MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: hunt808 on December 02, 2012, 10:12:29 am
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Hi - would really appreciate your thoughts on the value of a GTi that I tested yesterday. It's an unmodified manual, 2005 with leather seats, 6 CD changer, sunroof and only 25,000 on the clock. The owner wants £8,850. On the test drive it felt nice and tight, smooth, pulled and stopped well and didn't display any issues. I would describe the overall condition inside and out as good for a car of it's age.
Now the bad points: Alloys had been chewed by the evil worm. Hasn't been serviced for 30 months and hasn't had a cam belt change. My red warning lights were flashing! Also, still on its original rear tyres (some tread left). I guess you could say this points to the car being treated gently?
I did a full Glass valuation based on age/mileage/options and it came back at £8,300 for a private sale. I decided to suck up the cost of the wheel refurb and servicing, but I expect the seller to pay for the cam belt, so I went back with an offer of £7,850 which was rejected.
What do you reckon? Should I be using Glass as my starting point (I don't trust Autotrader prices, as they are often just what the seller wants, not what the car is actually worth or what they eventually receive)? With that kind of service gap should I just walk away, or is it not that big a deal with only 25,000 on the clock? Should I up the offer?
Bit confused over this one as I would really like a low mileage car as its going to be a daily driver and we are planning to keep long term.
Thanks,
J
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Buy a newer one
With age things will deteriorate, and can you verify the mileage?
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Too much money!
To me it's more important it's had regular oil changes with higher miles than 2.5 years without an oil change and low miles (Agree with Ed - is it genuine?? Easy to manipulate on a 2005 car).
Also factor in the cambelt kit (already nearly 4 years overdue!), immediate service, brake fluid will be old, aircon will need regassed/oiled if it doesn't stink already & old tyres will start to crack. It probably has the onset of rusty front wings too.
If it was £6-6.5k then not so bad.
You'll get a much newer model for less money, and probably better maintained as in, it's had some maintenance done.
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Too much. I only paid £750 more than that figure for an '07 with 38k on the clock.
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Walk away, there's loads out there to choose from. 30 months without a service that's two and half years!! I would want to see a service every year regardless of mileage.
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I would walk if it's not been serviced on time.
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I would much rather buy a car with twice the mileage that has been serviced regularly :happy2:
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I would much rather buy a car with twice the mileage that has been serviced regularly :happy2:
Agreed, £25k is great miles, but only if it's been regularly used and serviced right.
For around £7200/£7800 You'll get a great spec Mk5 with around 40-50k on it
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Low mileage older cars should sometime ring alarm bells, why has it not been used, sat in a lot waiting to be repaired from an accident?
Seems alot for an early car...
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Thanks for your input guys. That's really helpful, and you have confirmed my gut feeling that I should be walking away.
On to the next one! :-)
J
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Alot of money for a car that will be 8years old next year, hasn't had a service for 2.5years, technically if cam belt had been done on time next year it would need its 2nd one as its every 4 years x amount of miles, alloy refurb costing nearly £400 (if diamond cut), tyres if originals will probably cracking so another £100+ per corner, brake fluid change over due, air con service over due, the list could go on...
Personally walk away, you could get newer car with better spec for that money. It may have more miles but I'd rather have a car that has service and receipts rather than a low mileage car like that
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Thanks for your input guys. That's really helpful, and you have confirmed my gut feeling that I should be walking away.
On to the next one! :-)
J
You should take a look at mine buddy - I've just had Xenons fitted too ;)
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,53975.0.html
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Had a look at another couple of cars today: one at a dealer with DSG (amazing technology, but a bit too detached for our tastes), and a mint example advertised on here...I've seen new cars in showrooms that didn't look as good. I tried to find a fault...the tiniest scratch...condensation behind the glass...uneven tyre wear...but I just couldn't fault it.
Offer made. Offer accepted. Roll on next weekend!
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,57215.0.html
Very, very excited to be a GTi owner :-)
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well done :star:
that is a nice car, and well looked after
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Congratulations on joining the GTI family! You won't be dissapointed! :happy2:
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Low mileage older cars should sometime ring alarm bells, why has it not been used, sat in a lot waiting to be repaired from an accident?
Seems alot for an early car...
Yeah sometimes they should but not always, my mum sold her last Golf 5 years back which she had had for 9 years (since new) she sold it with Full service history and all MOT's, it had never done more than 900 miles between MOT's :signLOL:
She has had her new Golf for 5 years now and bought it as an ex-demo from VW, this one has managed "just" over 1000 miles per year :signLOL:
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On the mileage issue ......My 2007 ED30 will click up 20k next week . I have done about 3k in it since i bought it in Nov 2010 . I used to have use of a staff car park and that changed in april 2011 , the car is now sat in my drive getting washed only as i ride a bike to work. I don't use it for short journeys as it causes problems to the engine that i don't want , we use of Mini diesel to run around the town and only use the Golf to go on longer journeys. although that is not always the case and when we leave the car at the airport i would rather get a car park dent in the mini than the golf so use the mini for this too , it has had two dents in it in the last year ! The car really is not being used and i feel rather guilty when someone else could be using it . Can't sell it as every time i get in it and use it the drive is so rewarding that its like a drug ! Bring on 14th December when it gets used again and clocks up that 20k :rolleye:
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sorry mate, but can you explain a bit what would be the problem for short journeys could do harm to the engine?
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sorry mate, but can you explain a bit what would be the problem for short journeys could do harm to the engine?
Engine will not get to full operating temperature and it causes excessive wear compared to longer journeys . Hence why lower mileage cars are serviced on time rather than mileage . Always buy a younger high mileage car than and older low mileage car . Motorway mileage causes relatively little wear on the engine . Have a drive of some ex fleet chauffeur driven Merc/Bmw etc with 300-400k on them and they will feel like new (nearly)
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To me it's more important it's had regular oil changes with higher miles than 2.5 years without an oil change and low miles.
^^^ This
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Picked up the GTI on Saturday and drove it up to the Cotswolds, then had a fab run back home on Sunday. What a great car. Simply brilliant. Reminds me of when pilots describe how they don't sit in a Spitfire, but strap it on. Seating position and controls are perfect for me and the vehicle is so responsive and beautifully weighted. Has that wonderful: 'think it / done it' feel about it, if you know what I mean.
I blinking love this car :-)
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superb! that is exactly how I feel about my GTI. :happy2: