2k: Uncommonly Stockish: 1988 Volkswagen Jetta Mk II
The Mk II Volkswagen Jetta was very successful during its 1984-1992 sales life and went on to be a favorite with VW fan boys around the globe. Unfortunately, this means that most Mk II Jettas still around are stanced and/or ruined by ill-conceived swaps (2JZ-yo!!) and located a stock example is next to impossible. So, finding one that doesn’t have a plasti-dip hood or illest (just what is “illest” anyway — it sounds like something you’d get from being un-vaccinated) stickers is gotta be a victory. Find this 1988 Volkswagen Jetta Mk II offered for $2,000 in San Jose, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
The MkII Jetta features a simple boxy design that is refreshing when compared to the overstyled crap coming out of auto manufacturers these days. Headlights have become hideous appendages and taillights look like lava lamps — but not in the simple and clean styling of the 80s Jetta.
Under the hood is a 1.8 liter 4-banger good for about 107 horsepower and mated to the front wheels via a 5-speed gearbox. The basic Jetta engine isn’t a screamer, but it should return adequate performance and fuel economy with the 2200 lb Jetta.
Occupants are greeted with a set of Recaro sport seats and an aftermarket steering wheel. It isn’t a high rent interior, but what do you expect for a $2000 car that needs some work?
See another Mk II Jetta that is only a little bit stanced? tips@dailyturismo.com
These were really nice cars in GLI form, for their time at least. Yeah, as with a lot of cars of that type/time it's hard to find one that hasn't been ruined by the cut-springs crowd.
From a California perspective, though, you have to find a way to make the 20V swap invisible to the smog tech.
There's a guy down the street from me that has a two-door like this, but it's green and not nearly in as good shape. I wonder how many of those are left. I don't even see that many sedans from this generation all that much any more, either. Not around here. According to a discussion on VWVortex, there were 60,790 sold in the US (and Canada?). How many of those were coupes and of those how many still survive, I wonder. Not too rare, but certainly not something you see driving around everywhere every day. They're probably slowly disappearing.
While I don't see these here everyday, there are four (three coupes and a sedan) round here. They seem to be clean daily drivers that have no apparant modifications. I have always wanted one of these as as my uncle had a 86 gti and it was always a rush when he would take my brothers and I to the local circle track.
While I don't see these here everyday, there are four (three coupes and a sedan) round here. They seem to be clean daily drivers that have no apparant modifications. I have always wanted one of these as as my uncle had a 86 gti and it was always a rush when he would take my brothers and I to the local circle track.
While I don't see these here everyday, there are four (three coupes and a sedan) round here. They seem to be clean daily drivers that have no apparant modifications. I have always wanted one of these as as my uncle had a 86 gti and it was always a rush when he would take my brothers and I to the local circle track.
good informasion
There's something about Guigiaro's design of the Mk 1 coupe that's extremely appealing to me. I couldn't find one that appealed to me for sale online, but there seems to be a few (very few) out there. Here's a fairly nice looking 1983 diesel coupe that the motor's been swapped from a turbo to a non-turbo. Weird.
[img] farm5.staticflickr.com/4123/4909322052_e74cf2983e_z.jpg[/img]
The above picture is not the car I found for sale.