1991 B3 coupe opinion/advice

[R5T]

Evening gang
Thought I would put this past you all before I do rush into anything, after my current car being on the road for 6 months ive finally Made the decision to hunt for for a B3 coupe. At first I was looking at 2.0ltr models due to the cost of insurance (apparently being a 19 yr old male means insurance companies don't like you) but after some more research they dont seem to want to sting me as much as what I had anticipated. So... After a few weeks of scouring the forums and various ebays and what nots I've found one fairly local to me that caught my eye. It's a 1991 H-reg, in White ( unsure of the name ) 2.3E non quattro(I'm assuming the NG ?). It's up for near scrap value as it has no tax or MOT but from the pictures looks in pretty straight order. The person advertising has left no phone number and is taking 3 day periods to respond to any emails. He has a pretty limited advert description, hasn't said how many miles it's done, if it has any history, why it's off the road or how long it's been sat around ... Now living with a fellow forum member has it's advantages but just incase my father (v6beast67) has neglected to tell me anything, I'm just posting this to see what you guys think ? And if there is anything specific to that year/model that I should be made aware of upon actually going to look at the car. Sorry that the description is a bit vaig but I don't know anymore about the motor . Either way ... Any opinion or input is appreciated and I hope it all plays out in my favour if so I shall be sure to share some pictures and progress with her!
Looking forward to it all !
Thanks guys
Sam

[re2500]

My advice would be to do your research into what coupe models cost to insure for yourself, use an only calculator (elephant or something to compare) The engines i would recommend would be the 2.3E 10v (NG) as you have mentioned before. But the 2.3 20V 7A engine is a fair bit quicker but probably has no difference to the insurance. 2.0 16v in my experience is usally more expensive to insure than the 5cyl engines, and V6 even more again.
I would definately consider a quattro if you plan on keeping the car and upgrading it, as you have the option to go as far as you want with it (see my sig) theyre also ace in the snow!

If i was in your shoes i would be looking for a 2.3 20v quattro or a 2.3E quattro, mileage and history wouldnt be important to me (because everything else can be replaced with relative ease if your handy with spanners. But i would be going for the best bodied car i could find (least dents/rust/scratches/body repairs)
Bear in mind the 2.3 20v quattro and 2.3E quattro share very similar suspension and drivetrain to the S2 (deemed the sports suspension) but the earlier 2.2E quattro (KV) is different.

Because these cars are getting older and rarer, dont feel you have to settle for the first one you see, be sure your totally happy with it.

Just some food for thought. Good Luck

[simon20vq]

I had a 2.3 10v in a 90 and it was a great engine, lots of torque and great mpg highly recommend it, best of luck.
On another note.....RS2500 I PM'ed you did you receive my mail?
thanks

[R5T]

Thanks for the response mate, like I said ive done a fair bit of research into insurance and like you mentioned the 5 pots are coming up marginally cheaper than the 2.0. I agree totally with trying to find the best bodied one I can, although I'm fairly competent with a set of spanners I would never be confident with a rattle can ! The one I'm waiting to hear on looks fairly straight in the 6 or 7 photos shown, obviously I don wanna base an opinion on photos though. So I'm waiting to finally get a contact number from the chap selling it to have a chat before I do go and take a look. I know miles don't really matter, but I wouldn't mind knowing if its had a cambelt in it's life and how long it's been sat about. Either way I am looking forward to it and I'd love to do something different with it, financially restricted unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for the response bud, much appreciated
Sam

[bluequattro]

Just buy my v6 off me and enjoy yourself!

[R5T]

If I could afford to insure a v6 coupe I'd have my dads byzanz 2.6 off of him ! Looking at it ... B4 fronted coupes later than 1995 are ridiculously expensive for me to insure :/ if I could then believe me I'd be tempted ! And simon20vq, I agree the 10v NG is a great engine, my old man had an early B4 coupe 2.3e, was a bullet proof unit and a great sound ! After recently owning a b3 90 with the KV but seems to rate the NG over it. Thanks for the input chaps ... I still haven't heard back from him yet ... Last heard from him on Thursday ! Either way, thanks again
Sam.

[mcandmar]

As above try and get a 20v quattro, thats what i bought when i was limited by insurance. Even if you go for a 10v buy a quattro as they handle much better IMO.

[R5T]

Yep totally agree ! But I'm not looking to go fast or anything, I just want something I can enjoy polishing and what not lol, insurance is no different but they all seem few and far between trying to find them :/ if I found one for the right price then I wouldn't hesitate, ATM I'm not looking to spend anymore than about 600 squids. I know that's not a lot, but I'm not expecting show winning condition.
Sam

[slacky]

http://www.graham-sykes.co.uk/

Try these ,I got a quote for my 19 yr old
lad ,
£1800 for a 1.6 1990 golf ,but that was
TPFT ??
Now if your aware of prices for this age group
It can be around £3000 ....
I havnt gone Ahead with it yet ,i was just getting
Ideas.
Strangely they quote for modified
Cars only ! ?
Still can't get my head round it ,
Ie ,I said it had been lowered ,
Larger wheels & a bigger air filter....

[R5T]

Thanks for the link slacky, however looking at insurance qoutes on any b3 car, be it 80, 90, quattro, non quattro, 2.3 10v, 2.3 20v or 2.0, they are all coming up between 1200 and 1600 pound, cheapest being £1439 for an H-Reg 1991 2.3e coupe, non quattro ... it seems none of this insurance malarky has any rhyme or reason to it.
Sam

[slacky]

Your right there,
which companies We're those quotes from,
they are very good

[andy10v]

Ouch, have you tried adding a parent as a named driver? That brings my policy down considerably(even though at a different address, with their own car).

It is cheaper for me to insure my S2 than my 80 tdi though, work that out.

Some of the insurance companies that are cheap for young people do not insure quattro versions under 25, pretty frustrating.

That seems pretty steep though, my 3B was £1200 all mods when I was 21, and dropped to £600 when I turned 22, stock aby was £450 aged 22.

[Drummer87]

Andy what insurance company you with??

[andy10v]

Admiral.

[R5T]

I must admitt, a few people i know have got good quotes through admiral, however when i spoke to them they couldnt get anywhere near what im paying now for my little 1.0ltr Polo. As it is at the moment, I am insured 3rd party only, with both parents as named drivers (neither have ever claimed), and im paying £980 a year. Bearing in mind I only pulled my finger out and passed my test last december, it is quite cheap. Most lads i know are paying upwards of £1500 for there little ricer saxo's and what not. I'm with Igo4 insurance, for anyone that wanted to know. Im 19, live at home with parents in a residential area, car is parked on a driveway overnight, annual mileage is no more than 3000, and I have a years no claims on my provisional. The qoutes for a B3 Coupe come up all between £1400 and £1600 depending on spec etc. If i jump to a B4 front it rockets up to around £3500 .
Thanks for the responses everyone, its much appreciated that you all advise a 19 yr old newbie !
Many thanks
Sam