cheap Mk5 at auction!

[Schuey]

^^^^^ Think about it. These are mostly work cars, not a private car that you show TLC.

Example: SWMBO drove the best part of East Kilbride - Perth (75miles ish) on no oil, then used the wrong grade for the rest of the trip to Aberdeen (150+ miles).

She wondered why the car - MKIV 2.0 GTI, funnily enough - broke down in a spectacular plume of smoke on the way back... 

I mean, we get the option to buy SWMBO's lease car at a discount when the lease period ends, and I've passed up the opportunity TWICE.... Aforementioned GTI and an Audi A3 TDi - speaks volumes, I think!

So because of this you form an opinion of 1000's of company car drivers?!   

Believe it or not, these are the cars that a lot of people buy from traders/dealers, I think you have a misconception, a lot of company car drivers particularly those fortunate to have a Golf GTI instead of something like a Vectra or Insignia do look after them........It is a minority who don't & you can tell which ones they are so you stay clear.

I buy a lot of ex lease cars from Auction, particularly Audi/VW & I have no issues at all.................!

[FamilyDub]

^^^^^ You might feel that my view is wrong, but it's my opinion... 

However, I do doth my cap to you if you have found great cars at auctions! I doubt I'd ever go down that route,  because I don't have any technical skill and I'd personally rather not deal with the worry of running such a high mileage car.

a lot of company car drivers particularly those fortunate to have a Golf GTI instead of something like a Vectra or Insignia do look after them........

I agree, but would/could I afford to take the risk? See above.

[Schuey]

^^^^^ You might feel that my view is wrong, but it's my opinion... 

However, I do doth my cap to you if you have found great cars at auctions! I doubt I'd ever go down that route,  because I don't have any technical skill and I'd personally rather not deal with the worry of running such a high mileage car.

a lot of company car drivers particularly those fortunate to have a Golf GTI instead of something like a Vectra or Insignia do look after them........

I agree, but would/could I afford to take the risk? See above.

There is always risk wherever you buy second hand cars including from main dealers, look at some of the posts on here recently, even as far as a main dealer selling a car recorded on HPI, on the mechanical side at least from auction you have a few quid in your pocket to sort a few things if needed, but most fleet cars are around 3 years old so either get warranty or good will.

[GolfTi]

Let's be honest here.

Anyone who has a new GTI as a company car is going to totally screw it.


Wouldn't you?

[chrisowen85]

All the cars and vans at my work are all in a terrible state, when they are due for a service they get the bare minimum work fine if at all. They are all driven by people who simply don't care because they don't have to pay for the repairs. It's the same story at rbs where my dad works, beautiful cars that are all less than three years old and in need of dome serious tlc. I would personally stay well clear!

[jaydubveedub]

As Schuey says, you take a risk with any second-hand car. Unless you know the car, the previous owner could have abused it or been relatively kind on it.

Any second-hand car needs to be inspected and bought on it's own merit.

From personal experience I have bought some cars from dealers which have turned out to be absolute dogs, and i've also bought a couple of ex-lease cars from auction which have both been fantastic. The bonus of buying from auction is that most of the cars have come straight out of service and haven't been prepped so you can see the true extent of their abuse. You also save a fair wedge of cash to pay for any minor repairs.

[Ed30DSG]

Personal opinion, but even with a full history, I wouldn't touch a car over 60k miles, never mind 90k miles!

That's a bit of a short-sighted view IMHO. Mileage really doesn't count for much these days, it's more about how the car has been treated / serviced and driven.

Imagine a 3 yr old car with around 30k miles miles having been driven around London on short stop-start journeys, up and down kerbs etc...

Now compare that with a car of a similar age but has spent its entire life on the motorway and clocked up 99k - which will have the most engine, clutch and gearbox wear???

I know which one I'd prefer and which one would be significantly cheaper to purchase.

[Wayne]

My opinion, that car has had a hard life in a short time, you need to be mad to buy it.

[FamilyDub]

They are all driven by people who simply don't care because they don't have to pay for the repairs.

Exactly my point! 

Any second-hand car needs to be inspected and bought on it's own merit.

Exactly my point. Again.

I know which one I'd prefer and which one would be significantly cheaper to purchase.

I completely agree if the car in question was a "normal" car. However, IMO a Golf GTI at auction isn't worth the risk. Subjective opinion of course. 

[orca]

It's hard to say what state the car is in without looking at it and giving it a drive.

I wouldn't buy from an auction just like I wouldn't buy a demo car from a dealer.  You know a demo car will have been thrashed from new.  No graceful running in.