The more I think about it the more I am tempted to make an offer on that 1.8T looks like they can be a bit of fun if you get them re-mapped.
P.s. the MK4 Golf was CAT D and I didn't realise so I didnt even drive it as it was pretty battered and apparently struggles into 1st gear, nice of the **** to tell me that on the phone before I drove an hour to see it.
It's in Chorley the OP is not prepared to look further than the end of his road.
Mpg an issue for you? If not my £600 jeep Cherokee has been faultless for the last year. A simple fluid change every year keeps them on the road pretty much. Leather seats, air con, electric windows, mirrors and seats. Soft, squishy and much like driving around in your armchair most of the time.
I don't consider MK4 Golfs as that ancient.
At best they are 8 years old!Fair enough the Mk4s aren't that ancient
Fair enough the Mk4s aren't that ancient, but you were looking at Mk3's which are. A 130,000 mile old turbocharged engine is not compatible with cheap and reliable however. There are much better options if you need to run a car on a tight budget.
BTW, all the 1.8T's are turbocharged, the 'T' is the giveaway. There is also a normally aspirated 1.8 20V engine that was fitted to VAG's of this era.
Yeahtoday I drove all three (including the 2.0 GTI) out of the three I much preferred the 1.8T
Wow those xsara's are a lot of car for the money! My only reservation is that it looks expensive on the insurance, group 16 seems high for that.