New guy(Ozzie in Middle East) with Tech Query

[markjb]

Hi Guys,

I've just joined the Forum, looking in from Dubai in the Middle East, where I have bought a MK 4 GTi this week.( a 2000 model, 1 Scottish Owner, 2 door, ex-German delivery new, 20v 1.8T Manual, for the equivalent of AUD$7000!)

Anyway, in my first week of ownership, I gave it a blast up the desert highways today, and noticed it was a little jumpy between gears and when you put the right foot back down, like perhaps engine or gearbox mounts were shot.

Any ideas?? It has 109,000klms, and has been fastidiously maintained by VW dealers, so I am open to ideas on this one. Sound familiar to anyone?



Cheers and thanks in advance.

Mark(ex Melbourne and Byron Bay)

BTW, my this is my 1st watercooled VeeDub, as I have owned most other European makes, and have owned 4 Beetles, from my First car('66 Beetle) bought in 1986.

[phaeton]

Welcome to VWwA Mark

Whats the dub scene like overthere ?

[markjb]

Thanks for the Welcome. attached is a pic of the Balck Beast.

The scene here is pretty much newer cars only, ie like Europe, where anything over 10 y.o. is an old car. Basically they don't look after their cars, so when I found a good one, I jumped at the chance.(I basically wanted something fun and manual, as heaps here are all auto, even Porsches!)

Heaps of Polos , Golfs and the latest model Touereg. Checked out both VW showroom's yesterday to get some parts, and am looking forward to a MKV GTi in the coming years.

BTW - anything classic here is about 3 times the price in Oz, thus my past preferences for older German stuff, has been put on hold, because most I've looked at in overpriced rubbish.

Anyway, look forward to many more posts and tips on how to improve the beast(prob. RS4 Wheels and a decent exhaust.....life begins at 40 for me.....)

Cheers

Mark in Middle East.

[SoVeReIgN]

Ah nice car, interesting that they hold up so well in 40+ degree heat of Dubai!

[FknDubbin]

Welcome! What takes you to Dubai??

[Soundofav6]

Nice buy mate .. welcome to VWW too.

7000 for mk4 gti !!!! wonder how much the R32 would cost.

[99gti]

Welcome aboard markjb. I've not heard of a problem like this before, but I'm sure someone will come along with some ideas.

Congrats oin your purchase, you got a bargain!!! Keeps us up to date with how things go if you find out what the cause is.

[markjb]

Thanks Guys.

Firstly, we came to Dubai, as I was offered a job here, and couldn't resist the tax-free income! Construction, as you probably all know, is going off, so as a Project Manager, it was either now or never. Besides I had been commuting daily from Lennox Head to the Gold Coast(a good 1000klms a week) for over 3years and needed a change. So the house was rented out and here we are....

The heat on VW's .....yes, it is very interesting what 40+ degrees does to cars.You see even fairly new cars, mainly Jags and RR's beside the road, but for those who have had English cars(despite now being owned by Ford and BMW) the heat has never agreed with them. In my GTI's case, as it was sold new to a Scotsman in Germany for his wife, it has been looked after, and the whole a/c recently replaced to meet the heat here, at great expense I might add.


R32' s cost...i'll find out. I know a new MK5 GTI is AED120,000, which is about AUD$40k, as the guy I bought my MK4 from had replaced his with a beautiful red MKV GTI.

Tell me more about subtle mods.that have been tried on MK4's

Cheers

Mark