buying a GTI, advice needed (NAC)

[Larry C Leung]

Sloppy shifter is probably just linkage bushings, pretty common on VW
Golf/Jetta. 

Don't know about the 16V, but the rest of the car is pretty much
bulletproof. I'd check the brake balance valve (they work even with it
stuck, but it's better if it isn't), front engine mount, and on the later
cars (such as this) I think CU says electricals and get this....DOOR
HANDLES (same, stinking design).

Sorry, can't help you get your nephew into a rice burner. BTW, one
acquaintance of mine lent his GTi to his sister once, it was a rainy
black night, car had stock US DOT Aeros (i.e. they suck, don't know about
the 7" rounds on the '91) and an Angus (i.e. 100% black) bull wandered
into the road. She hit it, dead on, at about 40MPH....and walked away.
The the bullsh&t all over the road after the wreck (yes, the GTi was
totalled) was apparently.....amazing!

Being perfectly honest, the '95 Accord would be safer in a crash, have
wondefully benign handling (pretty hard to screw up with one), but if it
has the 200HP V-6, it'll outgun many an Audi. They have some serious
punch. 

LL - NY

On Tue, 17 Jul 2001 09:51:01 -0400 Douglas Frank <frank at zk3.dec.com>
writes:
>Hi all,
>
>My nephew phoned last night and wants me to hold his hand while 
>looking over a
>car.  I'd just like to know what you all think:
>
>'91 Golf GTI 16-valve
>
>no rust (yeah, right, this is a New Hampshire car, probably means it's 
>not
>dropping crumbs yet)
>
>Nephew test drove it and car is a pocket rocket, runs around corners 
>on
>rails.  However, sloppy shifter-- needs a transmission rebuild I 
>expect, dumb
>not to do the clutch also.
>
>"zero" body roll
>
>lowered, aftermarket wheels (don't know what)
>
>tires-- unknown
>
>Recaro seats
>
>aftermarket steering wheel (don't know what-- Sparco, maybe)
>
>seller is asking $4800.  Nephew had enough sense to talk him down to 
>$4k.  I
>think this is probably more likely a $3-3.5K car *after* the tranny is 
>fixed.
>
>your thoughts?
>
>If I can't talk him out of it and have to go for a look, what 
>weaknesses
>should we watch for?  Kid is a junior in college next year and I, old 
>f*rt
>that I am, do not want him in this car due to potential repair bills, 
>of car
>and of him.  I'm thinking, '95 Accord, with transplanted 43 bhp 
>Triumph Herald
>engine.  How do you sell an uncool rice cruiser to the MTV 
>generation?
>--
>Douglas Frank Compaq Computer Corp.
>ZKO           110 Spit Brook Rd.       The older I get,
>603-884-0501  Nashua, NH USA 03062       the better I was.