New potential owner checking in.

[minefields]

Hi,

i am Dean from Shropshire and currently looking for a new car and the 2 options I have come to are the Leon FR or the Golf GTI, with me swaying more to the GTI at the moment.

Any tips on what to look for when buying would be greatly accepted.

My budget is a little varied, somewhere between 6k and 8k but could go higher if needed. Should that get me a decent GTI or will I struggle?

Anyway, I think I will trawl through the forums and get some ideas and tips.

[Jonathon555]

Just get the best car you can for he cash

8k should pick up a tidy gti , check the service history is correct


Have a look in the for sale section

[MC71]

Welcome on board Dean! 

Good advice above. For the money you'll get a good car.

Camebelt/Waterpump needs changing every 4 years or 60k miles (whichever comes first), costs £400+ from a VW garage, worth remembering if you buy a 7 1/2 year o,d car.

Things peeps change (and/or update) for peace of mind are the Diverter valve (£35), PCV (£35), cam follower (£30). The engine is pretty bullet proof on the whole.

Rust on the front wings is something to look for on early GTI's, even if you find a car with this, its no biggy as VW should sort it FOC.

[Rachael]

Welcome!

Mines gonna be for sale soon. What kind of thing are you looking for?

[minefields]

Hi, thx for the replies, in terms of what I am looking for I am open really.

Looking around I don't have a preference to 3 or 5 door.

Just looking for one around an 07 or 06 with less than about 70k miles ideally.

Only colour I am not interested in is red, all other would be considered.

It seems that so long as it has full service history and checking for rust on the wings, they seem to be pretty solid in terms of known problems.

Just itching to get one now and have some fun :)

[Rachael]

Ahhh I have an 06 plate with 55k on the clock. Full service history, full leather, stage one remap, dv has been changed. And the little bugger that causes rust has been removed.

However, its red lol!