Bought a lemon!

[chrishyder]

Hi guys,

Been posting a few Q's here about the 1996 Golf GTI Anni that I picked up the other day.

Well!  I put it in for a major service today and turns out I've bought a lemon.  :embarassed:

Service said:

* ABS Faulty
* Severe corrosion in N/S/F from floor to sill
* Severe corrosion in O/S/F from floor to sill
* Severe corrosion in N/S/R and O/S/R floor pans
* Exhaust blowing at centre and rear joints
* Heat shield loose
* All brake discs corroded
* O/S/R coil spring top mounting rubber incorrectly fitted and rubber seat worn
* O/S/R front axle bush in poor condition
* N/S/R front axle bush pulling apart
* Dip stick tube broken
* N/S/R brake pipe corroded
* N/S handbrake cable bubbling up

The bottom of the car really is a mess - I didn't see quite how bad the rust was when I looked at the car (was raining, have learnt my lesson now).  Been out to get a few quotes to repair the rust, cheapest quote was £650.00 + VAT.

...so!  Real shame, engine/gearbox are excellent but car shouldn't have passed it's MOT before I bought it on the above points, think the seller put it through a dodgy garage.  Going to keep it for the year then scrap it/break parts when the MOT expires.

 

Chris

[Mikester]

that sucks dude. If it wasnt for the rust, the other stuff is minor rubbish, my abs is broken again! and my dip stick is too, and my rear brakes are shot to bits.... but all is good in the rust section! lol.

[Mikester]

On the brighter side now i think of it....

rat look?

[madhouse]

how long ago was the MOT?

The VOSA take it VERY seriously and if the garage concerned issued a "dodgey" MOT they can be prosecuted and fined heavily.

Was this bought from a garage or private, because it sounds as though there maybe some possible claim garage wise, under sale of goods act etc.

Sorry to hear your bad news but I would do some scouting around mate try this link to check it's previous MOT's and check for advisory work or to see what it may have failed on in the past.....a really useful link IMHO...you can learn a lot from it:

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp

Best bit it's all free!! 

Let us know what you find out huh?? Surely a car can't have rusted so badly in 12 months? This link will show you the mileage last time it was done and where too 

[kells]

pics of car??

[chrishyder]

Hi all,

The MOT was actually done just under a month ago before the car was sold to me - though the guy I bought the car off said it was his mate that was going to do it (receipt shows that it only cost £30 odd as well).

Was a private sale unfortunately, otherwise I would have gone back to the dealer and hit the roof!  I bought the car from somebody that works for the same company as me (advertised on the intranet) who appears to be absolutely clueless about cars...though I'm not quite so sure of his ignorance now!

When I was driving the car home after picking it up, the headlight bulb blew...went to change it and all the wiring had melted as it had broken before and sellotaped back on to the light terminals  which really set my expectations for the rest of the car!

Will upload some pics of the rust when camera's recharged....the car itself is in reasonable shape on the exterior:



[edit:  I found the VOSA link earlier madhouse, but thanks for digging it out anyway!  Car's had some previous rust repair on the driver's side floorpan - apparently the job's been done to a substandard level and is rusting badly again (and covered up with that tar gunk!]

[dubburke]

Thats a real bummer mate
I suppose that is one good thing about N.Ireland, as our MOT stations are government ran, on the downside it may take 4 weeks to get a date.
I normally just drive it in, to see what it fails on, and if it fails i get it fixed (the MOT station dont do any work on the cars), so no bumping up the cost of repairs for a certificate

[boneybradley]

I does look nice and tidy....and you will get a fair bit of £££ back breaking it as the anniversary bits are well sort after (seat belts will go for £80..wheels £250...seats £200)
shame as I am a real fan of anniversary models 

[chrishyder]

That's not so bad then, will definitely break it when done with!

Pics of SOME of the rust is here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chris.hyder/Rust

The sills are also completely shot (no pics) and there was also a fairly bad few patches of rust around the suspension and where it links to the body of the car.

Cheers,
Chris

[JC]

like others have said - take it to VOSA - if its that bad then it shouldnt have passed an mot recently