1999 VW Golf Gti on TradeMe

[TRD_TOY]

Hi all

Been looking at the following car, something different to what ive had in the past - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =358804145

is there any known issues with these cars?? Also is that a good price for something like this?

Cheers

[fuel]

Strikes me as pricey for what it is. We had a '03 NZ-new MkIV GTI 5spd manual in red done similar kms for the same price (dealer). Granted it didn't have the same mods, but $12.5k is way too much for a private sale of a '99 model.

[BZG Wagon]

I hear small things can go on them - power windows failing, interior bits breaking; although they can cost a mint to fix. Also prone to random electrical faults so I hear as well as expensive maintenance.

I looked GTi's before I settled on my GTT. Personally I found the steering a numb and it wasn't as quick as I expected a 1.8l turbo to be.

IMO it's a heavy, cruiser rather then a sporty hatchback.

In relation to one in the link you posted - it was a few years back since I last looked at GTi's but that seems expensive for the kays / year.

[Nuty|Mike]

not fast only 150hp which is quite sad for a 1.8turbo.

As guys said above heaps of niggly problems window regs trims ect but otherwise ok.

I work at a Vw dealership so Pm me for parts!!

[KwS]

the one and only i test drove a week or two back was slow, boring to drive, had an odd seating position, vague steering and bits of the interior were starting to fall to bits (1x elec window didnt work, 1x dash vent stuffed etc).

They look good, but i would never own one now.

[Al]

Save yourself some cash and buy a Renault Clio Sport, the 2.0 litre models. A much better drive and much quicker than the anemic 1.8t. Just sold my old one for $8k.

[Lloyd]

Never buy a Renault lol. Or a Peugeot

As above, Golfs give central locking and window issues though not always expensive. Don't expect it to go like a japanese turbo engine. They're reasonably subtle on the VW and give a bit more punch to the midrange. There are better cars out there, but if you want a Golf...



They're no more expensive to maintain than anything else. Well, planned maintenance anyway

[Al]

Yeah Pugs are a bit soft now. Golf's are overpriced for what you get IMO. The Corolla of Europe.

[LEAKER]

buy japanese. More reliable and for no obvious reason the parts are way cheaper. Everyone ive told to stay clear of euros has bought one and regretted it.

[Lloyd]

The whole "everything euro is more expensive" isn't entirely justified. Being that there are lots of things that break on VWs they seem to have a few cheap parts

[Nuty|Mike]

buy japanese. More reliable and for no obvious reason the parts are way cheaper. Everyone ive told to stay clear of euros has bought one and regretted it.

Parts being cheaper is a huge misconception.I work for Vw and had a late model toyota parts for the toyota were often HUGELY more expensive then the vw equivlent.

Still remember pricing coils for my rb25 skyline thru nissan at over $300 each ....I am yet to see a VW or Audi coil pack go over $100 bux.

That said unless I can afford a Mk5 onward GTi id rather have a Toyota.

[Lloyd]

Ha, my thoughts exactly about coils. Priced some today and they were about $91 each from memory. And thats for a late FSI Golf.

The water housings that seem to leak every so often are cheap on quite a few models too.

[mikeBrotherd]

VW have ugly electrical problems. Wiring behind lights, plugs, engine sensors, electric windows, central locking, the list goes on. These were some of the things i had to fix on a 99 GTi with only 160k.

All that aside, i found it awesome to drive. Easy to push to the limits and nimble to through around! (the one i drove had a nice set of works rims and lowered suspension Edit: and also only a 2door). The engine is responsive and predictable, but like others have said leaves you a bit disappointed when you squeeze the gas. I did like the tiny flutter noise you would hear now an then when going through gears

My 2c

[Elmendorf]

It really annoys the hell out of me how people have this stigma that because a car is a Euro or non Toyota that it will cost the earth to maintain.

I have owned my GTI golf for just over a year now, and in that time have spent sweet FA on it. A service including fuel filter, airfilter, oil filter and oil cost me less than $100. On the starlet that would cost me over $100.

