What's it like to own a MK1?

[JP-009]

I love my Mk1

... me 10 month old daughter loves it... she allways says "dad dad awweeeeeee" .

Hehehe...

When ever I go out, I always choose my manky little mk1 (over the Octavia) - and my 3 year old daughter wouldn't have it any other way.

She is usually there helping me 'tinker' with it, and loves to help. All the tinkering I do is not necessary, as it is already fully functional, and so far, has not let me down in 3 years of ownership. As my daily driver, it tows the trailer, gets flogged at Wakefield and at the local skid-pan, attends local club events, takes me on long trips to Sydney or the coast, and carts the family about.

Very easy to live with as a daily drive, love it

[pommy_golfer]

I think that the bottom line is that no matter how much we all love the mk1, they are old and no matter what condition you buy a second hand one in, sooner or later something will go wrong (it even happens to newer cars these days). It may be something silly like a loose wire or something major like a head gasket. its not a matter of IF but more like WHEN.

Safety for your daughter would be the most important factor. The idea of the car breaking down on her in the middle of nowhere would NOT be good! and by getting a mk1 you are upping the chance of that happening. Also, although the mk1 is tough, they are ill equiped to handle a collision in todays world, no impact bars or airbags etc..

I know if i had a daughter i would spend a little more and go for no less than a mk3 or similar.

You cant put a price on peace of mind either, knowing your daughter can just get in turn the key and go, all day everyday....

goodluck with whatever you decide!

Thierry

[greasykitchen]

My Golf has been very reliable (pretty much just get in and drive) not to mention fun (and it's the same age as me). But it obviously doesn't have mod-cons like air bags, air-cond, power windows, effective brakes, or a heap of power - it is a 30+ year old car after all. But it does have other charms.
EDIT: The golf has been my daily driver for more than 4 years with nary a hitch - pretty much just routine maintainence, but it was a pain when some anonymous sod bent my chrome bumper and did a runner

[AUC-05L]

my mk1 is reliable, its been my daily for almost a year and hasnt let me down once, the only time something goes wrong is when i tinker with it.....if i left it alone then it is bullit proof. but running an old car, without being mechanically minded could be a problem if something goes wrong as all cars go wrong occasionally. mk1's are very simple to work on and understand.

[Gipson]

in answer to the original question- awesome.

however not the best choice for a first car as there are inevitably going to be things go wrong. best to go for a mk3 like loon suggested as theyre cheap as and reliable and she wont leave her friends places at night having to check fuses and so on haha.

wouldnt have wanted one for a first car but if you like to drive cars and have the patience to tinker around with one you'll love it like its family

[RedMk2Gti]

All Mk1/2/3 are unsafe car base on crash test result. Go for Mk4 if your budget can be stretched a bit, they are getting cheaper and cheaper now.

I still love my Mk1

[jettapilot]

I just traded my Mk4!
Daughter said I should have kept it for her but I really needed the $10k to pay off the finance!
Maybe in a year or two it will be an option. Got to remember she has to be able to afford to run it ...

Rego
Fuel
Service
INSURANCE

[mrlex]

Hey jettapilot, just bare in mind that some insurance companies won't insure drivers under 25 with convertables
Im 21 insured with aami for $550 fire and theft, in the UK it would cost atleast $6000...geez i love this country sometimes

Just shop around before you buy...

Rego, fuel and service is reasonable being a 1.8L i think it does about 400ks to the tank although never taken it to empty before usually fill up around the 200 mark at about half tank or less!

[Golf Loon]

All Mk1/2/3 are unsafe car base on crash test result.

I dunno about that Eric, I have had some really smashed up ones through my hands and the cars stand up really well, even the early ones.

Certainly Mk3s are pretty safe.