Just for fun.
I think we all agree our Mk2's are great. But most of us also have the use more modern cars.
We spend a lot of time focusing on the positives and enjoying the good bits, but what do you find the worse bit of driving/owning a mk2 Golf?
For me right now it's the stock brakes, I hopped out of the Mk2 and straight into the Mk5 and nearly went through the windscreen with the first tap of the pedal. I have to admit I was surprised the brakes on the Mk2 passed the MOT, I definitely need to sort them out.
The feeling of vulnerability driving among larger, stronger, heavier cars. I once said it feels like driving a motorised skate board in your undies.
Edit, scuttle shake really reinforces this feeling for me. I t reminds me there is not much metal in a MK2.
Just for fun.
I think we all agree our Mk2's are great. But most of us also have the use more modern cars.
We spend a lot of time focusing on the positives and enjoying the good bits, but what do you find the worse bit of driving/owning a mk2 Golf?
For me right now it's the stock brakes, I hopped out of the Mk2 and straight into the Mk5 and nearly went through the windscreen with the first tap of the pedal. I have to admit I was surprised the brakes on the Mk2 passed the MOT, I definitely need to sort them out.
I've not driven my MK2 for a few years but I have no recollection of the brakes being inadequate. Granted they are small by modern standards but the cars don't weigh much.
I've not driven my MK2 for a few years but I have no recollection of the brakes being inadequate. Granted they are small by modern standards but the cars don't weigh much.
Prior to the MOT I replaced front flexi-hoses and rear bias valve so I have had the system open to the air. Have pulled through plenty of fresh fluid at each corner but I think it wouldn't do any harm to re-bleed now it's had some use. They're not terrible, just not as instant as the Mk5 and it's most noticeable swapping between cars when shuffling around on the drive. Could probably benefit from news discs and pads of a decent brand (no idea what's in there, it's how I bought it) but I'd like to go upgrade to at least 16v 256mm discs on the front and do the Polo conversion on the rear at some point.
Unusually for a MK2 these days I still have VAG discs and pads. I would have thought a quality brand such as ATE would be just as good though.
For me its the lights on dipped beam they are candle like. I would agree about the brakes they work fine but you have to press the pedal a lot harder
scs
Are the problems with brakes more to do with the amount of servo assist that modern cars have over MK2.
I would say definately down to the amount of servo assist
scs
I’m not sure the same level of servo assist would improve things and could be dangerous. The cars dont weigh much, there is not much rubber in contact with the road and there is no ABS to save you when it starts sliding. You have to stand on the brakes to haul up, its safer that way giving the driver more control. They do haul up.
Modern brakes feel like the braking effort is determined by the pedal position, not how hard you press. Wouldn’t work with a MK2
I need to alternate between my golf and wife’s Cooper S and this highlights the gulf in braking department! That said, just need to focus on each cars capabilities at all times. Have only once had to haul golf in well hard to avoid embarrassing discussion with local farmer. Have since fitted ‘upgraded’ brake pads from Heritage which has helped as well as changing brake fluid which appeared to have been ignored for at least 7 years?
Only prominent bugbear is getting car dirty! It’s black and have to contend with using a road which services a quarry, currently sourcing material for Hinckley Point C power station. Apart from weekends, this main thoroughfare is permanently coated in a limestone slurry which plays havoc with sills and lower panels unless removed asap.
I need to alternate between my golf and wife’s Cooper S and this highlights the gulf in braking department! That said, just need to focus on each cars capabilities at all times. Have only once had to haul golf in well hard to avoid embarrassing discussion with local farmer. Have since fitted ‘upgraded’ brake pads from Heritage which has helped as well as changing brake fluid which appeared to have been ignored for at least 7 years?
Only prominent bugbear is getting car dirty! It’s black and have to contend with using a road which services a quarry, currently sourcing material for Hinckley Point C power station. Apart from weekends, this main thoroughfare is permanently coated in a limestone slurry which plays havoc with sills and lower panels unless removed asap.
I went through your little village on the weekend, me and my son took our bikes out for a blast. I wasn't aware there was quite so much new development going on also. Just like our side of the A38 you seem to also be loosing green-space at an alarming rate too. Yet the perfectly good house at the top of the hill still remains empty due to some 30 year old planning dispute, you'd think if there was so much need for new housing they'd allow people to use the existing housing. I estimate our house is worth about £80k less than it should be thanks to the extensive new builds in our surrounding protected green fields :'(
Anyway, enough of this off topic nonsense, back on track...
