buying a mk3 CABRIO-what to know?

[gpk_gti]

hey mk3'rs,

looking to buy the wife a mk3 cabrio AUTO(urghhh) due to wifes inability to drive manual....

is there anything I should be looking out for? apart from the crappy auto gearbox?HA

[DubSteve]

As usual the lights, electrics, and for rust spots really... Other than that welcome to the Wide world of mk3s

[Golf Loon]

Early ones have the same front as a Mk3, later ones are unique, look like a Mk4, but are not. These later fronts are impossible to get, so dont crash.

Also impossible to find are window regs for the 2 door and and side trims.

The Auto. OMG You are setting yourself up hard there.

If possible, get a 1.8 singlepoint car, the autos dont break as often on the 1.8s and there are not as many different kinds.

Good Luck.

[gpk_gti]

hahahhha,,, always the optimist loon!!! mate,,,if ppl take your advise always you will be out of business!!!

thanks for the tips guy!!!

is there any leaking issues with the roof??

a few I have seen have had the roff replaced... why would that be?>????

thinking about doing a 5 stud change and dropping my schmidts on!!! hehehe....... always liked the mk3 since my vr6 days!

[Golf Loon]

Idiots like to slash convertable roofs. Its a worry.

[gpk_gti]

duh how obvious!

[davemoore]

Neither 1.8 nor 2.0 will be fast, even more so with an auto box. Deffo don't be fooled by the 2.0 being the same engine they put in the Gti for a while as it just didn't live up to the name.

[gpk_gti]

ive owned way too many vdubs to know whats a quicker motor and whats not.......

this car is not being bought for speed,just a daily cruiser to catch some rays with in the nicer days(not that we have had many this year )

[davemoore]

ive owned way too many vdubs to know whats a quicker motor and whats not.......

this car is not being bought for speed,just a daily cruiser to catch some rays with in the nicer days(not that we have had many this year )

Cool. I've learned to live with mine in the same way you're planning to live with yours.

It'll still be getting some bits on it though to help it handle and go a bit better.

In the UK last year I found a good Mk1 cab as well as a lot of very rusty ones. You might have more luck avoiding the rust here or course, so maybe you'd consider a Mk1? If you know your VWs you might even find the earlier car to be more of a "pure" drive - less weight, more positive?

Good luck with your purchase.

[andy t]

early golfs are great and you can pick up late cabrio mk 1s for a good price but the mk 1s had no power steering ,if the misses refuses to drive a manual she'll def will not go for an early car.
i looked at a couple of mk 1s before I bought my mk 3 cab auto and I have the same trouble with my wife(bless her),she has problems parking and changing gears!
the good thing about the autos are that there are not many around so you should be able to resell it no problem.
you do learn to live with them especially once the roof is lowered.

[gpk_gti]

has to be mk3 cab guys,,, for the better half... if it was me,,,I might consider a mk2 cab but she def is in love with the mk3 cab.

its just a cruiser so 0-100 is not a issue....

[davemoore]

I have the same trouble with my wife(bless her),she has problems parking and changing gears!

Mine used to have a car with parking sensors but she just used them as early warning of her next £550 crash.

Still, she's alright with the top off.

[noom]

Hi there,
How hard is it to look after the cabriolet roof?

Do you get worried when leaving the car parked in an open parking lot, eg. Woolies,etc?

Thanks

[peedman]

Theres a clean looking red one on carsales, auto too