Looking at a GTI

[Matthewsimone]

Fuel consumption depends on 2 things:

1/ Driving style

2/ Maintenance / condition

I've had mine for 2 months now and Every tank full I get 36mpg out of with 50% Motorway, 40% rural and 10% urban roads.

Today on the way to work I drove pretty sedately and I got an indicated 42mpg.

Yes a also regularly see atleast these figures myself
On average wifes tdi is doing about 17mpg more than my Gti
Really does depend what your needs are!
For me I average 6,000 miles a year in Gti so diesel would be pointless where as our tdi hits around 17,000 a year so worth having it 

[jbbhoy]

Is 7k for a 55 plate golf GTI decent ? 64k miles just had belt and water pump done FSH all receipts etc

[Matthewsimone]

Broad question mate
So many variants to be considered

No of owners
History
Paintwork
Overall condition
High spec or low spec

I bought mine 12 months ago

57 plate
1 owner
68k miles
Black 3 door
Full loaded spec - leather, sat nav, 18" monza's etc

Only gave a few hundred more than you suggest for 55 plate but maybe I got a bargain!

Personally go for a later car 56 reg onwards with the revised bwa engine code if you can

[jbbhoy]

Broad question mate
So many variants to be considered

No of owners
History
Paintwork
Overall condition
High spec or low spec

I bought mine 12 months ago

57 plate
1 owner
68k miles
Black 3 door
Full loaded spec - leather, sat nav, 18" monza's etc

Only gave a few hundred more than you suggest for 55 plate but maybe I got a bargain!

Personally go for a later car 56 reg onwards with the revised bwa engine code if you can

Are the post 56 plates more reliable then

TBH a don't fancy going out to see this golf the VW badge alone puts me off seems okay otherwise.

It's white golf and badge  been painted red

[Rossimac]

Yes, 56 plates will generally have the BWA engine code and the earlier ones will have the AXX engine code. The BWA is preferred and is regarded as the better engine.

Personally, I would read up on the optional extras that you can get with this car - in my original searches, I didn't know the half of the them - luckily I got a high-spec Apr 2007 one with 97k for £6.2k. It's now on 108k and it hasn't missed a beat with correct servicing.

I got a high-miler as I didn't intend to sell up until 3 or 4 years down the line anyway, so didn't think the retained value would be that high in a 100k car at 10 years old, so just bought cheaper then instead.

[jbbhoy]

Hard trying to find the right one don't want to dive in but ideally want is before the 6th of August is that is when insurance expires on the fiesta and can't be arsed insuring it etc to cancel tax aswell just seems a hassle

[GTIEagles]

Don't write off an AXX engined car. Mine is on 105K and the engine is perfect, unlike a few posts I have read where owners complain about a diesely engine noise when warm (affects both AXX & BWA engines) mine is silent. Note as well the AXX engined cars have a slightly better standard spec (blue tinted windows, no roof aerial etc) plus being older they are typically cheaper so definately worth considering IMO.

[jbbhoy]

Don't write off an AXX engined car. Mine is on 105K and the engine is perfect, unlike a few posts I have read where owners complain about a diesely engine noise when warm (affects both AXX & BWA engines) mine is silent. Note as well the AXX engined cars have a slightly better standard spec (blue tinted windows, no roof aerial etc) plus being older they are typically cheaper so definately worth considering IMO.

Thanks mate any general tips for looking when buying apart from the usual FSH and stuff like the water pump and that will take a PM if need be

[GTIEagles]

Standard stuff really:

When was the timing belt last changed (needs doing every 4 years or 60,000 miles - whatever is sooner)
Has the cam follower been replaced? If not do it ASAP.
Check for rust on the arches and sills.
Do all the electrics work? Any warning lights on the dash.
Listen out for a diesely engine noise as the car gets up to temperature (if excessive the timing chain and adjuster will need replacing = big bill)
Does the clutch slip any abnormal noise from the DMF?
Listen out for any knocks from the suspension.
Look at the last MOT and check the advisorys and ask if any have been actioned.
When the car is idling briefly remove the dipstick, if the engine starts to splutter and run rough the PCV is good. If there is no change the PCV is knackered (cheap fix)
If the car seems to be lacking performance, the DV could be split (Part about £40 and can be done yourself if you have axle stands.
Scan the car on VCDS for any fault codes (if owner allows!)
 
All I can think of for now!

[z00bz]

Standard stuff really:

When was the timing belt last changed (needs doing every 4 years or 60,000 miles - whatever is sooner)
Has the cam follower been replaced? If not do it ASAP.
Check for rust on the arches and sills.
Do all the electrics work? Any warning lights on the dash.
Listen out for a diesely engine noise as the car gets up to temperature (if excessive the timing chain and adjuster will need replacing = big bill)
Does the clutch slip any abnormal noise from the DMF?
Listen out for any knocks from the suspension.
Look at the last MOT and check the advisorys and ask if any have been actioned.
When the car is idling briefly remove the dipstick, if the engine starts to splutter and run rough the PCV is good. If there is no change the PCV is knackered (cheap fix)
If the car seems to be lacking performance, the DV could be split (Part about £40 and can be done yourself if you have axle stands.
Scan the car on VCDS for any fault codes (if owner allows!)
 
All I can think of for now!

Good general check list supplied by GTIEagles here 

Another AXX owner here running spot on 

[Rossimac]

GTIEagles has hit the nail on the head here - that's pretty much everything I think of.

Regarding Blue tinted windows, I prefer the Green tinted ones... 

Also, if you have Sat Nav from factory, all will have the shark fin aerial, which looks great and better than the massive aerial on the 2006+ cars.

[dansmith180]

My AXX is now on 107184miles and runs fine, I've owned it for 20k and once its warm it gets spanked everywhere. It does sound a bit rattly but has done so since the day I bought it and never seems to get worse.

[Ditto]

GtiEagles has mentioned the common things to look out for!

One thing to check (although not essential) is if the car has been serviced on longlife or interval servicing (10k or 12 months), with the latter being the preferred option. If it's done long trips then the former is ok too. VW recommended it for those doing more than 30 miles a day with mainly motorway driving at constant speeds.

In terms of price, I got mine recently from a VW Dealer (with the extended warranty taken out in addition to the standard 6 months you get) for circa £7.5k - this was an 07 with full VW history and 70k miles.

From looking around I decided to pay a little more and got one with a good history. There's plenty knocking around with limited or checkered histories!

If buying from a dealer lookout for those with reputable warranties (most have silly upper limits and masses of exemptions)! Privately you may find some with the extended VW warranties too (and are transferable for £25). There was also an option to pay monthly at circa £33 a month (with no excess).

[fuzzy232]

I went from a 1.9 tdi to a 2.0 gti ed30 at 330bhp, i can get 30 mpg average easy and upto 40 mpg on a run. only live once so might aswell have what we can enjoy :)

[mac456]

AXX here and it has been fine (touches wood  )