I've done my honorary introduction and I would love to introduce my Mk3 to you all in proper fashion. The car is a 1997 Golf GL, with full body colour trims. First, its dark green, the colour which I think Mk3s look best dressed in. Second, the paint in very weather damaged much to my dismay and is missing 2 parts of trim. But lets not just look at the negative. The car as has done a mere 170 000 kms, which I'm guessing is quite good from what I've been lurking through over the last month. It drives and handles well, and brings a smile to my face whenever I drive it (especially after driving any automatic). Hence it has a 5sp manual box that shifts smoothly when warm, random crunches from 4th down to 3rd when cold, and a horrendous knocking sound in reverse gear all of the time. The group the services the car said that the vibrating noise heard at 2000-2200 rpm is a common and expensive to fix problem in Mk3s due to deterioration of some sort of insulation on the drive train. Is this true as it has always bugged me and I haven't read anything about it anywhere.
I am looking forward to sifting through the treads and finding walkthroughs for all of the fixes I can perform at the moment. Here is a list of what I am willing to begin with, as meagre and basic that it is:
- Fit replacement steering column shell recently purchased from wreckers
- Finding a green Golf with coloured trim to replace drivers side back door trim
- Finding and replacing broken glove box handle (using wooden dowel to open at the moment - Works well!)
- Redo caving in headlinging
I know these are basic and easy things, but none of my family members or friends are into this kind of thing. Here is a quick list of pros and cons about my beautiful little Golf (the cons are to numerous
) :
Pros:
- Manual
- Green
- More practical than a sedan!
- Electric windows
- Lots of fun to drive
- Easy to park
Cons:
- A/C is broken (undiagnosed issue)
- Stereo produces crap quality sound and speakers often cease to work randomly
- Damaged paint
- Manual box issues
- Engine block moves slightly (according to mechanic)
- Annoying vibrating at 2000-2200 rpm
- Drivers seat has a point the often digs into my skinny backbones
- Caving in headlinging
That's about it but I'll keep you all updated on what I'm doing. Expect it to progress slowly and in a basic manor until I build up my confidence. I'll leave you all with some photos of my green machine.

I am looking forward to sifting through the treads and finding walkthroughs for all of the fixes I can perform at the moment. Here is a list of what I am willing to begin with, as meagre and basic that it is:
- Fit replacement steering column shell recently purchased from wreckers
- Finding a green Golf with coloured trim to replace drivers side back door trim
- Finding and replacing broken glove box handle (using wooden dowel to open at the moment - Works well!)
- Redo caving in headlinging
I know these are basic and easy things, but none of my family members or friends are into this kind of thing. Here is a quick list of pros and cons about my beautiful little Golf (the cons are to numerous

Pros:
- Manual
- Green
- More practical than a sedan!
- Electric windows
- Lots of fun to drive
- Easy to park
Cons:
- A/C is broken (undiagnosed issue)
- Stereo produces crap quality sound and speakers often cease to work randomly
- Damaged paint
- Manual box issues
- Engine block moves slightly (according to mechanic)
- Annoying vibrating at 2000-2200 rpm
- Drivers seat has a point the often digs into my skinny backbones
- Caving in headlinging
That's about it but I'll keep you all updated on what I'm doing. Expect it to progress slowly and in a basic manor until I build up my confidence. I'll leave you all with some photos of my green machine.
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