I haven't experienced any interior parts breaking, and my car is into its 171K mark. Unlike every toyota I have owned even low km's ones my Golf does not have any interior rattles and still drives and feels like a new car. Touch wood I haven't experienced any of the electrical issues mentioned and I have travelled over 40k in my car in a year. My only gripe so far is just about having to break my hand to replace the left hand bulb

I eliminated the asthmatic turbo issue with a brand new $50 stainles 3" downpipe. In NZ that would have cost me around $450 for the exact same pipe. It's not the make of a vehicle that makes it expensive but the people you buy your parts off. Businesses in NZ like to rip people off.

With regards to this vehicle, it is a very nice example, but I wouldn't pay that for it. I paid well under that for mine from a Palmy dealer (and they are known for shafting people).

I would expect to pay around $9-10K for something of that example.

If you really want to find out info on VW's you should try VASK.org.nz as posting something like this on a forum so biased towards Toyota's isn't going to give you the best results. Sorry if that upsets anyone but its the truth, just look at other non toyota vehicle threads.

All in all I wouldn't look back from my Golf as my daily, it's no race car but it's no slouch either. And the Recaro's are simply awesome

Nuty/Mike, I'll pm you soon for a quote for cambelt kit

[B_giB]

Couldnt have said it any better!

My Mercedes I used to own was cheap as chips to maintain, most genuine consumables where around the same price as genuine toyota IMO

[TTEETT]

It really annoys the hell out of me how people have this stigma that because a car is a Euro or non Toyota that it will cost the earth to maintain.

X2.

I have a BMW and a Renault and have owned quite a few Euro's for years now after getting board with what the Japanese have had on offer (read nothing in ten years) and have found them easy to maintain, genuine BMW parts vs Toyota genuine parts are much of a muchnes.

Hit up eurosport.org.nz for info on the Golfs, they are getting on a bit now but quite a few members have owned them over the years and have a wealth of knowledge.

[TTEETT]

Never buy a Renault lol. Or a Peugeot

As above, Golfs give central locking and window issues though not always expensive. Don't expect it to go like a japanese turbo engine. They're reasonably subtle on the VW and give a bit more punch to the midrange. There are better cars out there, but if you want a Golf...



They're no more expensive to maintain than anything else. Well, planned maintenance anyway

Agree with most you have posted, they are not bad to maintain but require preventative maintenance vs run it until it dies like you would a Toyota.

The Mk4 Golf GTI's are a bit soft overall, good low down and mid range but no top end punch like a Japanese car of the same year, they are much nice to drive day to day though and don't require 6,000rpm every time you wont to goo anywhere.

As for Renault, awesome awesome cars but you will need a good income to maintain one, parts are $&#$% off expensive and service can be testing after working on simple Toyota's or the like.

[rollaholic]

golfs are generally well supported here now, and who else offers a 5 door turbo hatch?

some of them do seem pretty weak on the grunt front, but i've driven a few that seem to go pretty well too. one audi TT in particular was quite rapid! maybe some overseas research on what kind of mild mods they respond well to? theres gotta be some goodies out there, getting rid of all the horrible euro emissions restrictions n stuff.

does seem expensive to me though for what you are getting, really dont like that color either but thats personal taste.

in general i personally would steer clear of euros in NZ, mainly due to the number of singapore imports we have - which i reckon are a large part of the 'euros are junk' thing. most of them havent recieved the regular love and attention they need to stay reliable.

the gti is one of the few cars i might make an exception for, if the missus wanted one or something and i could find one that wasnt half $&#$%.

[Mr Revhead]

Working on any French cars or machines will drive you nuts

[TTEETT]

golfs are generally well supported here now, and who else offers a 5 door turbo hatch?

in general i personally would steer clear of euros in NZ, mainly due to the number of singapore imports we have - which i reckon are a large part of the 'euros are junk' thing. most of them havent recieved the regular love and attention they need to stay reliable.

Just quickly off the top of my head.

Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer Rallyart, Renault Megane RS225, Ford Focus XR5, Holden Astra SRI-T, Fiat Bravo, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Mercedes A and B Class, Audi A3's, Skoda Octavia, older there's the Lancia Delta.. and then there are the Turbo Diesels that go well.

As for "number of Singapore imports" I think you will find they would make up about 1% off all euro's in NZ.