Volkswagen Golf Mk2 (1983 – 1992) Review

Volkswagen Golf Mk2 (1983 – 1992) At A Glance

The definitive 1980s hatchback, sold, well made, practical and reliable

...and just a little bit dull

Ask Honest John

Why is the footwell of my Mk2 Golf wet?

"I have a 1989 Volkswagen Golf and the floor of the passenger footwell is soaked. I have been using the heaters a lot this week to demist the windows, I can’t find any leaks in seals around the doors or windows. What could it be? "

Have you checked your coolant level? It could be that the leak is down to a faulty heater pipe or matrix. Also, check the windscreen surround and the door membrane.

Answered by Keith Moody

How much is my Mk2 Volkswagen Golf worth?

"How much should I ask for a Mk2 Volkswagen Golf automatic with 60,000 miles and one owner prior to me. It has the original cassette player, a full-service history, four new tyres and a year's MoT. A littlegem Need brakes looking at, otherwise perfect"

When it comes to Golfs, high-performance models such as the GTi tend to command the strongest prices. However, there is a solid market for unmolested examples in good condition. A really good non-GTi example would be about £2500 on a dealer's forecourt or about £1900 in the classifieds. One that's a bit scruffy and in need of some TLC would be anywhere around £1000, while a non-runner or a project would be £750. Try to find a similar car to yours and price it accordingly - but be careful, the market can be skewed by people asking more because it's their car's been modified.

Answered by Keith Moody

How can I trace my father's old car?

"I’m trying to find the last car my dad had before he died. The reg was G473 WMO and it was a Volkswagen Golf Driver Mk2. I've tried all search sites including the DVLA without any success."

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that car is still on the road. You could try the Mk2 Golf Club (http://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/forum/) to see if the car is known to them.

Answered by Keith Moody

Do you know how much my 1991 Volkswagen Golf Driver is worth?

"I own a 1991 Volkswagen Golf Driver Mk2 1.8. It's done 73,000 miles and has had one previous owner. I've spent £2000. Do you have any idea of what it's worth?"

We can never provide a valuation for an individual car, but we can give you an idea of how much it is worth. The big money in Mk2 Golfs at the moment is with GTIs - however, there is plenty of respect for the Driver as it offers the GTI body kit with non-fuel injection engine, which makes it a great starter classic. Prices for solid, MoT'd examples of these currently sit at about £1000, with the very best examples nearing £1500 while a tatty project is about £500.

Answered by Keith Moody

More Questions

Volkswagen Golf Mk2 (1983 – 1992) Buying Guide

Good

• Image. 16v the one to have. Unlikely to rust in the glued rather than welded seams. Long-life engines, exhausts, batteries, shock absorbers.
• Bigger than Mk 1 at 13' 1" long by 5' 6" wide, and heavier at 835kg to 1,000kg.
• The older they are, the less replacement parts they seem to need - almost as if the originals were designed to wear out.

Bad

• Rattles.
• Needs a cambelt change every four years or 40,000 miles and a tensioner change every 80,000 miles.

Watch

• Make sure heater matrix bypass has been installed (major recall 1995-97).
• When was timing belt last changed (needs a belt every 4 years or 40k and a tensioner every 80k).
• Check oil filler cap for black sludge (oil not changed regularly enough) or mayonnaise (cylinder head gasket problems).
• Check driveshafts by reversing car on full lock in both directions.
• Easily clocked so look for signs of more miles than the odo shows.
• Rear discs rust first, become pitted and fail MOT.
• Clutches last 70,000-80,000 miles on average, less with town driving. But clutch cable self-adjusters go, leading to premature clutch wear.
• Plastic door membranes go, leading to soggy carpets and horrible condensation inside the car in winter.
• Water pumps, clutches, front strut top bearings, etc. have only average life.
• Hubs go in 8-12 years (80,000-120,000 miles).
• Underfloor fuel pump on fuel-injected cars springs a leak after 9-10 years.
• Water pumps last 5-10 years.
• Radiators last 5-10 years.
• Rear disc callipers on GTi can go and cost £300 each.
• Pneumatic central locking starts to fail on rear doors after 11 years. Steel wheels can fleck with rust after 6 years. Getting old.
• Driver's seat upholstery should last 12 years and 100,000 miles before starting to wear through.
• Bonnet slam panel should be matt black, not body colour.
• After 12 years, cam cover of all but 16v should have lost almost all its paint unless owned by someone particularly fastidious. Engines should look scruffy, not 'steam cleaned', because steam cleaning washes off rustproofing.
• Look for a square white sticker showing the vehicle identification number on the inside of the boot sill. No sticker is a sure sign that the car has been rear-ended.
• Went hydraulic tappets in 1986: cheaper to service.
• Rusts first on top of scuttle between screen and bonnet. Strut top mounts routinely go and are an MOT failure point. You can tell by jacking up the front of the car if you get the chance (the strut drops out).

Volkswagen Golf 1.3CL