Hi - Should I buy this mk3 8v?

[pugboy]

Hi

New on here. I have been offered an M plate (square indicator) 5dr 8v in Dragon green.
The car belongs to my wifes best friend who has owned it for many years.

Its standard bar some 15" 5 spoke alloys which have always been fitted (dealer option?). They are motorsport type and look like compomtive MO's to me.

The car hasn't wanted with regards mechanical parts, but has not exactly been cherished. Still it does 100 miles a day with the current owner and has been 100% reliable.
Unfortunately it got bumped a year or so ago so it currently sports a bonnet, bumper and grill in primer. So that will need painting or replacing (I know a man that can  ;-)   )
The rear wiper and one of the rear windows is not working.

Vital stats are:
140k
MOT May
Tax Feb
Newish (matching) tyres all round
New exhaust

Whats it worth guys? I was thinking £350, but as I know the car is good and 100% reliable I was thinking maybe £400...
I'm hoping that once the panels have been sorted it would be worth maybe £800 if I had to sell......

[billy_vw]

Only buy if you r gonna keep, as i dont think you will make money once the paint has been done and sorted the window 

[pugboy]

Well with the bodywork I was thinking either get some green panels to bolt on (£100?) or my mate quoted me £100 to paint the bonnet. I guess the bumper/grill wouldn't cost much to paint on top of that.

Not looking to buy the car to make money as such. It would just be nice to know it would be worth at least as much as its cost me if I need to sell. Prices seem to be all over the place for these cars!

[spunkymonkey]

Yes and an average one that doesnt stand out can be a pig to sell. You may get £200 profit from it but could take 6 month to sell.

[Andy-H]

Did the guy make a claim when the car was bumped ? That could go against you when you come to sell it and it has been registered. It might be worth checking the slam panel for any damage as well. People will be looking at things like that when they look to buy a GTI (I did).

[pugboy]

Ok just bumped in to the boyfriend of the woman selling the car. Told him I was 50/50 about buying it as it could end up costing an arm and a leg for the bodywork etc... he tells me the bonnet was painted a few weeks back as she was moaning about it to her brother (he works in the bodyshop at the main dealer). She hasn't bothered having the bumper sprayed though, but that should be cheap enough to sort and to be honest you would hardly notice it.

The car was not recorded as being bumped - she just nudged into the back of a HGV whilst not paying attention in a traffic jam.     She would have left the car as is as the damage was very minor, but her brother can get the new panels cheap hence they got bolted on.

Sounds a tad more tempting at £400 now.    

[davero]

You sound sold, go for it.

[boneybradley]

if your happy with the price and history get it bought.....oh and the wheels are speedline (corrado and golf vr6 option i believe?) and they can demand a good price if tidy!

[GOLF_MK]

Sounds like it might be worth a punt.

The rear window could be something very simple such as broken wires between the door and the body (mine was), if you have a soldering iron etc it's an easy repair!

[pugboy]

Hopefully checking out the car tomorrow. I walk past it everyday when I walk the dog so I know it looks ok. Just needs the bottom half of front bumper painting (although it looks ok as is).

As its a mate I think I'm just being chucked the keys and left to it. I might even bring it back home and give it a good once over.