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

[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/m...6zerosixty.flv

Quick clip of me driving it:
http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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]

Originally Posted by 2hot2trot

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

I always put 93 in all my vr's!

[07cobaltowner]

Originally Posted by ItsStetch

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]

Originally Posted by 07cobaltowner

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

[Murderface]

Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Originally Posted by ItsStetch

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!