Why shouldn't I buy a cabrio?

[njg02]

G'day. Haven't been around for a while. Sold my '04 dsl and looks like I can't afford to do up my '73 wagon, so, maybe a cabrio for the wife and daughter to run around in. Can now way afford the Karmann either! What should I look for? I looked at a few for sales on the web and tending to go for around '97 models. Price down as low as $6k and km as low as 140k but don't really know what to look out for. I prefer a manual but what are the auto's like? The hatches look good when done up. Is the running gear the same or are they a model behind?

Neil

[Mrk_Mickey]

The cabrios and the hatches are basically the same, but you'll see lots of little changes in the ''mk3.5'' cabrios.

Basically, they're a blend of the mk4 front end and the mk3 rear, with a mk4 style steering wheel and i think some mk4 inspired interior. They have a few unique panels on the car that are SH*T hard to replace if you bung them because they're so rare, and from what I've heard the auto's aren't that great.

AFAIK the cabrio's are all 2.0's, like the hatch 2.0. I could be wrong though so someone might have to confirm that.

In the mk3 cabrios, the running gear is all the same. It's only the mk3.5's with the mk4front on them that you start to get rare bits and pieces.

[njg02]

Thanks for that. Any idea when the mk3.5 came out?

Maybe around Sept '98 according to the redbook.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Yeah they were around the time the mk4's came out. I think the mk3.5 was sold to use up the remaining mk3 cabrio's with a facelift as a marketing plan.

[andy t]

I've got a 97 auto cabrio and had no problems with the auto box. I get the level of the box checked every service. I was told if the level drops thats when they start to get problems. also the boxes only takes vw oil. mine drives well and the roof doesnt leak. if you want a cabrio get one you'll love it.

[njg02]

So, test drove two cabrio's today. Good weather for it. Wet. First one 7/98 was advertised as a mkIV but was mkIII. Very low kays. Gear lever was all over the place and I hit my knee on my chin when working the clutch. Top was good and appeared to seal nicely. Lots of minor cosmetic blemishes. Over spray down both sides. Small screw missing in places. Both cars had broken plastic covers around the steering and ignition. Must be a common problem. For a low km car it has had a very hard life. Corrosion at the front on a brace under the radiator. Bit of a dud.
The second car was very honest for the amount of km. 12/96 model. Hardly driven for the last couple of years. New tyres, battery and top put on two years ago. Owned for about 4yrs. He tops up the coolant about once a year and had to do it for us today! Appears to be seeping from a fitting at the front of the motor, along with the old hoses attached. Last service was 2yrs ago as well. This car drove very well. Biggest issue on this one was wet floors on drivers side, worse in the back. (Lots of rain this past week) The door seal near the mirror was kinked and must have been like it for years, guiding the water inside the door. But the floor under the carpet was ok in the small spot that I could check. There was no damp areas on the pass side or around the lower back seat area. This one was about 2k less than the first and he has been trying to sell for some time. This one would be the pick, for my price though.
What is the fitting at the front of the motor? Seller says about $100 for part + hoses. How much and how difficult to change the door seal at screen? Easy to do or specialist? That is, if it is the cause of the water. What else should I check for water ingress? Few other minor blemishes that we may be able to live with. I told seller we may come back for an extended drive in good weather to better check the body. Are small cosmetic parts easy to come by; visor mirror covers, plastic steering/ignition surround etc.

Comments anyone?

Regards

Neil

[danbx2]

Hi Neil

I had the same problem with my 2.0l mk 3 .... took it Dandy Volks and they recognised the problem straight away ... from memory it was about $150 to fix. Apparently it is common for the plastic fitting on the front of the engine to go... had earlier taken the car to a mechanic that said it was the head gasket and the repair would be in the $1000… No Clue

[tom23]

Neither of them sound any good really. Like buying any car, hold off until you know you've got the right one. $6000 sounds like alot for basically a golf with the potential for twice the problems. A friend picked one up for $3500. They looked through local papers, gumtree etc as well as the normal car websites and found one up in the central coast. And yes they dumped some cash in it at first but now theyre got a great car for around 4500.

[peedman]

Yeah the second one sounds alright if it didnt have the wet floor. Coolant hoses are cheap to replace as u can get them from the US or locally even. My 2c would be to wait for one thats in good nick first and not overpriced. Personally i would stay away from the earlier models unless they have good history and go for the mk3.5 cabrio.

[njg02]

Thanks guys. Tom, lots of looking still. If you hear of another at that price let me know. I priced the seal for the side of the screen for the side window and is ~$850. But, there is a drain at the back at the base of the soft top that goes in behind the back seat and exits below the back floor. If this is kinked or blocked the water gets in there.
Lots of learning about them to do. Is the interior the same in the cabrio's as the hatches? Can you fit a hatch door card to a cabrio?

[njg02]

I've got a 97 auto cabrio and had no problems with the auto box. I get the level of the box checked every service. I was told if the level drops thats when they start to get problems. also the boxes only takes vw oil. mine drives well and the roof doesnt leak. if you want a cabrio get one you'll love it.

Andy, what sort of economy do you get?
I read a report in a mag about the mk3.5 4sp auto and they got nearly 14L/100km which is a bit too much for me. And with an auto I would expect to eat up brakes as well. Someone tell me why I would be wrong!

[peedman]

The front door cards should fit from a 3 door cl (might be different pattern or colour), rears im not so sure but wouldnt be hard to visually check. The auto shouldnt be getting 14l, i used to get 8-9L/100 for my manual 2.0.

[njg02]

Got one!
Early '98. Dark green, leather interior. Seats are fairly dry and cracking, so seat covers will have to do for a while. Interior is virtually unmarked. Exterior has a couple of minor blemishes but overall pretty good. Rear discs. Good tyres and roof is in good nick as well. Runs well. Picked it up in Nowra then came home via Kangaroo Valley and Berry. I asked earlier about sloppy gear shift but this one is fine.
Couple of minor things to fix soon. Pass side headlamp reflector is floating. The plastic adjustment thingoes are broken. Wonder if I can just replace those? Small coolant drip from the end of the block that appears to feed the heater. Ahh, the joys of Volkswagenism!

Neil

[andy t]

Andy, what sort of economy do you get?
I read a report in a mag about the mk3.5 4sp auto and they got nearly 14L/100km which is a bit too much for me. And with an auto I would expect to eat up brakes as well. Someone tell me why I would be wrong!

I've never checked the economy, my last car was a vectra and it 's much cheaper to run than that.
I'll need to change the brake pads for the first time since I've owned the car on the next service. I've had the car for a couple of years so i'm not concerned about heavy wear.

congrats on your purchase I hope you enjoy.
mine is also dark green with black leather they must be twins.

[njg02]

Thanks Andy. Great little car. Fairly easy to work on, although a lot lower than I'm used to to get under. I'll probably do most of my own servicing. Done a few things already. Oil, air, coolant pipe on passenger end of block cracked-had a gasket under the o ring, relay lever ball, adjusted timing belt tension. Need to change inner drive side cv boot. Currently using heaps of leather conditioner on the seats to soften them up a bit. All in all, very good, and VW!

Neil