Hi,
Age: 1995 'N'
Vehicle: Volkswagen Golf - 1.9 CL TDI 5dr
Body: 5 door Hatchback
Engine Size: 1896cc
Fuel Type: Diesel
Transmission: 5 speed Manual
Mileage: 90,355 miles
Body Colour: candy white
Interior Trim: black fleck
Registration Date: 11/10/1995
Number of Owners: 2
Full Service History: Yes
Price: £ 3,995
i am thinking of buying this golf. Do you think I should and is it a good price?
Many thanks
Nick Swan
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Apart from the price, is it HPI clear? Ie, no outstanding finance, not a repaired write-off, no suspicious changes of registration number, is it an import etc? Any sun-roof or a/c? On line price check, of a sort, available at Autotrader, Glass and Parkers sites.
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don't think it's got a sunroof or a/c.
it's from quite a reputable garage so i think it should be OK. I'd get the HPI check done first before making a final decision.
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I think £4K might be a little steep. I had a quick look on the Autotrader website. True, there aren't many Mk3 diesel Golfs below this price, but all the £4K ones seem to have electric windows and sunroof. And the colour might be a problem at resale time - fridge white has to be one of the least popular Golf colours. If it were a nice dark green or blue metallic it might just be worth it, but I'd deduct £500 for the colour alone.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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I know I'm not to keen about the colour but can't be too fussy!
There's another one on the autotrader website for £4800 it's got e/w and sunroof. I've just rung up though and it's done 120,000 miles. :S
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Richards comments are quite fair but...
If this were a Citroen ZX TD in a good colour with exactly the same history what might it be...£1500 or less?
Similarly I've just assisted the purchase of a very smart one owner, full dealer history (just 13K up on mileage compared with your Golf), Escort LX TD in metallic black...less than £1000!
Costs a great deal to get into a "Golf" doesn't it.
MM
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I've got to disagree with you Middleman, golfs may be expensive but generally are worth it. I have owned 2 mk2 golfs and now own a mk3 golf, i have had no problems with any of these cars.
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Oh I really shouldn't but I will...
What part of my 100% factual post don't you agree with?
MM
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In my opinion i would own a vw anyday over a citroen. In this world you generally get what you pay for, so if you save more it quite often isn't as good in the long run.
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Ah but SS I'm not knocking the Golf as such...just saying the premium for this one is too high above many equally capable vehicles without "that" badge.
Bear in mind 1995 is old. The trade consider anything 1993 or older in the banger market...this car will be there in two years.
MM
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It does indeed cost a lot to get behind the wheel of a golf, thats because they are good and similar cars don't stand a chance.
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I would have thought £4K would have bought you a much younger car of similar size etc
TDIs command unreasonable prices - everyone appears seduced by the mpg, but a few big bills (it is eight years old) will soon wipe out the fuel savings...
has it got to be a Golf?
MB
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no it's not got to be a golf.
Just thought it would be reliable and hold it's value quite well.
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You could go the way of the world & get a 4-year old Mondeo for the same price with a higher spec..........
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no it's not got to be a golf. Just thought it would be reliable and hold it's value quite well.
You're not necessarily wrong on either count. The Mk3 Golfs I have come across seem to be ageing pretty well - they seemed to have more than their share of faults when they emerged from the factory, but on an eight year old car these should have been sorted by now, and the mechanicals are mostly Mk2 carry-over stuff and pretty well proven. And provided the middle class folk of Parsons Green, Fulham etc don't fall out of love with VWs, I suspect residuals will remain pretty firm. The way the older car market seems to be going, a Golf may be one of a very few cars that you will be able to buy now for £4K, run for 3 years, and still be able to sell on for any price, let alone a reasonable price.
But I'd still keep looking for a better spec and colour, and not worry so much about the mileage. The lower the recorded miles, the more likely it is to have been clocked - I generally avoid anything with under 100K showing. There's too much risk that, in effect, all you are doing is paying a villain somewhere an incredibly huge hourly rate for the time he has spent winding the mileage back, and forging stamps in a blank service book.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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In my recent experience this is far too expensive. Four months ago we sold my wifes one owner Golf CL TDi estate in met green with elec sunroof 1998R with genuine 29k miles and full VWSH for £6300 privately. Against recent auction sale prices we did well to get that. We did not take the first offer and we had to hang out for that amount - it was advertised at £7000 and we had offers ranging from £4500 (VW dealer) to £6300 with several at under £6000. So it is a different story when you want to sell. I would think you would struggle to get £3k for the white (and the CL looks awful in white) one you describe.
