L Reg 205 Gti - Worth Saving?

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

Hey guys,

 

As some of you maybe aware, I've been looking for a decent phase 2 half-leather seat, I've found a 1993 L-plate 1.9 that somebody is breaking for bits saying it needs too much for the MOT,

 

now; my question is, how rare is a late GTI and is it worth trying to purchase it as a whole car from him if it's not too striped? I've factored in that it's going to need welding and the like but it's purely something I would buy to fix, MOT and sell on as quickly as possible since the late cars seem to fetch much higher money than the early cars from what I've seen recently.

 

I'm not about making money on it, I'd just really want to save it from its fate and get it into the hands of someone who will look after it (that'd be me if I didn't have my 1.6) but at the same time, I'd like to break-even when selling it.

 

Thoughts guys? Should I let it go or try and save it?

Edited April 29, 2014 by forbeslongden

[welshpug 1,657]

What is too much?!

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

Apparently it needs welding which I would imagine is inner wings, boot floor etc, and 'loads of little jobs' which he said it would be worth more in parts.

[welshpug 1,657]

See my Silver puglet thread, or Damir's thread form a few years ago.

 

 

 

They're always worth more in parts, if the parts aren't fooked, even the most expensive gti's might be.

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

This is very true, but if the option is there and I throw some money at getting it sorted, do you think it would be better to try and keep a later one on the road or should I just let it be?

 

I figured it would be worth more in parts than it would be to fix it but I suppose I'm banking on him just not wanting to spend the cash to get it roadworthy whereas, I am. Obviously I'd want to swap a few bits that are a little tired on my 1.6 but I reckon somebody would cherish that car if it was back up to at least drivable project status.

[luggy 13]

Hi Forbes

I think you need to see the car, take some pics and evaluate how bad the rust is.

How much has already been stripped?

How much does he want for the whole car?

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

Hello there, good sir!

 

I'm going to have a look at it this evening so I will try and get some snaps of it, as far as he's aware, I'm only going for the seat and door cards but if the car isn't beyond economical repair I will try and take it off his hands.

 

Certainly the point is how much of it is still together, looking at his eBay, he has had a 1.6 apart too and the only part listed from this one is the glove box and possibly the rear clusters have been sold, looking further into the picture I can see the grey carpet has been removed.

 

Thankfully, the car is only 30 miles from me so I could easily recover it. But, and I guess the biggest 'but' is that the car must still be in an order that I can see myself getting it back together in.

 

Also it's a non-sunroof shell. Maybe if I don't take it on, someone will buy the remains for racing.

Edited April 29, 2014 by forbeslongden

[lightflow 59 1 Cars]

Forbes - I feel like a vulture circling, But I might be interested in a the other front seat. More specifically, I am after the some really good condition seat squab fabric. All my leather is in good shapre. So if you don't go for the whole car and do just take a seat I'd appreciate your opinion on the condition of the other one...

 

I suppose it is this very desire for parts which makes the idea of scrapping so appealing. But it would be good to save it!

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

Thi car needs saving as a whole if someone can, it woulf be a shame to scrap this.

 

The later cars are relatively scarce but do suffer more from more rot than earlier cars, but the motronic set up makes the engine idle better even if it does lose 8 bhp.

 

Is there no way that someone can keep it all together?

Edited April 29, 2014 by stufarri

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

hey there guys,

 

In regards to the seat I will take a photo for you, I'm not sure if either of the seats are any good but I'm gambling that a late car may have decent interior.

 

I will only try and save it if he is going to realistic with the price which I doubt, I've approached others breaking GTi's before and once they've started breaking they rarely will sell the rest or will want £1000 for a semi-broken rot box.

 

If I do end up with it, it will be on here for first refusal once it is fixed.

[omega 82]

simple

its blue so it needs saving

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Take a look at the one I just scrapped on my FB page, if your not on there I'll post some pics and that was a late K plate

[audiobull 6]

save it or send me the details and ill try save it.

there will be loads of seats etc soon but the shell is what the seats go in and if they are all scrapped even the ones that need a bit of welding then you wont have anything to put all the seats and parts for sale on or in.

 

if its not a complete rotter ask for the shell when he is finished stripping, that way it will be nice and cheap rather then the unrealistically high prices they may want.

[Jolly Green Monster 51 1 Cars]

I think they are only going to go up in value.. so I cannot see you losing money on it unless he wants silly money for it..

 

I think he would be lucky to get £500-600 breaking it.. and then he has the hassle of selling numerous parts to people and having so many different people trying to get something for nothing.

 

go for it

 

maybe this should be a mission for us as a group to all chip in and save them.. mind you the more that are gone the higher the value of the ones left.....

 

Simon

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

I agree with you Simon, I'd sooner save them, on the one hand yes, less means more money for the remaining but, there's also group buys and getting mass orders of repros done, without people cherishing them there aren't any new parts in future year

 

 

 

as far as the shell goes I got some photos and it's got tonnes of life left in it, major downside is the chassis plate isn't there and there's some welding that's been done pretty roughly. He offered me the shell without the engine for peanuts.

[Jolly Green Monster 51 1 Cars]

chassis plate not there???? not ideal....

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

Here's some pictures, the rest will be on my Flickr

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69427891@N06/

 

The Laser wasn't for sale sadly.

[audiobull 6]

that looks ok. what do you mean chassis plate? looks like its stamped??

 

id chip in or save it. looks like it has many years left. question is he has 2 205's, one has the chassis plate missing and the other is not for sale? time to check for cut n shut or get the reg for a hpi check. looks a tidy shell though.

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

He's got two L reg ones, one which is fully mint with an MI16 engine, the other is the one pictured, the Laser is his friends, I did ask if it was for sale

 

He also has a few red 205's kicking about as well as other cars maybe an XR2I if I wasn't mistaken? Anyway, for the price he wants for it it's worth a punt. I'm tempted but it would be a short turnaround for me since it would be recovered and straight to a garage whereas if anyone else here is interested seriously in it, PM me and I will pass on his details to you.

 

He knows his 205's he commented on my STDT when I arrived and knew the later interior (which I bought) also the car was a former Just GTI one.

[hexhamstu 9]

Miami blue non-sunroof, definitely worth saving!

Edited April 30, 2014 by hexhamstu

[audiobull 6]

do we know prices for it? Id be interested but where is it as i need to think about recovery which i have no clue where to start looking.

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

Didn't have a grey carpet did it?

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

There wasn't a Grey carpet in the car since there was a bucket seat welded to the floor in the car, the interior has been pretty much striped aside the centre console which is grey.

 

The car is deep in Cornwall Audiobull, my STDT had a fair old job getting down there so I could only imagine what it'd be like for a recovery truck!