should I sell my 20v? please help.

[Steven Sprague]

Hey Megan,

WAUFX at aol.com wrote:

>
> I've been looking at some VWs, and a 16v GTI  up to model year 1992 is
> looking pretty darn good right now. 130 hp, 4 wheel discs, and cheap parts
> (save for the ignition wire set and alternator).
>
> Opinions, heckling, and BTDT all appreciated. I would also like to hear about
> anyone's experience with both 8v and 16v GTIs up to model year 1992.
>

    I think I can chime in on this as I have no experience with a 20v 90.  I
owned a 1989 Jetta 16v Wolfsburg Edition for over 10 years before the bemoth Land
Cruiser took it out.
    The early 1987-1989 16v's were good engines but had little on the low end.
Torque is all in the upper ends of the rpm range.  The 1990-92's changed this
going to a 2.0L.  The low end was better but then these cars had the first
generation Digifant systems which were prone to a lot of problems.   A friend of
mine had a 1990 Jetta 16V which he had a bunch of issues and the dealer didn't
even know what to do.  He had an erratic idle and had the cpu changed out a few
times under warranty.
    As you may know, all the Golf's, GTI's, Jetta 8v's and Jetta 16V's
(1990-current) were build in the "high quality" Mexico plant.  My Jetta, last of
the German Built ones, had excellent quality control.  I know of serveral GTI's
that had rattling dashes and trim pieces coming off.  If you go for a GTI 16v
then look for a 1992 version.  They are rare and the Digifants were worked out
then.  But then you have to contend with the passive restraint seatbelts which
sucked!  I had those same ones in my 79 Rabbit and hated them.  I switched out to
Schroth (spelling?) belts which were 4 point.  If you can put with them then go
for it.  I myself have looked at the 92's for a daily driver after I sell my
4kq.  Since VW sales were low during these years, the 16v GTI was a low
production vehicle.  I believe the 8v GTI's had Digifant a couple years earlier
so maybe the computer was revised before 1992.  I believe a chip would help solve
the idle issues the 16v's had.  Also, the 16v's has the cool 15x6 BBS wheels
too.  Don't be fooled with the Wolfsburg Edition GTI's (16v & 8v) for the 1990-92
years.  They were just trim changes and not a limited run.  The 1989 Wolf's were
the real deal.  Only 10,000 Jetta 16v's were built and all Wolfsburg Editions of
that year had a certain color and limited number of cars.  Way more desirable
(imo) compared to later editions.  Just my opinion.

I wish you good luck in finding a good example.  My 0.02.

Steve
84 4kq
87 Toyota SR5 4x4
89 Jetta 16v Wolfsburg Edition (in memoriam)
79 Rabbit (on the road with a new owner)