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car advise?

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  • 29-10-2009 11:02am
    #1
    Sesshoumaru
    Registered Users Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭


    I have a friend who is looking at purchasing an older 96 Golf, 1.4 Petrol with 78,000 on the clock from a friend who he works with. He is learning to drive and it will be his first car. He wants me to drive it for him before he purchases it as he has no insurance yet. I was hoping some experts here might have some tips on what to look out for in this model Golf? Thanks!


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    #2
    robtri
    Registered Users Posts: 5,473 ✭✭✭robtri


    one rule I have.. never buy/sell cars from/to friends.....


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    #3
    Sesshoumaru
    Registered Users Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭Sesshoumaru


    robtri wrote: »
    one rule I have.. never buy/sell cars from/to friends.....

    Would it make a difference if the friend was a foreign national moving back to her country of origin? :)


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    #4
    Mr Benevolent
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,456 ✭✭✭✭Mr Benevolent


    Sesshoumaru wrote: »
    Would it make a difference if the friend was a foreign national moving back to her country of origin? :)

    Yes. It's probably never been serviced in that case (girl driving an ancient car I mean, not the foreign national bit). Avoid.


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    #5
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,159 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Get a mechanic to check the car over. If the car is mechanically sound then it could be a good buy for a learner driver at the right price irrespective of who is selling it.


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    #6
    restaurants
    Closed Accounts Posts: 102 ✭✭restaurants


    robtri wrote: »
    one rule I have.. never buy/sell cars from/to friends.....
    I absolutely agree. You can't win. Find another car.


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    #7
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    and those 1.4 90's golfs are shyte.


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    #8
    Sesshoumaru
    Registered Users Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭Sesshoumaru


    niceirishfella wrote: »
    and those 1.4 90's golfs are shyte.

    Do you mean shyte like boring? or shyte like mechanically unsound? It would be the guys first car and he's not really into cars in the first place. So boring would probably suit him fine.

    Thanks for all the advise!


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    #9
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,159 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    It's an almost 14 year old car, there is no such thing as a reliable brand at that age. Judge the car on it's own merit so that is why it is important to have it checked over by a mechanic.


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    #10
    Sesshoumaru
    Registered Users Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭Sesshoumaru


    bazz26 wrote: »
    It's an almost 14 year old car, there is no such thing as a reliable brand at that age. Judge the car on it's own merit so that is why it is important to have it checked over by a mechanic.

    Personally I agree, but I think my friend is on a tight budget and he doesn't want to pay any more money than he has to (short sighted I know!). Anyway after some Googling I found a nice generic check list that fits on one A4 page. I'll just try to go through it as thoroughly as I can can and advise my friend my opinion doesn't come with a warranty!


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    #11
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,159 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Sesshoumaru wrote: »
    Personally I agree, but I think my friend is on a tight budget and he doesn't want to pay any more money than he has to (short sighted I know!). Anyway after some Googling I found a nice generic check list that fits on one A4 page. I'll just try to go through it as thoroughly as I can can and advise my friend my opinion doesn't come with a warranty!

    False economy imo but your friend will pay his money and take his chances. Personally I think he is mad to even consider buying a 13/14 year old car without having somebody who knows their way around cars looking at it first.


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    #12
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    Sesshoumaru wrote: »
    Do you mean shyte like boring? or shyte like mechanically unsound? It would be the guys first car and he's not really into cars in the first place. So boring would probably suit him fine.

    Thanks for all the advise!

    I mean, 1.4 petrol mk3 golfs are shyte - mechanically.
    The diesel versions were better in the mk3.


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    #13
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    robtri wrote: »
    one rule I have.. never buy/sell cars from/to friends.....

    +1

    and never relations/family......:eek:


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    #14
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    I have a 96 1.4 litre golf estate, i bought it on adverts a while back. Engine perfect, body very clean. 140,000 on the clock
    Starts first turn of the key.
    No smoke.
    Temp never goes above halfway.
    Not burning oil.
    Good on fuel.
    I have pulled a car transporter behind it and driven about 2000 miles in the car since i got it without a problem.
    All i have done ischange one wheel bearing which is just due to normal wear and tear.

    Why spend a fortune on your first(your friends) car.
    If its cheap tell your friend to go for it.
    We havent all got the money to buy new cars.


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    #15
    W.Shakes-Beer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,975 ✭✭✭W.Shakes-Beer


    cascade35 wrote: »
    ...96 1.4 litre golf estate...140,000 on the clock...pulled a car transporter behind it...

    picard-facepalm.jpg


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    #16
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Its gonna be towing the trailer with an astra van on it tomorrow, nerves of steel i have lol


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    #17
    niceirishfella
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,538 ✭✭✭niceirishfella


    cascade35 wrote: »
    Its gonna be towing the trailer with an astra van on it tomorrow, nerves of steel i have lol

    Totally illegal and you could kill someone you know you tool!:mad:


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    #18
    kodute
    Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭kodute


    cascade35 wrote: »
    Its gonna be towing the trailer with an astra van on it tomorrow, nerves of steel i have lol

    World class idiocy.


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    #19
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    niceirishfella wrote: »
    Totally illegal and you could kill someone you know you tool!:mad:


    How do u work that one out?


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    #20
    sean1141
    Registered Users Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭sean1141


    you cant tow a double axel trailer with a car.


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    #21
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    [EMAIL="F@ck"]F@ck[/EMAIL] i never knew that. Right well then i deserve the comments made, Looks like im gonna have to invest in a Transit van so.

    Astra van can stay where it is for now.

    Thanks guys for pointing out the errors of my ways.


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    #22
    kodute
    Registered Users Posts: 829 ✭✭✭kodute


    cascade35 wrote: »
    [EMAIL="F@ck"]F@ck[/EMAIL] i never knew that. Right well then i deserve the comments made, Looks like im gonna have to invest in a Transit van so.

    Astra van can stay where it is for now.

    Thanks guys for pointing out the errors of my ways.

    If you look at anything on the road towing a 2 axel trailer its usually a 4x4 etc...
    Need power (torque), suitable brakes and gearbox to that sort of job safely. Things that a 96 1.4 golf do not have! Not even the 1.9 TDI! :eek:

    Glad we got to you before the Guards or Newton did! :)


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    #23
    cascade35
    Closed Accounts Posts: 229 ✭✭cascade35


    Ya so am I. Just amazed ive never been stopped before for this, have passed guards on many an occasion and they havent even looked at me.


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