Help me choose a VR6, please!

[Ch0yc3]

Thanks for your quick responses.

Is there only one VIN plate on these cars?

Both the cars seem to have been well looked after, interiors very clean, and engine bays seem to be spotless too. The three door doesn't seem to have been thrashed, and the five door has been a London car for a while which is never really good (pot holes, humps, traffic etc), but obviously I can't really tell how they've been treated.

Also, the three door seemed to have very low coolant, although no discernable leaks in the engine / spots on the floor. Do you think this could have been due to the car not having been driven for the last couple of months?

Certainly the lack of service history book is a worry, but would evidence of service (ie garage receipts with registration printed) be an adequate substitute? Also, with regards to the 5-door, without having the old MOT certificates is there anyway to accurately verify the mileage?

I'm still a bit confused, and there's another very similar one that I may be looked at too...

[vaughn]

got to be the first one for me i`m afraid, sounds the better deal, regards the second one i think it`s illegal not to register a car if you own it, so he`s breaking the law do you want to deal with people like that?

[Ch0yc3]

Basically it's been registered as SORN since the day he bought it, so it's been off the road. He basically wants to preserve the 1 lady owner status. I think that's ok isn't it, as long as it's registered as SORN?

[vaughn]

how can he register it sorn if it`s not in his name? if you have bought a car it`s illegal to not to register it in your name. on the v5 there is a peice to fill out if you buy it and your a trader as it doesn`t add extra owners, i would of thought he would have done this if he was all legal etc. unless he`s just selling it for her but doesn`t sound like it

[Ch0yc3]

I see... hmm. It does seem unnesssasarily complicated. Thanks for your healthy scepticism 

[vaughn]

i`m not saying there`s anything wrong with the car just that he`s going completely round the wrong way of selling it. i just can`t undersand people who sell cars illegally

[Ch0yc3]

I get what you're saying. It does lead me more and more towards Car A.

[bulk66]

In my opinion mate and i know alot of people call 5 doors but car a seems a lot straighter to me i know the 3 door has leather but you have to think about when you come to sell it and you have no service book is it going to be really hard to sell. I know how it is mate that moneys burning a large hole in your pocket and you want to spend it, why dont you just put up with the public transport for a little longer and wait for that little minter.....

[Ch0yc3]

Thanks very much for your replies. I think I am erring towards the first car, it does seem more genuine and I shouldn't really be taking any unnecessary risks; it is also a little cheaper AND has tax till the end of the year. Just have to make sure it has genuinely passed its lastest MOT. I don't have a lot of money to spend at the moment; I was in an accident that wasn't my fault and really do need a car immediately for the next month. I was just hoping to be able to get one of these while I need a car rather than buying a temporary runaround which I'll have the hassle of having to sell off in a month's time. Obviously I might have to do that, but I think car A does seem like a more sensible option, as long as all the paperwork is correct. Is 95k miles a lot; just worried about having to change the timing chain - it surely won't need doing for another year at that mileage will it?

[kniterider]

do the vr6 thing if thats what you want, if youve test drove a decent one a gti wont do anything for you..... the 'can catch you out' comment regarding the handling are to be ignored also....

if it were me id do my home work and go for knockdown on the 3 door.... probably cause i buy and sell the odd vw in my time and a 3 door will be easier to sell than a 5 door even without service book.... well thats how i look at it, if you could show some pics of each example it would help, but theres to many private peeps out there pretending to be privates sellin dressed up sha@tters as there is traders trying to earn a living.......

do hpi check on the 2 your interested in... test drive both, get rac/aa inspection or take some one who knows alot about cars to help you decide.... its your money and your choice so your call... dont feel bullyied into buying something that might not before you!!

disclaimer... these are my points of view, and my points of view only...