$5000 Question..

[bombsquad21]

With the end of the Singapore financial year looming (31st March) I am fast approaching a crossroads. A few months back I replaced my wifes polo with a Lexus ES300, this reduced my Golfs role as the family car (something it hasn't done particularly well since the 17's and einbachs were put on) and given me a good contrast. 1 bigger, smoother albeit more boring car and my golf which uses lots less fuel and can be hammered around round abouts and freeway on ramps!

I have owned the golf for about 4 years and covered 110,000k's in that time, it has been very reliable and I still enjoy it..I commute in the golf most days and it really has been amazing. It now shows 245,000 on the clock and i'm contemplating swapping her in for a Lexus IS200 (99ish?)

My question is, can someone talk me out of it? I feel like I may be selling out, or getting myself into a whole heap of trouble. I really give my daily driver a hard time.

Soooo am I better of spending $5k improving the mk3, what can I do for $5k? Can I swap in a 1.8t for that? What do you guys think? The IS200 forum is really not very good..and you guys are great.

Thanks in advance for your imput..

Cheers Luke

[Mrk_Mickey]

Hmmm...Go get a VR6!! For only like...2k more if you find a good deal!

[bombsquad21]

Hmmm...Go get a VR6!! For only like...2k more if you find a good deal!

Then I have 6cyl consumption, an older car and probably more work??

[Mischa]

Then I have 6cyl consumption, an older car and probably more work??

spend 2k extra for the vr6, and spend the other 3k for the year's petrol

[rayray086]

I think $5K wouldn't be enough for a 1.8T swap, all happily installed and running no worries. However, if you're looking into reliability and fun, maybe a 16V ABF would be the go? Usually goes for about $2.5K and bolts right on, and plug and play with the ECU I believe. Spend another $500-$800 on new struts and your car will be running quicker and more compliant, without losing the fun of course. Stay with the Mk3

[Mischa]

I think $5K wouldn't be enough for a 1.8T swap, all happily installed and running no worries. However, if you're looking into reliability and fun, maybe a 16V ABF would be the go? Usually goes for about $2.5K and bolts right on, and plug and play with the ECU I believe. Spend another $500-$800 on new struts and your car will be running quicker and more compliant, without losing the fun of course. Stay with the Mk3

i think 5k would easily cover a 1.8t swap

[Golf Houso]

keep the IS... The conversion isn't worth the mess or time.

OR just buy a VR6 performance bargain of the century!

[bombsquad21]

I think $5K wouldn't be enough for a 1.8T swap, all happily installed and running no worries. However, if you're looking into reliability and fun, maybe a 16V ABF would be the go? Usually goes for about $2.5K and bolts right on, and plug and play with the ECU I believe. Spend another $500-$800 on new struts and your car will be running quicker and more compliant, without losing the fun of course. Stay with the Mk3

I already have new shocks, new tyres go on tomorrow but the ABF is an older motor right? My car is a 97 so i don't really wanna go backwards.

[Golf Houso]

The ABF is in the mk3 GTI 16v, also in the toledo and ibiza. Or just turbo your car, you'd get a massive gain anyway, and you've got to change the engine internals because of the age regardless...

[rayray086]

Branko's right, it's basically from the same generation. Just that with a newer motor comes more complications, and that just basically means more money.

[MattyT]

Ditch it, get a VR6. My vr6 eats the exact same ammount of fuel as my old 2L 4cyl carbie mazda 626!!

IS200's arent as chuckable as a golf either

[bombsquad21]

Is it a mod plate issue to have an older motor in the car? Because I am a fully law abiding citizen who always strives to follow the rules! I also wanna be able to sell my car one day.

[bombsquad21]

Oh this vr6 thing is hard to shake..okay I'll drive a couple. Low miles, 97-98 models. Should be 10-12 of them in the trading post this week...

[Water Boy]

Mate for the dollars u sell your car plus a few extra bucks u could get a VR6 or even a Mk4 GTI and do some minor mods

I recon a Mk4 bcuz there is only a handful of modded ones in Oz

[bombsquad21]

Mate for the dollars u sell your car plus a few extra bucks u could get a VR6 or even a Mk4 GTI and do some minor mods

I recon a Mk4 bcuz there is only a handful of modded ones in Oz

I'm suss on mk4's though. They are supposed to have problems right? So is there any really proud VR6 owners in Brisbane who wanna show me their cars?