Sale advice needed.

[Chris_Mk3GTI]

Hey guys,

Unfortunately i've decided to buy a new car... the reasons being i've had nothing but problems with my GTI.

I bought the car last september with 104k miles on the clock for £1,500. When i had the car it was serviced twice however since owning it i've had the following problems (some of which are just from general wear and tear):

• Head Gasket repair (due to a leaking water rail)

• Exhaust repair x 3

• New Rear Disk Brakes

• New Bushes and Wishbone

The problem i have at the moment is that it requires even more work and money thrown at it.

I need to:

• Buy a new rear tyre (already priced this up £44.95)

• I have a very large chip in the windscreen which WILL fail its M.O.T due this month

.

• Road tax expires at the end of the month.

• ABS is goosed (this occured after having the rear disks put on, so maybe the abs sensors are buggered?)

• Steering Rods need replaced (getting a lot of play in the steering wheel)

• The exhaust has blown....again.

So sale of this car is enevitable despite is being the most fun car i've ever owned. I'm going to be gutted to see it go but after throwing money at it for a year its time for something a little bit newer. What do you guys suggest i do in order to shift my car? I'm not entirely sure what it would cost to get the car up to a road legal level but i'm sure as hell not going to be paying for it again.

[ineson]

If your dead set on getting rid then I would suggest a few easy fixs:

Windscreen can be sorted quite easily on insurance without affecting your no claims.

Get a part worn tyre with enough tread on it ready for the sale.

Then I would be open and honest with the proposed buyers with whats wrong with it, set it at a lower price than usual and get rid.

[Chris_Mk3GTI]

Windscreen can be sorted quite easily on insurance without affecting your no claims.

Problem is i haven't got full comprehensive insurance with my gti. I called my insurance company yesterday to ask about windscreen repair and theres nothing they can do. If i claim on my insurance surely that will increase my premium?

[SuperSandwich4]

Windscreen can be sorted quite easily on insurance without affecting your no claims.

Problem is i haven't got full comprehensive insurance with my gti. I called my insurance company yesterday to ask about windscreen repair and theres nothing they can do. If i claim on my insurance surely that will increase my premium?

I am with admiral third party fire and theft and pay a little bit extra for windscreen cover to get mine fixed its only £70.

[Horney]

To be completely honest the list of problems you've had are nothing short of normal for any car that age and mileage except the exhaust which sounds like it's been bodged.

To buy a car that will hopefully be less expensive you're looking at spending at least £5K and could still end up with a lemon. You like your car, you know what's up with it and what it's had done. I'd hang on to it and get it sorted properly. ABS you can live without (I do as mine doesn't work either), the screen you can do on your insurance and the exhuast and tyre should be cheap to get done at a proper garage.

Nick

[madhouse]

Looks a nice car - assuming it's the green GTI ??

I'd fix it up, gotta be cheaper than shelling out of a new motor, which could also have "issues" so you could be back to square one.

If ya like the GTi, keep it and spend a bit [more] dosh. I agree a decent part worn - £20, windscreen Halfords sometimes have these mobile repair guys in that resin repair them [just a thought??] Tax - can't get away from it, steering rods are dirt cheap and you could do them, and the exhaust - if its buggered totally, hunt one down on eBay or get a local garage to do a healthy welding job.

I'd keep it  

[courtster]

I've always thought long and hard about the optimum price/age to buy a used car...

I've paid 10k on some 3 year old stuff - things go wrong + depreciation
I've paid 5k on 5 year old cars - things go wrong + depreciation
I've paid 1k on 10 year old car - things go wrong + near zero depreciation
I've paid 12k on a new car - 3 year warranty + big depreciation.

Cars are money pits.  Simple as.

[madhouse]

I've always thought long and hard about the optimum price/age to buy a used car...

I've paid 10k on some 3 year old stuff - things go wrong + depreciation
I've paid 5k on 5 year old cars - things go wrong + depreciation
I've paid 1k on 10 year old car - things go wrong + near zero depreciation
I've paid 12k on a new car - 3 year warranty + big depreciation.

Cars are money pits.  Simple as.

Pretty much sums it up TBH - Good post 

[Chris_Mk3GTI]

Appreciate the input chaps.

I've already decided i'm going to buy a new car. I've shelled out more money than the car is worth. Its done 115k miles which for a car of that age isn't too bad. I've got a 44 mile round trip commute each day and i simply can't afford to keep paying money into this car especially as it will mean going without a car every so often to get it fixed which isn't really an option as the office isn't on any bus/train route.

With a new tyre what do you think i should ask for the car? Its got a small patch of rust on the boot above the lock and a small patch on the passenger door other than that the bodywork is sound. I also have the rev limiter issue where the limiter kicks in at 5k revs and can be a pain to shift into. Its got most of the niggles a golf gti of this age could possibly have but i'm sure someone technically minded could sort themselves.

I would like to add that this car has been washed at least once every two weeks since owning it and waxed at least once every 3 months. I'm not very technically minded so i did what i could to keep it in the best condition.

[Guy]

i would keep it as there doesnt seem to be that much wrong with it... you just need to take a hit on a couple of things

the way i look at it is this...

you can shell out £200+ a month on hire purchase on a car + ins + servicing etc etc

or

you can shell out less on maintenance, have not such a fab one, but still a well kept one, eg... £100/month + ins et etc

thing is... either way you are going to have to budget for it and as it is an old car you need to pay more in keeping it roadworthy... but less in initial outlay as it is worth less

at least with this particular lemon you know what you have wrong with it