School me on a 1992 Golf GTI 16v

[oldschoollear]

Any knowledgeable Pelicanites? Reliability? Maintenance hogs? Good and bad let! it fly1

[fastfredracing]

I owned one, and I loved it. I drove it to work every day, and autocrossed it, and or tracked it nearly every weekend. I beat the living snot out of it for a year and a half, and it treated my pretty good. Was easy to work on and didnt break too many parts. I sold it, then bought it back a couple of years later.
They are getting older, and some oem parts have been discontinued, but overall , I would say it was very reliable, and easy to maintain.
It was super easy and cheap to set up for auto x. I think I used konis, some h@R springs, a large rear addco rear sway bar, crash bolts for a ton of negative camber up front, some hoosiers, and it was a competent little autox machine. I bought it to fuel my racing habit while I was in the middle of a 911 engine rebuild, and I ended up falling in love with it.
Wish I still had it. When I found out I was going to be a dad, I sold of a lot of my toys.

[m21sniper]

GTI's are the only shoeboxes i've ever liked. I had an 88' VW Rabbit GTI, it was a blast.

[WIL84911]

Mine was the first year (83 non sunroof). Had more fun with it than my next car (88 5 liter Mustang). I think you should go for it if you like it.

[Nostril Cheese]

I've had two. Cant go wrong with them.

[porsche4life]

I'd own one... I hate VWs b/c of that corrado.. But the GTI is so much less complex

[slow&rusty]

Destined to be one of the cars that shaped the Automotive world, if it has not already.

Yasin

[quaz]

One of the greatest cars ever made (yes I said greatest). It was simple, quick, good gas mileage, could haul a lot, cheap and easy to fix, and was easy to modify. I had 3 Jetta GLI 16Vs and I wish I had every one of them back. The problem now is finding one that hasn't had a 16 year old behind the wrench and wheel of it. If you can find a nice clean well maintained example buy it. You won't regret it. Heck I even still have a pile of random OE parts for them in my basement in anticipation of the next one I find.

As for the Corrado it was simply the best/worst car VW ever made. When it worked you loved it......ten minutes later something would break and you wanted to drive it into a brick wall!

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by quaz

As for the Corrado it was simply the best/worst car VW ever made. When it worked you loved it......ten minutes later something would break and you wanted to drive it into a brick wall!

LMAO... That is the best Corrado quote ever... A close second is that you have to be a Masochist to own a Corrado...

[oldschoollear]

Thanks for the replys. How does the a/c and heat hold up? Does the a/c require the old refrigerant? This will be a dd if I purchase one so it needs to be functional. Also, this one has some rust bubbles under the windshield. Is this common?

[Soterik]

I've currently got a 92 Jetta GLI 16V that was my daily driver for a number of years, it's currently in storage for my 15yo so as to be his first car...

Love the car, handles great, good mileage, excellent close ratio gearbox.

The AC is old school, but I haven't had any problems with mine, and still holds it's charge from when I bought the car back in 1996, and the heater is fine as well. No rust on mine fortunately. I've only replaced the front struts, and that's about it, and I also had it painted it's original red a couple of years ago. I think mines got about 110K miles on it, not a lot.

Good luck, very enjoyable to drive....

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by oldschoollear

Thanks for the replys. How does the a/c and heat hold up? Does the a/c require the old refrigerant? This will be a dd if I purchase one so it needs to be functional. Also, this one has some rust bubbles under the windshield. Is this common?

It came with R12(better anyways) If it still has that in it I believe you can still get that if you know where to look. If it was been swapped to R134a(not a hard swap) it won't cool as well but the refridge is cheaper.... That should have the same heater core as my Corrado... If it hasn't been changed plan on changing it at some point....

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I had an 88 Jetta with Audi 2.0 block, big valve (8) head and headers. Awesome little car that would stick with 5.0 Mustangs up to 50.

Agile (sortof), economical, fun but practical, good styling (updated to Euro grill and headlights, old GTI wheels), good value all the way around.

[stomachmonkey]

Great cars.

They are a hoot to boot.

[carreraken]

Had an '83 - was a great car.

[Superman]

I've had three Rabbits, and loved every one of them. I've had friends with the later 16V engines, and those engines are considerably stronger. Fun cars.

[oldschoollear]

That should have the same heater core as my Corrado... If it hasn't been changed plan on changing it at some point....[/QUOTE]

Has been changed. Thanks

[porsche4life]

Then you are in good shape....

If the price is right... Go for it

[oldschoollear]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Then you are in good shape....

If the price is right... Go for it

That brings me to my next question...... What is right, as far as price goes?

[oldschoollear]

update..... He said he would sell for $3500. Comments?