Here’s one, the lights. OK back then but not great compared to Bi Xenon.
I’m in moaning mode 🤣. Why is the steering wheel fixed?
Heat insulating green glass. The only option I specified and paid for. It doesn’t work.
Heat insulating green glass. The only option I specified and paid for. It doesn’t work.
How do you know? Your car might be half a degree warmer in winter and half a degree cooler in the summer than one with clear glass. Either way, it looks better lol
I bought it to drive daily between Yorks and Lancs over the M62 and return daily. In the summer I arrived steaming hot with sun roof hair. In the winter the heater was good but I could feel the heat being sucked out of the car.
While I’m in moaning mode, yes it looks good but it fades in the sun.
Tornado pink paintwork which I unfortunately didn't take care of enough over the years. Most cars of that era had red paint issues too though.
The brakes aren't great but I make the most of the good handling.
There isn't the reassuring thud when you close the door. I suspect that is partly due to less sound deadening as well as less 'bulk'. I do feel more vulnerable when driving the Golf compared to the Skoda Octy.
However when things go wrong it's cheaper to fix, easier for DIY and some parts have a longer life than the increased use of plastic which isn't up to the job in modern cars.
Having to push down the aerial, apply the steering shield lock, trigger the secret switch, check very door then arm the alarm before nipping in to buy a loaf of bread.
Edit, that may be a historic beef. These days I think I would just leave it and shoo off the admirers when I return.
Having to push down the aerial, apply the steering shield lock, trigger the secret switch, check very door then arm the alarm before nipping in to buy a loaf of bread.
Edit, that may be a historic beef. These days I think I would just leave it and shoo off the admirers when I return.
Lol - this thread has really triggered you hasn’t it, anyone would think you hate it.
P.s. my old one had electric aerial. Very cool retro accessory 👍
I think mine is the paranoia when I leave it outside.
I've got a tracker and immobiliser, but still worried about someone sticking their own tracker on and taking it.
Good Morning Mr Grumpy is back. That awful wimpy road side jack. Not only does it skin your knuckles on the tarmac but it also rips the car’s under-seal off.
Good Morning Mr Grumpy is back. That awful wimpy road side jack. Not only does it skin your knuckles on the tarmac but it also rips the car’s under-seal off.
It's not nicknamed the widowmaker for nothing!
It's not nicknamed the widowmaker for nothing!
Yes the tool set needs a folding wheel chock,
Lol - this thread has really triggered you hasn’t it, anyone would think you hate it.
My MK2 is probably my favorite. Thought I was going to get kicked off A2 and Boxster owners forums for being honest about the car's shortcomings :))
It's not nicknamed the widowmaker for nothing!
Yes the tool set needs a folding wheel chock,
When I broke the spare e30 I bought as a parts car I was sure I kept back the wheel chock, the BMW ones are quite handy, not too bulky. But was never able to find it anywhere so I guess I didn't. ::)
Lol - this thread has really triggered you hasn’t it, anyone would think you hate it.
My MK2 is probably my favorite. Thought I was going to get kicked off A2 and Boxster owners forums for being honest about the car's shortcomings :))
It's good to have the honesty, after all they are 30+ year old hatchbacks, built appropriately to the technology at the time.
I've spent half the day with the car and couldn't see anything else to moan about. Then a good, and probably the last, moan came to mind, noise:
Engine noise
Exhaust noise
Transmission noise
Tyre noise
Wind noise
and finally, and probably the worst, sun roof buffeting.
Oh yeah, noise is a good one. I have a full Miltek exhaust on mine (late spec so crap carpet) at 70 on the Motorway the constant drone is awful. Luckily my doors fit well, haven't dropped like on my old one, but there is more wind noise from later spec door mirrors than early ones.
I have a full genuine exhaust in the attic with genuine clamps. It’s going on the car. Then I can moan about the 8v GTi genuine exhaust tone. Sounds like a tank on cold start 🤣
pretty common actually. Can’t believe this if I type a word beginning with r and ending with e that means scarce, 4 letters. This appears - pretty common actually.
Could somebody else give it a try and see what happens. Got the problem on my phone and PC so suspect it is the web site.
I think it (pretty common actually) that martians smoke drugs down my local pub.
