Purchasing Mk4 - advice please.

[VR6child]

Friend of mine needs to purchase a new car, which seems to around the price mk4's are going for at the moment. I haven't ruled out a good condition mk3, as those are what I am familiar with, but the mk4 is clearly a more refined car.

Requirements:
-automatic ()
-$10-12k rougly
-can be either golf or bora

I have heard about how poor the 1.6 manuals transmissions are, and I would assume the 1.6 is a car to avoid in general?

Which mk4 engine was the pick of the bunch? I'm currently looking at the 2.0 and V5 models. Clearly waterpump and timing belt need to have been changed on the 2.0, how about things to look for on the V5?

Some I have been looking at, comments welcome.

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BORA 1J MY2002 V5

2000 VOLKSWAGEN BORA 1J

2000 VOLKSWAGEN BORA 1J V5

2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 4th Gen GLE

[Golf Houso]

www.manheimfowles.com.au

www.pickles.com.au

Get a repo'ed GTI or Bora, and it'll cost you 10k flat, MKIV GTI's are cheap as chips these days and cost as much as VR6's due to the fact that they aren't P-Plater legal.

Its a much better car in every way imo...

[dylan8]

i have a 2lt and its awesome on fuel and not to bad on parts (no turbos, awd systems to go wrong) not the quickest car, but for what it is and the size of the boot i think it does a pretty good job. go a V5 for leather and sunroof etc if you can though

[McDub]

Get a repo'ed GTI or Bora, and it'll cost you 10k flat, MKIV GTI's are cheap as chips these days and cost as much as VR6's due to the fact that they aren't P-Plater legal.

Its a much better car in every way imo...

GTI = manual! OP needs auto.

OP, get ur friend to learn to drive manual :p

[Merlin8r]

I have a 2 litre you can have for less than your budget, but your buyer needs to learn to drive a manual first!

[Gravey]

Timing Chain/Belt is the main thing you need to be aware of as far as service goes. v5 Bora needs to be done at 120k and I'd assume the v6 is the same? I think the GTI needs doing earlier, though not sure.

[Golf Loon]

2L or 1.6 is OK in an Auto if it has been serviced and looked after.

V5 and V6 will cost more to buy and parts will be more expensive.

[qsilverza]

Timing chain only needs to be done when you hear it Guys on the American forum are quoting an easy 160,000 Miles before changing the chain.

Timing Chain/Belt is the main thing you need to be aware of as far as service goes. v5 Bora needs to be done at 120k and I'd assume the v6 is the same? I think the GTI needs doing earlier, though not sure.