GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: chrishyder on 01 September 2008, 10:27
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Hi guys,
As per the topic title, I'd really appreciate a bit of buying advice! One of my colleagues at work is selling a 2.0 8v mk3 Golf GTI Anniversary Edition.
I've read through the buyer's guide here, but would appreciate a bit of input on the problems that it has:
1.) 2nd gear can apparently sound a bit 'rough' on cold mornings before engine has warmed up - looks like this is a standard issue with the gearbox in this car (has done 110,000 miles) and so I guess not too big a deal to worry about?
2.) Rust spots - there are two, one above the windscreen and one on the boot between the keyhole and plastics of the numberplate (fingernail sized). Both look like they can be easily sanded down and repainted...no other structural rust that I can see.
3.) There's only one key! I'm going to try and negotiate a discount based on this - do the 1997 models use the transponder immobiliser key (costing over £100ish to replace), or is it just a standard key? Seller told me that the aftermarket alarm deals with the immobiliser, so hoping it's the cheap option.
4.) Seller hasn't got any idea when the cam belt was last changed so looking to negotiate this into the price - what sort of cost can I expect for a garage to do this?
5.) Alloys may need refurbing - again, does anyone have an idea what sort of cost I'd be looking at?
Seller has put some pics up here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23526540@N06/?saved=1
He's looking for £1,200.00....any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks a lot. :laugh:
Chris
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1.) 2nd gear can apparently sound a bit 'rough' on cold mornings before engine has warmed up - looks like this is a standard issue with the gearbox in this car (has done 110,000 miles) and so I guess not too big a deal to worry about? - Pretty COmmon and gearbox oil change can often sort this in the short term
2.) Rust spots - there are two, one above the windscreen and one on the boot between the keyhole and plastics of the numberplate (fingernail sized). Both look like they can be easily sanded down and repainted...no other structural rust that I can see. - THis is again pretty common (especially the boot), check the screen one hasn't started to lift the screen rubbers. Also check the sills as these are a weak spot on MKIII's.
3.) There's only one key! I'm going to try and negotiate a discount based on this - do the 1997 models use the transponder immobiliser key (costing over £100ish to replace), or is it just a standard key? Seller told me that the aftermarket alarm deals with the immobiliser, so hoping it's the cheap option. No idea on the transponder but every VW I have bought in the last 4 years has only come with 1 set of keys. You've reminded me I need to get another set cut for the Rado!
4.) Seller hasn't got any idea when the cam belt was last changed so looking to negotiate this into the price - what sort of cost can I expect for a garage to do this? Parts are about £30 (Cambelt and tensioner), fitting should be around £100 - £150 or you can give it a go yourself. If you do buy it get it done ASAP as a snapped belt is not a happy joy joy experience
5.) Alloys may need refurbing - again, does anyone have an idea what sort of cost I'd be looking at? about £60 a wheel plus you'll need some other road legal wheels to roll on till you get them back.
For the money it sounds OK but I reckon you can easily knock £200 off for the cambelt. Alloys will always get knackered so that's not really a haggling point.
Hope that helps a bit.
Nick
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Doubling on what has been said above, cambelt is an easy job for a Mechanic on these cars so it's not too expensive to get done.
As for the key mine only came with one and i've seen a post on here about someone getting one cut and coded at timpsons for £25 so that's on my to do list as well!
You have to remember the age of the car when negotiating, it's going to have a few cosmetic things to do (alloys and maybe a bit of rust) so they aren't really major barganing points as far as i'm concerned.
But for the cambelt and key plus a gearbox oil change (also on my list of things to do!) try and knock off £200 but anything opver £100 knocked off and i'd say it's a good buy, looks clean in the pics!
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Hi guys,
Many thanks for the replies.
Will certainly keep an eye out for rust under sills and around the windscreen as you said.
Am going to aim to get it for £1,000 but would definitely settle for £1,100.00 easily. Made me chuckle that they all only seem to come with one key!
Only other thing I can think of - Parkers quotes the car as doing 31mpg - does anyone have any real life estimates as I know they can be better/worse than the official figures! My current car does 65+mpg but can no longer cope with something so slow!
Cheers,
Chris
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My 8v is doing 32mpg and that is with the vast majority of short journeys so i'm well happy with that.
On a run doing 60-70mph i get around 40.....
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Looks a good buy, would definately look at this if I was in the market to buy a mk3 now.
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I dream of figures like that, I'm lucky if I see 30mpg!
Nick
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I dream of figures like that, I'm lucky if I see 30mpg!
Nick
Thats my worst car. Our 'baby bus' Focus C-Max 2.0tdci Ghia gets over 60mpg on a run, it's not slow either!!!
:grin: :grin:
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My 8V does around 30/35mpg, I had 2 keys with mine but had to change the ign. switch/barrel so had 1 key to suit looked at getting another key and VW is your only hope as they have a coded chip in them.
Looks a good buy.
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Managed to get 39 out of mine the other day.... doing around 30mph in 5th......
Just been on a run to Newquay in mine, 325mile drive for me. was getting around 35mpg most of the way. Like any car depends on how you drive it.
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My 8V does around 30/35mpg, I had 2 keys with mine but had to change the ign. switch/barrel so had 1 key to suit looked at getting another key and VW is your only hope as they have a coded chip in them.
