Looking for a first car and I found this, another Golf GLS deal I was working on fell through and I found this advertised at the local shops, I rang up and this is the information, what do you think?

Are parts for Golfs Expensive/hard to get?

1978 Volkswagen Golf GLS-4 door hatch

1.6 Litre (1588cc) Carburettor Petrol SOHC 8 Valve Inline Four
55kW
110Nm
3 Speed Automatic

Lowered Suspension
BMW 3 Series Alloy Wheels
Pioneer CD Stereo, 4 Speaker Stereo System
Blue Leather Seats
Excellent Interior Condition
Key + Push Button Starter

150 000+ Kilometres

Needs Tune (Sitting for 4 months in backyard)
Air conditioning needs some work

$1900 Negotiable

Thanks

Man, its an 78 with A/C. The cars are bulletproof (provided there is no rust) and the features listed would be worth at least half that if stripped. Especially the A/C.
Parts are relatively plentiful, dont need to be replaced often, and are not too expensive. A decent condition Mk1 should give you years of reliable motoring provided the body is cared for.
You could even arrange a manual conversion and not have overspent at that price. Offer them 1500 and see what they say. They arent moving quickly anymore....

Around how much do you believe a manual (5 speed) conversion would cost?

The gearbox will cost around $800 (high estimation), and the conversion could cost maybe the same. I am not sure how much work would be involved, but the parts required wont be expensive. A worthwhile conversion though. Huge savings in fuel.
Call Brian Patterson at GTI 9653 1114 for a price on the gearbox.
Offer them low, and work up to a better price.
Any q's, call me. 0419 429 453

I would avoid it at all costs . They are and were a big pile of poo! I've had 2 , one of them a cabro and that was the worst of the 2. My sister has had one also and hers wasn't too much better. Originally from the UK unfortunatly they were popular. Sorry to piss on anyones fire but the truth is in owning one. Go aircooled and buy a reliable rat if moneys tight. Good luck.

but !!! you might get a good one! LOL

Danny

i have had 2 golfs, still got one which is a 79 diesel and its the best car i have owned.
parts are resonable and the car is bulletproof so yeah it sounds like a good buy.
just beware of rust

I reckon the Aussie golfs are better as the didnt rust as much...and lighter!
Gotta say, Bullet proof is a MK1 golfs middle name, ive just wacked a stupidly big cam and a dirty big 45 side draught on mine, engine has 425000 on the clock and ittl still rev off the clock, mind u i did need to put some new valve stem seals in it!.BUY BUY BUY!!!

Hey Jettaboy, glad you jumped in. Tell me about your golf? What year? Mods? Which cam? Capacity? photos? Are you called Jettaboy cos you had a jetta? I was thinking about rebadging Beths Vento a jetta.
Even though I have a Mk2, the Mk1s are really special to me, especially the GTIs. Good thing about the Mk2, handles as well, as fast, but a little more refined without being lardy and uninvolving like the Mk3.
I am about to blueprint the engine in the golf. Putting in a Neuspeed 268 cam. Hoping for about a 25% increase, but more likely to see about 20%. That will make it around 100kw in a 930kg shell.... mmmmm.....
Cheers
Its funny reading back over the posts from people with Golfs and seeing how much the term bulletproof comes up, eh?

i love both the aircooled and watercooled vws and though while the aircooled vw is extremely reliable and dependable, the golf is by far a better car.
i have had my mk1 for 7 years and the car is extremely reliable enough to jump in and drive it around oz.
also the aussie built cars are not the pick of them due to rust problems but dont let that stop you from buying one

Hey VWRallycar, did you used to or still do rally as your name suggests? Tell me more?

hey stevemk2, since you brought up type3's i thought i'd add my 2 cents in. i have a late square and the thing is a champ. yeah i have hiccups every now and then but the mechanics of it are tops, and reliable. by the same token though i know you can get dud ones. when it comes down to it it's a car and i think it depends on previous owners and how they looked after it. some are well looked after and will go forever...others just need a lot of money pumped in! as for dannyboy i think he just struck out on luck. i have heard great things about golf's so i have a high opinion of them.
if i were you sliderulz id take stvemk2's advice and offer them a lower price and go from there...
t3k

Absolutely! Mine was a dud. But, my friend who just bought a cooper s has had an early type 3 notch for years and it was awesomely reliable.... I love air cooled stuff cos of the character and the build quality. I drive watercooled for the same and the speed. I just dont shitcan either...
Cheers...

