Opinions on this mk6 GTi please

[Dooge]

Hey all,

I finally went to view a mk6 GTi last night that was up for sale and local to me:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F223630414479

 So, white 2009 plate. 103k approx, reasonably good service history. Candy white, 5 door, Tartan heated seats, multi function wheel, convenience pack, 18" Monza IIs. Powerflow backbox, remap to 262hp according to dyno printout. Evap delete and swirl flap delete including in map. Recent clutch and dual mass, new rear discs and pads and intake manifold due to actuator failure. Service book says cam chain has been done, hes trying to find the paperwork for it to prove it. Bodywork very straight, panels line up, alloys are good with no laquer peel and only a few very small marks, tyres are cheap but wearing straight. Air con works well.

Bad points: headlights are frosting/fading. One headlight has dirt ingress, the other has a small crack in a weird place which looks like its been dropped while off the car (no other damage seen) Bodywork is generally good, some small points of rust breaking out around bottom or wheels arch/sill area that will need attention. One front arch is starting to rust under neath but very minor. Rear bumper is a little scruffy, a few marks and damage to nearside rear bottom where its been caught on a wall. A few chips here and there which can be touched in.

Overall, a good car. Id want to get the rust looked at asap, first would be front arch at VW. The rest from a local bodywork garage. Headlights I think need replacing. Nothing about PCV so would change it.

It was on eBay with starting bid of £6k. Auction has ended with no bids. I was thinking start at £5700? He says he wants £6200 but similar cars are between £5k and £6k.

Ive yet to drive it though he did take me out in it. Seems to drive straight and went well. Got up to temp fine. Until I drive it I wont make an offer.

Anything I have missed? The car was warm when we arrived as he had just got home from work. Am I right in saying any issue you may here with the chain tensioner wouldnt be as obvious after its got to temp as oil would still be around the tensioner?

[john_o]

looks nice
advert showing history etc always hints at an enthusiast owner
rust surprises me alittle bit if Im honest at this age.
you will definitely need to view the tensioner to confirm its the revised version OR plug in VAGCOM as per below (Although youd have to be pretty brave to have the original tensioner , >100k and a remap)


Have a look at
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1620969
https://www.alexsautohaus.com/blog/common-problems-with-the-volkswagen-mk6-gti/

given it needs rust sorted , factor that into the price

Good Luck

[Dooge]

looks nice
advert showing history etc always hints at an enthusiast owner
rust surprises me alittle bit if Im honest at this age.
you will definitely need to view the tensioner to confirm its the revised version OR plug in VAGCOM as per below (Although youd have to be pretty brave to have the original tensioner , >100k and a remap)


Have a look at
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1620969
https://www.alexsautohaus.com/blog/common-problems-with-the-volkswagen-mk6-gti/

given it needs rust sorted , factor that into the price

Good Luck

Thank you John_o, the tensioner is the big one. I got him to pop the bonnet to listen to it start up but didnt hear much of what I thought to be anything wrong, certainly nothing that rattled. The seller showed me the car at his house and he was fairly upfront about a lot of bits. I have read both those links (and more) and I seem to remember reading that the original design chain tensioner worked from oil pressure, hence me thinking if the car has just been driven 10 minutes before it might not sound as bad on startup as it may do first thing in the morning for example.

The rust surprised me too, I thought maybe ive noticed it more on this one as its white? Im hopefully going back to view it again and drive it so I may take a few photos. Having spoken to friends with modern VW's and my own experience attempting to claim for a wing for my VW Bora years ago I know that VW are a nightmare to accept any form of liability or fault and you are left with a rusty wing and sorting it out yourself. Ill try and get some photos to show.

[bobby_fodge]

Just send and polish the headlights to sort the cloudiness

[Dooge]

Just send and polish the headlights to sort the cloudiness

The cloudiness isnt a problem, more the crack and dust and dirt inside.

[Rossimac]

Outstanding finance would put me off to be honest. He says it'll be cleared upon sale, so after sale.

[Dooge]

Outstanding finance would put me off to be honest. He says it'll be cleared upon sale, so after sale.

Yeh, thats a concern. However Ive got his mobile number, home address and Ill get details of the finance company. He's told me how much is outstanding. My brother sold his last car which had finance outstanding earlier this year, it can be genuine but theres always that doubt in your mind!

[Rossimac]

Definitely. It's a gamble and very often that gamble is low risk.

I'd be taking him to a bank and using your money to clear the finance there and then. I'd not want to leave it with him to clear and then find out later that the car is liable to be repossessed.

[Dooge]

Definitely. It's a gamble and very often that gamble is low risk.

I'd be taking him to a bank and using your money to clear the finance there and then. I'd not want to leave it with him to clear and then find out later that the car is liable to be repossessed.

I don't know who his finance company is and how he can go about paying it off, thanks for reminding me to check!

[Dooge]

So I went to see and drive the Golf again today. Loved it! Just the rust 

Nearside sill, just where the front arch joins the sill.
https://imgshare.io/image/yyzug

Nearside front arch
https://imgshare.io/image/yyBbq

Nearside rear arch where it meets the rear bumper
https://imgshare.io/image/yINrx

Offside rear arch where it meets the rear bumper
https://imgshare.io/image/yIpyl

Im going to enquire about an inspection by VW.

[bobby_fodge]

can't you just look for one without those rust issues?

[Octoparrot]

Tbh that type of creeping rust would put me right off it, to me it shows lack of care. There's better cars out there.

[shail]

I'd walk away.  I'm surprised at the amount of rust on that for the year.   Once they start to rust it quickly spreads. 

[Octoparrot]

I'd walk away.  I'm surprised at the amount of rust on that for the year.   Once they start to rust it quickly spreads.

Agreed 

[Dooge]

Thanks Gents, I have walked away. VW wont touch it, he took it to them and they denied his claim. He is going to re-list it on eBay so someone will be in for a shock.

Seen another in Birmingham, same spec but dark grey, sunroof and leather through Facebook marketplace. Similar mileage, chain and tensioner changed at 92k apparently.