MKIV Golf GTIs

[KawaZukiVdub]

Do you think they are worth trying to buy? The MKIV gen Golf was the VW that made me really start to like VWs... been thinking about trying to get one as a project but obviously w/the year of them you may be looking into a rebuild sooner than later. How reliable were/are these cars?

 

[mesaboogie18]

My first GTI was a 2004 1.8T 5MT. I bought it in 2008 with 46K miles and it's currently at 160K-ish. Revo Stage 2 since about 55K miles. This car got me through 3 winters in Alaska with no problems. It's been mechanically sound since day 1. I've had to replace the normal wear items including the clutch and waterpump, etc...I love this car and to me it will always be my fave GTI. The body style and size were perfect. If you can find a MKIV GTI in good condition with service records and if the timing belt has been replaced every 60K miles, it will be a good little car. They were notorious for electrical issues, but luckily for me, mine has been good. It's never left me stranded. They do tend to leak boost and coolant so maintenance is key.

 

[jbm119]

Those pictures remind me of my 93 Honda Prelude which I had it since new till 2005 when it got totaled. We went through a lot. Lots of stories. I would kept it if it wasn't totaled. Miss that car.

 

[GTI Jake]

I’ve had several mk4, currently owning a mk7 I have no desire to own another. Would much rather build a mk1, but that’s just me

 

[Hoon]

People's sentimental value aside, no reason to touch a MK4.

Too many issues with too few redeeming qualities.

 

[Diggs24]

The Crown Royal bag really ties the interior together.

 

[mesaboogie18]

The Crown Royal bag really ties the interior together.

Lol thanks. I rocked that for a while just for kicks and giggles

 

[KevinC]

I owned 3 of them - a 2000 GTI GLX, an '02 337 Edition, and an '04 .:R32. Nice enough cars at the time, and I didn't keep any of them long enough to encounter any serious long-term issues. But the Mk4 generation was fraught with quality issues, blamed on notorious cost-cutter Inaki Lopez being poached from GM by VW, just in time to work his magic on the Mk4 generation. Eventually the guy went to jail for stealing trade secrets from GM when he left. Not a good era for VW.

Now they are very old, ridden hard and put away wet. I would avoid.

 

[KawaZukiVdub]

I forgot all about this thread! I may still want to try to get one in the future but I have more priorities first.