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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: mangobreeze on 08 March 2010, 20:47

Title: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 08 March 2010, 20:47
Hi guys I am looking to buy a MK5 gti fsi in a few days. To be honest hardly know anything about golf's but always wanted 1!

Its a 2005 05 plate with 99k miles. It does have full service history and 2 years private warrenty included in the deal!

I have to say I am a little worried about the mileage, but the guy says as its a VAG engine it will just run and run is this true?

Also what else do I need to be looking out for with the car with such high miles?

What sort of price should I be looking to pay for it?

Cheers guys much appreciated!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: smartypants on 08 March 2010, 23:18
Whats your budget? Are you after a cheap car or are you after a MKV GTI?

Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: marty341 on 08 March 2010, 23:25
Your probably looking at no more than 8-9k for an 05 with that kind of mileage! how many previous owners?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 08 March 2010, 23:38
Its had 3 previous owners. The price is about right then. Even though mileage at 99k will it give me plenty more hassle free miles?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 08 March 2010, 23:44
smartypants I am after a mk5 gti mate defo! Its just I have a deal lined up with a particular one thats all, which is the one I have described on here actually here is the link to it- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1531484.htm

what do you guys think?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: smartypants on 08 March 2010, 23:53
smartypants I am after a mk5 gti mate defo! Its just I have a deal lined up with a particular one thats all, which is the one I have described on here actually here is the link to it- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1531484.htm

what do you guys think?

I wouldnt not be in the least bit worried about the miles, if its as fully loaded as he says it is, then I reckon you can get that for 8200 (including bargaining margin :) )

As a benchmark I just sold mine for 10,400 - fully loaded example (with 17" monzas) 55 plate with 70k miles, and I reckon I could have got more to be honest! As long as its had the cambelt the major expense is out of the way, so you have very little to worry about.... i'd go for it :D
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 08 March 2010, 23:57
Cheers Smarty I think I will!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: marty341 on 08 March 2010, 23:59
Seems ok, but im sure you could pick one up at that price point with fewer miles! defo worth a viewing!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 00:08
All I need to know though is that the miles are nothing to worry about and that it will keep running and running, especially with 22 months warrenty on it right???

I am actually doing a swap for my 2006 renaultsport clio 197 with 44k miles
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Saint Steve on 09 March 2010, 17:03
From those Photo's, im sure those Alloys are Replica's.For those that know, close look at the face and circular sections.

They dont look quite right to me. :undecided:

Replica monza II's may show signs of early deteriation.

Lots of GTi's out there with less miles and as good a spec.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Omega on 09 March 2010, 17:31
The miles would worry me mate, if its making you unsure think about when you come to sell when its well over 100k miles for the next person!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: 2007GTI on 09 March 2010, 17:55
lloyds franchised company car = ragged
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 19:19
Oh no this is seriously putting me off now!!!

So how much do the replica's cost?

If I go for the car it will only owe me £7400 so surely thats a good deal even with the mileage right?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Omega on 09 March 2010, 19:34
Oh no this is seriously putting me off now!!!

So how much do the replica's cost?

If I go for the car it will only owe me £7400 so surely thats a good deal even with the mileage right?

Will you be thinking that when the turbo pops?

What do you mean a replica?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 19:36
Well Omega its got 22 months extensive warrenty so that would cover the turbo etc. mate
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 19:37
Are you guys basically advising me to stay clear then?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Omega on 09 March 2010, 19:39
Things are usually cheap for a reason and i would never buy a car with 100+ thousand miles, thats a hell of a lot!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: maxp on 09 March 2010, 19:47
Plus factors


Negative factors

Having said that, personally, if i was going to get a mk5, i would rather save up for a few more months and get something with less miles and that wasnt a company car, but that would just be for peace of mind.


Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Saint Steve on 09 March 2010, 19:57
Chances are those alloys look too good condition from the photos, ( a new addition)

They may have been changed to make it more attractive to a new purchaser, as a set of Replica alloys will cost less then £500 to replace.It might of had 17's on it, and changed for better eye candy to sell.

Seriously, if this is something your palnning on keeping, you need to find something with less miles.

Also 3 keepers??  Why??

I would look at others out there.

10k can buy you same year car with half that mileage fella.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 20:06
But I thought the vag engine in these golf's will just run and run if serviced properly?
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: Omega on 09 March 2010, 20:09
But I thought the vag engine in these golf's will just run and run if serviced properly?