Hehe just my kind of topic!! Mk1 Golfs are good for belting the living c out of them. Even if they have no get up and go they arent too hard to modify since the engine bay is huge for the little donks they put in em. The chassis is the best part about them, ok there is huge body roll but who cares when u have wheels at every corner handling and you can gun the little things pretty hard without getting out of shape, put some early traction controlled cars to shame he he. But as a daily driver they can be boring as because VW has the pointless attitude of given cars no power, hope that changes with the r32.
Cruzin in a Golf

Clearly, my dear cruizin in a golf, you have not GTI'd. My Mk1 with a GTI motor in it hit 110kmh in second in a very short time. Bye V6 commodore and falcon.... The Mk2 genuine GTI only hits 90 in 2nd, but it humiliated a 190kw 200sx on a b road out the back of canberra. The guys first comment when we stopped... "S**t that things fast....." Funny seeing as mine puts out a factory 82kw and can hit 200kmh if needed (i know....). Yeah VW dont put an incredible amount of power into their standard cars (MkV 2.0L standard model 110kw, thats a bit better.) but they invented the hot hatch thing with the GTI, and depending on your reference point re: performance, the Mk1 1600 petrol was a zippy little trooper!

Yes true GTIs were better but i would say that you are kidding yourself a bit with beating commodores on the stock engines that VW made, especially when the car this bloke wants to buy is a GLS, that would have no chance now the engine is worn out. The thing with Golfs is that they weigh nothing thats why you will get good acceleration out of em. stock gearboxes were pretty quick too. Hey i know you can surprise ppl how quick you can be in a Golf, but if you did a staged race i think everyone and his dog would know the loser if it was a stock GLS against an everyday Commodore v6.
Cruzing in a Golf

Never claimed a stock GLS 1600 carb model could beat a commodore, my statement was about a Mk1 with a stock 1.8 GTI motor that could beat commodores. But it is the weight and gearing which helps achieve that. As for my Stock Mk2 GTI, Commodore drivers beware...Done it before, do it again...
nb. My GTI is a UK delivered GTI from 85 as opposed to a weighty and underpowered 91 or 92 Aus delivered Mk2 GTI. The difference is incredible... Could account for your confusion. Did I add that they were NA V6 commodores? any era? I am not kidding myself...

Well little engines will always have their downfalls in the fact that less torque and power means that they cant outrun the commodore in the end but within the speed limit you might be right. Aussie golfs are generally underpowered and can do with some modifications. The aussie GTi engines were never the better versions they are always less power and torque than the europe models. But i can agree driving right you could beat em especially if the commodore is auto which most are. I believe you about better power to weight ratios. But get the cars in a straight line i think you would have to be outrun rather sooner than later.
Cruzin in a Golf

Case in point.... (True sory...)
I took on a V8 VS Calais (auto...) which was mega low, with a mega exhaust and mega tacho (you know the type... sheeesh). We raced to 100kmh over three consecutive sets of lights and the furthest he got away from me was my bumper at the back of his front door. After the third drag, I pulled up next to him and asked him if it was a 6 or an 8...(Hahahahahahahahahahaha...). He told me it was an 8, and that my car mas so fast, he was unable to refrain from foul language to describe its speed...
It is the power to weight and gearing which makes my car a V6 and V8 humiliator. It aint rex quick, but to 100 its hauls, and on a twisty B road, it shows the way home to many a more pretentious sporting rides.
In fact, I know from experience that it tops out at 200kmh... How many other NA 4 cylinders can boast that? Aaaaah, if only Australians warmed to the GTIs like the Brits did.... The Brits knew......
But you are right, the Australian spec GTIs are not worthy of the GTI badge. They are an embarresment to my car...
Would you believe my cars is at least as quick as a current model GTI to 100 and handles more nimbly? Jump on VWVortex.com if you want to check my facts...

Cant half tell who is in love with their car, eh?

I digress, did you buy it sliderulz? Update?

Are we talking about spanking some V8 commodores here . The closest a Commodore has to beating me was a VS SS V8 manual ute with an exhaust . His bumper was up to my door at about 120 . My VR6 golf made 142 HP at the wheels . Its got a computer , exhaust and air filter mods . The car ran 15.2 @ 95 MPH at Eastern creek . Traction is a real big issue but when it gets going it gets going . I can keep up with a R33 Skyline GTR from about 60km/hr onwards . As for gear ratio's . 1st goes to 70km/hr 2nd 125km/hr 3rd 175 km hr . Top speed would be around 240 . I've taken it to 220 :o . See if u could get a bug to go that fast ?

Well i am glad to hear that you see my point Steve. Sliderulz will be doing well to get in a Golf for his first car. The car is an entertaining drive and far better than any of the korean rubbish that seems to be taking up our roads.
Cruzin in a Golf

I always saw your point. If you read back you will see my disdain for the Aus models. I never said i could spank a commodore above 100. I never exceed the speed limit so I wouldnt know
I think we are saying the same thing... Brilliant cars.
Cheers