Thinking about buying a Golf GTI

[ItsStetch]

its a 96 5 speed 156k miles and pros or cons about this car? Not to familiar about these cars.
Thanks

[Murderface]

That's like no details...VR6? 2.0? Find a buyer's guide specific to MkIII VW's that should help.

This should help:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3370991

[ItsStetch]

sorry, its a 2.0 but yea i'll check out that fourm

[ItsStetch]

also apologize didnt realize there was an area specific to vw's here.

[naDintheHat]

Is it stock?
the 2.0 motor is pretty reliable if you maintain it.
Pros-
good gas mileage if you drive it right
Cons-
Its a VW...

If you have any specific questions about one feel free to ask, I have one :thumbup:

[ItsStetch]

Well I was just wondering how their engines hold up, what are some common problems with them, if I was to get this car what should I expect all around?

[naDintheHat]

The engine should hold up fine, im at 150K+ on mine and it still pulls good and hard, for a 2.0.
Alot of small things will go wrong with it, as the electical systems are selective some are great some are horrible.
Bad things:
Power windows = fail, regulators break all the time.
Ignition switch tends to go everyonce in a while.

Pros:
even the 2.0 is fun to drive
you can get a 60/40 cupkit to lower it with for like 400 bucks
huge forum filled with some very helpful people

As long as you stay on top of the motor with the normal stuff(tune ups, oil changes) the motor should last a long time.
Just make sure you look it over first before you buy it, see when the timing was last done as well as the waterpump.

It really depends on what your goals with the car are:
if you want to make big power you are going to need to get something bigger(vr6) or some deep pockets
if you are looking for something to roll around in, get decent gas mileage, and be ok with small things breaking then you should be fine.

If you do decide to get it or have other questions about places to get parts cheap lmk.

Mine is my daily, even in the winter with a 60/40mm drop on it. It for the most part is reliable, it would be in better shape if i had the funds and the time while i was at school to take care of it a bit more.

Simple mods for it:
engine,exhaust,performance:
K&N panel filter with modified (swissed) airbox - a few hp and some good sound
TT exhaust - cheap like 400 bucks
chips for the ecu - new like 110, used like 50+
suspension - Supersport cupkit (rides great) -400 coils->600+?

Looks/exterior:
tons of different grills, can switch to a jetta front end if you feel like it, tons of headlights, front lips, front bumpers

It can be a really reliable fun to drive car if you take care of it. im hoping to push mine to 200K+, pending fixing a few oil leaks.

[Murderface]

I would suggest the VR6...they sound amazing. A friend of mine has one modded out it sounds incredible! He's got a techtonics catback, AWE chip, some kinda headers and some CAI.

His 0-60:
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/lmaoxfilip/vids/?action=view&current=GTIVR6zerosixty.flv

Quick clip of me driving it:
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/lmaoxfilip/vids/?action=view&current=0427081619.flv

[ItsStetch]

See the 2.0 is currently in my price range though, wish I had the money for the VR6

[vr6exy]

really important to check for rust. these cars get really rusty for some reason and its not uncommon to find some. check the rocker panels, strut towers, hatch, fenders, everywhere! i've fixed my rocker panels and a fender on my car. its not cheap.

[2hot2trot]

One con to owning a VW is the coil pack issue. If you are serious about it then you will deal with it.

[ItsStetch]

One con to owning a VW is the coil pack issue. If you are serious about it then you will deal with it.

The coil pack issue?

[MotorED]

I love the MKIII's......I'm not too sure about this but don't vr6's use a higher grade of gas?....Do you really want to spend $4.20-30 for gas?

[LilRedVDub]

I love the MKIII's......I'm not too sure about this but don't vr6's use a higher grade of gas?....Do you really want to spend $4.20-30 for gas?

I always put 93 in all my vr's!

[07cobaltowner]

its a 96 5 speed 156k miles and pros or cons about this car? Not to familiar about these cars.
Thanks

thats a lot of miles, have a mechanic look it over prior to purchasing, and it better be damn cheeP!

[LilRedVDub]

thats a lot of miles, have a mechanic look it over prior to purchasing, and it better be damn cheeP!

It's still a baby for a dub. My hubby sent his 92 mk2 gti to the junkyard (and it still ran and we couldn't kill it) with 735k miles on it!

[vr6exy]

I love the MKIII's......I'm not too sure about this but don't vr6's use a higher grade of gas?....Do you really want to spend $4.20-30 for gas?

you don't have to. they run better though with a higher grade though for sure.

[Murderface]

I love the MKIII's......I'm not too sure about this but don't vr6's use a higher grade of gas?....Do you really want to spend $4.20-30 for gas?

You can use 87...my buddy had it in his car but he said it runs much better on the 93. His word I suppose...

[ItsStetch]

well as it goes dont most cars run better with high grades of gas?

[LilRedVDub]

well as it goes dont most cars run better with high grades of gas?

vr's a diffrent animal tho. Everytime I put anything less than 93 in the vr's I have previously owned, the ran like garbage. And a 16v vw are even worse!

[mccula]

get it looked over by a mechanic. The 2.0 ABA motor is arguably VW's most reliable to date. They just don't die.
In addition to the weak points listed above- the 5 speed tranny (I forget I know mk4 it's an 02j) is a weak design. MAKE SURE- MAKE ABSOLOUTELY SURE- that when you reverse- the gear doesn't make any noise. If it clicks while reversing but still works ok- that is a major issue, don't buy it. My old one did that after the gear got chipped (very common problem.) and it held up for awhile but from what I hear, it means the gear's on it's way out.
Like stated above, find out when the T-Belt and W-Pump were done last.
Look around and spend some time in the mkIII forum's on VW Vortex- there is more knowledge there than most would care to take the time to learn. You aren't going to find that knowledge here (not bashing- just this isn't nearly close to being a euro/vw forum)
They are very fun cars to drive. I had a 95 jetta, and I still miss it.
I'd say go for it... mine had 158k on it when I sold it- running strong as hell.

[ItsStetch]

ah i would've gone and look at it but after talking to the guy the first time he told me to call the day I was heading up there to look at it and no answer, was responding to emails or anything. Oh well my search for a car continues

[mccula]

ah i would've gone and look at it but after talking to the guy the first time he told me to call the day I was heading up there to look at it and no answer, was responding to emails or anything. Oh well my search for a car continues

really, check out VW Vortex and craigslist. I sold my jetta on craigslist, and found my GTI on vortex.