Edit there we go done it again, in reverse try erar
R a r e … it’s a comedy “swear” filter set up by one of the admins years ago to prevent the overuse of that word.
Can you work out what would gets replaced with Gammon
I've spent half the day with the car and couldn't see anything else to moan about. Then a good, and probably the last, moan came to mind, noise:
Engine noise
Exhaust noise
Transmission noise
Tyre noise
Wind noise
and finally, and probably the worst, sun roof buffeting.
Noise....NOISE... I tend to like listening to my cassettes of prime 80's pop quite LOUD so it does tend to drown out the range of noises :D
The fact that I'm getting hard of hearing also "helps".
But there aren't too many annoying rattles which can be a feature of old cars.
R a r e … it’s a comedy “swear” filter set up by one of the admins years ago to prevent the overuse of that word.
Can you work out what would gets replaced with Gammon
I don’t know but I was the colour of one last night after deleting and editing comments several times.
R a r e … it’s a comedy “swear” filter set up by one of the admins years ago to prevent the overuse of that word.
Can you work out what would gets replaced with Gammon
I don’t know but I was the colour of one last night after deleting and editing comments several times.
You mean rar
e? ;)
That was me actually, you have no idea how many people on the old forum used to try and advertise 'rar
e mini G60 Steel wheels' and the like.
It was used in about 40 posts a day for things that were pretty common actually, hence the abuse of the swear filter.
Nowadays it's just on there for a laugh.
all old cars feel dodgy against a modern car, but fear not,new bulbs and the wiring upgrade harness for headlights works a treat. Brakes can be cleaned and improvements made by refreshing hoses and the brake fluid. what we find alot with cars that come to us, is actually brakes and discs are virtualy unused, due to owners not driving the cars around, so the pads and disc fail prematurely due to lack of use and heat. I really miss cup holders and turbos...
no fear of my brakes failing due to lack of use mate
all old cars feel dodgy against a modern car, but fear not,new bulbs and the wiring upgrade harness for headlights works a treat. Brakes can be cleaned and improvements made by refreshing hoses and the brake fluid. what we find alot with cars that come to us, is actually brakes and discs are virtualy unused, due to owners not driving the cars around, so the pads and disc fail prematurely due to lack of use and heat. I really miss cup holders and turbos...
I can help you with the cup holders!
Rust
Rust
Only because they didn't rust too badly and therefore there are rusty ones still available. Lesser cars turned to dust and only the Garage Queens survived.
Rust
Only because they didn't rust too badly and therefore there are rusty ones still available. Lesser cars turned to dust and only the Garage Queens survived.
100% agree. I remember the days when you could pick up Novas and Escorts for literally pennies. Try doing that nowadays!
Saying that, I once bought a Mk2 gti for £200!!
I
Rust
Only because they didn't rust too badly and therefore there are rusty ones still available. Lesser cars turned to dust and only the Garage Queens survived.
100% agree. I remember the days when you could pick up Novas and Escorts for literally pennies. Try doing that nowadays!
Saying that, I once bought a Mk2 gti for £200!!
got my first gti for £300
Massively heavy steering when manouvreing. I have a Mk3 power steering rack but my son (the owner) won't let me put it on 🙄 Even heavier now it's got a 2l 8v 😂
Exhaust drone! We now have 2.5 inch Dubpower exhaust so it's our own fault. Sound deadening has made a big difference, sound proofing foam yet to go in over the top.
Other than that, what's not to like 👍
Massively heavy steering when manouvreing. I have a Mk3 power steering rack but my son (the owner) won't let me put it on 🙄 Even heavier now it's got a 2l 8v 😂
Exhaust drone! We now have 2.5 inch Dubpower exhaust so it's our own fault. Sound deadening has made a big difference, sound proofing foam yet to go in over the top.
Other than that, what's not to like 👍
When you ordered new you had a choice, rocket shopper that was easy to park but floated all over the place on the motorway. Or motorway stormer that was a bit heavy to park. No worse than a classic mini though.
I suspect at the time P/S was not speed proportional?
Engine bay wiring, probably an age thing. Went to fit my slam panel yesterday and spent most of the day preparing correctly colour coded terminated wires to start splicing in today.
Here is an example, O/S front side lights, I think. Repaired back in the 90s due to terminal corrosion, this time failed due to brittle insulation:
(https://i.imgur.com/3GIETkr.jpg)
Doing the job right this time, spliced in new wires and crimped on new terminals.