1990 Volkswagen Golf GTi from UK and Ireland - Comments

This car which I got for a grand has only seen around 16,000 miles of driving in the four years previously until I got it, and as a result, it has not taken long for the cracks to show so far.

High tension lead completely fried - car shuddering and losing power badly.

Front engine mount worn making for jerky progress.

Noisy tappets and squealing alternator belt when car is cold.

Automatic choke kicks in even when car is warm.

Sometimes hard to engage 1st and 5th.

Cambelt has been done just in case...

Complete failure of the tacho and trip computer - not an earthing issue according to the mechanic who looked at it.

High oil consumption - 1 litre every 1000 miles - I am told this is normal?

You can see when you drive this car what the fuss is about, at least you can when it works properly!

I've gone from a Skoda Fabia vRS to this car, which was done for financial reasons.

So far, the Golf has probably in its first two months cost just as much as the Fabia did in HP payments!! I'm hoping there is an end in site to the problems which seem to be coming one after another at the moment.

This car is a real drivers car though.

For starters, the most notable thing about it is the handling, which is very accomplished. The thing only weighs about 940 kg, so it can change direction quickly, and is very nimble. The brakes are excellent, very progressive, and no fade at all, unlike my last car. All the controls feel substantial, progressive and chunky, and the car (unlike most PAS equipped cars) submits every last bit of information about the road surface to your hands via the steering wheel.

Its easy to make this car go sideways, approach a roundabout at a speed you feel comfortable with, then start nailing it through the roundabout, and it will slide in a controlled fashion, very easy to control where the car is going.

This is a car that rewards good driving, but also can forgive bad driving, but you have to watch you don't get too carried away, as I did today, as the car will get out of shape if pushed too hard (as will any car however), but the limits of the car do tend to encourage one to push harder (much harder) than you would in more mundane vehicles! I entered a corner far too fast, and yet if I'd been in a lesser vehicle, I wouldn't have made it round, even if it was a hairy moment!!! So handling, big thumbs up, one of the best and most forgiving front wheel drive cars I've driven.

Suspension quite firm in this car, not much body roll, but ride is quite good considering, this is a car that was built at a time when normal sized wheels and tyres were still acceptable on hot hatches - this thing has normal 14 inch BBS alloys, and the tyres are probably of the same sort of size that your average 1.2 Clio or suchlike has on it - cheap to buy.

Performance is nippy rather than fast - it might only be 110 bhp, but its relatively light kerb weight means its quick enough to be fun most of the time. 0-62 mph comes up in about 8.7 seconds, and the top speed is 119 mph.

Engine quite torquey and flexible for a NA petrol unit - will happily pull at 30 mph in 5th gear. You don't have to rev this car to the redline to get the most out of it or enjoy it. In fact if anything, it seems to tail off much past about 5,500 rpm, and it clearly seems to deliver most of its acceleration potential between 3,500 and 5,500. Below 3,500 most of the time it pulls cleanly, but it lacks the low down urge of my old Skoda Fabia (hardly surprising - the Golf probably has maybe 110 lb ft of torque compared to 230 lb ft in the Fabia).

For me though, there is more to driving than just performance - my old Fabia was quicker in almost every situation, but the Golf delivers a much greater sensation of speed and is more fun to drive as a result.

Of course, the driving style needed for the respective cars is completely different, and the Golf isn't much slower when driven properly - unlike the Fabia, it seems to respond better from having the pedal forcefully pinned to the metal and using the revs, whereas the Fabia responds better to a more relaxed style.

Either way, this car is quick enough to give most modern 2.0-litre engined small family cars a run for their money.

The car itself is a remarkably civilised beast for its time, the cabin looks very dated, but still it is one piece. The car can be relatively quiet for a sporty car when you want it to be, but it's a long way off modern standards - mine has a few vibrations inside the cabin, quite a bit of road noise, and an imposing, booming exhaust note. I happen to quite like it, especially after the serenity of my old car.

There's nothing in the way of toys though. No electric windows, air con, PAS, central locking or anything like that. Just a sunroof. And isn't this supposed to be how a hot hatch is? A stripped out car with a decent engine... one of the last true GTI's for sure.

Overall, I can't complain with this car. I got it for a thousand quid, and hopefully once some of the teething troubles are out of the way, it will be a cheap and dependable car.

Your car sounds like it was neglected somewhat by its previous owners. Unfortunately, that means you have to pick up the tab to bring it back to reliability.

Well worth the investment though - the Mk II GTI is a legend of a car. A friend of mine had one over 10 yrs ago and still lists it no. 1 of all the cars he owned before and since in terms of driver involvement and fun.

This review I think sums up perfectly why newer cars, or affordably priced ones in any case, just don't make the grade any more in terms of excitement. Sure modern hot hatches are mega powerful, but they're also too insulated, too detached, too dull and above all way too heavy.

