I've considered the Octavia, but the wife is learning to drive and a Golf seems the best middle ground (size & cost wise). Once she passes the Golf will pass to her and I will buy a cheap rep-mobile (I'm thinking of Audi A6, Volvo S60/S80, VW Passat, Octavia etc..)
Your thinking is the same as mine - buy a Golf with documented history (to include belt change) at c 80,000miles and run it for 3 years and then chuck it in P/Ex for something different (probably something small (ie Micra) for the wife!!)
Anyone have any experience of mega-mile Golfs'?
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VW engines will take massive six-figure mileages in their stride - the main proviso, of course, is regular servicing, especially oil and filter changes.
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My Passat is on 142,000, and I put on about 25,000 a year.
(Touch wood) - nothing major has gone wrong in my ownership. The only thing is that front suspension components appear to be failing one by one...
I get the impression, as Stuartli says, they'll run forever. Just remember the regular oil and filter changes.
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heard quite a few reports of TDI engines failing around the 150,000 mile mark.Probably should be more concerned with VAG products recent poor reliability in other areas though -(electrics,interior quality etc.)
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8,000 miles and counting then! Will have to make sure I'm not on a wet, cold motorway when I reach 150,000!!
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Sell it mate, why take the risk? ;-)
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You're talking about opting out of an 04 Mondeo Diesel for a two year old Diesel of similar power, just a high-mileage Golf.
Have you considered that you can quite probably (havent checked tho) get a two year old Mondeo TDCI130 for the same amount, probably with less miles on it?
Just an idea
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The Mondeo is with the current job, and was the best of a bad bunch to choose from (ie (old shape) Astra, Vectra (old diesel or Focus. However, it really is too big to drive around where I live, and supermarket/shopping centre car parking spaces are a nightmare to park in, as the car is the same width and longer than a typical space!!!
Also, the wife will be learning to drive in it!
That apart, the seats in the Mondeo are really really bad... Whereas the Golf is relatively comfy as I recall, having driven my fathers 115 GT Tdi in the past.
Anyway, must get back to scouring AutoTrader trying to find a decent example....
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heard quite a few reports of TDI engines failing around the 150,000 mile mark.Probably should be more concerned with VAG products recent poor reliability in other areas though -(electrics,interior quality etc.)
This is what I've heard too, it's something of a myth that modern high pressured TD's go on forever.
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Quote from Q&A from August 2004 Used Car Buyer.
Q: I am looking for a mk IV GOlf TDI PD 130 and have £8k to spend. This means high mileage. Is this risky?
A: (By HJ) Yes The old TDI is good for about 150k miles because the injector wear splashes fuel on one side of the bores, it can develop oil consumption problems. The reputation diesel engines have for lasting forever is something of a myth with TDI's, especially with more powerful ones.
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My experience of Golfs is that they're mechanically sound but suffer from numerous electrical and build quality faults. I've just given up on VW after my 2 year old GT TDi 130's wipers failed for the 3rd time on the motorway at 70mph. Dealers just kept replacing the wiper motor when quite clearly there was a wiring fault somewhere causing it. HJ has heard of this fault in Audi A3s also. I'd be going for something Japanese or a Ford/Vauxhall, the latter cost a lot less to fix.
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My son bought a high mileage (125k miles) Golf Mk3 with FVWSH.
In the year & 10k miles he had it the starter motor became very noisy although still worked, new outer CV joint, new wheel bearing, new rear arm bushes, new rear dampers. MOT man said steering rack was worn & would need replacing before next MOT. They are just the things I can remember.
He then bought a Passat at 94k miles with FVWSH. In the 10k miles he had that it needed both lower suspension arms, fan viscous coupling, variable vane turbo stuck on full blow, water leak into passenger footwell where the central locking ECU lives causing electrical mahem. (the last 2 are common problems).
VW seem to be trading on a reputation that is no longer justified. The body is strong & the engines are generally reliable but don't warrant the high second hand values they seem to hold IMHO.
I shall be sticking to Citroen which I can buy cheap & still don't have all the hassles.
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I have just bought an ex-fleet managed TDi PD 115 Golf Estate on Y for £5995, with 85K on the clock. It has FVWSH and I hope this will do as well as my previous TDi Umwelt, which had similar miles and in 3 years did another 70K and, apart from VW services and a starter motor, only cost me fuel, oil and tyres! (and always passed MOT!) Purchase cost was £6150 and I sold it, at 154K, for £2000.
No motoring is cheap nowadays, but this is almost as painless as it gets. VW and Audi are really the only makers that you can do this with, but the outlay on an Audi A4 (even high mileage) is much greater.
The important thing is to be sure that the car has been cared for - Do not start off with anything that has stained upholstery, trim hanging off or broken switches and fittings. If the interior has been looked after, chances are, so have the mechanics - Good luck!