Not true according to this :huh:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=89387.0
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I had 2 keys with mine but had to change the ign. switch/barrel so had 1 key to suit looked at getting another key and VW is your only hope as they have a coded chip in them.
Not true according to this :huh:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=89387.0
Well you can buy the transonder keys else where (most good key shops can read the old key code and make a replacement...) and they go for around £25 and I've had no issues with my copy (all though it dosent have the rubbish torch the geniune keys have!!)
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my combined fuel figure for the last 1864 miles is 39.8 and thats without being careful. 8v all the way.com
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Well I tried the 3 local key places including timpson and none could help me, not sure why some can mind you.
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I rekon a grand would be a good buy, go for it but offer a stupid price 1st then see what he says, maybe £800??? :evil:
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anybody remember the ebay one last week that went for peanuts!! Heres the thread http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=90107.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=90107.0)
could use this for bargaining power?? Just remind him the anniversary normally goes for standard 8v money add 10-20% unless its being sold for silly money due to its "rareness!!"
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I think most mk3's now are at rock bottom prices, just look at what the mk2's were going for a few years ago to what they are now, mint ones could see the better side of 3k now!, so give it a few more years yet an all well looked after mint mk3's will be doing the same, well thats my personal opinion :smiley:
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Wow, thanks for all the replies - wasn't expecting that!
Fuel economy doesn't seem horrendous, I can cope with 35-40mpg - though are you all driving the 3 or 5 door version, as I understand that the 5 does considerably less per gallon.
Can't believe that price that the Anni went on eBay for last week - £755 is a bargain, I'll definitely use that as a bargaining tool!
Will also use the key/calm belt as well. :D
Fingers crossed!
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Fuel economy doesn't seem horrendous, I can cope with 35-40mpg -
Thats because these lot here must drive like my granny! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: 28.6mpg F.t.w :wink:
oh yeah tell him a new keys about £100 (unless he works for timpsons!!) Barter him down time ahoy :smiley:
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Fuel economy doesn't seem horrendous, I can cope with 35-40mpg -
Thats because these lot here must drive like my granny! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: 28.6mpg F.t.w :wink:
oh yeah tell him a new keys about £100 (unless he works for timpsons!!) Barter him down time ahoy :smiley:
I have an 8v gti. 140 miles to and from ed38
way there was 40mpg
way home was about 28mpg
:lol:
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Wow, thanks for all the replies - wasn't expecting that!
Fuel economy doesn't seem horrendous, I can cope with 35-40mpg - though are you all driving the 3 or 5 door version, as I understand that the 5 does considerably less per gallon.
Can't believe that price that the Anni went on eBay for last week - £755 is a bargain, I'll definitely use that as a bargaining tool!
Will also use the key/calm belt as well. :D
Fingers crossed!
Don't see why 3 door should be better than 5 on fuel?! Mines a 5 anyway (i quoted 32 mostly around town and 40 on a run)
Just remember Ebay is the cheapest place to get them and autotrader is the most expensive. I'd say your price is in between which is about right!
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Hi guys,
Thanks again for replies!
Just had another e-mail from seller - main points:
"...she is open for negotiation on the price but wouldn't like to go lower than £1000 for it...the only thing I hadn't mention on the state of the car is that the drivers side window can be temperamental. She said basically sometimes it works without a problem, other times it takes a few presses of the window button to get it to move. I guess there is a loose connection somewhere."
So, my last question to you all is - could this be an expensive thing to fix and should therefore be considering another car or is it still a reasonable deal? :smiley:
Cheers,
Chris
[edit: think the reason the 3 is better on fuel is that the body of the 5 door version likely weighs a fair bit more.]
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1k? Is that all these are worth now? :shocked:
can no longer cope with something so slow!
No comment :tongue:
Why would a 5 door weigh a lot more?
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Well that's the only thing I could think of, but according to Parkers they weigh the same, so might just be an error with their figures!
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It won't weigh a lot more but I doubt they are the same weight. Probably 10 kilos max.
Nick
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Hi guys,
Thanks again for replies!
Just had another e-mail from seller - main points:
"...she is open for negotiation on the price but wouldn't like to go lower than £1000 for it...the only thing I hadn't mention on the state of the car is that the drivers side window can be temperamental. She said basically sometimes it works without a problem, other times it takes a few presses of the window button to get it to move. I guess there is a loose connection somewhere."
So, my last question to you all is - could this be an expensive thing to fix and should therefore be considering another car or is it still a reasonable deal? :smiley:
Cheers,
Chris
[edit: think the reason the 3 is better on fuel is that the body of the 5 door version likely weighs a fair bit more.]
More than likely a broken / damaged wire in the door loom (or dodgy switch). Worst case is a new regulator (anything from £30 to £50 on fleabay).
Mine had two dodgy windows, one was the regulator the other a broken wire (easy fix with a soldering iron!)
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its 97 quid at vw for cambelt change on a 2ltr 8v
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£97 for cambelt change and say £60 for the window...not bad, happy with that!
Going for a long test drive on Friday before I make a decision; fingers crossed!
Thanks again for all your help. :tongue:
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should be ok there quiet nippy even though there only 115bhp. also check to see if its got a alarm etc will help with insurance on it