What model Mk4 to buy?

[SAD]

Hi All,

I am looking at purchasing a Mk4 Golf as a second car to get to work and back. I have test driven a few Mk4 Golfs and for a 10 year old car I am impressed. I am looking at a manual and my wife is looking forward to having a drive as well.

I don't know a lot about the different models and options available eg 1.6l or 2.0l. I really like the look of the GTI, is it worth the little bit extra? or should i just settle for a more basic model?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Steve

[eri_12]

Hi Steve
I reckon the GTI's are worth the bit extra - you can pick them up for quite cheap now. It is amazing the difference the turbo makes. That is my view anyway.

[SAD]

Thanks for the reply.

Are their any particular problems I should be aware of when looking at GTIs?

Thanks,
Steve

[h100vw]

Must have a service history, no point looking really if that's missing. Regular oil changes prolong the life of all dubs.

If it has a plastic diverter valve, I would bet a tenner that it is blown. Cheap to replace, do the vacuum lines at the same time, they go brittle and split.

Front wishbone rear bushes will be dead, replace with TT/S3/R32 ones less than $100 from a dealer, plug fitting. Not hard DIY really if you are a bit hands on.

The bottom engine steady or "dog bone" mount, another inferior standard part. Lets the engine rock about during acceleration and affects the quality of the gearchange. A poly replacement is cheap and again an easy DIY job for sub $50.

Fresh shocks wouldn't go amiss on most 10 year old cars but a set of coilovers can be bought for similar money to a set of VW replacements. If you like the ride and looks, new shocks and the original springs would be a good alternative.

You should have it scanned for faults with VCDS or some other code reader. There's not much that would stop me buying one. You could also consider the A3 of the same era but they tend not to be as well equipped as a GTI. Missing the trip computer and cruise control usually.

Welcome to the forum as well!

Gavin

[SAD]

Thanks for the detailed information, it will certainly assist in my search and ongoing maintenance once I make a purchase. I am considering the A3 but like the extra options available in the GTI.

Cheers,
Steve

[Fonzie]

considered a R32?

[h100vw]

considered a R32?

That's a big jump in money from a 1.6/2.0 to R32 mate.

Gavin

[SAD]

I would love an R32 but as you say it's a bit of a jump in price. I will be going for a GTI.

Steve

[r207]

if your after a mkiv Gti then the one I'm offloading is the cheapest and best on the market at the moment, the mods alone are what I'm asking for the car... the car is mint. and I'm going to probably wholesale it next week for next to nothing as i have way too many cars at t the moment and an r32 on its way..

pm me

[Blake .:R]

Hey Steve,
I own a 2003 Golf Generation 1.6 Manual, as a daily driver it's perfect! uses no fuel & cruises really well. But of course lacks top end power, i've never had any problems with mine and i've got around 105,000km's on mine.
If i was looking for a car to drive to work it's perfect, looking at you having the A4 2.0T you wouldn't benefit from the GTI, my older brother had one in the MK4 and it really didn't go that quick and the only impressive thing was it was fully optioned which costs more $$ so unless you're racing people to work a 1.6 or 2.0 would suffice.

The Generation series comes with the full colour coded bumpers etc and some with the leather interior (which was an option). As i said, as a daily driver my 03 is great and loves the main roads where you can cruise on 60-70kmph in 5th gear using like 5L/100km's, it doesn't struggle in traffic as first gear is relatively short so to take off it requires barely any rev's.

Should be able to pick a decent 1.6 for around the $10,000 mark just make sure it's been service regularly, fluids like oil changes are important. If they haven't had the fluid hoses changed that's the only thing id get done which will only cost a couple hundred $$, they just deteriorate because they're coming up on 10years old. I dropped a coolant high flow hose and the computer told me as soon as it popped (dash turned red and beeped saying STOP!) so i shut it down and it caused Zero damage and didn't even heat over the standard level.
The car is well ahead of it's time aswell, there's nothing from back then with the safety features and computer system that's in the 03 other than the top end cars. So it's a good buy

(I've got a bias because i own one, but as i said i drove my brother GTI and the difference wasn't much the only Jump is to the R32 which are triple the price)

Regards,
Blake