Things to look for when buying a MK4?

[j_bailey]

I'm planning on buying a MK4 soon, more specifically a 1.6 (16v). I know in general what to look for when buying a used car, condition of shocks,springs,tracking,brakes, steering, oil condition and so forth. But are there any problems that are common with the MK4 that i should be looking out for, or anything that i should expect? Thanks

[richw911]

Dodgy window regulators, door locking modules, leaking rear wipers to name a few 

[Wayne]

Gearboxes are weak on the 1.6 I believe.

[richw911]

Gearboxes are weak on the 1.6 I believe.

Yep 

[tech1889]

still wouldnt let it put you off they cheap and easy enough to change yourself

[CraigDavieBeattie]

Im sure at the end of the day it comes down to how u treat it, if u thrash it then ur gearbox wont last as long as it might do. Any car can last a life time if its treated right and looked after. Think its weird how everyone dissess the 1.6 and so on as at the end of the day its not all about performance as not everyone wants to race along the streets or wotever.

[richw911]

Im sure at the end of the day it comes down to how u treat it, if u thrash it then ur gearbox wont last as long as it might do. Any car can last a life time if its treated right and looked after. Think its weird how everyone dissess the 1.6 and so on as at the end of the day its not all about performance as not everyone wants to race along the streets or wotever.

All very true BUT the 1.4 and 1.6 gearboxes were crap and prone to fail fact :

http://www.btinternet.com/~a_hutton/VW_Gearbox_Failure.htm 

[j_bailey]

Thanks for the heads up about the gear boxes, are they the same gearbox in the 1.4? I would like a 1.8t but too young for expensive insurance and the car itself (even though it's cheap for the power)

It's going to be a daily-runner so not something I'm going to thrash around everyday but i like to have a spirited drive now and again so will the gearbox be up to standards? Or is it just total crap?

And reading the link rich posted, it says gearboxes up to 2001 have problems, is that true because I've been looking at a few 2002 reg?

[richw911]

Thanks for the heads up about the gear boxes, are they the same gearbox in the 1.4? I would like a 1.8t but too young for expensive insurance and the car itself (even though it's cheap for the power)

It's going to be a daily-runner so not something I'm going to thrash around everyday but i like to have a spirited drive now and again so will the gearbox be up to standards? Or is it just total crap?

1.4 are the same i know as we have a polo 1.4 which uses the same gearbox - it was replaced when we got it for the fault in the link above 

1.8 NA is a good engine 

[CraigDavieBeattie]

Well as the link above states tht the 1.4 and 1.6 gearbox isnt the best i have had my 1.4 for the past year n half now at 72k and havent had a problem as yet. It prob does come down to the luck of the pick at the end of the day buying a used car.