Sadly, VW are probably the worst offenders of all in these respects in recent years. Even the supposedly decent mk5 Golf weighs 500kg more than your car. That's like driving your car around with five 17 stone people in it. You can overcome the performance bit with loads of power, but you'll never get the handling and feel back.

The mk2 Golf GTI is still a corking bit of kit. Look after it, and enjoy it!

I am the author of the review, and I am starting to think the person who posted the first comment is right, the car seems to have been neglected.

I have just had to call the RAC at 3am today because I was stranded at my friends house, starter motor is on its way out. Also fanbelt too is on its way out, and I swear there is a strange noise coming from the exhaust, like a rasping sound, maybe there is a hole in the exhaust.

I am enjoying this car to drive, but I am not so far enjoying the continual problems that seem to be coming up. I am starting to wonder if there is an end in sight... that being said I am sure once everything is sorted it will be a reliable car, I hope!

Another comment from the author of the review. My neighbour, who seems to be mechanically minded, had a look at it. Still suspects solenoid problem or starter motor. Also tightened fan belt for me, then bump started it and asked me to give it a quick blast up and down the motorway to make sure the battery was charging up properly.

On my way back, fanbelt snapped (was probably already weakened according to the RAC bloke). This caused the car to overheat. Luckily I was not far from home, so managed to limp the car home, with steam coming out from the bonnet.

Went around a few places and could not source another fanbelt for the car.

My confidence in the car is now zero. I bought this thing for a cheap runaround, and although it looked decent on the surface, the car itself has obviously had a hard life, and I am the one picking up the tab. I am seriously thinking of selling it now once its back on the move.

OK, I managed to get a fanbelt for £1.72, not bad at all. I am going to have a mechanic to have a look at the head gasket etc and make sure that its OK, however, he said he would not charge more than about £100-£150 to replace it including parts even if it was gone.

My lack of confidence is probably due to the fact that I've always had new cars and so possibly wasn't quite prepared for the amount of problems I was to have. However, to be fair, it hasn't been that expensive to put right so far, and the car is still a dream to drive when it works, so I'll probably be keeping it, assuming the car is relatively sound, which will be revealed after its been looked at properly :)

Me again. The car has had lots done to it now, replacement belts all round, new exhaust (standard one), full set of new electrics, and new engine mounts.

Drives like a different car now, much smoother and I have had no problems with it for weeks now. I am finally getting to see what the fuss is about with the GTI. The only thing I'd say about it is it could probably use a bit more power and grunt, but considering its age its not bad, and still good enough to keep 2.0 Focuses and Astras at bay.

God knows if this will appear my last couple didn't... anyway, I've now sold the car. To be honest its turned out to be a bit of a dog, so I got something newer... a Clio 182... unsurprisingly it's a lot more modern, refined and much faster, but it'd likely be surprising if it stood the test of time as well as a Golf.

When it worked though, the Golf was a hoot. Not fast, but feels fast, and special. Wonderful handling.

The Clio is better in all respects, but its limits are higher, so sometimes its easier to have fun in the Golf. If you get a good Golf, cherish it. Great car, lots of character.

I have a 91 Golf GTI- 1.8 litre. Car has performed well aside from replacing two front axles (acceptable for year), a clutch and other minor problems- ie. head valve gasket, fan and alternator belts, timing belt. Nasty problem with heater core was fixed, and expensive. (apparently common occurence for VWs???) Front brake pads & rotors easy to change/replace.

Front passenger foot area tends to get wet, probably because roof hose clogged, but not sure and would WELCOME suggestions on how to resolve this problem.

This Golf GTI is QUICK and responsive, especially with new clutch. Good cornering, but I agree best for short trips. Uses oil after 337,000kms, approx 1 litre per 800-1000kms.

Driver seat back has now completely SNAPPED and needs fixing and or replacement (suggestions on how to fix??) - Jan 11, 2006. Ugh!!! The back of seat is sitting on back seat... propped up with foam for driving purposes until fixed/replaced.

All in all, I'd still recommend this car. Very fuel efficient, fun to drive and relatively cheap to repair using replacement parts and "honest" mechanics who do not gouge using RIDICULOUS shop book hourly rates. NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE and pay cash where you can. The gov'ts steals enough of our tax dollars.

Happy Motoring!

I have just bought a MK2 GTI 1991 8v. What a great little drivers car. Believe it or not this car only cost me £100 and is in very good nick.

Have only had to do the electric front windows, a small adjustment on the carbs "a screwdriver job" and the lower qtr lights were cracked and so were replaced.

The car seems to be well planted and quite nippy, but previous reviews are right "better round town than on longish journeys".

I intend to drive this car for a long time to come and will keep you all updated as to expense and experiences.

Carbs ???