Conclusion
The old advice – buy the best you can afford. That means relatively rust free or had all the main corrosion areas treated, welded and resprayed neatly. The mechanicals are nowhere near as problematic. Buy a nice MK1 and you can’t go wrong, they make amazingly reliable, practical and dynamic modern classics. As a package it’s a superb driver’s car — offering a rare blend of modern classic charm with reasonable maintenance costs, simple mechanicals, and excellent parts availability, both genuine and aftermarket.
Every variant delivers more smiles-per-miles than just about any car of its age — and certainly more than many modern cars today. What makes the MK1 so special is how they handle, feel and drive — that’s what made them famous in the first place. So don’t get too focused (no pun intended) on finding the biggest engine or highest power output. The real joy of a MK1 comes from it’s feel, balance, and simplicity — a proper driver’s car through and through.
Ultimately, power is not what they are about!