Buying a car with broken timing belt

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:31PM #1

Hello , I'm looking at a 1.4l golf .. The timing belt snapped on it the other day, the owner offered to fix it or allow for it in the price. What would be the best option fix it or get a new engine ( we don't know how much damage is done yet) would this car give more problems after this ? Please help me out ^

Stheno · 08-03-2016 09:33PM

There have been a few train wreck stories on here of people buying cars with damage such as broken belts, why are you even considering it?

bazz26 · 08-03-2016 09:33PM

If you don't know the extent of the damage then assume the worst and it needs a new engine. How well priced is it? I'd tend to try and source a replacement engine myself if the car is as it is, is priced accordingly but then again is it worth the bother on a broken Golf. Might be less hassle just buying a Golf that isn't broke.

RustyNut · 08-03-2016 09:34PM

Run away.

pajero12 · 08-03-2016 09:35PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

Hello , I'm looking at a 1.4l golf .. The timing belt snapped on it the other day, the owner offered to fix it or allow for it in the price. What would be the best option fix it or get a new engine ( we don't know how much damage is done yet) would this car give more problems after this ? Please help me out ^

I'd say walk away, There's no shortage of 1.4l golfs around.

You wont really know the extent of the damage or the condition of a replacement engine, You could be stuck with a money pit

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:35PM

I was planning to buy this car but the day I was supposed to see it the belt snapped .. It's a cheap car at 3400€ 2007 golf

pajero12 · 08-03-2016 09:36PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

I was planning to buy this car but the day I was supposed to see it the belt snapped .. It's a cheap car at 3400€ 2007 golf

Sounds like you were very very lucky, A day sooner and you could have been caught,

Falcon L · 08-03-2016 09:37PM

If the belt was let go to the stage where it broke, the car hasn't been properly cared for. Find one that has.

Terrontress · 08-03-2016 09:37PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

I was planning to buy this car but the day I was supposed to see it the belt snapped .. It's a cheap car at 3400€ 2007 golf

Be thankful it didn't happen the day after.

A snapped timing belt can see the pistons do untold damage. Also it points to regular maintenance not having been done.

Leave it for someone else.

Squire Ladd · 08-03-2016 09:37PM

Run like Flynn

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:41PM

If I got the engine rebuilt would it still gives trouble down the line ? I know a rebuild would be expensive but he might allow me that price

Arkady · 08-03-2016 09:41PM

Assume the worst.
You can be sure the seller already got a few quotes, hence that's why it's for sale.
Get an rough estimate for sourcing and fitting a working engine from a scrapyard, and budget for that at least. (I take it this is an older golf)

pajero12 · 08-03-2016 09:42PM

Arkady wrote: »

Assume the worst.
You can be sure the seller already got a few quotes, hence that's why it's for sale.
Get an rough estimate for sourcing and fitting a working engine from a scrapyard, and budget for that at least. (I take it this is an older golf)

Mk V

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:43PM

Arkady wrote: »

Assume the worst.
You can be sure the seller already got a few quotes, hence that's why it's for sale.
Get an rough estimate for sourcing and fitting a working engine from a scrapyard, and budget for that at least. (I take it this is an older golf)

It's a 2007, it's a garage selling it. He took it in as a trade in off an elderly woman

Falcon L · 08-03-2016 09:45PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

It's a 2007, it's a garage selling it. He took it in as a trade in off an elderly woman

Lots of red flags flying at this stage. Run.

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:46PM

Falcon L wrote: »

Lots of red flags flying at this stage. Run.

The thing is I know the woman that had it since new and I also know the garage man

sky6 · 08-03-2016 09:49PM

A rebuild will cost about 3 K Take the advice given and find another one. Wouldn't it be better to get an 08 with lower tax even if it does cost another Grand.
Even if you did rebuild the 07 you would never get your money back.

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:51PM

sky6 wrote: »

A rebuild will cost about 3 K Take the advice given and find another one. Wouldn't it be better to get an 08 with lower tax even if it does cost another Grand.
Even if you did rebuild the 07 you would never get your money back.

