Not Sure What To Do With My Gti - After Info And Inspiration (Long Rea

[Weser 30]

I have been wondering for a while what to do with my 1.9 gti (and car situation as a whole tbh), its got to the point where its starting to annoy me as I really don't know what to do - so I am after some opinions.

 

A bit of background:

Daily I drive the Bora and the Mrs drives her Rav4. The camper is used occasionally but constantly kept road legal and insured. This year I have had the gti on the road on a classic policy which hasn't happened for a while and just used it for a bit of weekend fun. The Cti is kept in storage and in the summer I swap it with the Bora sometimes for a couple of months. If we ever go anywhere long distance we use the Bora. All was hunky dory with this set up that is until we found out the Mrs is preggers. Don't get me wrong we are over the moon - its due in august and its all exciting times. However being a car person its been playing on my mind that we haven't got a car that would do the job as a family waggon. We need one, in my opinion one thats 04 or newer, large enough to have the baby stuff in and take the dog in the boot. Im thinking some sort of 4x4 thingy as I am not a fan of 7 seaters or estates.

 

Now I thought I had a plan which was to sell both the bora and the Rav4 to buy this family car and bump the gti to my daily driver but after taking the gti out for a run the other day the gti seems not to be performing too well. The clutch has started to slip and the rear beam needs a rebuild as I can only seem to get 200miles (normal driving) from a tank and I just do not know why. Now the clutch isn't too much of an issue for me but with the fact we are franticly try to finish bits of the house we started to do work on before the baby comes it means I havn't got the time or knowledge tbh to refurb the beam and sort the excessive fuel useage. Now because of this I am be-grudgingly thinking of selling the gti as well but I want to get as much from it as I can to put towards another vehicle as a daily driver.

 

I see it as I have a few options:

- Sell the gti as it is take a big cut out of the money but less hassle

- Fix the gti and sell it in a better condition

- Break the gti for parts to help the rest of the 205 community

- Fix the gti and go back to square 1 and use it as a daily

- Leave it in a shed somewhere so that in 15 years time I can hopefully afford to fix it up and restore it

 

Does anyone have any inputs on these. How much will I be looking at to get a rear beam refurbed, whos my nearest and best bet to get it refubed, happy for PMs on this. Anyone have any ideas on what could be causing the fuel issue? Should I break it is it worth a lot in bits or should I get rid and cut my losses. I am being genuine here it really is playing on my mind and I am open to ideas.

 

A bit about the gti, its a ph2 laser green 1.9 standard. It has done just under 30,000miles which is believed to be genuine millage and is backed up by a couple of old receipts. I brought it from a guy that had loads and was losing his lock up and had to get rid of some. I got this cheap as it has been repaired at some point very early on in its life. It has had new wings, bonnet and drivers door and lost its original peugeot sport front bumper and rear bumper but still has its sideskirts. Don't get me wrong its a very presentable car and seems to get a bit of admiration when I am out in it. It would be ideal for someone that knows what they are doing and knows these cars to fix the niggles and give a bit of tlc to have a low millage classic.

 

To the mods this is not trying to be a for sale ad just looking for some advice on what people think I should do.

 

Thanks Andy

 

[Anthony 1,003]

Fuel issue is probably something simple - around 200 miles to a tank but no obvious symptoms of anything wrong sounds like classic ECU temp sensor to me.

 

Beam isn't a huge amount of time to swap over, and you can buy a ready refurbished one from someone on here if you're not in a position to do it yourself. Clutch is a few hours work and say £50 for a clutch, and you know it'll be good for years then.

 

Personally, I love daily driving a 205 and it's joyfully refreshing doing so, but I accept that won't be true of everyone, especially if you going to be time poor and perhaps not in a position to be able to do all the inevitable upkeep required when daily driving an older car. Obviously a good one should cope just fine, but you do need to keep on top of preventative maintenance to keep them reliable and sweet running.

[MiniGibbo 142]

Why can't a bora be used a baby daily..?

 

Never understood when people are expecting there first child they go out and buy a 7 seater......

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

 

All was hunky dory with this set up that is until we found out the Mrs is preggers. Don't get me wrong we are over the moon - its due in august and its all exciting times. However being a car person its been playing on my mind that we haven't got a car that would do the job as a family waggon. We need one, in my opinion one thats 04 or newer, large enough to have the baby stuff in and take the dog in the boot. Im thinking some sort of 4x4 thingy as I am not a fan of 7 seaters or estates.

