Cheat SHeet for GTI's

[DWBOX2000]

I'm looking for a GTI, MKIV to MK VI. 1997-2012

Can someone suggest the questions to ask for each variation? I am getting confused on what cars need the timing belt changed and when, cost. What years have a chain but should have the chain tensioner upgraded or adjusted, when, approx. cost? I just want to make sure I am asking the right questions when I talk to the seller.

I'm looking for 90-115k cars since I only drive about 5k a year for $4-8k Hoping to get 5 years with no major issues.

I asked about the autobaun the other day but that car had 5 owners in 10 years so I passed.

[gtc]

This has some good info:
https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id=119

Skip the Mk 4s, they were made in Mexico and the build quality was crap. Also the VR6 was heavy, boring, and hard to modify.

At that mileage on a 2.0 T, you are overdue for the major stuff like coils, injectors, chain, tensioner, and carbon deposit removal, so make sure all that has been done.
I have a bunch of friends and family with various iterations of these motors, and they have really grown on me... they seem like really solid motors if you address the known issues.

[Mr. Merk]

Man, I LOVED my Mk4 GTI 1.8T. Wish I had never sold it. That being said, If I lived in the city I would have a Mk6 in a heartbeat.

[speeder]

I was considering one as a DD a while back and found some good primers on the various generations online, maybe just google, "best generation GTI" or something. There is a lot of info.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Something to consider.

https://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/ctd/d/miami-1987-volkswagen-golf-gt-mk2-same/7069545835.html

I put a European front grille with round headlights on my 88 Jetta. Looked great. Even better was the Audi 2.0L block with big valve head and headers. Such a fun little car.

[Dixie]

I have a 2 door, manual trans, mkVI 2010 GTI with 145k on it. It's my daily. I've also tracked It a hand full of times. It might be the most bullet proof car I've owned. I've had no issues with the car. I've only performed routine maintenance. That includes 2 sets of rotors and 1 coil. I did have to recover the headliner which was a complete pita to get out and back in. Recently I've been loosing some coolant with time. I suspect I'm due for a water pump. Replacing the pump requires the intake to come off. I may farm that job out in the interest of expediency.

Oh, mkVI uses timing chains.

[DonDavis]

Wait...what? Here's a 2003 w/VR6

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/phoenix-vw-golf-gti-vr6-24v-6-spd/7069629016.html

Judas...


**CORRECTION..it appears the VR6 was not an option or that year. Ad is most likely bogus.**

[Nickshu]

VWVortex forum is great.

[MysticLlama]

When I'm looking for the model year cutoff on a 2L, I go to www.goapr.com

Because really, how much power it's *going* to make is more important than how much it *does* make, isn't it?