Thinking of getting a Vento

[balkanac]

I found this Vento on the net, im thinking of getting it. I need a second car and i'd love it to be a VW.
Can someone please give me some advice, what to look for, are there any known faults etc. This car is 2 min from my house so im gonna go and see it after work.
Thanking you in advance

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...ake=VOLKSWAGEN

[MattyT]

It's basically a mk3 golf + a real boot. So all the usual mk3 stuff applies, dodgy auto trannies, window regs, and minor electrical hiccups (lights mostly).

Why do you need a 2nd car? Does the r32 not sate your every whim and desire???

[balkanac]

Why do you need a 2nd car? Does the r32 not sate your every whim and desire???

It does, i don't really wanna drive it to work every day. I started in a new place and im parking in a public car park so i dont really want to get it scratched or dented. Its clocking up kms really quick as well, so ATM im driving my dad's Jeep (well, its mine too, we paid for it together) and the R sleeps under a cover during the week. My dad is changing jobs and he won't have a company van anymore so he'll need something to drive.
I hope this makes sense

[peedman]

If u want to swap for a golf front end let me know

Dont forget heater core, a/c working, and whether timing belt done. Window regs are a given but can be tackled easy if u are even a little bit mechanical minded.

[rayray086]

Check if the belts were done recently - IIRC they're due in every 90,000km. I'm guessing the original owner sold it off before having to go and get it done, so definitely mention that to the salesman and haggle. Check the clutch if it's been replaced. And like MattyT says, check all electricals, as well as wiring in the engine bay. My Mk3 was choking and not starting on the first time a lot (symptoms of faulty/bad ignition coil, dizzy or spark plugs) but it ended up being a (crank angle) sensor wire shorting due to insulation wear. VW quoted $400 for that POS but luckily Golf Loon came up trumps with a perfect second-hand one. Edit: Oh, and I think only the "later" engines had that sensor. I don't know when the cut-off point is but I know peedman's Golf (1994) had the earlier one without the sensor but my one does (1996). I think the engine codes are 2E for the earlier one, and ADY for the later one.

Not trying to scare you but they are all now 10+ years old!

[Water Boy]

Ohhhhhhhh get it and mix Euro with JDM

[MattyT]

There aint much point droppin cash on a daily bunky!

I say go for it balk

[runamuk]

w00t.. MK3 goodness

[DVR68U]

also make sure the abs light ( and all lights ) come on when you turn the key before you start, some people used to pull out the abs golbe if there was a prob with the abs. so that the light didnt stay on all the time so they could pass rego.
cheers brenton

[balkanac]

Thanks everyone for your input, i'll go take a look and tell you what happened