Buyers beware

[lee_lee08]

Went to go purchase my 2nd VW Golf GTi this evening. After owning an 8v and loving it for 5 years, I parted ways in exchange for a celica a few years back! (biggest mistake ever)
This guy had the car listed with no faults on eBay, barring a speck of rust on rear drivers side door!

A day later after the auction ended he messages me saying I should be aware that the starter motor has been changed twice this year and the handbrake light is permenantly illuminated, which he was told was brake fluid related...But was no mechanic himself, so could not give professional diagnosis, did not effect the lovely drive etc etc

At this point I'm a little weary, as I know these golfs to be a little temperamental, my old AGG had various cutting out issues, until (I think his names Bradley from here) pointed me towards the correct problem, being frayed wires connecting to the crankshaft position sensor. He was spot on with his analysis!!!

Upon arriving at the car, it looked absolutely mint, interior as well as exterior. I barely noticed the rust spot. However, lifting the bonnet and starting the engine had me almost running for the hills!
The breather pipes on the front of the engine were crushed flat, vacuum pipes were just hanging from the top of the engine bay. But, The biggest problem was the missing brake reservoir cap and next to no brake pads left!
This guy assured me there were no faults, you could see by his facial expressions he looked panic stricken when I asked for a test drive. His wife came out protesting innocence claiming the car had taken them to Cornwall and back many times.... lol when I mentioned my concerns and having to face central London in a car that I know would cut out (breather pipes) not to mention causing a big pile up from steam rolling into the car in front to find out the brake fluid contaminated from having no reservoir cap!

Either, these people were being honest and didn't know these issues, or the MOT station the car last went to, robbed parts off it without them noticing! Which I severely doubt

I feel angry my time was wasted and sick that someone will fall victim to this sh*tbox and probably kill themselves if they don't look for these faults!

Just a warning, if your looking for a Golf make sure you avoid this lemon, Golf 16v GTi which sounds like a diesel with flat breather pipes and dodgy brakes! (((North London))) the owner is now aware of the cars issues and should make future buyers fully aware of these dangerous faults from now on!

On the flip side! Anyone know of any decent mk3's for sale?
Decent = working, used and legal road worthy condition

[jiminbmth]

Plenty of them like this out there!  anymore info on this car?

[boneybradley]

there's lots of shed's about but keep your wit and you'll find a decent one eventually



I just wish more people used this forum more for common faults/ buying guides etc as the number who buy and then come on here with major issues!!! (the good or bad thing is, because mk3's are so cheap now the really bad one's will slowly get scrapped hopefully meaning the quality will improve overall?)

[lee_lee08]

It was you mate @ Boneybradley, did me a huge favour and saved me £100's pointing out the faulty camshaft sensor on my old AGG golf (cheers fella) Wires were totally crispy as you predicted and tucked away behind the oil filter / front mount. Had many a garage / mechanic left scratching their head! Nothing showed on vagcom either...

This websites excellent, wish there was one as knowledgable for other models, I've joined many I.e Toyota celica / civic ek3 forums etc and people don't reply or use it as often as this one.

Jiminbmth - car needs to be listed as scrap mate, spares or repair, definitely needed work and is in no fit state to be driven on the road! As I said everything else was mint on it. Looked completely standard, Seats no rips or tears, 1997 P 155k black 16v GTi - would have needed a new brake fluid reservoir. The slide cover was missing from the vagcom connector next to the ashtray!!!, Various vacuum pipes and breather pipes, some were just dangling loose in the engine bay. Oil everywhere, covering radiator fan. Brake pads below minimum, amongst various other issues ive no doubt. I didn't even test drive it, I wasn't brave / stupid enough lol None of these faults mentioned on the listing!

Just thought I'd give people a heads up on it.

I'm tempted by Audi or possibly another Dub. My civics belt snapped in the CVT autobox ( it had only covered 65k, Ive owned a celica and it burnt copious amounts of oil, the Honda also did but only slightly. So currently on the look out for a new car, my old golf did me 5 years only needing regular servicing and the camshaft sensor. I reckon German is the way to go?

[johnnyvr6]

Went to go purchase my 2nd VW Golf GTi this evening. After owning an 8v and loving it for 5 years, I parted ways in exchange for a celica a few years back! (biggest mistake ever)
This guy had the car listed with no faults on eBay, barring a speck of rust on rear drivers side door!

A day later after the auction ended he messages me saying I should be aware that the starter motor has been changed twice this year and the handbrake light is permenantly illuminated, which he was told was brake fluid related...But was no mechanic himself, so could not give professional diagnosis, did not effect the lovely drive etc etc

At this point I'm a little weary, as I know these golfs to be a little temperamental, my old AGG had various cutting out issues, until (I think his names Bradley from here) pointed me towards the correct problem, being frayed wires connecting to the crankshaft position sensor. He was spot on with his analysis!!!

Upon arriving at the car, it looked absolutely mint, interior as well as exterior. I barely noticed the rust spot. However, lifting the bonnet and starting the engine had me almost running for the hills!
The breather pipes on the front of the engine were crushed flat, vacuum pipes were just hanging from the top of the engine bay. But, The biggest problem was the missing brake reservoir cap and next to no brake pads left!
This guy assured me there were no faults, you could see by his facial expressions he looked panic stricken when I asked for a test drive. His wife came out protesting innocence claiming the car had taken them to Cornwall and back many times.... lol when I mentioned my concerns and having to face central London in a car that I know would cut out (breather pipes) not to mention causing a big pile up from steam rolling into the car in front to find out the brake fluid contaminated from having no reservoir cap!

Either, these people were being honest and didn't know these issues, or the MOT station the car last went to, robbed parts off it without them noticing! Which I severely doubt

I feel angry my time was wasted and sick that someone will fall victim to this sh*tbox and probably kill themselves if they don't look for these faults!

Just a warning, if your looking for a Golf make sure you avoid this lemon, Golf 16v GTi which sounds like a diesel with flat breather pipes and dodgy brakes! (((North London))) the owner is now aware of the cars issues and should make future buyers fully aware of these dangerous faults from now on!

On the flip side! Anyone know of any decent mk3's for sale?
Decent = working, used and legal road worthy condition

has it got to be a gti you want iv got a mk3 that you can take a look at
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330631640177?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_794wt_1134