Advice on GTI purchase and missing history

[rodd1000]

Hi guys, Hoping someone could offer some advise on a used car. Im looking at buying a MK6 GTI and seen a very good spec 09 plate, 1 lady owner with 48k, xenons, nav, adaptive chassis control, heated seats, 18" Monzas, etc, as you can appreciate its rare to find one with such great spec. Problem is it has no service stamp book and only 2 VW service receipts amongst the paper work. So looks like the car has only had 2 services in its entire life. Car looks immaculate apart from a poor refurb of the monzas basically they've been masked and sprayed so look really crap. Theres also a strong smell of petrol when engine is running which sales say they will fix. Possibly an injector or fuel pump issue.

I really like the car, bodywork and interior is mint. Dealer has stated they might get the wheels refurbed correctly if im interested. It all comes down to the service history. I doubt VW extended warranty will cover it due to the missing services but the dealer say they offer 1 year in house warranty. Do you guys think i should give it a miss. Car is advertised for £11.5k and wont budge on price due to spec.

Any advice much appreciated.

Rodd

[mwad gti]

You could try a local VW main dealer with the chassis number and registration and get any history that way.
If the car has genuinely only had 2 services then I'd avoid it personally. I'd wonder what else has been scrimped on.... Which could also confirm why the car has had a cheap wheel refurb....

Also, I'd be concerned as to the petrol smell....

[The ANT]

Call the dealer where it had the two services as well, they might know more about it, if you can't find proof that the cam chain issue has been sorted then you must assume it hasn't, so be careful.

[rodd1000]

Cheers guys I think suspicion has got the better of me. It appears the car has spent a huge chunk of time in Germany. Previous owner was in the forces apparently. As said, going by the state of the wheels and petrol smell and lack of records I can only conclude its been poorly kept. Which is a crying shame on such a well spec'd car. Oh well, the search goes on and on....:/

Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

[The ANT]

You can use its faults to beat down the price, it could have been serviced by the previous owner. Though service history is a big thing to me, i keep invoices for everything. So i don't think I would, there's plenty out there.

[eug2huge]

Yeah, stay clear. If there's doubt there's doubt!

I personally wouldn't buy anything without all the history, log book, receipts, HPI check etc.

My step dad was in the secondhand car trade and you wouldn't believe all the stuff that goes on with bad traders..!

[rodd1000]

The cars at Evans Halshaw, I'm shocked how sketchy they're being. First told it had 4 stamps, then 2, then after further drilling they say there are two UK main dealer receipts at 13k and 22k, plus another receipt that isn't itemised, which could be for anything.

Really struggling to find a good GTi locally (within 30 miles). Budget is circa £13k, would love Nav and xenon but 18" Monzas are a must and prefer a manual with 50k max mileage, seems to be loads with very high miles around me.  Am I asking to much?

Perfect car would be 3dr in White or  Red, Manual, 40k, 18" Monzas, tartan seats, Nav & Xenons. The car at Halshaws ticks all the boxes plus it has adaptive chassis control too. Very frustrating, been looking now for 3 months.

Also noticed prices seem to all over the place, there's a 10 plate at available car for £14,300 with 47k, no special spec, madness. 

[gaurav_aidasani]

I would stay clear, they're sketchy. I'm surprised you're struggling to find a decent GTI, you have a healthy budget. I was struggling to sell my 2010 with 40k miles for 12,000.

If you end up with a 2009/10 model make sure the tensioner has been changed or factor in 500 for changing it.

[o`Neil]

Really struggling to find a good GTi locally (within 30 miles). Budget is circa £13k,

I`ve been looking for a very good GTi for months and I`m prepared to travel a bit further than 30 miles 

My budget is similar to yours but I`ll go a bit more for the right car but what I want just doesn`t seem to be out there.

I`m also finding dealers are time wasters full of bull.

[The ANT]

I went about 160 miles for mine, and there were still minor imperfections. It was down near London and I'm in gainsborough. Though the main issue was sorted, i had a new engine because of the timing chain issues and the invoice to prove it.

To get the good ones you normally have to drive to find them, remember these aren't mk2 gtis 20 years ago, mk2s were every 3rd golf almost, there's plenty out there but you've got to dig to find them.