Great car and good strategy to buy an older one - that way you will stay well away from the ABYSMAL VW main dealers - which is the only reason that we sold ours.
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I agree it is a bit expensive. I picked up a nice VR6 95M for £5500 6 months ago. I would carry on looking.
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It all depends on what car your after I think, I personally wouldn't be seen dead in a french car and the engineering side of them is not on a par with the germans, but I suppose that is why VW's, BMW's and the like hold their value compared to cars of them same age. Also golfs and similar are desirable cars compared to throw away cars like the mondeo and the citroen which in my mind are the blandest cars on the road today. Also if you look at how many old VW's you see on the road compared to old ford's and citroen's then surely one thing comes to mind, the germans build their cars to last.
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Nick,
Check out the "clocked" thread on here, this is the second instance just in the threads I've read this morning of the mileage seeming "just right" for the car...
90k on an N-plate diesel Golf wouldn't put most punters off buying it, whereas 120k or even 200k would. From what you've said I'd be very surprised if the 90k car you're looking at really has only had 90,000 miles pass under its wheels... I should check out the 120k one. Or a 4-year old Mondeo.
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Nick,
Check out the "clocked" thread on here, this is the second instance just in the threads I've read this morning of the mileage seeming "just right" for the car...
90k on an N-plate diesel Golf wouldn't put most punters off buying it, whereas 120k or even 200k would. From what you've said I'd be very surprised if the 90k car you're looking at really has only had 90,000 miles pass under its wheels... I should check out the 120k one. Or a 4-year old Mondeo.
Skullcracker,
>>The germans built their cars to last
The germans sell their cars to people who'll pay any amount of money for the right image, and consequently can afford proper repairs and maintenance at top dollar, rather than Fords and Citroens, who are bought because you get a lot of car for the money, by people who can't afford brand new steering racks, elec window motors, etc.
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Surely you pay for what you get. I once had one of the first Peugeot 309 Diesels. It was way ahead (along with the 205 D) of its competitors in its day for a diesel, but eventially the build quality, thin pannels, weak interior and bits that literally fell off in the night drove me insane. The gearbox was nice until a synchromesh failed and it handled well if you permanently replaced major suspension parts.
Along came the Mk3 golf turbo diesel - doors that go 'clunk' not 'tink,' solid interior, strong engineering, and a silent dashboard (no French rattles and squeaks). Parts may be expensive, but thats academic as I have yet to replace any (except the usual filters and belts). Its been a much cheaper car to run and service than the Peueot.
German cars only from now on.
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Yes but go for £3400 to £3500 then take it to a VW indepentand and have the cam belt changed and the crank cam belt sprocket center bolt replaced and re-torqued properly. I lock tite these as they are prone to working loose. Other than that it will go to 150,000 without a prob. Peter
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£4K will buy you a three year old Toyota Avensis ex-company with 90K on the clock. It will have ABS, good stereo, airbags, close to 40 mpg, it's comfy OK to drive, V reliable and will go on to 150K with no major problems. Buy and good one (with a full history) and you won't go wrong.
Not much street cred but that the price you pay...
MB
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well we asked what the best price for the golf would be at the garage for cash and they said £3,800, and they wouldn't go any lower, so I'm not going there!
Am considering a Peugeot 306 1.9td now as i reckon i could get a s or t reg for about £4k. Just worried about french build quality!
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Am considering a Peugeot 306 1.9td now as i reckon i could get a s or t reg for about £4k. Just worried about french build quality!
Seat Ibiza TDi? Not many about, but there's a 36K W-plater in the Auto Trader, blue metallic, electric windows, £4K. Same engine as the Golf, and a pretty little thing IMO. Certainly not a car that you'd have to wear a hat and dark glasses before you'd drive it in daylight.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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Nick - if you are considering a 306TD, save some more money and go for 95/96 M/N. Better engine/turbo combination because no cat in the system, and to my mind better interior. I've had both.
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Agree with Richard... if you can get a 3 year old, TDi for £4k, jump at it, as long as it's big enough for you anyway.
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well just to keep you updated i am going to view a p-reg Seat Toledo tdi sxe (air con, s/r, e/w, p/s, c/l, spoiler) tomorrow. 90,000 miles, £2,500.
any thoughts?
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Yes, haggle. It's a good enough car (based on the Mark II Golf though, but with a modern engine). It's well put together and if you like it, buy it. Even so, regardless of how good the engine is (and some even had the 110 bhp version) the seller will have difficulty getting rid of it because of the styling. Therefore, pitch in with an hilariously low price (£1800) and be willing to go up if you need to. Even if you have to let it go for £300 in four years' time, you'll have had your money's worth even at full price.
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