Mk4 GTI Anniversary Questions

[Agar]

Hi all,

did a search for the information i require but i couldn't find anything.

Im looking to buy a Mk4 GTI anniversary. I have a few questions:

1. What are the common problems associated with them?
2. What are the MPG values for both Diesel and Petrol variants (preferrably real world figures and not the offical VW ones).
3. What are the servicing intervals, and work that is required to be done after a set period of time/millage? How much should i expect to pay for a service?
4. Do they come with HID's as standard, and do all of them have the "black" effect headlights that i have seen on some.
5. What tax band are both the petrol and desiel cars in?
6. What options were avilable at time of purchase - ive seen one for sale with leather seats, is this correct?
7. How does the plaque numbering work, ive seen ones in the 1400 region - but only 900 were sold in the UK?!

Thankyou,

Agar

[M53494]

Hi all,

did a search for the information i require but i couldn't find anything.

Im looking to buy a Mk4 GTI anniversary. I have a few questions:

1. What are the common problems associated with them?
2. What are the MPG values for both Diesel and Petrol variants (preferrably real world figures and not the offical VW ones).
3. What are the servicing intervals, and work that is required to be done after a set period of time/millage? How much should i expect to pay for a service?
4. Do they come with HID's as standard, and do all of them have the "black" effect headlights that i have seen on some.
5. What tax band are both the petrol and desiel cars in?
6. What options were avilable at time of purchase - ive seen one for sale with leather seats, is this correct?
7. How does the plaque numbering work, ive seen ones in the 1400 region - but only 900 were sold in the UK?!

Thankyou,

Agar

1) The original chrome alloys suffered from ally corrosion and were replaced with the same BBS RC alloys, but with the usual silver alloy finish.

Ensure the cam belt has been changed as required (60000mls on 150 diesel).

The correct spec PD oil MUST be used on the diesel. Otherwise serious engine wear will occurr to the cam etc.

2) Ive got a 150 diesel (Not the Anniversary though), it can do 630 ish miles on a full to the brim tank (57ish ltrs). Average consumption on the computer is 50.1 mpg over the last 12000mls. I dont tend to 'thrash' it though.

3) Long life service on the diesel is I think every 24000mls. As far as Im concerned, long life services are a load of b******s! I service mine every 6000mls. Look after a car and it will look after you. Cost? That depends on what sort of service you get. You could get a 'service done for under £100, but you wont get much more than an oil change and 'a kick of the tyres'! Or spend more at a decent independent garage and know you have had a propper service/check over done.

4) HIDs - no. Black - yes.

6) Leather option - yes.

7) There were around 1600(?) sold in the UK. Halfish of petrol and diesel.

[Agar]

Thanks for the useful info.

What do you mean by correct PD oil exactly? Is it a special grade they need to be run on?

Thankyou,

Agar

[dubcruiser]

The oil is a Specific Spec for the PD engine. It must be used as the service intervals that VW stretched the engine to take is based on using this grade oil.

I have a 180bhp petrol, non anniversary but factory spec, and my average real world consumption is 30.5mpg. On a brimed tank of 60 litres I can get 350 - 375 miles to a tank.

As for the options, according to my brochure leather wasn't an option as the anniversary had a unique Recaro interior. Metallic paint (Black or Silver) plus Cruise and Sat Nav were the only options as everything else was standard. All have Climate and 6 disc CD.

Tax wise, the petrol will be £210 a year (mine is due!) and the diesel is £120 a year.

Out of the two, I would go for the petrol. They are cheaper to buy and with the way fuel prices are going, the cost of running the petrol won't cost you much more if at all. Plus the 150 ARL PD engine can suffer from turbo failure and cam problems.

[Agar]

Excellent, just the sort of data i was after re: petrol MPG etc.

You say you have a 180bhp petrol model but not anniversary spec, i thought the anniversary models were the only ones fitted with 180bhp petrol engines?

[dubcruiser]

No, they introduced the 180bhp engine (from the TT) with 6 speed box in the Anniversary, and then in 2003 for the run out models you could buy the standard GTi in 150bhp (petrol and diesel) and the 180bhp petrol.

The 180bhp petrol has bigger brakes from the TT plus on the anniversary it had the Chrome exhaust outlet.

[M53494]

The oil is a Specific Spec for the PD engine. It must be used as the service intervals that VW stretched the engine to take is based on using this grade oil.

I have a 180bhp petrol, non anniversary but factory spec, and my average real world consumption is 30.5mpg. On a brimed tank of 60 litres I can get 350 - 375 miles to a tank.

As for the options, according to my brochure leather wasn't an option as the anniversary had a unique Recaro interior. Metallic paint (Black or Silver) plus Cruise and Sat Nav were the only options as everything else was standard. All have Climate and 6 disc CD.

Tax wise, the petrol will be £210 a year (mine is due!) and the diesel is £120 a year.

Out of the two, I would go for the petrol. They are cheaper to buy and with the way fuel prices are going, the cost of running the petrol won't cost you much more if at all. Plus the 150 ARL PD engine can suffer from turbo failure and cam problems.

Wern't there red Anniversary's too?

Re the fuel type, it really is each to their own. Personally, I wouldnt go back to petrol. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. If your likley to be doing high milages, want high torque, want to get rid of/dont want the expense of replacing the CAT, want lower road tax then go for diesel. Id say give both fuel types a test drive and have a gool look around plenty of cars to get a good one.

[Agar]

I cover very fuel miles (7000 per annum) so petrol will probably be best - still to calculate the running costs for the diesel and petrol to form a comparison.

Thanks again to everyone.

[dubcruiser]

Wern't there red Anniversary's too?

Yeah, Tornado Red which was "free", Diamond Black and Reflex Silver which were additional price options at £245.

Amazing really as on Autotrader today there is just one Red one, and plenty of the the other two colours! Red is the rarest colour but then I personally think they should of all been silver anyway. It was after all the 25th Anniversary model.