VW Golf 1.4

Veloce

Hi folks,

I'm going to view a 2007 VW Golf 1.4 petrol tomorrow with a friend who is interested in purchasing. I don't really have much of a clue about VWs as I have never owned one so would appreciate some help.

The car in questions has covered 140k kilometres. The seller has informed my friend that the timing belt has not been replaced at the last service interval (and has dropped the asking price by €1k). What mileage / years should the belt be replaced? Should the waterpump also be changed at this interval?

Apart from all the routine pre-purchase inspections, are there any specific issues / weak points for these 2007 1.4 Golfs?

Thanks.

L5

Should have been changed every 5 years or 120,000km whichever comes first

transam

i had a bora 1.4 few years back for a short while , its not a great engine , it drinks oil like mad ,my advice -get a 1.6 golf instead , the engine is too small for that car , take it on d motor way and you will see, no power at all

The Little Fella

have a 04 1.4 myself, bought the car with 120k miles on the clock and the timing belt had just been done allegedly. 7k miles later, timing belt goes quack and takes the head gasket and 8 valves with it. €600 worth of damage later, I know to make sure to get it done by a good mechanic.

Other than that, it's a brilliant car, very smooth on the road although a bit sluggish if trying to pass out over short distances.

George Dalton

If the belt hasn't been done then definitely get it done. Allow €320 or so to have the job done. The engines have a bad reputation from the earlier iterations but most 2007 version should be fine unless neglected.

166man

At 140k km would suspension work need doing? If so, the service history (if there is one?) should reveal if any components were replaced.

They are heavy on petrol too, something your friend might not be considering. I'm sure you know at this stage that they are dog slow, but then again that suits some people I guess!

bazz26

It seems mad for the seller to drop €1k off the asking price when a timing belt can be changed for under €400. They are either clueless or could they be trying to hide something else? I take it you have a mechanic inspecting it?

George Dalton

166man wrote: »

They are heavy on petrol too, something your friend might not be considering.

In your experience? Compared to what?

Wonda-Boy

Not being smart but why is your friend bringing you along when you admit yourself that you know nothing about the car. For the sake of may be €50 any half decent grease monkey will look at a car if booked before hand. Better safe then sorry, again I am not being smart but this could cost a friend in the long run.

Best of luck.

166man

George Dalton wrote: »

In your experience? Compared to what?

Yes in my experience, my best friend has a 2001 1.4 Golf. It's got feck all miles on, I think it's 53k miles ( was his Grandad's car) and he can never seem to get more than 30-35mpg out of it.

Now he wouldn't always be driving for economy, but making the trip home to Cork each weekend from UCD I think costs him a fair whack.

The Mk V was supposed to be heavier, I can only imagine it's worse on fuel than the Mk 4. I'm open to correction although I thought they used the same engine.

MuppetCheck

I'd prefer better power in one. Maybe a 1.6 might be better, I can imagine dogging one for performance like you would in a 1.4 focus. In my experience the 1.6 focus was better on fuel and it may be the case for a golf.

Wicklowandy

166man wrote: »

Yes in my experience, my best friend has a 2001 1.4 Golf. It's got feck all miles on, I think it's 53k miles ( was his Grandad's car) and he can never seem to get more than 30-35mpg out of it.

Now he wouldn't always be driving for economy, but making the trip home to Cork each weekend from UCD I think costs him a fair whack.

The Mk V was supposed to be heavier, I can only imagine it's worse on fuel than the Mk 4. I'm open to correction although I thought they used the same engine.

Im no fan of 1.4 petrol golfs but if its doing a verified 30-35 mpg and its serviced, right pressures, not towing a house etc on a run, its sick.

166man

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Im no fan of 1.4 petrol golfs but if its doing a verified 30-35 mpg and its serviced, right pressures, not towing a house etc on a run, its sick.

Yeah that's the weird thing, his Dad owns that Cork Motor Centre place near the airport so the car is supposedly looked after and is minded when it needs to be but it just seems to eat petrol.

I remember being in Kerry last summer and driving around the back roads he put €38 in the tank and only got about 140 miles from that before the light was on again.