Thoughts on this Golf for sale?

[watsongs]

This is advertised on our local Craigslist.  He's been advertising it for about a month for the same price; I'm tempted to have a look once I figure out where he is.  Any ideas on this kind of conversion, besides whether the tranny is compatible and that it should have been a TD?

Greg

http://tinyurl.com/dkqfl

[zyewdall]

I'd take a look at it, and see if you can test drive it on the highway if possible.  Looks like he did essentially the same thing I just did, only he didn't start with a wrecked rusty body.  Mine was a 1991 GTI, and I used the 1.6NA with the stock GTI transmission.  Since it's so small it has decent power, and the GTI transmission seems to have good gear ratios for it.  I have around $3k or so into my project, not counting my time.

[BlackTieTD]

offer him maybe half that. mkIIs are everywhere, sure a nice clean runner is nice, but its not worth 3700 especially for a car with a NA engine.

[watsongs]

MKII golf diesels are pretty rare here in the states; MKII diesels in any form are pretty rare.  Especially near Seattle, where people are going bio-diesel crazy - I got offered $1500 on the street for my '79 1.5, and it's got rust spots!

[zyewdall]

offer him maybe half that. mkIIs are everywhere, sure a nice clean runner is nice, but its not worth 3700 especially for a car with a NA engine.

But we don't have TD's in the US.  I agree that the biodiesel craze is jacking prices up.  TDI's are going for 30% over blue book, and any old junker 1.6NA that actually runs is going for at least $1,500, if not $2k.  Supply and demand....

[bhtooefr]

I spent three or four months looking on the following sites for my car:

TDIClub Cars FS/Wanted section (posted wanted ad there)
Vortex G/J1 and G/J2 Cars FS/Wanted section
AutoTrader
Craigslist
The Tech Report Bargain Basement (posted wanted ad there)
Every now and then, eBay.

My car popped up on AutoTrader for $1300, and my mom told me "no, that's too much". (BS, I had the money, and COULD afford it.)

Anyway, it got relisted for $1250. I got it for $1200.

Maintenance was a bit, ah, lacking. But, it runs REALLY strong, and the body's in OK shape, needs some rust fixed, but not much.

[mortskeg]

Deals are still out there, don't pay too much.  A friend just got a rust free- straight body '81 caddy with a 1.6 (needed a headgasket) for $300.  And I think it only had 140k on it.  Of course if I was going to sell mine I'd be sure to jack the price up. :twisted:

[BlackTieTD]

i recently hopped over the border and bought a vehicle in connecticut that i couldn't find up here in canada. if i was in the states looking for a VW diesel, i'd make a trip to canada and bring one back. IMO the supply/demand reasoning doesn't work in this case b/c there are a wealth of diesels for a fraction of those prices just north of you.

or, buy a mkII gasser with a solid body but a blown motor for pennies, buy a TD motor from someone up here, crate it down there and install it

$3700 for that car is insane. if it was perfect i'd offer $1000 canadian tops.

if he gets $3700 for it i'm going to quit my job and start importing VW diesels to the states  :lol:

[watsongs]

Ahh, but there's the kicker - the EPA says you can't import VW's - diesels or gassers.  Other cars, yes, but I'm not sure what it is about veedubs.  Many times have I gazed with longing at a low price north of the border...

North of us, in BC, there's not much advertised in terms of diesels; otherwise I would probably take a GLI and swap.

[zyewdall]

if he gets $3700 for it i'm going to quit my job and start importing VW diesels to the states  :lol:

I don't know if he will, but you have an idea there.  Import them to Boulder, Seattle, Portland OR, and Bay area in CA.  In those particular markets (all of the people wanting to use biodiesel), the demand for anything diesel that's not a full sized pickup far outstrips the supply.  And if we ever saw an old TD down here....   :shock:

I never knew that VW diesels were actually common and cheap up in Canada, and I bet that most people here don't, or they wouldn't pay the rediculous prices down here.  Do you have other diesels up there too?  Like the 4 cylinder diesel pickups and SUV's that are all over africa?

[vwmike]

Ahh, but there's the kicker - the EPA says you can't import VW's - diesels or gassers.  Other cars, yes, but I'm not sure what it is about veedubs.  Many times have I gazed with longing at a low price north of the border...

North of us, in BC, there's not much advertised in terms of diesels; otherwise I would probably take a GLI and swap.

Where have you seen this info? Someone managed to import my Jetta.

[watsongs]

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/canadian.htm

[zyewdall]

Ithe GTI transmission seems to have good gear ratios for it.  

Speaking of gear ratios -- sounds like some of the gasser transmissions were pretty good -- better gearing than the diesel ones
http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=24289#24289

[commuter boy]

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/canadian.htm

"II. 1988-1995 VEHICLES AND ENGINES

AUTOMOBILES

All 1988-1995 automobiles (gasoline or diesel)"

I think that would cover an awful lot of Canuck TD's, no?