| Year of manufacture | 1987 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 turbo diesel intercooler Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
8.0 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 207000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 241000 kilometres |
Summary:
Great first car
Faults:
Heater broken at 230,000 km.
Corrosion everywhere.
General Comments:
Very reliable car.
Low fuel consumption and good performance.
Easy to repair.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th February, 2001
| Year of manufacture | 1987 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
6.4 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 84000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 105000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Jetta |
Summary:
Good reliability and low insurance group
Faults:
Not a lot has gone wrong although it leaks really badly.
Every morning there is lots of water on the inside of the windows - a seal broken somewhere but I cannot locate the problem.
General Comments:
Pretty good overall.
I wish I'd gone for something with a little more pep, but a good car if you want something cheap to run and insure which feels solid.
I added a Janspeed exhaust to give it more vroom.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th January, 2001
| Year of manufacture | 1987 |
| First year of ownership | 1987 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 litre gas Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
9.8 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 7 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 170000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Volkswagen golf |
Summary:
If you get one (new), take care of it, because it will outlive you
Faults:
In thirteen years:
I replaced the clutch twice.
The rear shocks once.
One tie rod end.
Both CV joints.
One head gasket (my fault as I let the coolant run dry).
1 radiator.
Brakes (all around, rotors and pads) 3 times.
Tires 4 times.
5 tune ups.
Numerous exhaust systems.
1 fuel pump (at 260,000 kms).
Brake lines (at 265,000 kms).
3 batteries.
1 alternator (my fault again as I crossed the cables while boosting another car) and that's about it.
I would say total repair expenses for the above since owning the car new were about $6000 Canadian.
The exhaust systems went because being a sports car, I drove it like I was at Monte Carlo, and loved every second of it.
General Comments:
A truly great car. Unfortunately, I neglected to rust proof or oil guard the car and the body just simply fell apart. If I had have kept the body up, I would have continued to drive this car.
If you find one where the above repairs have been done and the body and drivetrain are in good shape, get it. You will not be disappointed. An example of the fun you will have, highway off ramps marked at 60 kms/hour could be taken at 120 kms/hour very easily.
The one performance problem I did find was the car is it's a little bit too top heavy causing some body roll and poor wind resistance (side to side).
In the snow, it was fabulous, especially when you put a set of 70 series snow tires on it. I would drive through snow that most small SUVs would get stuck in.
Repairs, contrary to popular belief since it is foreign, are cheap cheap cheap. Find a good German mechanic to take care of it for you.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th November, 2000
I myself have had similar problems with the GTi, but it is truly a great car and I love mine to death.
I am an avid tuner and mine is running a turbo and intercooler system from Callaway.
I have a 1987 mk 2 golf gti 8 valve which is a very very strong car I've had to replace the gearbox which went at 170000 miles not bad for a factory box!! and the engine is still going it is now on 183000 miles and it will race anything, I change the oil every 3000 - 5000 miles and most importantly I have never let the oil level drop below minimum as I check it all the time this is one of the reasons why it is on such high mileage and still going strong, the body work is in really good condition its white and there is if any rust on the body and the underside is like new, but I'm hopefully going to buy another newer volkswagen which will be built even stronger and last even longer!!! I'm considering a vr6 there like a mini ferrari bt better made!
I love my little 16V GTI. My mother bought it new in 1988, and I learned to drive in it. Now it's my daily driver to and from work (approx 45 minutes each way on highways). I now live in Northern Canada, so I can't wait to see how it handles the snow. It's been thru a few clutches (but then, it's been thru a few new drivers too). My parents were fanatics about maintaining the car, and it is in great shape. Agree with the comment on off ramps... no one suspects this little old VW can reach that speed that quickly - and take them all in a short pass.