Advice on buying a mk5 gti 140k

[kierone2005]

Hi all new to the forum and am after some advice if possible. I have been offered a Mk5 GTi 3door in black on a 55 reg. It has 140k on the clock but unfortunately it has no service history with it. I am a parts manager for a VW main dealer and there is no history on the vw records. The car is a trade in, and it has full heated leather and sat nav fitted with the 18" wheels with usual corrosion on them.

It needs the following done on the car

Service and cambelt as it has no history.
2 front tyres.
o/s/f indicator unit.
n/s/f fog lamp.
EML light is on stating the Charcoal Canister.
Window switch.
Welding a small hole up on the rear exhaust.
Front wings have started to bubble.   

Apart from the above the engine sounds fine with no knocks or rattles, no oil leaks, bushes all seem fine as we had it on the ramp to look at, no knocks from the steering and pulls fine.

The car would cost me £2750 to buy as it is.

The question is should i consider it or avoid it due to the millage, no history or work that needs doing??

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[Waspy]

There is a reason the dealer is offering you it. Because they will not be able to sell it onto the public.

Front woing starting to bubble should be covered by the corrosion warrenty. Speak to them about that. Quite common on mk5s I think and as long as paint is original (or resprayed by VW) you should be able to get the wings replaced free.

Its an okay price, and if you can get the work done cheap with your (the one you work for) dealer it might be an okay deal.

But to find a car that was bought, and then NEVER went back to VW for a service would ring alarm bells as to how well it was looked after.

It may be completely fine, but it wouldnt be worth the trouble in my opinion. Plenty of mk5s about.

[Organisys]

But to find a car that was bought, and then NEVER went back to VW for a service would ring alarm bells as to how well it was looked after.

I owned a Touran that had never seen the inside of a dealership service bay. It has it's advantages ;-)

[Sam]

Hi all new to the forum and am after some advice if possible. I have been offered a Mk5 GTi 3door in black on a 55 reg. It has 140k on the clock but unfortunately it has no service history with it. I am a parts manager for a VW main dealer and there is no history on the vw records. The car is a trade in, and it has full heated leather and sat nav fitted with the 18" wheels with usual corrosion on them.

It needs the following done on the car

Service and cambelt as it has no history.
2 front tyres.
o/s/f indicator unit.
n/s/f fog lamp.
EML light is on stating the Charcoal Canister.
Window switch.
Welding a small hole up on the rear exhaust.
Front wings have started to bubble.   

Apart from the above the engine sounds fine with no knocks or rattles, no oil leaks, bushes all seem fine as we had it on the ramp to look at, no knocks from the steering and pulls fine.

The car would cost me £2750 to buy as it is.

The question is should i consider it or avoid it due to the millage, no history or work that needs doing??

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[Bellend]

I'd buy it do it up cheap and bung it on for a drink but I'm not sure if I'd want to own it unless it's for a project as it's an awesome price for a project base.

[kierone2005]

I just dont know what to do i have always wanted one but saving for a house at the moment and one i do have a house its not like i will have 5k to buy one.

[Waspy]

It could end up being a money pit and suck way more that 2k (plus 3k to buy) from you. But then again you are on a forum where just about every member owns a money pit and generally love them (me included). Also nothing to stop a 5k car costing you shed loads in repairs, or "improvements".

Its a gamble. Not one I would take if:
A) I didn't have a reserve car
B) I wasn't confident enough to undergo a large amount of work DIY
C) Was under money pressures.

If you aren't doing it yourself, get them to cost every needed job. Then see if the price is so appealing for a 140k miler.

[VW BUSH]

If your saving for a house you want a car that is as close to cost neutral as you can get.
Think tax and insurance for 500 and under and running costs of something similar.
My low mile full history dad owner A4 has cost 900 in the first 4 months.
I'd hate to think what a bad one would cost. .....

[Organisys]

If someone didn't mind the weight it would make a good rack car for a bit, or as an engine donor into a Mk2!

For that price if it goes pop does it really matter?

[Waspy]

or as an engine donor into a Mk2!

Didn't think of that. I want it!