Researching

[Matty4]

Hi all,
I've just registered as I've come across a low K Mark V Golf that I'm interested in buying for my daughter for her first car.
She will be 18 next year and I thought that if we got her her own car she would be more likely to want to drive more and gain some experience and rack up her required hours in it on her L's.

I don't know all the details of the car but I'll give what I can, and hopefully I can be steered to make an informed purchase. I don't want this to come back and bite me on the ar$e...lol

It's an '05 4 door and the only badges on the back are GOLF and 2.0 FSI.
It's an auto (but I don't know if it's a DSG or not, prefer not). How do I tell?
I gather it's a Comfortline, cloth seats, etc.
It's a 2 owner with the current owner having it for 5 years.
It has 83000k's on it. He has VW service it on the dot but I haven't looked at the service history of the 1st owner.

What should I be looking for with this?

Cheers,
Matt

[The One]

Check the gearstick, does it say DSG? Being a 05 I'm more inclined to say its a 2.0l FSI auto (not DSG model). Do you have a link to the add or anything for us to help you out with? 83,000kms is quite good, just be wearing based on time (7 year limit) the timing belt and waterpump are due which are expensive.

Totally not sure around prices, I was looking at a 2006 mk5 2.0l manual with sunroof, leather, RNS510. 155,000km for 7k 2 months ago...

Check these out:
[URL="http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f23/2005-golf-mkv-sportline-2-0-fsi-109588.html"]

2005 Mk5 Golf 2.0 FSI Sportline

[Hillbilly]

Buy her a Corolla unless she particularly wants a VW I wouldnt inflict one on my kids

[Matty4]

Thanks guys.
It's not actually advertised anywhere. I did a job for a customer today and he told me he was going to trade it in in around 2-3 weeks time so I asked him how much. He was offered $4K trade in with the rego due end of this month. I offered $5k if he paid the rego for the next 12 months and he agreed. I haven't driven it, looked at the service history or anything like that yet. Just started finding out about them tonight. Wife has given permission too.......
After reading some more it isn't a DSG, just the Tiptronic 6 sp. This thread has me worried though
Tiptronic transmission thumping when selecting gears when cold

My daughter has no idea about this, it will be a Chrissy present if I decide to buy it.

[asa572]

Buy her a Corolla unless she particularly wants a VW I wouldnt inflict one on my kids

At least he is thinking MKV.
I bought my kids a MK4.

[Umai Naa!!]

Sounds like a good deal, however the automatic transmission will give you expensive problems eventually.

If your daughter is insisting on an automatic, I'd be buying something that isn't European.

[Hillbilly]

The reason for my answer is in the servicing and parts cost. My son wanted a better car and after the cost of servicing two new VW's I bought a Mazda 626 off a friend who was trading it in. Apart from a problem with rear brakelights it has cost little for services and maintenance as has my daughters Corolla.
Euro cars are nice but hard on the pocket for running costs.

[Matty4]

Yeah........I've kinda got that, having previously owned a Volvo XC90 and currently owning a Jeep Grand Cherokee.....haha.

Parts online is where it's at. I've got a great local mechanic and after chatting with him today he gave me the confidence that we can look after it properly. When (if) I get it the first thing I'll be doing is a full trans service and all fluids changed. I hope he's kept all the service invoices from VW.
Going to look at it more thoroughly tomorrow and take it for a good drive to test all things out.

Worst comes to worst I'll flip it and at least get my money back on it.

[GolfMK5AT]

Hey Matty4
Back in May I bought my MK5 05' FSI 2.0 Auto Comfortline, it had 122,000k on the clock and so far it's been a great car.
I've put about 8000k's on it and the only major issue I have has was the thermostat housing cracking causing coolant to leak, which I got repaired for $500.

Apart from that the only things i've had gone wrong was my driver side window got stuck open but after unplugging the window motor it started working again and my air con is now due for a re gas, it's just blowing out hot air.
But apart from that it's honestly been awesome, I love it. Very safe car with airbags all around, auto light and wipers are a good little feature!!

As for servicing I wouldn't bother with taking it to a Volkswagen dealer.. I got quoted $500 from them for the 135,000K service and another $500 for the air con re gas. I then got a quote from a local trusted mechanic for $190 for the service and $250 for the regas.

As for mileage I get around 580-600KM out of a tank (but I usually fill up before I need to so probably could push 640). I always fill up with 98 ron and recommend doing so (or at least 95). When I bought it it had half a tank of 91 which I went through in a day and it didn't feel anything like it does on 98.

All up it's a great little car.
I would get the transmission checked out because they are known to go, not in all cars but the early ones did have this problem so i've heard.
Mine does have a re call date on it so it may of had the tranny done.


Hope this helps in some way!

[Matty4]

Brilliant info, thanks @GolfMK5AT