91 Jetta GLI as a DD?...VW owners help me out here
 

Ok, a friends little brother just got a retarded speeding ticket, so his Jetta is up for sale...I need a DD, and I like the car...lets here some opinions.

1991 Jetta GLI 16v (166k on chassis) 1k on motor (last one spun #3 rod bearing, different motor rebuilt), 3k on tranny
Recaro Interior, new carpet
Manual Windows

Fresh 2.0 16v motor
1.8L 16v head (flows better)
Autotech Lightweight timing gear
Autotech Adjustable timing sprocket
All new sensors
Early 16v metal coolant flanges… not plastic
Early Stainless Fuel Lines
New Rear Main Seal
Lightweight Eurospec Flywheel (8lbs.)
New Sachs Clutch (4k miles)
020 2Y Close Ratio Transmission
New transmission seals (ALL)
New Radiator
New Alternator
New Power Steering Pump
FK Automotive 60/40 Suspension Cup Kit
New Rear wheel bearings
New rear rotors
New front rotors
Eurosport Short Shift kit
New shifter bushings
FK single round badgeless grille
FK Smoked Crosshair w/ citylights headlamps
DIY smoked tails and turns
Mk3 style door handles incl.
New PS CV boots
New DS cv boots incl.
Bentley manual incl.


BAD
-Interior illumination cluster lights don't work (probably a knocked off ground from the fusebox)
-Needs front windshield, typical rust just starting to from under weatherstrip
-Needs headliner recovered (have perfect shell incl.)
-Rear truck weatherstrip ridge rusted. (another needs to be welded in)
-Small 1mm holes down side bodyline. (Orig. owner riveted rubstrips to the door, second owner removed them.)

(that I've noted)
-A/C needs a little love
-It was wrecked at one point

Car was wrecked, but fixed cleanly a while ago.

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so how much does he want for this headache?

Oh, sorry, meant to put that. He is asking 2500, but I think I could get it for 2k since his parents want it GONE.

His brothers ticket was 91 in a 65, reckless endangerment and no seatbelt...so I think I could pick it up cheap...he said he'd help trace down the cluster light problem and fix the rust under the rear weather stripping.

is that the actual car? why does it have german plates on it?

hella jdm :riaa:

go for it only if you want another project car... older VAG products seem to always need something fixed

+1
its uber ddm
i like the car, but would not trade miata for it

So do new ones...

the mk2's aren't as bad as the mk3's, and the mk4 is just shameful. They require constant attention. Electrical parts will continue to fail, and the trans will probably die.

I think its looks badass, Id go for it

reliable? no. Fun? YES. The 16v is a great little engine. And for some reason VWs sound bad-ass.

heh, the tranny and engine are pretty new...like, 1k on the engine 3k on the tranny and clutch.

I'm not trading my miata, I'm picking it up as a Fun DD...its got 4 doors, trunk space...things I don't have lol.

Its got german plates for the same reason guys put JDM stuff on Jap cars...its cool?

Would 2 grand be a fair price giving the amount of work put into it, recently.

I'd probably buy it for 2k and beat the fuck out of it.

Just like his brother did. For 1k on the engine, 3k on the trans.

lol, true...but I can't imagine it being any worse than buying a used miata

If the cluster is similar to the '95 (I think it is) Cluster lights are not a prob - they are two small lights that are in little plastic housings that screw 1/2 turn into place on 2 metal strips and the contact is just not good. Sand the metal add some dielectric grease and a dab of RTV on each and they'll never go out again. Sounds like mechanical is ok .. no power windows to break.. why not. For cheap DD it doesn't sound too bad.

truth.

I know a guy with a super old AMS blower for the 16v if you are interested...it won't be cheap though.

if its not cheap, I'm prolly not interested. I'm picking this up so I can get some work done on the miata...hopefully boost her this summer.

Decent GLI's are getting harder to find. Great canidate for a Vr6 swap down the road. Then you have a decently quick daily that will get 30+ mpg no sweat.

I was actually thinking about that, how much would a decent VR6 swap run? couple of grand all said and done?

Yeah right in there.

If you get it change the timing belt first thing. (at least check it, a lot of people reuse belts and tensioners for some reason). The 16V is an interference motor. Check the threads on the Autotech cam gear while you're in there. If they strip its the same effect as the timing belt going.

As mentioned the trans will eventually self destruct. VW used rivets to hold the final drive together rather than bolts. This can be rectified by cracking the case, drilling out the rivets, and replacing them with ARP fasteners.

Other than the few 16v quirks they are awesome cars. Good fuel economy along with good power. If you need more forget the VR swap, drop a 1.8t in there. 300+ whp is a turbo swap away. I can get you a full 1.8t swap for under $2,000

I wouldn't switch a poor 4 cylinder for a slightly less poor 4 cylinder. The 1.8t is hardly an upgrade from the 16v. By the time you are busting 300 whp out of the 1.8t, you could be doing the same with the vr6 and have a better powerband, be running the better 02a transmission and have a car that actually sounds good. Thats just my opinion though. My experience with VW's is pretty limited...

I got a high miles mk4 GTI GLX VR6 a few weeks ago, and surprisingly haven't had any issues with it, so I say go for it!

No, I won't trade motors with you. :gay:

The Vr is tits in the MKIV. Its other stuff you have to worry about with those.

timing belt was changed when the new motor was put in.

If I ever did anything it'd be a VR6...but I might just enjoy the car.

vr6 mk2 > *.fwd

I really love a vortech vr6 mk2. Its the ultimate highway car...and I don't have to tell you they "howl."

alright, threw out an offer, waiting to hear back.

Well, jetta fell through. Guy wants way to damn much for it and I don't feel like dicking with him.

Going to look at a 1992 GTI, 112k miles tomorrow.

If you're looking for a set-it-and-forget-it mk2 VW, I would suggest a late 80's golf or jetta 1.8L 8v. The 8v is a fun car and parts are so cheap that many times people give away parts for it. I scored 1 free working engine and a shitload of other parts for next to nothing. Most parts fit from the 70's up to 92 and then some that fit for a few more years. So you can score high comp pistons from a late GTI engine, get a better stock cam, solid lifter head and all that cool stuff for super cheap. People also sell rediculous r&p sets to get that crazy acceleration with a top speed of 100mph.

The car was only $450 and with $400 extra into it, it could pull on a stock Miata or most of the other civics, dsms, celicas, etc. without a problem.

the 8v I drove was a horrible car...felt weaker than the miata.

We'll see how this 16v drives. Maybe it was just a bad motor?

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ended up picking up this 92 GTI yesterday. 112k miles. No rust. New clutch, axles.

~2400, two sets of wheels, extra stock parts.

Its a decently clean car, a little more than I wanted to spend, but its fun...damn the shifter sucks though...German econboxes ftl.

Man i like GTIs, i'd like one as a beater.