Any VW experts here? Looking at a 2000 golf

johnski

johnski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Location
Concord, NC
Here's what I've found with crazy low miles for a 12 year old car:
http://www.ncautocity.com/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=145202910

Just looking for a new (to me) 4-door DD that's good on gas, reliable, and still fun to drive at less than $10K. I've always been intrigued by VW's, so this caught my eye. Anything I need to know before I have a look at it? Or, should I steer clear? Any help would be appreciated.
 
The price seems high. i used to have an 02 jetta tdi. Automatic are kinda a weak point if you want to do any kind of performance with them. the manual trannys are stout and can take a licking. the 1.8 engine are solid engines, so as long as you keep up the maintence it will last a long time.

These cars and my jetta that have sunroofs can have a problem with the drains clogging up causing water to get inside the car. Kinda an easy fix and easy to keep up with once you check the drains.

Carfax report will tell you alot. I see that the previous owner looks like they have done stuff see the red intake tube and red painted calipers. The factory radio is less than desireable if you like alot of features. There is a cool thing called a phatbox which is oversize Ipod that it plugs into the factory disc changer and works with the factory controls and talks to you. pretty cool. I hope it helps out.
 
K45 said:
The price seems high. i used to have an 02 jetta tdi. Automatic are kinda a weak point if you want to do any kind of performance with them. the manual trannys are stout and can take a licking. the 1.8 engine are solid engines, so as long as you keep up the maintence it will last a long time.

These cars and my jetta that have sunroofs can have a problem with the drains clogging up causing water to get inside the car. Kinda an easy fix and easy to keep up with once you check the drains.

Carfax report will tell you alot. I see that the previous owner looks like they have done stuff see the red intake tube and red painted calipers. The factory radio is less than desireable if you like alot of features. There is a cool thing called a phatbox which is oversize Ipod that it plugs into the factory disc changer and works with the factory controls and talks to you. pretty cool. I hope it helps out.
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Thanks for the info. I don't plan to do any performance upgrades, so I guess I shouldn't worry about the auto tranny. If I have a chance to look at it, I'll ask for the carfax. I noticed the intake and calipers, too, which makes me a bit hesitant. KBB price was only a couple hundred cheaper than the asking price, btw.
 
VW's are nice as long as maintance is done. They other thing is the interiors will hold up ok but not great.
 
Yeah the rubber ocated plastic used on the interior is not very good. thats why the popout cupholder looks scratched up. Also it may be German engineering but putting cupholders right above the radio so that it can drip on it and you can not read the display is not very bright in my opinion. If you get one of these get yourself a Bentley Manual and Vagcom. the manual will show you how to do anything on the vehicle clearly and the vagcom is a fantastic computer scaning tool. Both are reasonable cost.
 
Skip the auto. High failure rate, and expensive repair. Not to mention, VW can't build an auto that feels good to save their lives. It will take a sporty car and turn it into a dog. And if it wasn't maintained properly with the right oil, you're looking at a new turbo soon. IMO, not worth the risk.
 
If its a turbo car i would stay away from it. The turbos suck. They also have a problem with sludge build up in the oil passages. VW makes awsome cars. I have owned a lot of then. I agree the price seems high on that one. If your interested in a vw check out www.vwvortex.com.
 
I commute in my wife's VW turbo 4cyl. 6 spd tranny, 2nd shift hard - fixing to fall apart. Crayon interior nicks and scratches just looking at it. Windows, can't even count how many times the cables and stops have broke, it's an 04 model, you would think by now a manufacturer could build windows that work! Some hoses under the hood just melt off, I guess they are made of crayon also. Coils go out, got the recall after I'd replaced all of them, perfect timing on there part after customers threatened lawsuits. Seat lock won't engage in certain spots. Gas mileage is 26, I sold my old 95 SS Impala, wish I would have kept it, it got the same gas mileage on the highway, twice the power and 3 times as big.
 
Thanks for the insight guys. Looks I'll scratch this one off the list.
 
I did forget one thing. One of the big tips is to figure out where it was made. the ones that come from Germany or Brazil are better quality built and have less problems than the ones built in Mexico.
 
I have known so many people that have had late model VWs & had nothing but problems. Mine is older & as about as simple as can be & it's a major pain to work on! I swear you have to disassemble half the car to do anything on it! If it was not for the cheap price & fuel mileage I'd never think of keeping the car.

My latest fiasco is the cheaply made alternator pulley, which is made from two stamped steel pieces that have deformed over the years & is eating belts. I called VW as I figured this would be cheap. Wrong, try $95!
 
If you own any German car, you'd better have $3k in the bank at all times allotted for repairs. Today I got an '08 535 that was bought back under the lemon law in my stall that needs $1400 worth of water pump and thermostat! It won't do anything but idle until it gets one too.
 
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