VW Golf: Private sale - 1 owner Im told - things to check ?

worded

VW Golf 1.4L petrol 2003, €12950.00
28k mls, 3 dr, h/b, manual, met, silver, ABS, a/c, a/b, alloys, CD, c/l, e/m, fsh, f/s, immob, p/s, , immaculate,

> One owner.

But suspect: - callers mobile faulty couldnt take / receive calls could only text tonight. Will speak with tomorrow.

Anywho .........

Apart from mechanical ........

The paper work:
VRN should match?
Anything else.

 They are midlands - but if I bring a mechanic with me would be an idea.


colm_mcm

put the reg number into this page:
http://www.benchmarkcars.ie/auctions/reg.php

and it will give you some handy info for free.

Thanks to eamon234 for bringing this page to our attention

crosstownk

Listen for tapping noises from the engine which could be indicative of piston slap. If so just walk away. But do get a mechanic to check over it if you can.

colm_mcm

no NCT? even if it's not due till later in the year, the seller can do it 6 months early - i.e now. don't buy it without a test.

unkel

That's still a lot of money for a nearly 5 year old base Golf. Right or wrong, 1.4l petrol Golfs are very popular in Ireland as a second hand buy. Great for the first owner who is about to sell. Not so good for the second hand buyer imho. Overpriced being the operative word

crosstownk

worded wrote:

VW Golf 1.4L petrol 2003, €12950.00 28k mls,

Ok then.............

worded wrote:

3 dr

Basic, but nice if that's what you're after.

worded wrote:

h/b, manual, ABS, CD, c/l, p/s, immob

All are standard

worded wrote:

a/b, f/s, e/m

What are these?

worded wrote:

met, silver, immaculate

Nice bonuses, but not essential, imo.

Unkel is right, it sounds a bit rich.

Stephen

e/m = electric mirrors. No idea what a/b and f/s are.

crosstownk

Stephen wrote:

e/m = electric mirrors.

DOH! :rolleyes:

That makes it a Comfortline...............

E92

Stephen wrote:

e/m = electric mirrors. No idea what a/b and f/s are.

a/b - airbag perhaps?
f/s - usually FSH - perhaps f/s means Full Service History? If it doesnt, what does it mean then?

I note it has aircon - MkIV Golf never had such a feature IIRC, it was either Climate Control or nothing from what I remember

Edit: I see it has both f/s and fsh- what does f/s stand for?

colm_mcm

didn't base models have electric mirrors in 03?

unkel

Stephen wrote:

No idea what a/b and f/s are.

Airbag, front spots (foglights) maybe?

crosstownk

E92 wrote:

a/b - airbag perhaps?
f/s - usually FSH - perhaps f/s means Full Service History? If it doesnt, what does it mean then?

I note it has aircon - MkIV Golf never had such a feature IIRC, it was either Climate Control or nothing from what I remember

Spot on with the airbags - but they are standard.

f/s - the OP also mentions fsh - so that's what has me puzzled over f/s.

Climate control was available, as was a feature called Thermotronic.

Henry Ford III

I'd ensure it wasn't previously owned by drdre

crosstownk

colm_mcm wrote:

didn't base models have electric mirrors in 03?

You could be right. The Bora had them since March 2000 (and E/W), but the Bora has always had a better spec than the Golf.

E92

I doubt it- even in the UK the Golf E didnt have such a 'luxury', which was the same as our base model, wasn't it?

Even if the Golf E wasnt the equivalent, VWs of that time were famous for coming with nothing as standard here, so I still doubt that it had Electric Windows if it were the basic model. After all, they only put aircon on the top of the range Golf this year- the Focus and even the very basic Auris/Corolla have had aircon on their top models for over half a decade at this stage.

crosstownk

It did have it - see item number 4 in the attachment............

unkel

Careful now, no (more) pimping

colm_mcm

E92 wrote:

I doubt it- even in the UK the Golf E didnt have such a 'luxury', which was the same as our base model, wasn't it?

Even if the Golf E wasnt the equivalent, VWs of that time were famous for coming with nothing as standard here, so I still doubt that it had Electric Windows if it were the basic model. After all, they only put aircon on the top of the range Golf this year- the Focus and even the very basic Auris/Corolla have had aircon on their top models for over half a decade at this stage.

Mk3 Golf base models were reasonably well equipped a few years into production, 4 elec windows, electric mirrors cd, front and side bags CD etc. were all standard by 2003.

All golf models got standard aircon this year, not just "top of the range" models.

mad m

unkel wrote:

Careful now, no (more) pimping

No worries,post gone!

Me is a Pimp now!!!

bazz26

Asking price of €13k for an almost 5 year old Golf and a private sale at that, is silly money. No doubt someone will pay it. :rolleyes:

A long shot but f/s could mean factory sunroof?

E92

colm_mcm wrote:

All golf models got standard aircon this year, not just "top of the range" models.

What:eek: ? VW are putting aircon in as standard on all Golfs these days:) ? MDL must be on drugs:eek: , to think that you actually get such an "advanced" feature on a VW Golf now?(Never mind the fact it appeared in the Merc S-class about 40 years ago) The person(s) in MDL who decide the spec levels of VWs need to be rushed to hospital to the A&E section instantly. They were obviously completely and utterly pissed the night they decided that:D . I nearly had heart failure hearing that news.:eek: Because on any normal day, aircon wouldn't be added to a VW until about 30 years time.:D

colm_mcm

to be fair, they're giving the customer what they want. If the standard model Auris had air conditioning, my job would be a lot easier!

