New to the group

[bhuffmann]

I just bought this car, and I don't know anything about it other than the brakes and steering have to be upgraded immediately. I don't even know if it's a MK1, 2,.....
Is there a way to tell from the factory code? Mine is F5R1005xxxRD. 191509

[Jeff Kleiner]

That's a Mk3. Looks nice!

Tell us about the brakes and steering and what makes you feel that they need to be upgraded.

Jeff

[bhuffmann]

I have to stand on the brakes to get it to stop. When I bought the car I didn't even want to drive it home across Houston, so it is being delivered. The steering isn't terrible, but I think that I would like to put the Electric Power Steering Kit on it. I don't know if it's necessary to install the power brake kit, or maybe I would be better off just going to better calipers.

[bhuffmann]

Can you tell me how you were able to identify it as an MK3?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Can you tell me how you were able to identify it as an MK3?

The number. Mk1 and Mk2 used a different numbering system that didn't include the "F5R100...RD" Further the 5000 sequence that precedes RD pegs it as mk3; the sequence for Mk4 was above 7000.

The high brake effort may be due to the pedal not having been modified to change the ratio when the car was built. If that was not done changing calipers will have no effect.

Jeff

[bhuffmann]

Thank you very much for this info, Jeff.

[gbranham]

As a point of reference, I built an early MkIII. My serial number was F5R1005060RD.