It will if its looked after, that means warming correctly before being 'used' and company cars or lease cars are usually hammered early. Ask R32UK, he ragged both his R32 and GTI from cold! This is what wears down engines. Then there are the million other parts that are used for those 100+ thousand miles; bearings, bushes, struts, arbs etc etc

3 owners means it passed through a few people in its company life as well.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: moffspeed on 09 March 2010, 20:09
I saw a few that had been to the moon and back but eventually, last month, found :


(http://i43.tinypic.com/2a9a9ow.jpg)


'05 plate, one owner, 12,000 miles, cambelt last year, fully loaded with winter and comfort packs, VW service every 2.500 miles on average. It's 100% immaculate...and enough change out of £10K to take my wife to McDonalds for our anniversary.

It took me 4 months to find it but was well worth the wait...patience.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: smartypants on 09 March 2010, 20:49
Things are usually cheap for a reason and i would never buy a car with 100+ thousand miles, thats a hell of a lot!
100k miles is no problem these days as long as its regularly serviced.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 21:02
thanks smartypants at last an answer that gives me hope lol!!!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: smartypants on 09 March 2010, 21:39
:D

I would also echo the thoughts that if you hold on for a bit you might find one that gives you more piece of mind! Don't be in too much of a hurry.... but go and have a look at it anyway, it will give you a benchmark at the very least
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 09 March 2010, 22:15
problem is i am doing a swap for my clio i dont actually have the physical cash to shop around!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: 2007GTI on 10 March 2010, 00:29
IMO its even more important you do shop around.  I'm a bit confused as if you are buying privately or from a trader, as it sound like you are trading your current car?
just cos someone is giving you what you perceive to be a good deal on your current car, just to shift a high mileage car no one else wants (that by the sounds of it is over priced if moffspeed got that minter for under £10k) , time to take a second look and sell your clio privately and shop around.
also unsure what you mean it will owe you £7400, are you excluding the money your current car is worth?

2 years private warrenty = maybe pretty much worthless, read the small print, i bet it needs full VAG services, there will be some way that its void, esp on a high miler.

problem is i am doing a swap for my clio i dont actually have the physical cash to shop around!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 10 March 2010, 10:07
Erm Egbert Nosh, was that really called for? Explain yourself please!

I meant the car owes me £7400 as thats all I paid for it, but I suppose it is worth quite a bit more than that up to £9k.

I do have a bit of a feeling that people who give advise on these forums tend to be quite paranoid and negative correct me if im wrong?

But Egbert stay off the thread if its causing you problems lol!!!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: moffspeed on 10 March 2010, 13:38
I guess the "go away" could be translated as "walk away" - but I'm not sure.

All I would say is :

a) that a touch of paranoia may be a healthy thing when buying a used car - I still remember nearly buying an immaculate one-owner Saab convertible off a posh and seemingly honest gent in Surrey, at the last minute I did an HPI check to find that it was Cat C and had outstanding finance, the gent act disappeared when I told him I was on the case...

b) stretch yourself to buy the best you can possibly afford - generally the extra amount spent now will translate into far lower maintenance/replacement bills in the longer run. I'd set your limit at 70K miles..and definitely with a cam belt change behind it...they're out there around the £9K mark.

c) 100K isn't a massive amount for a modern car/engine : but when you buy your Golf R in 3 years time will there really be a market for a 140K mile GTI ??

d) above all, whatever GTI you end up in...ENJOY IT !!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: maxp on 10 March 2010, 15:35
I dont mean to be rude at all, but just reading through this thread, it seems like you have already decided you are going to get it and have come here in the hope that everyone will say 'go for it' to silence any of the alarm bells ringing about the deal, when the consensus has been lukewarm at best.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 10 March 2010, 18:02
Yeah think your right guys im going to walk away!!!
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: 2007GTI on 10 March 2010, 20:23
good lad, you know it makes sense.
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: marty341 on 11 March 2010, 22:52
best thing Mango, be patient keep looking! go and view afew, and dont be afraid to walk away.

Good luck with your search, let us all know when you get your gti  :wink:
Title: Re: Help!!! Looking to buy 1st golf gti please advise!!!
Post by: mangobreeze on 12 March 2010, 10:36
Ive had a lucky escape pulled out of the deal and seller immediately knocked £700 off asking price and banged it on ebay- dodgy! Also told me a pack of lies! Thanks for you advice guys you really helped me avoid a disaster!!!

It has really got me wanting a gti though now so will sell mine and take my time!

Hopefully next time I post on the forum I will be introducing my new mk5 gti!!!