Hunting for a nice Golf

[Tractor Dave]

Looking for a nice petrol Golf for my boy. He is only 22 and has just started work away from home so can't afford the insurance on a GTi. So a 1.4 of 1.5 tsfi in good condition with full service history. Anyone selling something nice? Mk7 or 7.5 preferably. I'm in West Wales but happy to travel.
Thanks
Dave

[Tractor Dave]

Just an update on this. My boy found a nice 7.5 1.5 driver at his local main dealer. He drove home in it yesterday after collecting it on Wednesday. Being a bit of a home mechanic, I gave it the once over. I was shocked!
This is an approved used car with just over 40k miles on the clock.
Both front tyres are worn on the inside edges and need replacing, the rear brake pads have only 2mm left and all four shocks are leaking oil!
On doing a few more checks ( we should have done this before, I know) mot history check revealed all these were pointed out at the last mot a few weeks ago, presumably done by VW themselves.
It's going back on Tuesday.

[joe6]

That is taking the p!!! even for a main stealer. Surprised it passed the mot as 2mm is the minimum spec so within a couple of weeks use would fail. No care about customer safety in this case. Give them he'll.

[madstaff]

Sorry, im not trying to say its acceptable or anything, but 'technically' its all ok, although not what you expect from a newly purchased car.

2mm is above the 1.5mm minimum thickness for disc pads so is a pass.

Front tyres as long as 1.6mm tread depth across the centre ¾ is also a pass.

Light misting of oil on the dampers is not a reason for rejection, even VW state a light misting of oil is acceptable.

Good practice to advise on all the above.

[P6GTD]

I think the key indicator on used cars is the tyres.
I remember looking at a nice Mk 7 and being repelled by the cheapo covers on the front.
It just said “company car or hire/pcp” to me.
Immediate no-no.
And here is the problem….I bought my car for cash, outright. Very old school.
Not convinced everyone in a different camp cares so much.

[Exonian]

I’ve just made a similarly regrettable error involving misplaced optimism.
I just sat through 1hr 45 of “Barbie” movie. 





Although these tolerances are vaguely above the legal minimum you’d expect rather more from a main dealer.
Oh yes, misplaced optimism again.

[Exonian]

The more I think about this the more it grates me.
VW harp on about the 142 point checks etc etc which makes one wonder what exactly they do check.
I won’t bore everyone here but my son’s girlfriend had a bit of an experience with an “approved used” car too. Mostly sorted in the end but still a faff.

[madstaff]

I suppose where the Das Welt Auto warranty (hopefully) counts is when, for example, ths DSG box has nothing but neutrals.

[Adam T7]

I think the key indicator on used cars is the tyres.
I remember looking at a nice Mk 7 and being repelled by the cheapo covers on the front.
It just said “company car or hire/pcp” to me.
Immediate no-no.
And here is the problem….I bought my car for cash, outright. Very old school.
Not convinced everyone in a different camp cares so much.

100% agree, 4 matching tyres of a quality make speak legends. Also agree on the cash and own outright philosophy.

[SRGTD]

The more I think about this the more it grates me.
VW harp on about the 142 point checks etc etc which makes one wonder what exactly they do check.
I won’t bore everyone here but my son’s girlfriend had a bit of an experience with an “approved used” car too. Mostly sorted in the end but still a faff.

Interesting that the 142 point check is now ‘a comprehensive workshop inspection with over 100 individual checks’ - see ‘Multipoint check’ section at the following link;  https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/used-cars/benefits-and-offers.html.

The ‘over 100’ gives VW the opportunity to change the number of checklist items to something other than 142. The cynic in me would say VW would be more likely to reduce the number of items checked to something less than 142 rather than increase it, and…………..surprise, surprise, that’s exactly what they’ve done at some point . Checklist is now 130 items; link to VW’s Approved Used checklist below;

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/idhub/content/dam/onehub_pkw/importers/gb/used/approved-used-benefits/Approved_Used_Handover_sheets_ICE_Digital_edited.pdf

@Tractor Dave said in post that brake pads have only 2mm of friction material. Assuming when new the friction material thickness would have been 10mm - 12mm, then according to item 87 of the checklist they should have been replaced as they’re more than 70% worn. Again, the cynic in me would say it’s somewhat ironic that dealers have been known to recommend customers having their car’s brake pads changed when they’re 50% worn, yet they sell a car under the Approved Used scheme with pads that are 80% or more worn. Just saying………… .