening windows, and maybe the front seat backs sitting behind the b-pillar, so it’s really interesting to see it all again through the eyes of a designer.

I’m sure you’re right about manufacturers trying to anchor people to the 3dr, but I guess I’m coming from the opposite direction as that’s where my personal history kicks in - my neighbour’s was a 5dr (sporty hatchback and taxi as you say), and so I've always had the 5dr firmly etched into my mind as what a MK2 GTI looks like.  For me when I look at the 3dr I’m subconsciously thinking there’s something missing from the back window!
 
So personally I quite like the sporty hatchback and family taxi aesthetic, as I think doing both of those well is one of the key things that makes the car so special, but I can now definitely appreciate that from a designer’s perspective the 3dr is a much purer realisation of the original vision.
 
Thanks!

Paul
5
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
Hi Paul,
Bit like you, got urge to revisit my past life (ran a red Mk2 GTI in 88 and loved it) when I came across local car for sale, via old German car specialist. She had 83k on the clock and 2 prior owners, advertised as original pristine condition and an ‘investable’ proposition.
Up to this point I had been seeing similar spec cars for sale broadly in the £10 - £18k range, although clearly 3 doors carry a premium?
At the end of the day my heart ruled my head, given first impressions from classified photos and fond memories of my former VW Golf experience. I part exchanged a BMW M3 for it, realising an overall purchase price of £15,250. By way of valuation comparison, said dealer had a clean 154k Mk1 GTI for sale at £17,500 which I know they sold immediately after I bought mine.
Wife not overly impressed but she knows I have regularly moved on several ‘classic’ vehicles during our marriage at a modest mark up each time. At least she can drive this one, unlike my M3 SMG which scared her to death.
Like most things in the world, you need to firmly focus on your financial ‘capacity’ i.e. what you can comfortably risk to spend/invest and potentially lose in part at least if the car of your choice becomes a money drain for whatever reason. From everything I have read about these cars their residuals do seem to be holding up well in the current market which seems to be meeting the ‘Dads car’ trend much vaunted in the everyday classic car literature. Have only covered 1200 miles since January purchase (fitted s/s exhaust system and had to get starter motor replaced) so already testing my capacity. Great fun to drive and hardly an outing goes by without other road users, not all VW owners, flashing me in my moving museum.
Hope this helps in some way.

Many thanks, that really helps.  I definitely needed some confidence that people who really know this car are ‘comfortable’ that current prices for really good examples are moving up into the £10-£20k range, and so if you’ve pulled the trigger on one at £15k that is really good to know.  Thank you.
I’ve noticed the premium for 3 doors too, which is ok by me as I’m happy with 5 doors, but is there any reason for the difference other than preferences on styling?
Totally get your thinking on the financial capacity point – that’s another reason why I’m keen to find a good one, as I want to minimise the risk of it becoming a money drain which would put me firmly in the dog house at home!
Your car sounds fantastic – I’m glad you’re getting the chance to enjoy it, and soak up the appreciation out on the road.  There’s definitely some cars you could buy which would guarantee you’ll never be let out at a junction again, so good to have my expectation confirmed that this is the opposite, and I guess I’ll just have to accept I’m firmly in the Dad’s car demographic!
Thanks again,
Paul
7
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
Thanks – that all makes perfect sense.  I hadn’t considered a tasteful upgrade of a Driver, but will definitely think about that as an alternative option to an original GTi.

I’ve got no history or emotional connection with Fords – which is just a well given where the prices have gone! – so it’s been interesting seeing how that market has developed purely as a spectator.  As you say the Cosworth money has trickled all the way down now - even some of the much lesser models are probably getting to the point where they’re too valuable to drive regularly which is shame.

I’m in no particular rush, as still have a couple of years before my daughter will need the L-plates, so will take my time and look for the right car.  That MOT history function is definitely really helpful - it can sometimes tell quite a story!

Thanks for replying - I think I’ve got a much better handle on the state of things already, and so I really appreciate it.

Paul
8
New Members Say Hi! / Re: Hello! / Current prices?
Many thanks for the quick reply and the welcome, and for the advice - I really appreciate it.

My preference would be a late, 5 door, 8v – and as you say ideally as original as possible.

I’m using some man-maths to justify it, as my daughter will be learning to drive reasonably soon so I’m thinking it’s also a great way to get her into a manual and hopefully ignite a passion for cars before everything goes electric, and that – combined with my hopelessness with the spanners – has been steering me away from any big projects, but you're definitely right that unrestored will be much better than badly restored!

I’ll take your advice and just keep looking – will post if and when I take the plunge.

I have just checked out your blog – awesome stuff, and I will definitely keep coming back to that as inspiration!

Thanks again,
Paul
9
New Members Say Hi! / Hello! / Current prices?
Hi everybody!

I’ve been lurking on the forum for a bit, and finally plucked up the courage to register and say hello!

Mine is probably a fairly typical story – my next-door neighbour had a MK2 GTi when I was kid, and I’ve loved them ever since, and so now in my mid-40s I was thinking I might finally be in a position to start looking for one.

…. Or so I thought!

I was really hoping to try for one of the very best examples, but since I last looked prices seem to have really moved up.

For example, this looks nice - 84K/1-owner - although the MOT history suggests it’s been off the road for some time and underbody corrosion has been a MOT advisory in the past, but I remember when £12k would have got you an absolute mint example.

https://www.eporsch.co.uk/listings/1991-j-reg-volkswagen-golf-1-8-gti-5dr/

I’ve also seen a couple up for the best part of £20k!  So I guess my question is has everything really moved on with these cars price-wise, or are people just testing the water given what’s happening in some other parts of the classic car market?

Any thoughts much appreciated!

Paul