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ive got a hankering for some topless motoring. the scirocco is for sale and the passat tdi may follow if I'm sure i want a ragtop!
i was really fancying a corrado, and will get one soon anyway. BUT ive been browsing the 'bay and noticed i can have a nice cabrio for £1500, either a mk1 or mk3 golf don't mind but think id prefer mk3 as it would be a daily.
anyway, having never even been passenger in a convertible i need some advice. is the wind-in-hair motoring as fun as i imagine? what are the drawbacks of having a tent for a roof when its not a dry day? please share your experiences, golf and non golf related.
thanks!
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Glenn  |
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,506
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my limited convertible driving in a golf was alrite but i was about 18 at the time. all the others of that type and era ive been in have been fairly leaky seem to remember and rattly
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,924
Club RR Member Number: 174
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From my short experience of Golf Clippers buy one of these  Matt |
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I love my Fury convertible, convertibles are even more fun to be a passenger in than a driver. When you're driving, you're looking forward out of the windscreen, so you don't get the benefit the passengers do such as being able to stare straight up. Being in the back seat is the best. Wind in the hair is nice and jumping over the side of the car into the seat is kind of a novelty.  There's no way I'd be going to all the trouble of restoring my Fury if it wasn't a ragtop. Never really liked things like Escorts as they have that big rollbar and the windows don't go all the way down either from memory. Having vinyl seats is almost an essential in a convertible, it should be law. The bird poo and other stuff that can fall on the seats (like rain) would ruin cloth, r at least give you a wet bum. |
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75 Range Rover 2 door 82 Range Rover 4 door
84 Range Rover 4 door 78 Datsun 120Y 2 door
78 Datsun 620 Pickup 81 Datsun Urvan E23 86 Datsun Vanette van
98 Electric Citroen Berlingo 00 Electric Peugeot Partner 02 Electric Citroen Berlingo
04 Berlingo Multispace petrol 07 Land Rover 130 15 Nissan E-NV200 15 Fiat Ducato
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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the mk3 is pretty good, if you go for a mk3 though try and go for one that has got a later spec roof, as the early vinyl ones tend to crack.
watch out for duff electric roofs, they often fail and are expensive to fix (they can however be overided and used in manual mode)
electrics can be a bit iffy on the mk3, esp. wiring to the doors.
watch for rust under plastic arches and sills
the 1.8 is gutless, only the 2 litre has any form of performance, but don't expect to get much over 30 mpg from it!
the boot is a good size, seats pretty comfy, not a bad car to drive, it is a bit girly though.
if you have enough cash though i'd go for a mk3.5 as it has a better range of engines and is a bit more refined.
expect to pay around £1500 for a good useable mk3 cabby though
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chevazon
Posted a lot
1939 Chevrolet 2 door coupe, `67 `Zon estate, `87 Ragtop Cavalier, 4 x 800 Drifters,(!) 1500 Drifter
Posts: 2,259
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Nothing better on a nice sunny day to get the top down on the car (Megane hardtop) BUT how many nice sunny days do we get ?
Go for it.
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My Mk1 GTi cabrio was a real pain.
It had a new hood which leaked. I tried endlessly to stop the leak but to no avail. The underlay got wet, the car was permanantly damp and mouldy! Had to remove carpets etc. Rust can also be a problem also on these older cars.
Looked good and fun to drive though but I wouldn't have another one!Just because of the common leaking problems. Also work colleges kept putting hairdressers parafinalia on my desk! ;D
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I'd expect you could get a perfectly good Mk1 Cabby at this time of year for under a grand. I bought mine this time last year for £800 with long test, tidy body, a new hood, fully waxoiled underneath and an immaculate interior. It was a 1.6GL Auto which probably knocked the value a bit, but it never once let me down, and maintenance wise I only ever did basic servicing and swap the odd bulb in the 10 months I had it. Here it is:  I ran it daily from March to September this year, and only sold up due to an impending new addition to the family. From a buyer's perspective you're looking for a hood that's new or as good as, as a leaky one will wreck the interior, make it smell like a tramps vest, and mean you're scraping ice off the inside of the screen every morning. Also check that the hood seals all around are in decent condition, as when they come up (never a complete set) they're mega expensive, and I'm not aware of anyone that re-manufactures them. Rust wise they're the same as anything on an A1 platform, front inner wings, sills, round the rear axle mounts, rear arches, rear valance and boot floor. I much prefer em to the Mk3 variety, particularly as Mk3s are just as (if not more) prone to rot, and they're just not as pretty as the Mk1 in my opinion. |
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1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i |
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miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Dec 17, 2009 13:06:33 GMT
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Used my Mk1 Bronze Grey Clipper as a daily all through winters and never had any issues with leaks, great little car and look far better than mk3's. Get a good one Mk1 and it won't let you down.
Only reason it went was never happy about how a childseat secured in the back.
Forgot to add always felt a bit of nob driving it roof down in the winter. Used to drive a Midget through the winter before that and always had the roof down, unless hacking down with rain.
If space aint an issue would get a midget, they cope as a daily fine. If you are slightly mad.
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Last Edit: Dec 17, 2009 13:10:54 GMT by miaspa
Found my flashing Pao again.
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alex77
Part of things
Posts: 624
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Dec 17, 2009 17:22:13 GMT
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Just embarked on this adventure myself and despite the mechanical problems all seems good now needed fueling sorting and will need a new clutch (parts seem cheap as chips).
Mine has a replacement hood and body wise is very very good so fixing the oily bits has been the lesser of evils (am better at spannering than welding or paint )
TBH it was just a cheap way to get a mk1 shaped golf as far as wind in the hair not to bad though lighting cigarettes at motorway speed is a hassle though I realize that smoking at all these days is a bit RETRO
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1978 Capri MK2 Ghia Zetec
1990 Ford escort mk4
1996 Nissan Rasheen
1998 Honda CRV (my wifes)
2002 Alfa 156
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Dec 17, 2009 17:42:14 GMT
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not had a golf but have had lots of convertibles of various levels of sophistication, main issues are always, does it leak? will it demist in winter? and how thief proof is it?
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Dec 17, 2009 17:48:19 GMT
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Mine isn't a Golf but it's a droptop. No side windows but I don't get wet unless it's really blowing a side wind. Probably not as warm as a car with a roof but I love whipping the top off as soon as the sun is out. Stick your coat on and enjoy that fresh air  |
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Dec 17, 2009 23:53:14 GMT
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great, I'm not put off the idea yet! thanks very much for all your responses, some useful info there. think i will go for as late a mk3 as i can afford. not really retro but i will always have the mk2 passat on standby.
now, anyone want to buy a scirocco?
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Glenn |
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