Potential new buyer looking for advice

[sharman]

Guys,
Been a while since I've been on this forum. Previously had a mk5 GTI. Now looking for a mk6 GTI to replace the wife's Mini due to growing family. looking for a black 5 door model pref with 18" wheels. Put a deposit on one in Cardiff, which had a sketchy past and not fvwsh which I wasn't comfortable with, so not buying it.
I have a budget of around £10k. I know this is at the bottom end of the scale, but if anyone knows of one for sale please let me know. Also what should I be checking? Heard scary stories of engine chain tensioner failure. Cheers

[Dipesh2031]

10k will buy you a mk6 gti, straight away I'd be looking to buy private as you save a bit off any garages.
But it will come with a decent amount of miles on the clock, in an ideal world you'd be looking for one with 1 owner from new, servicing I wouldn't worry if it isn't main dealer, as long as it has been serviced well, look for lots of receipts and stuff.

Personally I wouldn't touch a GTI thats had oil changes over 10k just shows it hasn't been cared for, same with tyres, always a good indication of how much money the owner was willing to spend on the car.

Chain tensioner can happen to anyone, me or you, it's just a lottery... work can be done to prevent it happening, changing the tensioner and chain etc, but thats very very expensive and I've heard of 500-1000 being charged for this. I hear not to put the car in gear when parking as any load can move the chain and let the tensioner skip as the tensioner gets it tension from oil pressure, how true this is? I dont know but it makes sense.

[Jimmgc51]

Good advice above..

To add to the tensioner point (mine has gone) not sure the leaving in gear does anything, it's the ratchet that goes, weak part thus it is a lottery so could happen the day you buy, could never happen although there are tell tale signs when it's on it's way out when the car first starts cold you will hear the sound of a chain hitting metal very briefly.

My advice if I was buying 2nd hand around your budget you would be going for an 09 / 10 which are the ones failing with the weak part!

Personally I would buy one which HAS gone and is on a new engine or I would budget to get the tensioner replaced soon after buying. Reason being IF you buy and it goes then it's likely VW won't help you out then you have a £10,000 lemon sat on your drive which will cost £4,000+ to fix!

Not worth the risk if you ask me but just my opinion

Please though don't e this put you off, mine hadn't missed a beat until the engine went and it's been fine ever since I was just unlucky but VW did help me out so mine was fixed for under a £1000 and the car was worth about £15,000 when it went

[sharman]

Thanks guys. I did ring my local VW dealer up and spoke to their service department. I mentioned that on the service book it does have a tick box for chain tensioner(from memory) and asked how much was it to replace as it had never been done on the car I was buying.
Their response was surprising. I was told that the service book is a "general" book used for all golfs and the chain tensioner on the GTI is not a serviceable item, therefore wouldn't have been done. They only replace them once they fail lol!! I did scoff at this and mention that it's too late then as the damage will have occured, but they didn't seem bothered and weren't able to quote for it.
I may be able to increase my budget slightly, or wait a while for a 10 plate plus to come within reach.

[Pioneer Performance]

i'm in the same position, got around 9-10k to spend!

Was potentially going to buy one tonight then the owner has announced she's gone on holiday for two weeks !

[na_s]

thinking of selling mine - 11k ono (pm for details!)

[Pioneer Performance]

thinking of selling mine - 11k ono (pm for details!)

No idea how to PM on here but i'd be interested!

[Rhyso]

thinking of selling mine - 11k ono (pm for details!)

No idea how to PM on here but i'd be interested!

You need 10 posts to send it and the other bloke needs 10 posts to read it 

[na_s]

well that's a shame, shouldn't take long to get to 11 though 

[na_s]

got there in the end - pm.