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

[bobbarley]

Water pumps dont fail on TDI's 

Touche 

Literally never even seen a thread about cams, can't happen that often!!

So how much would the repair bill be on a problem like that?

[Steve_PD]

£500 ish at home
£950 ish at specialist
£1500 at VW

[bobbarley]

Ouch!!

OP, get the 130 

[Steve_PD]

Not quite as the 130's can suffer the cam problem too.

[Rhyso]

Not quite as the 130's can suffer the cam problem too.

Yep stories are more and more common......

[Steve_PD]

Seems to just take a bit longer

[Rhyso]

Seems to just take a bit longer

Dread to think the state of my old cars cams then 

[golfballs]

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

Retro fitting cruise control? Sounds interesting...  Is it a generic ad on, or can you buy a golf specific kit including steering wheel stalk? Is it an easy job?

I think I'll ring up the seller of this 150 to see if there is history of the cams being done. I'm just not sure about it though. It's done 125k, which is higher mileage than I wanted, and its got a tow bar (god knows what its been pulling round, extra strain on the engine), it also has the red seats and I really wanted the black/grey.

I'm in two minds, my brain is telling me I'm being to picky, but my heart is telling me to hold out for what I really want. What do you think?
I can't believe how few and far between a good one is.  Is red a rare colour for a golf?  Seems like the only red golf's for sale are 200 miles away!

[Rhyso]

You got to remember you are trying to find a car which only a handful of people will spec exactly as you would want it.  You have to have a compromise somewhere 

Red TDI's in 130 / 150 flavour are like rocking horse poop

Cruise is a kit of about £70, someone with vagcom and about an hour of your time to fit

At 125k it should have had 2 cambelt changes and if its been towing give the clutch a proper test.  Find a hill, stick it in 4th gear and around 30mph and plant your foot.

If the cams havent been done then walk away as they are a ticking time bomb

[golfballs]

Thanks for the advice

The more I look at pictures of this particular golf the more I'm liking it. It looks immaculate in the pictures and even the black/red seats have grown on me. I'm definitely gonna phone up the dealer about it tomorrow for more info, and arrange a possible viewing and test drive.

Just one more question about the cam problem... Is it more a case of if they fail, or when they fail? Is there anything I can visibly check with the cams (like looking in to the oil filler cap) can you see anything though there?  What actually happens to the cams, do the lobes wear down, or do the shafts actually snap?

Any other common faults I should look for when viewing the vehicle?

Also, at the risk of sounding stupid.... You say about putting the car in 4th at 30mph on a hill and flooring it to test the clutch. What would happen if the clutch was going? Would it rev high but not really go anywhere fast?

Thanks