GTI Rebuild - The Decision

[anarchycamp]

You may or may not have read that im doing some stuff to the MkII. (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ead.php?t=9952) I was going to get a full respray but after some pricing investigation and talking to some experts about the current condition of my car ive decided to just get the bodywork fixed up and keep the same colour rather than full respray. This however frees up some funds to do something else at the moment:

Option 1 - The Powah
Get an ABF 2.0 16v (brand new) motor installed - This is pushing the current funds limit and will probably stop anything else for the next 8 months or so...

Option 2 - The Looks
Get body/panels fixed, new lighting, some interior work, grill, badges etc etc then get a new motor installed at a later date with the possibility that this ABF motor might not be available further down the track.
I cant make up my freaking mind!!

[gpk_gti]

stealth is best!! make it a sleeper!! with big POWAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

[hazards_golf74]

i a looks type of guy but the engine is nice too

[peedman]

I would go down the engine route. I am currently in a dry spell for cash but once uni finishes its all steam ahead. Prior to that ive just been collecting/hoarding parts and the water works will happen once the dancing starts to pay off at oxford st

[mollins]

give it some go... for sure

who cares what your car looks like if it goes as slow as a stock mk2..

also.. who cares what your car looks like if it goes like stink

you can tell by the look of my cars that performance is more important

if you go ABF or something as fast.. then make sure you leave some spare money for a brake upgrade

[ausgolfer]

Personally I'm a performance oriented person, that said...what are your suspension and brakes like?
I'd hate nothing more than a car that went like stink in a straight line but fell appart come a corner or braking.

[anarchycamp]

You make valid points about brakes/suspension etc....my issue with going down the ABF path at the moment is that ill need new clutch, new mounts and as you said ideally bigger brakes etc...its the extras that are the killer. Budget is pushed by the engine, the brakes/suspension may kill it i think.

As far as the looks go, I dont plan on ricing it up or anything...just new stock looking bits and pieces...get it clean looking and new(ish) again.

Another question....if i put the motor on hold for 12 months...how likely is it ill be able to get my hands on another motor that I will want to put in, ABF, VR6(maybe) or something similar..ABF is very appealing due to the ease of install.

[ausgolfer]

As far as the looks go, I dont plan on ricing it up or anything...just new stock looking bits and pieces...get it clean looking and new(ish) again.

Thats what I did with mine, and did the suspension, only thing is I already had 16v power made the choice a litte easier.

[99gti]

Thats what I did with mine, and did the suspension, only thing is I already had 16v power made the choice a litte easier.

16v is all well and good when you have tyres that will actually get traction

[Jarred]

I voted power. Sleepers are pretty cool i reckon, especially cause most bogans wouldn't even know what your car was if you debadged it. Just don't do it half assed, so make sure you get brakes suspension. better start saving again I'd say...