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Well, I listened to you all and then ignored you... No, I listened to your comments and took them on board and went for a 2002 - 51 reg (Jan 2002) Golf GT TDI 130 with 90,300 on the clock. Its got a fully stamped main dealer history with the last stamp at 89,500 in June. The interior is in better condition than my 8000 ml Mondeo (with the exception of a screw missing from one piece of trim) and the car really does feel new. I am aware I may be looking at a new engine in 2 years, or ditch the car in 18months. The car itself is ex British Gas (via Lombard Finance) and the guy I bought it from had several others in stock. I even got a spare key!!!
I must say that the comments I received were informative and useful when it came to making a decision and Honest Johns car-by-car breakdown also proved useful. I checked the VIN and it was a WVW---------- which I presume is Wolfsburg, but I could be wrong.
Once again, thanks!
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May I be cheeky and ask how much you paid for it?
Cheers,
DB
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VIN and it was a WVW>>
If the 11th character in the VIN is a W then it is indeed built in Wolfsburg.
A = Inglestadt, B = Brussels, E = Emden; others include K = Osnabreuck, P = Brazil and V = Westmoreland, PA, USA.
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PS
WVW = European passenger car; WV2 = European MPV; 1VW = USA; 3VW = Mexico and 9VW = Brazilian passenger car.
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Re dieselnuts response
I totally agree that a well serviced diesel ENGINE should be good for a long and high mileage life.
However, why should the ancillary components last hundreds of thousands of miles?
Eg shock absorbers,starter motors,brake discs,exhausts, seats, switchgear,electric windows and other electrics etc etc.
I can think of no reason why they would last any longer on a diesel than on any other car.
Can anyone correct my (probable)illogical thinking?!
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>>Can anyone correct my (probable)illogical thinking?!>>
Nothing illogical about your thinking and it's obviously accepted that all vehicles have built-in replacement costs such as tyres, brake pads, exhausts, shock absorbers etc.
But if the vehicle's all round build quality is there from the start then a reliable long and high mileage diesel engine life is an important ingredient.
I've always noticed that vehicle manufacturers' original fitted equipment (OEM) such as batteries and exhausts last far longer than quick fit replacements - that's why I try and use the same OEM products when replacement time arrives.
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Hi,
Are you sure that P is only Brazil? Reason for asking is mine is a RHD personal import from a dealer in Dussledorf, and has P as 11th character. Most of the component parts are date stamped 15th to 26 Nov 00, and the car was at the dealer for PDI on 30th November 00. At the time, I was told it was coming from Wolfsburg.
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>>Are you sure that P is only Brazil?>>
If you look at the very last table in this website link, the various countries that produce VAG products and the manufacturing plants' code letters are listed:
www.driversfound.com/gak/vininfo.htm
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Stuart,
I did look at the website suggested, but figured it may be out of date, as latest data was for 1995 or so.
I have now got info from VW to say that my vehicle (with "P" as 11th character) was built at Mosel, Germany, which fits in with the timing I experienced.
Thanks for your help.
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Just remembered, on seing your message, that I was sent this VIN number checker:
www.autobaza.pl/ab/en/web/productaa0100
A search of received e-mails reveal it was sent to me back in February...:-)
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Sorry for the delay, but in answer to diesel boys question - £8,950. I drove a 115 that was up at 7795, but that felt rough, whereas the one I bought felt almost like new!
It was the insurance that stung me - £1002 thru' elephant (mainly cos of the learner driver on the policy, but thats for me at 25, my wife (provisional) and based on 35000mls per annum)
Now you are going to tell me its too much.....
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>>Now you are going to tell me its too much.....>>
Does seem somewhat steep. Was this the only quote you got - Elephant, as far as I am aware, is a broker, just as with the AA and similar outfits.
Best to go direct to individual companies online such as DirectLine, MoreThan> etc and key in your details on their website. Usually a lot cheaper.
My VW Bora is in Group Six and, as the only driver, fully comprehensive cover cost me £176 with DirectLine in July - the renewal figure was a drop on the previous premium with the company of £193. In fact the premium for the Bora was the same as for my previous car, a then 13-year-old Jetta 1.6 TX, which is in Group 10.
First time I've ever been offered a reduced cost to renew a premium in 40 years of acquiring car insurance...:-)
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PS
I should point out that the premium is very dependent on the mileage covered annually and 35k is quite high.
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Most companies won't cover it because of the provisional driver on a Group 13 (at least) car. Eagle Star/Zurich wouldn't, whilst the company insurance brokers wanted £2,700 for the same. Even the high performance companies walked away when I said provisional driver! If it had just been me it would have been about £750...
Still, I'm sure she will pass fairly quickly!
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