If you want to remove the existing manifolds and replace them with euro spec it will cost around £1000 labour plus the cost of buying euro spec parts at around £350 per side. So budget £1700 plus you then need to replace the secondary pipe as Euro spec manifolds come with a four bolt flange rather than a two bolt. So basically this route is cost prohibitive for all but the most dedicated.
Much cheaper to just cut them open, gut them, weld back up and fit sports cats further back. Relocate the lambda sensors while your at it, from what I've read the wires are long enough to do it. I have had a quote of £650 to do that on my GS.
As for the car you are looking at I would agree with Dicky, get a PPI done if your in doubt. For me a new clutch stacks in its favour and TBH as many of the cars are around 10 years old now expect some areas in need of cosmetic attention in many of the vehicles that are for sale.
As regards brakes they not all that great - even with brand new discs, yellowstuff pads and new Michelin PSS all round the brakes on my GS still leave something to be desired. They aren't bad but lets just say my daily drive Golf GTi gets me out of trouble better...
Thanks... that's kinda where I'm at... most cars will have some secrets or surprises... at least with this one I know some positives i.e. clutch, bodywork, suspension, rear brake rebuild.
I have pushed the seller today so we'll see what they come back with. I'm not really expecting them to go the whole hog... But if they at least move a fair amount on price to reflect some work it may get me there.
I'll wait and see what they say. PPI wise... I think the only think left is to have it on an SD3 system or similar... because I've had it on a ramp... crawled all over it... even watched the brakes being stripped on identification of an issue... some the computer history is all that really remains to tell. If I can get a sensible position on the exhaust then I will maybe get that checked as a final stage.
Whilst throwing thousands at it isn't the idea... at the right price it gives me an excuse to work up the exhaust system to my spec a little sooner than I might otherwise have got to!
For the brakes... I guess decent pads... braided hoses and a high spec fluid will have a pretty positive impact on peddle feel...
Cheers
Chris