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1998 golf gti

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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
I'm looking for a car that's good on gas and fun to drive to replace my tahoe, and came across a 1998 golf gti vr6 with 90k. Has anyone driven or have experience with these cars? Like how is the reliability and how are they in snow?
Jun 8 2011 10:54PM
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AWALLRUS.
Posts: 5762 - Karma: 223
i think my parents had those for a while, 2 and they were both red.
one of my few memories of being 3.
Jun 8 2011 10:56PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
I'd get the regular gti over the vr6
Jun 8 2011 10:59PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
And they are asking $3700 for the car, a winter set of tires and stock rims, and another set of winter tires with nicer rims
Jun 8 2011 10:59PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
What's the difference between a gti vr6 and a plain gti?
Jun 8 2011 11:02PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
vr6 has a vr6 motor, gti has the 4 cylinder turbocharged motor. So the regular gti is lighter and more fuel efficient, not a whole lot slower than the vr6 either.
Jun 8 2011 11:05PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,948
Vr6 gets lower mileage, but its a ridiculously good engine that will last forever and give you zero problems for the most part.

The issue is that you're goin to be chaining up with that SOB all the time if you usually go through chain restrictions on your way to the hill.

Overall though, VW's tend to be alright in the snow.
Jun 8 2011 11:08PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
I'll probably use it on nicer days, I'll use my Toyota when it gets deep. I only have to drive about a mile to get to the hill, so it shouldn't be bad but the roads can get bad fast
Jun 8 2011 11:14PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=67841829&listingRecNum=1&criteria=sf1Dir%3DASC%26mkId%3D20089%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21183%26rd%3D250%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D06371%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national -this is the one I'm looking at, I think it looks pretty good with the black rims
Jun 8 2011 11:17PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,948
Normally I'd say no to black wheels, but that actually looks good.

Reminds me of the old Mk2 helios GLI's.

Click for larger image
Jun 8 2011 11:21PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
false. the 98 gti is an mk3. mk3's came with a vr6 and a 2.0, only two options. i wish i could find a vr with 90k around me.

TO OP. buy it up man. vr6 is the best, nicest sounding engine that vw has created. gas milage isn't great but damn are they fun to drive,

Check for rust. vw's are notorious for being rust buckets. check the strut towers and floor pans.
Hope that helps and 3700 is a little steep unless its rust free. 3700 for a rust free vr is a prime deal
Jun 8 2011 11:23PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
sorry to double post but by mk3 2.slow jetta was slammed and i drove in foot seep snow with some knobbys no problem. really a reliable all around car thats fast, fun and pleasing to the eye

yes i like vw's haha
Jun 8 2011 11:25PM
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dat_ski_dude
Posts: 554 - Karma: 15

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good lookin V Dub

Jun 8 2011 11:29PM
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hockeyplayer
Posts: 291 - Karma: 6
my buddy has one and it's over a fantastic car. Good in snow, solid gas milage. FUN to drive... If i could get one right now I would.
Jun 8 2011 11:32PM
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emopoppins
Posts: 3996 - Karma: 269
well normally i'd say don't waste your time with any mk3 vr6, let alone a gti, because where i'm from thats the car to buy, beat the shit out of, and sell, but just do some research real quick. like the guy above me said check the rockers and strut towers for rust. see if he's done the timing chains, which is probably a negative considering it's only got 90k and he's hoping he can get away with selling it and not having to do it. throw 2800 at him and see what he says, if not forget it, that car's not worth it unless he's taken absolutely prime care of it. good luck man, you're looking at a super fun car to drive.

oh yea and vwvortex.com will be your best friend.
Jun 8 2011 11:38PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I had that car.. but the 4 cylinder. It only had 50k when I got it (this was back in 2004). It was 6,000. It was one of those cars in the news paper that they mark down to get people to come. Yeah. I got that one.

It was a great car but I felt like I was constantly putting money into it. Like It needed a new starter and new tires and new struts and then the flange went and that took a while to get fixed. Never engine problems, just problems with EVERYTHING else. The insurance was pricy though. I had 60/90 and my insurance actually dropped when I got my subaru and had to have 100/300. I imagine the VR6 would be even more. But it's older... so maybe not.

But yeah, I loved the car, I was just putting the same amount of money into it as I would have had I bought a new car... So I bought a new car.
Jun 8 2011 11:50PM
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ski-or-die
Posts: 770 - Karma: 17
TDI
Jun 9 2011 2:12AM
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skiblandford
Posts: 1503 - Karma: 2
my dad had like an 1988 Golf GTI. said it was the best car he ever owned. I would say go for it. I have heard that they are extremely reliable and all around good cars
Jun 9 2011 6:32AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,948
I was brought home from the hospital in a 86 GLI...

First car I ever got to drive. Learned stick on it at 13 years old and would drive it to middle school sometimes just because I was that safe, and looked old enough to drive at the time (and it was only 2 miles down the road)

Still one of the coolest cars I ever had - If only the fuel system didnt go out at 193k and make it too expensive to fix...

Oh well. next car was a 325ix that was next level cool as well.
Jun 9 2011 6:35AM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
as stated previously in the thread. mk3 vws are horrible for rusting issues, and 90 percent of the time, i can fail one on a basic insurance inspection without even trying. Honestly, I wouldnt bother to tell you the truth, if you want to restore and dump some time into the car... by all means do it but dont expect it to last anymore than 3 years as a daily driver in prime safety shape. strut towers/ floor pans/ frames rust will instant fail any inspection and most insurance companies require an inspection for coverage on cars past 8 years old. Make sure the timing chains have been done, otherwise have fun paying 10-12 hours of labour to get them done.
Jun 9 2011 8:40PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
Ha way to scare me, what about a 2002 gti vr6? Any better for the rust issues? I found one with about the same amount of miles, but less expensive
Jun 9 2011 8:44PM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
mk4 have galvanized bodys, so yeah... much better for rust. mk3 is the worst body ever, they are fucking rustbuckets. Mk3 have a fair amount of electrical issues aswell, so buyer beware. mk4 vr6 have some pretty fucking costly parts if you buy new, the coil for the ignition is 700 bucks... lol. Almost all mk4 vt6 leak some sort of fluid aswell, hard to repair leaks because you literally cannot see a damn thing down the sides of the engine from underneath so many small leaks go for long periods of time without repair.
Jun 9 2011 8:47PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
all true
dont buy a vr6 vw and expect it to be reliable. once in awhile you will get a peach that will go forever but most have problems. you encounter alot of "vw" problems, problems you wont understand till you get one. If your buying a car for its reliability then go for a 2.0 golf. the 2.0 motors are generally bombproof, much cheaper to fix if something happens to go wrong. not really much need for a gti if your just looking for reliability.
hope that helps man
Jun 9 2011 10:25PM
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