JoeySully

Just got this from autotrader.co.uk but fs is no there
but as far as i know it means Fully Serviced.

4WS 4 Wheel steering
4WD 4 Wheel drive
ABS Anti-lock Braking System
Air Con Air conditioning
A/Wheels Alloy wheels
CATI (2) Alarm (Immobiliser)
C/Coded Colour coded
C/Control Cruise control
Clim/Cont Climate Control
C/Locking Central locking
E/M Electric mirrors
E/Seats Electric seats
E/S/R Electric sunroof
E/W Electric windows
FFSR Factory fitted sunroof
FSH Full service history
FDSH Full dealer service history
FWD/4WD Four wheel drive
FWH Free wheeling hubs
H/L, W/W Headlamp wash/wipe
H/Seats Heated seats
H/S Hard & soft tops
Immob Engine immobiliser
LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas
LWB Long wheelbase
MPV Multi purpose vehicles
N/S/D Near side damage
O/D Overdrive
O.I.R.O Offers in the region of
ONO Or nearest offer
O/S/D Offside damage
OVNO Or very nearest offer
PAS Power assisted steering
P/X Part exchange
R/Cass Radio cassette
R/H/R Rear head restraints
R/S/B Rear seat belts
RWW Rear wash/wipe
T/Glass Tinted glass
T & T Taxed & tested (MOT)
VGC Very good condition
VTS Vehicle Tracking System
VCAR* Vehicle Condition Alert Registered vehicle (insurance write-off)
W/Wheels Wire wheels

bazz26

E92 wrote:

What:eek: ? VW are putting aircon in as standard on all Golfs these days:) ? MDL must be on drugs:eek: , to think that you actually get such an "advanced" feature on a VW Golf now?(Never mind the fact it appeared in the Merc S-class about 40 years ago) The person(s) in MDL who decide the spec levels of VWs need to be rushed to hospital to the A&E section instantly. They were obviously completely and utterly pissed the night they decided that:D . I nearly had heart failure hearing that news.:eek: Because on any normal day, aircon wouldn't be added to a VW until about 30 years time.:D

Aren't MDL loosing the VW Irish distribution franchise and VW taking it over themselves soon?

crosstownk

bazz26 wrote:

Aren't MDL loosing the VW Irish distribution franchise and VW taking it over themselves soon?

Yep - AFAIK the transition is in progress and will be completed by mid 2008. Hopefully there will be a marked improvement in attitude - but I won't hold my breath as I believe a good portion of the current MDL staff are to be retained...........

Marcus.Aurelius

crosstownk wrote:

Spot on with the airbags - but they are standard.

f/s - the OP also mentions fsh - so that's what has me puzzled over f/s.

FSH is full service history, f/s means fully serviced. It means it has both a full service history and been quite recently serviced.

E92

bazz26 wrote:

Aren't MDL loosing the VW Irish distribution franchise and VW taking it over themselves soon?

They are and they're losing the Audi and Skoda one too, and they have already lost the Mazda one, leaving them with just Mercedes-Benz now.
Seats are distributed by the OHM Group, anyone know if OHM are to lose their Seat franchise as well?

worded

Considering that it has low mileage (FSH) / 1 owner - how much is this "immaculate" car worth?

As you say almost 5 years old.

A fair price =
A very good price =

E92

colm_mcm wrote:

to be fair, they're giving the customer what they want. If the standard model Auris had air conditioning, my job would be a lot easier!

Wow thats very interesting. I would have always said that as long as the Auris had a Toyota badge, it would sell like hot cakes, and to hell with what was fitted as standard.

But that in itself raises a point, and that is that too many Toyotas come with nothing as standard. Aircon on an Auris/Corolla is not standard till one reaches the top of the range Luna model(I think there is a Sol model, but I've yet to see it). In most other cars of that size, its standard once one moves off the base model. The Yaris doesn't have it on any model, Ford have fitted chilled air on their Fiesta Ghia since 1999.

On the conrinent, virtually every Toyota there is the equivalent of our Luna spec(at a minimum). And Luna here is at the top or close to the top in this country!

If even VW now put aircon as standard on all Golfs, then that means that everyone else should have done it a few years ago. VWs are supposed to be following the trend, not setting it:D .(Mind you, the amount of people who drive with the windows open in a car that has aircon as standard never fails to amaze me, and even in cars where its not standard on the base model, and you have to be someway interested in cars if you are going for something other than a base model)

worded

VW Golf 1.4L petrol 2003, €12950.00
28k mls, 3 dr, h/b, manual, met, silver, ABS, a/c, a/b, alloys, CD, c/l, e/m, fsh, f/s, immob, p/s, , immaculate,


Anyone got an opinion on value?

Considering that it has low mileage (FSH) / 1 owner - how much is this "immaculate" car worth?

As you say almost 5 years old.

A fair price =
A very good price =

Anan1

Just for comparison, I brought in a 2003 Golf 1.6 auto 5dr with a/c, leather and ESP, 24k miles, FVWSH, from the UK in September 2005. It cost €13,750 landed.

worded

The seller is a dealer it transpires.
Ive never imported a car from the uk but its an idea.

Where is the www vrt calcultor these days?

worded

Dont know if I have the time to go to the UK is all.
Im told if I intend to, best bet is to go direct to a major dealer there.

Theres also some pit falls I hear even with that.

Amtmann

Timing Belt. I know she has only 23k miles on her, but it's likely that that's the original belt and if it is, then it's nearly 5 years old. VW recommend the belt be changed every 60k miles or every 5 years, whichever is the sooner.

Maybe I'm being too cautious though.