I suppose that is true,

shietpilot · 08-03-2016 09:52PM

I wouldn't even touch it. For all you know the engine was blown/seized/whatever and then the owner cut the timing belt and is selling it as a car with a "snapped belt".

Falcon L · 08-03-2016 09:52PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

The thing is I know the woman that had it since new and I also know the garage man

So why are you drip-feeding us this story?

Clearly the maintenance on the car has been neglected. If it were me, I'd be looking for one that has been looked after.

FortySeven · 08-03-2016 09:53PM

It may not be possible to rebuild the engine. All depends on what damage has been done and you are looking at hundreds in labour just to find out. Add to that that a snapped timing belt means poor maintenance and you could be looking at much more than the engine trouble. The car is of an age to be giving problems everywhere if the maintenance schedule has not been followed. Save yourself a costly, stressfull lesson and find another car. The fact that you have had to ask tells me you have no idea what you as getting into. That's not meant as a dig.

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:53PM

If the garage offered to fix it for me before I buy it will it give trouble down the line ?

Stheno · 08-03-2016 09:55PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

If the garage offered to fix it for me before I buy it will it give trouble down the line ?

Only the likes of Madame Zelda can tell you that tbh.

Seriously look for another one. What's so special about this car that you are persisting in thinking about it?

Neilw · 08-03-2016 09:57PM

Life is too short to drive a 1,4 golf regardless. They wouldn't pull the skin off custard and are a frustrating drive.

The 1.6 is as economical and far better suited to the car. It's only a small increase in motor tax too.

FortySeven · 08-03-2016 09:59PM

sky6 wrote: »

A rebuild will cost about 3 K Take the advice given and find another one. Wouldn't it be better to get an 08 with lower tax even if it does cost another Grand.
Even if you did rebuild the 07 you would never get your money back.

There is no way to determine costly of rebuild. It may only have a bent valve. It may have a gouged cylinder wall. Two very different scenarios. One cheap. One catastrophic and not repairable.
As for getting money back from a car? Doesn't happen. Ever.

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 09:59PM

Stheno wrote: »

Only the likes of Madame Zelda can tell you that tbh.

Seriously look for another one. What's so special about this car that you are persisting in thinking about it?

I'm interested in this car because I know the elderly woman that had it since new ! If I bought off donedeal or another garage the **** could be driven into the car

Neilw · 08-03-2016 10:15PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

I'm interested in this car because I know the elderly woman that had it since new ! If I bought off donedeal or another garage the **** could be driven into the car

It's obvious the woman never had the timing belt changed, what else has been neglected?
Has the car a full service history, nct?

guyfo · 08-03-2016 10:43PM

Conorh123 wrote: »

I'm interested in this car because I know the elderly woman that had it since new ! If I bought off donedeal or another garage the **** could be driven into the car

A car that was driven hard but had no money spared when it came to maintenance is better than one driven slowly with no maintenance done.

As the others said, its very rare for a timing belt to go if the car has been maintained properly. If you get a new engine sure its fine, but what about the gearbox, suspension and everything else on the car?

You asked for advice, everyone has basically said walk away, might be an idea to take the advice you requested.

colm_mcm · 08-03-2016 10:49PM

Honestly, I can't see any value in getting this over an other one. The only way I'd buy it is fixed. If you buy it as a non runner, who knows what the gearbox is like, if the clutch is ok, if it drives straight etc.
Even if it is fixed, who knows how good a job is done, or what issues may rear their head.

Jayop · 08-03-2016 10:56PM

And it's not that cheap really.

Edit: For €3500 there's so many nicer cars on the market than a boring golf.

Conorh123 · 08-03-2016 11:00PM

Jayop wrote: »

And it's not that cheap really.

Edit: For €3500 there's so many nicer cars on the market than a boring golf.

Like what a little ****e civic

Buying a car with broken timing belt

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