Hi and Help!

[StaticJoe]

Hi first post so play nice.
Just been offered a Mk3 2.0 8v GTi Colour Concept (blue), with all the usual toys plus total closure alarm with certificate, crappy alloy wheels, lowered on springs and with Hella lights. The thing is it's done 169k and it pops out of reverse, other than that it seems tight, has a little surface rust on the bonnet. Good buy at £600??? Or walk away?
Cheers,
Joe

[gasketface]

Sounds like a £400 - £450 to me,but what do i know !.

Depends on a lot of things,hard to say without actually seeing it  .

Tax,mot -how long,tyres,interior condition,brakes etc ?.

[dom]

Walk away, gearbox is on it's way out, mileage is on the high side....you can pick up quite a lot of MK3 for £600 at the moment.

Depending on the condition of the body I wouldn't pay any more than £400 for the one you've described

For example, this one is only £700:

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=203579.0

[benvictors]

169k isnt a great deal for the 8v gti engine if its been looked after. If the interior is in good condition and the body work is sound, aside from what you have mentioned, then it might be worth a bit of bartering
Be sure to check the sills and the bottoms of the wings for rust.
If it needs a new gearbox you can pick em up for around £80 and aren't that difficult to fit  
I reckon offer £400 and see what happens,  

[StaticJoe]

Thanks for the help guys
MOT - Jan '12
Tax - just expired
I'm in the trade so box isnt too much of a headache as I get labour for practically nothing.
Got loads of history with it too, and I know the guy so i'm not being robbed blind. Mainly concernd with the mileage, I know these Golfs have got a good reputation of reliability but can't say I've heard of many lasting this long?

[benvictors]

Aside from needing a new hall sender, my 8v engine ran sweet and never let me down, started first time every time, no matter the weather and it had 201,000  on it before I swapped it out for the VR

[StaticJoe]

Aside from needing a new hall sender, my 8v engine ran sweet and never let me down, started first time every time, no matter the weather and it had 201,000  on it before I swapped it out for the VR

Wow that is impressive!
Also forgot to say it's had a cluth in the past 12 months also, I'll be test driving tomorrow and get it up on the ramp too so watch this space.
Cheers guys, nice to see a friendly forum for once 

[benvictors]

Dont get too excited mate, think you must have caught us on a good day

[gasketface]

 

[StaticJoe]

Well chaps that was a bullet dodged, got it up on the ramp after work and it needed:
N/S/F Bottom ball joint
O/S/R Wheel bearing
All 4 discs
Rear tyres
Possibly steering rack in the near future
BUT worst of all was the rust  , both sills need a fair bit of welding at the front and then we pulled back the rear arch trims and were greeted by some of the worst rust I've seen whilst in the trade. No idea how it got through MOT a few months back...
Anyway I'm on the look out for a nice example for about £500-£750 and I'm in the Somerset area so feel free to PM me if you're selling up.