 

I think you'll be OK with a Bora (basically a Golf with a boot?). I had a 1 series when my lad 'popped out', and that has s*it boot space but we managed. I mean, what you got to take about....a buggy/pramette (go in boot), car seat (back seat with Mum) and a bag of s*it (back seat).

 

Fix the 205 as your everydayer, and let the wife/partner blat about in the Bora. Sorted.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Out the Bora, replace it with a Passat, job done, you've gained the space you (think you) need, you maybe will lose 5mpg.

[Weser 30]

Food for thought guys thanks. I am sure you can understand that I don't really know what I am letting myself in for as this is my first kid.

Don't get me wrong I love the bora probably the best car I have owned. Great drive, reliable and economic however the fact remains the dog can't travel with us as its not a hatchback. Tom does the Passat have a hatchback style boot? Maybe I shouldn't worry about the dog too much but for me shes part of the family and when we take the kid out I would like to think we could bring her along.

 

Would like to keep the gti as a daily like you say its a refreshing drive and fun. The preventative maintenance wont be the easiest for me to keep up on but I should be able to manage.

Anthony by ecu temp sensor I take it you mean the coolant one in the block for the ecu? I did replace this but it wasn't with a genuine pug part do you think this could be where my issues lie with the fueling? Clutch I can handle myself but the rear beam is something I would rather buy and replace or send out to be refurbed. Whos the guy that sells beams on here do you know? Anyone local to me do refurbing?

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

 

Tom does the Passat have a hatchback style boot?

 

Passat Estate?

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

As above, Passat estate, or what about an Octavia, they have a hatch.

[JamesE 5]

I think the main issue is the dog. Have two kids and up until last year my 3 door Ibiza was the family car. Replaced it with a Fiesta.

 

Despite what people will tell you, babies don't need shed loads of gear when you go out.

Only down side of a small car is the lack of pram space, which we only used twice. The kids were in buggies at 6 months old.

 

Our family car is now a 5 door Fiesta (didn't want a 5 door, spec was right). I find it easier to lift the kids in and out of a 3 door. They are now old enough to jump in themselves.

 

Don't be suckered into a big car just cos of a baby. The dog is obviously a different matter, and I can't offer any advice on that!

[adie205 12]

2nd Octavia, great car without the vw tax

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

We sold the convertible and bought an E91 to carry the baby it's not really that big, Passat is larger.

We wanted to carry bikes, obviously baby and holiday related belongings abroad quickly and quietly.

[mikeygulley 19 1 Cars]

When my first baby came along I refused to stop using the 205 (much to my wifes disgust!) But it was fine up until the 2nd baby. The puschair is big and controlling a nearly 2 year old while fetching the other out was/is tricky so I bought a subaru imprezia GL. It made life easier for sure and I could take a dog out too no problem. Since the wife left me I rarely use the subaru and she still turns her nose up at the 205 when I roll up to pick up the stinks! Hahaha!

 

I didn't have much time for maintenance before but I always found at least a couple of hours a week which was enough. Now I have plenty!

One child is a breeze, not much is needed on a day out.

 

Oh yea don't get a subaru, not much mpg and its crap!! Keep the 205 I can guarentee you would regret ever selling it!

[turbosteve 1]

2nd Octavia, great car without the vw tax

 

Totally agree with this, Skoda have been underrated for years and these are superb cars, the Octavia hatch has a huge boot that will fit pretty much the largest pushchair you can find with ease and still have room for the dog!

 

As you have the CTI for some fun, is not selling the GTI and the RAV4 an option to help fund the family car, keeping the Bora as the daily drive for reliability and economy?

Edited April 27, 2013 by turbosteve

[Weser 30]

Thanks for all the info guys. Its nice to hear all your experiences.

 

Selling the gti and the Rav4 is a option we will see. At the moment something else has come to light as an option. I will have to see how it progresses when my insurance is up but we will see. I will keep you informed.

[notamondayfan 44]

We bought a Mazda 6 estate when our baby came along. OK the space is great, but 99% of the time it wasn't needed.

 

We now have a Honda Jazz, much smaller, but don't really struggle too much. So long as you can get a push chair in the back, you'll be fine. Don't think a bigger car will be easier, all you end up doing is just filling it with crap you probably don't really need anyway! And if you are still struggling for space, just get a roof box.

[Batfink 201]

I have an a4 estate for twins. As I have to have two of everything I need the larger car. I don't see why you would need as big or bigger for one