GT TDI (150) advice please? (Before i buy my first)

[golfballs]

Hi everyone.
   Just joined up as I'm in the market for a golf gt tdi, and I know from experience with my current car that owners forums are one of the best sources of info you can get.

I have done research already, and have read a lot about the pd150's cam shaft issues. The number of threads on various sites helped me to decide I'd go for the 130 instead.
Problem is I'm really set on what I want as regards to the model (must be red or black, must have cruise control, must be 5 door, must have decent service history, preferably auto but manual will do if everything else is good),  I've been looking for about 3 months with no joy.

I have however just spotted a car that ticks most of the boxes, problem is its a 150.
Are they as bad as their rep? Is buying a 150 asking for trouble?  Does anyone know more info that could help me? As in, do the cam shafts tend to go at a certain mileage, say 80k for example, meaning a car with 130k on the clock must have gone already and have new toughened shafts fitted?  Or do they just go at any random mileage?

Any info or advice greatly appreciated.

Failing that, anyone out there with a 130 that matches my needs and wants to sell, let me know

[cullygti]

best thing to do is check first if theres any history of the cams being changed as the mileage will not matter if the main problem as been attended to

[Rhyso]

Tends to happen on cars with over 100k

The 150 drives a little more like a petrol as they hold their power for longer up the rev range. 

You wont be disappointed with either though.  I owned a 130 for 4.5 years and loved it (most of the time lol)

[dom]

Can't help out much with the cam problem, but you can retrofit cruise control. It might make your search slightly easier

[bobbarley]

I've never heard about cam problems on the TD150's, sure it's fine 

[Rhyso]

I've never heard about cam problems on the TD150's, sure it's fine 

Huh??  have you been living under a rock during MK4 ownership??!!

[bobbarley]

Seriously, first I've ever heard of it.  Then again, been lucky enough to have a GTI instead 

[Rhyso]

Seriously, first I've ever heard of it.  Then again, been lucky enough to have a GTI instead 

So you've missed when it happened to Steve?? And quite a few others

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=140425.0

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=145255.0


Water pumps dont fail on TDI's 

[dom]

Seriously, first I've ever heard of it.  Then again, been lucky enough to have a GTI instead 

Get with the times Nige! I hate diseasels and even I knew about it

[cullygti]

its only on every forum